Author: Théophile Niyitegeka

NASA telescope reveals largest batch of Earth-size, habitable-zone planets around single star

{NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope has revealed the first known system of seven Earth-size planets around a single star. Three of these planets are firmly located in the habitable zone, the area around the parent star where a rocky planet is most likely to have liquid water.}

The discovery sets a new record for greatest number of habitable-zone planets found around a single star outside our solar system. All of these seven planets could have liquid water — key to life as we know it — under the right atmospheric conditions, but the chances are highest with the three in the habitable zone.

“This discovery could be a significant piece in the puzzle of finding habitable environments, places that are conducive to life,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. “Answering the question ‘are we alone’ is a top science priority and finding so many planets like these for the first time in the habitable zone is a remarkable step forward toward that goal.”

At about 40 light-years (235 trillion miles) from Earth, the system of planets is relatively close to us, in the constellation Aquarius. Because they are located outside of our solar system, these planets are scientifically known as exoplanets.

This exoplanet system is called TRAPPIST-1, named for The Transiting Planets and Planetesimals Small Telescope (TRAPPIST) in Chile. In May 2016, researchers using TRAPPIST announced they had discovered three planets in the system. Assisted by several ground-based telescopes, including the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope, Spitzer confirmed the existence of two of these planets and discovered five additional ones, increasing the number of known planets in the system to seven.

The new results were published Wednesday in the journal Nature, and announced at a news briefing at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

Using Spitzer data, the team precisely measured the sizes of the seven planets and developed first estimates of the masses of six of them, allowing their density to be estimated.

Based on their densities, all of the TRAPPIST-1 planets are likely to be rocky. Further observations will not only help determine whether they are rich in water, but also possibly reveal whether any could have liquid water on their surfaces. The mass of the seventh and farthest exoplanet has not yet been estimated — scientists believe it could be an icy, “snowball-like” world, but further observations are needed.

“The seven wonders of TRAPPIST-1 are the first Earth-size planets that have been found orbiting this kind of star,” said Michael Gillon, lead author of the paper and the principal investigator of the TRAPPIST exoplanet survey at the University of Liege, Belgium. “It is also the best target yet for studying the atmospheres of potentially habitable, Earth-size worlds.”

In contrast to our sun, the TRAPPIST-1 star — classified as an ultra-cool dwarf — is so cool that liquid water could survive on planets orbiting very close to it, closer than is possible on planets in our solar system. All seven of the TRAPPIST-1 planetary orbits are closer to their host star than Mercury is to our sun. The planets also are very close to each other. If a person were standing on one of the planet’s surface, they could gaze up and potentially see geological features or clouds of neighboring worlds, which would sometimes appear larger than the moon in Earth’s sky.

The planets may also be tidally locked to their star, which means the same side of the planet is always facing the star, therefore each side is either perpetual day or night. This could mean they have weather patterns totally unlike those on Earth, such as strong winds blowing from the day side to the night side, and extreme temperature changes.

Spitzer, an infrared telescope that trails Earth as it orbits the sun, was well-suited for studying TRAPPIST-1 because the star glows brightest in infrared light, whose wavelengths are longer than the eye can see. In the fall of 2016, Spitzer observed TRAPPIST-1 nearly continuously for 500 hours. Spitzer is uniquely positioned in its orbit to observe enough crossing — transits — of the planets in front of the host star to reveal the complex architecture of the system. Engineers optimized Spitzer’s ability to observe transiting planets during Spitzer’s “warm mission,” which began after the spacecraft’s coolant ran out as planned after the first five years of operations.

“This is the most exciting result I have seen in the 14 years of Spitzer operations,” said Sean Carey, manager of NASA’s Spitzer Science Center at Caltech/IPAC in Pasadena, California. “Spitzer will follow up in the fall to further refine our understanding of these planets so that the James Webb Space Telescope can follow up. More observations of the system are sure to reveal more secrets.”

Following up on the Spitzer discovery, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has initiated the screening of four of the planets, including the three inside the habitable zone. These observations aim at assessing the presence of puffy, hydrogen-dominated atmospheres, typical for gaseous worlds like Neptune, around these planets.

