IGIHE

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  • RDB, Google to Map Rwanda’s Tourism Attractions

    {{The Rwanda Development Board in partnership with Google, commence a mapping exercise with the objective of increasing access to information and visibility of Rwanda’s tourism attractions on the web.}}

    This event dubbed Rwanda Tourism MapUp from March 23rd to 24th 2012, started with team’s road trip from Kigali where key touristic features were mapped and continued to Musanze and Rubavu whose attractions were also added to the Google map list.

    The Head of Tourism and Conservation at RDB, Rica Rwigamba said that Rwanda is proud to be the first African country to work with Google.

    “Citizen mappers and tourism operators to systematically map all tourism facilities and attractions to increase discoverability through search engines.
    Today, more than ever, more tourism destinations are chosen through online searches and recommendations by other travelers,” she said.

    The Rwanda MapUp brought together 40 participants including professional mappers, GIS experts, university students as well as tourism operators to map all the major tourism features in Rwanda.

    As stressed by the Sustainable Tourism Development Master Plan for Rwanda, the internet is now firmly established as the most important means of communication in the global travel industry.

    Estimations state that around 70% of travel decisions are made using websites to research information and Google Maps is identified as the major one.

    This exercise will be held regularly so as to preserve the accuracy of the maps.

  • Prostitutes in sub-Saharan Africa Have Highest HIV

    {{The Lancet medical journal has revealed that 37% of commercial sex workers in Uganda have HIV thus Uganda sex workers have one of the highest rates of HIV infections in the world. The Lancet is an international medical journal. }}

    The four-year survey funded by the World Bank and the United Nations Population Fund ranked Uganda as one of the countries where sex workers had a higher HIV prevalence than other women.

    The Lancet revealed that some 99,878 female sex workers in 50 countries (14 in Asia, four in Eastern Europe, 11 in Latin America and the Caribbean, one in the Middle East and 20 in Africa), were subjects in the study conducted between January 1, 2007 and June 25, 2011.

    Results of the study, which was led by Dr. Stefan Baral of the US-based John Hopkins School of Public Health, were released on Thursday.

    The study assessed the burden of HIV compared to that of other women of reproductive age and found that the burden is disproportionately high and concluded that there is an urgent need to scale up access to quality HIV prevention programs for sex workers.

    Sex workers in most of Africa had substantially higher levels of HIV than other women, posting more than 20% of prevalence.

    Of all the prostitutes in the 50 countries, those in sub-Saharan Africa had the highest HIV prevalence.

    Only two of the African countries studied, Egypt and Madagascar, had zero HIV rates among women who sell sex.

  • Community Policing Committees Trained

    {{About 122 participants from four cells including; Nyabisindu, Rukiri I, Rukiri II and Nyarutarama in Gasabo district have received training on the concept of community policing.

    Particpants were also trained on the role of CPC’s in crime prevention, reporting system, need for discipline in their duties and professionalism in patrolling.}}

    The Executive secretary of Remera sector Felix Kayihura and the District Community Liaison Officer in Gasabo Bonaventure Twizere urged participants to exhibit good conduct, professionalism and discipline in their tasks.

    In order to prevent crime participants were asked to always collaborate with residents and share information with Police and other security organs.

    The CPC’s were urged to report timely and to collaborate with public in combating illicit drugs and illegal trade in Remera Main Park.

    They were also urged to combat prostitution, robbery and other crimes in different areas of the Gasabo District.

    Police in Gasabo district in collaboration with Remera sector yesterday organised the one-day seminar with Community Policing Committees (CPC’s) at Centre Christus at Remera.

    meanwhile, Rwanda National Police has taken the community Policing concept to schools as part of its efforts to ensure creating a relationship between students, school administration and Police.

    One of the core components of community policing in schools, is to build partnerships and relationships for the purpose of creating safe school environment. On an individual basis, this can improve the relationship between youth and police- one student at a time.

    Community policing in schools focuses on sensitizing students to avoid criminal activities that can disrupt their studies, thus affecting their lives. The program creates a platform unto which Police, students and teachers discuss common problems within society such as crimes and what can be done to prevent them.

  • Kagame Recieves Honorary Doctorate

    {{Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has been awarded a Honorary Doctorate from Fatih University – Istanbul, 23 March 2012.

    President Paul Kagame received the Honorary Doctorate during a Working Visit to Turkey.

    He also attended the Turkey-Rwanda trade & investment forum- Istanbul, on 22 March 2012.}}

  • World’s First All Diamond Ring Costs US$70M

    {{The first Diamond ring in the world has been created in Switzerland at a cost of $70 million. It took a full year to carve the ring, which has been copyrighted.}}

    The ring was created by Shawish’s president and CEO Mohamed Shawesh using lasers along with traditional diamond cutting and polishing techniques.

    Most other diamond rings are composed of a precious-metal band with a diamond centerpiece.

