Eagles receivers Smith and Brown complain about vanishing pass offense during winning streak
Amid reports that Gaza cease-fire talks may be resuming, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz expressed optimism that “this time, we can truly advance a hostage deal.” A Qatari newspaper reported that an Israeli delegation—headed by Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar—was set to travel to Cairo on Dec. 5 for talks on a potential deal over hostages and a cease-fire. Katz, speaking to soldiers at an air force base in central Israel, attributed the improved outlook to Israeli military pressure on Hamas. The development comes after a Lebanon cease-fire began on Nov. 27. On Dec. 2, President-elect Donald Trump said there would be “hell to pay” in the Middle East if hostages held in Gaza were not released before his inauguration. Trump’s nominee for national security adviser, Mike Waltz, was set to meet with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer on Dec. 4. Hezbollah, which had previously refused to consider a cease-fire unless Israel pulled out of Gaza, was hard hit in recent months. The Israeli army eliminated many of the terrorist group’s top leaders, including longtime head Hassan Nasrallah, with targeted air strikes. And in an audacious strike on Sept. 17, thousands of pagers exploded on their Hezbollah users simultaneously—followed by a second wave of exploding handheld radios the next day—further crippling its leadership ranks. At least 39 people were killed in the blasts, and Lebanon said nearly 3,000 others were wounded. Hamas, in more than a year of warfare started by its Oct. 7 attack on Israel, has suffered the same kinds of losses. Trump’s impending return to power may be loosening a diplomatic logjam lasting more than a year. The United States, Egypt, and Qatar have tried unsuccessfully to broker a cease-fire and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in exchange for the return of around 100 hostages, a third of whom are believed dead, still held by Hamas after having been taken captive on Oct. 7, 2023. “Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied history of the United States of America,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked him in a Dec. 3 post on X. “I want to thank President Trump for his strong statement yesterday about the need for Hamas to release the hostages, the responsibility of Hamas, and this adds another force to our continued effort to release all the hostages.” Israeli ministers also thanked the president-elect. “How refreshing it is to hear clear and morally sound statements that do not create a false equivalence or call for addressing ‘both sides’, but rather clarify who are the good and who are the bad,” said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. “This is the way to bring back the hostages: by increasing the pressure and the costs for Hamas and its supporters, and defeating them, rather than giving in to their absurd demands,” he said. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said simply on X: “Thank you, President Trump.” A senior Hamas official interpreted Trump’s words as directed at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Basem Naim said Netanyahu had sabotaged all efforts to secure a deal that involved exchanging the hostages for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons. Naim said Trump’s message was intended to pressure Netanyahu to “end this evil game.” A Gaza political analyst, Ramiz Moghani, said Trump’s words might embolden Israel not only to expel Palestinians from Gaza but also to annex the West Bank, which many Israelis refer to as Judea and Samaria. An eight-day cease-fire took place in late November 2023, during which more than 100 Israeli hostages were released. Since then, little progress has been made, with each side blaming the other. Meanwhile, fighting has continued across Gaza. On Dec. 4, an Israeli strike on a camp housing hundreds of thousands of displaced people near Khan Yunis killed 21 people and wounded 29, a Palestinian health official said. Gaza health authorities do not distinguish between civilians and fighters from Hamas and other terrorist groups such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Fighting was also reported in Rafah and near a hospital in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza. Further Hamas threats against the hostages have come to light. In an internal statement on Nov. 22, Hamas told its operatives Israel intended to carry out a hostage rescue operation and threatened to “neutralize” the captives in that event. Hamas told its operatives not to consider any repercussions of following the instructions.Former NC State WR KC Concepcion transferring to Texas A&MRoundtable highlights collaborative efforts, best practices to address workforce development challenges and expand pathways to semiconductor and advanced manufacturing careers in New York ALBANY, N.Y. , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, during National Apprenticeship Week and one day after National Semiconductor DayTM , the National Institute for Industry and Career AdvancementTM (NIICA), in partnership with Capital Region BOCES , hosted a roundtable discussion titled "Semiconductors for Tomorrow: Strengthening New York's Talent Pipeline Through Registered Apprenticeships." The event convened Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY), alongside industry leaders, educational institutions, and workforce development organizations, to discuss how Registered