fb 777 casino Mahamudu Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party and John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress are expected to top the polls. Voting closed on Saturday evening in most polling centres throughout Ghana, bringing to an end the presidential and legislative elections poised to be a litmus test for democracy in a region shaken by extremist violence and coups. The capital, Accra, was almost a ghost town for much of the day. Even vibrant Oxford Street, one of the city’s commercial hubs, saw little activity on the day that Ghanaians went to the polls to elect a new president and 276 legislators. About 18.7 million people are registered to vote in the West African country hit by one of the worst economic crises in a generation. However, the two main candidates offer little hope for change for the nation. Early results were expected late on Saturday. The first official results will be released by Tuesday. Ghana used to be a poster child for democracy in the region. At a time when coups threatened democracy in West Africa, Ghana has emerged as a beacon of democratic stability with a history of peaceful elections. It had also been an economic powerhouse, priding itself on its economic development. But in recent years, it has struggled with a profound economic crisis, including surging inflation and a lack of jobs. According to an opinion poll released earlier this year by Afrobarometer, a research group, 82% of Ghanaians feel their country is headed in the wrong direction. Although 12 candidates are running to become Ghana’s next president, Saturday’s election – like previous ones since the return of multiparty politics in 1992 – has emerged as a two-horse race. Vice president Mahamudu Bawumia is the candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party, or NPP, which has struggled to resolve the economic crisis. He faces off against former president John Dramani Mahama, the leader of the main opposition party National Democratic Congress, or NDC. He was voted out in 2016 after failing to deliver on promises for the economy. Opinion polls point at a potential comeback for Mr Mahama. A local research company, Global InfoAnalytics says he is projected to get 52.2% of the vote, followed by Mr Bawumia, with 41.4%.

West Ham forward Michail Antonio is in a stable condition following a road traffic accident, the Premier League club have announced. The 34-year-old is conscious after being taken to hospital in London following the incident in Epping, Essex on Saturday afternoon. The update was issued after unverified images of a heavily damaged Ferrari began to circulate online. West Ham United can confirm that Michail Antonio is in a stable condition following a road traffic accident this afternoon in the Essex area. Michail is conscious and communicating and is currently under close supervision at a central London hospital. At this difficult time, we... — West Ham United (@WestHam) A club statement read: “West Ham United can confirm that Michail Antonio is in a stable condition following a road traffic accident this afternoon in the Essex area. “Michail is conscious and communicating and is currently under close supervision at a central London hospital. “At this difficult time, we kindly ask everyone to respect the privacy of Michail and his family. “The club will make no further comment this evening, but will issue a further update in due course.” It was West Ham’s second statement on the matter after an earlier one confirming an accident had taken place. Essex Fire Service also confirmed firefighters had attended the scene and released a man trapped in his car. A statement read: “Crews were called to High Road, Epping, at 1.02pm this afternoon after reports of a road traffic collision involving one car. “In arrival, firefighters reported that a man was trapped in his car and worked to release him by 1.45pm. The casualty was left in the care of the Ambulance Service.” A further statement from Essex Police added: “Officers investigating a serious collision in Epping are asking for witnesses and dash cam footage. “We were called shortly after 12.50pm on Saturday 7 December to Coppice Row, Epping, following reports of what is believed to be a single vehicle collision involving a Ferrari. “Emergency services attended and the driver has been taken to hospital. “The vehicle has been recovered and we are no longer on scene.” London-born Antonio, a Jamaica international, is in his 10th season with West Ham after joining the club from Nottingham Forest in 2015. He has scored 83 goals in 323 appearances for the club and helped them win the Europa Conference League in 2023. Antonio began his footballing journey with non-League Tooting and Mitcham before moving into the professional ranks with Reading. He has also had spells with Cheltenham, Southampton, Colchester and Sheffield Wednesday. A number of West Ham’s rival clubs have posted well wishes. A social media post from Arsenal read: “Everyone at Arsenal sends their love, support and well wishes to Michail, his family and West Ham United.” Chelsea said: “The thoughts of everyone at Chelsea FC are with Michail and his family.” A message from Liverpool read: “The thoughts and prayers of everyone at LFC are with Michail and his family.” West Ham were not playing on Saturday but host Wolves at the London Stadium on Monday.

