KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nico Iamaleava threw for 209 yards and four touchdowns to lead No. 10 Tennessee to a 56-0 victory over UTEP on Saturday. The Volunteers (9-2) overcame a sluggish start to roll up the impressive win. Both teams were scoreless in the first quarter, but Tennessee found its rhythm. Grad student receiver Bru McCoy, who hadn't caught a touchdown pass this season, had two. Peyton Lewis also ran for two scores. Tennessee's defensive line, which had no sacks in last week's loss to Georgia, had three against the Miners. UTEP (2-9) struggled with two missed field goals and three turnovers. Tennessee's offense came alive with 28 points in the second quarter. In the final four drives of the quarter, Iamaleava completed 11 of 12 passes for 146 yards and touchdowns to Squirrel White, Ethan Davis and McCoy. UTEP was the dominant team in the first quarter. Tennessee managed just 37 offensive yards and, thanks to an interception near the end zone and a missed field goal by the Miners, both teams were scoreless after 15 minutes. POLL IMPLICATIONS Tennessee’s convincing victory, coupled with losses by Mississippi and Indiana, should put the Volunteers in a good position when the next College Football Playoff poll is released. The Vols were ranked No. 11 going into this week’s games. THE TAKEAWAY UTEP: The Miners will head into a very winnable game against New Mexico State having won two of their last five games. First-year coach Scotty Walden will try to build on that success in the offseason to help enhance his roster. Tennessee: Even a lopsided win won’t carry much weight where it means the most — in the College Football Playoff rankings. The Vols will have to rely on a convincing win against Vanderbilt next week, a team that has shown a lot of improvement this season, to help their standing for those coveted spots. UP NEXT UTEP: The Miners will finish their season at New Mexico State Saturday. Tennessee: The Vols will finish their regular season at Vanderbilt next Saturday. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballBY MELISSA GOLDIN Social media users are misrepresenting a report released Thursday by the Justice Department inspector general’s office, falsely claiming that it’s proof the FBI orchestrated the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Related Articles National News | OpenAI whistleblower found dead in San Francisco apartment National News | Judge rejects an attempt by Trump campaign lawyer to invalidate guilty plea in Georgia election case National News | Texas’ abortion pill lawsuit against New York doctor marks new challenge to interstate telemedicine National News | US military flies American released from Syrian prison to Jordan, officials say National News | Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds The watchdog report examined a number of areas, including whether major intelligence failures preceded the riot and whether the FBI in some way provoked the violence. Claims spreading online focus on the report’s finding that 26 FBI informants were in Washington for election-related protests on Jan. 6, including three who had been tasked with traveling to the city to report on others who were potentially planning to attend the events. Although 17 of those informants either entered the Capitol or a restricted area around the building during the riot, none of the 26 total informants were authorized to do so by the bureau, according to the report. Nor were they authorized to otherwise break the law or encourage others to do so. Here’s a closer look at the facts. CLAIM: A December 2024 report released by the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General is proof that the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was a setup by the FBI. THE FACTS: That’s false. The report found that no undercover FBI employees were at the riot on Jan. 6 and that none of the bureau’s informants were authorized to participate. Informants, also known as confidential human sources, work with the FBI to provide information, but are not on the bureau’s payroll. Undercover agents are employed by the FBI. According to the report, 26 informants were in Washington on Jan. 6 in connection with the day’s events. FBI field offices only informed the Washington Field Office or FBI headquarters of five informants that were to be in the field on Jan. 6. Of the total 26 informants, four entered the Capitol during the riot and an additional 13 entered a restricted area around the Capitol. But none were authorized to do so by the FBI, nor were they given permission to break other laws or encourage others to do the same. The remaining nine informants did not engage in any illegal activities. None of the 17 informants who entered the Capitol or surrounding restricted area have been prosecuted, the report says. A footnote states that after reviewing a draft of the report, the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington said that it “generally has not charged those individuals whose only crime on January 6, 2021 was to enter restricted grounds surrounding the Capitol, which has resulted in the Office declining to charge hundreds of individuals; and we have treated the CHSs consistent with this approach.” The assistant special agent in charge of the Washington Field Office’s counterterrorism division told the inspector general’s office that he “denied a request from an FBI office to have an undercover employee engage in investigative activity on January 6.” He, along with then-Washington Field Office Assistant Director in Charge Steven D’Antuono, said that FBI policy prohibits undercover employees at First Amendment-protected events without investigative authority. Many social media users drew false conclusions from the report’s findings. “JANUARY 6th WAS A SETUP!” reads one X post that had received more than 11,400 likes and shares as of Friday. “New inspector general report shows that 26 FBI/DOJ confidential sources were in the crowd on January 6th, and some of them went into the Capitol and restricted areas. Is it a coincidence that Wray put in his resignation notice yesterday? TREASON!” The mention of Wray’s resignation refers to FBI Director Christopher Wray’s announcement Wednesday that he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January. Other users highlighted the fact that there were 26 FBI informants in Washington on Jan. 6, but omitted key information about the findings of the report. These claims echo a fringe conspiracy theory advanced by some Republicans in Congress that the FBI played a role in instigating the events of Jan. 6, 2021, when rioters determined to overturn Republican Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden stormed the Capitol in a violent clash with police. The report knocks that theory down. Wray called such theories “ludicrous” at a congressional hearing last year. Asked for comment on the false claims spreading online, Stephanie Logan, a spokesperson for the inspector general’s office, pointed The Associated Press to a press release about the report. In addition to its findings about the the FBI’s involvement on Jan. 6, the report said that the FBI, in an action its now-deputy director described as a “basic step that was missed,” failed to canvass informants across all 56 of its field offices for any relevant intelligence ahead of time. That was a step, the report concluded, “that could have helped the FBI and its law enforcement partners with their preparations in advance of January 6.” However, it did credit the bureau for preparing for the possibility of violence and for trying to identify known “domestic terrorism subjects” who planned to come to Washington that day. The FBI said in a letter responding to the report that it accepts the inspection general’s recommendation “regarding potential process improvements for future events.”TikTok Canada’s closure will make privacy probes difficult: watchdoglotus 99 bet 。

CEO killer suspect: golden boy who soured on US health system

(The Center Square) - The Spokane City Council adopted its 2025 Rules of Procedure on Monday, amending several changes that the conservative minority believed would silence their downtown constituents. Councilmember Michael Cathcart, who sits among the minority with Councilmember Jonathan Bingle, said he anticipated voting against the rules when he walked into city hall; however, after a long, diplomatic conversation with his peers, all seven voted unanimously in support. While initially drafted by the progressive majority, which routinely rules against the minority, the council proposed 14 amendments, 12 of which came from the conservatives. Ultimately, the governing body set aside policy and ideological differences for the sake of their constituency. “I just want to say it’s an honor to be on this side of the 5-2,” Bingle said after some of the majority joined him and Cathcart to approve one of the eight amendments passed. Tensions grew leading up to Monday as the community caught word of the initial proposal that would limit public testimony to two minutes, require three sponsors to move legislation out of committee for a vote and move council meetings to Tuesday instead of Monday. Cathcart and Bingle argued last week that the changes, among others regarding decorum, council commentary and more, would silence their dissent. Both represent District 1, which encompasses downtown and some of the most impoverished areas in Spokane. District 1 often faces the brunt of the homelessness crisis and related crime. The conservatives have attempted to push legislation emphasizing enforcement and other reforms, but the measures usually fail, with Bingle and Cathcart dissenting from the progressive majority. “You can make arguments that these procedural changes are different than what you experienced at STA,” resident Erik Lowe wrote in testimony, “but to outside observers, it is the same: trickery to prevent dissenting voices on the council from being heard.” Lowe said he initially got involved with the Spokane Transit Authority because of attempts from conservatives to silence the progressives from the council who sit on the STA board; now the tables have flipped, and he said the majority has a duty to protect the right to fair representation. Requiring three sponsors would prevent District 1 from pushing legislation that affects their constituents without the support of another. Bingle has also never been able to attend Tuesday meetings due to a scheduling conflict, limiting the ability to represent his constituency. “I cannot tell you the amount of emails I got that were like, ‘Listen, we will never vote for you, but we think it’s important that your voice is heard,’” Bingle said. While the council ultimately passed the amendments to preserve public testimony, Monday meetings and the requirement for two sponsors instead of three, the public came prepared. Community members filled the council chambers on Monday, even late into the evening, before adjourning close to midnight. One group that goes by Save Our Spokane, or SOS, put together a rally and protest leading up to the vote, even gaining support from residents who often disagree with conservatives. The message from each was clear: protect the right to dissent. Resident H.T. Higgins, who donated to Mayor Lisa Brown’s 2023 campaign but then paid for billboards criticizing her, was among those in attendance. While an advocate for the homeless, who are often at odds with District 1, he noted the importance of a fair playing field. He said the initial changes seemed like actions to fortify what he called a “blue silo.” Higgins also referenced the Board of County Commissioners’ conservative majority standing as the opposing red silo, adding that neither should stand for silencing the voice of the minority. “After watching briefing sessions and legislative meetings for the last eight months, it’s very clear to me that the public input has no value,” Higgins told the council. “We all know the decisions to bring legislation forward come from the connected and usually political donors of both parties. In the city of Spokane, that means you better have enough money or connection to get into the mayor’s office; the leader of the blue silo is what I would say."Climate-threatened nations stage protest at COP29 over contentious deal

Mexico Looks Past Trump Threats With $2.7 Billion Port Expansion

Daily Post Nigeria NECO accredits more foreign schools for SSCE, BECE Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport Education NECO accredits more foreign schools for SSCE, BECE Published on November 23, 2024 By Priscilla Dennis The National Examinations Council (NECO) has given accreditation to more foreign schools to write the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). The Acting Director, Information and Public Relations, Mr. Azeez Sani, disclosed this in a statement. The newly accredited schools are in Niger Republic and Equatorial Guinea. “NECO Accreditation Team visited the Schools to assess their readiness to write the SSCE and BECE. “The Accreditation Team inspected classrooms, laboratories, libraries, computer laboratories, workshops, examination halls and sport facilities to determine their adequacy and suitability for NECO Examinations. “After a thorough evaluation and comprehensive assessment, the schools were granted full SSCE and full BECE accreditation status,” the statement said. The