Apprenticeships (RAs) and collaborative efforts are creating pathways to high-demand careers in the semiconductor and advanced manufacturing sectors. The event spotlighted New York's emerging leadership in the semiconductor industry, building on recent announcements such as NY CREATES' Albany NanoTech Complex being named the CHIPS for America EUV Accelerator, a National Semiconductor Technology Center facility that will act as the U.S. headquarters for research into extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. This selection positions New York as a global hub for advanced semiconductor innovation, further emphasizing the critical need for a skilled workforce to support these advancements in the region. "Semiconductors are the backbone of our modern economy, driving advancements in technology, healthcare, energy, and beyond. New York is uniquely positioned to lead the way in innovation and manufacturing," said Congressman Tonko. "To fully realize this potential, we must ensure a sustainable and inclusive talent pipeline that empowers workers with the skills and opportunities they need to thrive. Collaborative efforts like today's roundtable exemplify the kind of partnership between government, industry, and education that is essential to addressing workforce challenges and building a brighter, more competitive future for our state and nation." "As New York solidifies its role as a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing, building a sustainable and inclusive workforce is essential," said Mike Russo , President and CEO of NIICA. "This roundtable highlighted the collaborative efforts needed to meet industry demands while advancing NIICA's mission to create equitable pathways into high-value careers. Events like these, especially during National Apprenticeship Week, reinforce the importance of partnerships in driving opportunity and innovation." Through dynamic discussions, roundtable participants emphasized the role of RAs, partnerships with educational institutions, and innovative workforce strategies in addressing the skills gap and fostering economic growth. "As someone who works closely with students and employers every day, I see firsthand how transformative it can be to connect young people with real opportunities," said Dr. Joseph Dragone , Director of Special Projects & Strategic Partnerships at Capital Region BOCES and NIICA Advisory Board Member. "This roundtable brought together leaders from across sectors to focus on creating meaningful pathways that prepare students for great careers while strengthening our local communities and supporting the industries that drive our economy." NIICA has been driving workforce innovation in New York , launching the nation's first Career Opportunity Hub in Albany in 2023. This transformative initiative brings together regional stakeholders in a concerted effort to build the talent pipeline and connects job seekers with tailored employment and training opportunities in semiconductor and advanced manufacturing. Earlier this year, NIICA together with Capital Region BOCES introduced New York's first Gateway Apprenticeship ProgramTM , bridging high school CTE programs with RAs to provide students with direct pathways into high-demand careers. "Developing a skilled and diverse workforce is at the core of NY CREATES' mission, and collaborations exemplified by today's roundtable are essential to building the talent pipeline our industry needs. By aligning industry demands with educational opportunities, we're setting the stage for innovation and growth across New York's semiconductor sector," said Will Bronner , Chief Human Resources Officer for NY CREATES . "Workforce development isn't just about meeting today's demands; it's about creating a foundation for sustained economic growth and opportunity. This roundtable underscores the importance of partnerships in bridging gaps between industry, education, and government to ensure New York remains a leader in advanced manufacturing and semiconductors," said Katie Newcombe , Chief Economic Development Officer for the Center for Economic Growth . "At GlobalFoundries, we see firsthand the transformative power of Registered Apprenticeships and collaborative workforce strategies," said Christine McLear , workforce development lead for GlobalFoundries . "We must work together as an industry, with strong public-private partnerships, to grow a pipeline of talented individuals who will help meet the growing workforce needs of the semiconductor ecosystem." "The future of manufacturing and STEM careers hinges on the partnerships we foster today. By bringing together educators, industry leaders, and policymakers, this roundtable is paving the way for innovative solutions that will inspire and prepare the next generation of talent," said Jill Cofield , Visiting Assistant Professor, University at Albany , SUNY . "Building a sustainable workforce means creating opportunities for individuals to grow and succeed at every stage of their careers. Today's roundtable was a powerful reminder of the impact we can have when industry, education, and government come together to tackle workforce challenges head-on," said Dawn Roller , Associate Vice President of Human Resources for Indium Corporation . A replay of the roundtable will be made available in the days following the event via NIICA's YouTube channel. For additional information about the event or for media comments, contact Stephanie Frederick , NIICA's Outreach and Communications Manager, at [email protected] . The Center for