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  • 34 Police Officers Arrested over Corruption

    34 Police Officers Arrested over Corruption

    {{Police on Wednesday released the latest report in its campaign against corruption in the force, in which 34 officers were arrested in various graft-related crimes.}}

    ACP Damas Gatare, the Commissioner for Public Relations and Community Policing said those arrested include six junior officers while others are Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and Police Constables (PC).

    They were arrested between May and September this year. They received bribes ranging from Rwf1000 to Rwf1 million.

    He said some of the officers took bribes to give out driving licences, alter traffic fine receipts given to traffic offenders and to include their colleagues on the list of those going for peacekeeping missions.

    Others received bribes from drug dealers to facilitate them in their illegal businesses, he added.

    31 of the arrested officers have so far been sentenced to different terms by the Police Disciplinary Committee.

    He explained that 27 of the officers will be discharged from the force while four others will serve their sentence and be reintegrated back in the force.

    “Corruption is zero-tolerance in Rwanda National Police and this should be a warning to even other officers that could be involved in such tendencies,” ACP Gatare said.

    “We thank the public for their continued partnership to fight crimes, including corruption. We were able to apprehend these officers because of the credible information given to us by the public,” he added.

    Files of civilian accomplices, he said, were forwarded to prosecution.

    source:RNP

  • Rwanda Steps up E-governance Efforts

    Rwanda Steps up E-governance Efforts

    The Government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Youth and ICT (MYICT) in collaboration with the National IT Promotion Agency (NIPA) of South Korea has embarked on development of a comprehensive e-Government Master Plan.

    The goal of e-Government Master Plan Project is to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of government-to-government (G2G), government-to-citizen (G2C) and government-to-business (G2B) processes in Rwanda.

    This has been revealed during the kick off meeting on e-Government Master Plan Project held on September 10, where Rwanda and experts from NIPA shared best practices on e-Government.

    Rwanda adopted the National Information and Communication Infrastructure Policy (NICI Plan) in its third phase from 2011-2015 which will see the development and use of new services acquired during phases one and two; where e-Government is one of pillars in this phase is also a critical focus area in NICI plan.

    The Minister of Youth and ICT, Jean Philbert Nsengimana speaking to the press after the kick off meeting stressed that Rwanda achieved a lot in ICT sector but it can also boost the service delivery in Rwanda.

    “Our aim is to provide facilities to the citizens in Rwanda to access services without travelling vast distances; with the use of ICT in service delivery will be accessible online or via cell phones and will mainly drive the development of our economy,” Minister Nsengimana says.

    Ambassador Hwang Soon-Taik of South Korea to Rwanda hails Rwanda for embracing e-Government; he stressed that “I see how Rwanda is planning and set goals of how to fully integrate e-Government in all services in the country; this is very important and will be a foundation to achieve more as we did in Korea.”

    Meanwhile the Government of Rwanda (GoR) has embarked in an ambitious ICT for Development agenda in line with its Vision 2020 that seeks to transform the country into a middle income economy and information-rich knowledge based economy.

    To achieve her vision, The GoR has put in place legal and regulatory framework and has invested in developing and rolling out key Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) such as national fiber backbone, the Kigali Metropolitan network and Wireless Broadband networks that are the most critical enabler of all sectors of the economy.

    Through this project, parties will assess the existing e-Government initiatives of the Republic of Rwanda, to identify new opportunities of e-Government initiatives of the Republic of Rwanda.

    {Above: Hon Minister of Youth and ICT, Jean Philbert Nsengimana (L) and Ambassador Hwang Soon-Taik of South Korea to Rwanda (R).}

  • Embassy of Rwanda, EMRC & Rabobank Foundation Spotlight Pan-African opportunities at AgriBusiness Forum

    Embassy of Rwanda, EMRC & Rabobank Foundation Spotlight Pan-African opportunities at AgriBusiness Forum

    {{In the run up to the AgriBusiness Forum 2013, H.E Robert Masozera, Ambassador of Rwanda, to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Republic of Cyprus, the EU and the ACP Group, Idit Miller, EMRC Vice President and Managing Director of EMRC, and Pierre van Hedel,Managing Director of Rabobank Foundation, presented the unique opportunities the pan-African AgriBusiness Forum offers to all those involved in Sub-Sahara Africa’s Agri-Food sector. The press conference was held at the Brussels Press Club on 10th September 2013.}}

    Ambassador Masozera spotlighted the importance of the forum in terms of unlocking the agricultural potential of the entire region. “There are over 135 million people living in East Africa and Rwanda is part of three important associations, East African Community (EAC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (ECGLC).

