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☆ Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes: He ignored a Linkedin message once, but not the second time. When he responded his life changed forever
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

I just thought it was a welcome message … so I ignored it.”Fortunately for Lopes, Cape Verde head coach time Rui Águas messaged the Shamrock Rovers defender again nine months later – this time in English – asking if he had considered his offer. Roberto Lopes, who plays for Cape Verde, was born and raised in Dublin. French forward Just Fontaine (L) scores in France's World Cup 5-2 semifinal defeat to Brazil in 1958. France’s captain at the first ever World Cup in 1930 was Algerian-born Alexandre Villaplane. But having recently reversed that policy, the Taifa Stars will have a number of players born outside the continent in its squad for the 2024 tournament.

Persons: CNN —, Roberto “ Pico ” Lopes, Lopes, “, ” Lopes, Rui Águas, Roberto Lopes, Ulrik Pedersen, Mohamed Salah, Lopes won’t, Alexandre Villaplane, Fontaine, Eusébio, Samuel Eto’o, Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, ” Wissa, Darren Lewis, Benoît Assou, Ekotto, Ryan Byrne, ”, ‘, ’, Abdoulaye Doucouré, Wilfred Zaha, Les, Patrice Beaumelle, I’ve, I’m, ” Carlos ‘ Caluccha ’ Lopes, Roberto’s, Roberto, “ It’s, he’s, hasn’t Organizations: CNN, Shamrock Rovers, Cape, CNN Sport, Africa, of Nations, LinkedIn, AP, Google, Blue Sharks, Rovers, Professional, Association of Ireland’s, body’s, AFP, Getty, France, UEFA, Benfica, English Premier League, Cameroon soccer, Brentford, Ireland, Democratic, Former Cameroon, Tottenham Hotspur, Lions, League of Ireland Premier Division, Everton, Mali, Ivorian national team, Galatasaray, Cape Verde Locations: Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Cape Verde, Lopes , Cape Verde, Ireland, Egypt, Cape Verde’s, Ghana, Mozambique, Brazil, Africa, Algerian, French, Marrakech, Morocco, Mozambican, Angolan, Portuguese, Portugal, Algeria, Tanzania, Cameroon, Europe, Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, France, Poland, you’re, Ivory Coast, Cape Verdean, Verdean

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is hosting Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço in the Oval Office on Thursday as he seeks to reaffirm his commitment to Africa even as two wars consume much of his administration's foreign policy focus. The visit comes as Biden appears set to break his commitment to African leaders to visit the continent this year — though senior U.S. officials have made key trips to Africa throughout 2023. This is a fundamental shift in Angolan foreign policy,” lobbyist Robert Kapla wrote in April to Biden confidant Amos Hochstein, according to lobbyist disclosure records. It's part of a global infrastructure program championed by Biden that is meant as a counterweight to China's Belt and Road initiative. Much of Biden's recent foreign policy focus has been on Russia's war in Ukraine and the fighting between Israel and Hamas.

Persons: Joe Biden, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Angola's, Biden, ”, John Kirby, Lourenço, Robert Kapla, Amos Hochstein, Kapla, Molly Phee, “ Organizations: WASHINGTON, Angolan, Security, Biden, U.S, Democratic Locations: Africa, United States, China, Russia, Angolan, Lobito, Kananga, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, It's, Ukraine, Israel, U.S

☆ North Korea's closure of Africa embassies a sign of economic hardships - South's ministry
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The North Korean flag flutters at the North Korea consular office in Dandong, Liaoning province, China April 20, 2021. Both Angola and Uganda have forged friendly ties with North Korea since the 1970s, maintaining military cooperation and providing rare sources of foreign currency such as statue-building projects. Seoul's unification ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, said the pullout reflected the impact of international sanctions aimed at curbing funding for the North's nuclear and missile programs. "This can be a sign of North Korea's difficult economic situation, where it is difficult to maintain even minimal diplomatic relations with traditionally friendly countries." Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported last week, citing unnamed sources, that North Korea was planning to shut down at least 10 diplomatic missions, including a consulate in Hong Kong, largely because of economic difficulties.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Hyonhee Shin, Hyunsu Yim, Gerry Doyle Organizations: North, REUTERS, Rights, Yomiuri Shimbun, Thomson Locations: North Korea, Dandong, Liaoning province, China, Rights SEOUL, Angola, Uganda, Korea, Hong Kong

