Pope Francis: Health improving after night in hospital

 Pope Francis’ health is improving after he was taken to hospital with a respiratory condition, the Vatican has confirmed. He was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on Wednesday, for what was initially said to be a scheduled check-up.

In a statement on Thursday, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said treatment for the 86-year-old pontiff was continuing.

“His Holiness Pope Francis rested well during the night,” he said. “This morning after breakfast, he read some newspapers and resumed work.”

Mr Bruni did not say when Francis might leave Rome’s Gemelli hospital. The Vatican said on Wednesday he was expected to spend a “few days” there.

His closest staff, including security, spent the night with him, a person with direct knowledge told the BBC.

This is the busiest time of the year for Pope Francis, with many events and services scheduled ahead of Easter weekend.

Palm Sunday Mass takes place this weekend, with Holy Week and Easter celebrations following next week.

Italian news agency Ansa reported nurses were optimistic he would be out of hospital in time for Palm Sunday.

It added tests had ruled out heart problems and pneumonia.

In an earlier statement, the Vatican confirmed he had not tested positive for Covid-19.

Source: BBC

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Former US President Donald Trump indicted on fraud charges

 The exact charges are still under seal, but they are expected to be revealed when Trump is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday.

A Manhattan Grand Jury made history today as it criminally indicted Former President Donald Trump, the first American leader to face prosecution.

Former President Donald Trump is facing about 30 document fraud-related charges in New York City connected to hush money he allegedly paid to cover up affairs, two sources familiar with the matter told NBC News after he was indicted Thursday.

The exact charges are unknown because the indictment remains under seal until Trump — who is campaigning to reclaim the presidency in 2024 — is expected to appear in court for his arraignment Tuesday, though Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg could unveil them sooner.

The case is just one of at least three criminal probes into Trump, who during his single term in office also earned the ignoble distinction of being the only U.S. president in history to be impeached twice.

“Although Alvin Bragg is the first prosecutor in the history of our country to indict a former president, he’s likely not going to be the last,” Dave Aronberg, the prosecutor in Palm Beach County, Florida, where Trump lives, said on MSNBC on Friday.

Trump also faces both federal and state investigations into his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, which have been gaining steam. The federal special counsel is also investigating Trump’s role in hundreds of documents with classified markings being found at his Florida home and private club.

Trump plans to return to New York a week after his arraignment to sit for a deposition in an unrelated civil suit brought by New York state’s attorney general, according to a source with direct knowledge. Officials in that case are seeking $250 million in penalties, alleging that Trump, his real estate company and his three adult children systematically defrauded lenders, tax authorities and others.

The suit, which came after a yearslong investigation into the Trump Organization, alleges more than 200 instances of fraud over 10 years.

The New York City criminal case centers on more than a quarter of a million dollars paid ahead of the 2016 election to two women, including adult film star Stormy Daniels, to remain quiet about affairs he allegedly had with them, which prosecutors are expected to say Trump tried to illegally hide.

The large number of charges likely stems from prosecutors making separate charges for each payment in question.

Trump has denied the affair but acknowledged the payments.

Two sources familiar with the Manhattan grand jury’s work say prosecutors also questioned witnesses about a previous alleged hush money payment to former Playboy playmate Karen McDougal.

In 2018, longtime former Trump attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to breaking campaign finance laws and admitted to making hush money payments of $130,000 and $150,000 to two women “at the direction of a candidate for federal office” — a clear reference to Trump, though he was not named — “with the purpose of influencing the [2016] election,” according to court documents.

The sums match the amount paid to Daniels and McDougal.

McDougal had said she had a monthslong affair with Trump not long after he married Melania Trump, which Trump has denied. She was paid through the parent company of the National Enquirer, a Trump-aligned tabloid that purchased exclusive rights to her story, which it never published, in a “catch-and-kill” operation to protect Trump.