    The 150-carat ring runs laps around some other famous diamond competitors, including Beyoncé’s 18-carat engagement ring from Jay-Z and the even better known 30-carat ring given to the late Elizabeth Taylor by Richard Burton.

  • Blast Kills One, 5 Injured in Musanze Town

    {{One person has died and others sustained minor injuries this evening at 7:00 PM when an unknown type of explosive blew off in Musanze district town. The Dead person is suspected to have been in posession with the explosive}}

    The blast occurred close to Equity Bank near former premises of Belvedere Transport Company on the road leading to the construction site of the new Musanze town bus terminal.

    Mpebyemungu Winifrida the Mayor of Musanze district told IGIHE minutes after the blast that the victim of the blast could have been the one in possession of the Explosive.

    According to the effect of the blast of the deceased it clear the victim was in possession of the Explosive. There wasn’t much damage in the area and other people sustained minor injuries. The town has always been safe”.

    Suprentendent Theos Badege the Police spokesperson told IGIHE the injured are five people and are already receiving medical care at Musanze hospital and “One person died on spot”.

    Supt. Badege explained that the cause of the attack hasn’t been established but investigations have already been launched. No suspects have arrested in connection with the attack.

  • 4 Injured in City Accident

    {{Four people have sustained injures in an accident involving three cars at Kimisagara in Kigali city.}}

    The accident occurred at 5:00PM. It was caused by an over speeding commuter taxi (RAB035K) that lost control after failing to brake and rammed into other two cars a minibus RAB 525G and a Rav4 RAV4 of RAB238V.

    IGIHE talked to the driver of the RAV4 car on condition his identity remains anonymous, “the minibus driver lost control while over speeding and swerved from one side of the road to another and hit us”.

    The police officer who was present urged drivers to pay attention especially to the technical status of their cars.

    The injured were rushed to CHK -University Hospital of Kigali.

  • EU Approves Attacks Inside Somalia

    {{European countries have secured permission to launch military attacks on Somalia land aimed at dismantling pirate’s bases including other targets at sea.}}

    In a two-year extension of its mission, EU defence ministers agreed warships could target boats and fuel dumps. The extension means EU warships will stay until at least December 2014.

    Currently there are up to 10 EU naval ships actively patrol the Horn of Africa. They have policed shipping routes and protected humanitarian aid since 2008.

    An EU official said the new mandate would allow warships or helicopters to fire at fuel barrels, boats, trucks or other equipment on beaches.

    Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo told reporters, “The EU plan is to allow attacks on land installations when ships are assaulted at sea,” adding that “much care” would be taken to avoid civilian deaths.

  • Kigali City to Get More Powers

    {{If passed into law, the draft law currently before Cabinet awaiting passing into a Presidential Order, will empower Kigali city as a stronger entity that will be in charge of all developments in the three districts that makeup the capital city.}}

    Fidel Ndayisaba Kigali city Mayor told a local daily that the new law will harmonise all plans developed by the three districts.

    “We want Kigali to become a business oriented city and are very optimistic this new policy, once approved, will be a very positive move towards the development of the city”.

    The three Kigali city districts including; Nyarugenge, Kicukiro, and Gasabo, will only be in charge of social affairs.

    Local Government Minister James Musoni was quoted by the local daily saying that “budget will also be centralized”.

    However, Minister Musoni explains that the new policy, “will not remove the three districts; they will remain with their autonomy while facilitating certain developments in compliance with the City of Kigali”.

  • MTN Up in Global Rankings, Remains Top in Africa

    {{IGIHE has reliably learnt that MTN has moved up 12 places to the 188th position in the world’s most valuable brand rankings and maintained its position as Africa’s only company in the Brand Finance Global 500 grading.}}

    MTN boasts of 164.6 million subscribers across its 22 markets in Africa and the Middle East. By 31 December 2011 MTN Group revenue had increased by 9.7% to R121, 884 million and subscribers grew to 164.5 million, an increase of 16.2% from 2010.

    “MTN’s impressive growth are a result of hard work and resourcefulness of the MTN people whose passion for the mobile business and superior customer experience continues to inspire MTN to new global heights every year,” said De Faria.

    “We are very pleased with our global ranking accolade. It shines the spotlight on our efforts to grow the MTN brand through differentiated offerings that go beyond merely enabling our subscribers to make a voice call, but to empower them to become active global economic citizens through access to world-class telecommunications services, including data,” says Christian de Faria, MTN Group Chief Commercial Officer.

    “Being recognised as the only African brand in the top 500 Global Brands for two consecutive years is an inspiration. We have invested a lot in ensuring that MTN is reflective of our customers and our markets and what makes them so unique and special.”

    “From our sponsorship of the 2012 FIFA World Cup to our involvement in community projects in each of our markets, we are proud to connect with our customers in a meaningful way and to be recognized on a global stage,” says Jennifer Roberti, MTN’s Executive for Marketing.