In May 2016, the Hubble team observed the two innermost planets, and found no evidence for such puffy atmospheres. This strengthened the case that the planets closest to the star are rocky in nature.

“The TRAPPIST-1 system provides one of the best opportunities in the next decade to study the atmospheres around Earth-size planets,” said Nikole Lewis, co-leader of the Hubble study and astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. NASA’s planet-hunting Kepler space telescope also is studying the TRAPPIST-1 system, making measurements of the star’s minuscule changes in brightness due to transiting planets. Operating as the K2 mission, the spacecraft’s observations will allow astronomers to refine the properties of the known planets, as well as search for additional planets in the system. The K2 observations conclude in early March and will be made available on the public archive.

Spitzer, Hubble, and Kepler will help astronomers plan for follow-up studies using NASA’s upcoming James Webb Space Telescope, launching in 2018. With much greater sensitivity, Webb will be able to detect the chemical fingerprints of water, methane, oxygen, ozone, and other components of a planet’s atmosphere. Webb also will analyze planets’ temperatures and surface pressures — key factors in assessing their habitability.

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, manages the Spitzer Space Telescope mission for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. Science operations are conducted at the Spitzer Science Center, at Caltech, Pasadena, California. Spacecraft operations are based at Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Littleton, Colorado. Data are archived at the Infrared Science Archive housed at Caltech/IPAC. Caltech manages JPL for NASA.

Source:Science Daily

February 24, 2017
EAPCCO organs meeting on combating cross-border crimes opens in Kigali

{The Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO) Organs’ meeting started yesterday in Kigali as heads of criminal investigations departments, counter-terrorism, gender and legal met to foster cooperation to combat transnational organized crimes in the region.}

During the two-day meeting of the 34th Permanent Coordinating Committee (PCC) of the 13-EAPCCO member bloc, experts in various policing and security fields will deliberate on fragility and small arms and light weapons, challenges posed by foreign fighters and returnees; importance of including women in policing; combating drug trafficking and wildlife crimes, among others.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Emmanuel K. Gasana, while presiding over the official opening of the meeting, said that ensuring security to enhance nations’ development is one of the challenges at hand at the time when “potential partners and investors are turning their eyes on the region with interest, confidence and hope.”

He said that criminal networks in the region are trying to undermine the vision of the leaders in building a new future of the African continent in general.

“We are currently faced with emerging crime threats, and as law enforcement organs are compelled to refocus more on having modern equipment, develop strategic tools, build IT infrastructures and generate skilled personnel that matches with this trend of criminality,” IGP Gasana said.

He said that cooperation and collaborative engagement to pursue collective security, jointness in training, timely exchange of information to understand the security situation in the region is more wanting and should be made a culture.

EAPCCO bloc, he said, should fix the digital gaps in modernizing policing by also engaging other parties like banks, telecom firms, research centres and airports, among others.

The bloc composed of 13 countries has so far set standards towards police professionalism, by establishing regional centres of excellence in various domains in Peace Support Operations (PSO) and cybercrime centre to be hosted by Rwanda; community policing model in Uganda; modern forensic laboratory in Sudan; and regional counter-terrorism centre in Kenya, among others.

According to Francis Muhoro, the outgoing chair of the PCC, over the last two years, simultaneously operations were conducted in EAPCCO and SARPCO member countries which led to the seizure of illegal products.

Rwanda, during the meeting, took over the PCC chairmanship with ACP Morris Muligo, the commissioner for CID assuming the role.

At least 4, 500 people, according to Muhoro, were arrested in the operation codenamed ‘Usalama III’ in the two regions over crimes related to human, drugs and arms trafficking, people smuggling, terrorism, motor-vehicle theft, and environmental crimes.

Through searches conducted in Interpol databases by member countries, about 30 stolen vehicles were recovered over the last two years, and victims of human trafficking were rescued in Namibia, Rwanda and Uganda.

About 12 of the vehicles were recovered in Kenya and Tanzania.

