After defeating the Washington Commanders in Week 11, the Philadelphia Eagles cemented themselves as heavy favorites in the NFC East, with only themselves to beat. It seems misfortune is trying to get in the way. Philadelphia will be without two key contributors, edge rusher Bryce Huff and receiver DeVonta Smith, when it visits the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football. © Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Huff was placed on injured reserve ahead of the contest to get surgery on his wrist. While not a new ailment, Huff’s surgery is a critical decision. He’s been having a down year – logging just 2.5 sacks through 10 games – in part because of the injury . He’s been playing with a cast on his wrist for part of the year, unequivocally impacting his performance. In getting the surgery now, the Eagles are betting that they can win the division without him, and that he’ll be at full strength in the playoffs, when they need him most. While Huff will miss at least four games, Philadelphia hopes Smith only misses Sunday’s NFC clash. Smith, like Huff, has been dealing with his ailment (a hamstring injury) for a few weeks. He hadn’t practiced between the Thursday Night Football win and Friday, when he was officially ruled out. Related: Eagles Ex Faces 50 Years in Prison for COVID Fraud It’s entirely possible, if not likely, that Smith misses Sunday’s action but returns for Week 13, when the Eagles play the Baltimore Ravens. Against Super Bowl-caliber competition, they’ll need his assistance. Smith is slightly behind his career averages in terms of per-game production, generating 516 yards and four scores through nine games. It seems his hamstring has had a tangible impact on that, especially in the last two weeks. Against the Dallas Cowboys and Commanders, he posted 14 and 29 yards, respectively. Needless to say, both absences hamper Philadelphia as it travels across the country. But as 2.5-point favorites, the Eagles must stave off a feisty Rams team if it hopes to keep its top-seed dreams in good shape. Related: Eagles Defense Preparing For Main Part Of Sean McVay's Offense
Never mind that he has recently issued arrest warrant for the Israeli Prime Minister Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister, Mr. Gallant, Mr. Karim Khan the British national who is the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague was largely a tool in the Western political establishment to embarrass and tarnish non-Western political figures, majorly from Africa, but was recently extended to the Russian leader, President Vladimir Putin. For the same arrest warrant, issued against the Israeli Prime Minister and former Defence Minister, the West and the U.S have been violently denouncing the effrontery of the ICC prosecutor to incriminate Mr. Netanyahu as the court indictee. But Mr. Karim Khan himself has a heavy moral albatross hanging on his neck. After his appointment to head the prosecution of the ICC was cheered by key Western countries, including Isreal, he was supposed to function exclusively as an attack dog focused on non-Western political figures. As an extension of the U.S led Western proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, he issued the notorious warrant to arrest Russian leader, whose alleged infraction consisted chiefly in removing children to safety from combat zones. Despite that the allegation for which the arrest warrant was issued cannot stand to any serious legal, let alone moral, scrutiny, the Western political establishment and their affiliated media (which basks in tainted free speech and independence) went to town to smear the Russian leader, claiming their obligation to arrest him, if he steps foot on their soil. Russia, as a non-signatory to the Rome Statute that established the ICC, deplored the arrest warrant and maintained that it neither recognises the court nor is under any obligations to take serious, let alone, carry out its pronouncements. It was obvious from the very beginning that the purported arrest warrant of the Russian leader was a compelling travesty, without any legal value, except for the political embarrassment and intimidation of Moscow. But, even on these, Moscow refuted the slander and the flagging reputation of ICC, fell further to the mud as a mere political tool to intimidate non-Western political figures. Karim Khan, now blustering to fend off allegation of sexual misdemeanor against the staff of his office, comes with the deadly moral stigma of one who came to equity without clean hands. His moral frailty, which has shown in his alleged predatory behaviour against the staff of his office, has also demonstrated his character flaw and why he so fitted in, to take on, the job of a political hunter disguised as an international court prosecutor. With an obvious reputational damage, staring him in the face, the damage control of lamely indicting the Western propped-Israeli Prime Minister, will offer no redemption to the crises of his flaw character. The ICC itself has done very little to shake off, a dominant view on non-Western communities that it is essentially, an institutional political witch-hunt and this account for some of its anomalies, such as Western countries, chiefly, the U.S picking up some of its bills, but stays away from its jurisdiction. Mr. Karim Khan like the ICC itself has so much soul-searching to do, as to their relevance in an emerging trends of multilateralism with implications for broader and wider institutional representations for genuinely global governance.
