Fuel marketers have explained why Nigerians have not started enjoying reduced petrol prices despite announcements and confirmations by both Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC). It would be recalled that in a bid to provide relief for Nigerians ahead of the holiday season, Dangote Petroleum Refinery announced a price reduction for its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) product, to ₦899.50k per litre. The NNPC also confirmed a reduction in ex-depot prices to ₦899 per litre in Lagos. Based on these developments, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) says fuel stations across the country would sell petrol to customers at the rate of ₦935 as from Monday, 23rd December. Observations across the country, however, show the new price regime has not taken effect in many filling stations. Speaking on the development during Monday’s edition of Channels Television’s breakfast show Sunrise Daily, the president of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Billy Gilly-Harry, said the delay in effecting the new price is because many stations are still selling the old stock bought at ₦970. He explained that it would not be healthy for the marketers to make a loss on the product but assured that before the week runs out, the reduced price regime would take effect as filling stations get fresh supplies. He assured that as soon as members of the organization start loading from both NNPC and Dangote at the new reduced price, it will reflect in the market. “So, this reduction, if you apply it immediately, don’t forget that some of them bought at ₦970, paid transportation costs and logistics that have taken it quite high,” Gilly-Harry said. “So, by the time it gets to their retail outlets, it’s quite much more than that. And so they must also sell at a profit – minimal marginal profit as provisioned by the PIA. So, That’s the reason,” the PETROAN boss said. Gilly-Harry also commended members of PETROAN in certain locations who have already reduced fuel prices in their stations below ₦1,000. “ But I believe from today when members start loading from both NNPC and Dangote at this new price reduction, it will reflect in the market. “But also I’ll give kudos to some of our members, some of the leaders in PETROAN, you know, that have done so well, especially in Abuja, for even reducing their prices to below ₦1,000 before even this announcement. “So, we don’t encourage our members to try to sell products at a loss because our focus is to serve Nigerians. And the only way we can serve Nigerians is when we have the resources to be able to do that. The resources can only be there if we’re making marginal profit enough to pay for the cost of money and make sure that we continue to do business. So, never mind, you’ll see the translation of this reduction of prices in the retail outlets hopefully within the week,” he said.
Baker Mayfield threw for five touchdowns and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stayed in the race atop the NFC South by pounding the visiting Carolina Panthers 48-14 on Sunday afternoon. Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan both caught two TD passes and Bucky Irving rushed for 113 yards as Tampa Bay's second victory of the month against Carolina came much easier than the road version in overtime. Mayfield completed 27 of 32 passes for 359 yards and Evans caught eight balls for 97 yards. The Buccaneers (9-7) collected 551 yards of total offense. The Panthers (4-12) have lost five of their last six despite Bryce Young throwing two touchdown passes to Adam Thielen (five catches, 110 receiving yards). Young finished 15-for-28 passing for 203 yards, but Carolina managed only 39 rushing yards as it played without injured top running back Chuba Hubbard. Both of Mayfield's TD tosses to Evans were short (2 yards, 1 yard). Mayfield's scoring throws to McMillian covered 10 and 16 yards. He also had a 5-yard throw to Payne Durham to open the second-half scoring. The Buccaneers also scored off J. J. Russell's blocked punt return during a 25-second span of the third quarter when they racked up 14 points. Chase McLaughlin kicked field goals of 23 and 34 yards for the Buccaneers, who need to finish with a better record than the Atlanta Falcons in the divisional race because the tiebreaker favors Atlanta, which plays at Washington on Sunday night. Tampa Bay hosts New Orleans next weekend, while Carolina plays at Atlanta. After scoring on its first possession, Carolina's next three series on offense resulted in a total of minus-6 yards and three punts. The Buccaneers cashed in for 17 points following those defensive stops. The Panthers perked up by going 70 yards in 21 seconds to score on Young's 40-yard pass to Theilen with 50 seconds left in the half. They got the ball back following a Tampa Bay punt, and were in position to post 10 points in the last minute of the half until Eddy Pineiro's 53-yard field goal attempt was off the mark. Carolina has surrendered more points this year than in any season in franchise history, though Tampa Bay came four points shy of matching the most points ever allowed by the Panthers in a game. --Field Level Media
NeueHealth to Be Taken Private by NEA and Consortium of Investors
