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Nigerian Economy Faces Threats of Decline with Poor Crude Oil Production

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Nigeria’s oil production outlook remains bleak, with forecasts indicating an output of 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd) including condensate for the second half of 2024. This figure falls significantly short of the 1.8 million bpd quota set by OPEC and the 1.7 million bpd benchmark in Nigeria’s 2024 budget, potentially leading to an oil revenue shortfall of about N1 trillion.

Data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) shows a declining trend in oil output since January 2024, dropping from 1.6 million bpd to 1.25 million bpd in June 2024. OPEC’s June 2024 Monthly Oil Market Report corroborates this data, placing Nigeria’s output at 1.2 million bpd in May 2024.

The situation is further complicated by a 15.8% month-on-month decrease in oil exploration activities in May 2024, as indicated by the drop in rig count from 19 to 16.

Energy experts express concern over the short-term outlook. Dr. Bala Zakka, an energy expert, states, “The outlook does not look bright in the short and medium term because the facts are there.” NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, emphasizes the need to reduce oil theft and prevent pipeline vandalism to stabilize production.

Despite these challenges, some industry leaders remain optimistic. Mele Kyari, Group CEO of NNPC Limited, asserts that Nigeria has the capacity to produce 2 million bpd with its current assets. Gbenga Komolafe, Commission Chief Executive of NUPRC, highlights ongoing efforts to boost investment and production through asset divestments and licensing rounds.

The Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, underscores the importance of increased production for Nigeria’s economic prosperity. Meanwhile, legal expert Dr. Olisa Agbakoba calls for a transformational new oil and gas policy focused on development and accountability.

As Nigeria grapples with these production challenges, the coming months will be crucial in determining whether the country can reverse the downward trend and meet its economic goals. The situation underscores the urgent need for strategic interventions and policy reforms in Nigeria’s oil sector to secure its position as a major oil producer and boost economic growth.

Source: vanguardngr.com

Thousands Protest Mass Tourism in Mallorca, Spain Demanding Limits and Sustainable Practices

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Thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Palma de Mallorca on Sunday, voicing their concerns over mass tourism and demanding a more sustainable approach to the industry that dominates the Spanish island. This large-scale demonstration reflects growing tensions between the tourism sector and local residents across Spain.

The protest, organized by Menys Turisme, Mas Vida (Less Tourism, More Life), saw participants carrying signs with pointed messages such as “Tourists we love you when you don’t buy our land” and “Your paradise is our nightmare.” While organizers claim around 50,000 people participated, police estimates put the number at approximately 12,000, according to RTVE.

Protesters are calling for an alternative tourism model that addresses several key issues, including access to decent housing, improvement of public services, and conservation of natural areas. The organizers argue that the current tourism model “impoverishes workers and enriches only a few,” highlighting the economic disparity created by mass tourism.

This demonstration in Mallorca is part of a broader pushback against overtourism in Spain. The Balearic Islands, which include Mallorca, attracted 14.4 million foreign visitors in 2023, putting significant pressure on local resources and communities. Similar protests have occurred in other tourist hotspots like Barcelona, where demonstrators recently sprayed tourists with water and marched through the city chanting “Tourists go home.”

In response to these growing concerns, local authorities have begun implementing measures to mitigate the impact of tourism. The Balearic Islands, for instance, recently introduced new rules banning street drinking in key tourist areas on Ibiza and Mallorca, with exceptions for licensed areas.

As Spain continues to grapple with balancing the economic benefits of tourism against its impact on local communities and the environment, this protest in Mallorca underscores the urgent need for more sustainable and balanced approaches to tourism management. The demonstration serves as a powerful reminder of the complex challenges facing popular tourist destinations and the importance of addressing local residents’ concerns in shaping future tourism policies.

CNN

Hundreds of US Flights Are Still Canceled for the 4th Straight Day: Here’s the Latest on the Global Tech Outage

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Hundreds of US flights were canceled Monday, as carriers, particularly Delta Air Lines, work to recover four days after a global tech outage caused massive delays and left travelers stranded at airports around the nation.