Marshall's 17 lead Albany over Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 93-50
( MENAFN - media OutReach Newswire) HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 20 December 2024 - Led by Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the Jockey Club Multiple Pathways Initiative – CLAP-TECH Pathway (CLAP-TECH) has conducted its second annual survey, exploring the talent demands of the Information and Communications technology (ICT) and Creative Media industries. The survey delved into aspects including starting salaries, hiring process duration, in-demand positions and overall talent supply. It aims to provide insights into employer expectations regarding the skills of fresh graduates with higher diplomas or university degrees, while providing valuable reference for students and industries. Andrew Ho, Director of Jockey Club Multiple Pathways Initiative - CLAP-TECH Centre, (left) and Patrick Tam, Principal Advisor at 3 Screens Strategic Advisors Limited (right), an industry partner of Jockey Club Multiple Pathways Initiative - CLAP-TECH Pathway, discussed CLAP-TECH's survey findings and their implications. This year's survey results indicate a growing recognition among employers in both industries of the capabilities of higher diploma graduates. In the age of artificial intelligence, employers are placing greater emphasis on soft skills and acknowledging the role of Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VPET) in cultivating talent with market-relevant expertise. Starting salaries for higher diploma and university degree fresh graduates remain between HKD 17,000 and HKD 23,000 Employers' recognition of higher diploma graduates improves compared to last year According to the survey, approximately 60% of employers believed that higher diploma graduates possess soft and hard skills comparable to, or even stronger than, those of university degree graduates. Employers' recognition of the soft and hard skills of higher diploma graduates has increased by 8.8 and 17.1 percentage points respectively, compared to last year. This growing acknowledgment is evident in graduates' starting salaries . In the Creative Media industry, most higher diploma graduates (77.2%) and university degree fresh graduates (66.8%) receive a starting salary of HKD 17,000 to HKD 23,000. Notably, the proportion of higher diploma graduates with starting salaries between HKD 20,000 and HKD 23,000 has risen by 9.7 percentage points compared to last year. In the ICT industry, the majority of higher diploma graduates (68%) fit within the HKD 17,000 to HKD 23,000 starting salary range, mirroring last year's findings (64.7%), while over half (56.4%) of university degree fresh graduates are in the same salary bracket this year. Regarding hiring process duration and salary increments , employers in the ICT and Creative Media sectors reported an average time of nearly three months to fill suitable vacancies, with 8.8% of ICT employers indicating that some positions may take more than six months to fill. Some 70% of responding employers expect salary increments for higher diploma and university degree fresh graduates in 2025 to be between 2% and 5.9%, aligning with market expectations. Andrew Ho, Director of the Jockey Club Multiple Pathways Initiative - CLAP-TECH Centre , said: "We are pleased to see a significant annual increase in employers' recognition of higher diploma graduates' soft and hard skills. Starting salaries for higher diploma graduates have also increased this year, particularly in the Creative Media sector. This reflects a growing market demand for quality graduate talent and demonstrates that higher diploma graduates with the right skills and qualifications are becoming increasingly competitive in the job market.” Academic achievements are a lesser priority, with soft skills gaining greater competitiveness in the age of AI As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape education and the workplace, the survey revealed that over half (54.6%) of the surveyed employers have fully or partially integrated advanced technologies like AI and generative AI into their daily operations, while over one-third (37.4%) are considering such integration. However, as businesses increasingly adopt these technologies, employers prioritise soft skills such as "curiosity and lifelong learning", "analytical thinking", and "resilience, flexibility, and agility". These skills are deemed more important than the knowledge and skills of AI and big data, which ranks fifth in importance in the next five to ten years. During job interviews, employers have shifted their focus from candidates' internships or practical experience to demonstrating soft skills such as communication (81.7%), problem-solving abilities (81.5%) and leadership potential (57.1%). Remarkably, the proportion of employers in the ICT and creative media sectors who value leadership potential surged, nearly doubling and increasing by over 1.7 times respectively compared to the previous year. More than 24.2% of employers in the ICT industry and 17.2% in the Creative Media industry believe that current candidates lack these skills, while academic performance and credentials are considered a lesser priority. Employers in the Creative Media industry indicate that in the next five to ten years, talent will need to acquire“creative thinking” and "technological literacy" along with skills related to "artificial intelligence and big data". Patrick Tam, Principal Advisor at 3 Screens Strategic Advisors Limited , an industry partner of the Jockey Club Multiple Pathways Initiative - CLAP-TECH Pathway, stated:“In today's fast-evolving digital landscape, employers are increasingly in need of team members who possess a balanced blend of soft and hard skills. While proficiency in industry-specific skills is crucial, we also value employees who exhibit a strong sense of curiosity and a commitment to lifelong learning. As artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent in our daily workflow, it is imperative that our workforce applies their analytical skills, problem-solving abilities, and judgement to ensure the responsible implementation of AI technologies. The qualities of resilience, flexibility and agility will render employees indispensable in today's dynamic work environment.” Andrew Ho, Director of the Jockey Club Multiple Pathways Initiative - CLAP-TECH Centre , said:“To ensure that the CLAP-TECH curriculum aligns with industry needs, we engaged with industry partners early on to gain insights into emerging career trends and the essential role of both soft and hard skills. Through a tripartite partnership among HKBU, industry partners and secondary schools, we are dedicated to nurturing talents equipped with the skills necessary for the future workforce. The findings of this survey validate our vision: industry participation is key for talent development, and the significance of soft skills must not be overlooked in today's rapidly evolving technology landscape." Over 90% of employers