Chairman of a non-governmental organisation, Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma Empowerment Foundation, Dr Josephine Effah-Chukwuma, speaks to AYOOLA OLASUPO on innovative approaches to tackling gender-based violence in Nigeria What is the motivation behind ICCEF’s participation in the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence? ICCEF stands for Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma Empowerment Foundation. It is a family foundation set up in memory of my husband, Innocence Chukwemeka Chukwuma. He was a renowned social justice crusader, human rights activist, good governance advocate, feminist, philanthropist, etc. ICCEF was set up a year after he passed, and its vision is to build a society where young people and women are empowered to contribute their quota to make an impact in their community and in the world. The world and our society are made up of two genders; male and female and any form of discrimination, inequality or violence against one gender is going to affect their ability to contribute. How will a young girl grow up to be an empowered adult when she is discriminated against because she’s a girl and not sent to school because her parents believe that sending a girl to school is a waste of time? How can a woman or a young girl be empowered to make an impact if in school she’s sexually abused, if at the workplace, she’s always sexually harassed by employers? A lot of women have been sexually harassed out of their jobs, including married women because it’s not a matter of single girls alone. Some people have had to say, ‘Let me not work again so that I will not have any problem since this man will not allow me to rest.’ All of this is impacting the lives of women and young girls. We need to add our voice that any society that violates or discriminates against female folks is a society that will not have optimal growth. That is one of the things that continue to elude us in Nigeria. Look at the House of Assembly; how many women are there? Are people saying that we don’t have qualified women? The next thing they will say is that women did not contest. The question is why didn’t women contest? Even the issue of violence in elections is enough to disarm people. That is why ICCEF is adding a strong voice in support of the 16 days of activism. If the vision of ICCEF is to be achieved, then violence against men and girls needs to be addressed and brought down to the barest minimum. Even if you don’t eliminate it, we should be able to copy in such a way that little girls are born and allowed to grow, feeling safe, empowered, wanted, and not discriminated against. Almost 30 years ago in Beijing, China, in 1995, the entire world came together to discuss various issues affecting women. It was known as the 4th World Conference on Women, Beijing, China. At the end of that 4th World Conference, 12 critical areas of concern were identified, one of which was violence against women. They were not talking about something that is happening in Nigeria only. The global issue is very pervasive but of course, we have our peculiarities in Nigeria. When you have the issue of culture and tradition, it takes it to another level. Our widows are maltreated; we also have the issue of forceful marriage and early marriage. In politics, they will say a woman is not grown enough and that she is too small to contest, but she is not too small to marry and be called amaria or to be married off at 12 years or 13 years. Can you share some areas where ICCEF initiatives have helped reduce gender-based violence or supported survivors? We have been able to do that through various partnerships. For example, the Mirabel Centre; the first sexual assault centre; we partner with them to ensure that women or young girls who are sexually abused can access services at Mirabel Centre and Assurance Centre. We have partnered with them to build their capacity, working closely with the authorities of the Federal Medical Centre. Related News Baby convention 2024 empowers parents Why parents shouldn’t give babies phones – Physicians Women affairs minister seeks end to violence against children They do have lots of cases of rape and sexual abuse. So, through this partnership, we went to the community to create awareness. Now, they are getting cases and are responding. People are getting the help they require. This partnership project is the way forward. Based on your experience, what do you identify as the biggest challenges in preventing violence against women and girls in Nigeria and globally? Culture is a way of life. Culture is what you and I decide. For example, you and I may decide that we will stay outside because of the heat inside the house till 10pm, but if we stay outside till 10pm, robbers will attack us. Should we not change the culture, and say by 7pm, we’ll go inside? So that is what culture is. For people, when it comes to issues affecting women, you hear them say that is our culture. Why should a culture be discriminating against one? For example, any married man who dies in Nigeria is killed by his wife. The only men who die a natural death are those who are not married, but if a woman dies, do they do the same thing to the man? Most times they don’t and that is what makes it discriminatory. If what we do to women is the same as that of men, then no problem. We must change our attitude to things because change is the only constant thing in life. If we refuse to change, then it will be forced on us. Do you think there should be a special court to try gender-based violence? Yes, there should be a specialised court because on the issue of sexual abuse, most of the victims are