Delta is facing mounting pressure to get passengers back in the air, as it continues to rack up the majority of canceled US flights. US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has expressed frustration with the pace of Delta’s recovery and its CEO has apologized to affected travelers.

More than 900 flights into, within or out of the United States were canceled by midday Monday, and 3,100 flights were delayed, according to flight tracking site FlightAware. Delta passengers have been slammed by more than 4,500 cancellations since Friday, including 748 on Monday, by far the most of any airline.

Delta declined to comment on the numbers, but in an update to customers Sunday afternoon, CEO Ed Bastian said the company is working to restore operations after the outage.

The “largest IT outage in history” – prompted by a software update for Microsoft devices late Thursday into the early hours of Friday – impacted an estimated 8.5 million Windows devices worldwide, causing disorder at airports, outages for 911 services and challenges at health care facilities.

While the CrowdStrike problem affected computers meant to check customers in for many airlines, it also disrupted Delta’s crucial crew scheduling software.

“In particular one of our crew tracking-related tools was affected and unable to effectively process the unprecedented number of changes triggered by the system shutdown,” Bastian said in the statement.

It didn’t help that the outage took place on what Bastian described as “the busiest travel weekend of the summer,” with 90% of the airline’s flights booked.

Here’s what we know about the outage and its continued effects.

The massive tech outage affected 8.5 million Windows devices globally. This has had a domino effect on various critical sectors, including aviation, emergency services, and healthcare. The timing couldn’t have been worse, as it occurred during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.

The aviation sector has been one of the hardest hit. Over the past four days, more than 4,500 Delta flights have been canceled, and thousands more have been delayed. The situation has caused significant disruption for passengers and airlines alike, with Delta bearing the brunt of the cancellations.

Delta Air Lines has been working around the clock to resolve the issues caused by the outage. CEO Ed Bastian has issued an apology to passengers and assured them that the airline is taking all necessary steps to restore normal operations. The airline has been focusing on fixing its crew scheduling software, which was significantly affected by the outage.

US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has voiced his concerns about the slow recovery process and has called on Delta to expedite their efforts to minimize the impact on travelers. The government is closely monitoring the situation and providing support where necessary.

While some systems have recovered from the initial outage, experts say getting everything back in order will be a lengthy process. Delta and other airlines are working tirelessly to ensure that passengers can travel with as little disruption as possible.

Source: CNN

South African Police Uncover $109 Million Meth Lab, Arrest Mexican Nationals

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South African police have uncovered a multimillion-dollar methamphetamine manufacturing lab on a farm in Groblersdal, leading to the arrest of four suspects, including two Mexican nationals. The discovery, made during a joint operation by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), has raised concerns about international drug trafficking networks operating in the country.

The raid, conducted after authorities received tips about suspicious activities, revealed large quantities of chemicals used in illicit drug production, including acetone and crystal meth. The estimated street value of the seized materials is 2 billion South African rand ($109.4 million).

Katlego Mogale, national spokesperson for the Hawks, highlighted the significance of the Mexican nationals’ involvement, stating, “It means that our task has just become very difficult.” This international connection suggests a potential expansion of global drug networks into South Africa.

The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet received official consular notification and is seeking details about the case and the alleged Mexican involvement.

The four suspects, including the farm owner, are scheduled to appear at the Groblersdal Magistrate’s court on Monday, facing charges of manufacturing, dealing, and possessing illicit drugs.

This bust is part of an ongoing crackdown on drug labs in South Africa. Since 2019, authorities have shut down 131 drug labs, with 10 secret labs discovered and 34 arrests made by the Hawks in 2024 alone.

South Africa’s growing role in the global drug trade has been noted by international organizations. The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime identified the country as potentially one of the “largest meth consumer markets in the world” in a 2021 report. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has described South Africa as “an attractive drug transit country” due to its porous borders and international trade links.

As authorities continue their investigation, this case underscores the challenges South Africa faces in combating international drug trafficking and highlights the country’s emerging significance in global narcotics networks.