Fuel marketers have explained why Nigerians have not started enjoying reduced petrol prices despite announcements and confirmations by both Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC). It would be recalled that in a bid to provide relief for Nigerians ahead of the holiday season, Dangote Petroleum Refinery announced a price reduction for its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) product, to ₦899.50k per litre. The NNPC also confirmed a reduction in ex-depot prices to ₦899 per litre in Lagos. Based on these developments, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) says fuel stations across the country would sell petrol to customers at the rate of ₦935 as from Monday, 23rd December. Observations across the country, however, show the new price regime has not taken effect in many filling stations. Speaking on the development during Monday’s edition of Channels Television’s breakfast show Sunrise Daily, the president of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Billy Gilly-Harry, said the delay in effecting the new price is because many stations are still selling the old stock bought at ₦970. He explained that it would not be healthy for the marketers to make a loss on the product but assured that before the week runs out, the reduced price regime would take effect as filling stations get fresh supplies. He assured that as soon as members of the organization start loading from both NNPC and Dangote at the new reduced price, it will reflect in the market. “So, this reduction, if you apply it immediately, don’t forget that some of them bought at ₦970, paid transportation costs and logistics that have taken it quite high,” Gilly-Harry said. “So, by the time it gets to their retail outlets, it’s quite much more than that. And so they must also sell at a profit – minimal marginal profit as provisioned by the PIA. So, That’s the reason,” the PETROAN boss said. Gilly-Harry also commended members of PETROAN in certain locations who have already reduced fuel prices in their stations below ₦1,000. “ But I believe from today when members start loading from both NNPC and Dangote at this new price reduction, it will reflect in the market. “But also I’ll give kudos to some of our members, some of the leaders in PETROAN, you know, that have done so well, especially in Abuja, for even reducing their prices to below ₦1,000 before even this announcement. “So, we don’t encourage our members to try to sell products at a loss because our focus is to serve Nigerians. And the only way we can serve Nigerians is when we have the resources to be able to do that. The resources can only be there if we’re making marginal profit enough to pay for the cost of money and make sure that we continue to do business. So, never mind, you’ll see the translation of this reduction of prices in the retail outlets hopefully within the week,” he said.LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams keep doing just enough to win, and a team that appeared to be rebuilding this season has climbed all the way to the brink of another playoff berth. The Rams improved to 9-6 and took control of the NFC West on Sunday with their fourth straight victory since Thanksgiving. Their 19-9 win over the New York Jets in sub-freezing temperatures was not dominant — they trailed 9-6 entering the fourth quarter, and they were outgained by nearly 100 yards — but Los Angeles still matched its largest margin of victory this season and continued to look like a looming nightmare for any postseason opponent. The Rams have now won eight of 10 since their bye week, when they were 1-4 and the NFL world wondered whether they would trade Super Bowl MVP receiver Cooper Kupp or even quarterback Matthew Stafford to spur their roster reboot. Los Angeles decided not to punt its season, and Sean McVay's team has driven from last to first. “You don’t want to ride the emotional roller coaster that these games can take you on,” McVay said Monday. “You do have the ability to stay steady, to stay the course and try to right the ship. Certainly that’s not complete by any stretch, but our guys have done an excellent job of not allowing the way that we started, especially in those first five games, to affect what we did coming off that bye.” The Rams also have clinched their seventh winning record in eight regular seasons under McVay — an achievement that shouldn’t get lost in the recent successes of a franchise that had 13 consecutive non-winning seasons before it rolled the dice and hired a 30-year-old head coach back in 2017. After winning it all in February 2022 and then having the worst season by a defending Super Bowl champion in NFL history, the Rams have made the most of their time in between true powerhouse status and a major rebuild. They also started slowly last year, entering their bye at 3-6 before a 7-1 finish. The Rams can become the first team in NFL history to make back-to-back postseason appearances after being three games under .500 each year. These Rams don't stand out on either side of the ball, although their talent level appears to be higher on offense than defense. Instead, they've mastered a delicate balance of complementary football — the offense and defense covering each other's weaknesses and setting up their teammates for success. The Rams have scored more than 30 points just once all season, and they managed only 31 points in their last two games combined. Their defense has allowed only one touchdown in the past two games — but right before that, Josh Allen and the Bills racked up 42 points and 445 yards in the most recent of a few defensive stinkers from LA this season. The Rams keep winning anyway, and now they can clinch McVay's