Author: Théophile Niyitegeka

7 times you have broken the law without knowing it

{Not everyone is informed when it comes to the laws governing an area or country, that’s why sometimes, people break the law without knowing it. We all have been guilty of something like that at some point in our lives; but of course, we got lucky enough to get away with it.}

I present to you, those common laws you’ve probably broken without knowing it.

{{ Driving too slow}}

Speeding too much is bad, but so is driving too slow, depending on the area and the speed limit it has. Sometimes, we get carried away by things around us, but it’s wrong, and punishable to drive too slow. Always pay attention to speed limits.

{{Jaywalking }}

Jaywalking is crossing a busy road without regard for traffic laws. Each city, country has traffic laws that control pedestrians, cars, etc, and you’re expected to obey them. Crossing the road casually without regard for incoming traffic isn’t just dangerous, but can also land you in jail in countries with strict traffic laws.

{{ Eating an item before you pay}}

Some of us have done this before without knowing the implications of what they’re doing. When you eat anything gotten from a store before you pay for it, that can be translated as theft. Because the owners have no idea what you’re doing.

{{ Sharing passwords}}

Your password is meant for you, and you alone. You’re not expected to disclose it to anyone else. If you do, it can be deemed a breach of contract, and legal action taken. It rarely happens, but it’s a fact.

{{Drinking alcohol on a Sunday }}

Obviously, this law isn’t applicable everywhere. In most parts of the world, nothing’s wrong with it, but in other parts, it’s considered unlawful to buy alcohol on a Sunday.

{{ Cycling without a helmet}}

Some of us think only motorcyclists have to wear a helmet, but while this is true in some countries, there are parts of the world where all cyclists are required to wear a helmet for safety purposes.

{{ Using other people’s songs without their permission }}

Unless you’re playing the song on your device, and you’re not using it for some other purpose, then you have no reason to worry. However, if you use an artist’s song as part of your own personal work, like using the song of your favorite Singer as background sound for an instagram video, you can land in jail for copyright infringement. You cannot use another person’s intellectual property without their permission.

Now, you know how you’ve been breaking laws without knowing!

January 27, 2017
New gene-delivery therapy restores partial hearing, balance in deaf mice

{Using a novel form of gene therapy, scientists from Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General Hospital have managed to restore partial hearing and balance in mice born with a genetic condition that affects both.}

The new model overcomes a long-standing barrier to accessing hair cells, the delicate sensors in the inner ear that capture sound and head movement and convert them to neural signals for hearing and balance. These cells have been notoriously difficult to treat with previous gene-delivery techniques.

The team’s findings, published in the February issue of Molecular Therapy, show that the treatment leads to notable gains in hearing and allows mice that would normally be completely deaf to hear the equivalent of a loud conversation. The approach also improved the animals’ sense of balance.

An accompanying commentary to the study appears in the same issue.

The investigators caution the approach is years away from use in humans, but gene therapy carries the promise of restoring hearing in people with several forms of both genetic and acquired deafness. Some 30 million Americans suffer from hearing loss, and every year about one in 1,000 babies are born with hearing impairment, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

On their quest to restore hearing through gene therapy, scientists have long sought ways to improve gene delivery into hair cells. Previous approaches were only marginally effective as they reached one set of hair cells in the inner ear, but another subset — equally critical for hearing — remained largely impenetrable.

“To treat most forms of hearing loss, we need to find a delivery mechanism that works for all types of hair cells,” said neurobiologist David Corey, co-senior investigator on the study and the Bertarelli Professor of Translational Medical Science at HMS.

To achieve that, the researchers used the common adeno-associated virus (AAV). The virus has been already used as a gene-delivery vehicle for retinal disorders but thus far has proven far less efficient in penetrating hair cells.

To super-charge AAV as a gene carrier into the inner ear, the team used a form of the virus wrapped in protective bubbles called exosomes, an approach recently developed by study co-investigators Casey Maguire, HMS assistant professor of neurology at the Mass General, and Xandra Breakefield, HMS professor of neurology at Mass General.

