May 9, 2022 – Angola Newswire

May 9, 2022

[INVNT GROUP] The Global BrandStory Project® Drives Web3 Innovation in World-First Collaboration with Lamborghini, Steve Aoki, Krista Kim, and RM Sotheby’s

The 1:1 NFT plus the last physical Aventador Coupé auction closed at $1.6MM – placing the purchase price in the top 10 brand new Lamborghinis ever sold at auction.

New York, NY, May 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — [INVNT GROUP] The Global BrandStory Project, in collaboration with Lamborghini, leading metaverse artist Krista Kim, 2x Grammy-nominated artist Steve Aoki, and the historied collector car auction house, RM Sotheby’s, sold the world’s first supercar 1:1 NFT connected to the last physical production supercar Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae Coupé ever produced. Leading brands and organizations into the future of Web3, [INVNT GROUP] curated the strategic partnership and developed, designed, and produced the ‘Lamborghini Ultimate’ campaign globally.

Achieving 562MM+ Global Media Reach Impressions and 4.65MM+ Social Media Impressions, the exposure resulted in a closing auction bid of $1.6MM – over 3x the standard suggested retail of a Lamborghini Aventador Coupé – making it one of the 10 most expensive brand new Lamborghini’s ever sold at auction.

To achieve these results, [INVNT GROUP], led by President and CEO Scott Cullather, leveraged the skills and services of its digital innovation division, INVNT.ATOM™, its digital content studio, HEVĒ™, and team members across four of its nine offices, around the globe.

Committed to brand storytelling and boundless innovation, driven by strategy, design, and technology, The GROUP recently announced its expanding global presence through the Web3-focused digital innovation division, INVNT.ATOM, which powered the ‘Lamborghini Ultimate’ project, including the NFT production. INVNT.ATOM helps brands and organizations navigate, activate, and create new storytelling opportunities at the digital frontier. The team, located in INVNT’s Singapore office, consists of strategists, creators, and community-builders specializing in digital-first campaigns, emergent technologies, and engaging brand experiences calibrated for the new era of Web3.

“This collaboration, sitting at the intersection of art, music, entertainment, design, and technology, was an epic project for our group. It represents every aspect of our ongoing commitment to helping brands and organizations tell stories that connect with their most important audiences in engaging and relevant ways. Leveraging Web3 technology in partnering with Lamborghini, Steve, Krista, and RM Sotheby’s, we brought communities from around the world together in unimaginable ways,” Scott Cullather President and CEO of [INVNT GROUP]

INVNT.ATOM together with HEVĒ, [INVNT GROUP]’s creative agency and production studio, led the creative, strategy, design, content, and marketing communications. Through public relations, and social and influencer partnerships, the campaign reached a global audience of over 500MM+. HEVĒ spearheaded the creative direction and production of the Behind the Drop video featuring exclusive interviews with Krista Kim, Steve Aoki, and Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini.

In the historic campaign, Automobili Lamborghini auctioned the last production Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae Coupé with a 1:1 NFT. Lamborghini and [INVNT GROUP] united three forms of art: design, music, and cutting-edge technology, to create a never-before-seen collaboration that will go down as one of the most prolific 1:1 NFT drops of the year.

The Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae Coupé exclusive one of one was brought to life in both the NFT and physical car by contemporary artist Krista Kim, who created the visual artwork and her signature gradients. The gradients also appear in the bespoke customization of the physical Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae Coupé, and NFT visionary artist Steve Aoki who consulted on the design of the NFT, physical car and provided a custom-developed soundtrack.

“We had this approach of: “how do we bring upon the higher states of consciousness, and how does that translate and transmute the beauty of the power in the V12 engine of Lamborghini. As a luxury super sports car company, I think that this company is really pioneering web3,” said Krista Kim.

