Author: chicagoinquirer

by Richard Cowan and Bo Erickson WASHINGTON -Vice President Kamala Harris’ move to the top of the Democratic ticket injected new life into her party’s flailing campaign against Republican Donald Trump, but some lawmakers whose support she will need if she wins are keeping her at arm’s length. In the 35 competitive races that will determine control of the 435-seat U.S. House of Representatives in the Nov. 5 election, 12 Democratic incumbents or challengers so far have held off endorsing Harris. They are presenting themselves as independent decision-makers focused on their constituents rather than national politics, distancing themselves from a…

by Felix Onuah ABUJA – Nigeria’s government gave approval on Monday for state oil company NNPC Ltd to sell crude in the naira currency to the mega Dangote refinery effective immediately to help ease foreign exchange pressure. The $20 billion Dangote refinery, Nigeria’s main oil refinery and billed to be the largest in Africa at full throttle, started production in January but has struggled to secure enough crude to meet its 650,000-barrel-per-day capacity. Dangote previously had to buy oil on the international market, but it filed a complaint saying oil majors were blocking its access to locally produced crude by…

Witty, intelligent, well-informed, well-bred, patriot and God fearing. That was the impression one had after a lively interview with the new Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, last Monday in his Renaissance Hotel Suite in downtown Chicago. In spite of having had a busy schedule and on the eve of his departure from Chicago, the Oba was gracious enough to grant The Chicago Inquirer, an audience. Credit must, at this point, be given to another royal personnel, Prince Adeoye Ogunsanya, from the ruling house in Ikorodu, Lagos State for making this exclusive interview possible, at short notice and without hesitation.…

by Isaac Anyaogu LAGOS – Fuel queues lengthened across major Nigerian cities on Monday after state-oil company Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. faced problems supplying gasoline to local traders and depots. Last year President Bola Tinubu’s government opened up gasoline imports to private companies but foreign currency shortages and a cap on the price of petrol has mean that NNPC remains the only importer. Nigeria’s new Dangote Refinery is yet to start processing gasoline. “The NNPC Ltd wishes to state that the tightness in fuel supply and distribution witnessed in some parts of Lagos and the Federal Capital is as a…

by Savyata Mishra CHICAGO – McDonald’s reported a surprise drop in sales worldwide on Monday, its first decline in 13 quarters, as deal-seeking consumers shy away from higher priced menu items, including Big Macs. Persistent inflation has forced lower-income consumers to shift to more affordable food options at home. That has led fast food chains such as McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and Taco Bell to lean on value meals to spark customer traffic. McDonald’s shares, which are down 15% this year, rose 4% in early trading after company executives said the $5 meal deal that was launched late in June…

by Karolos Grohmann PARIS -Serbia’s top-seeded Novak Djokovic overcame a brief bout of nerves in the second set before beating 14-times French Open champion Rafael Nadal 6-1 6-4 at the Paris Olympics on Monday and moving into the third round. While Djokovic remains in the hunt for his elusive Olympic gold, Spain’s Nadal now has only the doubles competition left to add to his two Olympic gold medals, partnering Carlos Alcaraz. Djokovic, who has won 24 Grand Slam singles titles to Nadal’s 22, left nothing to chance in a flawless display over a set and a half. The world number…

by Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON -President Joe Biden on Monday proposed sweeping changes to the U.S. Supreme Court, including term limits and a binding code of conduct for its nine justices, but a deeply divided Congress means the proposals have little chance of enactment. Biden called for the revamp, as well a constitutional amendment to eliminate broad presidential immunity recognized in a July 1 Supreme Court ruling involving former President Donald Trump, in an opinion piece published in the Washington Post. Biden is due to deliver a speech at the presidential library of former President Lyndon B. Johnson in Austin, Texas,…

by Bhargav Acharya and Tannur Anders JOHANNESBURG -Former South African president Jacob Zuma has been expelled from the African National Congress after backing a rival party in May’s parliamentary election, the ANC said on Monday. Zuma was suspended from his long-time party in January after announcing he would support the new uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) in the general election. He later became the leader and face of MK. MK did better than expected in the poll and won about 15% of the vote, a major factor in the ANC’s loss of its majority for the first time since the apartheid…

by Angelica Medina LILLE, France -Defending champions the United States won their Group C opener against Serbia 110-84 in front of an ecstatic crowd in one of the most anticipated games of the Olympic men’s basketball tournament at the Pierre Mauroy stadium on Sunday. Serbia started well and refused to buckle under the pressure of the Americans, with the NBA’s Denver Nuggets and silver medallist Nikola Jokic leading the way by making 20 points. But the fluidity of coach Steve Kerr’s U.S. team and their potent combination of old stalwarts Lebron James, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry with newcomers Anthony…

by Dawn Chmielewski (Reuters) -Warner Bros Discovery and its sports division, Turner Broadcasting System, filed a lawsuit on Friday against the National Basketball Association in New York over the league’s rejection of its matching bid for media rights. The media company accused the NBA’s refusal to honor its right to match offers from a third party violates its agreement with Turner. “We strongly believe this is not just our contractual right, but also in the best interest of fans who want to keep watching our industry-leading NBA content,” TNT Sports said in a statement. NBA spokesman Mike Bass said Warner…