children and you don’t want to put them in an open court. So, there should be a specialised court for gender-based matters so justice is not only done but also seen and fast-tracked. We know that justice delayed is justice denied. Lagos State has started that, and some other states are beginning to have it. In what other way do you think governments and institutions can strengthen the fight against gender-based violence? They can strengthen it by stopping lip service. Governments should work on the talk. They should set aside funds for gender-based violence. Setting aside such funds means money that will service the sexual assault centres, courts, the police stations, and then maybe a specialised police team to respond to issues like that. We should stop talking and act. That action includes making funds available to put these things in place. So, I want the government at all levels; be it local, state, or federal to be part of this. What approaches can be adopted to engage men and boys in eliminating violence against women and girls? We have to work with men and boys. We must engage boys right from the school so that they start developing what we call positive relationships with young girls. Some children are from abusive homes, and they may think that it is the right thing to do because they see their fathers beating their mothers. We need to engage boys and men; they are our brothers. They are our sons and fathers.De'Vondre Campbell's mid-game quitting overshadowed the 49ers' offensive woes SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — De'Vondre Campbell's decision to quit on his team in the middle of a game overshadowed the bigger issues for the San Francisco 49ers. Josh Dubow, The Associated Press Dec 13, 2024 3:40 PM Dec 13, 2024 4:05 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message San Francisco 49ers' Dre Greenlaw, left, limps off the field with Charvarius Ward (7) after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP) SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — De'Vondre Campbell's decision to quit on his team in the middle of a game overshadowed the bigger issues for the San Francisco 49ers. An offense that was one of the most dynamic in the NFL during a run to the Super Bowl last season has been just ordinary for most of 2024 and was downright bad in a 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night that just about ended San Francisco's playoff hopes. San Francisco (6-8) was held to its fewest yards (191) in a regular-season game in eight seasons under coach Kyle Shanahan and its fewest points since Shanahan's debut in 2017 on a rainy night that will be remembered mostly for Campbell walking off the field in the middle of the game with a towel draped over his head. The game also featured San Francisco going three-and-out on four drives as Brock Purdy struggled to connect with his receivers. Deebo Samuel dropped a potential touchdown pass after complaining earlier in the week about a lack of touches. Purdy then missed Ricky Pearsall on an underthrown deep shot in the fourth quarter before throwing an interception into the end zone that ended the Niners' comeback attempt. “I just feel like I had a lot of plays left out there that I could have made for our team,” Purdy said. “I thought the defense and special teams played so good. That’s what’s hurting me is I just feel like I failed the team. I could have been better for our offense and we could have put up more points.” Scoring has been an issue this season for the 49ers, who have been missing key playmakers like Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk for much of the season. San Francisco is scoring 8.5 fewer points per game on offense than the Niners did through 14 games last season. What’s working Red-zone defense. After allowing touchdowns on 13 consecutive red-zone drives over the previous four games, the 49ers kept the Rams out of the end zone on all three drives that went inside the 20. What needs help Receivers. The 49ers failed to get much production from their wide receivers with Purdy going 6 for 20 for 63 yards with an INT and a 19.4 rating when targeting wideouts. Samuel had 16 yards on seven targets with the key drop. Jauan Jennings had two drops and was the target on the interception. Pearsall had one catch for 16 yards on four targets. Stock up LB Dre Greenlaw returned for the first time since tearing his left Achilles tendon in last season's Super Bowl. Greenlaw had eight tackles in the first half as he brought needed intensity and physical play that had been missing for much of the season. Stock down Campbell. The 49ers are deciding whether to waive or suspend Campbell, who lost his starting job when Greenlaw returned and then refused to play when he was needed. “His actions from the game just is not something you can do to your team or your teammates and still expect to be a part of our team,” Shanahan said. “We’re working through exactly the semantics of it right now, but we’ll handle the situation appropriately.” Injuries Greenlaw came out of the game feeling OK after leaving with soreness in his knee and Achilles tendon. He is day to day. ... S Ji’Ayir Brown (groin) and LB Dee Winters (neck) are also day to day. ... LT Trent Williams (ankle) is still trying to get back to play after missing the last four games. Shanahan said Williams' recovery has been "a lot slower than anticipated.” Key number 0 — The Niners didn't reach the red zone once all game, with their deepest penetration into Rams territory being when they reached the 27 on a third-quarter field goal drive. This marked the first time since Week 11 in 2010 that the 49ers didn't run a single play inside the opponent's 25. What’s next The 49ers visit Miami on Dec. 22. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Josh Dubow, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Football (NFL) Sean McVay's Rams are on a roll toward the playoffs after 2 big wins in a 5-day stretch Dec 13, 2024 4:23 PM Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss reveals cancer diagnosis, 6-hour surgery Dec 13, 2024 3:33 PM Baker Mayfield, high-flying Bucs visit Chargers in matchup of teams with winning records Dec 13, 2024 3:16 PM