“Illicit goods including drugs, guns, ammunitions, and minerals of gold, in excess of US2.043 million were seized,” said Muhoro.

Meanwhile, the 18th council of Chiefs of Police adopted various resolutions, some of which are yet to be implemented by member states.

These include the establishing the ‘population and search of Interpol database,’ extension of I-24/7 communication tool beyond National Central Bureaus, ratification of legal agreements and operationalisation of centres of excellence, among others.

Gedion Kimilu, the head of Interpol regional bureau in Nairobi, said that organized criminals are taking advantage of the two busiest ports in the region – Mombasa in Kenya and Dar es Salaam for their ill-intents.

The terror syndicates now using East Africa route and the recent seizure of 500kgs of cocaine in Djibouti from Brazil, Kimilu said, is clear testimony of the vulnerability of the region to drug trafficking menace.

Source:Police

February 24, 2017
4 steps you must be willing to take to deal with fear

{There are so many fears people have, and one thing fear does is that it puts you under control. When you are afraid, you are under subjection, as far as that thing is concerned, and until you deal with that fear, it’ll forever have a grip on you.}

To deal with your fears, you must be willing to take any of these steps:

{{1. Determine what you are afraid of }}

You ought to understand and be specific about what you are afraid of. You can’t say, “I’m afraid of talking”; that’s too broad. Rather, you can say “I’m are afraid of public speaking”, “I’m afraid that people won’t like what I say in public”, “I’m afraid people won’t like me” etc. These are a bit more specific and will help you understand specifically what you are dealing with.

{{2. Start dealing with your inside mind }}

This is the next important step you must take, if you want to beat that fear. There’s always that voice deep within telling you to be afraid, reminding you why you are afraid and giving you reasons why you should be afraid; if you can deal with that inside voice, then over 70% of your fears will be gone. So, stop listening to the inside voice and start replacing it with positive thoughts — thoughts that tell you, “I can do it”, “there’s nothing to be afraid of”. If you can pass this mental block, you have almost dealt with your fears.

{{3. Start thinking of the benefits of dealing with your fears }}

There are always benefits associated with handling your fears, and enjoying those benefits will make you feel whole again. If you have a phobia for swimming, just imagine how relaxed you’d feel if you can join others in swimming and partaking in the fun most people have by the poolside. If you have a phobia for travelling by air, imagine how fast and less stressful it’d be to reach your destination in no time.

When you start thinking of the benefits of dealing with your fears, you’ll get motivated to handle those fears.

{{4. Face your fears }}

At the end you just have to face your fears, and it shouldn’t just be once. Facing your fears should be a continuous and repeated process. The previous steps are all geared at getting you mentally prepped to face your fears, and they’ll be of no use if you don’t eventually face your fears. You just have to hit your fears head on, and you have to keep going at it.

Source:Elcrema

February 24, 2017
Ball-rolling bees reveal complex learning

{Bumblebees can be trained to score goals using a mini-ball, revealing unprecedented learning abilities, according to scientists at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL).}

Their study, published in the journal Science, suggests that species whose lifestyle demands advanced learning abilities could learn entirely new behaviours if there is ecological pressure.

Project supervisor and co-author Professor Lars Chittka from QMUL’s School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, said: “Our study puts the final nail in the coffin of the idea that small brains constrain insects to have limited behavioural flexibility and only simple learning abilities.”

Previous research has shown that bumblebees could solve a range of cognitive tasks, but these have so far resembled tasks similar to the bees’ natural foraging routines, such as pulling strings to obtain food.

This study examines bees’ behavioral flexibility to carry out tasks that are not naturally encountered by the insects.

“We wanted to explore the cognitive limits of bumblebees by testing whether they could use a non-natural object in a task likely never encountered before by any individual in the evolutionary history of bees,” said Dr Clint Perry, joint lead author and also from QMUL’s School of Biological and Chemical Sciences.

The experiment required the bees to move a ball to a specified location to obtain a reward of food. The insects were first trained to know the correct location of the ball on a platform. Subsequently, to obtain their reward, the bees had to move a displaced ball to the specified location.

