Ukraine war: Finland closes border to Russian tourists

 Finland is closing its border to Russian tourists from Friday – the last of Moscow’s EU neighbours to do so.

Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania all closed their borders to Russian tourists earlier this month.

But Russians will still be allowed to visit family or for work and study in Finland, the foreign minister said.

The decision comes after the number of Russians arriving at the border surged following a call-up of 300,000 military reservists by President Vladimir Putin.

Queues have formed at border crossings as people try to flee, including long lines at Russia’s border into Georgia, which does not require a visa for travel.

Finland – which shares a 1,300km (800 mile) border with Russia and does require a visa – also reported an increase in people trying to cross the border following the partial mobilisation.

Speaking on Thursday, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto told a press conference the mobilisation order had a “significant impact” on its decision.

“The decision aims to completely prevent the current situation of Russian tourism to Finland and the related transit through Finland,” he said.

The move comes into force at midnight and also bans Russians with Schengen tourist visas from entering the country.

Mr Haavisto also said the flow of Russians was seen as endangering Finland’s international relations.

Earlier this month, the European Union also decided to make it more expensive and harder for Russian citizens to get visas by suspending a visa deal between the EU and Russia.

More than a million Russians have travelled to EU countries since the invasion of Ukraine in February.

In a separate move, four EU countries that border Russia – Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – imposed new restrictions and began turning away Russian tourists.

Norway also has a short border with Russia. It is not in the EU, but is part of the Schengen travel area, meaning Russians with the correct visas would be able to travel onwards to 25 other European countries in the bloc.

However, a long-standing visa-free travel agreement with Russia was suspended by Norway last week.

Norway has also reported a slight increase in crossings from Russia at its single checkpoint, Storskog following Mr Putin’s mobilisation announcement.

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Gangsta’s Paradise Rapper Coolio Dead At 59

 US rapper Coolio, known for the iconic hit Gangsta’s Paradise, has died at the age of 59.

His longtime manager Jarez Posey told US media the artist was found unresponsive on the bathroom floor of a friend’s house in Los Angeles.

Coolio started making music in the 1980s, but he cemented his place in hip hop history when he recorded Gangsta’s Paradise in 1995.

The exact cause of his death on Wednesday has not yet been revealed.

However Mr Posey told TMZ, which first reported the news, that paramedics believed he may have had a cardiac arrest.

Coolio, whose real name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr, won a Grammy for Gangsta’s Paradise, which was part of the soundtrack for the movie Dangerous Minds starring Michelle Pfeiffer.

The haunting track continues to be widely listened to and has just passed a billion streams on Spotify, according to his official website.

Over a career spanning four decades he recorded eight studio albums and won an American Music Award and three MTV Video Music Awards.

His other hits included Fantastic Voyage, Rollin’ With My Homies, 1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New), and Too Hot.

He was active right up until his death – Coolio was in the middle of a tour with other 90s stars including Vanilla Ice and Young MC, and they performed in Texas just a few days ago.

“I’m freaking out I just heard my good friend Coolio passed away,” Vanilla Ice wrote on Twitter.

Snoop Dogg referenced Coolio’s world-famous track in his own tribute, writing: “Gangstas paradise. R I P.”

He also shared a picture of the two posing on the set of the music video for Gangsta Walk, a track they collaborated on in 2006.

“This is sad news. I witness first hand this man’s grind to the top of the industry,” fellow rapper and actor Ice Cube said.
MC Hammer described Coolio as “one of the nicest dudes I’ve known”.

“Good people. RIP Coolio,” he wrote, sharing a black and white picture of the rapper, and later posting a second picture of the pair together, along with Tupac and Snoop Dogg.

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Zambia Ex-President: I’m Ready To Face The Law

 Former Zambia president Edgar Lungu says he is ready to face the law if he stole during his term.

Mr Lungu is unhappy that he, as well as his former government officials and family members, have been subjects of investigation for crimes allegedly committed when he was president.

He was particularly displeased that state investigators on Thursday went to a piece of land that he owns to carry out investigations.

Mr Lungu has since appealed to his successor Hakainde Hichilema to start the process of removing his constitutional immunity from prosecution so that he can clear his name.

