The 83-year-old Saudi monarch kicks off a five-country tour of Europe with a three-day visit to London -- the first state visit to Britain by a Saudi king in 20 years.He will stay as a guest of honour at Buckingham Palace,
Photo: Ayoub mzeeBritons are already engaged in a fierce debate over whether they should even have agreed to the visit. A story headlined "A royal guest to be proud of?" in yesterday's edition of The Independent noted Mr. Brown "will welcome the leader of one of the world's most vicious dictatorships to Britain
Photo: Ayoub mzee
Photo: Ayoub mzeeAccording to Amnesty International: "Fear and secrecy permeate every aspect of life [in Saudi Arabia]. Every day, the most fundamental human rights of people in Saudi Arabia are being violated." 
This is the podium where the Saudi Monarch will stand
This is the podium where the Saudi Monarch will standPhoto:Ayoub mzee
Since ascending the throne in August, 2005, following the death of his half-brother former king Fahd, King Abdullah has embraced a program of gradual reform and political caution. He walks a tightrope between reassuring the West and retaining the support of domestic religious leaders.
Photo: Ayoub mzee
Photo: Ayoub mzeeSymon Hill from the Campaign Against The Arms Trade said: "I think the visit sends the message that the UK Government isn't concerned about human rights in Saudi Arabia. It also sends the message that the Government will put the arms trade and BAe ahead of human rights." 
Photo: Ayoub mzee
Photo: Ayoub mzee The visit, the first by a Saudi ruler in more than 20 years, started badly when the King said the Saudis warned Britain over the July 7 bombings. He said agents had identified the al Qaida handlers behind the bombers and told their British counterparts - prompting a Foreign Office denial.
KNOW YOUR LOCAL LEADERS: COUNCILLOR ANNA MBACU[LABOUR]
I have lived locally with my family for more than seveenteen years and work as a psychiatric nurse. I joined the labour party in order to effect change and have input in the way services are delivered.
Prior to standing as a councillor, I was and still the chairperson for Leyton Ward of the Labour party. I have a BA (Hons) and also trained as a Registered Nurse in Mental Health.
After the election last year (2006) I was appointed to the following committees:
Council
Standards Committee
Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee
Health, Adults & Older Persons Scrutiny Sub-Committee
Community Council: Leyton & Whipps Cross
Social Services Complaints Panel.
This Year (2007) I have been appointed to the following committees as a member:
Council
Standards Committee
Health, Adults & Older Persons Scrutiny Sub-Committee
Social Services Complaints Panel
Chairperson for Leyton & Whipps Cross Community Council
Vice Chair for Children & Young People Overview & Scrutiny Sub-Committee
Secretary for Waltham Forest Labour Party Group
I am committed to making our area safer, cleaner and pleasant to live and work in. Also I will honour our election pledges which are:
consulting you about introducing a state of the art library,
introducing plastics in doorstep recycling scheme,
getting street Wardens to crack down on anti-social behaviours,
reducing deaths due to speeding traffics in our narrow streets by endorsing traffic calming measures identified by residents,
keeping Council Tax rise at 2.5% for 4 years,
cracking down on crime and violence by endorsing to the introduction of the Safer Neighbourhood Police Team,
supporting the retention of Whipps Cross Hospital as a general district hospital.
Cllr. Anna Mbachu
Grove Green Ward
London Borough of Waltham Forest
London Borough of WalthamforestMembers Services, Room 118Town Hall, Forest Road,Walthamstow.London E17 4JFTel: 02084964340/4441 during office hoursMobile: 07956 453406 out of office hours.E-mail: cllr.anna.mbachu@walthamforest.gov.uk
PRESS RELEASE:
I have lived locally with my family for more than seveenteen years and work as a psychiatric nurse. I joined the labour party in order to effect change and have input in the way services are delivered.Prior to standing as a councillor, I was and still the chairperson for Leyton Ward of the Labour party. I have a BA (Hons) and also trained as a Registered Nurse in Mental Health.
