Monday 31 May 2010

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
I WANT TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK ALL MY FOLLOWERS FOR YOUR MASSAGES THAT WE ARE STILL GOING STRONG.OUR SERVERS WERE DOWN , BUT WE ARE UP AND RUNNING.SORRY FOR THE INCOV CAUSED BY THIS DISRUPTION.KEEP LISTENING TO BEN RADIO
THANKS ALOT
BEN RADIO
THE LATE JULIUS NYERERE IS MADE A SAINT IN NAMUGONGO -KAMPALA UGANDA


ICC REVIEW CONFRENCE IN KAMPALA-UGANDA







RIP GARY COLEMAN

Gary Wayne Coleman (February 8, 1968 – May 28, 2010) was an American actor, known for his childhood role as Arnold Jackson in the American sitcom Diff'rent Strokes (1978–1986) and for his small stature as an adult. He was described in the 1980s as "one of television's most promising stars." After a successful childhood acting career, Coleman struggled financially later in life. In 1993, he successfully sued his parents and business adviser over misappropriation of his assets.

Sunday 30 May 2010

'Special Relationship'The Future of the UK-US AllianceFollowing the formation of the new British Coalition Government, Foreign Secretary William Hague made his first trip to the United States. RUSI explores the state of the ‘Special Relationship’ between the United States and the United Kingdom.
Special Relationship at a Crossroads: Where Next for Britain?
A RUSI poll, conducted by YouGov, suggests that 74% of the British public believe relations with the US have stayed the same or deteriorated since Obama took office. It suggests the re-orientation of US foreign policy towards multilateralism has not strengthened ties between Britain and the United States.
Though 62% believed the US is Britain's most important ally in the world, an overwhelming majority of Britons surveyed (85%) believe that the nation has little or no influence over their key ally.
Read the finding and analysis of the RUSI-Legatum Institute poll here >Do the US and UK Share the Same Level of Commitment to NATO?
Watch Professor Christopher Coker’s remarks at a RUSI conference where he explores the state of the US-UK relationship and how this intersects with shared interests in NATO. He calls for a realistic appraisal of the relationship with both the United States and Europe.
Watch the speech >
An International Regulator: A US View on Future UK Defence Plans
From an American perspective, the international community and Americans expect the UK and US to act in concert. Defence reviews on both sides of the Atlantic must be mindful of this consideration.

India and Britain: the New Special Relationship?
Britain's governing coalition has promised 'a new special relationship' with India. However, drawing closer to India will require messy compromises and a realistic assessment of the price of partnership.
Read the RUSI analysis >
Latest report
Nuclear NarrativesReflections on Declaratory PolicyThis Whitehall Report explores the scope of current developments in the world of nuclear deterrence. In light of this year’s US Nuclear Posture Review and the NPT Review Conference, there is much to consider.
The report by Professor Malcolm Chalmers dissects the purpose and potential of declaratory policy, and rejects the credibility of deterrence as its crucial function. Instead, it proposes a way forward that accepts ‘mutual vulnerability’ between China, France, Russia, the UK and the US; and a commitment to use nuclear weapons only as a ‘very last resort’. Through these commitments, it argues, there is a stable and secure path to reducing the influence of nuclear weapons in security policy.Read the report here >
FURTHER ANALYSIShttp://www.rusi.org/globalsecurity/nuclear/

Agenda for a New Government Will the new government fund Britain’s position in the world?
The new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government must address the most basic question affecting the Defence Review and Britain's position in the world 'how much is the nation prepared to pay for defence?', according to a Future Defence Review Working Paper.
Read the report >
RUSI CONFERENCETime for Trade-offs: Strategic Defence Review 2010
MORE RUSI ANALYSISwww.rusi.org/generalelection2010
On RUSI.org nowThe Rise of China
Listen to Chris Patten, the last British Governor of Hong Kong, deliver his assessment of China’s rise and how Britain and Europe should engage with a country that will shortly be once again the largest economy in the world.
Listen now >
Tension in KoreaAs the South Korean government formally accuses Pyongyang of sinking it's warship in March, it is also resisting popular demands for retaliation. Instead Seoul will bolster efforts to exact international penalties on North Korea.
Read the analysis >
RUSI in the NewsCitations of RUSI experts, analysis and events in the global media from April 2010.
See coverage
See also: RUSI coverage during the 2010 General Election

Friday 28 May 2010

Left-wing MP Diane Abbott has promised to fight cuts to the public sector as she officially launched her bid to become leader of the Labour Party.

The backbencher also said Labour had to admit that the Iraq War was a "mistake" before it could move on.
She must get the backing of 33 MPs by 9 June to get on the ballot paper - so far only one is officially backing her, former minister David Lammy
Ms Abbot is the only woman and only ethnic minority MP to stand so far.
She has said all the other five candidates would all make good leaders but the party "cannot be offering a slate of candidates who all look the same".
Responding to suggestions by Tony Blair's former communications chief that Labour would not last five minutes in power under her leadership, she said: "I say to Alastair Campbell that if the Labour Party continues with his policies, the Labour Party will never be in power again."
Ms Abbott, one of the Labour rebels who opposed the Iraq war in 2003, said she was "sad and ashamed" by the former government's controversial decision to go to war.
"We have to admit we have learnt the lessons. Until we admit these things we cannot move on as a party."















Exclusive handball offerDear Ayoub,
25 per cent off international handball tickets
The Euro 2012 Men's Round 1 Qualification Handball Tournament is coming to London from 10-12 June 2010.
Great Britain's men's team will take on Cyprus, Estonia and Bulgaria at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, giving the British public the first chance to see the team in action on home soil.
As you have expressed an interest in handball, we would like to offer you the chance to experience the thrill of the sport live with an exclusive 25 per cent discount on all tickets! Visit the website and use the promo code London2012 to take advantage of this offer.
As an Official Partner of London 2012, Lloyds TSB is supporting more than 250 young athletes each year on their journey to London 2012 and beyond through its Local Heroes programme. Mark Hawkins (pictured right) is a handball player from Horsham, East Sussex, who dreams of competing in the Olympic Games and hopes to be selected to compete in this month's European Tournament.
Find out more about Mark and the other Local Heroes at http://ntr.tickets.london2012.com/ssp3/?Z=Qz0yOTUwMjFfMTAmUj1jb3B5MiZVPTExODQ0NTYmTT0xJkI9Mi4wJlM9aHR0cDovL3d3dy5sbG95ZHN0c2IuY29tL2xvbmRvbjIwMTI=




Con-Dem government's 'recipe for muddle and confusion' on energy – Ed Miliband
Ed Miliband MP, Labour's Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, today told the House of Commons that the coalition’s energy policy is only papering over the cracks and fails to deliver the long term coherence and certainty that the country needs.Ed Miliband said:"In this area above all the country needs a clear sense of direction. Instead this is a government with not one, not two but three positions on new nuclear:"A government notionally in favour of it."A Liberal Democrat representative who will speak against it."And the party itself that will sit on the fence in any vote."We always knew being a Lib Dem in opposition meant not having to choose but old habits seem to die hard."If this government carries on as it has started, fudging some key differences, papering over the cracks, it will be a recipe for muddle and confusion and not the long-term direction we need."Their renewables policy doesn’t yet add up because they have Lib Dem targets with Tory planning policy."Their nuclear policy doesn’t add up because they have three positions."And on industrial policy, the risk is that short-term cuts will deny us the long-term economic strength we need."In the months ahead we will be holding them to account to deliver – because it is in everyone in this country’s interests that we deliver on fairness, on energy security, and on climate change."



ayoub -
The simple answer is no. When the Queen dusts off her crown and heads to the House of Lords tomorrow she'll be speaking to MPs elected under a broken and unfair system, and Lords who are elected by no-one and accountable only to themselves.So while the media turn their gaze to our broken Parliament we thought we should turn ours to those who'll fix it.And that means you and me. There are five things that you can do to make a difference in the next few hours:Make tomorrow a purple day. When you go to work tomorrow wear the colour of our movement. It could be a tie, t-shirt or blouse - just make sure it's purple!Take to the streets.Join us at Westminster tomorrow as we spread the word among the crowds watching the State Opening of Parliament. Then be part of the launch of our London democracy action group - which I hope will be the first of many, all around the country. RSVP here.Grow our campaign.We need to grow our campaign both online and off. Download our petition for fair votes and get your colleagues and friends to sign up too.Put up a purple poster. Show the need for change by printing off one of our posters and putting it up in your window, or on the notice board at work, college or in your local community centre.Tell your friends. We've come so far so quickly because of the huge number of people who have joined our campaign. But we need to keep up this momentum - use our simple online tool to get your friends involved now. The State Opening of Parliament will be plastered all over the news for the next few days. Let's make the most of this moment to demand fair votes now.
Thanks Andy May. TakeBackParliament.com