Steve Aoki continues, “I’m honored to be partnering with Lamborghini, Krista Kim, and [INVNT GROUP] on this historic project. It truly has its own story, & therefore I wanted my music track to reflect its soulful energy – the vibe, the spirit, and the power. The digital imprint of who we are has a serious meaning to our lives. As we step into web3, having identity through things like NFTs, like this car, are going to be more and more important to us.”

An exclusive preview of the NFT was hosted on BZAR Future of Community™, [INVNT GROUP]’s patent-pending, decentralized, content-led metaverse; established as a marketplace for physical and digital transactions, NFTs, entertainment, social, and gaming experiences.

The owner of the world’s first super sports car 1:1 NFT now holds in their possession the first-ever Lamborghini luxury super sports car for Web3; with capabilities via the exclusive GLB files, the winner can drive the one of a kind NFT in the Web3 platform of their choice pending platform mechanics.

Marking the end of an incredible era for Lamborghini; the brand is now looking to the future and electrifying its complete line-up by 2024. As Lamborghini charges into the digital era the lucky owner will be part of the brand’s legacy, owning the last naturally aspirated V12 Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae Coupé, and the exclusively designed NFT – the first Lamborghini luxury super sports car for Web3.

“Partnering with [INVNT GROUP], Steve Aoki and Krista Kim on the design and production of this incredible moment in Lamborghini’s history – the very last Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae Coupé ever produced was amazing. These creative minds coming together to design and produce, the 1:1 physical super sports car and NFT package with one of a kind utilities, has created something very special that can be shared for generations to come – making it part of Lamborghini’s iconic legacy,” Christian Mastro, Marketing Director, Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.

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About [INVNT GROUP]

[INVNT GROUP] was established in 2020, as an evolution of the founding global live brand storytelling agency INVNT in 2008, with a vision to provide consistent, meaningful, well-articulated BrandStory across all platforms. With offices in New York, Sydney, London, Singapore, Dubai, San Francisco, Stockholm, Detroit, and Washington D.C.; headed by President and CEO, Scott Cullather, [INVNT GROUP], THE GLOBAL BRANDSTORY PROJECT represents a growing portfolio of complementary disciplines designed to help forward-thinking organizations everywhere, impact the audiences that matter, anywhere. The GROUP consists of modern brand strategy firm, Folk Hero; creative-led culture consultancy, Meaning; production studio & creative agency, HEVĒ; events for colleges and universities, INVNT Higher Ed; digital innovation division, INVNT.ATOM; and the original live brand storytelling agency, INVNT. For more information visit www.invntgroup.com

About Lamborghini

The name Lamborghini signifies not only the most coveted and exceptional cars, with technology and rarity, but true masterpieces that have made history. For more information visit www.lamborghini.com

About Krista Kim

Dubbed as a pioneer in bridging the gap between the real and virtual world. Krista creates immersive digital art through technology as an artistic medium to produce next-gen masterpieces for a new world. For more information visit www.kristakimstudio.com

About Steve Aoki

Hailed as NFT royalty in the crypto community and on the global stage, Steve Aoki is a 2x – Grammy-nominated music producer, artist, fashion designer, entrepreneur, Guinness World Record holder, NFT visionary, and one of the most successful cross-genre artists in the world, with a 77 million average monthly reach across all his platforms he is a leading creator that embodies innovation and exceptional masterpieces. For more information visit www.steveaoki.com

About RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s is the world’s leading collector car auction house. With over 40 years of proven results in the collector car industry, RM’s vertically integrated range of services, from auctions (live and online) and private sales to estate planning and financial services, coupled with an expert team of Car Specialists and an international footprint, provide an unsurpassed level of service to the global collector car market. RM Sotheby’s is currently responsible for the most valuable motor car ever sold at auction. For more information visit https://rmsothebys.com/

Media Kit

“Lamborghini Ultimate” Campaign Photos and Videos. Access here.
Never before seen behind-the-scenes images & interview soundbites with Krista Kim, Steve Aoki, and Stephan Winkelmann (Chairman & CEO of Automobili Lamborghini) Access here.