After the election last year (2006) I was appointed to the following committees:
Council
Standards Committee
Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee
Health, Adults & Older Persons Scrutiny Sub-Committee
Community Council: Leyton & Whipps Cross
Social Services Complaints Panel.
This Year (2007) I have been appointed to the following committees as a member:
Council
Standards Committee
Health, Adults & Older Persons Scrutiny Sub-Committee
Social Services Complaints Panel
Chairperson for Leyton & Whipps Cross Community Council
Vice Chair for Children & Young People Overview & Scrutiny Sub-Committee
Secretary for Waltham Forest Labour Party Group
I am committed to making our area safer, cleaner and pleasant to live and work in. Also I will honour our election pledges which are:
consulting you about introducing a state of the art library,
introducing plastics in doorstep recycling scheme,
getting street Wardens to crack down on anti-social behaviours,
reducing deaths due to speeding traffics in our narrow streets by endorsing traffic calming measures identified by residents,
keeping Council Tax rise at 2.5% for 4 years,
cracking down on crime and violence by endorsing to the introduction of the Safer Neighbourhood Police Team,
supporting the retention of Whipps Cross Hospital as a general district hospital.
Cllr. Anna Mbachu
Grove Green Ward
London Borough of Waltham Forest
Contact details:
London Borough of WalthamforestMembers Services, Room 118Town Hall, Forest Road,Walthamstow.London E17 4JFTel: 02084964340/4441 during office hoursMobile: 07956 453406 out of office hours.E-mail: cllr.anna.mbachu@walthamforest.gov.uk
PRESS RELEASE:BLF fully Supports the BME Cab Drivers Scheme
Recently, the LDA announced a new scheme that will encourage women and people from the BME communities to become taxi-cab drivers. Already the proposal has been met with some objections from the London Cab Drivers' Club which will protest outside of the LDA tomorrow at midday, claiming that the scheme 'undermines' cab-drivers' achievements.
The LDA firmly rejects this accusation, stating that the scheme supports participation of under-represented groups (including women which make up over half of Londoners) and completion of the Knowledge by providing assistance where appropriate in language, numeracy skills and childcare provision.
Eroll Walters, BLF Interim Director said:
"London is a multicultural society, and every service and workforce should be reflective of that. For far too long the Knowledge has posed some barriers for ethnic minority groups to gain access into the taxi trade. This LDA scheme promises to provide the necessary support and training required for BME groups to take advantage of this career opportunity. "
BLF fully encourages equality of opportunity for all people and will assist in eliminating any conditions, procedures and individual behaviour that can lead to discrimination even where there was no intent to discriminate.
BLF believes the cab drivers' scheme encourages greater diversity in the taxi trade and calls on the London Cab Driver's Club to explain their stance against embracing equality and diversity in the workforce.
For more information about this press release, please contact Rakesha Daswell (Communications Coordinator) http://us.f516.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=rakesha@blacklondon.org.uk or Eroll Walters (Interim Director) http://us.f516.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=eroll@blacklondon.org.uk or telephone BLF on 0207 582 4313.
kenya high commission staff at the ASAHCA event
KENYA MISSION uk STAFF at ASAHCA event
Recently, the LDA announced a new scheme that will encourage women and people from the BME communities to become taxi-cab drivers. Already the proposal has been met with some objections from the London Cab Drivers' Club which will protest outside of the LDA tomorrow at midday, claiming that the scheme 'undermines' cab-drivers' achievements.
The LDA firmly rejects this accusation, stating that the scheme supports participation of under-represented groups (including women which make up over half of Londoners) and completion of the Knowledge by providing assistance where appropriate in language, numeracy skills and childcare provision.
Eroll Walters, BLF Interim Director said:
"London is a multicultural society, and every service and workforce should be reflective of that. For far too long the Knowledge has posed some barriers for ethnic minority groups to gain access into the taxi trade. This LDA scheme promises to provide the necessary support and training required for BME groups to take advantage of this career opportunity. "
BLF fully encourages equality of opportunity for all people and will assist in eliminating any conditions, procedures and individual behaviour that can lead to discrimination even where there was no intent to discriminate.
