'FEAR THE TALKING DREAD AND THE LIVING BALDHEAD: Combating Cultural Vampirism and Zombification in the Black Imagination!!'
									On Sunday 27th October 2019, Black History Studies in association with Professor Lez Henry and the Film Doctor Brother Hakim presents 'FEAR THE TALKING DREAD AND THE LIVING BALDHEAD: Combating Cultural Vampirism and Zombification in the Black Imagination!!' Have you ever considered why zombie and vampire films are ever-present in contemporary society? From children's cartoons to all out-horror films we can't seem to escape them, but what can they tell us about Black life in a white world?

. Illegitimate Maduro Regime’s Election to the UN Human Rights Council 10/17/2019 04:47 PM EDT Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State The UN High Commissioner report on Human Rights issued this past July documented egregious human rights abuses of the former Maduro regime in Venezuela.  It is sadly no surprise that Maduro shamelessly sought a seat on the UN Human Rights Council in an effort to block any limit to his repressive control of the Venezuelan people.  What is truly tragic, however, is that other nations voted to give Maduro’s representative for Venezuela a seat on the UN Human Rights Council.  This is a harsh blow not just against the victims of the Venezuelan regime, but also against the cause of human rights around the world. The Human Rights Council ought to be a protector and defender of human rights of people the world over.  It should be speaking out about the daily abuses of the former Maduro regime, and others like it.  Instead, the Council has become an exercise in shameless hypocrisy – with some of the world’s most serious offenders sitting on the Council itself.  Its membership includes authoritarian governments with unambiguous and abhorrent human rights records, such as China, Cuba, and Venezuela.  These are among the reasons why the United States withdrew from the Human Rights Council in 2018. The United States strongly supports multilateral organizations that sincerely and effectively work to protect human rights.  The election to the Human Rights Council of Maduro’s representative is a farce that further undermines the Council’s already frail credibility.  We desire to work with our allies and partners in support of Venezuelan interim President Guaidó’s efforts to restore human rights and democracy in Venezuela, a critical objective that reflects the United States’ commitment to human rights and freedom.

Climate Chance Summit - Africa Success in the mobilisation of climate actors in Africa Working together to step up climate action

2,000 participants, representing 25 African nationalities and the diversity of committed actors engaged in the fight against climate change (local governments, businesses, unions, environmental NGOs, farmers, women and youth organisation, researchers) gathered over 3 days of work and networking at the Climate Chance Summit Africa in Accra, Ghana. Many high-level figures participated in the Summit, highlighting the importance of this mobilising event on climate change. For Senator Ronan Dantec, President of Climate Chance Association and climate spokesperson for UCLG-Africa “the success of the Summit underlines non-state actors’ ambition and need to develop new projects. It confirms our willingness to continue committing ourselves to the cause to strengthen an environment that encourages climate action in Africa”. Jean-Pierre Elong Mbassi, Secretary General of UCLG-Africa insisted on how “the Climate Chance Summit – Africa aims to be the annual  ‘pre-COP’ for non-state-actors in Africa”. The former President of Republic of Ghana John Kofi Kufuor, former UN special envoy for Climate Change, participated in the opening of the Summit and stated “When I first heard of ‘Climate Chance’, I thought of ‘luck’ and therefore hope. Allow me to express my gratitude for your invitation to participate in this event.” As he opened the Summit, his excellency Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana, highlighted the importance of local climate action. He declared the following  “Local plans are a must, let us take action to reduce carbon footprint in our cities and make it part of the solutions.” Hon. Hajia Halima Mahama, Minister of Local Governments and Rural Development of Ghana declared "The key issue local governments confront is finance, it is part of the discussion in this conference" Jeffrey Sachs, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General on the SDGs and Director of Columbia’s Center for Sustainable Development and of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Tomasz Chruszczow Special Envoy for Climate Change, High Level Champion for COP 24,  Luc Gnacadja Member of Climate Chance Association, former Minister of the Environment, Housing and Urban Planning in Benin, former Executive Secretary of the UNCCD. (Full programme here)