Thursday 27 May 2010

Exclusively Online
The best opinion pieces from the websites of the national press.
The Guardian has a piece that examines a new trend in the Labour party to attempt to 'outflank the Lib-Cons from the right, and so satisfy the proles'. They are attempting to do so by talking about immigration in terms designed to win back white skilled workers who have deserted them. The author singles the Miliband brothers out for largely avoiding this, but adds that particularly worrying was Margaret Hodge's victory over the BNP in Barking, which was achieved by suggesting that she would somehow be "putting "indigenous" people ahead of new arrivals in the queue for public services."
The same newspaper also published a leader this week calling for Israel to 'come clean' about its nuclear holdings in light of the news that transpired a few days ago that it may have been involved in selling nuclear weapons to South Africa.
The Times has an interesting profile of the hawkish, Eurosceptic new Defence Secretary Liam Fox and his recent trip to Helmand province in Afghanistan with Foreign Secretary William Hague.
In a field of young(ish) male candidates, all looking to the future and seeking to disassociate themselves from the baggage of New Labour, Diane Abbott stands for a different route in a number of ways. It's a route that many members of the public would like the party to pursue (she came out top in a recent poll of the leadership contestants), though given that she has yet to chalk up a single nomination from her MP colleagues, it would appear that they don't agree. She laid out her vision for a return to old Labour values in The Independent. In a final piece in a Guardian heavy week the former editor of The Jewish Chronicle reports on the common belief amongst Afghan people, including many of the most intellectual sections of society, that far from being an enemy to the Taliban, the United States are in fact financing them in order to maintain influence on the region.
The Best of the Blogs
The finest from the politcal blogosphere.
Labour blogger Hopisen welcomes Oona King's decision to stand to be the Labour candidate for the Mayor of London. She was the Labour candidate who lost to George Galloway in Bethnal Green and Bow's bitterly contested seat in 2005. The prize at stake for the victor of the mayoral election: Incumbency during the 2012 Olympics. Right-wing columnist Melanie Phillips has recently released a book called God, Truth and Power, a scathing review of which we linked to in last week's opinion roundup. She presents her side in a talk she gave about the book at the American Enterprise Institute. The review we mentioned last week can be found here.
Foreign Policy Watch, a blog about international affairs and diplomatic strategy, examines how relevant the Israel-Palestine situation is to US foreign policy interests. Douglas Carswell MP has a question tabled at Prime Minister's Questions next week. It will be the first ever asked to David Cameron as Prime Minister. He has asked for suggestions from the public on his blog.
Picking up on the same topic as the Guardian piece in the first section does, Pickled Politics, a left leaning political blog, asks the question 'What is the progressive narrative on immigration?'.
Around the world
The best opinion pieces from news sources around the world.
Writing in the Washington Post, Asma T. Uddin, editor of Altmuslimah.com, picks up on the Facebook banning controversy in Pakistan, arguing that it 'protects the violent'. She also has a piece on CNN's 'Belief' blog arguing that most victims of Muslim religious persecution, are, in fact, other Muslims.
The New York Times magazine has an interview with the controversial film maker Ayaan Hirsi Ali. The Jerusalem Post has an interesting analysis of Iran's nuclear deal with Turkey and Brazil. It welcomes it, but suggests that it is missing key elements that will persuade the international community that Iran has the right intentions.
The News, a leading newspaper in Pakistan, has an opinion piece discussing the problems and successes of madressahs and some of the alternatives available. Twitter Top Trends
We bring you the top relevant Twitter trends of the week from the UK and elsewhere.

#DuncanSmith Iain Duncan-Smith's journey from political laughing stock during his Tory leadership, and his 'quiet man' days, to expert on social justice and member of the Cameron front bench is remarkable. Despite this, many of the tweets about him strike a mocking note.
#cpbill The Irish parliament is voting on a bill to introduce civil partnerships to the country.
#oilspill The oil spill on the US Gulf Coast is unsurprisingly a global Twitter trend. The latest news is that the technique of pumping mud into the hole seems to be succeeding.
#dunkirk London was tweeting about the 70th anniversary of the escape of the British Army from Northern France in a fleet made up of navy, commercial and personal ships. Follow Unitas Communications on Twitter by clicking here.
This newsletter is brought to you by www.ayoubmzee.blogspot.com
Ayoub mzee of Ben Radio with the President of Brazil H.E Lula de silva .Listen to the interview on Friday at 4 pm





Labour will be a responsible opposition – Harman
Harriet Harman MP, Acting-Leader of the Opposition, today said in response to the Queen’s Speech that Labour will be a responsible opposition – determined to prevent unfairness, speaking up for the public services that matter, and vigilant to protect jobs and the economy.Harriet Harman said:“We will be an effective opposition. We will not oppose for the sake of it. That’s not what the public wants. But, we will not pull our punches. Though we are in opposition, we will be powerful in the public interest.“We will be determined – to prevent unfairness.“We will speak up – for the public services that matter.“We will be vigilant – protecting jobs and businesses.“As the Government acknowledges, their most important domestic task is the economy. The new Government takes over an economy in which recovery is already underway and where Government action has blunted the impact of the recession.“But the recovery cannot be taken for granted. The challenge now for the Government is to embed and secure the economic recovery with new manufacturing and an even greater role for the low carbon sector.“Where the Government takes steps to do that, we will back them. But taking support away from businesses risks slower growth for the future.“We all agree with cutting waste. What the country needs to know is that the Government will do that in a fair way; without damaging frontline services; and without putting future growth at risk.“And the country will want to see that it is not they who are left bearing the cost of holding the coalition together. Before the election, the leader of the Tory party – now the Prime Minister was telling us all that the Lib Dems’ promises were simply unaffordable.“At the very same time the Lib Dem leader, now his deputy, warned that the Tories’ tax and spending promises could only be paid for by increasing VAT or cutting frontline services.“It's the combination of the two of them that worries me.”

Wednesday 26 May 2010

Celebration of Africa Day in in London
The Tanzania High commissioner H.E mwanaidi sinare [middle] with other guests
Ethiopia Dancers entertained the guests

The Daily Telegraph

COVER STORY: 'Middle classes made to pay under government plans'
Yesterday's speech by the Queen reflected the Conservatives' concession to the Lib Dem tax plan that will leave the middle classes heavily taxed, particularly those with second- or buy-to-let homes. (Link)
'Red Cross gives first-aid training to Taliban fighters' the ICRC, who has always remained neutral in political conflicts, has given first-aid training to 70 Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. (Link)
'US orders escalation in secret operations in the Middle East' A classified order, approved last September, in addition to containing a possible contingency plan for military operations against Iran, includes plans for intelligence gathering and establishing relationships with 'dissident groups'. (Link)
'New York community panel approves plan for mosque at Ground Zero' A panel of New Yorkers has voted 29-1 to support the building of a mosque at the contentious Ground Zero site, claiming that it is 'a seed of peace' and a place for the 'moderate Muslim voice' which has often been 'squashed' in America. (Link)

The Guardian
COVER STORY: 'Lib Dem ministers push for 2011 poll on voting reform'Party wants a referendum on AV next May, but Tory hostility to reform could disrupt the coalition. (link)
'Red Cross trains the Taliban in first aid for the battlefield' p.1
The Red Cross in southern Afghanistan has been giving medical equipment to insurgent fighters and teaching them basic first aid. A leading figure in Kandahar's local government said the Taliban "did not deserve to be treated like humans". (link)
'Judge puts a stop to deportations with no warning' p.5
A high court judge has ordered the Home Office to halt the deportation of foreign nationals with almost no warning after a legal challenge argued the process denies people access to justice before they are removed. (link)
'BNP teacher cleared of racial intolerance' p.13A disciplinary panel said it was 'troubled' by the postings but was not satisfied that his 'intemperate' views suggested intolerance. (link)
'Gaza aid flotilla to test Israel's blockade' p.17
Eight boats carrying thousands of tonnes of building materials, medical equipment and other aid are preparing to sail to Gaza in the next view days, setting the scene for a confrontation with Israel which has vowed to prevent the ships breaking the blockade on Palestinian territory. (link)
'Thieves in Iraq kill 15 in mass raid' p.17
15 people have been killed after masked men armed with grenades and rifles open fired in a mass raid on a busy jewellery market in Baghdad yesterday. (link)
'Tehran frees film director on bail' p.17
Jafar Panahi, the Iranian filmmaker was freed yesterday as the authorities warned they would crack down on illegal protests on the anniversary of last year's disputed presidential election. (link)The Times
COVER STORY: 'EU sets toughest targets to fight global warming'

Europe will introduce a surprise new plan today to combat global warming, committing Britain and the rest of the EU to the most ambitious targets in the world. The plan proposes a massive increase in the target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions in this decade. (Link)
'Somali pirates go on trial in the Netherlands' The first trial of Somali pirates to be held in Europe opened yesterday morning when five suspects entered the dock smiling at their lawyers and watched by a heavy police presence. (link)
'BNP teacher cleared of racial and religious intolerance'

A prominent member of the British National Party who described some immigrants as “savage animals” and “filth” while working as a technology teacher has been cleared of racial and religious intolerance. (link)

The Independent
COVER STORY: 'Inside Parliament - Outside Parliament.' A pledge to safeguard the right to protest as part of the "new politics" promised by the coalition Government will be undermined today as a legal challenge begins to remove peace protesters camping outside Parliament. (link)
'BNP teacher cleared of racial intolerance'
A teacher and member of the British National Party who described some immigrants as "savage animals" in a website posting from a school laptop was cleared of racial and religious intolerance yesterday. (link)
'US to launch covert strikes on terror targets' The US has authorised a sweeping expansion of covert military operations in the Middle East and Africa, aimed at destroying terrorist networks in the region, and preparing the ground ahead of any presidential decision to attack Iran. (link)
'Iranian film director freed on bail after hunger strike' Iran released an internationally renowned filmmaker and opposition supporter on bail yesterday after more than two months in custody, state television reported. (link)
'They're all against the war now' Opinion piece from Mark Steel on the way that Labour leadership candidates have distanced themselves from the Iraq war. (link)
Al Jazeera
COVER STORY 'North Korea cuts ties with South'
North Korea has severed key communication links with South Korea after vowing to cut all ties with its neighbour in response to the South's tightening of sanctions against Pyongyang over the deadly torpedoing of one of its warships. (Link)
'EU monitor slams Ethiopia polls'
The European Union's chief election observer in Ethiopia has said that last weekend's poll was conducted on an "uneven playing field" that favoured the party of the prime minister. (Link)
'Iraqi Airways flies into Kuwait row'
Iraqi Airways has dropped flights to some European destinations amid an intensifying row with Kuwait over war reparations that could see the airline dissolve. (Link)
'Air raid kills Yemeni mediator'
A botched air raid has killed a provincial official in Yemen, and tribesmen have blown up an oil pipeline in retaliation, according to local press reports and the Reuters news agency. (Link)
'Court upholds Jamaat head's release'
Despite appeals, Pakistan's High Court has agreed to release a man associated with the organisation behind the Mumbai terror attacks. (Link)
'Family seeks to declare Mladic dead'
Family of Serb military leader wanted for genocide is trying to have him declared dead, most likely in order to protect his whereabouts. (Link) The Daily Mail
COVER STORY: 'Mothers over 40 in record baby boom'
The number of women who give birth in their forties has trebled. (Link)