Source: CNN

Arike Ogunbowale Dominates Second Half to Win WNBA All-Star Game MVP

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Nigerian-American basketball star Arike Ogunbowale erupted for 34 points, including 21 in a spectacular third-quarter performance, to lead Team WNBA to a 117-109 victory over Team USA in the WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday night. Her dominant display earned her the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, making her the third two-time MVP in the game’s history.

Ogunbowale’s performance came after a scoreless first half and a halftime pep talk from Hall of Fame coach Cheryl Miller. “She just told me to take a deep breath and play my game,” Ogunbowale said of Miller’s advice.

The 5-foot-8 guard responded by hitting 6 of 10 shots in the third quarter, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range. She finished the game 10 for 20 from the floor, including eight 3-pointers, and added six assists.

Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark, known for her own scoring prowess, praised Ogunbowale’s performance: “She was just in the zone and they played really good defense multiple times. There’s just nothing you can do in those situations where she’s making step back 3s, one-legged floaters, things like that. You literally can’t guard her.”

Ogunbowale’s scoring outburst is not unprecedented in her career. She famously hit game-winning shots in the Final Four and national championship game during Notre Dame’s 2018 title run. In the WNBA, she has been one of the league’s top scorers, averaging 22.3 points per game this season for the Dallas Wings.

This victory over Team USA, which was using the game as a warm-up for the upcoming Paris Olympics, showcases the ability of Ogunbowale to perform on big stages. “It’s just a testimony to my hard work,” she said. “Regardless of win, lose or draw, I’m just going to play my game and that’s what I’ve been doing for Dallas.”

As the WNBA season progresses and with the Olympics on the horizon, Ogunbowale’s All-Star Game performance serves as a reminder of her game-changing abilities and her potential impact on the international stage.

apnews.com

Israeli Orders New Evacuation of Part of Gaza Humanitarian Zone as War’s Toll Passes 39,000 Palestinians

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The Israeli military ordered the evacuation Monday of part of a crowded area in the Gaza Strip it had designated a humanitarian zone, saying it is planning an operation against Hamas militants there.

Thousands of Palestinians, many carrying backpacks and accompanied by children, walked down dusty roads under the scorching sun, navigating dilapidated cars with belongings tied on top. Many Palestinians have been uprooted multiple times in search of safety during Israel’s air and ground campaign.

“We do not know where we are walking,” said Kholoud Al Dadas, as she clutched her children. “This is our seventh or eighth time we have been displaced. While we were sleeping in our homes, they started shooting at us, bombing from everywhere.” Moments later, she collapsed in exhaustion.

The Israeli military said it is planning to begin an operation against Hamas militants who have embedded themselves in the area and used it to launch rockets toward Israel. The area includes the eastern part of the Muwasi humanitarian zone in the southern Gaza Strip.

Earlier this month, Israel estimated at least 1.8 million Palestinians are now in the humanitarian zone it declared, covering about 14 kilometers (8.6 miles) along the Mediterranean. That’s the bulk of Gaza’s 2.3 million population. Much of the area is blanketed with tent camps that lack sanitation and medical facilities and have limited access to aid, U.N. and humanitarian groups say. Families live amid mountains of trash and streams contaminated by sewage.

Gaza’s Health Ministry said the toll from Israel’s nine-month war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip has surpassed 39,000 Palestinians killed and 89,800 wounded. The ministry’s count does not distinguish between combatants and civilians. The war began when assault by Hamas militants on southern Israel on Oct. 7 that killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took about 250 hostages. About 120 hostages have since been released or escaped, but 130 are believed to be dead, according to Israeli officials.

Former Policeman Kills 6 People and Wounds 6 Others at a Care Home in Central Croatia, Officials Say

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An armed assailant, who is an ex-policeman entered a care home for older people in central Croatia on Monday and opened fire, killing six people and wounding six others, police said.

Croatia’s police chief, Nikola Milina, said five people died immediately, while one more person died in a hospital. The suspect fled the scene, but the police soon caught him in a cafe near the facility in the town of Daruvar, he said.

The victims were five residents of the care home and one employee, Milina said.

Police said they were informed of the attack on Monday morning. The suspect is “under police supervision,” said a statement by the regional police office.