Coalitions: finding paths of action  During the 9 themed workshops : Access to climate finance ; development of sustainable African cities ; Agriculture, food and reforestation ; Renewable energies and energy efficiency in Africa ; Mobility and sustainable transport ; Adaptation and Water in Africa ;  Buildings and sustainable construction ; Education and Training on climate change ; Circular economy, the coalitions that started working at the Abidjan Summit in June 2018, improved their roadmaps. They worked on developing precise objectives and how to ensure the coalitions’ activities throughout the year. They also discussed how to adapt the roadmaps to each country with the example of the Ivory Coast roadmap on Mobility that is currently being completed. The proposal brought forward includes: -        the need for a comprehensive and up-to-date portal on financing opportunities for climate action -        the need to coordinate all actors working on climate data on the African continent and the dissemination of data -        the session on buildings concluded with the need and proposal to create a network of local authorities and actors, specific to sustainable housing -       the members of the Adaptation and Water Coalition are committed to conducting work to identify and share good practices throughout 2019 in order to build a common narrative for the World Water Forum in Dakar in 2021. At the end of the Summit, participants adopted the Accra Declaration. It calls on States to create an environment that encourages local action, banks to facilitate access to finance for local governments and non-state actors, and proposes a new approach to the necessary reassessment of national commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, based on the contribution of local authorities (local determined contributions). This declaration acknowledges the importance of the Climate Chance Summit - Africa, an annual meeting of African non-state actors, by proposing that the common message delivered by each Summit should now be delivered under the umbrella of the Accra Climate Dialogue.

PRESS RELEASE

Address Security Sector Corruption and Abuse of Power for Effective AfCFTA Implementation, Former AFRICOM Commander Urges at Babacar Ndiaye Lecture

Gen. William Ward, former Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), delivering the third Babacar Ndiaye Lecture in Washington, D.C., today.

Washington, D.C., 19 Oct. 2019: – To ensure effective implementation of the African continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement, African countries must address corruption and abuse of power in the security sector as they could impede and raise the cost of trade, Gen. William Ward, former Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), said in Washington D.C. today.

Delivering the third Babacar Ndiaye Lecture, which was organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, Gen. Ward said that corruption and abuse of power in the security sector could become significant non-tariff barriers to trade and to the success of the AfCFTA.

“Reforming the security sector, particularly in countries that experience conflict or serious security challenges, is a critical element of conflict management, peace, and security and can provide a safe and stable environment for political and economic growth,” he told guests at the lecture.

Gen. Ward also highlighted the importance of respect for the rule of law in the implementation of the AfCFTA, saying that it would provide traders and investors with the confidence to engage in cross-border trade in the knowledge that legal commitments undertaken by countries would be enforced and respected and that, should challenges arise, they would have recourse through robust legal systems.

He recommended regional approaches to dispute settlement and to ensuring the quality of goods traded under the AfCFTA. “Failure to do so could see rise in tension and could undermine integration efforts as traders or consumers feel aggrieved by arbitrary restrictions or sub-par or risky products entering their markets from other African countries. These can lead to border closures or to an increase in interstate tensions, especially if no legal avenue for recourse is provided,” he added.

Gen. Ward said that international investment into Africa and allowing African economies to diversify and move up the technology frontier would mitigate some of the global security challenges emanating from migration as people seek opportunities outside the region.

“The opportunities provided by the AfCFTA, coupled with investment by development partners, could shift the patterns of migration from one driven by security concerns to one driven by entrepreneurial spirit, creating growth opportunities for receiving countries,” explained Gen. Ward.

He described security and development as two faces of the same coin and said that robust and long-run economic growth rates were required to narrow income gaps with between Africa and the world’s advanced economies.

Earlier, Prof. Benedict Oramah, President of Afreximbank, said that, while Africa was not the theatre of instability or the source of current global uncertainty, some parts of Africa had been the epicentre of raging conflicts and insecurity which were undermining cross-border trade. Those conflicts were increasingly triggered by geopolitical dynamics.

Understanding the sources and causes of conflicts and insecurity was, therefore, important for creating a protective shield against crises and episodes of war which had magnified risk perception across Africa, he said. Those perceptions raised costs and undermined prospects for long-term investment and regional integration in Africa.

Prof. Oramah commended the vision of Dr. Babacar Ndiaye in identifying and working tirelessly to establish institutions, such as Afreximbank, as strategic instruments for accelerating economic development in Africa.

“About 26 years later, the African Export-Import Bank—the Trade Finance Bank for Africa, has become an important instrument in the quest for Africa’s development and its effective integration into the world economy as envisioned by Dr Ndiaye when he conceived the idea; it has stepped in to correct market failures; filling trade finance gaps when markets panic and being a partner of choice to international banks wary of African risks,” he said.

“Since inception, Afreximbank has disbursed over $60 billion in support of African trade and attracted about $70 billion into strategic sectors of the African, economy using various instruments,” stated Prof. Oramah. “Through the effort of Afreximbank, many African entrepreneurs are now able to win and execute major public sector projects across the continent.”