“He who alleges, must prove and we will defend ourselves,” he later told members of parliament and supporters from his Patriotic Front party who visited him.

“My urge is that may the president institute the lifting of my immunity by going to parliament to lay a case so that he can eventually prove what crimes I committed,” he said.

Mr Lungu, who last year lost power to Mr Hichilema, has previously denied many allegations of corruption during his time as president.

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IFC wants to cooperate with Angolan government

 Luanda - The International Finance Corporation (IFC) on Thursday made itself available to be a key partner of Angola, specifically in initiatives underway to make the market more attractive and competitive for private investment.

The IFC which is a member of the World Bank Group expressed its availability through a note addressed to the Head of State, João Lourenço, to congratulate him on his re-election and the peaceful and orderly manner in which the 24 August general elections took place.

 

According to the corporation, the continuation of the reform programme in Angola will contribute to sustainable growth based on the development of the private sector which is the IFC´s focus.

 

For the IFC, relations with the Government of Angola should be strengthened to benefit the companies and the Angolan society in general, that is why it is willing to support the Executive to build a more prosperous society.

 

Founded in 1956, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in developing countries and currently works in more than 100 countries.

Political path of Agostinho Neto highlighted

 Caxito - The historical background of the first President of Angola António Agostinho Neto on liberation of Angola and well-being of the Angolan people was stressed on Thursday.

The recognition was expressed by the vice governor  for the Political, Social and Economic sector, Francisco Bartolomeu Pedro, in Caxito, northern Bengo province. 

Speaking on the life of the poet, to mark his centenary, the governor noted that Agostinho Neto had as one of the biggest ideals the liberation of the Angolan people and had a significant contribution for liberation of Angola and some countries in sub-region of the southern African continent. 

He said that Agosinho Netos, as academic figure, politician, poet, doctor, fighter and statesman, is reference to the national culture, having written some works translated in some languages. 

 The director of the National Institute of the Child in the Bengo, Luciano Chila, invited the future generation students to follow the moral, civic and patriotic values of Agostinho Neto.

In turn, the president of the Organisation of Pioneer of Agostinho Neto, António Rosa, said the organisation will continue to intensify the civic, moral and patriotic education activities in the schools and the 18 provinces of the country. 

António Agostinho Neto was doctor and poet, born on September 17, 1922 in Kaxicane Village, municipality of Icolo and Bengo, current province of Luanda.

He died on September 10, 1979. 

As Angola's first president, he proclaimed the country's Independence on November 11th 1919.

President’s State of the Nation address set for 15 October

 Luanda - Angolan head of State João Lourenço will address the nation on 15 October, to mark the solemn opening meeting of the 5th Legislature of the National Assembly (AN).

The programme of the Solemn Meeting for the Opening of the 1st Legislative Session of the 5th Legislature of the National Assembly was approved Thursday in Luanda.

This was at the end of the Parliamentary leaders' conference, chaired by the Parliament's Speaker, Carolina Cerqueira. 

Under the Constitution, the Head of State addresses the country at the opening of the Parliamentary Year in National Assembly on 15 October, a message on the State of the Nation and the policies outlined for the resolution of the pressing issues and the country’s development. 

The conference of parliamentary leaders was attended by the representatives of the political parties with Parliamentary seat.

At the end of the meeting the participants expressed their willingness and readiness to represent with dignity the sovereign people at V Legislature, which begins on 15 October. 

The leader of UNITA's parliamentary group, Liberty Chiaka, said that his party's MPs are prepared for this great moment. 

"We, as MPs, took a solemn oath to fulfill and enforce the Constitution and the laws," said Liberty Chiaka, who highlighted the cordiality of the new Speaker of the National Assembly, Carolina Cerqueira. 

In turn, the first vice-leader of the ruling MPLA party’s parliamentary group, Reis Júnior, highlighted the programme of the Solemn Meeting for the Opening of the 1st Legislative Session of the 5th Legislature of the AN, marked by the State of the Nation Address by the President of the Republic, João Lourenço. 

Bela Maquias, leader of the PHA, NImi a Simbi (FNLA) and Benedito Daniel (PRS), expressed their optimism saying that they are looking forward to a challenging legislature. 