fourth NFC West title by beating Seattle in two weeks. “Fortunately, we’re in a position where you don’t necessarily have to rely on other things to happen if you just handle your business,” McVay said. Kyren Williams and the offensive line are driving the Rams' offense. After a slow start caused partly by McVay being forced to abandon the running game when the Rams repeatedly fell behind early, the 2023 Pro Bowler has surged to career highs of 1,243 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns with his 122-yard performance in New York. Stafford's 110 yards passing were his fewest with the Rams and the second-fewest in his 16-year career from a full game. Sunday's weather was a major factor, but the Rams must throw the ball effectively to somebody other than Puka Nacua. Kupp has just 193 yards receiving in his past five games combined. Defensive back Jaylen McCollough made a career-high nine tackles in only 31 snaps. The undrafted rookie continues to be a remarkable find, earning playing time alongside veteran safeties Quentin Lake and Kam Curl and fellow rookie Kam Kinchens. CB Cobie Durant didn't play for the second straight week despite being cleared to return from his bruised lung. Veteran Ahkello Witherspoon got every snap in place of Durant, who started LA's first 13 games. McVay praised Witherspoon's recent play when asked why Durant didn't get on the field in New Jersey. The Rams' improved health, particularly on both lines, is the key to their surge. McVay reported no new injuries out of the road trip following Tyler Higbee's successful season debut. 12-1 — The Rams’ record in December with Stafford as their starter over his four years in LA. The Rams need to win at least one of their final two games to wrap up their first NFC West crown since 2021. They host eliminated Arizona on Saturday night, but can't clinch the division unless the Seahawks lose to moribund Chicago. The Rams are currently the NFC's third seed, but that doesn't matter a whole lot because both the third and fourth seeds will have to play one of the NFC North's two powerful wild-card teams in the opening round. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL
Kai Trump shows Elon Musk awkwardly tutoring Trump in rocket scienceIndianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen seemed to sense the question might arise after his club was eliminated from playoff consideration Sunday with a ghastly 45-33 loss to the host New York Giants in East Rutheford, N.J. The Giants were 2-13 and had lost a franchise-record 10 straight games entering the contest and their season-high point total Sunday more than tripled their season average of 14.3 points per game. It was the type of bad loss that leads to head coaches being asked about their job security. "I control what I can control," Steichen said of the employment situation. The Colts (7-9) were outplayed all contest by the team that entered the day with the worst record in the NFL -- and with their playoff hopes on the line. Last season, Steichen's first as Indianapolis coach, the Colts also fell short, losing to the Houston Texans in the final week of the season to miss the playoffs. "It was as disappointing as it gets," Steichen said of the setback against the Giants. "As the leader of a football team, shoot, I always say I've got to be better, we've all got to be better. That's a group effort, everyone's got to chip in and do their part, so stuff like that doesn't happen." Giants quarterback Drew Lock passed for 309 yards and tied his career high of four touchdowns while also running for a score. Meanwhile, the Colts also went with a reserve quarterback in veteran Joe Flacco and he turned the ball over three times on two interceptions and a fumble. He also passed for 330 yards. Flacco started because rookie Anthony Richardson couldn't play due to back and foot injuries. Indianapolis completes the season next weekend at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars. "I know it's a tough situation, obviously, when you're out of the playoff hunt, but again, I told (the team) we've got to be professional about it," Steichen said. "That's the biggest thing. We've got to show up and do our job still with one week left." The Colts last made the playoffs in the 2020 season. Their last playoff win was two seasons earlier. --Field Level Media
Drake eases by Stetson 49-10 to secure a second straight outright Pioneer Football League titleNordstrom to be acquired by Nordstrom family and a Mexican retail group in $6.25 billion dealIn a message to the American people, the King expressed “great sadness” at the news of Mr Carter’s death, describing him as “a committed public servant” who “devoted his life to promoting peace and human rights”. He added: “His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977. “My thoughts and prayers are with President Carter’s family and the American people at this time.” Mr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House between 1977 and 1981 and spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Carter had “lived his values in the service of others to the very end” through “decades of selfless public service”. Praising a “lifelong dedication to peace” that saw him win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Sir Keir added: “Motivated by his strong faith and values, President Carter redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad.” Tributes to Mr Carter followed the announcement of