agree that vocational education produces more graduates with in-demand skills The HKSAR Government rebranded vocational education and training in Hong Kong as Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VPET) in 2016, establishing a diverse range of teaching models and pathways for further education. The survey shows that over 90% of respondents believe VPET helps enhance the soft and hard skills, work attitudes and daily competencies of higher diploma graduates, thereby enriching the talent pool. Some 30% of the respondents stated that VPET can "significantly improve" practical skills. Andrew Ho, Director of the Jockey Club Multiple Pathways Initiative - CLAP-TECH Centre , said:“Our survey results indicate a greater awareness among respondents regarding initiatives such as Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS), Industrial Attachment, and Career and Life Planning Grant. However, there remains a general lack of understanding regarding VPET. This highlights the need for the government to enhance VPET and its promotion to both employers and the public, emphasising its critical role in talent development and skills enhancement. This commitment will empower every talented young individual to chart their career paths, fully leverage their strengths and meet the future demands for various professional skills." Funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the Jockey Club Multiple Pathways Initiative – CLAP-TECH Pathway (CLAP-TECH) commissioned a market research company to conduct its second annual online survey in October this year, interviewing a total of 500 local employers who had been involved in the recruitment process in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and/ or Creative Media industries in the past 12 months. Over 60% of the respondents frequently hire employees (every few months or multiple times per month) and have final decision-making authority or influence in the recruitment process. MENAFN19122024003551001712ID1109014858 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Best TV of 2024: A modestly better lineup than usual, but why didn’t it feel that way?A recent health initiative by the health-tech start-up, Knoxxi Health Ghana, at Mallam Market has uncovered concerning health trends among local traders. Over 70% of the traders in the market were found to have various stages of high blood pressure, with many of them unaware of their condition. This revelation came after a month-long community health program, where Knoxxi Health, in collaboration with the Ablekuma North Health Directorate, provided free health check-ups to market women. The program, which benefited over 1,580 women, aimed at promoting wellness and encouraging early detection of health issues, especially non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The results were striking. Only 28.3% of the participants had normal blood pressure, while the remaining 71.7% were affected by hypertension at varying levels, from stage one to crisis stage. Notably, 31.9% had stage one hypertension, 22.9% had stage two hypertension, and 14.9% were in an elevated blood pressure range. Alarmingly, 2.09% of the women were found to be at crisis level hypertension, with the majority of these cases occurring in individuals aged 65 and above. However, some traders aged between 25 and 64 also exhibited signs of crisis-level hypertension. Knoxxi Health’s founder and CEO, Michael Amankwa, described the situation as “alarming,” pointing out that, prior to the screenings, 78% of the women had confidently claimed they were not affected by high blood pressure. This disparity highlights a critical gap in health awareness, especially in underserved communities where market traders often prioritize their livelihoods over regular health check-ups. Beyond hypertension, the health screenings also uncovered concerning levels of blood sugar. While not as alarming as the hypertension findings, over 47% of the traders exhibited fasting blood sugar results indicating possible prediabetes or diabetic conditions, with 15% showing diabetic and prediabetic conditions after meals. The health checks, which were offered at a subsidized fee after the free screening phase, included blood pressure monitoring, blood sugar tests, oxygen levels, body temperature, body mass index (BMI), and mental health assessments. These vital signs were tracked and analyzed using Knoxxi Health’s digital platform, which collects data, provides actionable insights, and offers real-time health tips to the participants. The platform does not diagnose diseases but helps individuals monitor their health and take timely actions based on the data collected. One of the most significant findings from the initiative was the traders’ reluctance to seek medical help despite knowing their health was at risk. Many expressed concerns about missing out on profits by leaving their stalls for medical consultations. As a result, Knoxxi Health worked closely with the Ablekuma North Health Directorate to dispatch medical doctors to the market, ensuring that urgent cases received attention on-site. The program also highlighted the potential of technology in healthcare, as Knoxxi Health’s digital solutions enabled continuous monitoring and early intervention. By analyzing trends in vital signs, the platform helps healthcare professionals identify risks before they escalate into serious health conditions. This proactive approach aligns with the goals of Ghana’s Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Policy, which focuses on strengthening early detection and prevention to reduce the burden of chronic diseases. Dr. Valerie Ida Osei-Tutu, a Public Health Physician Specialist at the Ablekuma North Health Directorate, emphasized the importance of this collaboration. She noted that the use of technology in monitoring health metrics allows for early intervention and more effective management of NCDs. Similarly, Jemima Adiyiah Obeng, Principal Nursing Officer at the Directorate, highlighted how the Knoxxi Health platform enables healthcare providers to detect early warning signs in real-time, allowing for timely intervention. The market women themselves expressed gratitude for the continuous support provided by the Knoxxi Health team and the Ablekuma North Health Directorate. Many said they felt more empowered to take charge of their health as a result of the regular screenings and educational insights. Looking ahead, Knoxxi Health plans to expand its services to other markets, including Madina Market in Accra. Several companies are also preparing to integrate Knoxxi Health’s solutions into their workplace wellness programs, recognizing the value of frequent health monitoring and insights in maintaining the overall health of employees. Through its innovative approach to preventive healthcare, Knoxxi Health is paving the way for a healthier future for underserved communities across Ghana, ensuring that even the most vulnerable populations have access to affordable and accessible health services.