Economic Growth is a Group Program Sponsor for NIICA's Growing Apprenticeships in Nanotechnology and Semiconductor RA (GAINS), and GlobalFoundries, Indium Corporation and NY CREATES are all participants in the program. GAINS is currently being deployed in 24 states with 118 employers involved who have committed 7,482 apprentices to the program. GAINS is being supported by NIICA's national network of 63 community colleges who have aligned curriculum to the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) database created by NIICA which reflects the competencies required to succeed in various manufacturing positions. About the National Institute for Industry and Career Advancement NIICA is a 501(c)(3) organization that is responsible for a national strategy to build the talent pipeline to support strategic industry sectors – tech-based industries and advanced manufacturing tied to U.S. national security and global competitiveness. NIICA is the nation's leader in semiconductor talent pipeline development strategy and is the U.S. Department of Labor's national Registered Apprenticeship (RA) industry Intermediary responsible for establishing and expanding RAs throughout the semiconductor and broader nanotechnology-related industries and advanced manufacturing supply chain. All related programming and support are being advanced through NIICA's Center for Skill-Based Learning and the National Talent Pipeline Development Initiative. SOURCE National Institute for Industry and Career Advancement
North Carolina GOP governor nominee vows to keep running after report on racial and sexual comments
Jimmy Carter, former US president, dies at 100Trudeau says dealing with Trump will be ‘a little more challenging’ than last time
Randy Martin SmithThe NFC’s No. 1 seed will come down to the final week when the Detroit Lions host the Minnesota Vikings. The winner takes the NFC North and gets a first-round playoff bye and home-field advantage until the Super Bowl. The loser becomes the No. 5 seed and must play on the road in the wild-card round. The Vikings (14-2) held on for a 27-25 victory over the Green Bay Packers to set up the high-stakes showdown in Week 18. The Lions (13-2) visit the San Francisco 49ers (6-9) on Monday night in a rematch of the NFC title game. Win, lose or tie, they have to beat the Vikings again. Detroit beat Minnesota 31-29 in Week 7. The Philadelphia Eagles clinched the NFC East and locked up the No. 2 seed with a 41-7 rout of the Dallas Cowboys. However, coach Nick Sirianni has a tough decision to make this week. Saquon Barkley is 101 yards away from breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season record for yards rushing in a season. Sirianni has to decide whether to rest Barkley and most of his starters to prepare for the playoffs or let his star try for the 40-year-old record. The Los Angeles Rams (10-6) were on the verge of clinching the NFC West. They would lock it up Sunday night if the Commanders beat the Falcons. The outcome of the Atlanta-Washington game has a major impact on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7). If the Falcons win, they’d remain first in the NFC South and would win the division with a victory against Carolina next week. If the Falcons lose, the Buccaneers would take over first place and would secure the division with a victory over New Orleans next week. The Commanders would secure a wild-card spot with a win against Atlanta. If they lose, Seattle stays mathematically alive for a wild card and the Buccaneers could also find a path to the playoffs as a wild-card team. Three teams in the AFC have already secured their seeds. The two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs (15-1) won the AFC West weeks ago and clinched the No. 1 seed. The AFC East champion Buffalo Bills (13-3) are the No. 2 seed. The AFC South champion Houston Texans (9-7) are the No. 4 seed. The Baltimore Ravens (11-5) would win the AFC North and get the No. 3 seed with a win or tie against Cleveland next weekend or a loss or tie by Pittsburgh, which hosts Cincinnati. If they don’t win the division, the Steelers have already clinched a wild-card berth. The Los Angeles Chargers (10-6) also secured a wild-card spot. They’ll be no lower than the sixth seed. The final AFC playoff spot comes down to the Broncos (9-7), Dolphins (8-8) or Bengals (8-8). Denver clinches with a win or tie against the Chiefs. The Dolphins need the Broncos to lose and they must beat the Jets on the road to get in. The Bengals must win and the Broncos and Dolphins have to lose for them to get in. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
If you are in the market for some new ASX shares in December, then it could be worth listening to what analysts at are saying. That's because the broker has just revealed its favoured picks for the month ahead on its Australian equities panel. It notes that these are the shares that it believes "offer attractive risk-adjusted returns over the long term." In addition, Bell Potter points out that when identifying its picks, it considers the current macro-economic backdrop and investment environment, focusing on quality companies with proven track records, capable management, and competitive advantages. With that in mind, let's look at two ASX shares that have just been added to its list. They are as follows: ( ) This sports technology solutions company has been added to the broker's Australian equities panel in December. As the leader in the industry, Bell Potter believes that Catapult is well-positioned in a very