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  • President Mugabe Hints on Succession

    President Mugabe Hints on Succession

    President Mugabe says he has assessed aspirants angling to succeed him and has no preferred candidate as the people will choose their next leader. The President, who was speaking in an interview with Ghanaian-born British film-maker Roy Agyemang for a BBC documentary, “Robert Mugabe @ 90” that was aired on Saturday evening, said people will elect their leader.

    Asked if he had any person he favoured to take over from him when he retires, President Mugabe said: “I have people in mind who would want to be. But I have looked at them.

    I have not come to any conclusion as to which one, really, should be. I leave it to the choice of people. Perhaps when we get close to the election I will have some in mind.”

    President Mugabe reiterated his long-held position that leaders should come from the people.

    “It must be leadership that derives from the people, chosen by the people, goes back to the people, listens to the people and is guided by the demands of the people,” he said.

    Vice President Joice Mujuru, and Justice Minister and Zanu-PF secretary for legal affairs Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa have been touted as front runners to succeed President Mugabe in various sections of the media.

    Earlier this month President Mugabe said neither of the two had an automatic ticket to take over leadership of the ruling party and country, as the people were the ultimate arbiters of who would assume the reins.

    Addressing the Gushungo clan at Murombedzi Growth Point, President Mugabe said Presidential aspirants would be elected through the Zanu-PF congress.

    President Mugabe said VP Mujuru and Cde Mnangagwa were not the only people who could take over from him as the pool of potential leaders was wide.

    In the BBC interview, President Mugabe said Britain – which funded the formation and launch of the MDC in 1999 through the Westminster Foundation in a bid to effect regime change in ZImbabwe – had degenerated over the years.

    “What has happened to Britain? They have grown small in mind, small in intellect, that wisdom which the likes of Churchill had, where is it?” he asked.

    “You can’t see it at all. You can’t see it in people now with gay habits – shame on them. I pity the one lady I admire, the Queen, that she is in these circumstances. I’m sure down deep she must be groaning (at) the loss of values in Britain. They’ve gone to the dogs. No respect, gone.”

    President Mugabe also castigated some indigenous farmers leasing land to white farmers. He said while the number of the culprits doing it was small, the practice still worried Government and it was being dealt with.

    The fast-track land reform programme, which triggered the row with Britain that London subsequently internationalised to bring in the wider European Union, the United States and their allies – resulted in some 300 000 black families taking over farms previously owned by 6 000 whites.

    However, some of the beneficiaries are leasing land to white former owners.

    herald

  • 5 Types of Businesses That Will Cease to Exist in 2014

    5 Types of Businesses That Will Cease to Exist in 2014

    {{You’re a wretch and completely addicted to the dismally dismal economic woes of our time. Love it! You choose to bask in it, soak it in. All you choose to see are opportunities in the making. We get you. That’s why in this article we’re going to take a drive through Great Depressionville 2.0 and look at 5 types of businesses that should vanish within a year or so, thereby leaving a vacuum for opportunistic folks such as yourself to fill with better products and solutions.}}

    #1: J.C. Penney & Ilk

    Why on Earth would anyone still want to physically shop for clothes? Mark our words: Virtual fitting rooms are going to change the way we try clothes on. And what would all these retail clerks do without shirts to fold? Heaven help us. Regardless, by the end of 2014 J.C. Penney probably won’t be the only retail setup to shutter its doors. One company called Hointer has already broken the mold of how we shop.

    Online consumerism is beginning to take hold… and it won’t be long before drones are delivering goods straight to your doorstep. Uh oh, when robots begin delivering everything and doing all the work in the mega-warehouses you can see from Mars, what will UPS drivers be doing? Now that’s something to think about!

    #2: E-Readers?

    Okay, seriously, at the end of the day there’s not a big difference between what’s called an “e-reader” and a tablet, iPad or even a smartphone. The Kindle Fire could survive and linger on, further integrating into the Amazon universe because it’s essentially a tablet, but e-readers in general are doomed. Or maybe just the name is doomed.
    Like, the Nook is probably going to vanish by the end of this year because B&N just can’t compete on this level with Amazon. But these e-tailers will most likely continue to evolve ecommerce-enhanced mobile apps and gadgetry.

    #3. Hollywood

    Right, so this is a stretch. It might take a little bit longer to eradicate the conventional Hollywood industry from this universe, but it’s happening. When was the last time you went to a movie theater? How many movies have you watched online instead? The numbers are in and you have to make one hell of a good movie to get people to buy overpriced popcorn and look at the (really) big screen.

