Zimbabwe: ZERA – Notice to Fuel Operators (21.05.2019)

Russian Probe: White House Counsel Cipilone letter to Chairman Nadler (20.05.2019)

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe: Press Statement on the Payment Arrangements for Fuel through the Interbank Foreign Exchange Market and the Drawing Down of USD500 Million Offshore Line of Credit (20.05.2019)

The Sudan – Impact of Early Warning Early Action (20.05.2019)

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is developing innovative early warning systems to anticipate risks and intervene at the right time.

ROME, Italy, May 20, 2019 –  Climate-driven hazards are increasing in intensity and frequency, with weather‑related crises now occurring nearly five times as often as 40 years ago. At the same time, needs are expanding and resources are limited. New tools and ways of thinking and acting are essential to reduce the impact of these disasters as effectively as possible.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is developing innovative early warning systems to anticipate risks and intervene at the right time. The right time is often early – before a crisis becomes a humanitarian disaster. FAO’s approach is shifting from a reactive mind-set to one focused on mitigation and prevention.

When the state of Kassala in eastern Sudan experienced a dry spell in 2017 and 2018, FAO took steps early to protect the livelihoods of vulnerable agropastoralists. This study analyses the outcomes of FAO’s Early Warning Early Action (EWEA) approach in the Sudan. They complement and reinforce earlier findings in EthiopiaKenya, and Somalia which demonstrated that early actions have a significant return on investment and are an effective way to address drought in Africa’s agropastoralist regions.

Burundi: CNARED-Giriteka – Communique de Presse (20.05.2019)

Somalia: $710 million needed to scale up drought response and avert a major crisis (20.05.2019)

Central Bank of Kenya: Press Release – A Revolution in the Financing of SMEs (20.05.2019)

Chapter Four Uganda: No to Sexual Harassment in the Workplace – Press Statement by the Woman’s Movement in Uganda (20.05.2019)

Opinion: Duterte won the Midterms 2019!

The Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte can be acclaimed the victor of the 13th May 2019 Midterms, as his candidates all across the board is sealing their victory. The preliminary results within the 24 hours after the polls was already making it look like a landslide and that was all on unofficial results. Now, that more and more results is out. The proof is in the pudding.

There is no denying it, the magic twelve, the 12 Senators of these Midterms is people in favour and associated with the President. All of them is on board and the Opposition Candidates are not able to get in. Not as its only small canvassing left of the votes. Even with the glitches and the problematic SD-Cards, the results are still the same. The ones whose blessed with endorsement from the President has all become part of the magic twelve.

There are also the knowledge of the local governments where allies, associates and former workers of the President have won seats, mayoral or positions of representatives. This is all across the board. They have been announced and the truth is out.

What we have seen is some questionable things, what is more defining is the lack of value of the ballots, as this is prolonging suspension, as the Senators are not finalized after 48 hours. Tomorrow, it will be a week since the 13th May to 20th May 2019.

Because, it is rare, that the official results takes this long time. That we’re on the 6 day since the polls and the COMELEC is not able to issue the Official Results. As they are still partial for the Senators. Still, these results are showing that the President is getting his endorsed candidates.

This seems also likely in the local governments all around. By all means, there districts and towns, where mayors are in opposition, but these are either retaining their place or a minor victory. As there are several of others in the area, where the ones in association of the President are getting positions. Therefore, this is a slam dunk.

The results, the victories been made on both local level and national level is a sign that the President and his associates got a strong grip on power. That the politicking and bargaining will continue, as the dynasties, the plunders and others are still in the realm of power. These people are in and around the President. He might speak vile about corruption, but some of the people he has endorsed are plunders and been charged for that.

President Duterte has won this one, nothing else to say and that the opposition are wiped out. They are really hit hard, even as the COMELEC haven’t delivered proper polls, because the announcing of official results has taken so long. This jeopardize the results and also the credibility of the polls. This is well-known facts and also is a worrying sign. It should have been done quickly and not over this long time.

Duterte should be worried about COMELEC, unless he wants that to stain his victory and possibly next election. As the Commission needs to be revamped and secured enough funds for the up-coming elections.

The President have won now, but if they want to look totally good. The COMELEC needs something, the system needs upgrades, as the days goes by, the strength of the election dwindles. Since, it shouldn’t be this hard to count the ballots. Peace.

Somalia: NGO Consortium – NGOs warns of looming hunger in Somalia (19.05.2019)