As the M23 crisis has unfolded in the eastern Congo, the US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice has emerged as a holdout within American foreign policy, a sort of minority report to the prevailing criticism of Rwanda and the M23.

The first indication of this emerged in June, when Rice delayed the publication of UN Group of Experts' interim report, insisting that Rwanda be given a chance to see the report first and respond. While these UN investigations are supposed to give the accused the opportunity to respond and explain--the Group says it was refused meetings by the Rwandan government, which Kigali denies--they rarely allow them to see the entire report before publication. In any case, the Group finally did brief a Rwandan delegation in New York in June in New York ...

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The time has officially come... The 20th annual African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF), here in New York City, kicks off its 2012 edition (also its 20th anniversary, a milestone year), TONIGHT, November 23rd, running through December 11th. As noted, this year's event will open with Nigerian filmmaker Tony Abulu's cross-continental drama/thriller, Doctor Bello, a film S&A readers should already be familiar with, as we've been covering it since it began production earlier this year. The Nollywood/Hollywood collaboration stars Isaiah Washington, Vivica A. Fox, Jimmy...

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So it finally aired on ABC last night - Spike Lee's Michael Jackson documentary, made in collaboration with the estate of Michael Jackson and Sony Music, titled Bad 25. The feature documentary was released theatrically for 1 week, in October, but, unfortunately, only in New York, and Los Angeles. So I'd say that the vast majority of you got to see it for the very first time last night, when it was broacast from 9:30pm to 11pm. - that is if you weren't one of the crazies who were standing in line, outside various department stores around the country, waiting to take advantage of Black Friday sales that started at about 9pm...

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Politicians are inured to media demands for instant reactions. How nice to find one taking his time. James Alexander has been pondering Michael Heseltine's report on growth for almost a month and discussing it with others. Now he's written to Tarzan with his views. Here they are

As Leader of City of York council, I wanted to write to you about your very thoughtful contribution to the UK growth debate. I have reflected upon the recommendations made in your report and have discussed them with public sector and business leaders in York. I'd like to offer my reaction to your report if I may. I am particularly pleased to write to you as your 1990 leadership bid was one of the reasons why I became interested in politics at such an early age. I admire your work around regeneration and your ...

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The African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF) is celebrating its 20th New York edition this week. The film festival runs from this Friday, Nov. 23 to Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012 and will showcase 54 films from 30 countries. We're upper excited to check out this year's selections. Here are 5 reasons we're excited about it:     Dr. Bello (Nigeria/ USA) A long-awaited-yet-obviously-necessary meeting of Hollywood and Nollywood has finally [...]

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Good Magazine profiles E[nstitute]:

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Good Magazine profiles E[nstitute]:

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In the next several days, we'll have a few more reviews of films scheduled to screen at the African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF), here in New York City, which kicks off its 2012 edition (also its 20th anniversary, a milestone year), this Friday, November 23rd, running through December 11th. In the meantime, a reminder that New Yorkers will be especially glad to know that the opening night film (THIS FRIDAY!) for this year's event will be Nigerian filmmaker Tony Abulu's cross-continental drama/thriller, Doctor Bello, a film S&A readers should already be familiar with, as we've been covering it since it...

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As I noted in my reaction to the film after I saw it about 2 weeks ago, The Central Park Five is an informative, infuriating affirmation of America's racial animus. For those planning on seeing it when it opens in theaters this Friday, or when it airs on PBS in 2013 (and I certainly hope all of you will indeed make a concerted effort to see it), expect to be provoked, to be enraged, but in the best of ways. The film, a fine piece of heightened documentary reporting, simply presents the facts, and does so exhaustively, despite what seem like attempts by the City Of New York to contest them, or at least to use them to help in their defense against the pending...

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Yorkshire cities are in final 21 of 350 entries to a global brainstorming on urban living. Both are keen to have more suggestions to add to their portfolios

Sheffield and York are in with a chance of piloting new ideas for sustainable living via an international competition whose results will be announced in San Francisco in May next year.

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