☆ North Korea closes multiple embassies around the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The North Korean flag flutters at the North Korea consular office in Dandong, Liaoning province, China April 20, 2021. Both Angola and Uganda have forged friendly ties with North Korea since the 1970s, maintaining military cooperation and providing rare sources of foreign currency such as statue-building projects. "This can be a sign of North Korea's difficult economic situation, where it is difficult to maintain even minimal diplomatic relations with traditionally friendly countries." North Korea has formal relations with 159 countries, but had 53 diplomatic missions overseas, including three consulates and three representative offices, until it pulled out of Angola and Uganda, according to the ministry. Correspondence with the Spanish Communist Party released on the party's website showed the North Korean embassy announcing the closing in a letter dated Oct. 26.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, KCNA, Chad O'Carroll, Kim Jong, Hyonhee Shin, Hyunsu Yim, hyang Choi, Josh Smith, Gerry Doyle, Ed Davies Organizations: North, REUTERS, Rights, NK Pro, Spanish Communist Party, North Korean, Thomson Locations: North Korea, Dandong, Liaoning province, China, Rights SEOUL, Spain, Hong Kong, Africa, Korean, Angola, Uganda, Korea, Italy, Madrid, Pyongyang, United States

But none made her feel more beautiful or purposeful as the pageant for people with albinism that was held this month in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare. “I can be that inspiration for young girls, especially those with albinism, to feel comfortable and beautiful in their own skin," Muhitu said. I don't feel shamed, I feel empowered," she said, shaking hands with people eager to congratulate her. The Mr. Albinism Southern Africa title was claimed by Zimbabwean Ntandoyenkosi Mnkandla, 26, a trainee paralegal. Muhitu, who received $250 for winning the Miss Albinism prize, commended the growing number of events that celebrate people with albinism in Africa.

Persons: Andreia Solange Sicato Muhitu, Muhitu, ” Muhitu, Brenda Mudzimu, ”, Mudzimu, Mnkandla Organizations: Human Rights, AP Locations: HARARE, Zimbabwe, Southern Africa, Angolan, Zimbabwe's, Harare, “, Africa, Malawi, Tanzania, Angola's, Cubango, Saharan Africa, North America, Europe, South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique, Angola, africa

☆ OPEC oil output rises for second month on Nigeria, Iran - Reuters survey
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Alex Lawler | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Last month, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries pumped 27.73 million barrels per day (bpd), the survey found, up 120,000 bpd from August. Iran, which has been boosting supply despite U.S. sanctions, also pumped more, with output hitting the highest level since 2018. The second-largest increase came from Iran, the survey found, which pushed output to 3.15 million bpd. Output from the 10 OPEC members that are subject to OPEC+ supply cut agreements rose by 80,000 bpd, the survey found. Top exporter Saudi Arabia kept August and September output close to 9 million bpd, the survey found, as the country extended a voluntary 1 million bpd output cut to provide extra support for the market.

Persons: Ramzi Boudina, Ahmad Ghaddar, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Organization of, Petroleum, REUTERS, LONDON, Reuters, Analysts, OPEC, Saudi, United Arab, Petro, Logistics, Thomson Locations: Algiers, Algeria, Nigeria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Washington, OPEC, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Angola

☆ Angola fuel hike protesters clash with police
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LUANDA, June 17 (Reuters) - Angolan police fired tear gas in the capital Luanda and other cities Benguela and Namibe as thousands of protesters took to the streets a week after clashes over a recent fuel hike killed at least five people. President Joao Lourenco on June 8 fired the economic coordination minister and replaced him with the central bank governor in the wake of the deadly protests. Local media at the time quoted Angolan Economic Coordination Minister Manuel Nunes Junior, who was subsequently fired, saying the aim was to rein in government spending. On Saturday in Benguela, a large crowd of protesters holding cardboard placards were shown on social and local media as anti-riot police with batons and helmets patrolled the streets. In Luanda, police shot teargas to control the crowd, with TV footage showing at least one burning barricade spewing smoke.

Persons: Joao Lourenco, Africa’s, Manuel Nunes Junior, teargas, Miguel Gomes, Wendell Roelf, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Angolan, Angolan Economic, Police, Thomson Locations: LUANDA, Luanda, Benguela, Namibe, Nigeria, Angolan

Saudi's energy ministry said the country's output would drop to 9 million barrels per day (bpd) in July from around 10 million bpd in May, the biggest reduction in years. "This is a Saudi lollipop," Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz told a news conference. EXTENSION TO END OF 2024OPEC+ has in place cuts of 3.66 million bpd, amounting to 3.6% of global demand, including 2 million bpd agreed last year and voluntary cuts of 1.66 million bpd agreed in April. In addition to extending the existing OPEC+ cuts of 3.66 million bpd, the group also agreed on Sunday to reduce overall production targets from January 2024 by a further 1.4 million bpd versus current targets to a combined of 40.46 million bpd. By contrast, the United Arab Emirates was allowed to raise output targets by around 0.2 million bpd to 3.22 million bpd.