When dockworkers walked the picket line in October, the strike lasted for 3 days. And if a new contract between their 45,000 member union and the U.S. Maritime Alliance isn't signed by mid-January — a longer strike could send inflation going in the wrong direction. Just months after a strike at Gulf and East Coast ports ended, operators and union members are now at an impasse — once again — over automation. Port operators say they need more technology to increase port efficiency, improve safety and to control costs. But union members say no, because some workers will lose their jobs. A new strike could come if an agreement isn't reached by January 15. And if that happens inflation could increase, when goods aren't flowing in an out of ports as quickly. Thursday union leaders met with President-elect Donald trump at Mar-a-Lago and walked away with his support. Writing about automation on Truth social, Trump said "the amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American workers," and that foreign countries "...shouldn't be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt." RELATED STORY | Billions of dollars of U.S. economic activity halted as port workers enter day two of their strike Professor Todd Belt of George Washington University called it Trump striking a different path than he did during his first term. "During the first Trump term you had Donald Trump, surrounded by a lot of people who were suggested to him by incumbent Republicans who had really a Republican orthodoxy on free trade. Donald trump now is going to be surrounded by a lot of people who support his ideas of interventionism and tariffs, as well as other trade policies that will protect working people at the expense of, of course, inflation," Belt said. The International Longshoremen's Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. At the heart of the dispute is whether ports can install automated gates, cranes and container-moving trucks that could make it faster to unload and load ships. The union argues that automation would lead to fewer jobs, even though higher levels of productivity could do more to boost the salaries of remaining workers. The Maritime Alliance said in a statement that the contract goes beyond ports to "supporting American consumers and giving American businesses access to the global marketplace — from farmers, to manufacturers, to small businesses, and innovative start-ups looking for new markets to sell their products." "To achieve this, we need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains," said the alliance, adding that it looks forward to working with Trump. In October, the union representing 45,000 dockworkers went on strike for three days, raising the risk that a prolonged shutdown could push up inflation by making it difficult to unload container ships and export American products overseas. The issue pits an incoming president who won November's election on the promise of bringing down prices against commitments to support blue-collar workers along with the kinds of advanced technology that drew him support from Silicon Valley elite such as billionaire Elon Musk. Trump sought to portray the dispute as being between U.S. workers and foreign companies, but advanced ports are also key for staying globally competitive. China is opening a $1.3 billion port in Peru that could accommodate ships too large for the Panama Canal. There is a risk that shippers could move to other ports, which could also lead to job losses. Mexico is constructing a port that is highly automated, while Dubai, Singapore and Rotterdam already have more advanced ports. "For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries," Trump posted. "It is time to put AMERICA FIRST!" The Associated Press contributed to this report.Tiger Woods and Scottie Scheffler each know what it's like to have a decent PGA Tour season. Getty Images Welcome back to the Monday Finish, where we’re starting to think this Scottie Scheffler might have a real future in the game. To the news! First, a quick request: If you like the Monday Finish, subscribe HERE to get it in your email inbox! It’s free. And it would make me happy. (Ed. note: Some people have missed the last couple emails, this one should come through Monday evening, hang tight!) GOLF STUFF I LIKE Appreciating the good stuff. It’s natural to look forward. And, I think increasingly, cultural forces have us moving on to the next thing even faster than ever. That’s doubly true for athletes, who are likely inspired by some end goal (winning the championship, say) but in order to get there must lose themselves in the process. An athlete’s comfort zone is having something left to prove, some skill yet to master, some distance to the mountaintop left to climb. Actually reaching the summit? That can be tough to process, in its own way. That brings us to Scottie Scheffler , who won again this weekend, this time at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, his ninth worldwide victory this season. He redirected questions about what the victory meant , as he’s used to doing by now, insisting that he plays not for money nor