    The opportunities for business and partnerships within just this region are enormous. That is why attending the forum is so important – because there is so much that can be done in terms of business partnerships in the region.”

    Parallel to this, Idit Miller shared the many opportunities that will be presented at the forum, citing speakers, partners and supporters.

    This year’s forum is entitled “The Agri-Food sector: A Catalyst for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in Africa” co-hosted byEMRC and Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture & Animal Resources, in collaboration with the UN’s Food and Agriculture Org. (FAO), Rabobank Foundation and the Rwanda Development Board in addition to the likes of LR Group, UniBRAIN, Banque Populaire du Rwanda, Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC), IFDC, Bralirwa, Minimex, Amiran Kenyaand with the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) as the forum’s Knowledge Partner and theAfrican Business Roundtable (ABR) asNetworking Partner.

    A long term EMRC partner, Rabobank Foundation’s Managing Director, Pierre van Hedel, explained why a successful financial group as Rabobank invests in Africa and the benefits the bank is gaining from such investments. He also showcased the merits of attending such a forum and drew attention to the much anticipated EMRC-Rabobank Project Incubator Award: “This award is what the forum is ultimately about, which is bringing everyone involved in the Agri-Food value chain together and showing the amazing, innovative projects coming out of Africa in addition to offering a cash prize ofUS$15,000 to the winner.”

    Finally, the Ambassador concluded that the agriculture sector is one of the most important sectors in Rwanda. Agriculture employs more than 80% of the Rwandese population and the sector is playing a key role in the fight against poverty. He added that Rwanda is one of the most favorable countries for doing business in Africa, ranking number one in East Africa and number three in all of Africa.

    These strengths as well as those of the continent will be discussed during the forum which will focus on public and private partnerships, inclusive growth for the entire Agri-Food value chain, in addition to holding hundreds of B2B meetings between participants. Mrs. Miller stressed that the tailor-made B2B sessions will provide a ‘live’ platform to build South-South and North-South Partnerships.

    International agricultural experts, Government officials, multinationals, farmer and private sector associations, donor organisations, civil society, investors and financiers representing Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas will participate to discuss on-going projects, best practices and strategic policies with the aim of attracting investment and establishing business partnerships for this sector, acknowledged as pivotal for the entire continent’s growth.

  • EAC to Draft Constitution for Political Federation

    EAC to Draft Constitution for Political Federation

    {{The East African Community (EAC) is to name a team to draft the Constitution for the regional political federation.}}

    The team of draftsmen, according to Ambassador Emmanuel Hatega, will include experts in different relevant fields.

    The Ministers of Foreign Affairs and for the EAC from four of the five member states currently meeting in Kampala will commission the team.

    The three-day meeting which opened on Sept 10, 2013, with Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania attending, is intended to fast track of the East African political federation.

    According to the Uganda Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting is a follow up of the EAC Presidents’ summit in Mombasa, Kenya on August 28, 2013.

    A statement from the Ministry said the Mombasa summit reviewed the progress on implementation of the decisions made at an earlier summit in June in Entebbe.

    The June summit, according to the statement, decided on the development of the railway, petroleum products, crude oil pipeline, oil refinery and power generation and transmission.

    Others issues agreed on were development of a single tourist visa, single customs territory and fast tracking political federation.

    Explaining the apparent absence of Tanzania in the block meetings for integration, Hatega said none of the member states is being excluded.

    According to him, the member States agreed in the treaty, that countries that feel are ready to move could do it and give time to those that had not to join them later. He said Tanzania is still sorting out some internal issues but would join the rest later.

    Hatega said Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda started on the process in June and were later joined by Burundi during the August Mombasa summit.

    He explained that the treaty that established the EAC stipulated for steps namely the customs union, common market, monetary union and the final stage of political federation.

    Source: {Newvision}

  • High iPhone price spooks investors, Apple shares drop

    High iPhone price spooks investors, Apple shares drop

    {{Apple Inc’s new iPhones got panned by Wall Street on Wednesday as investors decried one model for being too costly for emerging markets such as China, and dismissed the other model as lacking enough game-changing features.}}

    The world’s most valuable technology company missed an opportunity to introduce a low-end smartphone to drive sales in Asia, where Samsung Electronics and China’s Huawei have a wide lead over Apple, analysts say.