BLF believes the cab drivers' scheme encourages greater diversity in the taxi trade and calls on the London Cab Driver's Club to explain their stance against embracing equality and diversity in the workforce.
For more information about this press release, please contact Rakesha Daswell (Communications Coordinator) http://us.f516.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=rakesha@blacklondon.org.uk or Eroll Walters (Interim Director) http://us.f516.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=eroll@blacklondon.org.uk or telephone BLF on 0207 582 4313.
kenya high commission staff at the ASAHCA event
KENYA MISSION uk STAFF at ASAHCA eventPOSTERS AND PEOTRY EXHIBITION
Re: Invitation to the 4th African Ambassadors Interactive Forum and African Investment Showcase, Kensington Town Hall, London 28th – 29th November 2007
This year, INGO Third Sector Resource, the initiators of the African Ambassadors Interactive Forum (AAIF), are partnering with Diaspora devlopment agencies and other institutions across the Globe for the first time, outside Africa, an African Ambassadors Interactive Forum and African Businesses and Investment Showcase aimed to engage the African Diaspora, stakeholders in African development and friends of Africa.
Among our partners are AfricaRecruit,Ben Television, ECOWAS Commission, NEPAD Business Group, World Bank Group – IMF African Society, African Business Roundtable, African Development Forum, United Nations Office For International Partnerships, Christian Aid, World Business Council For Sustainable Development, Book Aid International, etc.
The organisation committee of this year’s Forum has identified you as a crucial stakeholder, and request your presence at the Forum. The unique aspect of this year’s event is that it is bringing together the African Ambassadors to the United Kingdom and the African Diaspora to explore ways by which a reasonable framework and level of co-operation and collaborative networks can be established. It is particularly vital to bring new investments to the Continent using the substantial resource of the African Diaspora expatriate Community.
Through our partners, we have compiled a “Projects Profile” detailing about 100 public and private sector projects across Africa looking for partners and investors.
Global engagement, once the exclusive province of Governments abd Diplomats, is now a stage shared with non-governmental organisations and the private sector. This is what informed INGOs vision to engage all stakeholders in a true public private partnership (PPP) to seek solutions to the long term economic security of Africa.
We will appreciate your confirmation of attendance to help our ease of planning.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Anna Vanderpuye
Executive Director
COMESA- The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa - promoting regional economic integration through trade and investment. Read COMESA NEWS
Re: Invitation to the 4th African Ambassadors Interactive Forum and African Investment Showcase, Kensington Town Hall, London 28th – 29th November 2007This year, INGO Third Sector Resource, the initiators of the African Ambassadors Interactive Forum (AAIF), are partnering with Diaspora devlopment agencies and other institutions across the Globe for the first time, outside Africa, an African Ambassadors Interactive Forum and African Businesses and Investment Showcase aimed to engage the African Diaspora, stakeholders in African development and friends of Africa.
Among our partners are AfricaRecruit,Ben Television, ECOWAS Commission, NEPAD Business Group, World Bank Group – IMF African Society, African Business Roundtable, African Development Forum, United Nations Office For International Partnerships, Christian Aid, World Business Council For Sustainable Development, Book Aid International, etc.
The organisation committee of this year’s Forum has identified you as a crucial stakeholder, and request your presence at the Forum. The unique aspect of this year’s event is that it is bringing together the African Ambassadors to the United Kingdom and the African Diaspora to explore ways by which a reasonable framework and level of co-operation and collaborative networks can be established. It is particularly vital to bring new investments to the Continent using the substantial resource of the African Diaspora expatriate Community.
Through our partners, we have compiled a “Projects Profile” detailing about 100 public and private sector projects across Africa looking for partners and investors.
Global engagement, once the exclusive province of Governments abd Diplomats, is now a stage shared with non-governmental organisations and the private sector. This is what informed INGOs vision to engage all stakeholders in a true public private partnership (PPP) to seek solutions to the long term economic security of Africa.
We will appreciate your confirmation of attendance to help our ease of planning.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Anna Vanderpuye
Executive Director
COMESA- The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa - promoting regional economic integration through trade and investment. Read COMESA NEWS
