ANGOLAN PRESIDENT CALLS FOR CAR GOVERNMENT ARMS EMBARGO LIFTING

 Luanda - The Angolan President, João Lourenço, Wednesday in New York (USA), defended an end to the arms embargo imposed on the government of the Central African Republic (CAR) by the United Nations Security Council.

The Angolan statesman, who was speaking at a meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in CAR, called for justice in handling the issue of lifting the embargo.

He also called for international support to the government of that African country to equip its armed forces and create conditions to ensure internal stability after the withdrawal of UN peacekeeping forces.

João Lourenço also gave an update on what has been done, under Angola's leadership, in the collective effort to seek peace and security in CAR.

COVID-19: ANGOLA REPORTS 221 RECOVERIES, 126 NEW INFECTIONS

 Luanda - The health authorities on Tuesday announced the recovery of 221 patients, 126 new cases and 7 deaths, in the last 24 hours.

According to the daily bulletin, of those recovered, 201 reside in Luanda, 18 in Huambo, 1 in Lunda Sul and 1 in Cunene.

As for the new cases, the bulletin said, 84 were diagnosed in Luanda, 16 in Huambo, 15 in Huila, 3 in Benguela, 3 in Zaire, 2 in Malanje, 1 in Cabinda, 1 in Cuando Cubango and 1 in Uige.

Among the new cases, whose ages range from 7 days to 72 years, 66 are men and 60 women.

The deaths involve two citizens resident in Huíla, one in Luanda, one in Huambo, one in Cuando Cubango, one in Cunene and one in Malanje.

In the last 24 hours, laboratories processed 2,989 samples by RT-PCR.

There are 108 patients in the hospitalisation centres, 85 are in institutional quarantine, while 2,323 contacts of positive cases are under medical follow-up.

The country records 37,874 positive cases, with 875 deaths, 32,003 recovered patients and 4,996 active. Of the active ones, 15 are in critical condition, 25 severe, 38 moderate, 30 mild and 4,888 asymptomatic.

 

SENATE REPUBLICANS BLOCK DEMOCRATS' ELECTION BILL

 US Republicans have torpedoed a Democratic bid to implement nationwide election rules, a cherished priority of President Joe Biden's party.

 

The huge bill - which sought to make it easier for Americans to vote - ended up deadlocked 50-50 along party lines.

 

Biden said the issue was the "fight of his presidency", but some Democrats accuse him of not fighting hard enough.

Advocates say the bill would have been the most far-reaching election measure since the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

It comes as Republican-led states advance proposals - which Biden has depicted as racially discriminatory - to tighten election laws, and as former President Donald Trump, a Republican, continues to peddle unfounded claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

The Democrats' For the People Act passed the House of Representatives in March in a near party-line vote, with one Democrat joining all Republicans in opposing the bill.

 

But 60 votes are needed in the 100-member Senate to advance most legislation, and the upper chamber is evenly split 50-50 between the two parties.

 

Vice-President Kamala Harris, who has been assigned by the White House to push election reform, was presiding over the chamber as the bill failed.

"The fight's not over," she said after the vote.

 

The legislation would have introduced 15 days of early voting, made election day a public holiday, and guaranteed automatic voter registration for anyone with a driver's licence.

 

Democrats said the legislation would have also ensured more transparency for certain campaign contributions and limited partisan influence over the drawing of congressional districts.

 

The president's party argued the nearly 900-page proposal was critical to democracy, and would safeguard voting access for black voters.BBC

GOVERNOR REITERATES FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL EXPLOITATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES

 Menongue - The governor of Cuando Cubango, Júlio Bessa, on Tuesday reiterated the close fight against illegal exploitation of wood, anarchic burning and poaching, as they are practices that violate the legislation in force in the country.

The governor, who was speaking on the sidelines of an event marking the 42nd anniversary of the creation of the Interior Ministry, said that the government had recently seen an intensification of mussivi wood cutting, but that from now on it would be tough and implacable in the fight against this and other illegal actions.

The combat will be carried out based on the law 6/17 of 24 January (Forest and Wildlife Basic Law), on the Presidential Decree 171/18, of 23 July (Forestry Regulation) and on the Presidential Decree 278/18, of 07 August (Decree that prohibits the cutting of mussivi wood).

Júlio Bessa warned the National Police and other competent bodies to continue to do their work with rigour, reminding that in case of seized wood, it will be used and incorporated in the execution process of the PIIM works.

He exhorted the civil society, the youth and the media to help the National Police and the Defence and Intelligence bodies to sensitise and mobilise the peasant families and respective communities and their leaders, to refrain from burning, since it is a propitious time of the year for this practice, which damages the soil and the environment.

ANGOLAN PRESIDENT DISCUSSES COOPERATION WITH PREMIER OF CABO VERDE

 Luanda - The Angolan President, João Lourenço, discussed this Monday with the Prime Minister of Cabo Verde, José Ulisses Correia e Silva, issues of bilateral interest.

The meeting took place during a technical stopover on Sal Island (Cabo Verde), on his way to New York (USA), where João Lourenço will participate in the special session of the UN Security Council on the Central African Republic. 

 

According to the official website of the Presidency of the Republic, during the meeting, the historical relations between the two brother countries were at the centre of the dialogue. 

 

Angola and Cape Verde, former Portuguese colonies, have had strong cooperation ties since the first years of independence and are part of the African Countries of Portuguese Language (PALOP) and the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP). 

 

Among the various protocols signed by the two States, stand out the visa waiver agreements, technical cooperation in different areas, such as education, defence, oil, diplomacy, agriculture, transport, finance and administration, among others that encourage relations of bilateral agreements. 

The Google for Startups Black Founders Fund Africa Program 2021 for early-stage African Startups ($3 million in funding)

 Application Deadline: July 7th 2021

A Google for Startups program giving access to funding to Black-founded startups in Africa.

Through the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund Africa, we are supporting early-stage Black-founded startups and startups that are benefitting the Black community on the continent. We want to bridge the existing fundraising gap for Black startup founders in Africa’s fast-growing technology landscape. This non-dilutive $3 million fund is allocated across a pipeline of 50 investable startups in Africa. The fund is open to all startups that meet the criteria, with priority given to Google for Startups Accelerator and Partner program alumni. This fund will be given along with mentorship support and Google platform credits to help the startups grow.

Requirements

The Black Founders Fund is intended for startups with self-identifying Black leaders or companies directly supporting the Black community.
Google encourage established startups based in Africa who are seeking seed-stage funding to apply.
Currently accepting applicants from the following countries in Africa: Botswana, Cameroun, Cote D'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

Funding

Each startup will receive either $50,000 or $100,000. Funding varies according to each startup’s product development stage, current needs, and how much they’ve already raised.

Click here to apply:  https://bit.ly/2SpiXS8