Author: Publisher

Nissan Unveils Smarter Rear-View Mirror

{{Nissan just revamped the traditional rear-view mirror by integrating a wide-format LCD screen into it, linked to a rear-facing camera.}}

The company’s Smart rear-view mirror eliminates viewing problems caused by rear-seat passengers and luggage by utilizing the rear camera to project a clear view onto the screen.

Drivers can switch between the traditional mirror and LCD display by flipping a switch at the bottom of the mirror.

Nissan will install the Smart rearview mirror in its ZEOD RC racing car, set to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 14-15 June.

The company also hopes to improve aerodynamics in future vehicles as the new mirror – which obviates large rear windows – makes new vehicle shapes possible.

The smart mirror tech will launch in Japan as a dealer option this year, then globally in 2015.

March 28, 2014
US Sacks Nuclear Commanders

{{The US Air Force has sacked nine mid-level nuclear commanders and will discipline dozens more in a test cheating scandal, officials have said.}}

Nearly one in five of the Air Force’s nuclear missile officers have been implicated in a ring of cheating on monthly proficiency tests.

Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James has said the nuclear force is suffering from “systemic problems”.

A series of programmes to improve leadership are also said to be planned.

None of the fired commanders is directly involved in the alleged cheating. Each was instead determined to have failed in leadership responsibility.

In addition to the nine officers sacked, the senior commander of Malmstrom Air Force Base’s 341st Missile Wing, Col Robert Stanley (in photo), was allowed to resign.

Commanders of the 341st Wing’s three missile squadrons – each of whom is responsible for three nuclear missiles – were also fired, the Associated Press news agency reports.

Ninety-one missile launch crew members at Malmstrom have thus far been implicated in the cheating scandal, including more than 40 who face disciplinary action that may include dismissal.

Cheating allegations first emerged during investigations into alleged drug use by personnel at other bases.

In the wake of the revelations, the Air Force announced the entire team at the base would be re-tested.

It is the latest scandal to hit the US Air Force and nuclear missile force.

Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel had previously ordered a high-level review of the US nuclear forces, saying he was “deeply concerned” about morale and discipline among nuclear officers, while insisting that US nuclear arms were safe.

wirestory

March 28, 2014
Homosexuality Equal to Terrorism in Kenya

{{Homosexuality in Kenya is as bad a problem as terrorism, the ruling party’s parliamentary leader said on Wednesday, but argued against stepping up legal sanctions on the grounds that existing laws were tough enough.}}

Aden Duale, the majority leader from President Uhuru Kenyatta’s ruling Jubilee coalition, was responding to a group of MPs demanding tougher laws.

“Can’t we just be brave enough, seeing that we are a sovereign state, and outlaw gayism and lesbianism, the way Uganda has done?” legislator Alois Lentoimaga said.

Uganda has voted for life imprisonment for some homosexual acts, prompting some international donors to suspend aid.

Duale, who speaks on behalf of the Kenyan government in the assembly, said: “We need to go on and address this issue the way we want to address terrorism …

“It’s as serious as terrorism. It’s as serious as any other social evil,” Duale said, referring to a spate of attacks by al Qaeda-linked Somali Islamist militants carried out in retaliation for Kenya’s intervention in neighboring Somalia.

But he said the Kenyan constitution and the penal code already had sufficient anti-gay provisions, denying the government was reluctant to tighten such laws for fear of losing international aid.

Duale said 595 cases of homosexuality had been investigated in Kenya since 2010, when a new constitution was adopted, and courts had convicted or acquitted the accused, while police had found no organizations openly championing homosexuality in violation of the law.

“We do not need to go the Uganda way, we have the constitution and the penal code to deal with homosexuality, and so this debate is finished, we will not be enacting any new tougher laws,” Duale told Reuters later.

Homosexuality is broadly taboo in Africa and illegal in 37 countries. Fear of violence, imprisonment and loss of jobs means few gays in Africa are open about their sexuality.

Kenya’s penal code says any person “who has carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature” is guilty of a felony and can be jailed for 14 years.

Anti-gay groups have emerged in Kenya after Nigeria and Uganda toughened up laws against homosexuals.

One of these groups, The Save Our Men Initiative, has said it is launching a “Zuia Sodom Kabisa” campaign, meaning “prevent Sodom completely” in Swahili, to “save the family, save youth, save Kenya”.

Nigeria has outlawed same-sex relationships. Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh has said homosexuals are “vermin” and must be fought like malaria-causing mosquitoes.

agencies

March 28, 2014
Mali Swears in Court to try ex-President

{{Mali swore in a new high court on Thursday that will be charged with hearing a case of high treason against former President Amadou Toumani Toure, who was toppled in a coup in 2012, state radio and a member of parliament said.}}

The government brought the case before the National Assembly in December, accusing Toure of failing in his duty as commander of Mali’s armed forces to prevent foreign forces from seizing national territory.

Toure was overthrown in a March 2012 coup prompted by his failure to quell a Tuareg separatist uprising in the north. The takeover, however, allowed armed Islamist groups to seize control of the northern two-thirds of the country.

He will be tried before a new High Court of Justice, whose members were chosen by parliament.

“It has 18 members, including nine tenured judges and nine deputies. They were sworn in at the National Assembly this morning,” parliament member Mamadou Diarrassouba told Reuters.

Toure, who won power in a 2002 presidential election and was reelected five years later, is also accused of destroying military equipment and promoting army personnel to positions for which they were unqualified.