Persons: Prince Abdulaziz, Brent, Amrita Sen, Gary Ross, Giovanni Staunovo, Ahmad Ghaddar, Alex Lawler, Maha El Dahan, Julia Payne, Dmitry Zhdannikov, David Holmes, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Saudi, UAE, Saudi Energy, Organization of, Petroleum, Brent, OPEC, Analysts, Energy, Veteran OPEC, Black Gold, UBS, United Arab, Thomson Locations: Russian, Angolan, VIENNA, Saudi Arabia, OPEC, Saudi, Russia, Ukraine, Nigeria, Angola, United Arab Emirates

☆ The Venice Architecture Biennale puts Africa center stage
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Marianna Cerini | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Venice, Italy CNN —Until recently, the Venice Architecture Biennale — arguably the world’s largest architecture exhibition — has drawn crowds for its (mainly Western) star appeal. In a May 20 Facebook post titled “Venice Biennale Blues,” Zaha Hadid Architects’ principal, Patrik Schumacher, wrote that “the ‘Architecture’ Biennale is mislabeled and should stop laying claim to the title of architecture. The German pavilion, which is displaying construction waste produced by 2022’s Venice Art Biennale is a case in point. The German Pavilion at the 18th Architecture Biennale is displaying and repurposing constuction waste from the city's Art Biennale last year. The British Pavilion curators Meneesha Kellay, Joseph Henry, Jayden Ali and Sumitra Upham, with commissioner Sevra Davis, photographed in London.

☆ Frank’s International Pays $8 Million to Settle Angola Bribery Violations
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Dylan Tokar | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The business Frank’s International was targeting were contracts to provide Angola’s state-owned oil-and-gas company with tubular services and technology used for drilling offshore deep water wells. Photo: fred tanneau/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesFrank’s International NV, a Dutch oil services firm, has agreed to pay $8 million to resolve an investigation into alleged bribery violations by the company’s operations in Angola, U.S. regulators said Wednesday. The company, now part of Houston-based Expro Group Holdings NV, paid commissions to a sales agent who employees in the region knew was likely to use the funds to bribe Angolan government officials, according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

☆ 8 passengers and 2 crew were hurt when a plane hit severe turbulence and sent carts flying during a meal service, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

10 people were injured when a Lisbon-bound plane hit turbulence, Novo Jornal reported. Eight passengers and 2 cabin crew were injured and were checked by medical staff, per CNN Portugal. The turbulence eventually abated five hours into the eight-hour journey, according to Novo Jornal. Eight passengers and two flight attendants were injured, with one needing aid from a doctor on board, Novo Jornal and CNN Portugal reported. TAAG told Novo Jornal in a statement that "adverse weather conditions" were to blame.

[1/4] U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and South Africa's Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana attend bilateral talks, at the treasury offices in Pretoria, South Africa, January 26, 2023. Nevertheless Lavrov made a stopover after visiting South Africa, which his counterpart Thulisile Dladla described as a "profound honour." Eswatini relies on the United States for aid, but its absolute monarchy has suffered U.S. criticism on human rights. South Africa, alongside Russia and China, is pushing for a "multipolar" world in which geopolitical power is less concentrated around the United States. "It hasn't delivered the kind of benefits South Africa was hoping to get."

☆ Final farewell: From Sidney Poitier to Pope Emeritus Benedict a look back at the influential figures who died in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +55 min

Other world leaders who died in 2022 include former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who died in August. The final days of 2022 saw the loss of some exceptionally notable figures, including Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Here is a roll call of some influential figures who died in 2022 (cause of death cited for younger people, if available):___JANUARY___Dan Reeves, 77. A Cuban-born artist whose radiant color palette and geometric paintings were overlooked for decades before the art world took notice. A prolific character actor best known for playing villains and tough guys in “The Manchurian Candidate,” “Ocean’s Eleven” and other films.