    Then of course there’s the advancement of CGI. Pretty soon human beings will not be able to tell the difference between a real human flesh and blood actor, and a completely fabricated character. That’s the truth. And because VR headsets are so close now, people are going to be experiencing movies, not just going to watch them from a seat.

    #4: DVD and Blu-Ray Disc Manufacturing

    It’s already happening. Who buys music CDs or movie DVDs anymore but people trying to “collect” them? In fact, take a look at all the technology in your home and realize that it will soon be gone and replaced by more advanced technology that requires less physical resources.

    Think about Google Glass-type innovations. Think about immersive TV. Think about image projection capabilities. Consider the current streaming-revolution taking place right now as you read these words.

    #5: Whoever Makes Keys…

    Physical keys are going to go the way of the dodo bird. Cars won’t need them anymore. Homes won’t need them anymore. Safety deposit boxes won’t require them.

    Soon, probably by the end of this year, new technologies will begin creeping into mainstream society that make physical keys irrelevant. They can be lost, copied or stolen. Instead it’ll be our eyes, fingertips (think iPhone 5s) or even genetic information that will lock and unlock things for us mere mortals.

    Can you think of businesses that are on the brink of obsolescence? Let us know in the comment section below.

    {This article was syndicated from Business 2 Community: }

  • Iran Slams U.S. Justice Verdict on Manhattan Skyscraper

    Iran Slams U.S. Justice Verdict on Manhattan Skyscraper

    {{ Iran on Saturday criticized a U.S. government move to seize a Manhattan skyscraper owned largely by a foundation that promotes its language and Islamic culture, saying this violated the right to religious freedom in the United States.}}

    According to a court document filed in New York on Thursday, the U.S. Department of Justice agreed to distribute proceeds from the sale of the Fifth Avenue high-rise to families affected by alleged Iranian-aided attacks, including the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut.

    The settlement marks the latest turn in a long-running battle over the 36-storey building owned chiefly by Alavi Foundation, a non-profit Persian and Islamic cultural center.

    Iran’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said the decision “lacks legal justification and negates America’s commitment to protecting its citizens’ religious freedom.”

    “Confiscation of the properties of an independent charity organization raises doubt about the credibility of U.S. justice,” she was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency.

    The latest row came as U.S. President Barack Obama signed a law on Friday barring an Iranian diplomat from serving as an envoy at the United Nations over his role in the 1979-81 hostage crisis at the U.S. embassy in Tehran. But they are unlikely to significantly affect the current nuclear talks between Tehran and world powers, including the United States.

    Iran’s moderate new president, Hassan Rouhani, has strongly pursued a deal with the West in order to escape ruinous international sanctions imposed on his country.

    In a 2009 lawsuit, the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s office claimed the Alavi Foundation was controlled by Iran, citing the two minority owners as Assa Corp and Assa Co Ltd, both shell companies financed by Iran’s national Bank Melli.

    And, last year, a federal court ruled that the skyscraper was subject to government forfeiture for “shielding and concealing Iranian assets” in violation of U.S. sanctions law.

    But the Iranian official flatly denied any links between her country and the Alavi Foundation: “These charges are nothing new. They are merely concocted to put pressure and chase political aims.”

    Alavi Foundation and the smaller stake-holder Assa are both expected to appeal the U.S. verdict.

    AP

  • $803,300 Chinese Car Goes on Sale

    $803,300 Chinese Car Goes on Sale

    Forget Ferraris. Someone paid at least 5 million yuan ($803,300) to buy a Chinese car.

    China FAW Group Corp. began taking orders for the tailor-made Red Flag L5, the nation’s most expensive vehicle, with the first one sold to a customer in Nanjing, the automaker said in a statement today at the Beijing auto show. Delivery will take three months, said the buyer, Wang Zhonghua, who runs a company that operates a chain of furniture malls in China.

    FAW produces the Red Flag luxury vehicles used by government officials and also makes Volkswagen AG (VOW)’s Audi cars in China as its local manufacturing partner.

    Formerly called First Automotive Works, which was started by the Communist Party as a linchpin of China’s industrial policy, the company is seeking to capitalize on a government campaign to buy local brands.

    For the price of a Red Flag L5, one can buy a Ferrari FF in China, according to Cheshi.com, an auto pricing website.

  • President Goodluck’s Daughter Given 80 Cars as Wedding Gifts

    President Goodluck’s Daughter Given 80 Cars as Wedding Gifts

    Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan’s first child, Faith Sakwe who got married to her long time sweetheart, Godswill Osim Edward got about 80 luxury cars as presents, according to reports.