legacy but because he enjoys the competition. His is an aspirational outlook; if you’re in it purely for the joy of winning and the love of competing, you can soak up your victories while also looking ahead to the next chance to contend. Bravo, Scottie. The crossroads of accomplishment, satisfaction and winning also brings us to Bob MacIntyre . The 28-year-old Scotsman ended up with a fairy-tale season, but it didn’t begin that way. This was his first full year playing the PGA Tour and it took time to adjust; he initially based himself out of Orlando, Fla. but soon found that untethering and unsatisfying. After several months he moved home to Oban to re-center himself. It was right around that time that MacIntyre, missing home, brought home to him. He tapped in his father Dougie as a fill-in caddie for the RBC Canadian Open and, sure enough, won the whole damn thing. In the moments after the win I was struck by MacIntyre’s instincts. While CBS interviewer Amanda Balionis understandably assumed he’d then tap in for the following week’s Memorial Tournament, a big-money Tour event for which he was suddenly qualified, MacIntyre shook his head. He was headed home with his girlfriend and his family to celebrate a dream come true. The moment when Dougie MacIntyre starts saying “I’m a grass cutter” and then breaks down 🥹 pic.twitter.com/GHH1zDhjqG Things only got more outrageous for the popular Scot when he teed it up the next month at his home open, the Genesis Scottish, held at the Renaissance Club. MacIntyre fought off a loaded leaderboard that included Rory McIlroy and eventually outdueled Adam Scott , pouring in a big-time birdie putt at No. 18 to finish off a tournament win he’d dreamt of as long as he could dream. The Hero can serve as something of a bookend to the year and is often a good time to ask players to reflect. Had MacIntyre gotten the opportunity to appreciate what he’d done? “I’ve not done that yet and I don’t think I’ll be able to do that until later on in my life, to be honest with you,” MacIntyre said after a bogey-free opening round. “That’s just — it’s work. I try to go week to week, just try and improve every day, every week.” Later on in his career, he said, he’d have an easier time. As a competitor, that makes complete sense. But as a fan of great stories I wanted a moment of real-time reflection for MacIntyre, for his family and friends. Wins this special just don’t come along often enough to let ’em pass by. I was relieved, then, to see him post a picture to social media on Monday following a seventh-place finish in the Bahamas. He’s sitting on a beach, wearing a grin and holding a beer, sun setting into the horizon behind him. Life’s good, Bob. Good on ya for taking a minute to stop and soak it in. Celebrating the good stuff — that’s golf stuff I like. A post shared by @robertmacintyre WINNERS Who won the week? Another good week to remember that competitive golf truly never stops. Scottie Scheffler won for the ninth time in 2024 — a total that now includes seven official PGA Tour wins plus Olympic Gold and the tiger trophy handed over by Scheffler’s childhood idol, tournament host Tiger Woods , on Sunday afternoon. Scheffler gapped the field by six shots thanks to a bogey-free final-round 63, low score of the day by four. What a fitting finish to a dominant year. Joaquin Niemann won the Saudi International, the final Asian Tour event of the season as well as the final International Series event. The win came with subtext: Niemann played two International Series events all season but finished third and then won, which jumped him to the top of the season-long standings. That meant he got the LIV spot that had been promised to the series winner but, because Niemann is already on LIV, nobody will earn promotion. Niemann also jumped back inside the top 100 in the world, though it’s clear he’s playing at a higher level than his No. 74 ranking suggests. Johannes Veerman won the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa, known as “Africa’s major,” which attracted a strong field from the DP World and PGA Tours. The American is off to a hot start in the 2025 DP World Tour season, which continues this week. And Denmark’s Søren Kjeldsen won the final stage of PGA Tour Champions qualifying by eight shots; he’ll be joined on the senior circuit by Freddie Jacobson, Mark Walker, Felipe Aguilar and Brendan Jones after they made it through at TPC Scottsdale on Friday. If you like the Monday Finish, subscribe for free HERE to get it in your email inbox! NOT-WINNERS A few golfers who didn’t win but still kinda won. Tom Kim finished second to Scheffler, another chapter in the big bro-little bro rivalry the two have developed at home in Dallas and on Tour. While this wasn’t as close as a playoff showdown at the Travelers nor as fiesty as their Presidents Cup duel, it was a big step in the right direction for Kim, who just missed out on top-50 PGA Tour status at the end of the season but could be in fine form heading to 2025. Justin Thomas showed out in his first tournament as a father; he had the 54-hole lead before Scheffler steamrolled the field but impressed with a new weapon — a 46-inch driver — in his bag. Thomas easily could have been on the Presidents Cup team and I think he’ll continue to show people why come the new year, where he surely already has Bethpage Black on the mind. Akshay Bhatia also boasted a new driver this week, this one a Callaway prototype that he says helps counteract his extreme out-to-in swing path. I’m, I would say, a unicorn person to fit because my club path is anywhere from four to nine right,” Bhatia said. “There’s just not many guys that swing a