Attachment

[INVNT GROUP] x Lamborghini : The Lamborghini Ultimate 1:1 NFT

Jhonathan Mendez de Leon
 [INVNT GROUP]™
3478192089
jmendezdeleon@invnt.com

May 9, 2022

Angola: Activism in danger in a election year

Published by
Global Voices

Angolan youths protest in the capital Luanda – Euro News report YouTube (screenshot made by the author) A few months before August, when elections will be held to choose a new President, freedom of expression is increasingly in danger in Angola. According to the US State Department’s Human Rights 2021 report, published in 2022, Angola is experiencing moments marked by illegal or arbitrary executions, forced disappearances, inhuman treatment, and restrictions on press freedom. It should also be noted that after successive protests by activists and opposition parties against the new electoral la… Continue reading “Angola: Activism in danger in a election year”

May 9, 2022

$BioFi Ecosystem Announcement – Biometric Financial (BioFi) Announces a New Integration Partnership with Tel Solutions Africa LTD

$BioFi Safeguards Your Personal data while Leveraging the Blockchain and Decentralized Web 3.0 services

WELDON SPRING, MO / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2022 / Biometric Financial (BioFi), an innovative ecosystem and TelSolutions Africa LTD, owner of the BroadSpectrum mobile money platform announce today an integration partnership that will combine BioFi biometrics into the BroadSpectrum mobile money platform, and include Tel Solutions as an official Provider in the Biometric Financial ecosystem.

The BroadSpectrum mobile money platform serves a community size of approximately 2.5 million users across Ghana, with a further reach of 12 million potential users across the African continent. The BioFi biometric solution will be utilized to authenticate participants on the BroadSpectrum platform, while leveraging the $BioFi token as the method of payment for authentication services.

Tel Solutions will also be appointed as official distributor of the Phenix X1 smartphone for the Western region in Africa, including sales and electronic distribution of the UniSafeBox password manager.

The BioFi project represents a Utility Token and a secure set of solutions that leverages biometric security to provide decentralized finance (DeFi) products and services riding on the blockchain. The Phenix X1 smartphone is designed with a highly secure area to protect against fraudsters and to ensure security when running financial apps, transacting online, mining cryptocurrencies, and storing digital assets. UniSafeBox combines biometric encryption technology with blockchain hashing algorithms to secure passwords and a wide array of personal sensitive information.

The Broadspectrum mobile money platform provides the right infrastructure that gives clients a choice on how to manage and use their money to do more. It also helps the client to avoid disconnections and disruptions using reminders of payments due and updates on expenditure. It is a powerful and robust African payment platform which enables clients to also track expenses, save, and access loans from the comfort of their phone.

Brian Maw, CEO and Co-Founder of Finnovant, Inc., stated, “I am very excited for this partnership as the BioFi team and TelSolutions share the values of helping make the lives of customers better by creating simple, user-friendly access to a range of utility and secure solutions.”

Providers of the BioFi ecosystem can integrate easily with biometric API’s, highlighting the unique utility advantage that the entire service can bring.  The Biometric Financial website showcases many examples of utility currently available or in development, while providing services to tens of thousands of users globally.

BioFi is truly global in nature, not bound by a single language or territory, and designed to be user friendly with the added benefit of helping people feel more secure as access is tied to them individually.

Biometric Financial website:  https://biometricfinancial.org/home/

“The TSA digital payments aggregator platform provides the right infrastructure that gives clients a choice on how to manage and use their money to do more with convenience,” says Maxwell Dodd, COO at TelSolutions Africa, Ltd. “Our partnership with Finnovant will add best-in-class biometric security to our highly acclaimed platform, delivering greater security while maintaining ease of use.”

About FINNOVANT

Finnovant Inc. was founded with the vision of helping business leaders dramatically improve the way they interact with their critical information and customers. Our focus is on developing emerging technologies with secure blockchain solutions in the areas of Financial Services, Governance, IoT, Healthcare, and more and improving digital security for our customers. Finnovant provides biometric authentication which helps thwart Identity Theft and Fraud.