Washington, Dec 7 (AP) President Joe Biden is weighing whether to issue sweeping pardons for officials and allies who the White House fears could be unjustly targeted by President-elect Donald Trump's administration, a preemptive move that would be a novel and risky use of the president's extraordinary constitutional power. The deliberations so far are largely at the level of White House lawyers. But Biden himself has discussed the topic with some senior aides, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday to discuss the sensitive subject. No decisions have been made, the people said, and it is possible Biden opts to do nothing at all. Pardons are historically afforded to those accused of specific crimes – and usually those who have already been convicted of an offense — but Biden's team is considering issuing them for those who have not even been investigated, let alone charged. They fear that Trump and his allies, who have boasted of enemies lists and exacting “retribution”, could launch investigations that would be reputationally and financially costly for their targets even if they don't result in prosecutions. While the president's pardon power is absolute, Biden's use in this fashion would mark a significant expansion of how they are deployed, and some Biden aides fear it could lay the groundwork for an even more drastic usage by Trump. They also worry that issuing pardons would feed into claims by Trump and his allies that the individuals committed acts that necessitated immunity. Recipients could include infectious-disease specialist Dr. Anthony Fauci, who was instrumental in combating the coronavirus pandemic and who has become a pariah to conservatives angry about mask mandates and vaccines. Others include witnesses in Trump's criminal or civil trials and Biden administration officials who have drawn the ire of the incoming president and his allies. Some fearful former officials have reached out to the Biden White House preemptively seeking some sort of protection from the future Trump administration, one of the people said. It follows Biden's decision to pardon his son Hunter — not just for his convictions on federal gun and tax violations, but for any potential federal offense committed over an 11-year period, as the president feared that Trump allies would seek to prosecute his son for other offenses. That could serve as a model for other pardons Biden might issue to those who could find themselves in legal jeopardy under Trump. Biden is not the first to consider such pardons — Trump aides considered them for him and his supporters involved in his failed efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election that culminated in a violent riot at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. But he could be the first to issue them since Trump's pardons never materialised before he left office nearly four years ago. Gerald Ford granted a “full, free, and absolute pardon” in 1974 to his predecessor, Richard Nixon, over the Watergate scandal. He believed a potential trial would “cause prolonged and divisive debate over the propriety of exposing to further punishment and degradation a man who has already paid the unprecedented penalty of relinquishing the highest elective office of the United States", as written in the pardon proclamation. Politico was first to report that Biden was studying the use of preemptive pardons. On the campaign trail, Trump made no secret of his desire to seek revenge on those who prosecuted him or crossed him. Trump has talked about “enemies from within" and circulated social media posts that call for the jailing of Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former Vice President Mike Pence and Sens. Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer. He also zeroed in on former Rep. Liz Cheney, a conservative Republican who campaigned for Harris and helped investigate January 6, and he promoted a social media post that suggested he wanted military tribunals for supposed treason. Kash Patel, whom Trump has announced as his nominee to be director of the FBI, has listed dozens of former government officials he wanted to “come after”. Richard Painter, a Trump critic who served as the top White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, said he was reluctantly in support of having Biden issue sweeping pardons to people who could be targeted by Trump's administration. He said he hoped that would “clean the slate” for the incoming president and encourage him to focus on governing, not on punishing his political allies. “It's not an ideal situation at all,” Painter said. “We have a whole lot of bad options confronting us at this point.” While the Supreme Court this year ruled that the president enjoys broad immunity from prosecution for what could be considered official acts, his aides and allies enjoy no such shield. Some fear that Trump could use the promise of a blanket pardon to encourage his allies to take actions they might otherwise resist for fear of running afoul of the law. “There could be blatant illegal conduct over the next four years, and he can go out and pardon his people before he leaves office,” Painter said. "But if he's going to do that, he's going to do that anyway regardless of what Biden does." More conventional pardons from Biden, such as those for sentencing disparities for people convicted of federal crimes, are expected before the end of the year, the White House said. (AP) PY PY (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)Risk adjusted net present value: What is the current valuation of Atara Biotherapeutics’s ATA-3219?