Maguire and colleagues grew regular AAV virus inside cells. Those cells naturally bud off exosomes — tiny bubbles made of cell membrane — that carry the virus inside them. The membrane wrapping around the virus is coated with proteins that bind to cell receptors. This, Maguire said, may be the reason why the bubble-wrapped form of AAV, or exo-AAV, binds more easily to the surfaces of hair cells and penetrates them more efficiently.

“Unlike current approaches in the field, we didn’t change or directly modify the virus. Instead, we gave it a vehicle to travel in, making it better capable of navigating the terrain inside the inner ear and accessing previously resistant cells,” said Maguire, who is also co-senior author on the study.

In lab dish experiments, exo-AAV successfully penetrated 50-60 percent of hair cells, the researchers observed. By contrast, AAV alone reached a mere 20 percent of hair cells.

To test the approach in living animals, the researchers worked with mice born without a gene critical for hair cell function. Such animals normally cannot hear even the loudest sounds and exhibit poor balance.

Researchers Bence György and Cyrille Sage, first authors on the study, injected exo-AAV preloaded with the missing gene into the inner ears of mouse pups, shortly after birth.

Post-treatment tests revealed that the gene entered between 30 and 70 percent of hair cells, reaching both inner and outer hair cells.

A month after treatment, nine of 12 mice had some level of hearing restored and could be startled by a loud clap, a standard behavioral test for hearing. Four could hear sounds of 70 to 80 decibel intensity, the rough equivalent of conversation in a loud restaurant.

Because hair cells are also critical for the sense of balance, mice with damaged or missing hair cells show balance abnormalities. Treated mice had notably improved balance, compared with their untreated counterparts, showing far less head tossing or running in circles, both markers of instability or disorientation.

The team now plans to improve their gene-delivery technique in an attempt to reach an even greater proportion of hair cells. The scientists will test the approach in other forms of deafness, including conditions that cause both deafness and blindness.

January 27, 2017
Isotopic similarities seen in materials that formed Earth, moon

{Most scientific models contend Earth formed gradually by addition from an assortment of moon- to Mars-sized masses that had a vast array of isotopic characteristics. New research published Jan. 26 in Nature maintains Earth, as well as the moon and certain meteorites, were formed from materials that were more similar, holding almost indistinguishable isotopic characteristics.}

“Earth accreted from an isotopically homogenous reservoir,” said Nicolas Dauphas, the Louis Block Professor in Geophysical Sciences, the study’s author. “In terms of colors, you could say that it was not ‘green, blue, red,’ but rather ‘green, green, green.’”

By analyzing data for certain elements, Dauphas was able to decipher the isotopic nature of the material that formed Earth. Anomalies in the elements provided “fingerprints” to recreate the formation process, helping to establish “genetic ties” between planetary bodies and their building blocks.

Meteorite Isotopic characteristics of Earth, moon and meteorites (pictured here) help identify their origins.Courtesy ofProf. Nicholas Dauphasdownload Configure Dauphas used the isotopic similarities he found in select elements to record the stages of Earth’s formation. Soon after Earth formed 4.5 billion years ago and as its core grew, the core attracted elements that had strong affinities for metal. As core formation was almost complete, however, such elements — as they continued to arrive from space — were left to reside in the mantle.

This helps explain the age of parts of Earth and the role they played in forming our planet, Dauphas said. “For example, I can tell you that the coin in your pocket with the image of Jefferson on it contains no nickel from the first 60 percent of Earth’s accretion because the core scavenged that early-to-arrive nickel.”

In addition, Dauphas’ research reveals that a rare type of extraterrestrial material known as enstatite meteorites (named after a mineral they contain in abundance) formed half of the first 60 percent of Earth. After that, 100 percent of the rest of Earth was formed by enstatite-type impactors.