driver like I do. Just trying to find something that we can keep the spin down but it doesn’t go left. It’s just a hard balance.” So far, so good: Solo fourth at the Bahamas. And Keegan Bradley quietly finished fifth at the Hero, showing the sort of form that will feed into one of 2025’s most guaranteed storylines: is there any way the U.S. Ryder Cup captain can play his way onto the team? SHORT HITTERS Major contenders you forgot. We discussed this on Monday afternoon’s Drop Zone recording (subscribe on Spotify or Apple ); when that publishes first thing Tuesday I’ll post it here. But as the year comes to a close I thought it would be fun to look back and see who I’d already forgotten had contended at the four men’s majors. Here’s one from each: -The Masters leaderboard was chock-full of talent heading to Sunday’s final round. Scheffler led by one over Collin Morikawa , who was one stroke ahead of Max Homa , who was one stroke ahead of Ludvig Aberg , who was one stroke ahead of Bryson DeChambeau , who was one stroke ahead of Xander Schauffele . But tied with Schauffele in T6? That would be Cameron Davis , who like me lives in Washington but unlike me is a Tour winner, amateur hypnosis enthusiast and one-time Masters contender. Still, he faded Sunday to T12 as Scheffler took the air out of the tournament on the back nine. -You may remember two specific pairings from the PGA Championship: DeChambeau and Viktor Hovland were the chase pack, storming ’round Valhalla on Sunday and making their way to the 18th tee each six under par for the day. DeChambeau would go on to birdie 18 and set the clubhouse lead, which Schauffele and Morikawa were chasing from the final pairing. Morikawa couldn’t buy a birdie while Schauffele eventually won the whole thing, but lost in that shuffle was the fact that there was another twosome in between those groups. Shane Lowry shot one under par on Sunday to finish T6, while Sahith Theegala needed two late birdies just to salve a 73 that left him T12. -At the U.S. Open, you’ll remember DeChambeau leading by three shots entering the final round over Rory McIlroy, Patrick Cantlay and... Matthew Pavon ! The Frenchman made some Sunday bogeys but did well to hang in on a brutally tough golf course in pressure-packed conditions. He played the final six holes in two under par (DeChambeau played the same stretch in one over, and McIlroy in three over) to finish solo fifth. -And the Open Championship was loaded with fascinating contenders, not least of which was Dan Brown . The unheralded Englishman, who was playing in his first-ever major, was the first-round leader and held the lead through much of Saturday, at which point he double-bogeyed 18. His Sunday 74 kept him out of contention but in the house at an extremely impressive T10. ONE DUMB GRAPHIC Wizards, take note. scottie scheffler has as many wins since feb 1 as the washington wizards basketball team pic.twitter.com/yWfFomKE2F ONE SWING THOUGHT From Scottie Scheffler. No top pro takes a swing change lightly, least of all the detail-oriented Scheffler, who is finishing off a historically good 2024 season. Insert change: how ’bout a new putter grip? Scheffler admitted after Thursday’s opening round that he and short-game coach Phil Kenyon had deferred the potential change until the offseason and that this seemed like the right moment to test it out. “Figured this is a good week to try stuff just because you can practice and practice and do all the stuff at home, but there’s just something different about being in competition,” Scheffler said. “I really enjoyed the way it felt, I felt like I’m seeing some improvements in my stroke.” The results speak for themselves: Scheffler is dangerous every week and arguably even more dangerous when he’s just testing stuff out. ONE BIG QUESTION Should players get paid to play the Ryder Cup? I mean, yeah, probably. This topic swirled in the Bahamas this week again, with Tiger Woods echoing history (this was a topic of discussion in 1999, he said, and he thinks players should each get a large chunk of change to donate to charity) and Patrick Cantlay staying out of the fray (“I think that’s a media narrative and I’m not going to fall into that,” he said of talk the Americans were demanding pay) and Scheffler, as usual, making plenty of sense. “I think every one of our players would pay to play in the Ryder Cup if that’s what was asked of us,” he said, referencing a McIlroy line about the event’s meaning. “I think it’s a little bit silly for a tournament that makes hundreds of millions of dollars to ask for the players to pay as well, but I think we all would. I definitely would.” That particular resolution seems unlikely, though massive appearance fees also wouldn’t sit particularly well with a golfing public increasingly exhausted by money talk. Scheffler’s exhausted by money talk, too — he insisted, again, that he’s overpaid. But the question then becomes: if the players shouldn’t get paid from Ryder Cup profits, who should? ONE THING TO WATCH How hot will LIV’s hot stove get? Last week saw renewed rumors of Tony Finau to LIV ultimately shot down by Finau himself in an interview with Golfweek ; his much-scrutinized Hero WD was due to a procedure on his knee. So now what? Now we wait as see, I guess, but it feels unlikely that any massive Jon Rahm -style transaction would take place this winter. As a result, LIV’s biggest upcoming may well be LIV CEO Greg Norman himself, who confirmed over the weekend that, while he’ll stay with LIV in some capacity it won’t be in his current position. Anyway, I usually slide a video in here, so this is a sideways shift: Here’s the Ryder Cup doc I mentioned