    The pair got married at a colourful ceremony at the Abuja Ecumenical Center in Abuja, Nigeria on Saturday. The wedding was broadcast live on Nigerian television station, NTA.

    The event was attended by Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, some Nigerian state governors and other dignitaries.

    Rumour has it that the president’s daughter, got about 80 luxury cars as presents during their traditional wedding on April 5, in Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

    The traditional marriage preceded the white wedding in Abuja.

    Some reports also suggest she might have received about 175 cars in total and not 80.

    It also emerged that guests who attended the wedding walked away with presents which included customized iPhones. The gold-plated iPhone were designed by luxury designer Malivelihood.

    Faith Sakwe and Godswill Edward met at University of Calabar in Nigeria as students and have been together ever since.

    myjoyonline

  • Pope Calls For End to War & Hunger

    Pope Calls For End to War & Hunger

    {{Pope Francis, in his Easter address before a huge crowd, on Sunday denounced the “immense wastefulness” in the world while many go hungry and called for an end to conflicts in Syria, Ukraine and Africa.}}

    “We ask you, Lord Jesus, to put an end to all war and every conflict, whether great or small, ancient or recent,” he said in his “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) message.

    Francis, marking the second Easter season of his pontificate, celebrated a Mass to an overflowing crowd of at least 150,000 in St. Peter’s Square and beyond.

    The crowd stretched back along all of Via della Conciliazione, the boulevard between the Vatican and the Tiber River.

    Speaking under a sunny sky after a midnight rainstorm soaked the tens of thousands of flowers that bedecked the square, Francis weaved his message around the suffering of people across the globe.

    He prayed to God to “help us to overcome the scourge of hunger, aggravated by conflicts and by the immense wastefulness for which we are often responsible”.

    Since his election as the first non-European pope in 1,300 years, Francis had made defense of the poor a hallmark of his papacy, often criticizing developed nations and the excesses of capitalism and consumerism.

    The 77-year-old pope, wearing white vestments for the service, prayed for the protection of those members of society who are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, abuse and abandonment – women, children, the elderly and immigrants.

    Easter is the most important day on the liturgical calendar because it commemorates the day Christians believe Jesus rose from the dead after his crucifixion and the Church sees it as a symbol of hope, peace and reconciliation among peoples and nations.

    wirestory

  • US Embassy Marks 20th Commemoration of Genocide

    US Embassy Marks 20th Commemoration of Genocide

    The US embassy in Kigali marked the 20th commemoration of the Genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda.

    At an event held at the Embassy, a wreath of flowers was laid at the site set aside to honour genocide victims that were former employees of the embassy.

    The commemoration event was also attended by the Executive secretary of the national commission for the fight against Genocide CNLG.

    Ambassador US in Rwanda Donald Koran said ,”The United States supports all Rwandans in the goal of building peaceful, dynamic and prosperous Rwanda and has done so for the past two decades. It is our memory of those killed that our partnership moves forward.”

    He added, It is in the memory of those killed that you develop and grow so that your country may prosper. It is in the memory of those killed, and with an eye to the future, that Rwandans commit to making their country a peaceful and prosperous nation. We all share in those goals, and we’re all proud to move forward without forgetting the past. Let us all work together to ensure that what happened in 1994 does not ever happen again.

  • UNAMID Force Commander Commends Rwandan Peacekeepers in Zalingei

    UNAMID Force Commander Commends Rwandan Peacekeepers in Zalingei

    {{United Nation Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) Force Commander, Lt Gen Paul Ignace Mella on 13th April 2014 visited a Rwandan Battalion (Rwanbatt38) deployed in Zalingei, Sector West of Darfur, Sudan. }}

    He was accompanied by the Deputy Force Commander Maj Gen Bella Keita, the Chief of Staff, Brig Gen Dr Norbert Kalimba and sector commanders.

    The UNAMID leaders were received by Rwanbatt38 Commanding Officer Lt Col F Rwanyamugabo and further met with the troops.

    Lt Gen Paul Ignace Mella commended Rwanbatt 38 on the invaluable work they have done ever since arriving in the mission area. He called upon them to uphold the exemplary discipline and strong work ethic that they have always exhibited.

    The Force Commander assured the contingent that he and the world join Rwandans in the 20th commemoration of genocide against Tutsi.

    Brig Gen Dr Norbert Kalimba, UNAMID Chief of Staff thanked Rwanbatt38 on the good job and called upon them to maintain vigilance.

    Rwanda maintains about more than five thousand peacekeepers deployed in UN/AU peacekeeping missions including in Darfur (Sudan), South Sudan and Central African Republic.

