May242017
The Council agreed on a new system for resolving double taxation disputes between member states. Ministers also discussed a proposal for a common corporate tax base (CCTB) in the EU, aimed at reducing the administrative burden of multinational companies.
May242017
24 May 2017 – While the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers is 29 May, the Organization today held ceremonies to pay tribute to the more than 3,500 people who have died on duty since 1948 and acknowledge the dedication and courage of those serving on the ground.
“Every day, peacekeepers help bring peace and stability to war-torn societies around the world,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in his message for the Day, also underscoring the sacrifices made by the more than 3,500 peacekeepers who have given their lives in the service of peace since 1948.
“Their sacrifice only strengthens our commitment to ensuring that United Nations peacekeepers continue protecting civilians in harm’s way, promoting human rights and the rule of law, removing landmines, advancing negotiations and securing a better future in the places they are deployed,” he said. “Now, more than ever, it is essential that we continue investing in peace around the world.”
On 29 May in 1948, the first UN peacekeeping mission began operations in Palestine. In 2002, the UN General Assembly designated 29 May as the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.
At the UN Headquarters in New York, the Secretary-General presided over a wreath-laying ceremony in honour of all peacekeepers who lost their lives while serving under the UN flag.
Mr. Guterres led a moment of silence to remember the fallen peacekeepers, including 117 military, police and civilian peacekeepers from 43 countries who died in service in 2016.
He expressed his “deepest condolences and appreciation” to the family members and friends of those who died, as well as his “deepest sorrow and greatest appreciation” to the countries that contributed the troops and police officers.
The UN chief warned that peacekeepers continue to come under attack from armed groups, spoilers and increasingly by terrorists, including incidents in Mali, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan.
“But the closure of our operations in Cote d’Ivoire and Liberia over the coming months reminds us that the contributions, investments and sacrifices of our United Nations peacekeepers have contributed to the transformation of these countries from battlefields to peaceful states,” he stressed.
“And the greatest tribute we can pay to those who have died is to rededicate ourselves to continuing their work to build and maintain peace,” he said.
The Dag Hammarskjöld Medal was awarded posthumously to the peacekeepers who have fallen while serving in the cause of peace, during the preceding year.
UN peacekeeping operations use the Day to strengthen bonds with the local populations that they have been deployed to serve. For example by holding sporting events, school and orphanage visits, art and essay competitions, photo exhibits, neighbourhood clean ups, tree plantings, concerts, and conferences and workshops on peace issues.
May242017
24 May 2017 – With more than 100,000 people in Yemen believed to be at risk for cholera, the top United Nations humanitarian official in the country is appealing to Governments for urgent financial and political support.
“Cholera continues to spread at an unprecedented rate throughout Yemen affecting men, women, and children who have for more than two years withstood the consequences of a conflict that is collapsing institutions and social safety nets,” the UN humanitarian coordinator in the country, Jamie McGoldrick.
More than 35,500 suspected cases of cholera were reported in Yemen in the past three weeks, and 361 deaths.
Health authorities have said that one-third of the current cases are children, drawing a link between cholera and malnutrition in a country where 17 million people are food insecure.
“Hundreds of thousands of people are at a greater risk of dying as they face the ‘triple threat’ of conflict, starvation and cholera,” Mr. McGoldrick said.
The speed at which cholera is spreading among the population exceeds the capacity of the health system to respond given its weakened state after more than two years of conflict, he noted, despite “valiant” work by national and international humanitarians.
The majority of health care centres in Yemen are closed, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Those that are open have limited staff and supplies due to import restrictions and a lack of regular salary payments to health workers.
In addition, water and sanitation services are unable to provide clean water to the population.
The humanitarian community is seeking $55.4 million for the next six months, but “every day that funding is delayed the outbreak affects more people and more resources are needed to control it,” OCHA said.
May242017
Your Excellency Minister for Commonwealth, your excellencies ministers here present, senior members of government, traditional leaders, members of the diplomatic corps, esteemed members of the private sector, ladies and gentlemen – a very warm welcome to the Queen’s 91st Birthday Party. My thanks to the children of the Arbre a Music music school whose singing and playing we have just heard and will hear more of this evening. I also wish to acknowledge the staff of the British High Commission who have worked so hard in difficult circumstances to organize this evening’s event.
Yes Her Majesty the Queen is now 91 years old and is looking forward in particular to the next Commonwealth Summit which will be in London next year on 16 April.
You may not know that Her Majesty is now the longest reigning monarch in British History. The Queen has received some extraordinary gifts from around the world including, in 1972 a seven-year-old bull elephant called Jumbo presented by, yes you have guessed it, the then President of Cameroon, to mark her Silver Wedding Anniversary.
Vous avez de la chance, ce soir, parce que notre Premier ministre, Theresa May, a annoncé une élection générale au Royaume-Uni pour le 8 juin et en vertu de notre loi electorale britannique, car il ne reste que moins de 6 semaines, je ne suis pas autorisé à commenter sur la politique du gouvernement britannique ou prononcer sur ce que le Royaume-Uni va faire, ou pas, au cours de l’année prochaine. Ca c’est pour notre nouveau gouvernement, quel qu’il soit, de décider après l’élection.
So – I can see you smiling – there are two consequences for my speech this evening:
I can however suggest you read the helpful booklet that has been produced with the help of our sponsors that describes all of this and more. Please take a copy on leaving this evening.
Alors, qu’est-ce que cela me laisse à dire ? Je voudrais foculiser sur l’avenir du Cameroun. Je suis tout à fait d’accord avec le Premier minister de Cameroon lorsqu’il a annoncé à Londres lors de la dernière mission commerciale Anglo – Camerounaise, que la prospérité du Cameroun dépend en grande partie, du secteur privé. Ce soir, notre sponsor Platinum est Diageo, connu de beaucoup d’entre vous en tant que brasseurs de ‘Guinness’. Nos remerciements à Diageo, pour l’excellente selection de whisky écossais et de la bière servis ce soir.
Le jardin est éclairé ce soir grâce à l’électricité fournie par Eneo dont l’actionnaire majoritaire est le groupe d’investissement britannique Actis.
And I have a special announcement regarding English wine, yes really it does exist and it is here tonight. The wine is a fresh, sparkling wine from the Denbies vineyard in Surrey which is available for tasting. The wine tasting has been provided by the British Water company Biwater who are in the final stages of agreeing the construction of new water supplies in 13 towns around Cameroon. I could make a terrible joke about ‘water to wine’ but it is probably better to pass on this.
And in case you would like to connect your mobile phone to the internet you can do so thanks to Vodaphone who are providing a free 4G wifi zone in the garden for all guests this evening. Vodaphone arrived in Cameroon last year and we wish them well as one of the world’s most advanced telecommunications companies.
Nous sommes également reconnaissants aux autres entreprises britanniques qui ont parrainé cette soiree:
Joule Afrique (les barrages hydroélectrique et energie solaire); De La Rue qui fournit déjà des passeports camerounais et des timbres fiscaux pour les vins et autres boissons, New Age qui a deja investis plusieurs milliards de livres dans le développement de forages de gaz natural et qui souhaite construire une usine de gaz naturel liquide au Cameroun, Aggreko qui fournit des solutions de production d’électricité et Standard Chartered Bank qui joue un rôle essentiel dans le financement d’un large éventail de projets et d’entreprises au Cameroun.
I underline the strength of British engagement in the private sector in Cameroon because the future strength of the economy of Cameroon depends on a successful private sector. Profit and taxes are not dirty words. They are essential for creating jobs, generating wealth, providing hope and inspiration for milllions of young people. That is why I am pleased this evening to focus on the private sector and to thank the Chief Executives present this evening for their support, and to wish them, and Cameroon a very successful coming year. Finally I look forward to the bilateral relationship between Cameroon and the United Kingdom going from strength to strength in the coming year. We are already partners – we look to redoubling our efforts to make the partnership even more productive in the coming months.
But we must not forget whose birthday party this is. I ask you now to raise your glasses to toast – the Queen.
May242017
The Income-tax Department (ITD) has initiated actions under the new Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2016