his death by his family on Sunday, more than a year after he decided to enter hospice care. His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love.” Very sorry to hear of President Carter’s passing. I pay tribute to his decades of selfless public service. My thoughts are with his family and friends at this time. pic.twitter.com/IaKmZcteb1 — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) December 29, 2024 US President Joe Biden, one of the first elected politicians to endorse Mr Carter’s bid for the presidency in 1976, said the world had “lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian”. He said: “Over six decades, we had the honour of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well. “With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us.” Vice President Kamala Harris said Mr Carter “reminded our nation and the world that there is strength in decency and compassion”. “His life and legacy continue to inspire me — and will inspire generations to come,” she said. “Our world is a better place because of President Carter.” Other UK politicians also paid tribute to Mr Carter. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said he was “an inspiration” who “led a truly remarkable life dedicated to public service with a genuine care for people”. Scottish First Minister John Swinney described the former president as “a good, decent, honest man who strove for peace in all that he did”, while Welsh First Minister said he was “a remarkable man” and “a humanitarian and scholar”. Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair said Mr Carter’s “life was a testament to public service”. He added: “I always had the greatest respect for him, his spirit and his dedication. He fundamentally cared and consistently toiled to help those in need.” Gordon Brown, another former prime minister, said it was a “privilege” to have known Mr Carter, who “will be mourned, not just in America, but in every continent where human rights are valued”. Mr Carter is expected to receive a state funeral featuring public observances in Atlanta, Georgia, and Washington DC before being buried in his hometown of Plains, Georgia. A moderate democrat born in Plains in October 1924, Mr Carter’s political career took him from the Georgia state senate to the state governorship and, finally, the White House, where he took office as 39th president in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War. His presidency saw economic disruption amid volatile oil prices, along with social tensions at home and challenges abroad including the Iranian revolution that sparked a 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. But he also brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979. After his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he worked more than four decades leading The Carter Centre, which he and his late wife Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope”. Under his leadership, the Carter Center virtually eliminated Guinea Worm disease, which has gone from affecting 3.5 million people in Africa and Asia in 1986 to just 14 in 2023. Mrs Carter, who died last year aged 96, had played a more active role in her husband’s presidency than previous first ladies, with Mr Carter saying she had been “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished”. Earlier this year, on his 100th birthday, Mr Carter received a private congratulatory message from the King, expressing admiration for his life of public service
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ET Graphics | Inflation drives surge in spending on vegetables and spices, HCES 2023-24 revealsYogi Adityanath impresses delegation with nearly 2-minute statement in Japanese | WatchState investigation agency (SIA) produced a chargesheet against key operatives behind the “Kashmir Fight”, a social media handle that was used to target migrant pandits. Police said in the fight against cyber-terrorism, the SIA, Jammu, has filed a chargesheet against key operatives behind the notorious “Kashmir Fight”, a social media handle. “The platform, operated by The Resistance Front (TRF)—a proscribed terrorist organisation—was used to issue chilling online threats to migrant Kashmiri Pandit employees, aiming to spread fear and unrest,” the spokesman said adding that in February 2024, a series of threatening posts were published on social media by the terror outfits’s social media handle, following which an investigation was initiated by SIA Jammu. “During the investigation, SIA apprehended Farhaan Muzaffar Mattoo, a resident of Srinagar, for his alleged role in gathering and sharing sensitive information about targeted employees. The probe revealed that Mattoo acted as a conduit, using encrypted communication platforms to pass critical data about migrant employees to handlers based in Pakistan, who then issued threats through the “Kashmir Fight” platform.” The spokesman said that the chargesheet also named Sheikh Sajjad Ahmad, alias Sajjad Gul, a Srinagar resident now operating from Pakistan, as the mastermind of this plot. “Sajad is accused of coordinating the campaign to intimidate migrant employees and disrupt communal harmony in the UT. The exposing of terror plans to disrupt peace underscores the determination of Jammu and Kashmir Police to protect its citizenry and provide a peaceful environment to them.” The spokesman said the chargesheet was filed before the third additional sessions judge, Jammu, on Monday.