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Ancient Roman home — and luxurious decorations — uncovered in France. See elite findsThe World United in Istanbul: Calls for Global Solutions at the TRT World Forum 12-11-2024 11:20 PM CET | Associations & Organizations Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: US China Brand, LLC Influential leaders, intellectuals, and experts from around the world convened in Istanbul for TRT World Forum 2024. Image: https://www.getnews.info/uploads/f637404586f649d246b50d2fecd385e8.jpg Influential leaders, intellectuals, and experts from around the world convened in Istanbul for TRT World Forum 2024. Held for the 8th time this year under the theme "A World at Breaking Point: Managing Crises and Transformations", the forum took place on November 29-30, gaining significant global attention as a platform for exploring solutions to pressing global issues. Nearly 150 speakers from over 30 countries and more than 1500 participants from diverse regions engaged in two days of dialogue in Istanbul, fostering international solidarity and understanding. TRT World Forum: A Platform for Global Solutions and Transformations Policymakers, journalists, academics, and representatives from both the public and private sectors from around the world came together to address critical issues affecting humanity, ranging from geopolitical crises to the societal impacts of artificial intelligence. Throughout the forum, eight panel sessions and eight roundtable meetings were held. As one of the most high-profile forums in the global media industry, TRT World Forum transformed Istanbul into a hub for international dialogue and solutions. The opening speeches of this significant gathering were delivered by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Presidency's Head of Communications Fahrettin Altun and Director General of TRT Mehmet Zahid Sobaci. During the ceremony, a special artwork inspired by Al-Aqsa Mosque was presented to President Erdogan. Image: https://www.getnews.info/uploads/c0d5aee3ba401abedaf2b5962ac885a2.jpg The Future of the World Debated in Istanbul The first day of the forum commenced with a session titled "Elections 2024 in US and EU Members". Additionally, key sessions were held on topics such as "Turkey's Path Forward," "Media Distortion Exposed," and "Addressing Gross Violations of Human Rights in Conflicts." The forum garnered widespread attention in global media, becoming a focal point for calls for international solutions. The forum hosted prominent figures from the worlds of politics, academia, and media, with renowned speakers from both national and international arenas. Notable participants included former President of Republic of Croatia Ivo Josipovic, Minister of Information of Lebanon Ziad Makary, former President of Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Dr. Hakan Fidan, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Malta Dr. Evarist Bartolo, Former Member of European Parliament Elmar Brok, European Institute, London School of Economics and Political Science Professor Prof. Iain Begg, Director of the Istituto Affari Internazionali Dr. Nathalie Tocci, Director of Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS) of the Vrije Universiteit Prof. Luis Simon, Head of European Union Delegation to Turkey Ambassador Thomas Hans Ossowski, Former Secretary of State for Europe in Portugal Dr. Bruno Macaes. Influential leaders, intellectuals, and experts from around the world convened in Istanbul for TRT World Forum 2024. Held for the 8th time this year under the theme "A World at Breaking Point: Managing Crises and Transformations", the forum took place on November 29-30, gaining significant global attention as a platform for exploring solutions to pressing global issues. Nearly 150 speakers from over 30 countries and more than 1500 participants from diverse regions engaged in two days of dialogue in Istanbul, fostering international solidarity and understanding. TRT World Forum: A Platform for Global Solutions and Transformations Policymakers, journalists, academics, and representatives from both the public and private sectors from around the world came together to address critical issues affecting humanity, ranging from geopolitical crises to the societal impacts of artificial intelligence. Throughout the forum, eight panel sessions and eight roundtable meetings were held. As one of the most high-profile forums in the global media industry, TRT World Forum transformed Istanbul into a hub for international dialogue and solutions. The opening speeches of this significant gathering were delivered by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Presidency's Head of Communications Fahrettin Altun and Director General of TRT Mehmet Zahid Sobaci. During the ceremony, a special artwork inspired by Al-Aqsa Mosque was presented to President Erdogan. The Future of the World Debated in Istanbul The first day of the forum commenced with a session titled "Elections 2024 in US and EU Members". Additionally, key sessions were held on topics such as "Turkey's Path Forward," "Media Distortion Exposed," and "Addressing Gross Violations of Human Rights in Conflicts." The forum garnered widespread attention in global media, becoming a focal point for calls for international solutions. The forum hosted prominent figures from the worlds of politics, academia, and media, with renowned speakers from both national and international arenas. Notable participants included former President of Republic of Croatia Ivo Josipovic, Minister of Information of Lebanon Ziad Makary, former President of Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Dr. Hakan Fidan, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Malta Dr. Evarist Bartolo, Former Member of European Parliament Elmar Brok, European Institute, London School of Economics and Political Science Professor Prof. Iain Begg, Director of the Istituto Affari Internazionali Dr. Nathalie Tocci, Director of Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS) of the Vrije Universiteit Prof. Luis Simon, Head of European Union Delegation to Turkey Ambassador Thomas Hans Ossowski, Former Secretary of State for Europe in Portugal Dr. Bruno Macaes. Media Contact Company Name: Turkish Radio and Television Corporation Contact Person: TRT Press Office Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=the-world-united-in-istanbul-calls-for-global-solutions-at-the-trt-world-forum ] City: Ankara Country: Turkey Website: https://www.trtworldforum.com/ This release was published on openPR.

