Category sport-news

After 30 people were killed in protests, civil society organizations in Angola on Tuesday urged the Argentine football federation and legendary player Lionel Messi to abandon planning for a friendly this year.

As part of Angola’s celebrations marking its 50th anniversary in November, the two football associations have been in talks to schedule a match in Luanda.

Four civil society organizations accused Angolan authorities of “systematic repression” in an open letter sent to the Argentine Football Association, the national team, and the Lionel Messi Foundation.

The organizations, which include Catholic, legal, and pro-democracy organizations, said that refusing to play in the planned match “would be a noble gesture of international solidarity and respect for human rights.”

READ MORE: Swiatek defeats Paolini to claim the WTA Cincinnati Open title.

The World Bank claims that Angola is one of the world’s top oil producers, but that nearly 38 million people there live in poverty, or about a third.

Late in July, protests against fuel price increases turned into violence when looters raided stores, causing a backlash from police who opened fire with live bullets.

In what was the worst unrest in the southern African nation in decades, there were at least 30 fatalities, more than 270 injuries, and roughly 1, 515 arrests.

While large-scale sporting events are attracting public funds, thousands of kids and adults are experiencing chronic hunger, severe anemia, and widespread food insecurity, according to the letter.

According to a report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for 2025, 22.5 percent of the population is undernourished.

The groups claimed that the MPLA, the party that has been in power since 1975’s independence from Portugal, was only one of the few who had business opportunities in Angola.

With a 7-5, 6-4 defeat of Jasmine Paolini, Iga Swiatek won the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open for the first time, adding to her long-awaited career tennis puzzle.

The Polish champion converted on six of her break opportunities while Paolini struggled to make the most of her break opportunities. The final, which lasted less than two hours, featured 16 break-point chances.

With her 11th career victory at the WTA 1000 level, the six-time Grand Slam champion is only a short of Serena Williams’ 13-time winning streak. Without conceding a set, Skiatek won the Cincinnati.

After her first victory in Cincinnati, Swiatek remarked to the Tennis Channel, “It’s always tough in Cincy.”

“This gives me a confidence boost,” I said. We’ve been doing a good job, and I’m pleased with it. I had to be persuaded to play in a different way by the team. After the match, everything feels even better, and I’m happy with that process. I’m pleased that my sets were straight.

The 24-year-old backed up her first Wimbledon title with the Midwest honors, and now heads to the US Open with a significant confidence boost following her 24th career title.

Beginning on Tuesday, Swiatek will compete against Norway’s Casper Ruud in the revamped mixed doubles competition.

READ MORE: [Iga Swiatek] From Wimbledon Champion to Queen of Clay.

On Flushing Meadows’ slower courts, the Pole claimed she enjoyed the challenge. I play well. She said, “I can play on any&nbsp surface.

“They&nbsp, are slowing down the courts&nbsp, kind of, so I’m not sure how it is now&nbsp, there. But tennis is all about “adjusting,” not “but”.

Swiatek also surpassed Aryna Sabalenka, the current WTA number one, by 500 points, with the top spot likely to be in play at Sunday’s Open.

Swiatek has only the Canadian tournament, where she hasn’t made the final at a 1000 event, after she had failed twice in the semi-finals of her previous two competitions.

We were both tight on both ends, but that happens in finals, Swiatek said. “Today was tough. In the end, I was pleased to close things out. Although not everything was perfect, I still had the best of my tennis skills. We engaged in a lot of mental exercise. I had a very composed and consistent approach to my game.

Swiatek started badly when she lost her serve and lost the game 0-3. The former number one immediately began her turnaround, though the situation was only temporary.

With two breakups of serve, the Pole took a 5-3 lead.

In the tenth game, Paolini saved a Swiatek set point to square the final at five-all before taking a break of sorts.

Paolini dropped serve for 5-6, giving her opponent the chance to turn a love game into a 7-5 victory after just under an hour of action on the court.

The pair twice exchanged break points before Swiatek saved a pair of break points to take the lead 5-3 before handing the match winner away two games later.