The Sun

COVER STORY: 'Cheryl divorces Ashley'

Cheryl and Ashley Cole have filed for divorce. (link)
The Daily Mirror

COVER STORY: 'I Fergive'

Prince Andrew reportedly forgives Sarah Ferguson over cash scandal. (link)


Today all the pomp and ceremony - the carriages, the robes, the Coldstream Guards - doesn't just mark the start of a new Parliament, it marks a clean break from the past and a new start for our country.
This Queen's Speech shows what we're all about as a government. It's not a shopping list of superficial, eye-catching goals put together for the party interest, or a wish list to please vested interests. It's a programme of practical, achievable plans drawn up in the national interest.
And this Queen's Speech is different in substance as well as style. Our coalition government has been formed around three key principles: freedom, fairness and responsibility.
We want to build a country that is more free, where government gets off people's backs and trusts in their common sense. A country that is more fair, where every young person believes nothing can hold them back. And a country that is more responsible, where we're all aware of our obligations to each other, where people ask not 'what are my rights?' but 'what are my responsibilities?'.
Of course we can't simply bring this vision into law. But you can see these values running through each and every Bill that was set out today. Freedom - in the Freedom Bill and its proposals to scrap ID cards. Fairness - in our Education Bill and its plans for a pupil premium so that the poorest children go to the best schools, not the worst. Responsibility - in our Welfare Reform Bill and its proposal to cut benefits for those who can work but refuse to work.
You can read a detailed breakdown of the Bills here. As you read you'll see the way this coalition government works. We're about devolving power, not centralising it; trusting people, not dictating to them; saving money, not wasting it. That's how we've started with this Queen's Speech, and that's how we mean to go on


Diane Abbott enters Labour leader race after Community pressure
Thursday, 20 May, 2010 16:05

Press Release – Immediate 20th May 2010

TO NEWS/POLITICAL DESKS Contact: Ashok Viswanathan
07584 177 529 / 020 8983 5430

Diane Abbott enters Labour leader race after Community pressure

Diane Abbott today announced her candidacy for the Labour leadership. The race was heading towards being an all white male affair until this news.

Abbott has been the M.P. for Hackney North and Stoke Newington for 23 years having doubled her majority in the 2010 election. Her announcement will be welcomed by the progressive Labour movement.

Diane Abbott MP said:
So many people in the past 48 hours have asked me to put my hat in the ring and I have finally decided to do so. The other candidates are all nice and would make good leaders of the Labour Party, but they all look the same. We cannot be offering a slate of candidates who all look the same. The Labour Party's much more diverse than that. I looked at the field and said 'If not now, when?' And 'If not me, who?’

OBV Director, Simon Woolley:
Diane Abbott standing for the Labour leadership is a much needed boost to the race. Her candidacy will bring the Black experience centre stage, and the equality agenda to the forefront of leadership battle. As a backbencher for over 20 years she brings unparalleled experience of the grassroots, and unprecedented knowledge as the only candidate who was an MP in Opposition. Furthermore, as a Black woman, Diane will inspire others to aspire to high office and say ‘Yes we can’.

Lee Jasper, chief political correspondent of the Voice said:
Diane Abbott deserves our congratulations for being the first Black woman in British political history to stand for the leadership of a mainstream party. Her leadership bid will be an equality litmus test for the Labour Party.

Note to Editors:
1) Operation Black Vote is a non-party political campaign. 2) The term ‘Black’ is a political term. It refers to African, Asian, Caribbean and other ethnic minorities. 3) There are 27 Black MPs in Parliament -16 Labour -11 Conservatives

Tuesday 25 May 2010


Queen's Speech 2010: Bill by bill
Here is an at-a-glance list of the bills outlined in the 2010 Queen's Speech programme:
Academies Bill
Will give more schools in England, including primaries, the freedom to become academies allowing them to opt out of local authority control. Will also make it easier for parents and other groups to set up "free schools". A second bill in the autumn will give schools greater freedom over the curriculum and give teachers greater powers to deal with bad behaviour. It will also set up the "pupil premium" to help disadvantaged children.
Airport Economic Regulation Bill
Includes measures to increase the competitiveness of UK airports , having ruled out new runways in the South-East of England. More details to be announced in due course. Would apply across the UK, except Northern Ireland, which regulates its own airports. The government is in discussions with Northern Ireland over whether to adopt the reforms there.
Armed Forces Bill
Will increase support for serving personnel, maximising leave periods and giving more assistance to their families. Will provide extra mental health services for veterans.
Decentralism and Localism Bill
Will give councils more powers over housing and planning decisions and begin a review of local government finance. Will apply to England and Wales but implications for Scotland cannot be ruled out because of the "wide scope" of the Bill.
Energy and Green Economy Bill
Will promote enhanced energy efficiency, including the roll-out of smart meters. Will promote low-carbon energy production. Most of the measures will apply to England, Wales and Scotland with some devolved elements, "depending on the final detail".
Equitable Life Payments Scheme Bill
Will secure compensation for nearly a million policyholders hit by the near collapse of the insurer Equitable Life UK-wide.
European Union Bill
Will mean a referendum must be held to approve any future treaties handing powers to the European Union.
Financial Reform Bill
Will shift responsibility for macro-regulation of the banking system from the Financial Services Authority to the Bank of England . Despite earlier reports there is no mention of a levy on the profits of UK banks.
Freedom (Great Repeal) Bill
Will limit the amount of time that DNA profiles of innocent people can be held on national database. Will tighten regulation on the use of CCTV cameras, remove limits on right to peaceful protest. The storage of DNA is a power devolved to the Scottish Parliament. The Bill would adopt the Scottish model.
Identity Documents Bill
Will scrap identity cards and National Identity Register introduced by Labour and cancel the next generation of biometric passports. UK-wide legislation.
Health Bill
Will seek to give health professionals and patients more say over NHS decision-making. Will cut health service quangos and some central targets and increase focus on "health inequalities".
Local Government Bill
Will block the creation of single-tier councils in Exeter and Norwich.
National Insurance Contributions Bill
Will block next year's 1% rise in NI contributions by employers. UK-wide.
Office of Budget Responsibility Bill
Will provide a "statutory underpinning" to new Office of Budget Responsibility, which will provide borrowing and economic growth forecasts for the Treasury. Main elements of the proposed bill "have yet to be decided upon". No mention of reforming the remit of the National Audit Office, which was predicted in advance media coverage.
Parliamentary Reform Bills
Measures will be introduced to establish fixed-term elections for Parliament, held every five years . Will require 55% of MPs to vote for a dissolution of Parliament between scheduled elections. Will give constituents the right to "recall" corrupt MPs between elections. Will reduce the number of MPs by about 50. Review of reform of the House of Lords may be included in a separate draft bill later in the year. A Bill will also be introduced for a referendum on changing the voting system to the Alternative Vote. Will apply to the whole of the UK.
Pensions and Savings Bill
Will restore the link between earnings and the state pension from 2012 . Applies to England, Scotland and Wales. Will legislate for the phasing out of the default retirement age and set a timetable for raising the state pension age, depending on the outcome of a review.
Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill
Will provide for directly elected commissioners to oversee local police forces. There is no mention of monthly local crime statistics, which were mentioned in earlier reports. Will also give police more power to deal with alcohol-related violence and ban sale of below cost price alcohol. Would also establish a dedicated border police force, as part of a refocused Serious and Organised Crime Agency. Applies to England and Wales only, except border police force, the scope of which is "to be confirmed".
Postal Services Bill
Will allow injection of private capital into the Royal Mail, address its pension deficit, guarantee the post office network remains in public hands and seek to improve staff relations with management. Would apply to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Public Bodies Bill
Will abolish a number of non-department government bodies and limit the powers of other quangos. Applies to England and Wales only.
Scotland Bill
Will grant the Scottish Parliament more powers over taxation and borrowing under proposals made by the Calman Commission.
Terrorist Asset Freezing Bill
Will expand scope of existing legislation to cover new organisations thought to present threat to security. UK wide legislation.
Welfare Reform Bill
Will create a single welfare-to-work programme and make benefit payments more conditional on willingness to accept work. Benefit changes will be UK-wide, but will need parallel legislation in Northern Ireland, where it is devolved.
Other measures will be implemented via secondary legislation, included in future draft bills or remain commitments at this stage.
Commitment to raise spending on overseas aid by 2013
Cap on non-EU economic migrants allowed to work in UK (secondary legislation)
Reform of Parliamentary privilege laws (draft bill)
Construction of high-speed rail line (bill to come "in due course")
Increased investment in high-speed broadband (secondary legislation)
Extending the right to flexible working to all employees in the future (to be consulted on)
Source-BBC

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

______________________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2010

CONFERENCE CALL: HARVARD LAW SCHOOL OFFICIAL AND FORMER HARVARD LAW SCHOOL STUDENTS TO DISCUSS ELENA KAGAN’S COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE AT 12:45PM EDT TUESDAY


WASHINGTON – At 12:45pm EDT, Harvard Law School’s Assistant Dean for Public Service Alexa Shabecoff and former Harvard Law School students Brandon Weiss (HLS ’08), Lauren Sudeall Lucas (HLS ’05), and Sarah Isgur (HLS ’08) will hold a conference call to discuss the role that then-Dean Elena Kagan played in expanding opportunities for Harvard Law School students to engage in public service.