statement added that the accreditation of additional foreign schools is a testament to NECO’s commitment to providing quality education and assessment beyond the shores of Nigeria. “With its expanding global presence, NECO is poised to become a leading examination body in Africa, offering opportunities for students worldwide to benefits from its expertise, thus contributing to the advancement of education in Africa and beyond.” In another development, the statement disclosed that candidates are participating in the on-going NECO SSCE External in Diffa, Niger Republic. “The UNHCR School, Diffa, Niger Republic is the first NECO SSCE External Centre outside Nigeria.” NECO examinations are now written by candidates in Benin Republic, Togo, Cote’d Ivoire, Niger Republic, Equatorial Guinea and Saudi Arabia. Related Topics: BECE NECO SSCE Don't Miss Arewa Professionals knock Atiku for criticizing Tinubu’s $2.2bn foreign loan You may like We’ve paid all outstanding allowances to examiners – NECO NECO issues stern warning against registration of candidates by proxy NECO: NANS kicks against N50,000 certificate fee Reprinting of certificates now N50,000 – NECO FG defends ban on under-18 students writing SSCE How to check NECO 2024 results Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media Ltd

Ancient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay woman $250K in sexual assault case, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has found that mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor sexually assaulted a woman in a hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The Dublin jury awarded the woman more than $250,000 for her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her on Dec. 9, 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified he never forced her to do anything and that the woman had fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. The jury found for the woman on Friday. At least 15 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 15 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 160,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat this week after Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, which can cause life-threatening infections. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. Actor Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit against once-rising star NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement. Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice Thursday. Jabbari is a British dancer who had accused Majors of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Representatives for Majors didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Jabbari’s lawyer said the suit was “favorably settled” and her client is moving on with “her head held high.” Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment last December and sentenced to a yearlong counseling program. Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80. Also included are nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024. The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery. Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Christmas TV movies are in their Taylor Swift era, with two Swift-inspired films airing this year Two of the new holiday movies coming to TV this season have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger, playing a pro football player, who meet and fall in love, not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. On Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City. Top football recruit Bryce Underwood changes commitment to Michigan instead of LSU, AP source says ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Top football recruit Bryce Underwood has flipped to Michigan after pledging to play at LSU. That's according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share the recruit’s plans to join the Wolverines. Underwood pinned a post on his Instagram account, showing a post in which On3.com reported that he has committed to Michigan. The 6-foot-3 quarterback played at Belleville High School about 15 miles east of Michigan's campus, and told LSU nearly a year ago he intended to enroll there. Emperor penguin released at sea 20 days after waddling onto Australian beach MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia has been released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach. The adult male was found on Nov. 1 on sand dunes in temperate southwest Australia about 2,200 miles north of the Antarctic coast. He was released Wednesday from a boat that traveled several hours from Western Australia state's most southerly city of Albany. His caregiver Carol Biddulph wasn't sure at first if the penguin would live. She said a mirror was important to his rehabilitation because they provide a sense of company. Biddulph said: “They’re social birds and he stands next to the mirror most of the time.” Shohei Ohtani wins third MVP award, first in NL. Aaron Judge earns second AL honor in 3 seasons NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge earned his second American League honor on Thursday. Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was second with 263 points and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte third with 229. Judge was a unanimous pick for the first time. Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got all 30 second-place votes for 270 points, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was third with 21 third-place votes and 229 points. Nick Chubb plows through heavy snow for 2-yard TD, giving Browns 24-19 win over Steelers CLEVELAND (AP) — Nick Chubb ran for a 2-yard touchdown in heavy snow with 57 seconds left, and the Cleveland Browns stunned division rival Pittsburgh 24-19, ending the Steelers’ five-game winning streak. The Browns had blown a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter and were down 19-18 before getting the ball back with 3:22 remaining after Pittsburgh punter Corliss Waitman shanked a 16-yarder. With snow piling up and covering the yard lines on the field, Cleveland’s Jameis Winston completed a third-down pass to Jerry Jeudy to the Pittsburgh 9. Two plays later, Chubb barreled into the end zone. The AFC North-leading Steelers fell to 8-3 while the Browns are 3-8.

Published 4:20 pm Friday, December 13, 2024 By Staff Reports Ranked squads are on Saturday’s college basketball schedule in six games, including the Middle Tennessee Raiders taking on the Kansas State Wildcats. Watch women’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up. Catch tons of live women’s college basketball , plus original programming, with ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle.

Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Florida) recently bought shares of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX). In a filing disclosed on November 20th, the Representative disclosed that they had bought between $1,001 and $15,000 in Baxter International stock on November 18th. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz also recently made the following trade(s): Baxter International Stock Up 0.7 % NYSE BAX opened at $33.21 on Friday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $36.21 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $35.67. The stock has a market capitalization of $16.96 billion, a PE ratio of 166.06, a PEG ratio of 12.91 and a beta of 0.60. Baxter International Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $31.60 and a fifty-two week high of $44.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 1.43 and a quick ratio of 1.09. Baxter International Cuts Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 29th will be given a dividend of $0.17 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 29th. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.05%. Baxter International’s dividend payout ratio is currently 580.03%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have recently commented on BAX shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Baxter International from $44.00 to $42.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, August 7th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Baxter International from $44.00 to $40.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on Baxter International from $36.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, August 8th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price objective on Baxter International from $46.00 to $38.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Baxter International from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, November 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $40.91. View Our Latest Analysis on BAX Institutional Investors Weigh In On Baxter International Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of BAX. LSV Asset Management acquired a new stake in Baxter International during the 2nd quarter worth about $140,296,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its stake in Baxter International by 73.2% during the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 6,772,533 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $226,541,000 after purchasing an additional 2,862,626 shares during the period. Thompson Siegel & Walmsley LLC bought a new stake in Baxter International in the second quarter worth approximately $67,263,000. Coho Partners Ltd. bought a new stake in Baxter International in the third quarter worth approximately $57,229,000. Finally, Shapiro Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Baxter International by 19.7% in the second quarter. Shapiro Capital Management LLC now owns 3,285,048 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $109,885,000 after buying an additional 541,575 shares during the period. 90.19% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Representative Wasserman Schultz Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democratic Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing Florida’s 25th Congressional District. She assumed office on January 3, 2023. Her current term ends on January 3, 2025. Wasserman Schultz (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent Florida’s 25th Congressional District. She declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on August 20, 2024. Wasserman Schultz was first elected to the U.S. House in 2004 from District 20. She previously represented District 34 of the Florida State Senate from 2003 to 2004, District 32 of the Florida State Senate from 2001 to 2003, and District 97 of the Florida House of Representatives from 1993 to 2001. She served as one of the Chief Deputy Whips of the Democratic caucus for the 113th Congress. She also served as the chair of the Democratic National Committee. On July 24, 2016, Wasserman Schultz announced that she would resign her leadership position at the end of the party’s convention. Wasserman Schultz was considered a possible candidate in 2016 for U.S. Senate. However, she announced on March 17, 2015, that she would not seek the Senate seat and would instead run for re-election to the House. Debbie Wasserman Schultz was born in Forest Hills, New York. Wasserman Schultz graduated from Half Hollow Hills High School East in 1984. She earned a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Florida in 1988 and 1990, respectively. Wasserman Schultz’s career experience includes working as a staffer to former U.S. Representative Peter Deutsch. Baxter International Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Baxter International Inc, through its subsidiaries, develops and provides a portfolio of healthcare products worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Medical Products and Therapies, Healthcare Systems and Technologies, Pharmaceuticals, and Kidney Care. The company offers sterile intravenous (IV) solutions; infusion systems and devices; parenteral nutrition therapies; generic injectable pharmaceuticals; surgical hemostat and sealant products, advanced surgical equipment; smart bed systems; patient monitoring and diagnostic technologies; and respiratory health devices, as well as advanced equipment for the surgical space, including surgical video technologies, precision positioning devices, and other accessories. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Baxter International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Baxter International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Is your child demanding at the holidays? Experts reveal ways parents can handle gift greed

Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa state and his predecessor, who is a minister of defence, Badaru Abubakar, have begun to experience a strained relationship between themselves This is similar to the growing rift between Nyesom Wike, another minister of President Tinubu and his successor in Rivers state, Siminalayi Fubara The rift in Jigawa reportedly started with the choice of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, where the governor reportedly went against his agreement with Abubakar CHECK OUT: Education is Your Right! Don’t Let Social Norms Hold You Back. Learn Online with LEGIT. Enroll Now! The relationship between Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State and his predecessor, Defence Minister Badaru Abubakar, has become increasingly strained. The tension between them started with the choice of the House of Assembly Speaker, where the governor backed a different candidate despite initially agreeing to support the minister's preferred choice. The rift between the Jigawa governor and his predecessor is similar to that between Nyesom Wike, another of President Bola Tinubu's ministers of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the ex-governor of Rivers state , and his successor, Siminalayi Fubara. Read also 2027 presidency: Kwankwaso reacts as ACF dumps Tinubu, declares support for northern politicians Vanguard reported that this development has led to a rift between the two camps, with the minister's supporters feeling betrayed by the governor's decision. The situation has been exacerbated by the governor's appointment of technocrats as technical assistants, which has rendered some of the minister's loyalists redundant. Abubakar vs Namadi: Tension in Jigawa Despite efforts to maintain a cordial relationship, the tension between the two camps has continued to escalate. The minister's camp feels that the