To learn the technique, the bees were trained under one of three conditions: some observed a previously trained bee move the furthest ball to the centre to gain reward, others received a “ghost” demonstration, where a magnet hidden underneath the platform was used to move the ball, and a third group received no demonstration, where they found the ball already at the centre of the platform with reward.

The bees that observed the technique from a live or model demonstrator learned the task more efficiently than those observing a “ghost” demonstration or without demonstration.

Joint lead author Dr Olli J. Loukola, said: “The bees solved the task in a different way than what was demonstrated, suggesting that observer bees did not simply copy what they saw, but improved on it. This shows an impressive amount of cognitive flexibility, especially for an insect.”

During the demonstrations, the researchers placed three yellow balls at varying distances from the centre. The “demonstrator” bees always moved the furthest ball to the centre, and always from the same spatial location, since they had been trained under conditions where the closer balls were immobile. Untrained bees were given three opportunities to watch a skilled bee perform the task in this manner.

In later tests, when these untrained bees were tested without the presence of a skilled demonstrator, bees moved the closest ball instead of the furthest ball, which they had seen the demonstrator moving. In another experiment, the bees also used a differently coloured ball than previously encountered.

Dr Loukola added: “It may be that bumblebees, along with many other animals, have the cognitive capabilities to solve such complex tasks, but will only do so if environmental pressures are applied to necessitate such behaviours.”

Source:Science Daily

February 24, 2017
9 things women do unknowingly that kill their orgasm

{Women complain most times about their inability to reach orgasm, and it isn’t just about the women, men also complain when their lady is unable to reach orgasmic heights; it kills the ego in a man when he feels he cannot satisfy his partner.}

Surprisingly, research has revealed that there could be so many things hindering a woman from reaching orgasm which she isn’t even aware of.

9 things women should be wary of as regarding their orgasm:

{{1. Feeling bad about yourself }}

The way a woman feels about herself can affect her orgasm unknowingly to her. If you feel good about yourself it would help your body’s response to a better sexual desire; if you feel bad about yourself, it would be harder to enjoy sex and it would even be more difficult to reach orgasm as you don’t enjoy the sex. Exercising would help a lot as it improves blood flow and when there is adequate blood flow to the genital, it would improve orgasmic level.

{{2. Sitting for too long on a chair }}

You might be busy at work on a chair and think it’s okay to seat for too long but it isn’t, a little stretch and walking around would help you a lot. When you sit for too long, it could shorten the muscles of the pelvic floor and by this, the tightness of the muscles can be a hindrance to orgasm.

{{3. Antidepressants }}

If you are stuck with taking antidepressants then you should watch this as it could possibly affect your orgasmic level. Research has shown that up to 96 percent of women who take antidepressants report a sexual side effect of the drug. However, exercising can help alleviate the mood killing effect of antidepressants.

{{4. Lack of concentration }}

Some women don’t know this, but concentration is highly important if you are going to attain climax. It isn’t just about hitting the sheets but it’s about using the right frame of mind. When your mind is carried away from the moment, you can never feel that drive to reach climax. Lack of concentration kills orgasm.

{{5. Unnecessary talking }}

Some people are turned on by erotic words during sex; however, unnecessary chatter can kill the mood. Fewer words and more action would be a better suggestion. Talking too much can actually turn your partner off, and not just your partner, it can also kill your concentration level.

{{6. Too much alcohol }}

A little booze might stir you up to have sex, but anything massive can impair your concentration level during sex and it would have an adverse effect on your orgasmic level. Drunken sex can impair judgement and concentration level during sex—two prerequisites for reaching climax.

{{7. You don’t drink enough water }}

Lack of water can also affect your orgasmic level. Our bodies need water to function well and a lack of it can lead to poor orgasmic level as well. With water and other hydrating fluids, you would have a surer orgasm than without it.

{{8. You don’t know how your body works}}

Every woman should know how her body works and the right places that make her more sensitive to orgasm, but not every woman knows this. According to experts the most important aspect for any woman wanting to become orgasmic is to explore her own body and discover what she likes, what feels good and how to have orgasms alone before engaging in sex with a partner.