Follow the company at Finnovant.com, Twitter, LinkedIn , Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, Discord

Chris Benedict
Finnovant, Inc.
1-844-724-8911
cbenedict@finnovant.com

About TELSOLUTIONS AFRICA LTD

Tel Solutions Africa is positioned with the right leadership with the knowledge and skill to launch and drive penetration of digital and M2M solutions. Founded in 2017 by former Airtel and Vodafone Telecom executives, offering communication solutions, Fintech and mobile money solutions, and serving as a manufacturer’s rep for Western Africa.

Maxwell Dodd
Tel Solutions Africa
+233 (0) 26 600 0014
dmaxwell@telsolutionsafrica.com
https://broadspectrumdigitalpayments.com/

SOURCE: Finnovant Inc.

May 9, 2022

St Kitts and Nevis: Fund option offers most straightforward route to alternative citizenship

Basseterre, May 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The smallest country in the western hemisphere, St Kitts and Nevis is the pioneer of citizenship by investment programme. Established in 1984, it is now regarded as the “platinum standard” of CBI globally. The country’s 53,192 population directly and indirectly benefits from the revenue that arrives from prestigious CBI Programme.

Dubbed as the “Paradise of the Caribbean”, St Kitts and Nevis has also established itself as the most desired location for cruise ship travellers. It is small enough to see in a day but big enough to explore for a lifetime. The mesmerizing white sand beaches and the sheer blue water makes it even more attractive.

Earlier in the 80s, St Kitts and Nevis derived major revenue from the “Sugar Industry”, but slowly and gradually, it closed in 2005. Following the closure, the country started to utilize the citizenship by investment programme to support the social-economic activities of the twin-island country.

In 2018, the government established Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF) popularly known as Fund Option, which is now assisting the government in running social programmes, providing income support to people and more. The option allows the investors an option to make a contribution to the social prosperity as well as the economy of the twin-island Federation.

How Sustainable Growth Fund is assisting St Kitts and Nevis
• Enhancing the quality of education
• Ensure the health and well-being of a growing population
• Develop climate resilience, protecting the twin island against the future effects of climate change
• Construct solid and resilience infrastructure that will stand the test of time
• Promote St Kitts and Nevis’ thriving tourism industry
• Publicize the different cultural savour of the people
• Asset the indigenous entrepreneurship

“As the first country to offer economic citizenship globally, St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme is a feat of longevity and constant creation. It has moved the nation, and certainly people around the world, in a positive way. As the Programme joins a new era, the nation offers you a promising future and refined plan for continuous prosperity,” said the Prime Minister Timothy Harris during the launch of Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF) in 2018.

The CBI Programme of the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis has been ranked as the world’s, fastest, most secure in CBI Index, published by Financial Times’ Professional Wealth Management magazine.

The country has topped the Citizenship Timeline pillar by virtue of the Accelerated Application Process. The country has bagged the perfect score in the Ease of Processing and Due Diligence pillars. Furthermore, the Sustainable Growth Fund gathered praise for the family pillar facility.

The CBI of St Kitts and Nevis has gained popularity because of the rigorous and stringent due diligence checks conducted to make sure that the alternative citizenship has been granted to the reputed and honest applicant.

The individuals who are keen to attain the alternative citizenship of the twin-island Federation may acquire one by financially donating to the “Sustainable Growth Fund” option. An investor can contribute a minimum USD 150,000 to be part of the citizenship by investment programme, under the Sustainable Growth Fund option.

Another major highlight of the Citizenship by Investment Programme is the Accelerated Application Process (AAP). It is a unique feature which in which after paying certain amount of fee, the applicant can accelerate the processing on his/her application. In some cases, AAP process applications in 60 days or less.

St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme offers the citizenship to the applicant’s family members, including the dependent’s spouse, children (under the age of 30) and parents as well as grandparents (over the age of 55).