Cohen is now the government’s star witness. Prosecutors are expected to allege that Trump falsified business records to cover up the payments to Daniels and McDougal, which they are expected to say amounted to illegal campaign expenditures.

Prosecutors are expected to charge Trump with falsifying business records, a crime that gets upgraded from a misdemeanor to a felony when the false records are used to cover up another crime, which in this case would be campaign finance violations.

Trump has said the payments were a legal expense and that he did nothing wrong, alleging the prosecution is a political witch hunt.

“The Judge ‘assigned’ to my Witch Hunt Case, a ‘Case’ that has NEVER BEEN CHARGED BEFORE, HATES ME,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Friday.

Trump attorney Joe Tacopina said in an interview on NBC’s “TODAY” show Friday that there is “zero chance” the former president will take a plea deal, insisting Trump expects to be vindicated either before or during a trial.

“President Trump will not take a plea deal on this case. It’s not gonna happen,” Tacopina said. “There’s no crime. I don’t know if it’s gonna make it to trial because we have substantial legal challenges.”

Security is tight around the courthouse in lower Manhattan, and the New York City Police Department told its entire uniformed police force to prepare for deployment Friday in case of unrest as some Trump supporters called for protests.

“There are no credible threats to the city at this time,” said the city’s police commissioner, Keechant Sewell, adding that “the NYPD always remains prepared to respond.”

Republicans — including those hoping to defeat Trump in 2024 — rallied behind the former president, vowing to investigate and protest the Manhattan DA for an indictment they say is politically motivated.

While Trump and his allies claim he is being singled out on charges that are rarely brought by prosecutors, experts note the Manhattan DA regularly brings such cases.

Still, many legal experts have wondered if felony charges would stick in Trump’s case, and the Manhattan DA’s office previously decided against charging Trump for that reason. Bragg may have new evidence to strengthen the case.

CORRECTION (March 31, 2023, 12 p.m. ET): An earlier version of this article misspelled the name of Trump’s attorney twice. He is Joe Tacopina, not Tacopino or Tacopinas.

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Kamala Harris announces Tanzania trade initiatives on Africa tour

 VP Harris announced a list of initiatives including an MOU between the Export-Import Bank of the US (EXIM) and Tanzania.

United States Vice President Kamala Harris announced plans to boost trade with and investment in Tanzania during a visit there on Thursday, part of an African tour aimed at strengthening ties with a continent where the influence of China and Russia is on the rise.

The tour began on Sunday in Ghana before she flew late on Wednesday to Tanzania’s commercial capital Dar es Salaam, where she met President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Thursday. The two women gave short statements to the media before going into a longer session of private talks.

“Working together, it is our shared goal to increase economic investment in Tanzania and strengthen our economic ties,” Harris said, listing a number of initiatives.

They included a new memorandum of understanding between the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) and the government of Tanzania.

That will facilitate up to $500m in financing to help US companies export goods and services to Tanzania in sectors including infrastructure, transportation, digital technology, climate and energy security and power generation.

Harris also mentioned a new partnership in 5G technology and cybersecurity, as well as a US-supported plan by LifeZone Metals to open a new processing plant in Tanzania for minerals that go into electric vehicle batteries.

“This project is an important and pioneering model, using innovative and low-emission standards. Importantly, raw minerals will soon be processed in Tanzania, by Tanzanians,” she said, adding that the plant would deliver battery-grade nickel to the US and the global market from 2026.

China has invested heavily in Africa in the last two decades, and last November, Hassan met China’s President Xi Jinping during a state visit to Beijing.

Trade and investment featured heavily on their agenda, with the leaders agreeing to “elevate two-way trade and further expand the trade volume” and China saying it would explore providing market access to more Tanzanian goods.

On Thursday, President Hassan said her “most important request” was to improve the visa process between the US and Tanzania, as both countries would benefit from a “long-duration visa” that would increase trade and tourism.