    The plastic iPhone 5C unveiled on Tuesday will sell for 4,488 yuan ($730) in China, Apple said. That is more than the average monthly urban income in China, and about double the cost of mid-tier devices from Samsung and other vendors. The cheapest phones in China, made by the likes of Xiaomi, go for about $100 apiece.

    “Investors were put off that Apple’s price point didn’t go low enough to attract a new market. It doesn’t have the same range in price that Apple’s competitors have,” said Mark Luschini, chief investment strategist at Janney Montgomery Scott in Philadelphia, which manages about $58 billion in assets.

    The high-end iPhone 5S disappointed Wall Street and revived fears that Apple’s most innovative days may be behind it. The phone has a fingerprint scanner to improve security, but analysts said that was not likely to be enough to make the iPhone 5S a sure win in the crowded smartphone market.

    “There was nothing transformational announced. It has the fingerprint scan and new colors, but bigger features, like different screen sizes, don’t seem to be at the ready. This was less than expected from a company that has a reputation for surprising with a killer product or strategy,” said Luschini.

    Shares of Apple slid 5.4 percent to close at a month low of $467.71 on the Nasdaq after at least three brokerages downgraded their rating on the stock. Still, Apple remains up 18 percent since the start of July, when anticipation about the phones began building.

    agencies

  • Nigeria’s President Fires Ministers amid PDP splits

    Nigeria’s President Fires Ministers amid PDP splits

    {{Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan has sacked nine cabinet ministers amid serious divisions in the governing party.}}

    Two weeks ago, seven of the country’s powerful state governors and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar formed a splinter-group in the PDP.

    They were angry after their allies were disqualified from party elections.

    BBC Nigeria analyst Naziru Mikailu says the factions are jockeying for power ahead of 2015 polls.

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has won every national election since the end of military rule in 1999, so the party’s presidential candidate would be in a strong position to become Nigeria’s next leader.

    Allies of Mr Jonathan have already started campaigning for him to seek re-election – he has not revealed whether he intends to stand.

    Among those dismissed are the ministers of foreign affairs, education and national planning, reports the Reuters news agency.

    Sacked Education Minister Ruqayyah Ahmed Rufai was nominated for her position by one of the rebel governors.

    No official reason has been given for the reshuffle, while a presidential spokesman said there would be no rush to replace the sacked officials.

    Mr Jonathan has been president since 2010, when his predecessor died in office and he was promoted from vice-president.

    He beat off a challenge from Mr Abubakar to be the PDP candidate in the 2011 elections, which he won despite opposition claims of rigging.

    He is from the mainly Christian south, while some northern politicians say it is the “turn” of someone from Nigeria’s mostly Muslim north to be national president.

    BBC

  • Kenya Discovers Huge Water Source

    Kenya Discovers Huge Water Source

    {{A huge water source has been discovered in the arid Turkana region of northern Kenya which could supply the country for 70 years, the government says.}}

    The discovery of two aquifers brings hope to the drought-hit region, tweeted Environment Minister Judi Wakhungu.

    They were found in the Turkana Basin and Lotikipi Basin using satellites and radar.

    Last year, scientists released a map detailing the vast reservoirs which lie under much of Africa.

    Another aquifer was found in Namibia – sub-Saharan Africa’s driest country.

    Turkana is one of the hottest, driest and poorest parts of Kenya and was hit by a devastating drought last year.

    Many of the region’s inhabitants are nomadic herders, who are especially vulnerable to a lack of rain.

    Test drilling confirmed there was water under the ground.

    The discovery was announced by Ms Wakhungu at a meeting of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Unesco.

    “This newly found wealth of water opens a door to a more prosperous future for the people of Turkana and the nation as a whole. We must now work to further explore these resources responsibly and safeguard them for future generations,” she said.

    {agencies}

  • Western jihadis ‘killed in Somalia’

    Western jihadis ‘killed in Somalia’

    {{Two top Islamist militants, from the US and UK, have been killed in Somalia after falling out with al-Shabab, witnesses have told reporters.}}

    Omar Hammami, known as al-Amriki, and Osama al-Britani, a British citizen of Pakistani origin, are said to have died in an early-morning attack in a village south-west of the capital, Mogadishu.

    They have been hiding from al-Shabab since leaving the group this year.