The ruling MPLA party has 124 seats, followed by UNITA with 90, while PRS, FNLA and PHA with two each. 

"NET-G" plans to create over 4,000 jobs

 Luanda - The new internet service provider called "NET-G" plans to create a total of 4,100 direct and indirect jobs until January 2023, the estimated period for the sale of its services to begin, the general manager of the company, Laur Fortuna, has said.

The manager added that at least 1,930 direct jobs and 2,170 indirect jobs are expected to be created.

 

The initiative of the business group Galec Business, in partnership with Dutch multinational technology company Sun Evo Holding B, expects to invest around 111 million euros, which will be used to extend NET-G in 10 provinces of the country, besides Luanda.

 

According to the NET G manager, in the first phase, 50% of the services will be available in Luanda’s urban area, with plans to cover the entire capital in the short term and to the provinces of Cabinda, Benguela, Huambo, Huíla, Malanje, Kwanza Sul, Uige, Namibe, Lunda Norte and Bengo in long-term.

 

Laur Fortuna underlined that the  NET-G will bring a new dynamic to the economy, with the aim to meet the needs of the public, from the education system to the various industries and boost the economy in a differentiated way through internet services.

 

Galec Business is an Angolan company that operates for five years in areas such as management, consulting, and classic business mediation.

Jail for white pastor who planned black genocide

 A white supremacist who was plotting the genocide of black South Africans and a coup in the country has been jailed for life.

Harry Knoesen, 64, was the leader of a far-right terrorist group and had led plans to overthrow the government on 28 November 2019 using AK-47 rifles, hand grenades and rocket launchers.

Knoesen even wanted to use biological weapons to wipe out black people, the Mpumalanga High Court heard.

“He sought to justify his beliefs on religious grounds, claiming that God had ordained that he should reclaim South Africa for white people,” said National Prosecuting Authority spokeswoman Monica Nyuswa.

In total, Knoesen has been handed two life sentences plus 21 years behind bars for terrorism-related offences.

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Ugandan Leader Rules Out Lockdown Over Ebola

 Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has said that there is no need to impose restrictions in Ebola hotspots in the central region because the viral disease is not airborne.

Ebola is spread through contact with an infected person or infected surfaces and human waste.

The association of medical workers in the country had previously called for the affected region to be put under quarantine to stop further spread of the haemorrhagic fever.

Mr Museveni said his government had the capacity to control the epidemic due to previous experience with similar outbreaks. This is the fourth time Ebola has broken out in Uganda.

He said that health experts who had previously dealt with Ebola outbreaks had been deployed to the affected region.

It is currently taking 24 hours for samples to be tested and laboratory results to be released.

The president said the government would set up a laboratory at Mubende district headquarters, the epicentre of the outbreak, to quicken the sample processing.

Six medical workers who treated the 24-year-old man who was later identified as the first case, have tested positive for Ebola.

A total of 24 people have been confirmed to be infected by the virus in the country, five of whom have died since the outbreak was declared last week.

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Angola creates conditions for higher education distance learning implementation

 Luanda - The Secretary of State for Higher Education, Eugénio da Silva, said Wednesday in Luanda that the country's higher education institutions are creating conditions for the implementation of distance and semi-distance learning systems.

The minister made the statement to the press on the sidelines of the opening of the distance learning teacher training that brought together 57 professionals, in an initiative of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science Technology and Innovation, in partnership with the Higher Education Support Program (UNI-AO).

 

Angolan universities are not yet prepared for this new paradigm, the minister said, underscoring that these education institutions recognise  the need to adhere to this system that, when implemented, will coexist with the presencial learning  system.

 

The Secretary of State suggested the possibility of starting distance and semi-distance learning in the 2022/2023 academic year, as long as universities create conditions for its implementation with the aim to train masters and doctors in Angola.

 

Mr Silva pointed out as an advantage of the new teaching system the possibility of direct monitoring of the students, without their physical presence in classrooms.

 

"We are working so that the internet signal and its availability may effectively favour the development of this type of training initiatives, be it distance or semi-distance learning", Silva stressed.

 

The State Secretary also spoke of the importance of upgrading the teachers and provide technical support to higher education institutions to reach the desired transformation of education in Angola.