last week. It’s so beautifully shot it’s worth watching for vibes alone. Una Famiglia : NEWS FROM SEATTLE Monday Finish HQ. I have moved into an office located above a bakery. I have an extreme sweet tooth. This is proving to be something of a personal challenge. Will keep you posted. We’ll see you next week. Before you go, a quick request: If you like the Monday Finish, subscribe for free HERE to get it in your email inbox! Dylan Dethier welcomes your comments at dylan_dethier@golf.com . Latest In News Golf.com Editor Dylan Dethier is a senior writer for GOLF Magazine/GOLF.com. The Williamstown, Mass. native joined GOLF in 2017 after two years scuffling on the mini-tours. Dethier is a graduate of Williams College, where he majored in English, and he’s the author of 18 in America , which details the year he spent as an 18-year-old living from his car and playing a round of golf in every state.Proposed Agri-science centre gets new name and new potential home
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — (TSX-V: RKV, the “ ”, “ ”, or “ ”) a biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing new cancer therapies based on novel DNA-damage response technologies is pleased to announce the closing of a $3.0 million private placement. The private placement consists of 50,000,000 units (the “ ”) at a price of $0.06 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (each, a “ ”) and one Common Share purchase warrant (each, a “ ”). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to subscribe for and purchase one Common Share of the Company for a period of 24 months from the date of issue at a price of $0.10 per Common Share. Rakovina retains the right to accelerate the Warrant exercise period if, upon written notice to the holder, the 20-day volume-weighted average price of its Common Shares exceeds $0.30. In connection with the Private Placement, the Company paid cash finder’s fees to Canaccord Genuity Corp., Ventum Financial Corp., Haywood Securities Inc., Research Capital Corporation, Hampton Securities Limited, Ewing Morris & Co. Investment Partners Ltd. and Leede Financial Inc. (each a “ ”, and collectively, the “ ”) in the aggregate amount of $180,841 and issued a total of 3,021,872 non-transferable finder’s warrants (each, a “ ’) to the Finders, in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the “ ”). Each Finder’s Warrant entitles the holder thereof to subscribe for and purchase one Common share of the Company for a period of 24 months from the date of issue at a price of $0.10 per Common Share, subject to acceleration on the same terms as the Warrants issued in connection with the private placement. The private placement is subject to the final acceptance of the TSXV and all securities issuable in connection with the private placement are subject to a hold period of four months plus one day from the date of issuance, in accordance with applicable securities laws. The proceeds of the private placement will be used to accelerate both discovery and development of the Company’s proprietary drug candidates, shortlisted from the Deep Docking and Variational AI platforms. “This overwhelming response from our investors underscores the strength of our science, the extraordinary talent and dedication of our team and the transformative potential of our therapies,” said Jeffrey Bacha, Executive Chairman of Rakovina Therapeutics. “We are deeply grateful for the trust placed in us and remain resolute in our mission to utilize leading AI technologies to develop innovative solutions for cancer care.” The Company extends its heartfelt thanks to its investors, partners, and team for their unwavering support as Rakovina continues its work to bring new hope to patients and families affected by cancer. Rakovina is pleased to announce its engagement of Fairfax Partners Inc. as its Investor Relations (IR) partner. With extensive expertise in investor engagement strategies, Fairfax will implement a comprehensive six-month IR program designed to enhance Rakovina’s market presence and expand its investor base. The program, which includes an option to renew for an additional six months, focuses on complementing traditional IR efforts with targeted online marketing campaigns, activation of a robust social media influencer network, and collaboration with external consultants and global wealth management channels. These initiatives will support Rakovina’s strategic plan for 2025 by institutionalizing its investor base and strengthening its distribution capabilities. Under the agreement, Fairfax will receive a monthly fee of $5,000 plus GST, a one-time setup fee of $15,000 plus GST, and a marketing budget of $120,000 plus GST, disbursed as follows: $80,000 upon signing and $40,000 two months later. Services provided by Fairfax include inbound and outbound phone communications, website and social media management, marketing material preparation, news release support, and roadshow assistance, ensuring Rakovina’s IR efforts align with market expectations. Fairfax Partners Inc., located at 306-1238 Seymour Street, Vancouver, BC, confirms that neither its directors nor officers hold any securities of Rakovina. For inquiries, please contact connect@fairfaxpartners.com. “We are thrilled to partner with the seasoned team at Fairfax Partners to expand our investor base and increase awareness of Rakovina Therapeutics’ vision. Fairfax’s creative and forward-thinking approach to investor relations will be a critical asset as we enter a pivotal year. By harnessing their extensive network and digital expertise, we aim to significantly enhance our market presence and deliver lasting value to our shareholders,” said