TonyTalburt (SeniorLecturerandauthorinAfricanDiasporaPoliticsandHistory)
The history books will certainly look back at this periodinBritish politics and associate the periodafterSir Keir Starmer leaves office, with the Mandelsonaffair. Is the controversyover PrimeMinister's decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as British Ambassador to theUSin2025 goingtobethe issuethatfinally decideshisfate?
Tribute were paid to a much-loved resident cat at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham,whowassaid tohavepassedawayatthe startofApril.
since 2009 and became a familiar and comforting presence to both staff and visitorsovertheyears.Shewas wellknownaroundthesiteand hadarealimpactonthosewho spenttimethere.
Millie,whowasaround20 yearsold,hadbeenpartof life at the stadium, in Birmingham,
Generations of children at the Gymnastics and Martial Arts Centre(GMAC)
sawhereveryweekandmembers of the Perry Fitness Centre grew usedtoseeingheraspartoftheir daily routine. Staff and members often joked that she was one of the team, and she had a big presence around the Stadium, especially during the 2022 CommonwealthGames.
Millie was very much part of the stadium environment, adding to her story as a long-standing and quietly iconic member of the venue. Many staff and customers formed a bond with her, and she will be deeplymissed.Sincesharingthenewson social media, we’ve received many comments from customers and residents sharingtheirmemoriesofMillieandhow much she meant to them, which has been reallyspecialtosee.
n2024,therewere193accidental water-relatedfatalities,including 136 in England. Inland waterwaysaccountedfor61%of these incidents, with 84% of thosewhodiedbeingmale.
The conference will feature a programmeofspecialistsessions covering drowning physiology, prevention initiatives, real-life case reviews from across the Midlands and the latest clinical updatesrelevanttopre-
hospital responders. It is designed for a wide range of professionals, including pre-hospital clinicians, HEMS teams, fire and rescue personnel, search and rescue organisations, militarymedicalteamsand eventmedicalproviders. Liam Webb, Critical Care ParamedicatMidlandsAir AmbulanceCharity,said
will support AFC’s mandate to accelerate development of critical infrastructure and industrial assets across Africa.Inaneconomic environment characterised by global market volatility and evolving investor dynamics, this transaction is strategically significant asitunderscoresAFC’s access to alternative liquidity pools beyond traditional capital markets, while also extending its tenor profile.
reinforcing AFC’s commitmenttodiversifying its funding base while deepening strategic engagementswithkeyAsian financial partners. Banji Fehintola,ExecutiveBoard Member and Head of FinancialServicesofAFC, said: “This facility is an importantmilestoneinour long-standing partnership withIndiaEximBankand reflects our shared commitment to advancing infrastructure development acrossAfrica.
Access to diversified and long-termcapitaliscritical todeliveringtransformative projects on the continent, and AFC remains at the forefront, leveraging strategiccollaborationswith leadinginstitutionstoscale our impact and accelerate Africa’s industrialisation.” AsAFCcontinuestodeepen its presence across global fundingmarkets,itremains committedtostrengthening partnerships and unlocking innovativesourcesofcapital toadvanceitsmandate.
TheCorporationplaysa catalytic role in mobilising capital for critical infrastructure projects that drive industrialisation, enhance regional integration,andsupport sustainable economic growthacrossAfrica.
APRIL 2026