{{9. Excessive wearing of high heels }}

Christian Louboutin became famous for saying that high heels are a sexual abuse because the arch of the foot is exactly the same position as a woman’s foot when she orgasms. So even when you know that high heels are extremely sexy you should be cautious about it as too much of it could just be hindering your orgasm.

Almost each year, research is being carried out for causes and solutions to why most women can’t reach climax. Studies have shown that only 25 percent of women orgasm during sex while 75 percent need an extra sort of stimulation to make them orgasm and worse still, 10 to 15 percent have never reached orgasm.

There are a thousand and one reasons as to this and these nine tips could go a long way.

Source:Elcrema

February 24, 2017
Tanzania:They are safe, Mahiga says of deportees

{Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Minister, Ambassador Augustine Mahiga said yesterday that the ministry is closely watching Tanzanians currently deported from Mozambique to ensure that they are safe.}

The minister insisted that immigration officials in Mtwara Region were conducting a rigorous vetting of the travel documents to ensure non-Tanzanians are not using the loophole to sneak into the country, illegally.

Speaking at a news conference in Dar es Salaam, Dr Mahiga came out strongly to deny reports that security machineries in Mozambique were subjecting Tanzanian deportees to torture and excessive use of forces.

“In any operation, there are always such complaints where some security personnel can sometimes push a person or do anything in the course of discharging their duties. “But we have been making close monitoring in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Tanzanian authorities in Mozambique and found out that the claims are false,” he explained.

The minister further allayed fears among Tanzanians that the operation to flush out illegal immigrants in Mozambique was targeting Tanzanians, saying it was a normal crackdown on illegal immigrants. He said even Tanzania had previously conducted similar operations to kick out undocumented immigrants.

However, the minister said that Southern African Development Community (SADC) Foreign Ministers are meeting in Dar es Salaam today at the Mwalimu Nyerere Convention Centre to discuss various issues in the region.

He hinted that the Foreign Affairs and Cooperation minister of Mozambique is among the 14 foreign ministers who were expected in the country yesterday to attend the crucial meeting.

Dr Mahiga who will chair the meeting was however not certain if the ongoing crackdown on illegal immigrants would feature in the deliberations.

President John Magufuli currently chairs the SADC, with Dr Mahiga chairing the Council of Ministers.

Source:Daily News

February 24, 2017
UN removes Burundi staff officer from its peacekeeping mission

{The UN has removed from its peacekeeping mission Major Nicolas Budigi over allegations of human rights violations in Burundi.}

The UN has repatriated Burundi army officer Major Nicolas Budigi from MINUSCA, a UN peacekeeping mission in Central African Republic (CAR).

The repatriation followed allegations that the officer has been involved in acts of human rights violations in Burundi in 2015.

“We were asked [by the Inner City Press] about allegations of human rights violations regarding an individual staff officer from Burundi deployed to our mission in the Central African Republic, MINUSCA, in January”, said UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq during the noon briefing session on 21 February 2017.

He said that after looking into the “information received by the Secretariat regarding these serious allegations from 2015, prior to deployment with MINUSCA, we have decided to repatriate the officer with immediate effect”.

Gaspard Baratuza, the spokesman for the Burundi Army, reticently says the repatriation was made on the basis of unfounded accusations relayed on Twitter by detractors of the officer who “attacked him starting when he was deployed”.

“Those who decided to expel him from the peacekeeping mission did not come and make their own investigations”, he says. “They relied only on allegations by people like Pacifique [Nininahazwe, an exiled rights activist] who are against him probably because he refused to do what they asked him to do for them”.

Major Budigi was deployed to the MINUSCA last January. The UN Deputy Spokesman said he didn’t know how the officer avoided the first screening. He said after the allegations were brought to the UN, “there has been some further look into the allegations against Mr Budigi and as a result of that he’s been repatriated”.

The UN has banned from its peacekeeping missions a number of Burundi army officers, including the current Army Spokesman Gaspard Baratuza, alleged to have violated human rights.