 

The course aims to train specialists from the provinces of Huambo, Benguela, Kwanza Sul, Bengo, Huila and Luanda and is being funded by the European Union.

Angola seeking parliamentary cooperation with Portugal

 Luanda – Angolan speaker of National Assembly (Parliament) Carolina Cerqueira Wednesday expressed the country’s availability to keep the cooperation with Portugal in the Parliamentary field, based on a permanent consultation.

The stance was expressed during a telephone conversation with the Portuguese counterpart, Augusto Santos Silva, said a press note from the National Assembly released Wednesday.

As for the cooperation between the Parliaments, the document defended harmony with geopolitical priorities and global challenges.

The speaker said that the challenges require the Parliaments’ commitment to peace and sustainable development for the good of the nations around the world.

 Portuguese Parliament speaker congratulates Angolan counterpart

In turn, the speaker of the Assembly of the Republic (Portuguese Parliament), Augusto Santos Silva, congratulated his Angolan counterpart Carolina Cerqueira, on her election for the top job in the Law House.

Augusto Santos Silva underlined the fact of the speaker to be the first woman to hold the position, and stressed the female progress in Angola, where they hold prominent positions in the legislative, judicial and executive powers".

During the dialogue, Augusto Santos Silva invited his Angolan counterpart to pay official visit to the Portuguese Parliament, having reaffirmed his readiness to carry on the institutional cooperation.

He added that he expects the strengthening of relations between the law houses of the two countries in the parliamentary domains and in training and exchange areas.

He stressed the importance of strengthening the role of the Parliaments of the countries of the Community of the Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) aimed to preserve peace and strengthening of democracy.

Angola and Brazil strengthen cooperation in hydrocarbons

 Luanda- Angola’s National Agency of Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG) and the Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) signed Wednesday a cooperation agreement on programmes for the regulation and supervision of the exploration, development and production activities.

According to a statement issued by the ANPG, the   agreement was signed during the Rio Oil & Gas Conference being held in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), by the ANPG CEO, Paulino Jerónimo, and the ANP general manager, Rodolfo Henrique de Saboia.

 

The five-year duration agreement aims to establish technical promotion cooperation for the strengthening of the oil and gas industry, transfer of knowledge related to technical standards and good practices of the oil industry, the statement says.

 

"One of the points we want to strengthen is our regulatory framework. We want to gain this experience that the ANP has.

 

The relationship between Angola and Brazil is transcendental, and this agreement reinforces the commitment between the governments to cement the relationship in the field of hydrocarbons", the Angolan official said.

 

Rodolfo de Saboia, on his turn, highlighted the brotherhood relationship between the two peoples, underscoring that the agreement transcends the interest of both countries in the exploration of their natural resources and hydrocarbons.

 

"Brazil and Angola have a common past, a close culture with the same origin, and a very close feeling of brotherhood. The cooperation extends beyond these economic activities but it is in this that we hope to achieve an even greater proximity between the two countries, with that mutual exchange of experience and knowledge that each of the countries can offer", Saboia said.

 

The cooperation will be carried out through periodic exchange of information and experiences, conducting of studies and joint research and the  training and qualification of human resources.

 

ANPG is participating in Rio Oil & Gas being held from September 26 to 29, with a delegation headed by the agency’s CEO and other senior staff with the aim to promote the Angolan oil potential.

 

Angola and Brazil have maintained diplomatic and political relations since Angola's independence and, which enable both countries to have currently 70 cooperation projects in the scope of the two nation’s  strategic partnership.

 

Brazil was the first country to recognize the Republic of Angola after the proclamation of independence, on November 11, 1975.

Rupa Huq apologises to Kwasi Kwarteng for ‘ill-judged’ comments

 A Labour MP has offered Kwasi Kwarteng “sincere and heartfelt apologies” after describing him as “superficially” black during a fringe meeting at the Labour conference.

Rupa Huq had the party whip suspended after she was accused of making a “racist” comments about the chancellor. The former shadow Home Office minister was recorded at an event held on Monday during a fringe event as part of Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool hosted by British Future and the Black Equity Organisation and also attended by the party’s chair, Anneliese Dodds.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Huq said: “I have today contacted Kwasi Kwarteng to offer my sincere and heartfelt apologies for the comments I made at yesterday’s Labour conference fringe meeting.