Mr. Bacha. Rakovina Therapeutics Inc. is dedicated to developing innovative cancer therapies targeting the DNA-damage response. The company has established a development pipeline of novel DNA-damage response inhibitors by leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to accelerate the identification and optimization of drug candidates. Rakovina Therapeutics aims to advance one or more of these candidates into human clinical trials in collaboration with pharmaceutical partners and secure marketing approvals from Health Canada, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and other international regulatory agencies. Further information may be found at This release includes forward-looking statements regarding the Company and its respective business, which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the terms of the private placement, the closing of the private placement, the receipt of final TSXV approval, the proposed business plan of the Company; the Company’s commitment to advancing new cancer therapies; the ability of the Company to extract value from its AI collaborations; the Company’s ability to execute on its business plans while maintaining high standards of research; the ability of Pharma Inventor Inc. to accurately provide medicinal chemistry support; the projected timeline and effectiveness of the Company’s strategy to utilize the Deep Docking AI platform; and the Company’s ability to generate shareholder value. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “is expected”, “expects”, “scheduled”, “intends”, “contemplates”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “proposes” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events, or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. Such statements are based on the current expectations of the management of the Company. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur by certain specified dates or at all and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting the Company, including risks regarding the medical device industry, economic factors, regulatory factors, the equity markets generally and risks associated with growth and competition. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events, or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. The reader is referred to the Company’s most recent filings on SEDAR for a more complete discussion of all applicable risk factors and their potential effects, copies of which may be accessed through the Company’s profile page at David Hyman, Chief Financial Officer Invest Relations &Media Michelle Seltenrich 778-773-5432Serve robotics president Touraj Parang sells $669,786 in stock
Political bigwigs line up to say final goodbye to Manmohan Singh, the OG reformer
NoneNEW YORK, Dec. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of ordinary shares of ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ: ASML) between January 24, 2024 and October 15, 2024, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important January 13, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased ASML ordinary shares during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the ASML class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=31159 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for more information. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than January 13, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, during the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the issuers being faced by suppliers, like ASML, in the semiconductor industry were much more severe than defendants had indicated to investors; (2) the pace of recovery of sales in the semiconductor industry was much slower than defendants had publicly acknowledged; (3) defendants had created the false impression that they possessed reliable information pertaining to customer demand and anticipated growth, while also downplaying risk from macroeconomic and industry fluctuations, as well as stronger regulations restricting the export of semiconductor technology, including the products that ASML sells; and (4) as a result, defendants’ statements about ASML’s business, operations, and prospects lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the ASML class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=31159 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ . Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. ------------------------------- Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com
FSK Completes Public Offering of $100 million 6.125% Unsecured Notes Due 2030Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta revealed that Bukayo Saka is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after undergoing a procedure on his injured hamstring. The 23-year-old pulled up in the 24th minute with an injury during their 5-1 win over Crystal Palace and was unable to continue. As a result, he was ruled out of their clash with Ipswich on Friday. Arteta revealed shortly after that Saka would be facing several weeks on the sidelines after a scan revealed the full extent of his injury. "It’s not looking good," the Spaniard said. "He’s going to be out for many weeks. I cannot be too specific because I don’t know but it will be many weeks." However, the Gunners star is now facing at least two months out having undergone a procedure to fix the problem, which will come as a huge blow for the north London side. And after watching his side beat Ipswich 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium, Arteta told reporters in his post-match press conference that Saka would be ruled out for a few months. It