“Before this work, the question of the nature of Earth’s accreting material through time was mostly rhetorical,” said Dauphas. “By studying high-precision measurements, we have shown that Earth, the moon and meteorites with a high concentration of the mineral enstatite have almost indistinguishable isotopic compositions.”

The formation of the moon

The findings shed light on the formation of the moon, which has been difficult to explain using the simplest models of Earth’s formation. Such models show Earth and moon were formed by varied materials with different isotopic compositions.

“The moon is isotopically similar to Earth,” Dauphas said. “Therefore the giant impactor that struck Earth soon after it was created, thereby forming the moon, most likely had a similar isotopic composition to Earth.”

This work also shows that the material that was used to make Earth was ordered, said David Stevenson, the Marvin L. Goldberger Professor of Planetary Science at Caltech, who was not involved in the research. “The ordering was such that the Mars-mass projectile that hit Earth and most probably led to the formation of the moon was very similar to Earth at that time. This makes it easier to understand why Earth and moon are so strikingly similar — a similarity that has been a major puzzle for more than a decade.”

Dauphas’ method offers “an elegant approach” for sourcing the materials that made up Earth, Stevenson concluded.

January 27, 2017
7 caring tips every woman should know

{Many women aren’t knowledgeable about how to care for their man, and to a lot of women, men don’t need those stuffs. But the truth remains that a caring woman will always have a soft spot in a man’s heart.}

These are some ways you can care for your man, and make him happier.

1. Listen to him and be conscious of how he feels. Men also feel cared for when they are listened to; giving him a listening ear is one of the best ways to show him that you really care.

2. Make him a priority in your life. He wants you to value him and make him feel important; if you can achieve this, then you have actually shown him that you care.

3. Give him attention. Unknown to women, men also seek and value attention. If he has to beg for your attention, then you aren’t doing a good job.

4. Don’t always be centred on yourself; care about the needs of your man as well. When you are interested in his needs, you reach a certain part of his life that no one else would.

5. Compliment him, make him feel handsome, and always admire him when he looks good. Complimenting your man can make him feel alive again.

6. Appreciate him, appreciate his work and appreciate everything that he does for you. Appreciating your man is one of the best ways you can care for him.

7. Nothing says “I love you” more than a woman who does stuffs to thrill her man. Plan romantic dates too and do stuffs to excite him; don’t wait for him to do everything alone.

Being a caring woman is the best way to tell him that you love him.

January 27, 2017
Senator queries imprisoning victims of abortion circumstances, juveniles

{Senator Ntawukuriryayo has requested law enforcement officers to revise abortion law as indiscriminate jailing of all girls and women suspected of committing the offense visits double punishments because some of them may have been raped or defiled.}

The call has been made today as the state minister of state for constitutional reform and legal affairs in the Ministry of Justice, Evode Uwizeyimana presented to the Rwanda’s Senate Commission in charge of Social Welfare and Human Rights, policies of pursuing and penalizing offenders.

“Sometimes a child gets pregnant after defilement. When she aborts, she gets imprisoned other than rehabilitating her. So, this becomes double oppression. There should be discussions to offer justice to children jailed under such circumstances,” said senator Ntawukuriryayo.

Minister Uwizeyimana said the issue has been given much attention and is reflected in the recent presidential pardon to children. She explained that more efforts will be directed towards rehabilitation. President Paul Kagame recently pardoned 62 juveniles and women jailed for abortion. The latter included children under 16.

January 26, 2017
Tigo Rwanda to connect over 1,000 schools countrywide to online education

{Tigo Rwanda is partnering with a local ICT firm to extend online education to students in over 1,000 private and public schools across the country by the end of 2017.}

This partnership, which was initiated by Data Systems Limited, a company that brings together young Rwandan programmers, entails setting up state-of the art computer labs in schools, providing affordable internet, and computers along with the E-Shuri platform.

