IGIHE

Author: Publisher

  • Barcelona Transfer Ban Stopped

    Barcelona Transfer Ban Stopped

    {{Barcelona can buy and sell players this summer after Fifa suspended its transfer ban on the club.}}

    The Spanish giants were given the 14-month ban after being found to have breached rules on signing international players under the age of 18.

    However, the suspension is now on hold pending an appeal.

    Barca have been linked with Borussia Monchengladbach keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and also have a deal in place to sign Croatia midfielder Alen Halilovic.

    Captain Carles Puyol and long-serving goalkeeper Victor Valdes have both announced they will leave the Nou Camp at the end of the season.

    The Spanish champions were originally sanctioned by Fifa’s disciplinary committee on 2 April for breaking the rules in the case of 10 minors and punished with the ban and a fine of 450,000 Swiss francs.

    After Barcelona followed through on their promise to fight the ban, Fifa decided that due to the complexity of the case and the possibility of a further appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas), it was unlikely to be concluded before the opening of the transfer window on 1 July and therefore suspended the punishment.

    Fifa rules state that international transfers are only permitted for players over the age of 18 – unless the player in question meets one of three qualifying criteria.

    Under-18s can move to a club in a different country if their parents move there for non-footballing reasons, if they are from another nation within the European Union or European Economic Area and aged between 16 and 18, or if they live within 100km of the club.

    The Fifa investigation centred on several players aged under 18 who were registered and played for Barcelona between 2009 and 2013.

    Agencies

  • EU Governments Gradually Tame Financial Problems

    EU Governments Gradually Tame Financial Problems

    {{New figures from the European Commission show that EU governments are gradually making progress with their financial problems.}}

    The budget deficit – the amount of new borrowing they undertake – came down last year.

    For the whole EU, it fell from 3.9% of GDP in 2012 to 3.3%. For the eurozone, the decline was from 3.7% to 3%.

    But they are still borrowing substantial amounts, so the total accumulated debt continued to rise.

    That pattern affected both the eurozone and the European Union as a whole.

    The eurozone figure is in line – just – with the upper limit that the EU expects member countries to meet.

    Of course, there was a wide variation within the eurozone, with some countries borrowing a lot less than maximum.

    Germany’s government finances were close to being balanced: no new borrowing. Luxembourg managed a small surplus, which means it reduced its government debt slightly.

    Others still couldn’t comply with the 3% of GDP limit. France and Spain were the two big economies that went over that level, while Italy was just in line with it.

    The figures for Greece tell an interesting story. A casual look suggests they got worse. But going beneath the surface, that was due to the costs of propping up the banks, a cost that isn’t repeated year after year. Take that out of the picture and the figures look a good deal better.

    {BBC}

  • China Accuses US of Trying to “Cage” Emerging Superpower

    China Accuses US of Trying to “Cage” Emerging Superpower

    {{U.S. President Barack Obama has said Washington welcomes China’s rise but that engagement with Beijing would not come at the expense of its Asian allies – as Chinese state media greeted his arrival in the region with a broadside accusing the United States of wanting to “cage” the emerging superpower.}}

    The reassuring remarks aimed at Japan and other allies, set against a robust commentary from China’s state news agency Xinhua that also called the United States “myopic”, demonstrate the delicate balancing act Obama faces on a week-long Asia tour.

    Obama arrived in Tokyo on Wednesday at the start of a four-nation trip that comes at a time of rising tension in the region, and as the United States urges Japan’s unpredictable neighbor North Korea not to conduct another nuclear test.

    Obama, who is making the first full state visit to Japan by a U.S. President since 1996, must assuage worries by Tokyo and other allies that his commitment to their defense in the face of an increasingly assertive China is weak, without hurting vital U.S. ties with Asia’s biggest economy.

    Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are also keen to show progress on a two-way trade pact seen as critical to a broader regional deal that would be one of the world’s biggest trade agreements and is central to Obama’s “pivot” of military, diplomatic and trade resources towards Asia.

    Noting Beijing and Washington could work together on issues such as North Korea’s nuclear program, Obama told Japan’s Yomiuri newspaper, in written remarks: “In other words, we welcome the continuing rise of a China that is stable, prosperous and peaceful and plays a responsible role in global affairs.”

    He added: “And our engagement with China does not and will not come at the expense of Japan or any other ally.”

    Such assurances are likely to be high on the agenda when Obama meets Abe at a symbolic summit on Thursday.

  • Dr. Mugesera’s Lawyer Fined Frw400,000 for Absenteeism

    Dr. Mugesera’s Lawyer Fined Frw400,000 for Absenteeism

    {{The Rwanda High court has fined the Lawyer representing Dr. Leon Mugesera for absenteeism.

    The court ordered that Jean Felix Rudakemwa to pay a fine equivalent to Frw400,000 for being absent twice without informing the court.}}

    However, Dr. Mugesera told court that his lawyer who is entitled to a financial package (Aide Juridique) provided by the Ministry of Justice in such cases, has never received any remuneration.

    Mugesera adds that he and his lawyer have written four times to the Justice Ministry informing and requesting them to meet their obligations but have never received any response to the effect.