“My comments were ill-judged and I wholeheartedly apologise to anyone affected.”

Huq could be heard on a short recording obtained by the Guido Fawkes website saying: “I’m sorry if I was not making myself understood clearly. He superficially is a black man.”

She said Kwarteng went to “the top schools in the country” and added: “If you hear him on the Today programme, you wouldn’t know he’s black.”

Huq faced swift condemnation, with a senior Labour source calling the comments “clearly totally inappropriate” and David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, telling BBC’s Politics Live programme: “I think those comment are unfortunate. I wouldn’t have made them myself and clearly I hope Rupa apologises and retracts that.”

Jake Berry, the chair of the Conservative party, wrote to the Labour leader, Keir Starmer, saying he had “serious concerns” about the remarks. He called for Huq to lose the Labour whip, and added: “I trust you will join me in unequivocally condemning these comments as nothing less than racist.”

The Guardian understands Huq had the whip suspended on Tuesday afternoon.

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Young Russian Asks Friend To Break His Leg To Dodge Vladimir Putin ‘s Military Draft

 A young Russian man screams in pain in disturbing new footage after asking his friend to break his leg to dodge Vladimir Putin ‘s military draft.

It comes after the Russian president last week ordered the mobilisation of an additional 300,000 fighting-age men across the country for the war in Ukraine, leading to a rush of protests and forcing many to flee to neighbouring countries.

Others who are unable to leave have opted for reported acts of self-harm to avoid being called up, including one desperate man who made an extraordinary request for his pal to fracture his leg.

In the clip circulating online, the unidentified young person sits at the bottom of a set of stairs and places his feet on the steps while anxiously waiting for his his friend to carry out the deed.

Read Full Story …. mirror.co.uk >>> :   

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Rupa Huq MP apologises for ‘superficially’ black remark

 MP Rupa Huq says she has apologised to Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng for describing him as “superficially” black.

Speaking at a Labour Party conference fringe event, Ms Huq also said: “If you hear him on the Today programme, you wouldn’t know he’s black.”

Her remarks were criticised and Labour suspended her from the parliamentary party pending an investigation.

Tory Party chair Jake Berry called her comments “racist” and “disgusting”.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said the remarks were “unacceptable”.

Speaking to the BBC’s Politics Live programme, she said Ms Huq should apologise, while the party’s foreign affairs spokesman David Lammy described the remarks as “unfortunate” adding: “I wouldn’t have made them myself.”

A Labour spokesperson said: “We condemn the remarks, they are totally inappropriate, and we call on her to withdraw them.”

The Ealing Central and Acton MP, who will now sit in Parliament as an independent, was recorded making the comments on Monday evening at a fringe event entitled What’s Next for Labour’s Agenda on Race.

The audio clip was published by the Guido Fawkes website minutes before Sir Keir Starmer began his speech to the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool.

During a Q&A session, she said: “He’s superficially, he’s, a black man but again he’s got more in common… he went to Eton, he went to a very expensive prep school, all the way through top schools in the country.

“If you hear him on the Today programme you wouldn’t know he’s black.”

Following the publication of the clip, Ms Huq tweeted: “I have today contacted Kwasi Kwarteng to offer my sincere and heartfelt apologies for the comments I made at yesterday’s Labour conference fringe meeting.

“My comments were ill-judged and I wholeheartedly apologise to anyone affected.” Kwasi Kwarteng became the first black Conservative cabinet minister in 2021, when he was given the job of business secretary

Mr Kwarteng, who became chancellor earlier this month, was born in east London and has Ghanaian heritage.

Former chancellor and Tory MP Sajid Javid said he was “appalled and saddened” by the clip adding: “Rather than give encouragement to racists and people who seek to divide us, she should know better. Not too late for her to show that she does.”

In a letter to Sir Keir, Mr Berry urged the Labour leader to “join me in unequivocally condemning these comments as nothing less than racist”.

The Conservative Party chair also labelled her words as “vile” and “disgusting”.

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