governor has not accorded him enough respect, given that he brought the governor into politics . On the other hand, the governor's camp believes that he has shown enough loyalty to the minister and that it's time for him to let go. PAY ATTENTION: Legit.ng Needs Your Help! Take our Survey Now and See Improvements at LEGIT.NG Tomorrow The rift between the two camps has become more pronounced in recent weeks, with the minister's supporters delivering relief materials to victims of a petrol tanker explosion without consulting the state government. This move was seen as a calculated attempt to undermine the governor's authority. Read also Sacked UNIZIK VC breaks silence, challenges his removal and addresses order from Tinubu The ongoing feud between the two camps has raised concerns among stakeholders, who fear that it could snowball into a major crisis capable of affecting the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the governor's seat in the 2027 general elections. Source: Legit.ngWhy is the price of a Christmas dinner set to increase more than inflation this year? By MATTHEW COX Updated: 00:23, 11 December 2024 e-mail View comments Britons face paying more for their Christmas dinner this year, figures show. The average Christmas dinner for four people will cost £32.57 - up 6.5 per cent on last year - according to analysis by the research group Kantar. The increase is being driven by a sharp rise in the price of potatoes - coming in at £1.65 for four portions which is a staggering 16.2 per cent jump on a year earlier. Spuds are part of an overall trend which has seen vegetable prices skyrocket this year, with parsnips 12.7 per cent more expensive (71p) and carrots up 11.4 per cent (49p). Frozen turkey has also gone up in price by 8.5 per cent to £14.09. The only thing on our plates which has not outstripped food inflation - running at 1.9 per cent - is Brussels sprouts, which are only 1.1 per cent more expensive than last year, Kantar said. But it was good news for fans of sparkling wine, which was the only item not to rise in price. The whole-basket increase is significantly higher than overall grocery inflation of 2.6 per cent, which was up again on November's 2.3 per cent, according to Kantar. Despite the rising prices , sales across the supermarkets are expected to exceed £13 billion over the four weeks of December for the first time ever. The average Christmas dinner for four people will cost £32.57 - up 6.5 per cent on last year - according to analysis by the research group Kantar Sales of assorted sweet biscuits and biscuits for cheese both doubled in November compared with the month before, while 8 per cent of shoppers bought a Christmas pudding. The proportion of spending on premium own-label products reached 5 per cent over the latest four weeks, and is expected to climb to almost 7 per cent in December, Kantar said. Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar, said: 'Monday December 23 is likely to be the single busiest day for the supermarkets this year, although there are clear signs that shoppers are already stocking up their cupboards. Read More Major supermarkets slash the price of classic Christmas drink to just £10 'Many of us take the chance to treat ourselves at this time of year and retailers are rolling out seasonal product lines to help us celebrate in style.' Meanwhile, sales on promotion reached 30% in November, the highest since Christmas last year and driven by deals accessed through supermarket loyalty cards, as shoppers traded up to festive treats including Champagne, wine and spirits. Britain's largest grocer Tesco achieved its highest market share since December 2017 to reach 28.1 per cent, up from 27.4 per cent in 2023, as its sales grew by 5.2 per cent in the 12 weeks to December. Sainsbury's share increased by 0.3 percentage points to 15.9 per cent, and spending through its tills was 4.7 per cent higher than last year. Mr McKevitt added: 'The number of different retailers we visit in the run up to Christmas is higher than at other times during the year, including wider high street brands like M&S. Despite the rising prices , sales across the supermarkets are expected to exceed £13 billion over the four weeks of December for the first time ever 'Just under one in three households, at 32 per cent, bought food, drink and other groceries to have at home from M&S during the 12 weeks to December 1 and looking at grocery sales alone, spending at M&S rose by 10.4 per cent.' Lidl was the fastest growing bricks-and-mortar grocer, with sales up by 6.6 per cent, while spending at Morrisons rose by two per cent to reach 8.6 per cent of the market. Waitrose grew slightly ahead of the market, with spending increasing by 2.6 per cent to maintain a 4.4 per cent share, and spending at Aldi grew by 2.1 per cent to give the discounter 10.3 per cent of the market. Co-op claimed 5.5 per cent of the market and Asda has a 12.3 per cent share. Share or comment on this article: Why is the price of a Christmas dinner set to increase more than inflation this year? e-mail Add comment Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence. More top stories

Minority extremist forces aided UDF victory in Palakkad, allege LDF, BJPFor travelers, Puerto Rico is a floating island of desirability

'Keokradong Bangladesh' conducted a cleanup campaign in Kuakata beach on Saturday. Photo: Observer A cleanup campaign was conducted at Kuakata beach by the volunteer organization 'Keokradong Bangladesh' on Saturday afternoon. Over 250 volunteers, including students and teachers from BRAC University, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, and Kuakata Bangabandhu Secondary School, participated in the initiative. The campaign began in front of the Bangladesh Tourism Corporation’s Motel Youth Inn and Holiday Homes and covered nearly four kilometers on both sides of the beach’s Zero Point. Volunteers removed biodegradable waste, plastic debris, and other trash scattered across the beach. The organizers appealed to tourists and small beachside businesses to use designated dustbins instead of littering the beach, emphasizing the importance of a clean environment. The volunteers remove plastic-made wastages from Kuakata beach. Photo: Observer Participants of the initiative highlighted that the campaign aimed to raise public awareness about maintaining a clean beach. Participating students expressed enthusiasm, saying they were delighted to both clean the beach and enjoy its natural beauty. They also expressed their intent to contribute to similar social initiatives in the future. Khaleelur Rahman, the principal of Kuakata Bangabandhu Secondary School, praised the campaign, stating that participation in such activities inspires students to engage in social work. “By taking part in these initiatives, students begin to understand their role in nation-building,” he added. Muntasir Mamun, the Patuakhali coordinator of Keokradong Bangladesh, shared that the organization aims to expand such initiatives across the country under the motto “Clean Beach, Clean Bangladesh.” He emphasized that their primary goal is to create public awareness about the importance of environmental cleanliness. The initiative received widespread appreciation and served as a reminder of the collective responsibility to maintain the natural beauty of Kuakata Beach while promoting sustainability.In this interview, Senior Banking Advisor, Retail Banking at Access Bank Plc, Robert Gill, spoke extensively on the anticipated growth in remittances and the transformative impact this will have on Nigeria’s economy. He also spoke on the bank’s innovative strategies for advancing financial inclusion and digital banking, while addressing key developments in the nation’s digital financial