N1 regional television reported that the shooter was born in 1973 and that he was a former policeman who took part in the 1991-95 war in Croatia and a relative of one of the nursing home residents. Media reports said that one of those killed was his mother, who had lived in the care home for the past 10 years.

The attack has left the quiet town stunned and grieving.

The mayor of Daruvar, Damir Lnenicek, told N1 that everyone was shocked.

“What is the cause, the trigger, it is difficult to say. That will be determined by the investigation,” said Lnenicek, adding that the tragedy happened in a private home where about 20 people are housed. He said that it is an excellent home.

Daruvar is a spa town in the municipality of Slavonia, with a population of 8,500.

Croatian President Zoran Milanovic said he was “shocked” by the “savage, unprecedented crime.”

“It is a frightening warning and a last call to all competent institutions to do more for the safety of everyone in society, including even more rigorous control of gun ownership,” he said.

Putin’s Court Jails U.S.-Russian Journalist Convicted in a Rapid, Secret Trial, Records Show

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A court in Russia has convicted Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American journalist for the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, of spreading false information about the Russian army and sentenced her to 6½ years in prison after a secret trial, court records and officials said Monday.

The conviction in the city of Kazan came on Friday, the same day that a court in Yekaterinburg, a city in Russia, convicted Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich of espionage and sentenced him to 16 years in prison in a case that the U.S. called politically motivated.

Kurmasheva, a 47-year-old editor for RFE/RL’s Tatar-Bashkir service, was convicted of “spreading false information” about the military, according to the website of the Supreme Court of Tatarstan. Court spokesperson Natalya Loseva confirmed to The Associated Press by phone that Kurmasheva was sentenced to 6½ years in a case classified as secret, with no details available of the nature of the accusations against her.

Asked Monday about the verdict, RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus denounced the trial and conviction of Kurmasheva as “a mockery of justice.”

“The only just outcome is for Alsu to be immediately released from prison by her Russian captors,” he said in a statement.

“It’s beyond time for this American citizen, our dear colleague, to be reunited with her loving family,” Capus said in a statement to the AP.

Kurmasheva, who holds U.S. and Russian citizenship and lives in Prague with her husband and two daughters, was taken into custody in October 2023 and accused of failing to register as a foreign agent while collecting information about Russian military activities.

She was also charged with spreading “false information” about the Russian military, a new offense that was defined extremely and public expression of views not aligning with narratives from the Kremlin line.

The secret trial of Kurmasheva began in June 2023 at Kazan International Airport after she was detained at the airport upon returning from a trip to the United States.

The Associated Press

Homeland Security Secretary Names Independent Panel to Review Trump Assassination Attempt

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U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has appointed a bipartisan, independent panel to review the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump that occurred earlier this month, officials announced on Sunday. The panel is tasked with conducting a thorough 45-day independent review of the planning and actions taken by the U.S. Secret Service and state and local authorities before, during, and after the rally, as well as the governing policies and procedures of the U.S. Secret Service.

The Department of Homeland Security stated, “The panel members will have extensive law enforcement and security experience to conduct a 45-day independent review of the planning for and actions taken by the U.S. Secret Service and state and local authorities before, during, and after the rally, and the U.S. Secret Service governing policies and procedures.”

The first individuals named to the panel include former Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano; Frances Townsend, former Homeland Security adviser to President George W. Bush; Mark Filip, a former federal judge and deputy attorney general to President George W. Bush; and David Mitchell, former Secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security for the state of Delaware.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas

The statement added that additional experts might be asked to join the group in the coming days. The panel will have 45 days to review the policies and procedures of the Secret Service before, during, and after the rally on July 13 when a gunman fired at Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.

“We formed this bipartisan group to quickly identify improvements the U.S. Secret Service can implement to enhance their work. We must all work together to ensure events like July 13 do not happen again,” members of the independent panel said in a joint statement.

U.S. Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle will oversee the review. “This will be an impartial panel examining what happened and providing recommendations to ensure an incident like it will never happen again,” Cheatle said in a statement. “The Secret Service is continuing to take steps to review and improve upon our procedures to guarantee the safety of those we protect.”

The Associated Press

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