João Lourenço visits Angola's stand on ocean conservation

Luanda - The Angolan Head of State, João Lourenço, on Wednesday visited the Angolan stand in Lisbon, Portugal, designed as part of the United Nations Conference on the Oceans, which has been held since 27 October.

The space was created in a multimodal perspective for moments of interaction, oral presentations, debates and exhibition of the Angolan oceanographic portfolio, by means of informative, digital and non-digital panels. 

At the time of the visit, the Angolan President, who ends today (Wednesday) his 4-day visit to  Lisbon Portugal, was explained the purposes and objectives of the stand installation, which is visited daily by more than 50 individualities, among national and foreign citizens. 

At the opening of the Conference on Oceans, Monday, President João Lourenço transmitted Angola's message, regarding the way in which the oceans and their enormous resources are to be treated. 

The stand is temporary and is expected to operate only during the Conference on the Oceans, which ends on 1 July. 

The main maritime potentialities of the country are on display there, by means of digital and non-digital information panels. 

Visitors can also access content on blue economy, circular economy, management, conservation and restoration of marine and coastal ecosystems. 

Combating marine pollution, managing, protecting, conserving and restoring marine and coastal ecosystems, minimizing ocean acidification, deoxygenating and warming, and promoting sustainable fishing are some of the goals to be achieved by the United Nations. 

The measures also include scientific knowledge and the development of marine technological research, the effective implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the promotion of sustainable ocean-based economies. 

Objectives of the Conference 

The first UN Oceans Conference took place five years ago in New York (USA), but it was not until 2021, at the 26th Climate Conference (COP 26) in Glasgow, that the ocean was introduced in the articles of the Final Declaration, which represented an advance on the Paris Agreement. 

The conference plenary takes place daily at the Altice Arena, and features eight Interactive Dialogues throughout the week. 

In addition to the plenary sessions and dialogues, there are hundreds of side events on the conference program, including four special events. 

These include the high-level event on Local Governance, the Youth and Innovation Forum, the High Level Symposium and the Forum on Blue Sustainable Economy. 

Military support reduces deaths in Mozambique - Ambassador

Luanda - The Mozambican ambassador to Angola, Osvalda Joana, said in Luanda that the support of the SADC and Rwandan military made it possible to reduce the number of deaths in the country, between 2020 and 2021, by 82 percent.

In a recent interview with ANGOP, on the occasion of the 47th anniversary of Mozambican Independence, the diplomat said that the figures until 2021 showed that there were at least 3,000 dead and 850,000 displaced, but with the operations to support the Mozambican forces, the numbers were reduced by 82 percent.

According to the ambassador, the success of the military operations has to do with the successful measures on terrorism against the group of extremists, carried out by the Mozambican forces, supported by the Rwandan military and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

In another part of the interview, the diplomat spoke about the need to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, in the areas of oil and gas, in which Angola has extensive experience, as well as agriculture and tourism.

"Mozambique and Angola have excellent political and historical relations of friendship, brotherhood, solidarity and cooperation. Cooperation is based on the General Agreement signed between the two countries on 5 September 1978 in Luanda, which stipulates bilateral exchange in the socio-political, economic and technical-scientific areas," she said.

Italy warns of rising energy prices due to temporary closure of Russian gas pipeline

The Italian Minister for Ecological Transition, Roberto Cingolani, warned this Saturday that a new increase in the price of energy is expected in Italy after Russia announced the closure of the Nord Stream gas pipeline for maintenance, EFE said.

 

“The two-week closure of Nord Stream for maintenance will result in an increase in the price of gas and this means that there will be even less gasoline and prices will risebecause the gas market is speculative and there will be more accumulation,” Cingolani said in a televised interview quoted by EFE.

 

Pipeline operator Nord Stream announced that it will close the two channels carrying Russian gas to Germany via the Baltic Sea for 11 days in July to carry out planned repairs.

 

According to Cingolani, this is on top of the 15% less gas Italy already receives from Russia, where Italians import about 40% of the gas they need.

 

Even so, the minister assured that Italy already has 60% of the stocks stored and wants to reach 90%, which he considers “an achievable goal”.

 

Cingolani said that if Russia decided to stop exports, “Italy would suffer less than other European countries”, even if it had to face “a difficult winter”, but ruled out that for now “restrictions will have to be imposed”.

 

For his part, the Italian minister defended the proposal to put a ceiling on the price of gas that is being studied in the European Union.

 

“Europe imports three quarters of russia’s gas through its gas pipelines: who is it going to sell it to if europe doesn’t buy it, it’s a lot of work to liquefy and sell it, so we can afford to create market conditions, which doesn’t mean strangling it but avoid crazy price spikes,” he said.

 

He added that the reference under discussion “is between 80 and 90 euros per megawatt/hour” and that “the challenge is to convince the most skeptical European countries, starting with the Netherlands”.

Museveni rival granted bail weeks after arrest

Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye has been granted bail following his arrest on 14 June.

The 66 year old was detained as he urged his supporters in the capital, Kampala, to protest against the high cost of living.

It happened a few hours before the country’s president presided over the reading of the budget.

He and activist Samuel Lubega were both charged with inciting violence. They must return to court on 29 July for the next hearing in their case.

Dr Besigye launched the People’s Front for Transition – a coalition of political parties and activist groups – last year, several months after President Yoweri Museveni won a sixth term in office.