Source:Iwacu

February 24, 2017
HRCC sees extradition treaty as leeway for Murekezi to be sent to Rwanda

{The Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC), has welcomed government of Malawi and Rwanda has finally signed the long awaited Extradition Treaty which will pave way for the extradition of suspected Rwandan genocide convict Vincent Murekezi who sought refuge in Malawi since 2003. }

Recently, the Lilongwe Principal Resident Magistrate Court dismissed the extradition case against Murekezi.

Principal Resident Magistrate (PRM) Patrick Chilunga Chirwa cited a number of irregularities in the manner in which the State presented the case in court and failure by the State to satisfy the requirements for extradition to countries which have no bilateral treaties with Malawi.

HRCC blamed the prosecuting authority and Ministry of Justice & Constitution Affairs as well as the Attorney General’s office for failure to advise the Police on relevant legal provisions to use in pursuing this matter.

The watchdog now welcomes the Extradition Treary guaranteeing the repatriation of Rwandese Nationals to their country on their role in the Genocide.

“While as an entrepreneur, Mr. Mulekezi may have been contributing to the growth of our economy through taxes (assuming he was compliant), HRCC would not like to be party to benefiting from ‘Blood Money!’ It is a known fact that Millions of Rwandese lost their lives in the Genocide and for Malawi to harbor a person tried and convicted in the Rwandese courts on such acts is a great deceit to the people of Rwanda, and International Community, whose instruments we ratified and domesticated seeking to promote the sanctity of life by guaranteeing right to life and condemnations of acts genocide on people of various nations.

“Our continued hosting of Mulekezi and believably other Rwanda suspects, means we are aiding and abating criminals thereby sending a message to the world that Malawi is a safe heaven for criminals i.e. genocide actors,” HRCC Boss Robert Mkwezalamba said.

The signing agreement between Kigali and Lilongwe comes just days after the two Capitals successfully concluded the first ever Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation which was held in Lilongwe.

The signing ceremony took place in Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation headquarters at Capital Hill in Lilongwe where Malawi was represented by Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Kasaila who was accompanied by Justice Minister Samuel Tembenu and Rwanda was represented by Minister of Justice and Attorney General Johnston Busingye.

Speaking during the ceremony Kasaila said the treaties signed will go a long way in resolving the difficulties which had been there between Malawi and Rwanda in as far as matters of extradition of nationals who are in conflict with the law in the two countries are concerned.

“We do not take for granted the effort taken by Rwanda, to send a delegation to travel to Malawi just a few days after the Joint Permanent Commission was concluded. This shows the extent to which the government of Rwanda is committed to the cooperation with Malawi,” said Kasaila.

Rwandan Justice Minister Busingye, when asked if this treaty will pave way for Murekezi’s extradition, said this will be up to the prosecution authorities to take up the matter.

“The signing of these treaties has created an enabling environment which pave way for them to take advantage of the agreements in them treaty for it has removed the impediments that were there in extraditing people in both countries,’’ said Busingye.

Rwanda has been persuading their Malawian counterparts to send back home Rwandan nationals who were allegedly involved in the 1994 genocide who have been hiding in the country but failed to make any breakthrough because of the corrupt system of government officials who have been giving citizenship, passports and work permits in exchange of kickbacks.

The signing of the treaty by the two countries has been touted as a major breakthrough in having Rwandan citizens who were hiding in the country to be extradited and answer charges back home for the heinous crimes they committed.

Apart from the Extradition Treaty, the two capitals have also signed The Agreement on the Transfer of Convicted Persons between the two countries and the Memorandum of

Understanding between Malawi Prison Service and Rwanda Correctional Service on the Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Offenders, Human Resource Development Transfer of Sentenced of Persons of Sports and Culture.

Malawi is believed to be hosting about 5,000 Rwandan nationals, 36 of which are believed to have actively been involved in the genocide and some of whom are based at Dzaleka Refugee Camp while many others have been integrated into the Malawian society and are running businesses.

Police arrested Murekezi on December 8 2016 after a grouping calling itself Concerned Citizens piled pressure on government to have the Rwandese extradited over genocide case.