    {{UNAMID Force Commander, Gen Mella in a meeting with Rwanbatt38}}

    MOD

  • Celebrating Easter in Rwanda

    Celebrating Easter in Rwanda

    {{Although over 90% of the Rwandan population are Christians, its evident that there is low enthusiasm for Easter day celebrations despite being on the calendar days.}}

    During the month of April, the Rwandan community marks Commemoration of Genocide against ethnic Tutsi.

    Over a million Tutsi were killed from April 7 until after hundred days of gruesome murders that were halted after intervention by the advancing RPA/F rebels in 1994.

    Genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda was well planned and executed through a network of institutions in the country at that time. Foreign Powers including France and the church were involved in the genocide.

    For the Tutsi that ran to hide in churches in anticipation that they would be both physically and spiritually protected within the walls of the church, it turned out to be their instant grave as they held tight onto the rosary. The church never protected them as they believed.

    Good Friday marks the start of Easter celebrations. In other parts of the world the season brings together families, pray together and share.

    On Easter Sunday, Christians celebrate the resurrection of the Lord, Jesus Christ. It is typically the most well-attended Sunday service of the year for Christian churches.

    Christians believe, according to Scripture, that Jesus came back to life, or was raised from the dead, three days after his death on the cross.

    As part of the Easter season, the death of Jesus Christ by crucifixion is commemorated on Good Friday, always the Friday just before Easter.

    Through his death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus paid the penalty for sin, thus purchasing for all who believe in him, eternal life in Christ Jesus.

    In Western Christianity, Easter marks the end ofLent, a 40-day period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline in preparation for Easter.

    Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday. Eastern Orthodox churches observe Lent or Great Lent, during the 6 weeks or 40 days preceding Palm Sunday with fasting continuing during the Holy Week of Easter.

    Lent for Eastern Orthodox churches begins on Monday and Ash Wednesday is not observed.

    Because of Easter’s pagan origins, and also because of the commercialization of Easter, many Christian churches choose to refer to the holiday as Resurrection Day.
    Easter in the Bible.

    The biblical account of Jesus’ death on the cross, or crucifixion, his burial and his resurrection, or raising from the dead, can be found in the following passages of Scripture: Matthew 27:27-28:8; Mark 15:16-16:19; Luke 23:26-24:35; and John 19:16-20:30.

    {{Determining the Date of Easter}}

    In Western Christianity, Easter is always celebrated on the Sunday immediately following the Paschal Full Moon. Previously Easter was always celebrated on the Sunday immediately following the first full moon after the vernal (spring) equinox.

    However, this was true prior to 325 AD; however, over the course of history (beginning in 325 AD with the Council of Nicea), the Western Church decided to established a more standardized system for determining the date of Easter.

    There are, in fact, as many misunderstandings about the calculation of Easter dates, as there are reasons for confusion.

  • New Earth-Like Planet Discovered

    New Earth-Like Planet Discovered

    {{Kepler-186f is almost exactly the same size as the Earth and has temperatures that are mild enough to allow liquid surface water . }}

    Scientists have discovered a new planet which is extremely similar to Earth and could be home to extraterrestrial life. Kepler-186f is almost exactly the same size as the Earth and has temperatures that are mild enough to allow liquid surface water.

    If the planet has lakes or oceans, scientists say it would increase the chances of extraterrestrial life evolving there. But anything living on the world may have to withstand extra large doses of radiation from its active sun.

    The find is described in the journal Science as “a landmark on the road to discovering habitable planets”. Professor Fred Adams, from the University of Michigan in the US, said: “One of the most interesting questions in science is whether life can arise on other planets or, alternatively, if life on this planet is unique.

    “The discovery of planets with Earth-like properties is one important link in the chain required to answer this question. And the discovery of the planet Kepler-186f is an important step toward finding a planet that is like our Earth.”

    Kepler-186 is an “M-dwarf” star 795 light years away that is smaller and cooler than the Sun. It is orbited by a family of five known planets.

    Kepler-186f, the latest to be discovered, is the outermost. Because its star is cooler than ours, it occupies a habitable zone closer in than the sun’s.

    The planet was found by astronomers scouring the Sun’s neighbourhood of the Milky Way galaxy for potentially habitable worlds.

    Using the American space agency Nasa’s Kepler space telescope, they measured the very tiny dimming that occurs when a planet crosses or “transits” in front of its star.

    The transit information allowed them to calculate the planet’s size and estimate its mass and density. Kepler-186f was found to be just 0.1 times bigger than the Earth.

    While habitable zone planets have been identified around other stars, none of them so closely match the Earth in size.

    {Kepler-186f..the new planet discovered.}