will represent a massive blow for the Gunners, who climbed into second place in the Premier League and moved within six points of leaders Liverpool , who have a game in hand. Arsenal enjoyed total domination against their relegation-threatened opponents and even had 92 per cent possession at one stage in the first half. Kai Havertz 's close-range effort, his seventh league goal of the season, was enough to hand them the points as David Raya didn't face a single shot on target. But Arteta's men lacked the same killer instinct they usually possess at home to put the game beyond doubt, with Gabriel Magalhaes and Havertz both missing gilt-edged chances to increase the scoreline. The Spaniard admitted his side will have to get used to being without Saka after misfiring in front of goal. "Frustration when you win? No. Things to improve? Yes," Arteta told Amazon Prime Sport. "They started very significantly and we have to get used to that. Credit to them as they're very well organised, but we restricted them to nothing - we had two or three openings." When asked what it was like without Saka, he added: "Very different, but we will evolve that. In the second half I liked it more. It will take a bit of time." With Saka out and Raheem Sterling ruled out for the coming weeks with a separate issue, Arteta stayed tight-lipped on whether the Gunners would choose to enter the market in January for another attacker. "We don't know. We will see, hopefully we don't see any more injuries," he added.
With technical prowess and considerable style, Marta danced around two sliding defenders, outwitted a goalkeeper and calmly scored as another player rushed forward in desperation to stop her. It was more Marta Magic. last weekend helped propel the Orlando Pride into Saturday's National Women's Soccer League championship game against the Washington Spirit. Barbra Banda also scored in . While Banda has had an incredible first season with the Pride, captain Marta has been the talisman that has helped lead the team in its remarkable turnaround this year. The last time the Pride were in the NWSL playoffs was in 2017 — Marta's first year with the club. But this season they nearly went undefeated, going 23 games without a loss to start the season with just two regular-season games left. “I think because of the way that we did it, during this season, from beginning to now, it’s something very special that I’ve never had before with any other club that I’ve played for," Marta said. "Plus year by year, we see in America, strong competition. This is the best league in the world. And you never know what’s going to happen, and it’s hard to keep winning the games, being in the first place almost like the whole season. That’s why it’s really different and so special.” Marta’s goal was the latest gasp-inducing moment in a stellar career filled with them. Known by just her first name, the 38-year-old is a six-time FIFA world player of the year. "Let's see if tomorrow I can do something similar — or even better," Marta said on Friday. Her teammate Kylie Strom chimed in: “That was the greatest goal I've ever witnessed, hands down." Appropriate. Earlier this year, FIFA announced that the best goal in women's soccer each year would earn the Marta Award. In a lighthearted moment the day before the title match, Marta was asked if she thought it was possible she might give the award to herself. “You guys need to decide, because who votes for the best goal in the year? It’s you. It’s the people in the public. So it should be really interesting, like Marta’s Award goes to Marta!” she said with a laugh. Marta has played in six World Cups for Brazil and played this summer in her sixth Olympics, . She previously said this would be her final year with the national team. But since then Brazil was named the host of the 2027 Women's World Cup. "I had a conversation with my coach, the national team coach, and I was really clear about playing in 2027. I told him it’s not my goal anymore,” she said. “But I’m always available to help the national team. And if they think I still can do something during this preparation for the World Cup, yeah, I would be happy to help them." Marta's club career started in Brazil when she was just 16. She has also played in Sweden and in the U.S. professional women's leagues that came before the NWSL. With nine regular-season goals, Marta has had one of her best seasons since she joined the Pride. “I can never pick a side, I never pick favorites — but I love to see this for Marta," U.S. coach Emma Hayes said. “Marta is someone we all like, admire and are grateful for. And that goal was just like prime Marta at her best. And so grateful for and thankful for her that she got the opportunity with another game with her team.” The Pride went 18-2-6 this season, clinching the NWSL Shield for the first trophy in club history. Orlando also set a record with 60 regular-season points to finish atop the standings. “We are sitting top of the table, but I think there still are a lot of doubters. I think there’s people out there who say, maybe this was a one-off season,” Strom said. “But we’re here to prove them all wrong. So I think we do carry a bit of that underdog mentality still with us.” The second-seeded Spirit advanced to the title match at Kansas City's CPKC Stadium last weekend on a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw against defending champions Gotham FC. The Spirit's roster includes Trinity Rodman, a standout forward who formed the so-called “Triple Espresso” trio with Mallory Swanson and Sophia Smith for the United States at the Olympics. AP soccer:ISRO Achieves Significant Milestone For Gaganyaan Mission