WHO: Alexa Shabecoff, Assistant Dean for Public Service, Harvard Law School

Brandon Weiss (HLS ’08), Skadden Fellow at Public Counsel

Lauren Sudeall Lucas (HLS ’05), Staff Attorney at the Southern Center for Human Rights

Sarah Isgur (HLS ’08), Republican political consultant in Texas

WHAT: Conference Call to discuss Elena Kagan’s Commitment to Public Service

WHEN: Tuesday, May 25
12:45pm EDT
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
______________________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2010

CONFERENCE CALL: HARVARD LAW SCHOOL OFFICIAL AND FORMER HARVARD LAW SCHOOL STUDENTS TO DISCUSS ELENA KAGAN’S COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE AT 12:45PM EDT TUESDAY


WASHINGTON – At 12:45pm EDT, Harvard Law School’s Assistant Dean for Public Service Alexa Shabecoff and former Harvard Law School students Brandon Weiss (HLS ’08), Lauren Sudeall Lucas (HLS ’05), and Sarah Isgur (HLS ’08) will hold a conference call to discuss the role that then-Dean Elena Kagan played in expanding opportunities for Harvard Law School students to engage in public service.


WHO: Alexa Shabecoff, Assistant Dean for Public Service, Harvard Law School

Brandon Weiss (HLS ’08), Skadden Fellow at Public Counsel

Lauren Sudeall Lucas (HLS ’05), Staff Attorney at the Southern Center for Human Rights

Sarah Isgur (HLS ’08), Republican political consultant in Texas

WHAT: Conference Call to discuss Elena Kagan’s Commitment to Public Service

WHEN: Tuesday, May 25
12:45pm EDT








Book Launch of THE REAL DEAL -Journey of an international student in the UK@ the Nigeria high commission in London




When Olanike Adebayo left her native Nigeria to attend university in England, no travel guide could predict the culture shock awaiting her. From the moment she stepped off the plane, Olanike found herself thrust into a new world that was foreign on nearly every front.
Her struggle to adapt goes far beyond learning a new language and adjusting to English weather: from shopping and hailing a cab to learning British colloquialisms and adjusting to the laid-back atmosphere of university life.

She was pleasantly surprised to discover that England was not an island of dapperly dressed white people, as her studies back home in Africa had led her to expect.


Instead, she found herself part of a teeming multicultural assemblage, from whom she learned as much outside the classroom as she did inside.


From her own experiences as an international student, Olanike has crafted both a memoir and a helpful guide to other exchange students contemplating the challenges of studying in the United Kingdom.






Monday 24 May 2010

BEN TV SPORTS TEAM IN THE STUDIO -Preparing for the world cup


Host chris
Cameraman Carlos



Big man Uche john




Exclusively Online
The best opinion pieces from the websites of the national press.
Telegraph columnist Andrew Gilligan wrote in The Guardian this week about how the 'forces of intolerance' had been defeated in this election, referring to the British National Party in Dagenham and the Islamic Forum of Europe in Tower Hamlets. Gilligan recently authored a controversial Dispatches documentary on the IFE.
Meanwhile, Yasmin Alibhai-Brown in her column in The Independent exhorted reformist Muslims to speak up about the burqa ban, and argues in favour of it, saying that the most compelling reason for it is that 'there is such a thing as society'.
The World Agenda section of The Times, which is well worth reading, has an insightful article on the head of the army in Pakistan, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayan, who it claims is the most powerful man in the country, and who has 'managed the transfer from military to civilian rule'. With his role likely to be extended by two years, the article asks at what price Pakistan needs him. Jenny Diski, writing for The London Review of Books, reviews The World Turned Upside Down, the latest book from Melanie Phillips, the right-wing political commentator and Spectator columnist. The book outlines what she sees as the battle that Islam is waging on the Judeo-Christian world. The review is dripping with sarcasm, concluding that the book has "all the power of Munch’s Scream embedded in a singing birthday card."
Comedian and author Armando Iannucci has long been politically active, and he wrote a characteristically witty piece on the new coalition government and the 'melee of emotions' that it has caused including 'Fear and loathing, mixed with a yearning optimism'.
The Best of the Blogs
The finest from the politcal blogosphere.
The American blog Foreign Policy Watch ran an interesting piece that picked up a number of other articles, in the New York Times and other places, that discussed what the author termed 'the rather lazy and analytically sloppy tendency of some commentators to dismiss acts of terrorism as being motivated by "jihadist intent."Al Jazeera's blogs have two pieces on the recent deal between Iran, Turkey and Brazil regarding Iran's nuclear ambitions. The first looked forward to the deal, while the second analysed the swift diplomatic slap down on Brazil from the United States.
Charlie Beckett, director of the POLIS think tank at the LSE, has a cogent and thoughtful analysis of the UK election, its aftermath, and specifically the roles that traditional and new media played. ConservativeHome has an article from former ambassador to Sarajevo, Belgrade and Warsaw, Charles Crawford, with a handy to-do list for William Hague as he attempts to reform the Foreign Office.
The Labour leadership contest has predictably provoked a lot of comment on political blogs. Cicero's Songs, the blog of a 'social and economic liberal' has an article decrying the Miliband brothers, suggesting that only a 'prat' would call his own brother 'a huge talent'. Two different ends of the political press both agree that Diane Abbott's decision to run is a good thing for the contest. The Spectator's Coffee House blog piece is here, and the New Statesman's piece is here.
Around the world
The best opinion pieces from news sources around the world.
The Belgian burka ban has made it to the United States, where The Washington Post ran a comment piece discussing not only the ban, but also the anti-Islamic sentiments that it has revealed.

The New York Times culture blog runs a piece about Shirin Neshat's first feature film 'Women without Men'. The experimental photographer and video artist won the Best Director award for the film at the Venice Film Festival last year for her 'exploration of political and religious oppression in her native Iran'.
The same publication runs an feature focusing on a German imam based in Munich, Hesham Shashaa, who has spread the message that Al-Qaeda and other terror recruiters are not only wrong, but are also 'violating the tenets of Islam'.
The left wing Israeli newspaper Haaretz has an article decrying the Israeli government for barring the American academic Noam Chomsky from entering the country to give a lecture in the West Bank. It argues that the government's treatment of people 'with the audacity to criticise its policies' demeans the whole nation.
Wajahat Ali, writing in The Daily Star of Lebanon, discusses the response to the failed attempt at bombing Times Square, for which Faisal Shahzad has been arrested. He argues that America's best defence derives from its protection of civil liberties. Twitter Top Trends
We bring you the top relevant UK Twitter trends of the week.

#DianeAbbott A broad range of views on the Hackney MP's decision to run for the Labour leadership, from several users who declared their intention to join the Labour party just to vote for her, to detractors calling her 'fame-hungry' and 'self-serving'.
#OlympicMascots These have been given short shrift by the general public, Wenlock and Mandeville, and Twitter users were no different describing them as 'monstrous'. Image here.
#Coalitionagreement The launch of the 30 page coalition policy briefing elicited a number of 'humorous' responses speculating as to what it contained.
#HomeInformationPacks The ditching of this most unpopular of New Labour policies was greeted with delight on Twitter. Follow Unitas Communications on Twitter by clicking here.

Sunday 23 May 2010

Wadau walio hudhuria mkutano wa Jumuiya ya London[TA lONDON]





Saturday 22 May 2010

HAVE YOU VISITED www.ayoubmzee.blogspot.com/



Mr JOEL KIBAZO




Dr Aida Opoku Mensah -Director ICT and science and Technology-UN economic commission for Africa

The Deputy High commissioner -Nigeria High commission-London
The Launch of the ASTIEF (African Science ,Technology and Innovation Endowment Fund at the Royal Commonwealth club -London




Friday 21 May 2010

Ethnicity and the use of Mental Health Act
24 May 2010
An Ethnic Health Initiative event to discuss ethnicity and use of the Mental Health Act.
Monday 24 May 2010, 9-4.30pm
Friends House, 173-177 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ
Speakers include:
Melba Wilson
Professor Sashi Sashidharan
Professor Swaran Singh
Professor Tom Burns
Professor Chris Heginbotham
Professor Philip Thomas
Dr Ramin Hilforooshan

Thursday 20 May 2010



Press release
Wednesday 20 May 2010
For immediate use

Labour has more women MPs than all other parties put together - Harman

Acting Leader of the Labour Party, Harriet Harman MP said she was proud of Labour's achievements for women as she joined with the rest of her female Labour colleagues. Labour's women MPs now total 81 or over 31% of the Parliamentary Party, yet another increase, which is more than all the other parties put together. Harriet Harman also pledged not to let Labour's record for women be unpicked by the new Government.
Harriet Harman MP, said:
"In the new parliament, Labour women MPs remain the voice of women in Parliament. Labour has more women MPs than all the other parties put together.
"Despite the fact that we are in opposition, we are the majority when it comes to speaking up for women. When it comes to issues like childcare, care of the elderly, maternity pay and leave and tackling domestic violence, Labour women will continue to speak up for women in this country."
Yvette Cooper, Shadow Secretary of State for DWP, takes on the additional role as Shadow Minister for Women and Equality.
Yvette Cooper MP, said:
"It's great that women make up almost half of Labour's new MPs. The big changes of the last decade - from child care to equal pay - were all made possible by having more women in parliament and government.
"And we want to go further. But the Liberal Conservative coalition has cut the number of women in government, and is promising to cut support for women through things like tax credits too. That's why Labour women in Parliament are even more determined to keep fighting to support women across the country."
Editor's Notes:Labour's women MPs now total 81 or over 31% of the Parliamentary Party, which is more than all the other parties put together.81 Labour women Members of Parliament out of 258 (31.4%) 48 Women Conservative Members of Parliament (15.7%) 7 Liberal Democrat Women Members of Parliament (12.3%)
Please click here to see a photo of Harriet Harman and female members of the Parliament Labour Party taken on the first day of Parliament, 18 May 2010.

Ends
For more information, please contact the Labour Party press office on
020 7783 1393.