underpenetrated market. This bodes well for its earnings growth in the coming years. It said: We now include Catapult in our domestic small caps panel. CAT is a clear global leader in wearable athlete tracking solutions, but in spite of this leading position, only a small fraction of all elite and professional athletes currently have any wearable solution in place so the market is very underpenetrated and there is significant opportunity for growth. We believe the stock looks reasonable value on EV/Revenue multiples of 5.5x in FY25 and c.5x in FY26, relative to comparables like Life360. All up, CAT has a large addressable market and appears to be on an upgrade cycle along with a potential catalyst for the stock being a likely inclusion in the S&P/ASX 300 index in the next rebalance in March next year. ( ) Another ASX share that has been added to Bell Potter's Australian equities panel this month is WiseTech Global. It is a leading logistics solutions technology company that has been growing at a rapid rate for many years. And while it has downgraded its guidance for FY 2025 due to product launch delays, the broker isn't fazed and sees recent weakness as a buying opportunity. It said: WiseTech is a leading global provider of software solutions to the logistics services industry. At its recent AGM, WTC downgraded its FY25 guidance by up to around 10% at revenue and 15% at EBITDA, principally due to the delay in the release of one of the company's new products – Container Transport Optimisation – due to "distractions flowing from the recent media attention and the organisational changes that have subsequently been implemented". The release is now expected to occur in 2HFY25 rather than 1HFY25, and we note that the releases of the company's other new products – ComplianceWise and CargoWise Next – are on track. In our view, WTC appears oversold at current levels and as one of the best growth names on the market, the recent downgrade presents a buying opportunity.
“If gold rust, what then will iron do? For if a priest be foul in whom we trust, no wonder that a common man should rust.” – Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. On Sunday, 24 November 2024, I read a Ghana Web reportage carried under the banner headline: “2024 Elections: If your mother is at the funeral, you cannot be denied Tuo Zaafi – Bawumia to Walewale residents.” After reading the news report I became convinced instantly that Mahamudu Bawumia lacked the honesty, high moral character and proven integrity demanded of the high office of the President of Ghana under the 1992 Constitution. My memory sent me to a document I had been privy to as the Special Prosecutor in which the first of Nana Akufo-Addo’s guiding principles which he told to a friend who restated them in a handwritten recollection was as follows: “Ohene sƐ wo foro akoŋwa yi na sƐ wo aŋya sika a, wↄ bƐka sƐ wo yƐ okwasanpa ni”, however, that does NOT mean that ONLY ... [name] and ... [name] alone should make ALL the money ...the money must spread.” I have tried to type out the twi words in twi characters as written in hand using a computer as accurately as I can, which translated in my understanding means that: “ A chief who ascends a stool and does not get rich, would be said to be a foolish old man.” I shall explain how I came by Nana Akufo Addo’s guiding principles in due course. But I was flabbergasted, as I least expected that Dr. Mahamudu Bawunia, the son of my late friend, Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, a two-time Chairperson of the Council of State under the 1992 Constitution, an honest and leading northern politician who fought tirelessly for the development of the British Protectorate of Northern Territories of the Gold Coast Colony and Ashanti (NT) until the North became part of a unitary Republic of Ghana would be so unlike his father and exhibit the highest degree of moral turpitude and selfishness in public office as a Vice-President wishing to become the next President of Ghana. I was puzzled at how this could happen to Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia’s son years after his demise and burial when the John Agyekum Kufuor government ignored the sad event without any state participation in the burial and funeral rites of such an honourable and distinguished Northerner of impeccable character and integrity. As I pondered upon how this could happen, my bank of knowledge brought to the fore the fact that the trait exhibited by Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia was an adulthood acquisition attributable to socialization through association with persons of a culture that endorses the new philosophy he propounded at the Walewale rally. The answer to the puzzle surfaced when my bank of knowledge rebooted to an incident which occurred in 2018 when I was the Special Prosecutor at the Office of the Special Prosecutor. One morning I was presented, without my asking, through an anti-corruption activist friend of mine with a document with the subject matter: “GUIDING PRINCIPLES???” which was a memorandum addressed in hand to President Nana Akufo Addo recounting a conversation between President Nana Akufo-Addo and a friend of his when he was the Foreign Minister then residing at his East Legon residence on the Ambassadorial Road just next to my late friend, DCOP Mr. J. A . Adams’ residence. I was so alarmed by the content of the document that instead of destroying it after reading it as I was instructed by the sender, I rather sent the document by special delivery to the United