TikToker teaching science hopes short-form video will become part of curriculum
A new candidate to enter the General Election race in the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency is exceeding expectation so far following the conclusion of tallies and leads a well known Kilkenny TD. First time candidate Patricia Stephenson (Social Democrats) is currently showing as having 4.7% of first preference votes in an impressive first showing in a General Election. Meanwhile, Malcolm Noonan, outgoing Green Party TD and Minister of State, is on 4.2%. Across the country there is a trend that Green Party candidates seem to be in trouble at the polls and here in Carlow-Kilkenny it looks no different, at this early stage. Patricia Stephenson is a fresh face in Kilkenny politics, hoping to secure a first-ever seat for the Social Democrats in Carlow-Kilkenny. FOR MORE GENERAL ELECTION NEWS, CLICK HERE The new candidate lives with her partner in Coollcullen, between Old Leighlin and Castlecomer, where the couple have renovated an old parish hall. Originally from Belfast, Ms Stephenson moved here a few years ago after six years working in East Africa in the aid/humanitarian sector, before her return to Ireland. Her aunt and uncle live close to ‘Comer, where she visited a lot as a child. She has been a member of the Social Democrats for about three and a half years, with a strong family pedigree in politics; her late father was a former councillor and chair of the SDLP. More to follow... FOLLOW OUR ELECTION BLOG HERE
The Sharks joined the competition way back in 1967 and they struggled early on, taking out the wooden spoon twice in their first three years in the big time. In the end they had to wait some 50 years for their first premiership in 2016, after finishing runners-up in 1973, 1978 and 1997. Since those humble beginnings some great players have turned out for the Sharks, including Englishmen Tommy Bishop and Cliff Watson, the incomparable Steve Rogers and Andrew Ettingshausen, and hard men in Ken Maddison, Gavin Miller, John Maguire, Steve Kneen and the Sorensens. Their greatest ever team is right up there with the best of them, but who makes their greatest team of the NRL era? This team wasn’t easy to select, particularly in the three quarters, where some long-serving players like Ben Pommeroy, Ricky Leutele and Sosaia Feki had to make way for players who spent most of their time at the Sharks on the wing. Here’s my team, showing the number of games they played for the Sharks in the NRL era, and the only selection criteria is that they must have played a minimum of 50 top grade games for the club from the 1998 season on. More League 1. David Peachey (176) One of the best running fullbacks of the NRL era and a prolific try-scorer for the Sharks, Peachey was a freakish player who could terrorise a lazy defence and his broken-field running was a sight to see. 2. Ronaldo Mulitalo (112*) Mulitalo is a superb finisher with both speed to burn and great aerial skills, and it’s sometimes easy to forget that he’s yet to celebrate his 25th birthday. There’s a lot more to come from Ronaldo. 3. Valentine Holmes (105) Holmes debuted for Cronulla as a 20-year-old in 2014 and by the time he left to try his hand at NFL in 2019 had a premiership under his belt and was firmly established in both the Queensland and Australian teams. 4. Mat Rogers (60) Like his famous father and Sharks legend Steve, Mat Rogers was a superbly gifted athlete who scored tries and kicked goals for fun. He could play almost anywhere in the backline and was one of the first players picked for both Queensland and Australia during his time with Cronulla. 5. Sione Katoa (116*) What Katoa gives away to some opponents in height he sure makes up for with speed, determination and positional play that’s seen him cross for 76 first grade tries in his career so far, including 11 try doubles and three hat-tricks. Sione Katoa celebrates with teammates (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images) 6. Greg Bird (106) Tough, versatile, fiery and controversial, Bird wasn’t everyone’s favourite player, but as competitors go there were few better. He debuted for the Sharks as an 18-year-old in 2002 and went on to represent both NSW and Australia with distinction. 7. Brett Kimmorley (140) Kimmorley was one of the best halfbacks of the NRL era and he joined the Sharks in 2002 from the Northern Eagles after previously winning a premiership with Melbourne. He played the best football of his long career while at the Sharks, was a very effective leader, and a regular selection for both NSW and Australia. 8. Jason Stevens (150) Before launching his multimedia career, Jason “The Pastor” Stevens was a big, uncompromising, ball-playing forward who was the rock in the Sharks’ pack for nearly a decade, during which time he also played 18 Tests for Australia and eight games for NSW. 9. Blayke Brailey (139*) Brailey took over the Cronulla No.9 jersey from older brother Jayden in 2020 and hasn’t looked back, rapidly building a reputation as one of the best dummy-halves in the country. 