Wednesday 19 May 2010

Sus: the film
19 May 2010
A showing of Sus, set on the eve of the Thatcher victory in 1979 and dealing with institutional racism, plus a panel discussion.
Wednesday 19 May 2010, 7pm
The Albany, Douglas Way, London SE8 4AG

Tuesday 18 May 2010


The School of Oriental and African Studies ( University of London ) is launching a new one-week programme Governance and Leadership in Africa which will run at the main SOAS campus in Bloomsbury in central London from 13 – 17 September 2010. The programme will provide an excellent opportunity for managers from government departments and NGOs based in Africa or working on Africa-related issues to focus on and discuss topical issues affecting the African continent.



Sessions will draw from the unrivalled expertise at SOAS as well as renowned academics from other institutions, providing two sessions each morning followed by a practical, interactive workshop each afternoon. Topics will include the following:



Contemporary challenges of governance and leadership
Law and governance
Corruption and anti-corruption strategies
Conflict resolution and the role of government
Africa’s relations with China and India
Civil society and governance
Gender issues


The course will be convened by Dr Emilia Onyema from SOAS and administered by the Research and Enterprise Office which incorporates the Centre of African Studies.



For further details of the programme, fees and information on how to enrol on the programme please see www.soas.ac.uk/gla or email louiseroberts@soas.ac.uk or call +44 207 898 4837.



Louise Roberts

Enterprise Manager

Research and Enterprise Office

SOAS

Thornhaugh Street

Russell Square

London WC1H 0XG

Tel 020 7898 4837
London Virgin Marathon


Shaban Kawawa with Emmanuel Mutai -the Marathon Runner's up

Ayoub mzee with the 2nd runner up



World Security Network reporting from Washington D.C., May 15, 2010
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

"The Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) of the U.S. Department of Defense is a must-read for anyone interested in U.S. Defence issues"Since 1997 the U.S. Department of Defense has had to produce a Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR).Along with the National Security Strategy, the QDR is the most important document on defense-related issues and looks out to a time horizon of 20 years.
"The QDR is a legislatively-mandated review of Department of Defense strategy and priorities.The QDR will set a long-term course for DoD as it assesses the threats and challenges that the nation faces, and re-balances DoD strategies and forces to address today's conflicts and tomorrow's threats" (www.defense.gov).
The 2010 QDR is more than 100 pages long and covers all aspects of defence policy, military strategy, force structure, armament and equipment. Because of this QDR 2010 is a must-read for anyone interested in U.S. Defence issues.
"The United States is at war..." marks a shift away from the previous QDR. This Review is the first fully adjusted to both today's and future military conflicts. Recent conflicts, for example those in Iraq and in Afganistan, have little in common with Cold War thinking. In the preface, Secretary Gates states three main goals:
Winning today's fight
Balancing global strategic risks
Preserving and enhancing the health of the force
The QDR 2006 was not threat-driven, but capability-driven. The QDR 2010 claims to be strategy-driven. There is no specific enemy or threat singled out. The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction remains a serious concern, especially if such weapons fell into the hands of non-state actors or terrorist groups.
Indeed, that very concern brought the leaders of 47 countries to the April 2010 Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC. Participants agreed voluntarily to put the world's nuclear material beyond the reach of terrorists within four years.
The QDR 2010 leaves no doubt about America's role on the world stage: "As a global power, the strength and influence of the United States are deeply intertwined with the fate of a broader international system...the QDR advances two clear oblectives: First, to further rebalance the capabilities of America's Armed Forces to prevail in today's war, while building the capabilities needed to deal with future threats. Second, to further reform the Department's institutions and processes to better support the urgent needs of the warfighter; buy weapons that are usable, affordable, and truly needed."
Dieter FarwickGlobal Editor-in-Chief

Monday 17 May 2010

Monday, May 17, 2010WHEN: 8:30 a.m.WHAT: The Brookings Institution Discussion on "The State of the U.S. Senate: Understanding the Filibuster and the Emergence of the 60-Vote Majority." Speakers: Darrell West, Vice President and Director of Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution; and Steven Smith, Director of the Weidenbaum Center on the Economy, Government and Public Policy at the Washington University in St. Louis; Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.; Richard Baker, Historian Emeritus at the U.S. Senate; Robert Dove, former Senate Parliamentarian; and Martin Paone, Executive Vice President of the Prime Policy Group.WHERE: Brookings Institution, 1775 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Falk Auditorium, Washington, DC.CONTACT: 202-797-6105, communications@brookings.edu; web site: http://www.brookings.edu WHEN: 8:30 a.m.WHAT: The New America Foundation (NAF) holds a discussion on "The War in Afghanistan: Problems and Prospects in the Wake of Karzai's Visit":- 9 a.m.: Remarks by James Galbraith, Chairman of Economists for Peace and Security- 9:10 a.m.: Discussion of "Reviewing Afghanistan in a Strategic Context" with Former Rep. Thomas Andrews, D-Maine; Paul Pillar, Director of Graduate Studies at the Center for Peace and Security Studies at Georgetown University; Matthew Hoh, former Afghanistan-based Official with the State Department; Hillary Mann Leverett, former Director for Iran, Afghanistan and Persian Gulf Affairs at the State Department; Steve Clemons, Director of the American Strategy Program at NAF; and Michael Lind, Policy Director of the Economic Growth Program at NAF.- 10:45 a.m.: Remarks by Former Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan at the United Nations Peter Galbraith - 11:30 a.m.: Discussion of "Reviewing Afghanistan in an Economic Context" with Michael Intriligator, former Director of the UCLA Center for International and Strategic Affairs; Miriam Pemberton, Research Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies; Winslow Wheeler, Director of the Center for Defense Information/Straus Military Reform Project; Michael Lind; and Richard Kaufman, former General Council of the Joint Economic Committee.WHERE: The New America Foundation, 1899 L Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC.CONTACT: Kate Brown, 202-596-3365, brown@newamerica.net; communications@newamerica.net; web site: http://www.newamerica.net WHEN: 9:30 a.m.WHAT: The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (AEI) Discussion on "An Asian Tiger for the Twenty-first Century: Taiwan's Potential in the Global Marketplace." Speakers: Former World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz of AEI; Dan Blumenthal and Gary Schmitt of AEI; Rupert Hammond-Chambers of the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council; and Derek Scissors of the Heritage Foundation.WHERE: AEI, 1150 17th Street NW, Wohlstetter Conference Center, 12th Floor, Washington, DC.CONTACT: Veronique Rodman, 202-862-4871, vrodman@aei.org; web site: http://www.aei.orgNOTE: Register online: http://www.aei.org/event/100246 WHEN: 10:00 a.m.WHAT: The Henry L. Stimson Center Discussion on "The Future of U.S.-Iraq Relations." Speakers: Ellen Laipson, President of the Stimson Center; Charles Dunne, scholar at the Middle East Institute; Nabil Al-Tikriti, Associate Professor of History at the University of Mary Washington; and Manal Omar, Officer at the Grants Program at the United States Institute of Peace.WHERE: Stimson Center, 1111 19th Street NW, 12th Floor, Washington, DC.CONTACT: 202-223-5956; web site: http://www.stimson.org NOTE: RSVP to rsvp@stimson.orgWHEN: 10:00 a.m.WHAT: The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) Discussion on "The Prospects for Peace and Reconciliation in Afghanistan." Speakers: Former Afghan Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullah Abdullah; and J. Alexander Thier, Director of Afghanistan and Pakistan at USIP.WHERE: USIP, 1200 17th Street NW, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC.CONTACT: Ashley Pandya, 202-429-3849, apandya@usip.org; web site: www.usip.org NOTE: RSVP required.
WHEN: 12:00 p.m.WHAT: The Woodrow Wilson Center (WWC) Book Discussion on "Simple Gestures: A Cultural Journey into the Middle East" and "The Political Culture of Leadership in the United Arab Emirates." Speaker: Author Andrea Rugh, Adjunct Scholar at the Middle East Institute.WHERE: WWC, One Woodrow Wilson Plaza, Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 6th floor Moynihan Board Room, Washington, DC.CONTACT: 202-691-4000; web site: http://www.wilsoncenter.orgNOTE: RSVP to mep@wilsoncenter.orgWHEN: 12:00 p.m.WHAT: The Woodrow Wilson Center (WWC) Discussion on "Russian-American Intelligence Cooperation: Promise vs. Reality." Speaker: Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs of Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.WHERE: WWC, One Woodrow Wilson Plaza, Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 6th floor, Flom Auditorium, Washington, DC.CONTACT: 202-691-4000; web site: http://www.wilsoncenter.orgWHEN: 12:00 p.m.WHAT: The Hudson Institute Book Discussion on "A Mosque in Munich: Nazis, the CIA, and the Rise of the Muslim Brotherhood in the West." Speaker: Author Ian Johnson.WHERE: Hudson Institute, 1015 15th Street NW, Sixth Floor, Washington, DC.CONTACT: 202-223-7770; web site: http://www.hudson.orgWHEN: 2:00 p.m.WHAT: The Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) Discussion on "Pursuing Peace While Advancing Rights: The Untried Approach to North Korea." Speaker: David Hawk, Senior Adviser at the U.S. Committee for Human Rights in North Korea.WHERE: SAIS, Rome Building, 1619 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Auditorium, Washington, DC.CONTACT: Felisa Neuringer Klubes, 202-663-5626, fklubes@jhu.edu; web site: http://www.sais-jhu.edu
WHEN: 2:30 p.m.WHAT: Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Hearing on "Gulf Coast Catastrophe: Assessing the Nation's Response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill." Witnesses: Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano; Coast Guard Deputy National Incident Commander Rear Adm. Peter Neffenger; and BP America Chairman and President Lamar McKay.WHERE: Room 342 Dirksen Senate Office BuildingCONTACT: 202-224-2627; web site: http://www.hsgac.senate.gov WHEN: 4:00 p.m.WHAT: The Woodrow Wilson Center's (WWC) Congress Project Seminar on "Congress, the Executive Branch and the Cyber Threat." Speakers: Marcus Sachs, Executive Sirector for National Security and Cyber Policy at Verizon Communications and former National Security Council staff member for cyberspace security; Lt. Col. Forrest Hare, staff member in the Defense Department's Office of Defense Under Secretary for Intelligence; Howard Schmidt, Assistant to President Obama and White House Cybersecurity Coordinator; and Deborah Parkinson, staff member at the Senate Homeland Security Committee.WHERE: WWC, One Woodrow Wilson Plaza, Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 5th floor conference room, Washington, DC.CONTACT: 202-691-4000; web site: http://www.wilsoncenter.orgNOTE: RSVP requested.
************************************************************Tuesday, May 18, 2010WHEN: 9:00 a.m.WHAT: The Brookings Institution Discussion on "Energy and Climate Change 2010: Back to the Future":- 9 a.m.: Opening remarks and keynote introduction by Strobe Talbott, President of Brookings.- 9:15 a.m.: Keynote remarks by U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern.- 10 a.m.: Panel discussion on "International Climate Diplomacy" with William Antholis, Managing Director of Brookings; Eileen Claussen, President of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change; and Bruce Jones, Director of Managing Global Insecurity, participate in a panel discussion on "International Climate Diplomacy"- 11 a.m.: Keynote remarks by Assistant Energy Secretary for Policy and International Affairs David Sandalow- 1:30 p.m.: Keynote remarks by Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf WHERE: Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Atrium Hall, Washington, DC.CONTACT: 202-797-6105, communications@brookings.edu; website: http://www.brookings.eduNOTE: Register online: http://www.brookings.edu/events/2010/0518_energy_climate.aspxWHEN: 9:00 a.m.WHAT: The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS); and Brookings Institution's Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies and John L. Thornton China Center Seminar on "A Mid-Term Assessment of the Policies of the Ma Ying-jeou Administration," examining the policies of the Ma administration at the half-way point of its current term, with specific focus on its management of Taiwan's economy, cross-strait relations, and relations with the U.S.:- 9 a.m.: Opening remarks by Charles Freeman III, Freeman chair in China studies at CSIS; and Richard Bush III, Director of the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies- 9:15 a.m.: Keynote remarks by Jason Yuan, Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States- 12:15 p.m.: Keynote remarks on "The Ma Administration's Economic Policies" by Paul Ciu, Chairman of Bank SinoPacWHERE: Brookings Institution, 1775 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC.CONTACT: Andrew Schwartz, 202-775-3242, aschwartz@csis.org; web site: http://www.csis.orgNOTE: RSVP to cnaps@brookings.edu
WHEN: 10:00 a.m.WHAT: Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing on "The New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty): The Policy Makers' View." Witnesses: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; Defense Secretary Robert Gates; and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen.WHERE: Room 106 Dirksen Senate Office BuildingCONTACT: 202-224-4651; web site: http://foreign.senate.gov
WHEN: 10:00 a.m.WHAT: Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on "Drug Enforcement and the Rule of Law: Mexico and Colombia." Witnesses: Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division Lanny Breuer; Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs David Johnson; Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden; New Mexico Attorney General Gary King; Jose Miguel Vivanco, Director of Human Rights Watch's Americas Division; and Maria Elena Morera, Executive Director of Causa en Comun, Mexico City, Mexico.WHERE: Room 226 Dirksen Senate Office BuildingCONTACT: 202-224-7703; web site: http://judiciary.senate.gov WHEN: 11:00 a.m.WHAT: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Hearing on offshore oil and gas exploration including the accident involving the Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico.Witnesses: Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and members of his oil spill response team.WHERE: Room 325 Dirksen Senate Office BuildingCONTACT: 202-224-4971; web site: http://energy.senate.govNOTE: Overflow room is 366 Dirksen Senate Office Building.WHEN: 11:00 a.m.WHAT: The Middle East Institute (MEI) Discussion on "Pakistan in 2010: Accomplishments and Opportunities." Speaker: Salmaan Taseer, GWHERE: MEI, Boardman Room, 1761 N Street NW, Washington, DC.CONTACT: 202-785-1141; web site: http://www.mideasti.org/programs/programs_events.phpNOTE: RSVP to rsvp@mei.edu with your name and affiliation. WHEN: 12:00 p.m.WHAT: The Georgetown University Law Center holds a discussion on "Supreme Court Nominee Elena Kagan: The Senate Confirmation Process and Justice Kagan's Potental Impact on the Court." Speakers: Susan Low Bloch, Professor at Georgetown University Law Center; David Frederick, partner at Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Evans, and Fidal PLLC; Pamela Harris, Executive Director of the Georgetown Law Supreme Court Institute; and Richard Lazarus, Professor at Georgetown University Law Center.WHERE: Georgetown University Law Center, 600 New Jersey Avenue NW, McDonough Hall, Room 200, Washington, DC.CONTACT: 202-662-9519; web site: www.georgetown.edu NOTE: Media should RSVP to mediarelations@law.georgetown.edu; A webcast will be available online: http://www.law.georgetown.edu/webcastWHEN: 12:00 p.m.WHAT: The Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) Discussion on "Europe's Promise: Why the European Way is the Best Hope in an Insecure Age." Speakers: Steven Hill, Director of the New America Foundation's Political Reform Program; and Daniel Hamilton, Executive Director of the SAIS Center for Transatlantic RelationsWHERE: SAIS, Bernstein-Offit Building, 1717 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Room 500, Washington, DC.CONTACT: Felisa Neuringer Klubes, 202-663-5626, fklubes@jhu.edu; web site: http://www.sais-jhu.eduWHEN: 12:00 p.m.WHAT: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce (USCC) Summit on the "Next Steps for the World Trade Agenda":- 12:00 p.m. U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk delivers a luncheon keynote address, Hall of the Flags- 1:30 p.m.: Rep. John Tanner, D-Tenn.; Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas; and Selina Jackson, Vice President of International Public Affairs at UPS, participate in a session on "Congressional Perspectives on the Trade Agenda," Hall of the Flags- 3 p.m.: Korean Minister for Trade Kim Jong-hoon; Colombian Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism Gabriel Duque; Panama's Ambassador to the United States Jaime Aleman Healy; and Chris Padilla, Vice President of Government Programs at the IBM Corporation, participate in a session on "Korea, Colombia, and Panama: Will America be Left Behind?" Briefing Center- 4 p.m.: Canadian Minister of International Trade Peter Van Loan; and Ralph Carter, Managing Director of Legal, Trade and International Affairs at FedEx Express, participate in a session on "A 21st Century Trade Agenda: The View from America's Largest Trading Partner," Briefing Center- 4:45 p.m.: World Trade Organization Deputy Director-General Rufus Yerxa; and Dorothy Dwoskin, Senior Trade Policy Director at Microsoft, participate in a session on "Future of the Doha Round and the Role of the World Trade Organization," Briefing CenterWHERE: USCC, 1615 H Street NW, Washington, DC.CONTACT: 202-463-5682, press@uschamber.com; web site: http://www.uschamber.com/calendar.aspNOTE: Credentialed media RSVP required to 202-463-5682 or press@uschamber.com
WHEN: 12:15 p.m.WHAT: The New America Foundation (NAF) Discussion on "Afghanistan: A Look Ahead." Speakers: Former Afghan Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullah Abdullah, leader of the Coalition for Hope and Change, and NAF President Steve CollWHERE: NAF, 1899 L Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC.CONTACT: Kate Brown, 202-596-3365, brown@newamerica.net; communications@newamerica.net; web site: http://www.newamerica.netNOTE: RSVP online: http://www.newamerica.net/events/2010/afghanistan_a_look_aheadWHEN: 1:00 p.m.WHAT: The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS); and the University of Miami Knight Center for International Media Global Challenges Dialogue on "Improving the Resources Trade," focusing on resources, including such issues conflict minerals, the Kimberly Process, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, and related good governance issues. Speakers: Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs Robert Hormats; former Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs Reuben Jeffrey III, Senior Adviser at CSIS; CSIS Africa Program Director Jennifer Cooke; and CSIS Vice President for External Relations H. Andrew Schwartz.WHERE: CSIS, 1800 K Street NW, B-1 Conference Level, Washington, DC.CONTACT: Andrew Schwartz, 202-775-3242, aschwartz@csis.org; web site: http://www.csis.orgNOTE: Credentialed media must RSVP to nurwitz@csis.org
WHEN: 2:30 p.m.WHAT: Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Hearing on "Response Efforts to the Gulf Coast Oil Spill." Witnesses: Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen; Jane Lubchenco, Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Lamar McKay, Chairman and President of BP America Inc.; Steven Newman, President and CEO of Transocean Ltd.; Deborah French McCay, Principal at Applied Science Associates, Inc.WHERE: Room 253 Russell Senate Office BuildingCONTACT: 202-224-0411; web site: http://commerce.senate.govWHEN: 2:30 p.m.WHAT: Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Hearing on "Federal Response to the Recent Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico." Witnesses: EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson; Interior Secretary Ken Salazar; Nancy Helen Sutley, Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality; Coast Guard Rear Adm. Peter Neffenger, Deputy National Incident Commander for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response; Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works; and Assistant Commerce Secretary for Economic Development John Fernandez of the Economic Development Administration.WHERE: Room 406 Dirksen Senate Office BuildingCONTACT: 202-224-8832; web site: http://epw.senate.govWHEN: 3:30 p.m.WHAT: The New America Foundation (NAF) Book discussion on "A Mosque in Munich: Nazis, the CIA, and the Rise of the Muslim Brotherhood in the West." Speakers: Author Ian Johnson, Berlin Bureau Chief for The Wall Street Journal; and Nicholas Schmidle, author of "To Live or Perish Forever" and fellow at NAF.WHERE: NAF, 1899 L Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC.CONTACT: Kate Brown, 202-596-3365, brown@newamerica.net; communications@newamerica.net; web site: http://www.newamerica.net WHEN: 5:30 p.m.WHAT: The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (AEI) Bradley Lecture on the book, "The Battle: How the Fight between Free Enterprise and Big Government Will Shape America's Future." Speakers: Author Arthur Brooks, president of AEI; and Christopher DeMuth of AEI.WHERE: AEI, 1150 17th Street NW, Wohlstetter Conference Center, 12th Floor, Washington, DC.CONTACT: Veronique Rodman, 202-862-4871, vrodman@aei.org; web site: http://www.aei.org WHEN: 7:00 p.m.WHAT: The University of Virginia Miller Center for Public Affairs Debate on "Whether the Internet Threatens Democracy." Speakers: Andrew Keen, author of "The Cult of the Amateur: How Today's Internet is Killing Our Culture"; Farhad Manjoo, author of "True Enough: Learning to Live in a Post-Fact Society; Wikipedia Founder Jimmy Wales; Micah Sifry, editor at the Personal Democracy Forum; and Paul Solman, business and economics correspondent at the "PBS NewsHour"WHERE: National Press Club, 14th and F Streets NW, Ballroom, Washington, DC.CONTACT: Kristy Schantz, 202-758-3918, kkschantz@virginia.edu