This partnership was announced by the Tigo Rwanda Chief Business Officer, AmitChawla, on the 20th, January, while speaking at the launch of E-Shuri, an online and offline education platform that uses the national education curriculum content to engage students inside and outside the classroom in order to enhance their understanding of the material taught by their teachers.

The E-Shuri platform gives students individual access to the education material as well as online coaching with professional teachers; this allows students the opportunity to learn at their own pace.

During the launch of E-Shuri, secondary school girls as young as 15 years of age demonstrated the various applications they had developed to respond to everyday issues.

In order for students around the country to benefit from the E-Shuri platform, Tigo will provide the connectivity backbone of the project and allied hardware.

AmitChawla said; “Education is at the core of Rwanda’s development initiatives and at Tigo Business we want to ensure that through our seamless connectivity and expansive bandwidth availability, we are able to partner with the Government in its goal of creating a knowledge-based and ICT savvy economy. Through this programme we aim to increase internet utilisation in all parts of the country no matter how isolated.”

In his keynote address, the Chief Executive Officer of Tigo Rwanda, Philip Amoateng, said; “Tigo is happy to be part of such a revolutionary project that aims to enhance the skills of Rwandan students from an early stage because they are future of the nation. With the skills they learn they will be able to compete favourably in the global ICT village”.

The E-Shuri platform includes ‘Robotics’, a visually animated coding application developed by ‘Intelikom’ an Israeli ICT company. Robotics aims to ensure that science, engineering and mathematics are adopted by Rwandan students of all genders at an early age.

January 26, 2017
Rubavu kidney patients using Mutuelle de santé denied treatment

{Rubavu residents have raised concern over the health centers’ failure to give them treatment under Mutuelle de santé medical scheme, especially if their ailments are related to the kidney performance, referring most of them to seek medical check-up from Gisenyi Hospital where a Dialysis machine has been installed. }

Munyaburanga Olive, a female caretaker of her husband suffering from a kidney ailment has told RBA that she is required to pay over Rwf 1 million per month to get medical attention. “I pay Rwf 1,080,000 per month. We pay the hard-earned money for treatment, otherwise the patient would be dead by now. ,” she said.

A number of patients and or their extended families in the area are said to have sold their properties to get money to foot medical bills leaving them wallowing in deeper poverty. They have appealed for government intervention to allow them get kidney treatment using Mutuelle de santé.

“We are overwhelmed with huge medical bills. It would be better if the government helped us to get assisted using mutuelle de santé,” said one patient.

Maj. Dr. Kanyankore William, the director of Gisenyi Hospital said that almost 95 % of kidney patients use mutuelle de santé yet its insurance doesn’t cover payments of kidney disease.

“Patients don’t come to us because most of them use mutuelle de santé. The equipment used to treat kidneys are expensive but we are holding discussions so that mutuelle de santé subscribers can be treated,” he said.

Gisenyi is among the four Hospitals in Rwanda with kidney treatment capabilities. Others include King Faisal Hospital, University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK) andUniversity Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB).

January 26, 2017
Relief as Eastern Province gets solar-powered water treatment equipment

{Water scarcity in the Eastern Province is set to be addressed within three months following the inauguration of a new joint project between the government of Rwanda and Green Water, a Swedish company. }

The CEO of Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC), Sano James said in a press briefing yesterday that the project will provide water treating machines using solar energy to purify water before use.

The Eastern Province has been faced with incessant and episodic water shortages with residents consuming dirty water.

“The water treatment equipment purifying water using solar power will draw water from Akagera River and extend it to villages to reduce the health and wild-animal risks involved,” said Sano.

He explained that the initiative will go a long way in reducing health hazards and avoid risks of encountering wild animals while fetching water from water points.

The Rwf 250 million joint project to which Rwanda will contribute Rwf 70 million with remaining fund to be poured in by Green Water will develop five water treatment centers in Bugesera and five in Nyagatare districts.