10. Andrew Fifita (213) The Tigers’ loss was the Sharks’ gain when Fifita headed to Cronulla in 2012, and no one did more than the big man to define the uncompromising, grinding style of football that was to characterise the club over the next ten years. He was everybody’s player of the match in the Sharks’ 2016 grand final victory over Melbourne, except for the Clive Churchill Medal judging panel, and he also represented NSW, Australia and Tonga with distinction during his career. Up, up Cronulla (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images) 11. Wade Graham (255) After debuting with the Panthers in 2008, Graham joined Cronulla two years later and never looked back, spending 12 years in the Shire and establishing a reputation as a hard-working and rugged forward with outstanding ball skills. There were few better than Wade Graham. 12. Luke Lewis (117) Lewis began life as a winger with the Penrith Panthers, but by the time he joined the Sharks in 2013, he had transitioned into an outstanding and versatile back rower, not only for Cronulla, but also for both NSW and Australia. No one got over the top of Lewis. 13. Paul Gallen (c) (348) Paul Gallen was a polarising figure, not that he could care less, but finished his incredible career as the Sharks favourite son after leading the club to its first premiership in 2016. A captain who led by example, he played 348 games for Cronulla in a relentless 19-year career, never taking a backward step, and he also lined up 32 times for Australia and 24 times for NSW. 14. Cameron McInnes (78*) After joining the Sharks from the Dragons in 2022, McInnes has followed in the footsteps of the likes of Gallen, Graham, Lewis and Fifita and has become the club’s forward leader. McInnes is a rugby league machine who never leaves anything on the paddock. 15. Briton Nikora (138*) If there’s a better ball-running back rower in the game at the moment than Nikora then I haven’t seen him. The Kiwi international always seems to be on the spot when a try is in the offing and he runs superb lines, reaping 43 tries from his 138 games. 16. Luke Douglas (146) There was nothing flash about the big front rower, just guaranteed hard graft, big metres and strong tackles each and every week. Douglas was a perfect fit for the Sharks’ grinding style of play. 17. Matt Prior (133) Prior won a premiership with the Dragons in 2010 and then backed up with the Sharks in 2016 for a second. He was a no-nonsense forward who was equally at home either in the middle or on an edge and he gave great service to the Sharks during the six years he was there, rarely missing a game. Now that’s a strong side, with plenty of skill and pace in the backs, and a forward pack that no one would want to play against. Did I leave anyone out?
Ireland's two large centre-right parties look on course to be returned to power but they will likely need at least one smaller partner to secure a majority, raising questions about the stability of the next government. or signup to continue reading That could leave the parties facing prolonged negotiations or an unstable coalition ahead of the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, whose pledge to slash corporate tax and impose tariffs poses a threat to the Irish economy. After voters went to the polls on Friday, governing parties Fine Gael and Fianna Fail were on 20.5 per cent and 21.9 per cent of first-preference votes respectively, according to a tally by Virgin Media News with left-wing Sinn Fein on 19.1 per cent. With the two centre-right parties ruling out a deal with Sinn Fein, the main question was how close to the 88 seats needed for a majority the pair can get - and whether they would need one or two more coalition parties to get over the line. "Clearly there is a route there to government," Fianna Fail's leader and deputy prime minister, Micheal Martin, told state broadcaster RTE when asked about a deal with Fine Gael and another party. "But a lot will depend ... on how many seats the respective parties get." It was "far too early" to discuss possible coalition partners or whether he might be the next prime minister, he said. Fianna Fail could get as many as 48 seats and Fine Gael could take 39, leaving them on the cusp of 88 seats, former Trinity College Dublin political science professor Michael Gallagher told RTE, citing vote tallies. The most obvious candidates for a coalition partner would be centre-left parties Labour and the Social Democrats, who Gallagher said could take eight seats each. But if those numbers are lower when votes are counted under Ireland's complex system of proportional representation, four parties could be needed to form a government, making it much more fragile. A clear outline of final seat numbers was not expected to emerge until Sunday. The current junior coalition party, the Greens, were in danger of losing all 12 of their seats, party leader Roderic O'Gorman said. Prime Minister Simon Harris called the election on the heels of a 10.5 billion euro ($A17 billion) giveaway budget that began to put money into voters' pockets during the campaign, largesse made possible by billions of euros of foreign multinational corporate tax revenues. However, a campaign full of missteps for his Fine Gael party, culminating last weekend in a viral clip of Harris walking away from an exasperated care worker, cost them their pre-election lead. The government parties also faced widespread frustration during the campaign at their inability to turn the healthiest public finances in Europe into better public services. Sinn Fein, the former political wing of the Irish Republican Army, appeared on course to lead the next government a year ago but suffered a slide in support from 30 per cent to 35 per cent, in part due to anger among its working-class base at relatively liberal immigration policies. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, former rivals that have between them led every government since the foundation of the state almost a century ago, agreed to share the role of prime minister during the last government, switching roles halfway through the five-year term. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. 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Advertisement AdvertisementHouse Democrats are considering a shakeup to their leadership that would elevate younger lawmakers to push back against Donald Trump and the incoming Republican majority . Dozens of Democrats have been privately urging Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) to challenge Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) for the top Democratic spot on the House Judiciary Committee out of concern the New York Democrat might not be up to the task of stopping Trump from abusing his power, reported the New York Times . "Mr. Nadler, 77, the dean of New York’s congressional delegation, has made it clear he has no plans to step aside," the Times reported. "And while Mr. Raskin, 61, is mulling a challenge, he has not yet decided whether to pursue one, according to colleagues familiar with his thinking who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter." Nadler told colleagues in a letter announcing his intention to seek re-election to the post that he has been standing up to Trump throughout his career, reminding them of his two impeachments, but many colleagues see Raskin, who was the lead impeachment manager in 2021, as more aggressive and articulate in taking on the once and future president. Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi has been one of the lawmakers encouraging Raskin to challenge Nadler, according to sources familiar with the discussions, but progressive Democrats have been especially critical of Nadler, saying he may be too old to effectively challenge Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) once he assumes leadership of the panel next month. “Jerry Nadler is a legend in Congress and New York who will inevitably step aside at some point in his political life,” said Adam Green, the co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. “The question is: Will it be more as a Nancy Pelosi or a Dianne Feinstein?” Democrats are considering shakeups in other House panels to promote more combative and slightly younger lawmakers, including 60-year-old Rep. Jared Huffman's (D-CA) challenge to 76-year-old Natural Resources Committee chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), while the 79-year-old Agriculture Committee chair David Scott (D-GA) has two challengers, 72-year-old Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA) and 52-year-old Angie Craig (D-MN). “With the shock wave of Trump’s ‘First 100 Days’ agenda about to slam into our committees, effective committee work led by our ranking members will be critical to limiting the damage from Trump’s Project 2025 agenda, advancing our affirmative agenda, bolstering members in tough districts and drawing contrasts that enable Democrats to reclaim the House majority in 2026 or sooner and make Hakeem Jeffries speaker of the House,” Huffman wrote in a letter announcing his run. Raskin has been waffling over challenging his friend for the judiciary post, which has privately angered Nadler, but those who want him to seek the ranking Democratic position have invoked a line Pelosi frequently cites. “No one gives you power," the saying goes. "You have to take it from them.”Your child’s ski boots can impact their overall skiing experience and may even undermine their love for the sport if they find the boots awkward fitting and uncomfortable. In addition to comfort, the ability to retain warmth and be breathable are important qualities your kid’s ski boot should have. If your child is ready to hit the slopes and you’re looking for the ideal pair of boots, ensure you choose one that provides comfort and inspires confidence, such as our top pick, Fischer Junior/Kids RC4 60 Thermoshape Alpine On/Off-Piste Ski Boots . There are several types of ski boots for kids, such as rear-entry and front-entry designs as well as performance and adjustable boot options. Rear-entry boots allow your child to slip in their feet from the back, while front entry includes a tongue that opens forward and allows the child to slide in their foot from the top. Another type is performance boots, which are made for older kids who want a better performance from their footwear. The adjustable ski boot is another option, and it is a great choice for kids who grow out of their footwear quickly. It’s easy to think your child’s boots are too small because they feel stiff and tight, but some boots are designed to be stiff. To avoid making a mistake with the sizing, take your child with you to the ski shop to get them sized. You can speak to a ski technician