One of the best features of the programme of the twin-island Federation is “Global Mobility”. Citizenship provides access to more than 156 countries across the globe.

Some other benefits of the CPI of St Kitts and Nevis can be listed as:
• St Kitts and Nevis’s dual citizenship has been considered the most powerful in the Caribbean and 24 globally.
• The alternative citizenship helps in becoming a global citizen by providing visa-free access to over 150 countries.
• It offers stable and prosperous access to the Caribbean haven.

The second citizenship of the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis can be attained if the investor qualifies some of the eligibility criteria, which are:

• The applicant must be of outstanding character.
• The investor must not have any criminal record.
• The investment must have excellent health.
• The applicant must have a high personal net worth.
• The minimum age of the investor must be more than 18 years.
• The individual must prove their outstanding character through bank statements and employer references.

PR St Kitts and Nevis
Government of St. Kitts and Nevis
pr@csglobalpartners.com

May 9, 2022

São Tomé’s president praises Angola’s role in conflict mediation

Luanda – The Head of State of the Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe Carlos Vila Nova Monday praised the role of Angola in the mediation of conflicts in Africa and in the world.

Carlos Vila Nova was speaking at the Solemn Plenary Meeting of the National Assembly, on the occasion of his State visit to Angola, aimed at strengthening bilateral relations.

The President of São Tomé and Príncipe considered Angola “a high voice of legitimacy to contribute to the arbitration of conflicts on the continent and in the world where the weight of challenges is enormous and all help to resolve them is welcome and necessary”.

“This construction of a democratic and respected Angola makes your country a reference, a power and an authority in the mediation of conflicts”, he expressed.

Carlos Manuel Vila Nova also recalled the testimony of the Angolan fraternity at the time of the formation of the Defence and Security Forces of his country, which were in their embryonic state in the 1980s.

He noted that Angola assigned many of its children to São Tomé and Príncipe, as well as military means in a delivery without the least excitement to define the sovereignty of São Tomé and Príncipe.

“Our collective and individual memory will never erase these acts of affection, of committed friendship and without any demand for a counterpart from the brother people of Angola”, he expressed.

Indeed, he underlined that the visit of a Head of State from Sao Tome to Angola is an act that goes beyond the domain of diplomacy and protocol and rises to the dimension of a reaffirmation of deep gratitude.

He thus expressed his country’s interest in deepening, more and more, the secular ties that unite the two States.

Peace in Angola

The visiting statesman considered the peace achieved among the Angolans, on April 4, 2002, great achievement in the post-independence period, considering it a testimony of the ability to harmonize disagreed positions.

“It is a teaching and a historical reference for Africa and the world. A case study and a very inspiring landmark”, he stressed.

In his speech, Carlos Vila Nova also spoke of the effects of the armed conflict in Eastern Europe, which is already being felt in an undisguised way in Africa, especially in the countries that depend to a large extent on imports of cereals from countries in conflict.

Elections

Like Angola, he said that São Tomé and Príncipe will also hold elections in 2022.

He noted that Angola will call its children to participate in general elections and, in São Tomé, there will be legislative, municipal and regional elections.

By the way, he said that “it will be an occasion for us to set an example to the rest of Africa and the world, reaffirming adult consistency in our democracies”.

He said he is convinced that these elections will be held with complete tranquility and that the bodies that emerge from these elections will achieve the historic commitment that the results impose on them to engage with the development of the well-being of their populations.

Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe formalized cooperation in February 1978, through the General Agreement of Friendship and Cooperation, and the institutionalization of the Bilateral Joint Commission, created in January 1980.

The two States, which maintain political and diplomatic relations, among others, are members of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (CGG).

Source: Angola Press News Agency

May 9, 2022

Angola and Sao Tome and Principe boost parliamentary cooperation

Luanda – Angola’s National Assembly Speaker, Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, said Monday that the country intends to boost parliamentary co-operation with Sao Tome and Principe to make it more fruitful and lasting.