Under Hassan, Tanzania has returned to international engagement after a period of isolationism enforced by her predecessor John Magufuli, who cancelled all his ministers’ foreign trips and discouraged travel.

She has won praise internationally for restoring political rights suspended by Magufuli, who died in office in 2021.

“Madam president, under your leadership Tanzania has taken important and meaningful steps and President Joe Biden and I applaud you,” Harris said, standing alongside Hassan.

Magufuli had banned political rallies by anyone other than elected officials, cracked down on Tanzania’s LGBT community and arrested dozens of opposition supporters. He had also rejected COVID-19 vaccines and urged Tanzanians to put faith in prayer and treatments such as steam inhalation.

Hassan reversed the policies upon coming to power and earlier this month, Tanzania passed the milestone of fully vaccinating 50 percent of its population against the coronavirus.

But human groups have said violations continue, including government targeting of online media outlets. Hassan’s education minister also banned a series of children’s books from schools last month for allegedly promoting homosexuality.

Harris, the latest of several high-profile figures from the US administration to visit African countries in recent months, is due to stay in Tanzania until Friday, when she will depart for Zambia, the final stop on her tour.

Both women first met in April 2022 when Harris hosted Hassan at the White House in Washington.

SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES

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Kingdom of Ndongo Sovereigns Memorial construction announced

 Malanje- The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Environment announced Tuesday, in Malanje Province, the construction of the Memorial of the Sovereigns of the Kingdom of Ndongo and the requalification of the village of Muculu-a-Ngola, in the Municipality of Marimba.

The project foresees the construction of the tombs where the remains of King Ngola Kiluanji and Queen Njinga a Mbande lie, in addition to 40 residences for members of the court, the King's palace, a primary school, a health unit and the requalification of other monuments and kingdom sites.

 

When presenting the project to the local community, the national director of Communities and Institutions of Traditional Power of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Albano Cufuna, said that the budget has already been approved and the start of works depends on the rehabilitation of the road that gives access to the locality, since it is in an advanced state of degradation.

 

Despite this, he guarantees that feasibility studies are already underway for the execution of the project, which aims to dignify the kingdom and guarantee better living conditions for local communities.

 

On his turn, the deputy governor of Malanje for the Political, Social and Economic sector, Domingos Eduardo, informed that, with the construction of the memorial and the requalification of the locality of Muculu-a-Ngola, the area will be transformed into an important of tourist attraction.

 

The official highlighted the historical and cultural role played by the sovereigns of the ancient kingdom of Ndongo, which is why the Angolan government has the duty to restructure the place and facilitate its access to the youth and beyond, in order to be in contact with history.

 

The Deputy National Director of the Institute for Tourism Development (INFOTUR), Agostinho Xavier, praised the initiative, as the province could register an increase in the frequency of tourists and consequently raise more revenue for the State.

 

Meanwhile, the sovereign of the Kingdom of Ndongo, King Buba Nvula Dala Mana “Cabombo”, expressed gratitude with the project, considering that it will give greater dignity to the kingdom.

Angola hosts world final of Global Management Challenge

 Luanda - Angola hosts in September, for the first time, the final of the 2022 international business management simulation contest, called Global Management Challenge.

The event will feature more than 30 groups from around the world, including the hosts.

The Global Management Challenge is a strategic management competition for managers and university students. Participants form teams of 5-8 members to allow the development of skills for managers, company staff, among others.

According to the director of operations at Soik Investments, João Pereira, representative of the organizers of the event, it is a great value for Angola to organize one of the biggest simulation competitions in the world.

João Pereira added that, for the 2023 contest, registrations were already taking place across the country, until 31 May of the current
year, stressing that young Angolans could access the website: www.gms.ao. to participate in this edition.

To participate, he continued, it is sufficient that the candidate has completed at least the first university year, in any course, and is 18 years of age.

He said that the objective for that year is to include young people from all over the country, in order to get rid of the idea that only
Luanda participates.