CARSON, Calif. (AP) — The LA Galaxy and the New York Red Bulls have been Major League Soccer mainstays since the league’s inaugural season in 1996, signing glamorous players and regularly competing for championships through years of success and setbacks in a league that’s perpetually improving and expanding. Yet just a year ago, both of these clubs appeared to be a very long way from the stage they’ll share Saturday in the . were one of MLS’ worst teams after a season of internal turmoil and public fan dissent, while were merely a steady mediocrity seeking yet another coach to chart a new direction. A year later, these MLS founders are meeting in the league’s first Cup final between teams from North America’s two biggest markets. “Two original clubs being able to put themselves in this situation, I think it’s great,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “To see two clubs that have been at it as long as this league has been around be here, I think it’s a special moment. Couldn’t be two more different and contrasting styles as well, which could make for an interesting game, and I would imagine a high-intensity game.” , who are favored to cap their transformation by winning their team’s record sixth MLS championship with a roster that’s dramatically different from its past few groups — albeit with one massive injury absence in the final. The transformation of the Red Bulls happened only in the postseason, when a team that hadn’t won a playoff game since 2017 suddenly turned into world-beaters under rookie coach Sandro Schwarz. New York struggled through the final three months of league play with only two wins before posting road playoff victories over , and to storm into the Cup final. “We know about the history (of our club), and we know tomorrow will define what that could mean,” Schwarz said Friday. “To feel the pressure for tomorrow, it’s necessary, because it’s a final, and without pressure it’s not possible to bring the best quality on the field.” The Red Bulls have never won an MLS Cup, only reaching the championship match once before. What’s more, they’ve somehow never won a Cup in any tournament, although they’ve collected three Supporters’ Shields for MLS’ best regular-season record. The Galaxy’s trophy case is large and loaded, and those five MLS Cups are on the top shelf. But not much of that team success happened in the past decade for the club that famously brought David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard and many other international stars to Hollywood. In fact, this season has ended a grim era for the Galaxy, who haven’t lost all year at their frequently renamed home stadium — which was the site of protests and boycotts just a year ago. The club’s fans were tired of LA’s steady underachievement and ineptitude in the front office run by team president Chris Klein, who was fired in May 2023. One year ago Thursday, the Galaxy hired Will Kuntz, a longtime Los Angeles FC executive who engineered his new club’s roster transformation, most dramatically by landing new designated players Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil — two international talents that LAFC also had in its sights. “I give Will and the group up there a ton of credit,” Vanney said. “It’s one thing to have players you like, and it’s a whole other thing to get them here and get them to connect with your group.” Pec and Paintsil combined for 32 goals and 27 assists while boosting the incumbent talents of striker Dejan Joveljic and Riqui Puig, the gifted Barcelona product who runs the offense from the midfield. The Galaxy clicked in the postseason, scoring a jaw-dropping 16 goals in four matches. Puig has been the Galaxy’s most important player all season, but he won’t be in the MLS Cup Final after tearing a knee ligament late in last week’s . The loss of Puig — who somehow kept playing on his injured knee, and even delivered the game-winning pass to Joveljic — makes the Galaxy even more difficult to anticipate. “He played a lot in the regular season, so it was not so easy to analyze all these games now without him,” Schwarz said. “But the main focus is to analyze what we need to do, because it’s not clear now how they’re playing without him.” The Galaxy could give some of Puig’s responsibilities to Marco Reus, the longtime Dortmund standout who joined LA in August. Reus is nursing a hamstring injury, but Vanney expects him to play. ___ AP soccer: