Thales is working with Zambia Airports Corporation Limited to modernise the TopSky – ATC systems at the ATC centres at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, Lusaka and Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport, Livingstone.

Thanks to the Datalink CPDLC and ADS-C solutions, Zambia’s ATC centres and pilots will be able to communicate via data messages instead of conventional voice radio. This upgrade will enhance flight safety by mitigating the risk of degraded radio communications. VHF channels will still be available as the primary mode of communication in the Flight Information Region (FIR).

To ensure safe navigation in their airspace, air traffic control officers (ATCOs) need to know the exact position of an aircraft before and during flight. Flight plans provide an initial overview of the pilot’s intentions, but complete situational awareness is only possible thanks to a network of connected sensors that provide ATCOs with real-time knowledge. All this data enables flights to be “deconflicted”, thereby increasing air safety.

Thales TopSky – ATC is an air traffic control automation solution designed to control en route, approach and oceanic traffic, both in civil and military environments. TopSky – ATC provides air traffic controllers and technicians with innovative and intuitive access to flight information, accurate real-time tracking for faster and better decisions, efficient tools for enhanced detection and resolution of conflicts, integrated sequencing and optimisation capabilities and a robust, reliable, easy-to-maintain system. 

“We would like to thank ZACL for their continued trust and are proud to be able to support them once again in improving air navigation safety by integrating two state-of-the-art functions into our TopSky – ATC system, which are perfectly suited to today’s needs. Together, Thales and ZACL are delivering the safer air travel of tomorrow, “Cyril Einaudi, Vice President Global Turnkey segment, Thales.

Over the years, Thales has become a major player in ATM in Africa, with 80% of the continent’s control centres equipped with TopSky – ATC. This solution is used by over 16,000 controllers worldwide. More than 80 Thales ATC radars are in service in Africa today. Africa Tech

By IEA CORRESPONDENT

In their efforts to democratise Art, RMZ Foundation proudly celebrates its commitment to promoting artistic talent in India and democratizing art for the public by supporting acclaimed Indian artist Suhasini Kejriwal, who has been selected for the prestigious Frieze Sculpture 2023.

Her remarkable series, 'Garden of Un-Earthly Delights,' featuring intricately painted bronze sculptures, is now on display at Frieze Sculpture Park in Regent's Park, London, from September 20th to October 29th, 2023. In partnership with Nature Morte, RMZ Foundation is proud to add this sculpture from the inspiring and timely series to the Foundation’s collection.

Speaking to Informer East Africa Chief Editor Julius Mbaluto, Akash Philip from RMZ Foundation said that their key drive was to bring art and make it more it more accessible to communities.

 Informer East Africa Chief Editor Julius Mbaluto with Akash Philip of RMZ Foundation 

"We are bringing together indian and global art and keeping it in the public spaces to popularize it and democratise it.  For along time art has not been made accessible but we are trying to inspire people and make art more accessible."

Frieze Sculpture, the renowned free public art exhibition, coincides with the art fairs Frieze London and Frieze Masters, taking place from October 11th to 15th, 2023. This year, Frieze Sculpture is led by independent curator and writer Fatoş Üstek, and features 21 leading international artists, with their works thoughtfully placed throughout the historic English Gardens of The Regent’s Park. 

RMZ Foundation has consistently taken the lead in curating and commissioning some of the largest installations in India including sculptures, murals, and paintings. Under the leadership of Anu Menda, Founder and Managing Trustee of the RMZ Foundation, the organization embarked on a mission to democratize art by creating a broader audience for emerging artists, with a focus on promoting the artistic creations of artists. 

The Foundation's dedication to empowering women in the arts is evident through its inclusion in its carefully curated collection. These include artists such as Shilpa Gupta, Shaikha Al Mazrou and Mouna Rebeiz, whose work reminds us that art has the power to connect us to our roots and shared humanity. 

Furthermore, the Foundation's commitment to the arts spotlights the contributions of over 55 commissioned art installations by iconic, globally recognized artists within its portfolio, including Elias Sime, Oliver Beer, and Patrick Goddard. These sculptures are placed across RMZ's flagship properties in Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad, making the works accessible to a wider audience. 

Anu Menda, Managing Trustee of RMZ Foundation, expressed her perspective on this collaboration and states,

"Art plays a crucial role in preserving our cultural identity that shapes the artistic landscape of our subcontinent in a rapidly evolving modern world. This partnership is a significant step towards democratizing art and empowering women artists. Suhasini Kejriwal's 'Garden of Un-earthly Delights' is a testament to the boundless creativity of artists, seamlessly blending the familiar with the extraordinary.” 

Celebrated and acknowledged for its dedication, RMZ Foundation is proud to support leading Indian artist Suhasini Kejriwal and her inspiring work, 'Garden of Un-earthly Delights’ that has recently been added to the Foundation’s collection. 

On her creative process, Artist Suhasini Kejriwal shared her thoughts and states:

"The support from RMZ Foundation and this opportunity to showcase my work at a platform such as Frieze Sculpture enables a wider reach for my work. I aim to bridge the chasm between the harshness of reality and the realm of the imaginary – blending the every day and the fantastic. Nature and the human form are never merely subjects of science or fine art; they are integral components that make up the tapestry of our society.

Aparajita Jain, Director, Nature Morte added,

“We are thrilled that the RMZ Foundation is acquiring Suhasini Kejriwal’s iconic work, Garden of Un-Earthly Delights into its collection. RMZ Foundation is an emerging light in arts philanthropy with an ever-growing and impressive collection of important works by female artists. We are glad to be working in partnership with them to democratize art for the larger Indian audiences." 

RMZF, founded in 2015, is a non-governmental organization with a mission to empower society, democratize art, and address social and economic challenges through innovation and sustainability. It aligns with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and focuses on initiatives like affordable housing, clean energy, regenerative architecture, and responsible sourcing to reduce its carbon footprint. RMZF is committed to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices and aims to create a carbon-neutral real asset portfolio. 

RMZF's art initiative promotes cultural expression and community building through visual arts. It provides a platform for artists to showcase their work, fostering enriching experiences for art enthusiasts in the communities it serves. The Foundation recognizes art as a catalyst for creativity and cultural reshaping, contributing to the well-being of all people while prioritizing sustainability. This initiative aims to broaden the horizons of visual arts and create a positive impact in collaborating communities.

Suhasini Kejriwal, an artist based in Kolkata, holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from New York's Parsons School of Design and a Master of Fine Arts degree from London's Goldsmiths College. Her art seamlessly and deftly blends painting, drawing, photography, and collage, creating kaleidoscopic and psychedelic compositions suffused with intricate details and multiple perspectives. They transport viewers beyond the confines of reality, into an enchanting, borderless dreamscape where all things are possible. It's an artistic journey that pulsates with an enduring fascination for the natural world and the human form, recalling iconic works that bridge chasms between the ordinary and fantastical. 

Kejriwal has showcased her art in solo exhibitions at renowned venues including Gallery SKE in Bangalore, Nature Morte in New Delhi, and Galerie Christian Hosp in Berlin, among others, and has also participated in numerous global group exhibitions. Beyond her art, Kejriwal has contributed to fostering artist-community dialogues through her fellowship with Hamdasti and her role as a visiting fellow at Harvard University's South Asia Institute in 2020.

The King will acknowledge the “painful aspects” of the UK and Kenya’s shared history when he makes a state visit to the east African nation – his first to a Commonwealth country.

Charles will be joined by Camilla when he flies to Kenya for the four-day trip, which ends on November 3, following an invitation from President William Ruto whose country is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its independence from Britain. 

Kenya became independent on December 12 1963 and the two countries have enjoyed a close relationship since, despite the violent colonial legacy of the Mau Mau uprising which led to a period known as the Emergency.

Chris Fitzgerald, deputy private secretary to the King, said: “The King and Queen’s programme will celebrate the close links between the British and Kenyan people in areas such as the creative arts, technology, enterprise, education and innovation.

“The visit will also acknowledge the more painful aspects of the UK and Kenya’s shared history, including the Emergency (1952-1960).

“His Majesty will take time during the visit to deepen his understanding of the wrongs suffered in this period by the people of Kenya.”

The Mau Mau armed movement began during the early 1950s, fuelled by the resentment some members of the Kikuyu tribe felt towards their British rulers, European settlers who farmed land in Kenya as well as at a lack of political representation.

White farmers were targeted in violent attacks as well as some Kikuyu who were said to have collaborated with the authorities. The Kenya Human Rights Commission said 90,000 Kenyans were executed, tortured or maimed during the British administration’s counter-insurgency.

In 2013, the British Government made a historic statement of regret over the “torture and other forms of ill-treatment” perpetrated by the colonial administration during Kenya’s Emergency period of 1952-1960, and paid out £19.9 million to around 5,200 Kenyans for human rights abuses.

The development came after a legal battle between a number of elderly victims and the British Government.

Kenya is the country where Queen Elizabeth II was told of the death of her father, King George VI, and acceded to the throne.

The then princess was making an official visit with the Duke of Edinburgh to Kenya and was staying at the Treetops hotel in 1952, a lodge deep in the Aberdare National Park, when the King died on February 6. 

Royal visits are also a chance for members of the monarchy to use their “soft diplomacy” and help renew and develop relationships between the UK and her allies.

A senior Foreign Office spokesman said: “From His Majesty’s Government’s perspective, Their Majesties’ visit will celebrate, and drive forward, the UK’s strong partnership with Kenya, and together we’re working on some of the most important global challenges, such as tackling climate change, and as close members of the Commonwealth family.

“The UK is committed to ensuring Kenya sees the UK as a partner of choice on peace, on trade, on economic development and much more, and we’re aiming to increase the UK-Kenya trade and build a deeper investment partnership, mobilise private finance to support low carbon growth and climate resilient jobs.”

Highlights of Charles and Camilla’s state visit include a ceremonial welcome in the capital, Nairobi, at the president’s official residence, State House, with the King and Kenya’s leader holding a bilateral meeting, as will the Queen and First Lady Rachel Ruto. 

The King’s deputy private secretary said: “During the visit, Their Majesties will meet President Ruto and the First Lady as well as other members of the Kenyan government, UN staff, CEOs, faith leaders, young people, future leaders and Kenyan Marines training with UK Royal Marines.

“The King will also attend an event to celebrate the life and work of the Nobel Laureate, the late Professor Wangari Maathai, together with Wangari’s daughter, Wanjira Mathai.” By Tony Jones, The Independent

The Home Office ignored serious problems with the UK’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda and failed to scrutinise assurances made by the east-African country, the Supreme Court has heard.

The government is challenging a Court of Appeal ruling from June that the multimillion-pound deal, which would see migrants deported to Rwanda and have their asylum cases processed there, was unlawful. 

Raza Husain KC, who represents a number of asylum seekers, told the UK’s highest court on Tuesday that the Home Office had failed to acknowledge problems with the Rwandan asylum system and had ignored the country’s history of abuse of asylum seekers when considering whether it was a safe country to send migrants.

Sir James Eadie KC, representing the Home Office, told the court on Monday that Rwanda’s promises to the UK marked “a break with what has occurred in the past”.

But Mr Husain referenced an open letter from Human Rights Watch that said the charity was “deeply concerned that asylum seekers will be at risk of abuse if they speak up about their conditions in Rwanda or could be forced to self-censor”.

The Home Office has argued that asylum seekers can use their internet-connected phones to express concerns about their treatment to family members or lawyers and said a UK monitoring committee would review 10 per cent of the formal complaints made. 

But Mr Husain said refugees in Rwanda had been intimidated in the past by government officials.

He told the court: “Senior government of Rwanda officials in 2015 warned refugees not to report attempts to recruit them in military operations ... and were told to ‘go back to those NGOs and change statements’”.

He continued: “Rwanda is a surveillance state. There is a former economic adviser to the president who said in July 2021 that the entire country is a spying machine.”

He referenced the fatal shooting of 12 refugees by police in western Rwanda in 2018, where police fired live ammunition at refugees who were protesting outside a UN high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) office.

Mr Husain also argued that the asylum seekers wouldn’t have access to a functioning appeal system if their claims were rejected in Rwanda. In one asylum claim refusal letter seen by the UNHCR, Rwandan officials did not explain why the claim was rejected, simply writing: “Refugee status wasn’t granted because you do not meet the eligibility criteria and the reasons given in your interview were not pertinent,” the court heard.

The Rwandan court system is not independent of the government, Mr Husain argued, and there are not enough lawyers to deal with any challenges to decisions.

Mr Husain also referenced a prior agreement that Rwanda had entered into with Israel, which saw around 4,000 people deported by Israel. 

A report by the International Refugee Rights Initiative found that the majority of the migrants brought to Rwanda under the deal were “smuggled out of the country by land to Kampala [in Uganda] within days of arriving in Kigali”.

The report said: “They are not given an opportunity to apply for asylum, and even if they wish to stay in Rwanda, their refugee claims cannot be assessed.”

The Home Office has argued that Rwanda’s past failure to uphold its agreement with Israel was “irrelevant” because the deal with the UK is very different.

Mr Husain said: “The secretary of state in her written case says that it appears in various respects that it was different. What she doesn’t say is that the abuse didn’t occur.”

He argued: “Rwanda’s breach of an earlier assurance, even with a state other than the UK, is obviously relevant ... How could it possibly not be.” 

Mr Husain also argued that there was a real risk of asylum seekers being forcibly returned to the countries they came from. The UNHCR has provided a number of examples where Syrian and Afghan refugees have been sent back to their home countries via Turkey and Dubai.

Mr Husain also said the UK government’s monitoring committee, set up to scrutinise Rwanda’s treatment of asylum seekers, “lacks teeth and lacks efficacy”.

His comments were supported by representatives of the UNHCR who told the court they were very concerned about the involvement of a Rwandan government department, DGIE, in asylum processing.

Laura Dubinsky KC, for UNHCR, said the DGIE was part of Rwanda’s security service and had repeatedly and recently intervened in asylum applications. “The DGIE is deeply embedded in the official decision making system,” she added.

Ms Dubinsky expressed concerns that the secretary of state had allowed the agency, which she said has a history of “very serious breaches” of Rwandan law, into “the heart” of the asylum agreement between the UK and Rwanda. 

The hearing before Lords Reed, Hodge, Lloyd-Jones, Briggs and Sales is expected to end on Wednesday, with a judgment expected in a few months’ time.  By Holly Bancroft , The Independent