Central Bank of Nigeria to improve drive for non-oil exports

Dr. Habiba Sarabi is one of four women who took part in the negotiations with the Taliban in Doha at the end of 2020. She is also the first woman to have ruled an Afghan province, that of Bamiyan. Sarabi, who was in Doha when the Taliban took power, spoke to us from the Turkish city of Izmir, where she now lives. She called the withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Afghanistan "a big mistake", branding the US pullout "irresponsible".

In Nigeria, the government has launched a drive to revive the country's once thriving palm oil business, part of a bid to diversify away from petroleum and help create jobs. But small-scale producers say that loans from the Central Bank of Nigeria are only going into the pockets of bigger factory owners.

An oil spill in Southern California closed beaches and led authorities to cancel the last day of the Pacific Air Show. At least 126,000 gallons (98,420 liters) of oil spilled off the coast of Orange County.

The massive oil spill from 480,000 liters leaking off the Orange County coast is slowly moving south, threatening marine-protected areas as well as popular beaches. On the coastline of South California, most beaches are closed, with efforts to clean areas impacted by the oil ongoing.

At least four were killed in the attack on the governor's convoy. Both he and the environment minister, who was also in the vehicle, survived.

Nigeria's dependence on crude oil makes its economy vulnerable. But the transition to an economy not based on oil won't be easy.

Saudi Arabia is creating the "world's first tourism destination on offshore platforms" as part of a drive to diversify the economy away from oil. The Rig will be an oil-themed “extreme park” that will be sitting atop a converted oil rig in the Arabian Gulf.⁣

Africa's abundant sunshine is ideal for renewable energy production. But the continent relies heavily on crude oil. Experts warn that the economy will continue to suffer if governments don't wean themselves off of oil.

The WikiLeaks' founder is currently fighting an appeal by Washington to extradite him back to the US. Assange's legal team has rejected US assurances that he won't be sent to a "Supermax" prison.

A charge has been filed against New York's former Governor Andrew Cuomo. The disgraced politician stepped down after facing allegations of serial sexual harassment.

In a major setback for US President Joe Biden's Democratic Party, Glenn Youngkin is poised to become the first Republican to win statewide office in Virginia since 2009.

The explosion, in the capital, Freetown, happened as large crowds gathered to collect leaking fuel. The oil tanker was damaged earlier in an accident with a bus.