"We have the objective of reaching the whole country, with the broadening of the candidacies. We had the opportunity to take the competition to the provinces of Namibe, Benguela and Huíla. We also intend to reach Huambo", he stressed.

The winners for the 2023 edition will be announced on the 6th of July of the current year.

Launched in Portugal in 1980, the Global Management Challenge has become the largest international strategy and management competition,
achieving, over the years, an enormous success, becoming an event of
high notoriety and visibility.

In Angola by Soik investments since 2007, it contributes to the
training and development of management skills, for university
students, company staff and Angolan managers.

Angola hosts African swimming event

 Luanda - After the 2015 Edition, Angola will once again host the African Championship in zone VI in swimming, from 3 to 7 May, at the Alvalade swimming pool, in Luanda, said this Wednesday to ANGOP the president of the Angolan Federation of this sport, Joaquim Santos.

The event should count on the participation of more than 14 teams, namely, South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya, Comoros, and Uganda complete the range of competitors, according to the interlocutor.

 

The competition that had been initially nominated for Madagascar, which ended up declining, was assigned to Malawi, which also appeared unavailable, so Angola received the task of organizing it, on appeal.

 

According to the federative programme, from the 3rd to the 6th of May the athletes compete in the pure swimming event (swimming pool), and on the 7th of the same month, the XIX Edition of the biggest event in the region ends with long distance events, in open waters, on the island of Luanda.

 

Swimmers Pedro Pinotes (individual) Salvador Gordo, Daniel Francisco, Marco Furtado, Silvério Manuel, Carlos Fernandes, Luyane Costa, Yusseni Furtado, Djamel Pires, Enzo Anjos and Yano Elias (1º de Agosto) were pre-summoned.

Also listed are Luciano Afonso (Onda Sport Club), Henrique Mascarenhas, Alex Fortes, Janel Tati, Rafael Bredel, José Cochofel, David Padre, Guilherme Sousa, Kenzo Monteiro, Santiago Guimarães (CNIL).

 

In females, the shortlist includes Lia Lima, Jasmine Lourenço, Aleksandra Zhukov, Stephanie Jurado, Inês Clemente, Nayara Carvalho, Beatriz Pedro, Kenenise Vongo, all from 1º de Agosto club.

 

Ana Nunes, Maria Freitas, N'Hara Fernandes, Rafaela Santos, Welwichia Silva, Inara Santos, Milena Lourenço, Nyriam Morais, Rhanya Santo, Chelsea Vunge, Wezza Morais, Wendy Morais (CNIL), Alexia Vieira (individual) and Nelma Janota (OSC) complete the group.

 

In the field of open water competition, the country will be represented by Guilherme Sousa, Kenzo Monteiro (CNIL), Marco Furtado, Silvério Manuel and Carlos Fernandes (1º Agosto).

 

In females, they include Nyriam Morais, Rhanya Santo, Wendy Morais, Wezza Morais and Chelsea Vunge (CNIL), Stephanie Jurado, Inês Clemente, Nayara Carvalho, Beatriz Pedro, Kenenise Vongo (1º de Agosto).

 

In the first event of its kind organized in the country, eight years ago, the National Team placed 3rd in the general classification, with 61 medals, 22 gold, 21 silver and 18 bronze.

President inaugurates 5th edition of Expo-Industry2023

 Luanda - Angolan President João Lourenço inaugurated Wednesday the 5th edition of “Expo-Indústria/2023”, an event to take place from March 29 March to April 1 at Luanda/Bengo Special Economic Zone (ZEE).

The event is expected to be attended by over 230 companies, a figure that is higher than the previous edition held in 2019, when it had a three-year interruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

The 5th edition of Expo-Industry/2023 will bring together, among various sectors, the manufacturing industry, engineering and construction, as well as food industry and agribusiness.

 

The aim of the event is for industries to increase employment and improve living conditions of the population and leverage new partnerships and businesses.