Interview with Manasvini Krishna, Founder, Boss as a Service( MENAFN - GetNews) "C5ISR Market"The C5ISR market is projected to reach USD 19,280.8 million by 2029, from USD 10,720.1 million in 2024, at a CAGR of 12.5%. The report " C5ISR Market by Solution (Hardware, Software, and Services), End User (Army, Navy, Airforce, and government & Law Enforcement), Installation (New Installations, and Upgrades) and Region - Global Forecast to 2029 " The C5ISR market is projected to reach USD 19,280.8 million by 2029, from USD 10,720.1 million in 2024, at a CAGR of 12.5%. The growth of the C5ISR market is driven by several factors, including evolving cybersecurity threats. Download PDF Brochure @ Browse 233 market data Tables and 77 Figures spread through 340 Pages and in-depth TOC on "C5ISR Market" View detailed Table of Content here - In the defense sector, C5ISR technologies are transforming operational effectiveness by enhancing situational awareness, decision-making, and mission execution. Modern militaries are increasingly relying on integrated C5ISR systems for seamless communication, robust cybersecurity, and real-time intelligence across various domains. The growing complexity of global security challenges is driving defense organizations to invest in resilient, adaptable, and technologically advanced C5ISR systems. As nations strive to maintain a tactical edge in modern warfare, the demand for innovative C5ISR capabilities continues to grow, underpinned by significant government funding and a focus on next-generation defense strategies. Based on end user, the army segment is dominating the C5ISR market from 2024 to 2029 As the army has a wide operational scope and reliance on integrated systems for land-based missions, this segment is leading the C5ISR market based on end users. For mission-critical tasks like battlefield awareness, real-time command and control, secure communications, and intelligence collection, armies need sophisticated C5ISR capabilities. In complex and dynamic situations, these talents are essential for maintaining operational effectiveness. The army segment's supremacy is also fueled by rising investments in updating ground troops with technology like cyber defense, unmanned ground vehicles, and electronic warfare systems. The need for complete C5ISR solutions is still at the forefront of the market since land forces continue to play a key role in military operations across the globe. Based on installation, the new installation segment is estimated to dominate the market from 2024 to 2029 As defense forces throughout the world are adopting more sophisticated and upgraded systems, the new installation segment is anticipated to dominate the C5ISR market based on installation. Armed forces are making significant investments in cutting-edge C5ISR technology as they concentrate more on improving their ability to counter new threats like cyberattacks and multi-domain warfare. Advanced technologies that cannot always be effortlessly retrofitted into older systems, such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics, and autonomous systems, require new installations. Additionally, this sector has grown to be the largest in the market due to modernization initiatives in emerging economies and the requirement for new infrastructure to support cutting-edge technology. North America is expected to capture the largest share during the forecast period in 2024. Because of the North American region's strong defense spending, especially from the US, which makes up the greatest portion of global military spending, North America has the largest market share in the C5ISR industry. To keep up its technological advantage in multi-domain operations, such as land, air, sea, space, and cyber warfare globally, the US Department of Defense (DoD) is making significant investments in cutting-edge C5ISR technologies. Major C5ISR companies that foster innovation and provide state-of-the-art solutions, such Lockheed Martin Corporation (US), Northrop Grumman Corporation (US), General Dynamics Corporation (US), and RTX Corporation (US), are also based in the region. The emphasis on updating military hardware, the expanding use of artificial intelligence and cyber defenses, and the growing demand for integrated solutions to further combat new threats The major players in the region include General Dynamics Corporation (US), Leidos (US), Lockheed Martin Corporation (US), CACI International Inc. (US), Airbus (France), Northrop Grumman (US), Lockheed Martin Corporation (US), and L3harris Technologies Inc. MENAFN19122024003238003268ID1109014551 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.