******************************************************Wednesday, May 19, 2010WHEN: 8:30 a.m.WHAT: The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Symposium on the implications of rising powers for global governance. Speaker: Deputy Secretary of State James SteinbergWHERE: CFR, 1777 F Street NW, Washington, DC.CONTACT: Lucy Dunderdale, 202-509-8525, dcpressrsvp@cfr.org; web site: www.cfr.org NOTE: This event is open to media only. RSVP required to dcpressrsvp@cfr.org by 3 p.m. on May 18.WHEN: 8:30 a.m.WHAT: Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla.; and Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, R-Fla. hold a delegation meeting on the oil spill off of the Gulf of Mexico with representatives from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development, and U.S. Coast Guard.WHERE: Room 340 Cannon House Office BuildingCONTACT: Lale Mamaux, 202-225-1313, lale.mamaux@mail.house.govNOTE: RSVP to Lale Mamaux. WHEN: 9:00 a.m.WHAT: South Korean Trade Minister Kim Jong-Hoon address to the Washington International Trade Association (WITA) on the Korean trade agenda; the Koreans' broader vision of a global Free Trade Agreement network including such nations as Chile, Singapore, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, EU and India; the key role Korea plays in the World Trade Organization's Doha Development Agenda; and the agenda for the G-20 summit hosted in Seoul in November.WHERE: WITA, Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Oceanic Suite, Washington, DC.CONTACT: 202-312-1600; web site: http://www.wita.orgWHEN: 9:00 a.m.WHAT: Assistant Secretary of State Rose Gottemoeller holds a webinar to discuss the recent nuclear arms control agreement between the United States and Russia known as the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.CONTACT: 202-647-2492; web site: www.state.gov NOTE: The webinar will be available online: http://statedept.connectsolutions.com/start

WHEN: 10:00 a.m.WHAT: Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing on "After the Earthquake: Empowering Haiti to Rebuild Better." Witnesses: TBAWHERE: Room 419 Dirksen Senate Office BuildingCONTACT: 202-224-4651; web site: http://foreign.senate.govWHEN: 10:00 a.m.WHAT: House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Hearing on "Deepwater Horizon: Oil Spill Prevention and Response Measures and Natural Resource Impacts." Witnesses: TBAWHERE: Room 2167 Rayburn House Office BuildingCONTACT: 202-225-4472; web site: http://transportation.house.govWHEN: 10:00 a.m.WHAT: House Science and Technology Committee Hearing on "Charting the Course for American Nuclear Technology: Evaluating the Department of Energy's Nuclear Energy Research and Development Roadmap." Witnesses: Assistant Energy Secretary Warren Miller of the Office of Nuclear Energy; Christofer Mowry, President and CEO of Babcock & Wilcox Nuclear Energy, Inc.; Charles Ferguson, President of the Federation of American Scientists; Mark Peters, Deputy Director for Programs at the Argonne National Laboratory; Thomas Sanders, President of the American Nuclear Society; Gary Krellenstein, Managing Director for Tax Exempt Capital Markets at JP Morgan Chase & Co.WHERE: Room 2318 Rayburn House Office BuildingCONTACT: 202-225-6375; web site: http://www.science.house.govWHEN: 10:00 a.m.WHAT: House Homeland Security Committee Hearing on "Viewpoints on Homeland Security: A Discussion with the 9/11 Commissioners." Witnesses: Former Gov. Thomas Kean, R-N.J., former Chairman; and former Rep. Lee Hamilton, D-Ind.), former Commission Vice-Chairman of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States.WHERE: Room 311 Cannon House Office BuildingCONTACT: 202-226-2616; web site: http://homeland.house.gov
WHEN: 12:00 p.m.WHAT: The Heritage Foundation Discussion on "The Future of Afghanistan" and how to build a peaceful, secure and prosperous future. Speakers: Former Afghan Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullah Abdullah, leader of the Coalition for Hope and Change; and Walter Lohman, Director, Asian Studies CenterWHERE: Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Allison Auditorium, Washington, DC.CONTACT: 202-675-1752, lectures.seminars@heritage.org; web site: http://www.heritage.orgWHEN: 1:00 p.m.WHAT: National Press Club Newsmaker Luncheon with Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine who will deliver an address on Democrats' differences over priorities with Republicans.WHERE: National Press Club, 14th and F Streets NW, Ballroom, Washington, DC.CONTACT: Melinda Cooke, 202-662-7516; web site: http://npc.press.org WHEN: 2:00 p.m.WHAT: The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Discussion on "NATO in the 21st Century: The Work of the Group of Experts on the New NATO Strategic Concept." Speakers: Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Chairwoman of the NATO Group of Experts; former National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft, President of The Scowcroft Group and counselor and trustee at CSIS; Jim Hoagland of the Washington Post; and John Hamre, President and CEO of CSISWHERE: CSIS, 1800 K Street NW, B-1 Conference Level, Washington, DC.CONTACT: Andrew Schwartz, 202-775-3242, aschwartz@csis.org; web site: http://www.csis.org NOTE: RSVP to KissingerChair@csis.org or 202-775-3104WHEN: 2:00 p.m.WHAT: The Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and International Crisis Group Discussion on "Corruption, Repression, Extremism in Central Asia: Looking Beyond Kyrgyzstan." Speakers: Paul Quinn-Judge, International Crisis Group's Bishkek-based Central Asia Project Director; Eric McGlinchey, Assistant Professor at George Mason University's Department of Public and International and author of "Blood, Chaos and Dynasty: Islam and Patronage Politics in Central Asia"; Daniel Kimmage, Senior Fellow at George Washington University's Homeland Security Policy Institute and former RFE/RL regional analyst for Central Asia; and Jeffrey Gedmin, President of RFE/RLWHERE: Room 2200 Rayburn House Office BuildingCONTACT: Heather Wetzel, 202-457-6949, wetzelh@rferl.org; web site: http://www.rferl.org/content/event_looking_beyond_kyrgyzstan/2039703.htmlNOTE: RSVP by May 17. WHEN: 2:00 p.m.WHAT: The Woodrow Wilson Center (WWC) Discussion on "Turkey in Transition: A View from the Parliament." Speakers: Yusuf Ziya Irbec, member of the Turkish Parliament of Antalya from the AK Party and European Union Commission Vice President in the Turkish Parliament; Edibe Sozen, member of Parliament of Istanbul from the AK Party, and member of the Central Decision Executive Committee; and Sadyk Yakut, Vice Speaker of Parliament of Kayseri from the AK Party.WHERE: WWC, One Woodrow Wilson Plaza, Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 5th Floor Conference Room, Washington, DC.CONTACT: 202-691-4000; web link: http://www.wilsoncenter.org

WHEN: 2:30 p.m.WHAT: Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing on "The History and Lessons on START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.) Witness: Former Secretary of State James Baker.WHERE: Room 419 Dirksen Senate Office BuildingCONTACT: 202-224-4651; web site: http://foreign.senate.gov
**************************************************Thursday, May 20, 2010WHEN: 8:00 a.m.WHAT: The National Defense University Foundation holds a discussion on "House Outlook on the Iranian and North Korean Threats and U.S. Missile Defense Responses." Speaker: Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz.WHERE: The Capitol Hill Club, 300 First Street SE, Washington, DC.CONTACT: Elma Rhue, 202-685-3582; web site: www.ndu.edu NOTE: Note: RSVP required.WHEN: 8:30 a.m.WHAT: The Inter-American Dialogue; and the Chilean American Chamber of Commerce Discussion on "China's Expanding Economic Profile In Latin America: Consequences for the U.S. and Europe." Speakers: Osvaldo Rosales, Director of Trade and Integration at the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean; and former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Jon Huenemann, President of the Chilean American Chamber of Commerce Board.WHERE: Inter-American Dialogue, 1211 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 510, Washington, DC.CONTACT: 202-822-9002; web site: www.thedialogue.org WHEN: 9:00 a.m.WHAT: The Center for Oceans Law and Policy at the University of Virginia School of Law holds an oceans conference on "Gulf of Mexico Blowout and Law of the Sea: The Sky is Falling-or is it? Dissection of an Oil Spill":- 9 a.m.: Panel discussion on "The Stakes for America" with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and Fisheries David Balton; former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and Fisheries Mary Beth West; former U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Paul Yost Jr.; Margaret Spring, Chief of Staff at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Andrew Keller, Deputy Chief Counsel on the Majority Staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; and Michael Mattler, Chief Counsel on the Minority staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee- 12:30 p.m.: Luncheon remarks by Navy Adm. Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations, - 7:00 p.m.: Keynote address by Quenton Dokken, Executive Director at the Gulf of Mexico FoundationWHERE: National Press Club, 14th and F Streets NW, Murrow, White, Lisagor, and Fourth Estate Rooms, Washington, DC.CONTACT: Donna Ganoe, 434-924-7441, ddg@virginia.edu
WHEN: 9:00 a.m.WHAT: The Progress and Freedom Foundation (PFF) Briefing on "Can Government Help Save the Press?" and to examine government's role in assisting struggling media outlets, promoting "hard news" and "public interest" programming. Speakers: Charlie Firestone, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Communications and Society Program; Kurt Wimmer, partner at Covington and Burling; PFF President Adam Thierer; Andrew Jay Schwartzman, Senior Vice President and Policy Director at the Media Access Project; and Craig Parshall, Senior Vice President and General Counsel at the National Religious Broadcasters.WHERE: Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC.CONTACT: Mike Wendy, mwendy@pff.org; web site: http://www.pff.org NOTE: RSVP required online: http://www.pff.org/events/Can_Government_Help_Save_the_Press/index.html WHEN: 9:00 a.m.WHAT: The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission Hearing on "China's Emergent Military Aerospace and Commercial Aviation Capabilities":- 9:30 a.m.: Panel discussion on "Administration Perspectives" with Deputy Air Force Under Secretary for International Affairs Bruce Lemkin; and Deputy Assistant Commerce Secretary for Manufacturing and Services Mary Saunders- 12:40 p.m.: Panel discussion on "China's Aviation Industrial Complex" with Peder Andersen, International Trade Analyst of Aerospace at the International Trade Commission; Tai Ming Cheung, scientist at the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation; and Richard Fisher Jr., Senior Fellow of Asian military affairs at the International Assessment and Strategy Center, participate in a panel discussion on "China's Aviation Industrial Complex"WHERE: Room 106 Dirksen Senate Office BuildingCONTACT: Jonathan Weston, 202-624-1487, jweston@uscc.gov; or Nick Barone, 202-624-1484, nbarone@uscc.gov WHEN: 9:15 a.m.WHAT: The American Foreign Policy Council 2010 conference on "Missile Defense and American Security." Speakers: Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C.; former Missile Defense Agency Director Lt. Gen. Henry Obering, Senior Vice President of Booz Allen Hamilton; former National Aeronautics and Space Administration Associate Deputy Administrator for Policy and Planning Eric Sterner, fellow at the George C. Marshall Institute; former Acting Assistant Defense Secretary for International Security Policy Frank Gaffney, President of the Center for Security Policy; and former Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Robert Joseph, senior scholar at the National Institute for Public PolicyWHERE: Room 562 Dirksen Senate Office BuildingCONTACT: 202-543-1006, events@afpc.orgNOTE: RSVP required. WHEN: 9:30 a.m.WHAT: The Center for Global Health Policy Briefing on "Changing Course: Stemming the Deadly Twin Epidemics of HIV and Tuberculosis." Speakers: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci; William Burman, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center's Division of Infectious Diseases; J. Peter Cegielski, multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis team leader at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Tuberculosis Elimination; Wafaa El-Sadr, Chief of the Infectious Diseases Division at Harlem Hospital Center; Mike Harrington, Executive Director of the Treatment Action Group; Kenneth Mayer, professor of medicine and community health at Brown University; and Rochelle Walensky, associate professor of medicine at Brown University.WHERE: Reserve Officers Association/Top of the Hill Banquet and Conference Center, One Constitution Avenue NE, Ballroom B, 5th Floor, Washington, DC.CONTACT: Preeti Singh, 301-280-5722, psingh@burnesscommunications.com NOTE: RSVP to Preeti Singh.
WHEN: 9:30 a.m.WHAT: House Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing on "Afghanistan Reconstruction Oversight." Witness: Retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Arnold Fields, Inspector General in the State Department's Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.WHERE: Room 2172 Rayburn House Office BuildingCONTACT: 202-225-5021; web site: http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov WHEN: 10:00 a.m.WHAT: House Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing on "Update on Toyota and NHTSA's (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) Response to the Problem of Sudden Unintended Acceleration." Witnesses: David Strickland, Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; and James Lentz, President and COO of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.WHERE: Room 2123 Rayburn House Office BuildingCONTACT: 202-225-2927; web site: http://energycommerce.house.gov
WHEN: 10:30 a.m.WHAT: Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Hearing on "Counternarcotics Contracts in Latin America." Witnesses: Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs David Johnson; and Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary for Counternarcotics and Global Threats William Wechsler.WHERE: Room 342 Dirksen Senate Office BuildingCONTACT: 202-224-2627; web site: http://www.hsgac.senate.govWHEN: 10:30 a.m.WHAT: The Peterson Institute for International Economics (IIE); and the World Resources Institute Conference on "The Prospect for Multilateral Cooperation on Climate Change" and to address questions raised at the Copenhagen summit last December about the international community's ability to address global climate change:- 10:45 a.m.: Welcoming remarks by IIE Director C. Fred Bergsten - 1 p.m.: Session on "The institutions: climate change in the context of an evolving international system" with Jacob Werksman of the World Resources Institute; and Arvind Subramanian and Gary Hufbauer of IIEWHERE: IIE, 1750 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC.CONTACT: 202-328-9000; meetings@iie.com; web site: http://www.iie.comNOTE: RSVP to Yvonne Priestley at meetings@piie.com
WHEN: 11:00 a.m.WHAT: United States House of Representatives holds a joint meeting with the Senate to receive an address from Mexican President Felipe Calderon. WHERE: House ChamberCONTACT: Republican Cloakroom, 202-225-2020, or Democratic Cloakroom, 202-225-1600; web sites: http://clerk.house.gov/floorsummary/floor.html; http://www.house.gov/floor/thisweek.htmWHEN: 3:00 p.m.WHAT: The Environmental and Energy Study Institute Bbriefing on "Nuclear Power: Economic and Proliferation Challenges," and to examine the economic and proliferation risks of new nuclear reactors mean for nuclear power's role in addressing climate change. Speakers: Mark Cooper, Senior Fellow of Economic Analysis at Vermont Law School; Peter Bradford, Adjunct Professor at Vermont Law School; and Alex Glaser, Assistant Professor at Princeton UniversityWHERE: Room 385 Russell Senate Office BuildingCONTACT: 202-628-1400; web site: http://www.eesi.orgWHEN: 5:00 p.m.WHAT: Asia Society Washington Center Event with Former Afghan Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullah Abdullah, leader of the Coalition for Hope and Change, who will deliver remarks on "Afghanistan's Road to Reconstruction: A Reformist's Perspective." WHERE: The Atlantic Council, 1101 15th Street NW, Washington, DC.CONTACT: 202-833-2742
**********************************************Friday, May 21, 2010WHEN: 8:00 a.m.WHAT: The National Defense University Foundation Discussion on "Nuclear Iran: Imploding Regime, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Rising." Speakers: Retired Air Force Gen. Tom McInerney, former Vice Chief of Staff; and Clare Lopez, Vice President of the Intelligence Summit and professor at the CI Centre.WHERE: The Capitol Hill Club, 300 First Street SE, Washington, DC.CONTACT: Elma Rhue, 202-685-3726NOTE: RSVP required.WHEN: 8:45 a.m.WHAT: The National Press Foundation; The Center on Congress at Indiana University; and Politico hold an issues briefing on "Our Next Supreme Court Justice." Speakers: Nan Aron, President of the Alliance for Justice; Tom Goldstein, publisher of SCOTUSblog; Robert Alt, Senior Legal Fellow and Deputy Director of the Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at the Heritage Foundation; and Martin Kady, Congressional Bureau Chief for Politico.WHERE: Woodrow Wilson Center, One Woodrow Wilson Plaza, Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC.CONTACT: Maha Masud, 202-663-7280, programs@nationalpress.orgWHEN: 9:00 a.m.WHAT: National Press Club Newsmaker Program Media Briefing by Assistant Homeland Security Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement John Morton on "national security, immigration law, law enforcement, and civil libertarian issues."WHERE: National Press Club, 14th and F Streets NW, Lisagor Room, Washington, DC.CONTACT: Tejinder Singh, 202-503-8052, tejindersinghdc@gmail.com
WHEN: 9:00 a.m.WHAT: The Center for Oceans Law and Policy at the University of Virginia School of Law holds an oceans conference on "Gulf of Mexico Blowout and Law of the Sea: The Sky is Falling - or is it? Dissection of an Oil Spill":- 9:00 a.m.: Introductory remarks by Former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger -12:00 p.m. Keynote remarks by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee ranking Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska- 1:30 p.m.: Panel discussion on "The Senate Should Give Prompt Advice and Consent to the Law of the Sea Convention" with Former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Pickering; John Norton Moore, Director of the Center for Oceans Law and Policy at the University of Virginia School of Law; and Steven Groves, fellow at the Heritage FoundationWHERE: National Press Club, 14th and F Streets NW, First Amendment Lounge, Washington, DC.CONTACT: Donna Ganoe, 434-924-7441, ddg@virginia.edu WHEN: 9:00 a.m.WHAT: The Woodrow Wilson Center (WWC); and the Joint Baltic American National Committee Discussion on "The Evolution of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization: the 2010 Strategic Concept and Beyond."WHERE: WWC, One Woodrow Wilson Plaza, Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC.CONTACT: 202-691-4000; web site: http://www.wilsoncenter.orgWHEN: 12:00 p.m.WHAT: The Middle East Institute (MEI) Discussion on "Lebanon: Looking Ahead: Hezbollah and the Next War with Israel." Speaker: Nicholas Blanford, journalist at the Times of London.WHERE: MEI, Boardman Room, 1761 N Street NW, Washington, DC.CONTACT: 202-785-1141; web site: http://www.mideasti.org/programs/programs_events.phpNOTE: RSVP to rsvp@mei.edu with your name and affiliation