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Nigeria opens Africa’s biggest oil refinery as it tries to boost struggling sector

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:50:36 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday opened Africa’s biggest oil refinery, with hopes it would help the energy-rich country achieve self-sufficiency and become a net exporter of refined petroleum products.The $19 billion facility built by Aliko Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest man, in Nigeria’s economic hub of Lagos is one of the world’s biggest oil refineries and has a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day.Some analysts have called it a “game-changer” for Nigeria’s oil and natural gas sector, which has been struggling for many years, while others say its capacity could be limited by oil theft. Most of Nigeria’s state-run refineries are poorly maintained and operating far below capacity, making the West African nation import refined petroleum products for its use despite being Africa’s biggest oil producer.The new oil refinery “will enable us to meet not only our country’s demand but also to become a key player in Africa’s and global market,” Dangote said.It...

Hertha Berlin, burned by ambition, must rebuild after relegation from Bundesliga

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:50:36 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Though it had long seemed likely, Hertha Berlin’s relegation from the Bundesliga still felt like a blow out of nowhere when it came.The “Old Lady” was leading against Bochum deep into injury time on Saturday — in a game it had to win — and hopes of another dramatic escape were rising. Hertha’s fans were already celebrating the chance to fight again on the last day of the season.Then Keven Schlotterbeck — a former Union Berlin player — scored Bochum’s equalizer for 1-1. There was no time for a response.Hertha was relegated after a 10-year stint in the top division and all around Olympiastadion, the club’s fans stood in stunned silence with their hands on their heads.But Hertha’s downfall arguably started years earlier, when billionaire Lars Windhorst started backing the team in 2019 and declared it a “big city club” that could challenge the traditional giants.Windhorst invested 374 million euros ($405 million) in Hertha, fueling a spending spree and prompting a manageri...

Sprint specialist Mark Cavendish to retire from cycling at end of season

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:50:36 GMT

COCCAGLIO, Italy (AP) — Veteran sprint specialist Mark Cavendish announced Monday that he will retire from cycling at the end of this season, which could see him break the long-standing record for most stage wins at the Tour de France.The British rider, who competes for the Astana Qazaqstan team, turned 38 the previous day.“Cycling has been my life for over 25 years. I have lived an absolute dream,” he said.Cavendish made the announcement on the final rest day of this year’s Giro d’Italia, where he is looking to add to his 53 Grand Tour stage victories.“I’ve absolutely loved racing every kilometer of this race so far, so I feel it’s the perfect time to say it’s my final Giro d’Italia and 2023 will be my final season as a professional cyclist,” Cavendish said. “Yesterday I celebrated my 38th birthday. Like many others I’ve been struggling with sickness during the race as well as the effects of some unfortunate crashes. To get me through, I can’t thank this group of friends enough.”Ca...

District Heights church offers community a chance to ‘Walk In My Shoes’

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:50:36 GMT

This is part of WTOP’s continuing coverage of people making a difference from our community authored by Stephanie Gaines-Bryant. Read more of that coverage.The old saying, “Don’t judge someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes,” will soon come to light in one Prince George’s County, Maryland, community.Two hundred pairs of used shoes will be lining the sidewalk of Victorious Life of Faith Church on 7100 Marlboro Pike in District Heights this coming weekend for the Walk In My Shoes program.Rennee Johnson, who is outreach coordinator for the Walk In My Shoes event sponsored by Victorious Life of Faith Church, said they’ll have food, activities and testimonies from people who have walked in challenging shoes and lived to talk about it.Rennee Johnson, who is outreach coordinator for the event sponsored by Victorious Life of Faith Church, said they’ll have food and activities. She said they will also have testimonies from people who have ...

Colombia suspende el cese del fuego con la disidencia de las FARC tras la muerte de cuatro menores

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:50:36 GMT

(CNN Español) — El presidente de Colombia, Gustavo Petro, anunció la suspensión del cese del fuego con el disidente grupo armado Estado Mayor Central (EMC-FARC), conformado por antiguos miembros de las FARC, que rechazaron un acuerdo de paz en 2016.El mandatario dijo que el Gobierno “tomó la decisión unilateral de suspender parcialmente los efectos del Decreto 2656 de 2022”, por el cual se acordó un cese del fuego bilateral con el Estado Mayor Central de las FARC-EP, por el “asesinato” de cuatro menores de edad supuestamente por el frente Carolina Ramírez del EMC en el Putumayo. La Oficina del Alto Comisionado para la paz de Colombia responsabilizó este sábado al frente Carolina Ramírez del EMC-FARC de los hechos.Según el comunicado, los menores fueron secuestrados y posteriormente asesinados cuando el grupo intentaba reclutarlos.“Rechazamos enfáticamente esta conducta criminal del Frente Carolina Ramírez del EMC-Farc que desconoce el DIH y constituye un aten...