landscape. Nume Ekeghe presents excepts: What role has digital innovation played in Access Bank’s retail banking strategy, and how has it impacted customer engagement? Digital innovation is at the heart of everything we do as a bank. With over 60 million customers, our journey over the past 15 to 20 years reflects a significant transformation. In the early days, customers would visit a branch, fill out paper forms, and officially become part of the bank. This was the foundation of financial inclusion, which initially focused on corporates and businesses before expanding through the rapid proliferation of branch-based banking to include the wider population. However, achieving 60 million customers with a paper-based system would have been impossible, or at least very inefficient, we would have needed tens of thousands of branches nationwide. This is where digital innovation came in. Pioneering one of the first mobile apps in the country and introducing USSD banking laid the foundation for our truly digital-first strategy. Today, most customers find us online. They come across us on news platforms, entertainment sites, and social media channels like Instagram, Facebook, and X where they can find out more about what we do and interact with us. From there, they can easily open an account from the comfort of their home, workplace, or anywhere else—simply by dialing #901. It’s that simple. The same applies to our mobile app where you can find out about us online, download the app and open an account and begin a relationship. The days when banks had to urge customers to explore digital channels as an alternative to branch banking are long behind us. Now, digital is no longer an alternate channel, it is the primary one. Branches have become the alternative. Today, more than 90 per cent of transactions occur outside the branch, predominantly on phones—whether feature phones or smartphones. This shift has revolutionized banking from the moment customers discover us to account opening to ongoing services, whether transactional or extending to non-traditional banking products. Digital has redefined customer engagement and continues to shape the future of financial services. What are the strategies put in place to increase the adoption of digital channels by retail customers and how does it enhance financial inclusion? Financial inclusion is central to our mission and a cornerstone of Nigeria’s broader economic objectives, as championed by the Bankers’ Committee and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Historically, Nigeria struggled with financial inclusion, ranking amongst the lowest on the continent. However, we have made remarkable progress in closing that gap through the co-ordinated leadership of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Bankers Committee. According to the Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFInA) reports, which show financial inclusion rates growing from less than 50% in 2008 to 74 per cent in 2023, Nigeria is now amongst the better-ranked countries for financial inclusion, largely driven by innovations in mobile financial services. This is also a continental phenomenon, with account ownership in Sub Saharan Africa more than doubling since 2011. This progress has been achieved through collaboration between banks and fintech’s’, leveraging tools such as USSD technology, mobile banking applications, and agency banking to reach underserved communities. The traditional branch-based banking model, while transformative in its time, is no longer sufficient to meet the needs of modern customers. For someone working in a company, government, or as a trader or small business owner, the time required to visit a branch to open an account or complete transactions is time lost from productive activities or family. Today, customers demand convenience, and digital innovation allows us to meet them where they are. Our network of over 600,000 AccessClosa agents ensures that customers are never far from financial services. While digital tools are critical, personal interaction remains essential for financial inclusion. Our agent network plays a crucial role in bridging this gap. Beyond accessibility, digital tools have significantly reduced the cost of serving customers. Consider the transportation costs and lost time involved in traveling to a branch—time that could be spent trading, working, or attending to other priorities. By bringing services directly to customers through mobile and digital channels, we have transformed the banking experience, ensuring customers are served where and how they prefer, rather than requiring them to adapt to our systems. This approach underscores our commitment to reshaping financial services to genuinely meet customer needs. How has the bank’s digital transformation journey addressed pain points in the retail banking customer experience? One of the key points we frequently emphasise in our team planning sessions is that customers don’t necessarily want to bank or make payments in the traditional sense; what they truly want is to keep their money secure, travel, work, eat, shop, and manage their lives with ease. When they engage with financial services, we must focus on understanding what they are trying to achieve, not just the transactions they need to complete. For example, services like embedded finance or buy-now-pay-later options are great ways to align financial products with everyday needs without thinking about the financial product as an extra step. Instead of going to a branch to apply for a personal loan, a customer can now make an online purchase and pay for it in installments. This approach brings us closer to the customer, providing financial solutions that are seamlessly integrated into their lives. Another critical area we’ve worked on is simplifying the Know Your Customer (KYC) process and reducing the documentation required to open an account. The banking sector in Nigeria has made significant strides in this regard, with the introduction of tiered KYC, allowing individuals to open basic accounts remotely by simply creating a digital wallet. This development has played a pivotal role in advancing financial inclusion. Regarding transactions, we’ve enhanced the customer experience by offering greater flexibility and accessibility. Customers now have multiple ways to pay through cards, mobile access, or peer-to-peer transfers. For example, with our Access More platform, you can make QR payments, order a new debit card, or even request a statement—all instantly. If you need a stamped statement for visa purposes or a loan, there’s no need to visit the branch. We already have your transaction history, turnover, and salary information, allowing us to pre-qualify you for a loan. With just a few clicks on the app, the loan can be in your account within seconds. By removing these pain points and shifting many traditional banking processes from the branch to the digital space, we are not just offering convenience but also ensuring that services are fast, accessible, and available at the customer’s fingertips. This is the future of banking—focused on understanding customer needs, simplifying processes, and providing instant, on-demand services through technology. Can we know some of the digital payment solutions you have and how they have helped retail business growth? Digital payments are a critical driver of economic activity; they are the lifeblood of business success. Without the ability to process payments efficiently, businesses face significant challenges. At Access Bank, we understand this dynamic, which is why, after transitioning into a financial holding company a few years ago, we diversified into multiple verticals, including banking, payments, lending, insurance, and pensions. One of