Dr Besigye has been arrested on numerous occasions since entering opposition politicsImage caption: Dr Besigye has been arrested on numerous occasions since entering opposition politics

The 81-year-old president has managed to stay in power since 1986 and has defeated Dr Besigye on four occasions.

Dr Besigye – who used to be Mr Museveni’s personal physician – has been arrested on numerous occasions since going into opposition politics.

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Before we close June - #AlbinismDay: United in making our voice heard on June 29, 2022

 People with albinism face multiple forms of discrimination worldwide

On June 13, 2022, we marked the International Albinism Awareness Day with the theme "United in making our voice heard". This data seeks to dispel the erroneous beliefs and myths that put the security and lives of persons with albinism at constant risk.

Our guest is called Future, he talked about his lifestyle, and also commented on important dates such as the Africa's year of Nutrition and the international day of the African child.

Good afternoon young man!

Good Afternoon! Thank you.

What's your name?

My name is Future.

Given that this year we are celebrating the Africa's year of nutrition and, on June 13th we mark the international day of albinism and finally on June 16th we celebrate the international day of the  African child.

We would like to know your thoughts on these dates that aim to raise awareness and mobilize people to take positive actions towards people with albinism.

Thank you very much, it is a pleasure to talk about these dates. Starting with the 13th of  June, the albinism in the Angolan context, we can say that there are still a lot of taboos in Angola, many people cannot deal with albinism in the midst of their families. But this issue is gradually being overcome. However, some people still take negative attitudes because they don't know the true concept of albinism.

In general, this is a very commemorative date in Africa, for example we can include some typical foods in the albinism diet. Now I'm going to link the dates.

Speaking about the nourished Africa, as you can see, I really like to eat grilled food, this satisfies me, I also really like calulu, it is a typical Angolan dish made up of nutrients such as okra, vegetables and herbs such as Jimboa (similar to spinach), aubergine and other nutrients that help us deal with some of our skin problems. That's how my day-to day has been.

In this way I would recommend some people of my blood group to opt for this type of diet that does not harm us but makes us stronger. This is very good!

Talking about June 16th, the International Day of the African Child, I would like to appeal to parents to educate and encourage their children not to discriminate against albinos, not to take negative practices against this group of people. Because in the end these negative attitudes don't help at all. But if we start from a good education, the albino will be treated well not only in Angola, but throughout the world.

That's why it's a pleasure to talk about it as I said at the beginning, it's also a pleasure to have you here. For today that's all.

Thank you very much!

People with albinism face multiple forms of discrimination worldwide. Albinism is still profoundly misunderstood, socially and medically. The physical appearance of persons with albinism is often the object of erroneous beliefs and myths influenced by superstition, which foster their marginalization and social exclusion. This leads to various forms of stigma and discrimination.

Consequently, in the realm of development measures, persons with albinism have been and are among those “left furthest behind.” Therefore, they ought to be targeted for human rights interventions in the manner envisioned by the Sustainable Development Goals.

2022 Theme - United in making our voice heard

The theme was chosen: 

because including voices of persons with albinism is essential to ensure equality #Inclusion4equality; 

to celebrate how groups of persons with albinism and individuals increase the visibility of persons with albinism in all domains of life; 

to encourage and celebrate unity among groups of persons with albinism; 

to amplify the voices and visibility of persons with albinism in all areas of life;

 to highlight the work being done by albinism groups around the world.

What is albinism?

Albinism is a rare, non-contagious, genetically inherited difference present at birth. Due to a lack of melanin in the skin and eyes, persons with albinism often have permanent visual impairment. They also face discrimination due to their skin colour; as such, they are often subject to multiple and intersecting discrimination on the grounds of both disability and colour.

NATO allies agree to meet or exceed defense spending of 2% of GDP for the first time

 THIS JUST IN – US President Joe Biden has announced that NATO allies have, “for the first time,” begun spending the required 2% of GDP on defense with Germany and the Baltic states going beyond that minimum.

At a press conference in the Spanish capital of Madrid, Biden emphasized that Russia’s war on Ukraine has united NATO in a way that Vladimir Putin did not anticipate.

Biden pointed out that “Putin wanted the ‘Finlandization’ of NATO but instead received the ‘NATOlization’ of Finland,” meaning rather than triggering NATO members to feel less committed to the Alliance like Finland, the opposite effect of NATO absorbing Finland has been achieved.

Observers believe the Russia/Ukraine war has become somewhat of a brinkmanship between NATO and Russia. what makes it interesting is that while NATO member states face pressure from their citizens due to high cost of living, Putin faces no such pressure at home due to the autocratic regime he presides over.

DNT News, Madrid

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Internet Cut In Sudan’s Capital Ahead Of Pro-Democracy Protests

 Internet services were cut in Sudan’s capital Khartoum on Thursday ahead of pro-democracy protests, a Reuters reporter said, the first time for months that web access had been blocked in the lead-up to rallies.

The protests mark the third anniversary of huge demonstrations during the 2019 uprising that overthrew long-time autocratic ruler Omar al-Bashir and led to a power-sharing arrangement between civilian groups and the military.

Last October, military leaders toppled the transitional government in a coup, triggering mass rallies that have called on the military to quit politics and continued for more than eight months.

After the military takeover, there were extended internet blackouts in an apparent effort to hamper the protest movement.

Staff at Sudan’s two private sector telecoms companies, speaking on condition of anonymity, said authorities had ordered them to shut down the internet once again on Thursday.

Security forces also closed bridges over the Nile between Khartoum and its twin cities of Omdurman and Bahri, another step taken on big protest days to limit the movement of marchers.

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