Another weekend of college football is in full swing. This story will update as more results roll in, but here are some of the most notable winners and losers so far: Oh, however will it be possible to sort out all of these two-loss SEC teams? What an impossibly controversial task it shall be, and maybe they all belong in the 12-team College Football Playoff . Or maybe everybody who was wringing their hands this past week should have just waited and let Mississippi’s inconsistency (and Florida’s improvement) sort out the problem. And so it was that the two jokers in the SEC deck — the No. 9 Rebels (8-3, 4-3) because they’ve won five games by at least 32 points but are 0-3 in one-possession games; the Gators (6-5, 4-4) because they’re a different, better team now than they were early in the season — helped bring clarity to the situation. Yes, Mississippi beat Georgia. Good for the Rebels. But now they have Saturday’s 24-17 loss at Florida to go with a 29-26 setback at 6-4 LSU and one of the worst results on the board of any team that harbored credible at-large playoff hopes entering the weekend, a 20-17 home loss to 4-6 Kentucky. The Rebels didn’t win Saturday in part because of a pair of fourth quarter interceptions. They didn’t win in part because they flubbed a pair of fourth and ones inside the Florida 15 rather than trying for field goals (and in fairness to Mississippi Coach Lane Kiffin, his kicker did miss a 34-yarder in the second quarter). They didn’t win in part because Florida happened to have just enough of a spark on the ground (Montrell Johnson Jr. rushed for 107 yards, including the go-ahead fourth quarter touchdown) and through the air (DJ Lagway had 180 yards and two touchdowns passing) to apply pressure. But really, the why doesn’t matter that much. The reality is the Rebels have one great home victory and three defeats to teams that have (at least) four losses. That sounds like a ticket to a non-playoff bowl game in Jacksonville or Tampa or Orlando on or around New Year’s Day, regardless of whether the playoff has four teams or 12. In its first year as a member of the ACC, the No. 13 Mustangs (10-1, 7-0) have done something N.C. State has never accomplished in 20 tries — qualify for the league title game. SMU locked up its spot in Charlotte in two weeks with a 33-7 victory Saturday at Virginia. Kevin Jennings threw for 323 yards and two touchdowns and tacked on a rushing score for the Mustangs, who close the regular season next Saturday at home against fellow ACC newcomer California. Rhett Lashlee’s team will face either Clemson (8-2, 7-1) or Miami (10-1, 6-1) with a playoff berth at stake in the ACC championship. Technically, the No. 5 Hoosiers (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten) fall into the loser category after falling, 38-15, at No. 2 Ohio State on Saturday for all the obvious reasons. Their undefeated record is kaput, and a little bit of that magical pixie dust that was so easy to ascribe to a program that had never won 10 games in a row before is gone. And their chances of playing in the Big Ten title game are badly damaged. But all is not lost in the era of a 12-team playoff. If this were last season, the Hoosiers would probably be in line to go to a New Year’s Six game so long as it dispatched 1-10 Purdue next week. And that still would have been good. But as things stand, there’s a chance Indiana will end up in a playoff game anyway (again, assuming it can handle the struggling Boilermakers in the Old Oaken Bucket game). So while there is disappointment for Curt Cignetti’s team, it’s hardly the worst situation for the Hoosiers to find themselves in. It’s just Year 2 for the Gamecocks (8-3, 7-0 Conference USA) at the Football Bowl Subdivision level, but they will play for a league title after dispatching Sam Houston, 21-11, on Saturday. Quarterback Tyler Huff rushed for 177 yards and three touchdowns for Jacksonville State, which won nine games (including the New Orleans Bowl) last season. Now, the Rich Rodriguez-led program has a chance to match that victory total next week against Western Kentucky — then exceed it in early December in the CUSA championship game.