Dr. Leila Ndiaye, daughter of Dr. Ndiaye, read a tribute to her father.

The Babacar Ndiaye Lecture series recognises and immortalises Dr. Ndiaye, who was President of the African Development Bank from 1985 to 1995, for his many important contributions to Africa’s economic development, in particular, his critical role in the creation of Afreximbank.

Dr. Ndiaye, who died in July 2017, was also behind the creation of several other continental institutions, including Shelter Afrique and the African Business Roundtable. He is credited with fostering the emergence of many young entrepreneurs who are helping to build Africa today.

The event was attended by about 250 participants from African and global banks, development finance institutions, the business community, the diplomatic community, policy making institutions, the academia, African and non-African ministries of finance, economy and development, central banks, and global and African corporates.

Ayoub Mzee wit UK Prime minister Boris Johnstone

Sanctioning the Government of Turkey in Response to the Ongoing Military Offensive in Northeast Syria

10/14/2019 06:29 PM EDT

Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State
On Friday, the United States signaled its intent to take action in response to Turkey’s ongoing unilateral military offensive in northeast Syria. President Donald J. Trump has now signed an Executive Order to press Turkey to halt its military offensive against northeast Syria and adopt an immediate ceasefire. The Executive Order gives the Department of Treasury and the Department of State, the authority to consider and impose sanctions on individuals, entities, or associates of the Government of Turkey involved in actions that endanger civilians or lead to the further deterioration of peace, security, and stability in northeast Syria. Three senior Turkish officials, the Ministry of Energy, and the Ministry of Defense have been designated for sanctions under these authorities, concurrent with the signing of the Executive Order.
As the President has made clear, Turkey’s actions in northeast Syria severely undermine the D-ISIS campaign, endanger civilians, and threaten the security of the entire region. If Turkey’s operation continues, it will exacerbate a growing and daunting humanitarian crisis, with potentially disastrous consequences. To avoid suffering further sanctions imposed under this new Executive Order Turkey must immediately cease its unilateral offensive in northeast Syria and return to a dialogue with the United States on security in northeast Syria.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaQTELwiOaE&feature=youtu.be

British Airways suspends flights to Cairo for 7 days as ‘precaution’ TravelWireNews Editor, 20 Jul 04:58 PM The UK’s flag carrier has apparently suspended all its flights to the capital of Egypt for a whole week, calling the move a “precaution,” letters from the company shared by stranded passengers indicate. The abrupt move was made by British Airways on Saturday and quietly announced to the customers through letters that provided little insight […]...Read More

The  Tanzania  High  Commissioner  H,E  Rose  Asha  Migiro  with Nicholas Zervos   a  representative   from Velma  law

The Tanzania Investment Forum in Cardiff -Wales

Council secures shut down of local house of horrors

Wednesday 10 April 2019

A property in Dagenham, which has for quite some time been a source of worry and complaints from local businesses and residents, has finally been shut down after the council resorted to court action. 

Over a period of time, local residents and shop owners reported issues to the council after they witnessed ongoing criminal and anti-social behaviour at 24A Whalebone Lane, Dagenham with evidence to suggest that the property was linked to prostitution, drug dealing, begging and other anti-social behaviour.

Following a joint operation between the council and the Police, a Closure Order was obtained at Barkingside Magistrates Court on Tuesday 2 April meaning that the council could close the property for three months, keeping out the occupier and others who had been using it for inappropriate behaviour. Any person that breaks the order will be arrested, and following a conviction, will be given a prison sentence or fined.

The property is owned by a charitable organisation who will now take back possession of the property.

“The property closure sends out a crystal clear message: we won’t tolerate criminal and anti-social behaviour in Barking and Dagenham and if you do it, we will come after you."

Reacting to the news, Councillor Margaret Mullane, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, said: “This is an excellent result and I’m really pleased that the courts have finally deemed it fit to shut down this building. The criminal behaviour taking place was completely unacceptable and had a really negative effect on local residents and businesses in this area. 

“The property closure sends out a crystal clear message: we won’t tolerate criminal and anti-social behaviour in Barking and Dagenham and if you do it, we will come after you.

“I would like to appeal to our residents that when such things are reported to us, the process from investigation, court proceedings to a final judgement could take anything from six months and upwards. So bear with us, we will get the desired result in the end.” 

https://livestream.com/accounts/2466140/events/8602056/videos/188719124?origin=stream_live&mixpanel_id=13bef88d7fc339-0276c299a472ca-43612442-13c680-13bef88d7fd38d&acc_id=4004048&medium=email