    According to Mugesera, his lawyer’s absence has been due to the fact that he has been making a follow-up on his remuneration.

    However, Prosecution argues that Mr. Rudakemwa intentionally delays court hearings.

    “Although Rudakemwa wrote to the Ministry of Justice requesting for remuneration, is not reason enough to remain absent from court hearings,” prosecution says.

    After a closed-door session, court ruled that Mr. Rudakemwa pay a fine of Frw400,000 owing to intentional absenteeism. The fine should be paid in a period of one Month alone and should he fault the order, government will intervene in the enforcement of this order.

    However, after announcement of the ruling, Dr. Mugesera told court that the order infringes on his rights and also requested the court clerk to indicate he would appeal.

    Mr. Rudakemwa also noted that he did not intentionally stay away from court hearing of his client but it was because he had not been paid as required.

  • Unwanted Pregnancy Avoidable

    Unwanted Pregnancy Avoidable

    {{Unwanted or unplanned pregnancies are in most cases associated with ignorance and drug abuse in particular in Rwanda.}}

    While such unplanned expectations are avoidable, it is likely to be an opposite case when one is under the influence of alcohol especially illicit brew and narcotics.

    Drunkenness and consumption of illicit brew and cannabis in most cases makes one, especially women to lose their senses hence easy to seduce and to lure into unprotected sex.

    This in the end leads to abortion, infanticide arguing that the person responsible for the pregnancy refused to take responsibility and that they are not able to give a child basic necessities.

    On April 21, a 23 year-old woman in Rukomo sector of Nyagatare district was arrested for allegedly terminating a five-month pregnancy.

    The suspect allegedly threw the fetus in a dustbin where it was recovered by area residents.

    The suspect, a bar attendant in Gahurura cell argued that the would-be father had denied responsibility of the pregnancy and that she lacked means to sustain the pregnancy and to take care of the child, once its born. These are vague excuses normally given by culprits.

    Abortion is illegal and punishable under article 162 of the penal code.
    Abortion is only allowed on four grounds include sexual assault, incest and on medical grounds and it has to be declared by a medical practitioner and approved by a legal court.

    It is therefore a wise decision for women to plan when to have children, have protected sex to avoid such unwanted pregnancies and abortions, which might also result into death.

    Most of these unsafe abortions are carried out by unqualified providers such as traditional healers, lay practitioners or pharmacists using dangerous methods, which are unhygienic and carry a high risk of complications, and may, at times, lead to death.

    About 47 per cent of pregnancies in Rwanda are said to be unintended, according to a study, the first of its kind, jointly conducted by the Ministry of Health, the National University of Rwanda’s School of Public Health and the U.S.-based Guttmacher Institute, released in 2012.

    RNP

  • Kagame & MIT Faculty Members Discuss Energy, Management & Development

    Kagame & MIT Faculty Members Discuss Energy, Management & Development

    {{President Paul Kagame began a two day visit to Boston on Tuesday with a visit at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.}}

    The visit began with a tour of the Atmospheric Chemistry Lab at the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences.

    The visit was followed by a round table discussion with MIT faculty members in the fields of energy, management and development.

    Starting the conversation, MIT President Rafael Reif expressed solidarity with Rwanda during the mourning period of the 20th Commemoration of the Genocide Against the Tutsi.

    The discussion centred on ongoing and future opportunities for partnerships between MIT and Rwanda including increasing the number of Rwandan students attending MIT.

    Currently, the main joint projects with Rwanda include the Rwanda-MIT Climate Observatory Project and the iLab-Africa Project.

    The Rwanda-MIT Climate Observatory Project aims to collect high frequency atmospheric observation that will contribute to meteorological forecasting, monitor climatic conditions and collect data on gases emitted.

    Starting with one Rwandan student, Jimmy Gasore, already pursuing his doctoral degree in the field and more students operating the technology in Rwanda, the partnership will also focus on building scientific, engineering and educational capacity.

    The project will also provide data that will enable Rwanda to measure its emission and better fulfill its commitment to environmentally sustainable development.

    The partnership with iLab Africa project now provides students at the College of Science and Technology (former KIST) and the Huye Campus (former NUR) the opportunity to perform real engineering and science experiment via the internet.
    President Kagame will end the day with a lecture at Tufts University.

  • Kagame in Boston: Africa Has Duty to Fix Itself

    Kagame in Boston: Africa Has Duty to Fix Itself

    {{President Paul Kagame is currently in Boston, Massachusetts US for a two day visit. The President addressed students at Tufts University on Rwanda’s progress and recovery in the last twenty years.}}

    President Kagame began the lecture with an emphasis on the importance of historical clarity on the Genocide Against the Tutsi:

    “Historical clarity about mass atrocities like genocide is a duty we owe the victims, in all aspects. It is the foundation of genocide prevention for future generations of humanity.”

    Describing the origins of the Genocide Against the Tutsi, President Kagame pointed to the racial ideology promoted by the Belgian colonial administration and reinforced by the Catholic Church.