The Speaker made the statement during the Solemn Plenary Meeting of the National Assembly that counted on the presence of the President of São Tomé and Príncipe, Carlos Vila Nova.

“We aspire to promote, even more, the cooperation between our two parliaments, making it more fruitful and lasting, whether at the bilateral or multilateral level,” dos Santos said.

The Speaker underscored that Angola has every interest to continue to strengthen co-operation ties, taking into account that the gains and synergies justify that the two nations must walk hand in hand.

Fernanda da Piedade Dias dos Santos said he believes that inter-parliamentary relations and parliamentary diplomacy, as new axes of intervention and influence for parliaments, have registered significant gains and today they constitute an added value to classic diplomacy.

Angola National Assembly is a legislative body that comprises 220 MPs from four political parties and a coalition of parties with a representation of 37 percent of women as result of the 2017 election won by the ruling MPLA party.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

May 9, 2022

Nine Angolan companies attend Mining Indaba conference

Cape Town –At least nine Angolan mining companies are participating in the Mining Indaba conference, the largest African investment event in the mining sector, which started Monday in Cape Town, South Africa.

At the event being attended by more than 6,000 delegates from around the world, Angola companies are to display Monday the potential of its Diamond Laboratory, the Professional Technical Training Centre and other investments that Endiama has made in recent years.

The Diamond Laboratory installed in a two-storey building, built in the eastern province of Lunda sul, aims to prepare, analyze and characterize kimberlitic and alluvial diamond samples to support diamond prospecting and research.

The head of ENDIAMA E.P. for Geology and Mining Development, Ana Feijó, said Angola will show a new legal and business environment in the country seeking to attract investments for the solid mineral resources sector.

She highlighted that Angola will present a panel on the theme “Angola: the destination of choice for mining investment, business opportunities and the country’s geological potential”.

Mining Indaba is an international mining conference, which is held annually in South Africa – there was an interruption in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid19 – in order to capture investment for the minerals sector of the countries of the African continent.

In 2019, the meeting brought together about 6,000 delegates from all parts of the world.

Angola adopted for the event the motto “The potential of the Angolan diamond”, a model of joint participation of national companies present at the fair.

The conference is attended by the Presidents of the Republics of South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, respectively Cyril Ramaphosa, Mokgweetsi Masisi, Hakainde Hichilema and Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

May 9, 2022

Angola committed to commercial cooperation with São Tomé and Príncipe

Luanda – Angola Monday expressed its intention to work with the Government of São Tomé and Príncipe in the creation of mechanisms and incentives to encourage the reciprocal movement of businessmen and traders of the two countries.

The intention was expressed by the Angolan President, João Lourenço, during the lunch offered to his counterpart from São Paulo, Carlos Vila Nova, as part of the three-day State visit to Angola.

According to the Angolan Head of State, the movement of businessmen from both countries will create, in the near future, economic growth and job creation.

João Lourenço said that within the framework of the intended strategic partnership, Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe should exploit to the full the existing potential in the Defence and Security, Fisheries and Tourism sectors.

He added that the strategic partnership should extend to the sectors of Commerce, Interior, Internal Order, Air and Maritime Transport, as well as Mineral and Petroleum resources.

In his speech, João Lourenço underlined the urgent need to create material conditions to make trade between the two countries viable.

He recalled that Angola and the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe have a similar history and political path and, for this reason, he believes in the enormous possibilities of cooperation that exist.

International situation

The Angolan President highlighted the fact that, in recent times, the world is experiencing worrying and highly complex moments.

“It is natural that current events raise concerns that deserve our attention”, he underlined.

The president referred to the conflicts that occur in the various regions of the planet, with stress to international terrorism that he considered “a global scourge”, with “tremendously serious” repercussions in Africa.

“Because we are all aware of this phenomenon, it was decided, at the 35th African Union Summit, to hold in Malabo, at the initiative of Angola, the Summit on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa, during which we will make our contribution to solving these problems”, he recalled.