☆ Angolan court orders seizure of dos Santos's assets - Lusa news agency
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dos Santos has faced corruption accusations for years. In 2019, Angola's Supreme Court ordered the seizure of her assets for allegedly steering state funds to companies in which she held stakes during her father's presidency, including oil giant Sonangol. Dos Santos's father, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, died in July. A spokesperson for dos Santos did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The order comes after global police agency Interpol issued a red notice for dos Santos last month, asking global law enforcement authorities to locate and provisionally arrest her.

Saudi crude is mainly sold under long-term contracts, but these usually contain clauses that allow for variations in volumes delivered, either at Aramco's behest or the request of the clients. This dynamic can be seen in China this year, with the world's biggest crude importer dropping imports from Saudi in November, but boosting those from Russia and Angola. China imported 1.72 million barrels per day (bpd) from Saudi Arabia in November, down from 1.87 million bpd in October, according to data compiled by Refinitiv Oil Research. However, China's imports from Russia rose to 1.90 million bpd in November from October's 1.82 million bpd, while those from Angola jumped to 680,000 bpd from 480,000 bpd the prior month. Russian crude will have to be offered at a discount, possible to the point where the $60 a barrel price cap becomes irrelevant.

☆ A Lufthansa Airbus A350 was forced to emergency land in Angola leaving some passengers stranded in the country for days
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Lufthansa Airbus A350 diverted to Luanda, Angola, after suffering an engine issue on Saturday. Passengers were stuck on the plane for hours after landing, and their passports were confiscated. Lufthansa told Insider it sent a team of technicians to inspect the aircraft. The airline told Insider the passengers were given a hotel room, where they "were looked after around the clock by Lufthansa staff." However, NTV reported some passengers were offered flights for days or even weeks later, but Lufthansa told Insider that all passengers will have left by Monday — three days after the diversion to Luanda.

☆ Interpol confirms red notice for Angolan billionaire Isabel dos Santos
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LISBON, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Global police agency Interpol confirmed on Wednesday it had issued a red notice for Angolan billionaire Isabel dos Santos, daughter of the country's former president, asking global law enforcement authorities to locate and provisionally arrest her. Portugal's Lusa news agency reported on Nov. 18 that Interpol had issued an international arrest warrant for dos Santos. But Interpol told Reuters it had issued a red notice instead at the request of Angolan authorities. A source close to dos Santos said on Nov. 19 that she had yet to be notified by Interpol. Dos Santos has given interviews recently, telling CNN Portugal on Tuesday the courts in Angola were not independent" and judges there were "used to fulfil a political agenda".

NEW YORK, Nov 28 (Reuters) - The global oil market is signaling a potential shift, as traders and analysts worry about reduced crude demand and an oversupplied market in the coming months. On Dec. 5, a European Union ban on Russian crude imports is set to start, along with a plan by the G7 nations to force shippers to comply with a price cap on Russian oil sales. In the last week, crude futures contracts have flipped in and out of contango, where the prompt price of a commodity is lower than the future price, which suggests short-term weakness. Offers of Angolan and other West African crude oil to China, a main customer, are a barometer of physical crude demand from the country. In addition, European refiners have found themselves oversupplied with crude as an expected shortage owing to the looming EU ban on Russian oil has yet to materialise.

☆ Interpol issues arrest warrant for Angola's Isabel dos Santos, Lusa reports
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LISBON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Global police agency Interpol has issued an international arrest warrant for Angolan billionaire and daughter of the country's former president Isabel dos Santos, Portugal's Lusa news agency reported on Friday. According to Lusa, citing an official document, the INTERPOL warrant was issued after Angola's public prosecutors requested the agency to "locate, arrest" and extradite dos Santos. INTERPOL and the public prosecutors did not immediately reply to Reuters' requests for comment. According to Lusa, the arrest warrant mentions the businesswoman is often in Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. Dos Santos' father, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, died in July this year and ruled Angola for almost four decades until 2017.

☆ The world's 5 best special-operations forces besides those of the US
▼ + stars: | 2020-09-01 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

SOF units offer a low-cost, high-reward option, and their small footprint makes them more politically acceptable for policymakers when the public is wary of large military commitments. The US military boasts some of the best SOF units in the world, such as the Army's Delta Force and the Navy's SEAL Teams. One of their most famous operations was in 1980, when an SAS unit stormed the besieged Iranian embassy in London and freed several hostages. Philippine ArmyA quiet but deadly Filipino SOF unit that has seen lots of combat in recent years. Israeli Defense ForcesA number of other SOF units have distinguished themselves but didn't make the list.

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