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Nigerian leader defends end to fuel subsidy as hardship bites harder

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:37 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday defended the West African nation’s decision to stop subsidizing fuel, a move that already is adding to economic hardships by pushing up prices for transportation and commodities.The money saved by endng the decadeslong subsidy last week will help the government’s efforts to fight poverty and its initiatives, Tinubu told governors in a meeting in the capital city of Abuja.He appealed for patience even though hardship is biting harder on millions of citizens.“We can see the effects of poverty on the faces of our people. Poverty is not hereditary, it is from society. Our position is to eliminate poverty,’’ a statement from the Nigerian presidency quoted Tinubu as saying. The governors supported the subsidy removal and promised to work together in implementing it, the presidency’s statement said.Though Nigeria is an oil-producing nation, it depends on imported refined petroleum products and the governmen...

Alcaraz and Djokovic will meet at the French Open; Ruud and Zverev set up another semifinal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:37 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Two weeks ago, before the start of play at the French Open, the brackets were set for the tournament, and one possible semifinal matchup immediately demanded attention: No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, the Next Big Thing in men’s tennis, against No. 3 Novak Djokovic, the Current Big Thing in men’s tennis.The heightened anticipation was not merely because it would be fascinating to see the two of them play at Roland Garros. It also would be fascinating to see them play each other, period: They’ve met only once, and it was 13 months ago, with Alcaraz coming out on top.So get ready: Alcaraz and Djokovic finally will share the stage again on Friday in Court Philippe Chatrier, where they will compete for a spot in the championship match.“Since the draw came out, everyone was expecting that match — the semifinal against Novak. Myself, as well,” Alcaraz said after completing his half of the bargain by outclassing Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2, 6-1, 7-6 (5) in the quarterfinals Tuesday night. “I...

UN says Sudan orphanage evacuated more than 70 children died amid unabated fighting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:37 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — An orphanage in Sudan’s war-torn capital has been evacuated following the deaths of more than 70 infants, toddlers and older children from hunger and illness over the past couple of months, the U.N. children’s agency and a local charity said Wednesday.The tragedy at the Al-Mayqoma orphanage made headlines late last month as fighting raged outside between Sudan’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The deaths have highlighted the heavy toll inflicted on civilians since mid-April when the clashes erupted between forces loyal to Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan and RSF forces led by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo.About 300 children at the Al-Mayqoma orphanage in Khartoum were transferred to a “safer location” elsewhere in the northeastern African nation, said Ricardo Pires, a spokesman for the U.N. children’s agency, UNICEF.Sudan’s ministries of social development and health have taken charge of the children, while UNICEF has provided humanitarian support includ...

Bowen scores in final minute for West Ham to win Europa Conference League by beating Fiorentina 2-1

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:37 GMT

PRAGUE (AP) — West Ham ended a 58-year wait for a European trophy after Jarrod Bowen scored in the 90th minute to secure a 2-1 win over Fiorentina on Wednesday in the Europa Conference League final.Bowen ran onto a through ball by Lucas Paqueta before beating goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano with a left-foot shot to complete a quick attack at Eden Arena.Fiorentina couldn’t answer despite nearly eight minutes of injury time being played, setting off wild celebrations among the West Ham players as they danced in front of their fans after winning the London club’s second ever European title and first since the old European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1965. Saïd Benrahma had given West Ham the lead from the penalty spot in the 62nd, sending goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano the wrong way in the 62nd minute.The penalty was awarded after a video review confirmed that Fiorentina captain Cristiano Biraghi handled the ball in the area after Bowen controlled the ball on his chest.Fiorentina equa...

In Celine Song’s soulful ‘Past Lives,’ a triangle of love, identity and destiny

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:37 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Celine Song was 12 when she moved from South Korean to Ontario. Her parents gave her the chance to pick a new first name. There are differing theories among her family about how she (then Ha Young) settled on Celine.“My dad insists it’s from a French film, ‘ Célline and Julie Go Boating,’ ” says Song, whose father is a filmmaker. “But I feel like there just happened to be a Celine Dion CD lying around.”The adjustment was difficult at first. Song, accustomed to being an accomplished student, had to learn English. It wouldn’t be until years later – after Song had become an up-and-coming playwright, moved to New York and gotten married – that she fully grasped something different about her cultural bifurcation.Song was sitting in an East Village bar with her white American husband and a childhood sweetheart from Korea, who had come to visit. Neither spoke the other language so Song was their only bridge, the only way they could communicate and the only reason this unlik...

Hypocrisy isn’t new in sports, it’s just more obvious in PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:37 GMT

Major League Baseball was once so concerned about gambling it banned Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays just for working as casino greeters. Now MLB itself and almost all of its teams have official casino sponsors.The NCAA railed for decades that paying players would destroy college sports, all while raking in billions off of their unpaid labor. Now schools boast of booster collectives that help recruit top talent to their teams.So when the PGA Tour overcame its indignation and agreed to merge with LIV Golf — despite the human rights abuses of its Saudi Arabian backers — the flip-flop followed a long-established tradition in sports of flexible attitudes that often hurtle into full-blown hypocrisy.“Phil Mickelson initially said, ‘Oh, my God. It’s frightening some of the things have occurred.’ But for the right amount of money, he decided he’s going to join the LIV Tour. And this does seem to be much the same thing,” said Matthew Mitten, a sports law professor at Marquette U...

Rays slugger Brandon Lowe shut down 2 to 3 weeks by back injury

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:37 GMT

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays slugger Brandon Lowe won’t participate in baseball activities for two to three weeks because of another back injury.“He’ll have a lot of rehab work, core work,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said before Wednesday night’s game against Minnesota.Lowe went on the 10-day injured list with a lower-back issue on Monday and is hitting .199 with nine homers and 29 RBIs in 50 games. He struck out 63 times in 176 at-bats.Lowe was limited to 65 games last season by injuries, including a stress reaction in his lower back. He hit 39 homers and drove in 99 runs in 2021 but went deep just eight times and had 25 RBIs last year,Cash said the current injury is different from the back problem last season.Tampa Bay closer Pete Fairbanks, out since May 28 with right hip inflammation, is expected to either throw batting practice or pitch in a rookie-level Florida Complex League game on Friday. The right-hander is 0-1 with five saves and an 1.54 ERA in 13 a...

Newer heart transplant method could allow more patients a chance at lifesaving surgery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:37 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Most transplanted hearts are from donors who are brain dead, but new research shows a different approach can be just as successful and boost the number of available organs.It’s called donation after circulatory death, a method long used to recover kidneys and other organs but not more fragile hearts. Duke Health researchers said Wednesday that using those long-shunned hearts could allow possibly thousands more patients a chance at a lifesaving transplant — expanding the number of donor hearts by 30%.“Honestly if we could snap our fingers and just get people to use this, I think it probably would go up even more than that,” said transplant surgeon Dr. Jacob Schroder of Duke University School of Medicine, who led the research. “This really should be standard of care.”The usual method of organ donation occurs when doctors, through careful testing, determine someone has no brain function after a catastrophic injury — meaning they’re brain-dead. The body is left o...

Drive for Uber? DC wants to give you a free dash cam

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:37 GMT

In an effort to put more cameras on the streets to help police investigate crimes, D.C. leaders will be giving away free dash cameras to people who spend a lot of time behind the wheel.“It is focused on public safety,” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Wednesday.The cameras will be handed out later this summer at designated locations to drivers who work for food delivery or rideshare companies.It is being funded through a $500,000 donation by the on-demand food delivery service DoorDash.“Advancing the safety of our entire community is incredibly important to everyone at DoorDash,” said John Horton, a spokesman for the company. “We look forward to taking this bold step with Mayor Bowser and the Metropolitan Police Department as we work together toward achieving a safer future for everyone in the District.”City agencies and DoorDash also plan to work together to raise awareness about other preventive efforts to reduce the risk of crime, such as never leaving a car runnin...

Phillies-Tigers game postponed to Thursday due to smoke from Canadian wildfires

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:37 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies’ series finale against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night was postponed due to poor air quality caused by smoke from Canadian wildfires. The game was rescheduled for 6:05 p.m. on Thursday, originally an off day for both teams. Philadelphia won 1-0 Tuesday in haze and with the smell of smoke in the air. Phillies players and manager Rob Thomson said the conditions did not affect them, though a strong wind blowing in from center field halted three would-be home runs short of the fence.About a half-hour before the postponement was announced by Major League Baseball, Thomson said he thought Wednesday night’s game would be played. The Philadelphia skyline could not be seen from the ballpark due to haze and a smoky smell remained.The defending NL champion Phillies (29-32) have won four in a row after losing five straight. Ace right-hander Zack Wheeler (4-4, 4.33) was scheduled to start Wednesday’s contest against Tigers roo...