to learn more about the fit process. Let your child try on the boot with the liner while wearing socks. If the liner is tight, then the boots may be too small. If your child is just starting with skiing and is only confident skiing on green runs, they are considered a beginner. Their category is intermediate if they can ski confidently on the blue square terrains. However, they are advanced if they can ski anything on the mountain. Kids’ ski boots usually come with ratings depending on their experience level. The boots with a lower flex rating are designed for beginners and are comfortable to wear but deliver less on performance. Those with a higher rating are usually less comfortable but provide better performance. Some children may end up abandoning skiing because they’d rather be doing something else other than constantly taking their boots on and off. Front-entry and rear-entry ski boots are easy to wear, so choose either of these options for a fussy child. Your child’s boots should grip the floor properly to minimize their chance of falling when skiing. This feature is known as slip resistance and is often determined by the type of material used to fabricate the outsole of the boots. Generally, slip-resistant soles are textured and made of rubber. Waterproof ski boots are made of nonporous materials and can keep your child’s feet dry even when submerged in water. There are water-resistant boots designed to repel water, but these won’t prevent your child’s feet from getting wet in heavy rain or snow. Most kids’ ski boots cost $25-$40. Some expensive options are made with high-quality waterproof material, costing up to $60. A. Ski boots have a different sizing for shoes, called Mondo sizing, which measures the inside of the foot. To get the right size for your child, use a tape measure to measure the length of their feet, then check the size chart to get the correct size. A. If your child is just starting with skiing, choose a pair of boots that can easily flex, like front-entry ski boots. Fischer Junior/Kids RC4 60 Thermoshape Alpine On/Off-Piste Ski Boots What you need to know: These ski boots are an excellent choice for beginner skiers thanks to their soft flex design and thermoformable technology. What you’ll love: These Soma-Tec boots are designed to enable maximum control and prevent the ankle and knee joints from twisting when skiing. They also include a micro-adjustable buckle system for quick and easy adjustment. They feature a thermoformable boot liner designed to give an adapted fit. What you should consider: Some users mentioned that the sizing isn’t accurate. Salomon T3 RT Ski Boots What you need to know: These ski boots come in three unique colors and are suitable for both boys and girls. What you’ll love: These boots are made with polyurethane, which gives them unique durability. They are also easy to put on or off and include micro-adjustments in the buckle to ensure a custom fit. What you should consider: They might run small for children with big feet. Rossignol Comp J4 Ski Boots Kid’s What you need to know: These ski boots are designed with comfort in mind thanks to their comfort liners and unique diagonal buckles. What you’ll love: They include liners that are made with soft materials and designed to give optimal comfort and all-day cushioning. They also feature diagonal buckles that offer a more natural foot wrapping and excellent heel support. What you should consider: The buckles are made of thin metal wire, which might not be very durable. Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change. Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.King and PM honour former US president Jimmy Carter after his death aged 100
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Freshman Ian Jackson scored a season-high 26 points, RJ Davis added 23 points, including five 3-pointers, and North Carolina beat Campbell 97-81 Sunday night in the Tar Heels' final nonconference game of the season. Elliot Cadeau added 12 points and a career-high 12 assists, Drake Powell also scored 12 points and Jalen Washington added 10 for North Carolina (8-5). Cadeau made a jumper to spark a 15-3 run, Davis followed with a 3-pointer that gave UNC the lead for good with 16:09 left in the first half and Cadeau capped the spurt with a layup that made it 22-12 with 12:41 to go until halftime. Colby Duggan responded with back-to-back 3-pointers for the Fighting Camels to make it 22-18 less than a minute later and Nolan Dorsey's tip-in again trimmed the deficit to four points with 7:51 left in the first half. North Carolina scored 12 of the final 17 points to take a 40-29 lead into the intermission and Campbell got no closer than nine from there. Duggan hit a jumper to open the scoring in the second half, but Washington threw down a dunk with 18:53 to play and the Tar Heels led by double figures the rest of the way. Duggan led Campbell (5-8) with a career-high 32 points on 11-of-18 shooting, 5 of 9 from 3-point range. The rest of the Camels combined to make 17 of 45 from the field (37.8%). Jasin Sinani scored 15 and Cam Gregory 14 for Campbell. Seth Trimble (upper-body injury), who is averaging 14.8 points per game this season, did not play for North Carolina. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball