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☆ UAE's Masdar to develop 150 MW solar project in Angola
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DUBAI, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, known as Masdar, is planning to develop a 150 megawatt solar power project in Angola to provide renewable energy to 90,000 homes and support economic growth, including jobs, the UAE state news agency WAM said on Saturday. Angola’s Ministry of Energy and Water and Masdar, the Gulf state's clean energy developer, signed a concession agreement to build and operate the ground-mounted solar power project in the Quipungo region of southern Angola, the statement said. The project is part of a wider commitment made by Masdar this year to develop 5 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy projects across Angola, Uganda and Zambia. "Africa has what it takes to become the world’s renewable energy powerhouse," Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 president, said in the statement. Angola wants to increase its national electrification to around 60% by 2025; less than half of the population has access to electricity at present, the statement said.

Persons: WAM, Sultan Al Jaber, Rachna Uppal, Kevin Liffey Organizations: Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, United, United Arab Emirates, Angola’s Ministry of Energy, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Abu Dhabi, Angola, UAE, United Arab, Quipungo, Uganda, Zambia, Africa

☆ Parenting tips from a dad who’s fostered 36 kids — by himself
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Lucy Handley | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Right now, he's caring for kids aged two, three, seven, eight, 10, 17 and 19 years old, three of whom are his adopted children. "I grew up [the] poor of the poorest," Mutabazi told CNBC by video call. Becoming a solo foster fatherIt wasn't until he was 43 that Mutabazi became a foster dad. Now, on top of being a foster dad, he runs the Now I Am Known Foundation, where he does room makeovers for teenagers. Mutabazi told CNBC.

Persons: Peter Mutabazi, Peter Mutabazi Peter Mutabazi, Mutabazi, James, —, Peter Mutabazi Mutabazi, …, Ryder, Anthony Organizations: CNBC, Compassion, Foundation, Mutabazi Locations: Uganda, Kampala, Rwandan, U.S, Worth, Ethiopia, China, Brittany, United States, Oklahoma City

☆ A 70-year-old woman in Uganda gave birth to twins she conceived via IVF
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Jane Ridley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Safina Namukwaya, 70, gave birth to boy/girl twins at a hospital in the Ugandan capital of Kampala. AdvertisementA 70-year-old woman, who delivered twins on Wednesday, has become one of the oldest moms in the world, a hospital in Uganda said. "One day, a young boy said I had been cursed by my mother to die without a child," Namukwaya said. Namukwaya told the interviewer that she had been "very sick" due to her double pregnancy and had spent nearly all her "savings" on healthcare. AdvertisementShe told NTV that the twins were "in the hands of God" and that "every child comes with a blessing."

Persons: Safina, Doctors, —, Safina Namukwaya, Namukwaya, she'd, Edward Sali Organizations: Service, Women's Hospital, Fertility, NTV Locations: Kampala, Africa, Uganda, India

A South African company will make vaginal rings that protect against HIV, which AIDS experts say should eventually make them cheaper and more readily available. The Population Council announced Thursday that Kiara Health of Johannesburg will start making the silicone rings in the next few years, estimating that 1 million could be produced annually. The nonprofit council owns the rights to the rings, which are now made by a Swedish company. About 500,00 rings are currently available to women in Africa at no cost, purchased by donors. Last year, activists charged the stage in a protest during last year's biggest AIDS meeting, calling on donors to buy the silicone rings for African women.

Persons: Ben Phillips Organizations: Population, World Health Organization, WHO, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Johannesburg, Swedish, Africa, South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Uganda, Zimbabwe

Survivors recounted executions and looting in Ardamata, which they said were carried out by RSF and allied Arab militias. The RSF developed from Arab militias known as the Janjaweed that helped Sudan's army crush a rebellion in Darfur in the 2000s. Atta said the UAE had funnelled unspecified supplies to the RSF through Uganda, the Central African Republic (CAR) and Chad. Sudan's army, Chad and the CAR did not immediately respond to requests for comment. While the UAE backed Sudan's aborted political transition after the 2019 overthrow of Omar al-Bashir, it has remained publicly quiet on the war.

Persons: El Tayeb, Yassir al, Atta, RSF, General Abdel Fattah al, Burhan, Omar al, Bashir, Nafisa Eltahir, Khalid Abdelaziz, Maha El, Elias Biryabarema, Aidan Lewis, Alex Richardson Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Sudanese, United, Rapid Support Forces, Army, UAE, General Intelligence Service, Reuters, Central African Republic, Wagner Group, CAR, Thomson Locations: West Darfur, Adre, Chad, Ardamata, Arab, El, Rights CAIRO, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Darfur, Omdurman, Sudan, Chadian, Amdjarass, Uganda, Chad's, Ndjamena, Russia, Khartoum, Maha El Dahan, Dubai, Kampala

☆ Uganda to borrow $150 mln from China's Exim after World Bank halts funding
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A worker is seen near a sign of the Export-Import Bank of China at the venue for the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, China October 31, 2019. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKAMPALA, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Uganda is preparing to borrow $150 million from China's Export Import Bank (Exim) to help expand its internet infrastructure, the finance ministry on Monday. A junior finance minister and the minister for information asked lawmakers on Monday to authorise the debt, the finance ministry wrote on X, the social media platform. Uganda is in negotiations with Chinese export credit agency SINOSURE and Exim Bank for a loan to finance the construction of a pipeline to help Uganda export its crude oil to international markets. The World Bank, traditionally Uganda's biggest development lender, halted loans to Uganda after President Yoweri Museveni signed the Anti-Homosexuality Act which hands out tough sentences including death for a range homosexual activities.

Persons: Stringer, SINOSURE, Yoweri Museveni, Elias Biryabarema, Hereward Holland, William Maclean Organizations: Export, Import Bank of China, China, REUTERS, Rights, China's Export Import Bank, World Bank, Exim Bank, Bank, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Rights KAMPALA, Uganda

☆ Somalia joins east Africa trade bloc as it eyes new opportunities
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Abdi Sheikh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MOGADISHU, Nov 24 (Reuters) - The East African Community trade bloc admitted Somalia as its eighth member on Friday, a move Somali authorities and businesses hope will boost the country's war-ravaged economy. "Somalia officially joins the East African Community, reinforcing ties and opening new doors for progress and partnership," Daud Aweis, Somalia's minister for information, culture and tourism said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. In turn the bloc's large population and existing customs union and common market are a draw for investors that Somalia can now tap into. Somali businesses said the country's vibrant private sector, which has overcome long odds to stay afloat, would bring a fresh injection of risk-tolerant entrepreneurs into the trade bloc and boost exchanges across the large Somali Diaspora. "It will be simpler for the large Somali Diaspora living across East Africa to access financial services and products," said Shuayb Haji Nur Mohamed, managing director of Salaam Somali Bank, one of Somalia's major banks.

Persons: Daud Aweis, al, Shuayb Haji Nur Mohamed, Hereward Holland, Elias Biryabarema, William Maclean Organizations: East African Community, EAC, Democratic, East African, Salaam Somali Bank, Thomson Locations: MOGADISHU, Somalia, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Al Qaeda, Shabaab, Mogadishu, al Shabaab, Somali, East Africa

☆ Kenya to sell 35 state companies as Africa seeks to jumpstart IPOs
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Duncan Miriri | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NAIROBI, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Kenya's President William Ruto said on Thursday the government was poised to privatise 35 state companies after enacting a law last month to guide the process. Kenya last privatised a state-owned company in 2008 with an initial public offering (IPO) for 25% of the shares in telecommunications firm Safaricom (SCOM.NR). "We have identified the first 35 companies that we are going to offer to the private sector. Kenya's President William Ruto speaks during the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit at United Nations headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., September 18, 2023. "If well harnessed, stock exchanges can be the engine that transforms Africa into a global economic powerhouse and financial centre of the world," the president said.

Persons: William Ruto, Ruto, Njuguna Ndung'u, Ndung'u, Caitlin Ochs, Bourses, Thapelo, Ducan Miriri, Marc Jones, Aaron Ross, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: African, Nairobi . Finance, Reuters, Sustainable, United Nations, REUTERS, Botswana Stock Exchange, Bharti Airtel, Thomson Locations: NAIROBI, Kenya, Nairobi, New York City , New York, U.S, Africa, Uganda, London

☆ For ‘Napoleon,’ Finishing the Hats
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Esther Zuckerman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When the costume designer David Crossman, who specializes in military wear, first knew he would be working on “Napoleon” (in theaters Wednesday), Ridley Scott’s epic starring Joaquin Phoenix, he had a “mini panic” about the hats. It wasn’t that he would have to be recreating Napoleon Bonaparte’s famous headgear, the kind for which collectors pay dearly (one just sold for $2.1 million). He examined objects from a private collection as well as examples of real Napoleon hats in the Musée de l’Armée in Paris. Phoenix’s hats may have been built from bark cloth, but they were true to size. There were three key versions for the character reproduced many times over, Crossman said, as well as a glorious array of hats for various generals, allies, and enemies.

Persons: David Crossman, Napoleon ”, Ridley Scott’s, Joaquin Phoenix, Napoleon, Crossman, “, ” Crossman, ’ ” Crossman, ”, Phoenix Locations: Uganda, l’Armée, Paris

☆ Morocco win but other heavyweights humbled in World Cup qualifiers
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

CAPE TOWN, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Ghana and South Africa both suffered embarrassing defeats in World Cup qualification on Tuesday while top contenders Cameroon, Guinea, Senegal and Zambia also found it tough on the road as they all dropped points. On a busy day of 15 matches across the continent, there were also wins for Burkina Faso, the Cape Verde Islands, Morocco, Namibia, Tunisia and Uganda. But it was the Comoros, with a population of around a million, and Rwanda, ranked 140 in world football, who tore up the form book in beating Ghana and South Africa respectively. It was Rwanda’s first victory in their last 11 home matches and took them top of Group C, where they lead not only South Africa but also Nigeria and Zimbabwe. The next round of African qualifiers will be played in June, with the continent now turning its focus to January’s Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast.

Persons: Moroni, Myziane Maolida, Innocent Nshuti, Gilbert Mugisha, Patson Daka, Hakim Ziyech, Bertrand Traore, Dango Ouattara, Tunisia’s, Youssef Msakni, Mark Gleeson, Toby Davis Organizations: Cameroon, Burkina, Ocean, African, Nations, Rogers Mato, Cape Verde Islands, Niger, Ethiopia, Malawi, Sao Tome, Thomson Locations: CAPE, Ghana, South Africa, Guinea, Senegal, Zambia, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde Islands, Morocco, Namibia, Tunisia, Uganda, Comoros, Rwanda, Cameroon, Africa, Butare, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Togo, Botswana, Somalia, Libya, Mauritius, Angola, Cape, Eswatini, Qatar, Tanzania, Dar, Lilongwe, Sao Tome e Principe, Ivory Coast, Cape Town

☆ Kenya's Rail Operator Says Floods, Landslide Disrupting Its Services From Port City
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Flooding and landslides in Kenya's coastal region has resulted in delays in delivering cargo to and from the port city of Mombasa, the state-owned rail operator said on Saturday. Heavy rains followed by flash floods have submerged towns across East Africa, rendering hundreds of thousands of people homeless. In Kenya, the death toll from the floods stands at at least 46, and is expected to rise. Floods and a landslide on the railway route between the capital Nairobi and Mombasa has forced Kenya Railways to close all cargo services, it said in a statement. Kenya Railways said limited passenger services would continue.

Persons: George Obulutsa, Alex Richardson Organizations: Kenya Railways, Kenya National Bureau, Statistics Locations: NAIROBI, Mombasa, East Africa, Kenya, Nairobi, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan

☆ Kenya's rail operator says floods, landslide disrupting its services from port city
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] People wade through flood waters along a street following heavy rains in Kisauni district of Mombasa, Kenya November 17, 2023. Heavy rains followed by flash floods have submerged towns across East Africa, rendering hundreds of thousands of people homeless. In Kenya, the death toll from the floods stands at at least 46, and is expected to rise. Floods and a landslide on the railway route between the capital Nairobi and Mombasa has forced Kenya Railways to close all cargo services, it said in a statement. Kenya Railways said limited passenger services would continue.

Persons: Stringer, George Obulutsa, Alex Richardson Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Kenya Railways, Kenya National Bureau, Statistics, Thomson Locations: Kisauni district, Mombasa, Kenya, Rights NAIROBI, East Africa, Nairobi, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan

☆ Sub-Saharan Africa just hit 100 World Heritage Sites. UNESCO says that’s not enough
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Tom Page | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

At the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee in September, UNESCO announced five new locations had joined the list of World Heritage Sites, taking sub-Saharan Africa’s total over 100 for the first time. Rwanda’s first two World Heritage Sites were named among 42 new entries worldwide. Vegetation in Rwasenkoko, Nyungwe National Park, one or Rwanda's two new UNESCO World Heritage Sites. CNLG/Courtesy UNESCOThere are currently 1,199 World Heritage sites, benefitting from the conservation agreements and tourism that come with that status. One is that some nations were slow to ratify the 1972 World Heritage convention, allowing them to submit applications for World Heritage status.

Persons: CNN —, Rwanda’s, Bale, Vande weghe, Lazare Eloundou Assomo, There’s, ”, Eloundou Assomo, –, Yonas, Assomo, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, World Heritage Committee, UNESCO, Heritage, World, Getty, “, World Heritage Fund Locations: Nyamata, Eastern, Odzala, Republic of Congo, Saharan Africa, Africa, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Guinea, Bissau, Liberia, Sao Tome, Principe , Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Rwasenkoko, Gisozi, Rwanda, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Uganda, Buganda, Kasubi, Kampala, Ethiopia, Bissagos

☆ As a kid she posed with her pilot dad in the cockpit. Years later they recreated the photo, with a twist
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The first time Jasmijn van Waalwijk van Doorn accompanied her pilot father, Jorrit van Waalwijk van Doorn, to work was a day to remember. Jorrit van Waalwijk van Doorn and Jasmijn van Waalwijk van DoornThe 2006 flight to Uganda was the first of many times young Jasmijn accompanied Jorrit on flights. Jorrit van Waalwijk van Doorn and Jasmijn van Waalwijk van DoornJasmijn trained at the KLM Flight Academy, qualifying in 2018 when she was 20. Jorrit van Waalwijk van Doorn and Jasmijn van Waalwijk van Doorn“She’s a new generation pilot,” he says. Jorrit van Waalwijk van Doorn and Jasmijn van Waalwijk van DoornFor Jasmijn and Jorrit, working together also means getting to travel the world together.

Persons: Doorn, Jorrit, Jasmijn, Ellen, She’s, she’d, “, ‘, Jorrit van, ”, “ We’d, Jasmijn’s, “ It’s, I’m, ’, Doorn Jasmijn, they’ve, what’s, they’re, she’s, he’s, I’ve, Jasmin Organizations: CNN, KLM, Boeing, CNN Travel, KLM Flight Academy, ” Aviation Locations: Netherlands, Uganda, Hong Kong, Jorrit, Doorn, Machu Picchu, Peru, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Jasmijn

☆ Islamist Militants Tie Up, Kill Congo Villagers - Local Official
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BENI, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - Islamist militants tied up at least 19 villagers and killed them with machetes and other weapons in a raid in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo late on Sunday, a civil society leader said. Other villagers fled but may have drowned as they tried to cross the Lamia river into Uganda, Maurice Mabele Musaidi told Reuters. Congo's army said it killed at least six of the militants that night, without going into detail on the operation. Army spokesperson Antony Mualushayi put the civilian death toll at 11, though he said that figure was provisional. (Reporting by Yassin Kombi; Writing by Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Andrew Heavens; Editing by Gareth Jones and Andrew Heavens)

Persons: Maurice Mabele Musaidi, Musaidi, Antony Mualushayi, Yassin Kombi, Anait Miridzhanian, Andrew Heavens, Gareth Jones Organizations: Reuters, Allied Democratic Forces, Islamic, ADF Locations: BENI, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Beni, Congo, Islamic State

☆ Magnitude 4.9 earthquake strikes South Sudan-Uganda border region -EMSC
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Nov 13 (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 struck the area around the border between South Sudan and Uganda on Monday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said. The quake was at a depth of 8 km (4.97 miles), EMSC said. Reporting by Jose Joseph in Bengaluru; Editing by Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: EMSC, Jose Joseph, Chizu Organizations: Mediterranean Seismological, Thomson Locations: South Sudan, Uganda, Bengaluru

☆ Developing countries owe China at least $1.1 trillion – and the debts are due
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Hong Kong CNN —Developing countries owe Chinese lenders at least $1.1 trillion, according to a new data analysis published Monday, which says more than half of the thousands of loans China has doled out over two decades are due as many borrowers struggle financially. Now, 55% of China’s official sector loans to developing countries have entered their repayment periods, according to the analysis of more than two decades of China’s overseas funding across 165 countries released by AidData. Instead, China is providing substantial numbers of emergency rescue loans, according to AidData. Overall funding commitments from China to the developing world declined at the start of the pandemic, according to AidData. Half of China’s non-emergency lending portfolio to developing countries is now provided via syndicated loan arrangements, with more than 80% of these arrangements involving those Western or multilateral partners, they said.

Persons: William & Mary, Xi Jinping, ”, Brad Parks, Hajarah Nalwadda, ’ AidData, ” Parks, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, William &, Initiative, AidData, CNN, “, Bank of International, Getty, World Bank Locations: China, Hong Kong, Virginia, Beijing, America, Southeast Asia, Switzerland, Kiryandongo, Uganda, Xinhua, United States, AidData, Zambia, Ghana

☆ MrBeast: American YouTuber builds 100 wells in Africa, attracting praise – and some criticism
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —American YouTuber MrBeast’s latest video, in which he says he built 100 wells across Africa, has drawn a complex response online since it was published on Saturday. Some Kenyan activists and journalists said he has spotlighted the failures of the Kenyan government, while MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, anticipates that he will be “canceled” following the reaction. The new wells will provide clean drinking water for up to 500,000 people in Cameroon, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda and Zimbabwe, Donaldson said, while an accompanying fundraiser to support local water aid organizations had raised more than $300,000 by Monday morning. Donaldson is the most popular individual creator on YouTube, with more than 200 million subscribers. He has become known for his philanthropy, posting videos in which he sponsored 1,000 blind people’s cataract surgery and bought prosthetic limbs for 2,000 amputees.

Persons: MrBeast, Jimmy Donaldson, Donaldson, Boniface Mwangi, Ferdinand Omondi, ”, I’m, Francis Gaitho Organizations: CNN, Kenyan, ” CNN, YouTube Locations: Africa, Cameroon, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, Zimbabwe

First launched in 2000, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) grants exports from qualifying African countries duty-free access to the United States - the world's largest consumer market. African countries are pushing for an early 10-year extension without changes to reassure businesses and investors. A recent push in the U.S. Senate is aiming to pass a quick AGOA renewal. 'FORWARD-LOOKING VISION'Over $10 billion worth of African exports entered the United States duty free last year under the programme. More than 80% of duty-free non-petroleum AGOA exports, for example, have come from just five countries - South Africa, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar and Ethiopia - in recent years.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Jonathan Ernst, Joe Biden's, Biden, Blinken, Katherine Tai, Cyril Ramaphosa, Harriet Ntabazi, We've, Ntabazi, Carien du, Tannur Anders, Alexander Winning, Nick Macfie Organizations: Hamas, Joint Base Andrews, REUTERS, U.S . Senate, United States Congress, United, U.S . International Trade Commission, U.S . Trade, U.S ., Central African, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, Washington, East, Asia, Joint Base Andrews , Maryland, U.S, JOHANNESBURG, United States, Africa, China, Johannesburg, South Africa, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Gabon, Niger, Uganda, Central African Republic, AGOA, Carien du Plessis

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The extension of the U.S. program allowing sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to U.S. markets is expected to be high on the agenda of the U.S. Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade forum that will begin in South Africa on Thursday. AGOA is U.S. legislation that allows sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to the U.S. market provided they meet certain conditions, including adherence to the rule of law and the protection of human rights. In May, Biden threatened to remove Uganda from AGOA and impose sanctions following the passing of a controversial anti-gay law. They also called on the forum to be held in a different country to send a message to South Africa about the impact of its close ties to Moscow. An inquiry appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa has since cleared South Africa of supplying Russia with arms.