    There have been several previous reports of al-Amriki’s death.

    In March, the US State Department offered a $5m (£3.1m) reward for any information leading to the capture or conviction of al-Amriki.

    One of al-Amriki’s fighters told media that they had been overpowered by the al-Shabab attack in a village near the town of Dinsor.

    He said al-Shabab had taken away the bodies of the two Westerners.

    Another of their allies, Khadap al-Masari, from Egypt, surrendered, the fighter said.

    Local residents confirmed the deaths, as did a senior source within al-Shabab.

    “There was a gun battle between al-Amriki and his men and other fighters,” Moalim Ali, a resident in Bardhere village, told reporters.

    AFP

  • Tuareg rebels clash with Mali army

    Tuareg rebels clash with Mali army

    {{Three Malian soldiers have been wounded in the first clashes with Tuareg rebels since the two sides signed a ceasefire deal in June, the army has said.}}

    A Malian capitain warned the clash could endanger the truce.

    The fighting took place near the western town of Lere and comes a week after President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was sworn in, highlighting simmering tensions as he seeks to secure an end to cycles of uprisings by northern rebels.

    The Tuareg rebels have picked up arms thrice since independence in 1960, but it was only last year that they succeeded in making significant gains. They were temporarily sidelined by radicals operating in the area, though they have grown in strength again since French-led forces drove out the al-Qaeda linked fighters from the region.

    A UN peacekeeping mission is now rolling out to ensure stability as French troops gradually withdraw.

    “An army patrol came across some gunmen in four-wheel drives. They refused to follow the army’s orders and opened fire on the troops,” said army spokesman Captain Modibo Naman Traore.

    Attaye Ag Mohamed, one of the founders of the Tuareg rebellion, accused the army of starting the fighting by surrounding their position.

    In June, the rebels signed an agreement mediated by the president of Burkina Faso, agreeing to a ceasefire in order to allow Mali’s presidential election to go ahead on July 28. The rebels also agreed to garrison their fighters, but the insurgents were frequently spotted outside their assigned bases in the northern province of Kidal.

    Talks are to begin later this year between the government and the rebels. However, the idea of negotiating with them remains deeply unpopular in southern Mali.

    {wirestory}

  • US voters kick out gun control politicians

    US voters kick out gun control politicians

    {{Voters in the state of Colorado have kicked out two US politicians who promoted tighter gun controls after last year’s Aurora cinema shooting, which killed 12 people.}}

    State senate president, John Morse, and senator Angela Giron, both Democrats, were kicked out in a historically unprecedented recall election. The pro-gun National Rifle Association part funded the campaign for the poll.

    Morse, who signed into law a bill boosting gun control rules after the Aurora shootings in July last year and the Newtown school massacre in December, was forced out on a 51 to 49 percent vote. Giron lost by 56 to 44 percent. Both stood by their decision to back tougher gun controls.

    “The loss of an election is nothing when weighed against the loss of lives to gun violence,” Morse said in a statement. “I am proud of the fact that we made Colorado safer. The recall election didn’t change the fact that sensible gun safety laws are now in effect.

    {{‘No regrets’}}

    “I do not regret acting after the horrific massacres we suffered, and I do not regret standing up against the powerful gun lobby to do what was right.”

    Giron, who voted in favour of the gun control legislation, which entered into force on July 1, added: “I’m a little perplexed. This is what I know: I know that I have not one iota of regret from what I voted on.

    “This is only going to make us stronger and better,” she told the Denver Post. “We will win in the end, because we are on the right side,” she told constituents.

    Morse and Giron will be replaced by two Republicans, councilman Bernie Herpin and former police officer George Rivera, who opposed the new law which passed without the support of a single Republican.

    The new legislation, which limits gun magazines to 15 rounds and requires universal background checks, came after a series of shootings.

    Mass shootings

    James Holmes, a mentally unstable student, is accused of killing 12 people when he opened fire in a crowded movie screening in Aurora, outside Denver, in one of the worst mass shootings in US history.

    And on December 14 last year a gunman killed 26 people, including 20 children at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

    The NRA donated $360,000 to back the recall ballots in Colorado – the first ever use of a state mechanism allowing for politicians to be kicked out by popular vote, according to the Denver Post newspaper.

    An NRA spokesman told the newspaper that it “is proud to have stood with the men and women in Colorado who sent a clear message that their Second Amendment rights are not for sale.”

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