When will the hazy skies get clearer?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:50:36 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The air quality across the Denver metro area has been poor for several days due to wildfires in Canada.Meteorologist Liz McGiffin said the smoke has improved a lot since Friday and Saturday, but there will still be some lingering today and tomorrow.McGiffin said the air quality should improve by Tuesday afternoon. Colorado will have a ‘broiling wet’ summer, Farmer’s Almanac says Is the smoke dangerous?Will the level of smoke be dangerous for your health? Here’s what the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said you should know.“If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly. Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present. Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill,” CDPHE said. Check the air quality here The CDPHE said tha...

You can now identify yourself with your palm at Coors Field

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:50:36 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Your tickets, identity, and payment are literally the palm of your hand at Coors Field.The home of the Colorado Rockies is the first venue to offer Amazon One, according to a press release from Aramark Sports and Entertainment. Its a free, contactless technology that allows customers to use the palm of their hand to enter, pay and verify their age. Alcohol sales will be extended at Coors Field during Rockies games You won't have to fumble your wallet or break a nail trying to get a card out, you can simply hover your hand over the device. "We are enabling a friction-free experience for Colorado Rockies fans so they can grab a drink and get back to the game faster,” John McKay, Senior Director of Food Service Operations and Development for the Colorado Rockies said.How to set it upHere is what customers will need to do in order to use the palm recognition technology.First, visit an Amazon One kiosk to enroll. Those can be found at the SandLot Brewery or Coors Light...

Carmelo Anthony is retiring after 19 seasons in NBA

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:50:36 GMT

Carmelo Anthony, the star forward who led Syracuse to an NCAA championship in his lone college season and went on to spend 19 years in the NBA, announced his retirement on Monday.Anthony, who was not in the NBA this season, retires as the No. 9 scorer in league history.Only LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O’Neal scored more than Anthony — who finishes his career with 28,289 points. ESPN sideline reporter admits to ‘sleeping on’ Jokic “Now the time has come for me to say good-bye ... to the game that gave me purpose and pride,” Anthony said in a videotaped message announcing his decision — one he called “bittersweet.”Anthony's legacy has long been secure: He ends his playing days after being selected as one of the 75 greatest players in NBA history, a 10-time All-Star, a past scoring champion and a six-time All-NBA selection.And while he never got to the NBA Finals — he only played in the con...

What happens if you wake up before your alarm? Tips from sleep experts

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:50:36 GMT

(CNN) — Many people dread the blaring sound of an alarm clock, signaling the start of a busy workday. Others wish they weren’t already awake and that the sound had actually woken them up.Waking up many minutes or even hours before the alarm is not a new phenomenon, sleep experts tell CNN, but it can cause people discomfort.More than a third of Americans get fewer hours of sleep a night than the minimum recommendation of seven hours, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the National Institutes of Health, studies across the globe show anywhere from 10% to 30% of the population struggles with insomnia, defined as the consistent difficulty falling asleep and the inability to return to sleep after going to bed.Those experiencing insomnia can have a combination of “nocturnal awakenings” and what’s categorized as “early morning awakenings,” according to a 2009 study from the Stanford Sleep Epidemiology Research Center and other universities. The stud...

Passenger cited after hitting Frontier Airlines flight attendant with intercom phone

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:50:36 GMT

(CNN) — A passenger who was asked to leave a Frontier Airlines plane departing from Denver was later cited for striking an airline employee with an intercom phone, according to the airline and police.While Frontier Airlines Flight 708 awaited an early Sunday departure to Tampa from Denver International Airport, the airline’s main hub, the female passenger “became belligerent onboard and was asked to deplane,” the statement said. “As she was deplaning, she picked up an intercom phone and struck a flight attendant with it.”In a statement to CNN, the Denver Police Department said the passenger was cited for assault in connection with the incident.The flight left for Tampa around 5:30 a.m. local time, after the woman was removed from the plane, according to Frontier. The flight left Denver nearly four hours late, according to FlightAware tracking data.The passenger was able to book another flight home after being released, according to police.It’s not clear what behavior led to the...