our strategic partnerships has been with Hydrogen, enabling us to better serve merchants nationwide. Hydrogen’s innovative Instant Payment Links allow customers to make payments via links or codes, receiving instant confirmation and value at the point of sale, further enhancing the merchant experience. You’ll likely have seen Hydrogen’s branding on POS terminals, reflecting the success of this collaboration. In Nigeria, most transactions still occur on a person-to-person basis, often seen as individual payments. Through data and analytics, we’ve identified that a significant number of customers, around 7.5 million, are small business owners. We now have the capability to serve these individuals more effectively, providing them not only with financial products but also with non-financial services through our SME team. This includes business seminars on topics like setting up and managing a business, keeping personal and business finances separate, and best practices for growing a company. Payments are now more accessible than ever. Beyond traditional methods, customers can make payments via USSD, mobile apps, or even interact with our chatbot, Tamada, on the banking app. To simplify transactions, we’re pioneering payments through phone numbers, allowing customers who prefer not to remember their account number to simply use a phone number to send payments. This approach is a testament to how digital solutions transform people’s engagement with financial services, making transactions faster, more convenient, and more inclusive. Can you give us some insight into some specific products by the bank, especially women, SMEs and youths? At Access Bank, women are at the heart of everything we do and I’m extremely fortunate that the majority of the leaders in my team are women. Our W Banking initiative has evolved into a thriving community, going beyond just offering financial products to creating a comprehensive ecosystem that supports women in multiple dimensions of their lives. Access W is not just a Nigeria-focused solution; it’s a pan-African proposition, with Access Bank’s presence in numerous countries across the continent. We have recently launched Access W in Botswana, and our mission is to impact women across Africa, not just locally in Nigeria. Our aim is to foster intra-African trade and connect women across the continent with global markets. One of the key offerings under Access W is the W Power loan, which has been in place for over a decade, providing women with preferential rates and terms to fund their businesses. Additionally, our digital lending team provides instant loans accessible via mobile devices, ensuring that women, regardless of the size of their business, can access financing quickly and conveniently. The W-branded debit card helps identify and serve women within our community, and we organize a range of seminars and events tailored to support women in business. We also have partnerships designed to help women learn practical skills, such as driving, and access loans for purchasing their first cars. Our training programs empower women with the tools they need to grow and succeed in their businesses. Just this week, we held our 6 th annual Womenpreneur ‘Pitch a Ton’ event where we celebrated over 100 graduates of the mini MBA programme we run in conjunction with the IFC for women-led small and medium businesses. These businesses are all doing amazing things on the continent, solving problems, creating employment and wealth. At Access Bank, we understand that empowering women leads to broader societal benefits. When we support women, we uplift families and contribute to the overall economic growth. This commitment to women’s economic empowerment is central to our values, and we continue to invest heavily in W Banking. Our youth solutions are also tailored to different life stages. For younger children, we offer Access Solo, an account that transitions from a parent-operated to a child-operated account once they turn 18. This progressive approach ensures that as children grow, they become more financially literate and prepared to manage their own finances. By the time they reach adulthood, they have their own debit cards, mobile apps, and full control over their accounts, empowering them to take charge of their financial future. How do you collaborate with fintechs companies? Some bankers view fintech companies primarily as competitors, but the potential for collaboration far outweighs the competitive angle. Despite the increasing digitalization of the financial sector, most transactions in the market are still conducted in cash, presenting a significant opportunity for partnership. Fintechs, working with banks as part of the overall financial ecosystem, have helped to bridge the financial inclusion divide and increase the velocity of money in the economy. To tap into this potential, we established a dedicated team—the Partnership and Digital Capabilities Team. Their primary role is to forge strategic partnerships with fintech companies, helping them gain better market access. This includes collaborating to provide payment services such as instant payments, leveraging partnerships like the one with Hydrogen to facilitate quick transactions, and even supporting fintechs in issuing payment cards. This approach is central to our strategy and has been a key focus for several years. We are moving beyond the traditional banking partnerships focused on payments, lending, and deposits. We have expanded into more strategic collaborations, such as our partnership with Coronation, which allows our customers to access the stock market and invest in Nigerian equities in real-time via our mobile app. This innovation lowers the barriers to entry for investing, allowing customers to easily view the market and make real-time transactions directly from their mobile phones. This is a part of our broader financial inclusion strategy to provide customers with access to a wider range of financial services beyond traditional deposit products, enabling them to build long-term wealth and contribute to economic growth in the community. What upcoming digital innovations or initiatives will further drive retail business growth? We foresee significant growth in the remittance space, with Nigeria receiving over $20 billion annually in remittances. Digital solutions are driving down the cost of international money transfers, enhancing speed and efficiency. Our partnerships with fintechs and international remittance operators aim to expand financial access, ensuring that more funds flow into the formal economy. What is Access Bank doing in this regard? With presence in over 15 countries, Access Bank is building its proprietary payment route, Access Africa, which connects all our countries of presence facilitating individual and business payments on the continent. We also collaborate with global payment schemes like Visa and Mastercard to facilitate seamless international transfers to over 150 countries in the world. By partnering with fintechs, we broaden access to financial services enabling remittances into mobile wallets, making money transfers more affordable and efficient The reduction in remittance costs will not only benefit the economy but also increase the flow of funds through formal channels. This will drive economic growth and prosperity within the continent. What is the future of remittances, and how is Access Bank preparing for it? We anticipate that remittances will evolve beyond cash transfers to include goods and services. For example, remittances could directly fund education fees, support online food retailers, or pay for medical expenses. This approach ensures that remittances are used for their intended purpose while helping to grow commerce and lower costs.