Kingdom for safekeeping in case anything untoward befell me as the Special Prosecutor. I had to refresh my memory with the exact words used in stating Nana Akufo-Addo’s guiding principles that rhymed with Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s pronounced “guiding principle” should he become President of Ghana. The reader who has been following my discourse on the 2024 elections and the competence of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the anointed successor of President Akufo-Addo to be the sixth President of Ghana will recollect that I have been doubtful whether the Vice-President and flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) was going to be any different from the governance style and principles of his mentor and promoter the President. Bawumia’s declaration of principle of one’s mother being at the funeral ensuring that one cannot be denied Tuo Zaafi, rhymes with Nana Akufo-Addo’s guiding principles before he became President as contained in the document I received when I was the Special Prosecutor in 2018. I, therefore, propose to set forth what Dr. Bawumia was quoted as having said to the residents of Walewale in his native West Mamprusi Municipal Assembly area alongside the message that was delivered to me in 2018 to put this matter into proper perspective. Ghana Web with source as 3news.com quoted the NPP flagbearer and incumbent Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia as stating that: “We have just two weeks to elect a president for Ghana. Imagine the feeling when they say the President of Ghana is from your home. God has given us a great chance, and that power can be beneficial because, per our constitution, whatever the President says is final. Just imagine that the power is in your own house.” The news report paraphrased Dr. Bawumia as: “Citing a local proverb which means that if one has their own in the right places, what they deserve will not be denied them, the NPP flagbearer urged them to vote for none other than him,” and quoted him in the following words: “That is why we say, if your mother is at the funeral, you cannot be denied TZ (Tuo Zaafi). You will just be enjoying TZ with good soup every day. ... Therefore, we must not joke with this opportunity. God has given us a great gift. God has given us a penalty and chosen a goalkeeper for us to score. John Mahama has been President before, and he can only do four years, but I can do eight years by the grace of God,” President Nana Akufo-Addo’s “GUIDING PRINCIPLES???” I received which was dated 18 April 2018 contained three (3) distinct guiding principles , the first two of which the written recollection of the conversation listed as follows: (i) “.... that on the aircraft from Mali/Niger? to Accra, you told K4 that,..”Sir, wo ayƐ mistake” ...you should NOT have bought the Hotel on your name and should have used a TRUST to acquire it...and the answer was very simple; that K4 did NOT trust anybody (to do just that). ...” (ii) ...” “Ohene sƐ wo foro akoŋwa yi na sƐ wo aŋya sika a, wↄ bƐka sƐ wo yƐ okwasanpa ni”, however, that does NOT mean that ONLY ... [name] and ... [name] alone should make ALL the money ...the money must spread.” I have left out the names of the two persons named as not being the ONLY people alone to “make ALL the money...the money must spread.” I have also left out the third listed principle out of discretion and caution. My intention is not to vilify everybody in the government. I am just stating why in my considered view the electorate should not vote for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to replace Nana Akufo-Addo as President of Ghana on 7 December 2024. When one puts Nana Akufo-Addo’s suggested “GUIDING PRINCIPLES???” alongside his anointed successor, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s guiding principles one cannot escape the conclusion that Dr. Bawumia has internalized a new cultural, economic, political and social process of socialization that forms his present character through association with the President from 2008 when he chose him as his running mate to date. After refreshing my memory with what I read as Nana Akufo-Addo’s guiding principles I could not resist the fact that his government of family, friends and cronies from 7 January 2017 has reflected the principles contained in the document I received as the Special Prosecutor in 2018. Nana Akufo-Addo’s right hand man in actualizing the create, loot and share philosophy he espoused while he was John Agyekum Kufour’s Foreign Minister and throughout his contest to be President and assuming the Presidency has been none other than Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia. Nana Akufo-Addo actualized his guiding principles during his eight-year tenure of office with Bawumia and still wants more of those governing principles to continue by choosing to anoint his Vice-President and poodle as successor through their long game of election rigging for the succession. My responsibility as a constitutional activist is to inform the electorate of the facts to enable them to make an informed choice of the next President of Ghana. When Mahamudu Bawumia as Vice-President saw the opportunity to locate a STEM Senior High School in the northern sector of Ghana he sent it to his late mother’s home village in Kpasenkpe, in his native West Mamprusi Municipal Assembly Area. When there was an opportunity for a public/private partnership to develop the watermelon industry in the northern sector of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia ensured that the factory was sited at Logri within the environs of Walewale in his native West Mamprusi Municipal Assembly Area. The citizens of Ghana living in the North East Region where Dr. Bawumia hails from have had occasion to complain bitterly of discrimination in the distribution of development in that region. In an article headlined “One-Sided Distribution Of Development In the North East Region” published on Modern Ghana one author lamented as follows: “The North East has experienced some massive development over the last 7 years in the sector of Education, Health, Roads, Sports etc. The question is how are these developmental projects fairly distributed among the various vulnerable and deprived Districts?” The author answers the question as follows: Obviously No, because, some districts have been denied and neglect their share of the Regional Developmental Agenda base on some political merits while others had their shares. All the developmental projects have been shifted to one of the Region, some Districts have had tremendous growth and development while others still remains deprived and neglected. This (sic) simply the division of the Region into two, the Mamprugu areas and non Mamprugu areas.” The author then highlighted the inequality in distribution of development projects in the region by writing that: “West Mamprusi Municipal, East Mamprusi Municipal and Mamprugu Moaduri have gained some massive development in all sectors compare to Chereponi, Yunyoo-Nasua and Bunkpurugu-Nakpanduri. Several people have been asking why the three Mamprugu Districts gained much development than the others. The question remain unanswered....” The foregoing rhymes with the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia principles as stated by Bawumia at his hometown of Walewale in the West Mamprusi Municipality: “That is why we say, if your mother is at the funeral, you cannot be denied TZ (Tuo Zaafi). You will just be enjoying TZ with good soup every day.” As acting President of Ghana Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has shown zero competence for the protection of the citizens’ human security as evidenced by his inability to manage on-going conflicts in the country in the absence of the President from Ghana. This contrast very sharply with the character, honour, integrity and selflessness of his late distinguished father. Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, the father of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, worked with the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) government from 1988 to 7 January 1993 as Ghana’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. The NDC Government of Jerry John Rawlings appointed him as the first and second Chairperson of the Council of State under the Fourth Republic during the two tenures of that government. I was present as Deputy Attorney General representing the Attorney-General at a Council of State requested meeting to discuss matters affecting the development of Ghana which was convened at the Castle Gardens. Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia took everybody by surprise when, out of the blue, he raised the question of why the former NT which became part of independent Ghana in 1957 still could not boast of one single justice in the Supreme Court of Ghana responsible for adjudicating on cases for the whole country when the 1992 Constitution had enshrined regional balance in appointments to public office. Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia demanded to know whether the government was telling the public that there were no competent lawyers from Northern Ghana qualified to be appointed to the Supreme Court all those years since independence. President Jerry John Rawlings told the assembled gathering that Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, had made a valid point but he would have wished that the issue had been raised privately and not to the glare of the media with GBC-TV and other TV houses capturing what he had said. Jerry John Rawlings undertook to handle the aberration in the appointments to the Supreme Court which was not representative of the whole country at the time. The first supreme Court justice from Northern Ghana was nominated, opposed by the Ghana Bar Association and the NPP, and appointed to the Court in 1995. Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia after performing his duty to the North as he had done during the colonial era and since independence, never got himself involved in who was nominated from the North to the Supreme Court. I was most humbled by Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia’s integrity and selflessness for equality in Mother Ghana’s non-discriminatory power distribution in appointments to public office as mandated by the 1992 Constitution. I have tried to follow in the footsteps of the honesty, integrity, selflessness and service of our forebearers from the NT which later became Northern Ghana after independence. This contributed to my shock and trauma when I read Dr. Bawumia’s guiding principles. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and his siblings during the lifetime of their father were known NDC sympathizers with Dr. Bawumia’s mother being the women’s organizer for the West Mamprusi Constituency of the NDC. Young Mahamudu after his father had arranged with President Rawlings for him to return home and to be employed at the Bank of Ghana in 2000 became restless in 2004 when the NDC at its delegates congress in Kumasi decided that the next NDC running mate should be a northerner and a Muslim. Mahamudu Bawumia lobbied behind the scenes with Jerry John Rawlings to be nominated, as I was informed by the late President, whilst at the Bank of Ghana but lost out. The choice was for Professor Mills to make and not former President Rawlings. Nana Akufo-Addo had identified and groomed the restless and ambitious Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia whilst he was at the Bank of Ghana and lobbying to become the next Vice Presidential candidate to the NDC and the NPP simultaneously. The established loyalists of the NPP tradition objected to Nana Akufo-Addo’s proposal to make Dr. Bawumia his running mate for the 2008 elections but lost the contest once Nana Akufo-Addo won the presidential primaries to represent the NPP in those elections. The process of grooming, cloning, and the socialization of Dr. Bawumia as Nana Akufo-Addo’s poodle began leading to the sharing of the similar governance principles Bawumia espoused at the Walewale rally. Nana Akufo-Addo has so succeeded in grooming Dr. Bawumia in his own character and image that he can rest assured that when Dr. Bawumia succeeds him as President the fruits of “Ohene sƐ wo foro akoŋwa yi na sƐ wo aŋya sika a, wↄ bƐka sƐ wo yƐ okwasanpa ni”, however, that does NOT mean that ONLY ... [name] and ... [name] alone should make ALL the money ...the money must spread” will be protected from auditing for his family, friends and cronies under his regime to sleep in peace. The choice that faces the electorate on 7 December 2024 is, therefore, to vote Mahamudu Bawumia as Nana Akufo-Addo’s anointed successor and continue suffering under the create loot and share principle they both hold in common or vote for change to enable probity and accountability as demanded by the Constitution to prevail. I cannot as a person born in the then NT recommend Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as a person with the trait of honesty, integrity and selfless service exhibited by our forebearers from the NT to the Republic of Ghana to be elected on 7 December 2024 as President symbolizing a representation of northerners on an NPP ticket for Ghana. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is not only an opportunist and pretender, he has lost track of the high moral character associated with his own biological family and the forebearers of Northern Ghana. The Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia principle of “That is why we say, if your mother is at the funeral, you cannot be denied TZ (Tuo Zaafi). You will just be enjoying TZ with good soup every day” is inconsistent with and contravenes the Presidential Oath which Mahamudu Bawumia took as Vice-President which from his own Walewale confession he will abuse again should the electorate vote for him on 7 December 2024. Ghana needs a President from one of the two dominant political parties who can audit the economic mess the Nana Akufo-Addo/Bawumia inept government is going to leave behind. I have demonstrated hereinbefore that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is a clone and poodle of the incumbent President and is incapable of doing such an audit. With Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, it is the same old wine in a new bottle! We may as well put lipstick on a pig, as the saying goes. John Dramani Mahama is not a saint, but he is nobody’s poodle. He has the experience as a former President to audit the mess the Nana Akufo-Addo/ Bawumia government will leave behind. I have had problems with John Dramani Mahama in the past which are documented on my website. The constitutional situation on our hands, however, demands pragmatism to ensure probity and accountability after an eight year tenure of government. We need a candidate who can command a sizeable parliamentary representation to actualize an audit of the previous government. John Dramani Mahama whose audit Nana Akufo-Addo fears ought to be the best bet for the integrity of the 1992 Constitution in our present circumstances. The 1992 Constitution does not enshrine dynasty or inheritance by cronyism, that is why the electorate should aim for a change in government on 7 December 2024 to defend and preserve the Constitution of our Fourth Republic. Ghana must always come first! Martin A. B. K. Amidu 3 December 2024Allspring Multi-Sector Income Fund Announces Dividend of $0.07 (NYSEAMERICAN:ERC)
Innofactor Plc Stock Exchange release, on November 25, 2024, at 20:00 Finnish time Innofactor's Board of Directors has appointed Anni Wahlroos as Debuty CEO for Innofactor Group as of November 25, 2025. She will continue as the Chief People Officer of the Innofactor Group and as a member of the Group's Executive Board, reporting to CEO Sami Ensio. Wahlroos has been with Innofactor since 2015 and has been a member of the Group’s Executive Board since 2022. "I am grateful and humbled by the trust placed in me. At Innofactor, we have the most amazing professionals and clients in the Nordic countries, and it has been a joy and an honor to do my dream job with them for the past ten years. Innofactor's new strategy, the rapidly changing world, and artificial intelligence bring exciting opportunities for the future as well," says Anni Wahlroos. "I am very pleased with Anni's appointment as our Deputy CEO. Over the past ten years at Innofactor, Anni has demonstrated exceptional expertise and commitment to the company and her work. A skilled and motivated staff is at the core of Innofactor's operations – PeopleFirst. I am confident that Anni will continue to develop Innofactor and help the company achieve its growth targets also in the future," says CEO Sami Ensio. Espoo, November 25, 2024 INNOFACTOR PLC Board of Directors Additional information: Sami Ensio, CEO Innofactor Plc Tel. +358 50 584 2029 sami.ensio@innofactor.com Distribution: NASDAQ Helsinki Main media www.innofactor.com Innofactor Innofactor is the leading driver of the modern digital organization in the Nordic Countries for its about 1,000 customers in commercial and public sector. Innofactor has the widest solution offering and leading know-how in the Microsoft ecosystem in the Nordics. Innofactor has about 600 enthusiastic and motivated top specialists in Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway. The Innofactor Plc share is listed in the technology section of the main list of NASDAQ Helsinki Oy. www.innofactor.com #ModernDigitalOrganization #PeopleFirst #CreatingSmiles #BeTheRealYouCopy link Copied Copy link Copied Subscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Already a subscriber? Login It looks like a sparkling pét-nat-style wine in the glass: slightly hazy, pale pink, gently fizzy. It smells and tastes like a rosé prosecco spritz: herbal, spicy, refreshing but slightly bitter too. It’s just the thing you’ll want to drink over the looming hot summer holiday period. But it’s not made from grapes and it contains zero alcohol. In fact, the just-released new batch of Conscious Drink – a collaboration between bushfood company Kakadu Kitchen, food-rescue organisation OzHarvest, and non-alcoholic drinks producer ALTD Spirits – is made from blueberries that would otherwise have gone to landfill, and is flavoured with native botanicals from First Nations suppliers. Not only that, but some of the proceeds from the sale of the drink go to feed people in need and plant more native ingredients. Copy link Copied Copy link Copied Subscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Already a subscriber? Login Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. Fetching latest articlesNew shoplifting data explains why they’re locking up the toothpaste
New Jersey governor signs law blocking book bansInvestors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on AST SpaceMobile ASTS . And retail traders should know. We noticed this today when the positions showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga. Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with ASTS, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen. Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 15 options trades for AST SpaceMobile . This isn't normal. The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 53% bullish and 40%, bearish. Out of all of the options we uncovered, there was 1 put, for a total amount of $66,690, and 14, calls, for a total amount of $914,577. Expected Price Movements Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $12.5 to $35.0 for AST SpaceMobile over the recent three months. Analyzing Volume & Open Interest Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for AST SpaceMobile's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across AST SpaceMobile's significant trades, within a strike price range of $12.5 to $35.0, over the past month. AST SpaceMobile Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days Significant Options Trades Detected: Symbol PUT/CALL Trade Type Sentiment Exp. Date Ask Bid Price Strike Price Total Trade Price Open Interest Volume ASTS CALL SWEEP BEARISH 01/16/26 $16.9 $16.5 $16.5 $12.50 $160.0K 16.9K 261 ASTS CALL SWEEP BULLISH 01/16/26 $15.3 $15.3 $15.3 $12.50 $116.2K 16.9K 158 ASTS CALL SWEEP BEARISH 01/16/26 $15.5 $15.4 $15.4 $12.50 $115.5K 16.9K 79 ASTS CALL SWEEP BEARISH 12/20/24 $4.1 $4.0 $4.0 $22.00 $98.8K 4 247 ASTS PUT TRADE BULLISH 12/20/24 $2.9 $2.85 $2.85 $25.00 $66.6K 2.5K 243 About AST SpaceMobile AST SpaceMobile Inc is a satellite designer and manufacturer. The company is building a cellular broadband network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices, and off-the-shelf mobile phones based on extensive IP and patent portfolio. It has focused on eliminating the connectivity gaps faced by mobile subscribers and finally bringing broadband to the billions who remain unconnected. The Company's spaceMobile Service is being designed to provide cost-effective, high-speed Cellular Broadband services to end-users who are out of terrestrial cellular coverage using existing mobile devices. Having examined the options trading patterns of AST SpaceMobile, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance Where Is AST SpaceMobile Standing Right Now? Currently trading with a volume of 6,772,881, the ASTS's price is up by 2.03%, now at $24.59. RSI readings suggest the stock is currently is currently neutral between overbought and oversold. Anticipated earnings release is in 126 days. Expert Opinions on AST SpaceMobile A total of 2 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $37.85. Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. Click here for access .* Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Scotiabank keeps a Sector Outperform rating on AST SpaceMobile with a target price of $44. * Maintaining their stance, an analyst from UBS continues to hold a Buy rating for AST SpaceMobile, targeting a price of $31. Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest AST SpaceMobile options trades with real-time alerts from Benzinga Pro . © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.