Sano explained that the system was adopted taking into account remote areas where availing ordinary infrastructures would be expensive and would take long time to accomplish.

The target of the government of Rwanda is to get all Rwandans access safe water at 100% by 2020 from the current 90% in urban centers and 84% in rural areas. Safe water access from across the country is currently estimated at 85%.

January 26, 2017
Tigo 4G offers free English Premier League and NBA basketball with Kwesé

{Tigo is excited to announce a partnership with Kwesé Sports that allows customers who buy Tigo 4G LTE packs worth Frw 1,500 and above to stream free English Premier League and La Liga games on their smart phones and tablets. In addition, customers can stream other exciting sports such as NBA basketball and car racing live via the Kwesé app.}

In addition to sports, Tigo 4G LTE customers will also access to premium entertainment and news from channels such as Al Jazeera and France24 right on their smartphones.

Tigo is excited to announce a partnership with Kwesé Sports that allows customers who buy Tigo 4G LTE packs worth Frw 1,500 and above to stream free English Premier League and La Liga games on their smart phones and tablets. In addition, customers can stream other exciting sports such as NBA basketball and car racing live via the Kwesé app.

In addition to sports, Tigo 4G LTE customers will also access to premium entertainment and news from channels such as Al Jazeera and France24 right on their smartphones.

Commenting on the partnership with Kwesé, the Chief Commercial Officer of Tigo Rwanda, Yaw AnkomaAgyapong, said;

“The introduction of this exciting product is part of our mission at Tigo to lead the adoption of the Digital Lifestyle. With this, all our customers have to do is purchase any of our 4G packs from Frw 1,500 and they will receive bonus data to stream free content from the Kwesé app. This is just the start of our work to expand Tigo’s portfolio of digital services for our data customers, there is more to come.”

{{How it works}}

1.Download the Kwesé app on Google Play or App store to enjoy free English Premier League, La Liga football games and other sporting action.

2.Dial *310#, purchase a Tigo 4G LTE pack worth Frw 1,500 or more and you are ready to enjoy free sports and entertainment from Kwesé!

Up to 31st January, all content on Kwesé will be free. Afterwards, some content will only be available for a small fee.

{{What is Kwesé?}}

Kwesé is brought to you by Econet Media, a subsidiary of Econet, a leading diversified telecommunications group with investments and operations across Africa, Europe, South America and the East Asia Pacific Rim.

{{About Tigo Rwanda}}

Tigo Rwanda is owned by Millicom, a leading telecommunications and media company uniquely dedicated to emerging markets in Latin America and Africa. It provides mobile, mobile financial, cable and satellite services to over 60 million customers in fourteen countries, primarily under the Tigo brand. Tigo has been operating in Africa since 1993, in Rwanda since 2009, and serves over 26 million customers in Africa.

January 26, 2017
AU overhaul recommendations due

{Only five days are left for President Paul Kagame to present recommendations meant to see the overhauling of the African Union during the 28thAfrican Union Summit to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where it has headquarters. }

The meeting will host a wide range of activities including elections of the chairperson of AU commission.

East Africa will be represented by Fowsiyo Yusuf Haji Adan, the former foreign affairs ministers of Somalia and Amina Mohammed of Kenya.

The overhaul committee includes Rwandan Dr. Donald Kaberuka, the former President of the African Development Bank, and DrAchaLeke – a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Co.; Dr. Carlos Lopes, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Strive Masiyiwa – Executive Chairman of Econet Wireless, and Tito Mboweni, former Governor of the South African Reserve Bank.

Others include a team of women : J. Mohammed – Nigeria’s Minister of Environment; Mariam MahamatNour – the Chadian Minister of Economy, Planning, and International Cooperation; Cape Verde’s Cristina Duarte – the Former Minister of Finance and Planning, and Cameroonian economist Vera Songwe, the Regional Director for West and Central Africa at the International Finance Corporation.

January 26, 2017