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Still, at least Manchester City can now concentrate on the Ballon d’Or. There was a lavish celebration for the world’s best player before this game: the word RODRI illuminated in giant letters on the pitch like a Vegas cabaret show, City’s injured midfield linchpin holding his trophy aloft as fireworks lit the night sky. The tailoring was immaculate; the audiovisuals impressive; the crowd rapt. And then came a game of football, in which by a team with Radu Dragusin and Ben Davies at centre-half. It was City’s biggest home defeat in more than two decades: the sort of result that draws small involuntary gasps, that causes spectators to get their phones out and zoom in on the scoreboard, capturing for posterity this curious rip in the space‐time fabric. What it was not, however, was a shock. At least, not for anyone more than vaguely acquainted with City’s football over recent weeks. A fifth consecutive loss – six if you count the Premier League vote on associated party transactions on Friday – is of less significance than the recurring manner of those losses: City being undone not by fluke or happenstance but by teams who were simply braver than them, stronger, more imaginative, more united. And yes, City keep getting done on the counterattack. But just as relevant as the counterattack is what comes before and after: the limp and uncoordinated efforts to win the ball back, the reluctant and rote shuffling back into position, second and third runners not being picked up, the 50-50s not being won. These are issues not of tactics or shape but of conditioning, physical and mental. Nor is this simply a Rodri problem, as brilliant a player as he is, as yawning the gaps were in midfield here as Tottenham poured forward with numbers. The malaise here is collective: witness the first goal, as a puffing Ilkay Gündogan simply lets James Maddison go, delegating what should have been his job with an urgent outstretched arm that nobody sees. But Josko Gvardiol also lets Dejan Kulusevski cut inside, the centre-halves fail to space correctly, and there was insufficient pressure on the ball to begin with. The common theme here: everyone is relying on someone else to bail them out. There is a sense of shirked responsibility here, of leaving the extra yard to others. Again with the second goal in the 20th minute, Gvardiol with the slack pass to Gündogan, nobody covering Maddison’s reverse run. Again with the third, Kulusevski simply shrugging off Phil Foden, City players bumping into each other like Minions, Spurs tearing up the field and scoring again. No champion team should ever be this fatally reliant on a single man. Pep Guardiola has found solutions in the past and will doubtless find them again. But right now he needs his players to step up. Since his sparkling start to the season Erling Haaland has scored two goals in his last seven league games, from an xG of 7.8. In short, he is basically finishing about as well as you would with his chances at the moment. What this means, on the other hand, is anyone’s guess. Is this an implosion? The end of an era? Or basically the characteristic autumn blip from a team who are still second in the league and will probably still romp to the title by five points? In short, are the ones overthinking this? Maybe. Certainly Guardiola was in bullish mood after this game, assuring us this group of players were still champion footballers, that he still had everything he needed to turn this around. But even if this run of results is unprecedented, there have been enough portents – Wolves, Fulham, Inter, Arsenal – to suggest this is a trend rather than an anomaly. Guardiola talks a lot about his trophies these days. He rarely misses an opportunity to blazon what this team have achieved, to celebrate and revel in their dominance. And, you know, fair enough. But perhaps it is also the hallmark of a regime increasingly preoccupied with projection, with how things look and are portrayed. The timing of his new contract announcement, which frankly could have happened any time between now and May. The legal battle with the Premier League, the furious briefings, the litany of documentaries and content, a Ballon d’Or celebration immediately before a key league game. Of course a little aura and hubris is no bad thing. But it needs to be tied to fundamentals. Right now, those fundamentals are absent. What remains is a club being run on vibes and past glories, a team that basically looks a little drunk right now on its own imperial grandeur. Perhaps this is not yet the time to burn things down and start again. But it is at least worth asking whether this team has anything new to show us.AP Business SummaryBrief at 4:39 p.m. EST