The suspected fugitive offender has lived in Malawi Malawi since 2003. He initially applied for temporary residence permit after securing police clearance.

Source:Nyasa Times

February 24, 2017
ATL gets new management

{On 10th February 2017, the third meeting of the Board of Directors of Aviation Travel and Logistics Holding Ltd (ATL) approved the appointment of Mr. Lucky Cheong as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Mr. Seong-Soo Kang as the Chief Operating Officer of the holding.}

The reforms are intended to improve financial performance, sustainability and growth of the sector and creation of a regional aviation hub, airport city and a competitive national airline.

Mr. Lucky Cheong (from Singapore) is a Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineer, MBA holder with a 37-year experience in the aviation industry, particularly in establishing and managing airlines. In addition, he has been involved extensively in business and cost management strategies, aircraft acquisitions and financing, and managing growth strategy of airlines.

Mr. Seong-Soo (Michael) Kang (from South-Korea) is a Civil Engineer, MBA holder, specialized in Airport Operations & Management. In his career, he has built a strong experience in master planning and construction of major airports.

The Board of Directors of ATL is confident that the new management will efficiently be part of the implementation of Rwandan Policies in air transport and play an important role in the development of the tourism and logistics in Rwanda.

“We warmly welcome Mr. Cheong and Mr. Kang in Rwanda and wish them success in their assignments,”reads the statement from ATL.

The Aviation Travel and Logistics Holding Ltd (ATL) is a company established by the Government of Rwanda in October 2015 focusing on air transport, logistics and tourism services and products in Rwanda.

ATL is comprised of five subsidiaries: RwandAir (the national airline), Airports Company Rwanda Ltd-ACR, Akagera Aviation Ltd (the general aviation and training company), Rwanda Tours & Events Ltd-RTE (as the flagship of the tourism sector) and Rwanda Links Logistics Ltd-RLL (a new cargo and freight handling company).

February 23, 2017
WFP in Rwanda welcomes Japan’s contribution for Burundian refugees

{The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today thanked the Government of Japan for its latest contribution of 165 million Japanese Yen (US$1.46 million), which will be used to provide food to over 53,000 Burundian refugees living in Mahama Refugee Camp and reception centres. }

“The Japanese contribution is much appreciated and very timely,” said Mr Jean-Pierre de Margerie, WFP Rwanda Country Director. “ It will allow WFP to continue general food distribution to over 53,000 Burundian refugees in Rwanda for the coming months”

“The people of Japan are acutely aware that nutrition is the very foundation of health and is therefore stepping up its support for the alleviation of hunger and malnutrition among the most vulnerable people and this is why we have decided to intervene through WFP immediately after the previous assistance in last December amounting up to 140 million Japanese Yens (USD 1.4 million)” said H.E.Mr. Takayuki Miyashita, the Japanese Ambassador to Rwanda, at the time of the exchange of letters, which took place inFebruary 2017 in Rome, Italy to formalize the donation.

WFP is currently providing food assistance to more than 150,000 people each month, under its refugee operations in Rwanda; these include 138,000Burundian and Congolese women, men and children residing in refugee camps in Rwanda, who entirely depend on assistance to meet their daily food needs, having limited access to income generating activities; 12,200 school children from the host community attending the same schools as the refugee children; and one-off nine months food distributions to an average of 500 Rwandan returnees, on monthly basis.

In addition to the monthly general food distribution to refugees, WFP also provides specialized nutritious foods to reverse acute malnutrition for children under five years of age; prevention of malnutrition for children aged six months to two years of age and pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers; and people living with HIV/AIDS & TB patients in the camps.

A recent joint mass screening among children under five by UNHCR, UNICEF and WFP has revealed that the prevalence of global acute malnutrition (GAM) is decreasing over time compared to the last screening (from 4.1% in July 2015 to 2.6 % in December 2016), among camp based Burundian refugees. In Mahama camp, 46% of Burundi refugees are children.

These great nutritional advances have been made possible by the generosity of countries like Japan, who now ranks among WFP Rwanda’s top five donors.

February 23, 2017