    President Kagame added that the Genocide Against the Tutsi must be recognized as systematic attempt targeting one group:

    “The Genocide against the Tutsi is called so because it was an attempt to eliminate this particular group of people, for the sole reason of their belonging to that group. It was not random killing.”

    Describing Rwanda’s journey of reconciliation, President Kagame shared the choices Rwandans made to move the nation forward:

    “After 1994, we brought two and a half million Rwandans back home. We made the choice to build a new nation that included all Rwandans, even those who had fled after the genocide.”

    President Kagame attributed Rwanda’s progress to the continuous determination of Rwandans:

    “External resistance to Rwanda’s determined effort to build a system free from divisive politics, would have condemned us to repeat the past, had we not had the will, confidence and support of the population to push forward a system that would allow for Rwandans to regain trust in each other and their government.”

    On the question of the world learning lessons from the Genocide, President Kagame pointed to ongoing situations that show the world has yet to learn.

    President Kagame emphasized the need to look for solutions from within:

    “Without a clear vision for a new nation developed by Rwandans, external contributions would not have been able to have the impact they have had. The future we are working toward in Rwanda, and Africa, is one where our continent continues to grow stronger and more self-reliant. We in Africa have an inescapable duty to build a continent that can fix itself.”

    President Kagame ended the visit to Tufts University with a dinner hosted by President Monaco of Tufts University.

  • Europe’s Kempinski Hotels Takes Over Hotel des Mille Collines

    Europe’s Kempinski Hotels Takes Over Hotel des Mille Collines

    {Hotel des Mille Collines in Kigali, Rwanda. its new name is Kampinski des Mille Collines. in the next 18months several changes will be made to 112 rooms and foods and beverages including other services to reflect the quality of the new management. }

    {{Kempinski Hotels (http://www.kempinski.com), Europe’s oldest luxury hotel group, has taken over the management of Rwanda’s popular Hotel des Mille Collines.}}

    Hotel des Mille Collines will immidiately be renamed Kampinski des Mille Collines effective this month.

    However, according to Rwanda Development Board, “It is not a sale or a takeover, what is changing is the management and brand of the hotel. The objective is to professionalise service delivery and align the hotel with international brands,” an official told Newtimes.

    Christoph Strahm the new general manager for Kampinski des Mille Collines has reportedly arrived in Kigali and will later be joined by several other Kempinski team members over the coming weeks.

    Hotel des Mille Collines has 112-rooms and suits which will be refurbished in the next eighteen months. Changes will also be made on food and beverages services to reflect Kempinski’s global reputation as one of the oldest and finest global hotel chains.

    Kampinski Hotels chain already present in Africa, operates five hotels in Sub-Saharan Africa also present in neighbouring Kenya.

  • 200 civilians Massacred in South Sudan, Says UN

    200 civilians Massacred in South Sudan, Says UN

    {{The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said on Monday that more than 200 people died in Bentiu after the strategic Unity state town fell to opposition forces last week.}}

    UNMISS, in a statement, said it “strongly condemns the targeted killings of civilians based on their ethnic origins and nationality in Bentiu.”

    “More than 200 civilians were reportedly killed and over 400 wounded at the Mosque,” the world body said in a statement extended to reporters on Monday.

    UNMISS also strongly condemns the use of Radio Bentiu FM by some individuals associated with the opposition to broadcast hate speech,” it added.

    Fighting erupted in mid-December between soldiers aligned with former vice president Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir with the president accusing his ex-deputy of staging a coup, which Machar denied but now leads a rebel movement.

    The fighting is often seen as pinning President Kiir’s Dinka tribe against Machar’s Nuer, although both politicians have supporters across irrespective of tribal affiliation.

    Most army defectors accused government of President Kiir of allegedly using his Dinka armed men to kill Nuer civilians at the onset of conflict in the capital, Juba.

    Both sides have been accused by Human Rights Watch of committing atrocities.

    Bentiu has changed hands several times between rebel and pro-government forces.

    But the UN, in it statement, accused the SPLA in Opposition of allegedly sorting civilians along tribal lines after capturing Bentiu.

    {sudantribune}

  • Schools to Open for Second Term on April 28

    Schools to Open for Second Term on April 28

    {{The Ministry of Education has announced that schools will open for the Second term begins on April 28 and while reporting to school, all students are required to wear their respective school uniforms and carry their School Identity Cards. }}

    Dr. Harebamungu Mathias the state minister for education has announced schedules for students will adhere to while reporting to their respective schools owing to the existing public transport challenges.

    Students are obliged to report to their respective school not later than 3PM on the reporting day.

    According to the schedule students hailing from districts of Nyanza, Kamonyi, Huye and Nyaruguru (South Province); those from districts of Rubavu, Rusizi and Nyamasheke (western Province) and students from districts of Nyarugenge, Kicukiro and Gasabo (Kigali city) will report to school on April 25, 2014.

    On April 26 is reporting day for students hailing from districts of Gisagara, Ruhango, Nyamagabe and Muhanga (South Province) including students from districts of Karongi , Rutsiro, Ngororero and Nyabihu (western province) and all districts from Northern Province and Eastern Province.