Persons: Katherine Tai, Joy Basu, Joe Biden, ”, John Stremlau, AGOA, Ebrahim Patel, Biden, Ofwono Opondo, Yoweri Museveni, Cyril Ramaphosa, Ramaphosa, ___ Rodney Muhumuza Organizations: U.S, U.S ., African, Congress, Republicans, Central African, Republican, Democratic Locations: JOHANNESBURG, U.S, U.S . Africa, South Africa, Johannesburg, Niger, Uganda, Central African Republic, Gabon, Africa, South, AGOA, U.S . South Africa, Cuba, Iran, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Kampala

☆ 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

☆ American Couple in Uganda Accused of Torturing Boy Plead Guilty to Lesser Charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

The charge of aggravated child trafficking carries the death penalty in Uganda while aggravated child torture draws a maximum sentence of life in prison. Mackenzie Leigh Mathias Spencer pleaded guilty to inflicting cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment for which she was sentenced to a fine of 3.36 million shillings or two years in prison. Nicholas Spencer admitted one count of child neglect for which he was fined 1.5 million shillings or six months in jail. The couple also pleaded guilty to staying illegally in the east African country and working without permits. Both were also ordered to compensate the child with 50 million shillings each.

Persons: Nicholas Spencer, Mackenzie Leigh Mathias Spencer, Alice Kyomuhangi, David Mpanga, Kyomuhangi, Mpanga, Elias Biryabarema, George Obulutsa, Mark Heinrich Organizations: Reuters Locations: KAMPALA, U.S, Uganda, South Carolina, Kampala

☆ US to Evict Gabon, Niger, Uganda and Central African Republic From Trade Program
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden said on Monday that he intends to end the participation of Gabon, Niger, Uganda and the Central African Republic in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade program. Biden said he was taking the step because of "gross violations" of internationally recognized human rights by the Central African Republic and Uganda. He also cited Niger and Gabon's failure to establish or make continual progress toward the protection of political pluralism and the rule of law. "Despite intensive engagement between the United States and the Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger, and Uganda, these countries have failed to address United States concerns about their non-compliance with the AGOA eligibility criteria," Biden said in a letter to the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Biden said he intends to terminate the designation of these countries as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries under the AGOA, effective Jan. 1, 2024.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Jasper Ward, Matthew Lewis Organizations: WASHINGTON, Central African, U.S . House, Representatives Locations: Gabon, Niger, Uganda, Central African Republic, United States, U.S, Washington

☆ US to evict Gabon, Niger, Uganda and Central African Republic from trade program
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Ken Cedeno Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 30 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden said on Monday that he intends to end the participation of Gabon, Niger, Uganda and the Central African Republic in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade program. Biden said he was taking the step because of "gross violations" of internationally recognized human rights by the Central African Republic and Uganda. He also cited Niger and Gabon's failure to establish or make continual progress toward the protection of political pluralism and the rule of law. "Despite intensive engagement between the United States and the Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger, and Uganda, these countries have failed to address United States concerns about their non-compliance with the AGOA eligibility criteria," Biden said in a letter to the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Biden said he intends to terminate the designation of these countries as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries under the AGOA, effective Jan. 1, 2024.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Joe Biden, Antony Blinken, Walter E, Ken Cedeno, Biden, Jasper Ward, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Africa, Food Security, Food Systems, Washington Convention Center, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, Rights, Central African, U.S . House, Representatives, Thomson Locations: Washington ,, Gabon, Niger, Uganda, Central African Republic, United States, U.S, Washington

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