He said that despite the fact that Africa has been facing armed conflicts for years with no solutions in sight, the continent’s leaders are not indifferent to the fate of the peoples of other continents who face a similar situation, such as in the Middle East and more recently in Europe.

“We defend the need to do everything to prevent latent conflicts or, where this is not possible, work towards a ceasefire and the negotiation of a consistent and lasting peace”, he expressed.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

May 9, 2022

Angola’s agricultural potential highlighted

Lubango – Angola’s agricultural potential is instrumental in diversification of its economy, the Portuguese Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Francisco André said on Sunday in Lubango, Huíla province.

The Portuguese diplomat said so at the end of a meeting with the governor of Huíla, Nuno Mahapi, while visiting the southern region, aimed to evaluate the implementation of projects financed by the European Union, as well as the Strengthening of National Resilience and Food Security programme of Angola (FRESAN).

According to him, the meeting served to review the local challenges, as part of bilateral economic cooperation, as well as the way in which FRESAN can help boost the agriculture sector, through the training of family activity and preventing food shortages.

The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Portugal stressed that FRESAN “will produce good results” for the effective diversification of Angola’s economy, mainly in terms of the implementation of Field Schools in several municipalities, which help modernize the systems of agricultural practice of small producers.

He said that most important is to produce more and ensure better profitability of their investments, improve assistance to peasant families.

He assured that Portugal will continue to technically support these changes, to ensure the successfulness of the project and the achievement of the much-awaited food security in the south region.

Francisco André highlighted the production of fodder (food for animals), underlining that 150 field schools are currently in operation (the goal is to reach 300), which so far are training 16,000 farmers.

In Huíla province, the Portuguese official visited Agricultural Field Schools, in the municipality of Humpata, 22 km from the capital of Huíla (Lubango) and held a meeting with the Portuguese community in the region.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

May 9, 2022

Biden Starts Program to Provide Discounted Internet Service in US

The Biden administration announced on Monday that 20 internet companies have agreed to provide discounted service to people with low incomes, a program that could effectively make tens of millions of households across the U.S. eligible for free service through an already existing federal subsidy.

The $1 trillion infrastructure package passed by Congress last year included $14.2 billion funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides $30 monthly subsidies ($75 in tribal areas) on internet service for millions of lower-income households.

With the new commitment from the internet providers, some 48 million households will be eligible for $30 monthly plans for 100 megabits per second, or higher speed, service — making internet service fully paid for with the government subsidy if they sign up with one of the providers participating in the program.

Biden, during his White House run and the push for the infrastructure bill, made expanding high-speed internet access in rural and low-income areas a priority. He has repeatedly spoken out about low-income families that struggled finding reliable Wi-Fi, so their children could take part in remote schooling and complete homework assignments early in the coronavirus pandemic.

“If we didn’t know it before, we know now: High-speed internet is essential,” the Democratic president said during a White House event last month honoring the National Teacher of the Year.

The 20 internet companies that have agreed to lower their rates for eligible consumers provide service in areas where 80% of the U.S. population, including 50% of the rural population, live, according to the White House. Participating companies that offer service on tribal lands are providing $75 rates in those areas, the equivalent of the federal government subsidy in those areas.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday were set to meet with telecom executives, members of Congress and others to spotlight the effort to improve access to high-speed internet for low-income households.

The providers are Allo Communications, AltaFiber (and Hawaiian Telecom), Altice USA (Optimum and Suddenlink), Astound, AT&T, Breezeline, Comcast, Comporium, Frontier, IdeaTek, Cox Communications, Jackson Energy Authority, MediaCom, MLGC, Spectrum (Charter Communications), Starry, Verizon (Fios only), Vermont Telephone Co., Vexus Fiber and Wow! Internet, Cable, and TV.

American households are eligible for subsidies through the Affordable Connectivity Program if their income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, or if a member of their family participates in one of several programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA) and Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit.

Source: Voice of America