The coup, which was partly triggered by anger at government corruption and failure to equip the armed forces, occurred weeks before Toure was due to step down.

He currently resides in Dakar, the capital of neighboring Senegal.

The occupation of northern Mali by al Qaeda-linked groups ended in January 2013 when France sent more than 4,000 troops to halt a southern advance by the militants.

Mali’s new President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was elected in August by a landslide.

{Mali’s ousted President Amadou Toumani Toure (L)}

reuters

March 28, 2014
Rwandan Killed at Mosque Attack in Mombasa

{{A Rwandan Christian who had converted to Islam was among the people killed when police stormed the controversial Musa Mosque in Mombasa’s Majengo slums on February 2, according to a court document authorising his burial in Kenya.}}

Reports show he will be buried in a Muslim cemetery most likely in Mombasa after the Rwanda authorities and his family failed to claim his body.

The Kadhi Court in Mombasa issued a decree dated March 26 authorising the release of the body “for burial according to Islamic rites.”

Born Francois Ndacyayisenga on June 9 1991 in Rubengera Karongi in Rwanda, he has been travelling as Abdulrashid Ndacyayisenga after becoming a Muslim and “lost his life in the Masjid Musa incident,” according to Hussein Khalid Hussein, the Executive Director of Haki Africa, a human rights agency.

The group has been spearheading recovery of unclaimed and unknown victims of the mosque raid.

The letter is signed by Sheikh Abdulhalim Athman, the Principal Kadhi in Kenya, following a petition by Haki Africa on Tuesday.

In the letter, Sheikh Athman says Francois’ family has “consented to the burial of the body,” which has been lying ridden with bullet wounds and unclaimed at the Coast General Hospital in Mombasa.

A copy of Francois’ passport shows that he formerly travelled on a Rwandan passport, number PC144736 and with a Rwandan national identity card 1 1991 8 0068362 02.

The documents show he travelled to Uganda before entering Kenya through Busia in January this year. The storming of Musa Mosque was sparked by what police allege to be an illegal jihadist training convention by Muslim extremists.

Four worshippers and a policeman were killed in the chaos and police claim they responded after some gunmen inside mosque shot at them. After the raid, police claimed there were some foreigners in the congregation.

Acknowledge citizenship Yesterday, Khalid told The Standard that the Rwandan “was a student at an Islamic school in Kilifi.” He also said the body lay unclaimed in the morgue for weeks until it was identified by alleged former schoolmates.

{standard}

March 28, 2014
Microsoft CEO Unveils Office for iPad

{{Microsoft Corp’s new Chief Executive Officer, Satya Nadella, finally unveiled Office for Apple Inc’s iPad in a polished debut that set him apart from his energetic predecessor while signaling his plans to make mobile apps the top priority at the world’s largest software company.}}

At a news conference Thursday, executives demonstrated a new “touch-first” version of Office crafted for the iPad, available for download as a free app, though a subscription is needed to let users create or edit documents rather than just read them.

Significantly, they did not demonstrate any software on Windows machines, telegraphing a departure from former Chief Executive Steve Ballmer’s focus on the personal computer operating software and its own devices.

“Their absence speaks volumes,” said Daniel Ives, an analyst at FBR Capital Markets. “Nadella’s a cloud-centric guy; he’s going to focus on what’s been successful, and where the future’s going. Windows 8 thus far has been extremely underwhelming.”

Nadella kicked off the presentation with a fluid, low-key introduction to Microsoft’s approach to the new mobile, cloud-centric world of computing, in his first public appearance since taking the helm 52 days ago.

Dressed in a black polo shirt and dark jeans, the 46-year-old computer scientist threw in some geek humor and lines of poetry from T.S. Eliot, marking a change in style from his energetic predecessor Steve Ballmer. His lack of references to Windows indicated a deeper strategic shift.

Nadella gave no indication of when Microsoft would release “touch-first” versions of Office apps for Windows 8, the latest version of the operating software, which he acknowledged had fallen behind in the mobile era.

“The Windows strategy, there’s no change, except we want to be known as the innovative company that’s coming from behind in some categories,” Nadella told reporters in an ad hoc question and answer session after the presentation, another sign of new openness at the company.

“If you look at the story of Windows, we lead in some, we have fallen behind in some. We’re grounded in that reality,” he said. “What we need to be is a challenger there and be able to show what we’re capable of doing in these new form factors.”

Apart from the absence of any Windows devices, the Surface, one of Ballmer’s prized concepts, was conspicuously missing from a show floor at the event that included Google Inc Android tablets from Samsung and Acer as well as the iPad. Nadella did not mention the poor-selling tablet at all in conversations with reporters.

{{OFFICE, AT LAST}}

The Office apps are free to download from Apple’s app store, but to create new documents, users will need a subscription to Microsoft’s existing cloud-based service called Office 365.

Microsoft’s Office 365 Home Premium, designed for home consumers, costs $100 a year. For businesses it costs $60 or more per year, depending on features.

Apple gets its standard 30 percent cut of new Office 365 Home subscriptions sold through its app store, but no share of existing Office 365 revenue or multiple subscriptions bought by companies. That is analogous to the way Apple treats magazine subscriptions.

“Welcome to the #iPad and @AppStore!” Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook tweeted after the announcement. “Thanks @tim_cook, excited to bring the magic of @Office to iPad customers,” Nadella tweeted back.

Analysts have estimated that Microsoft could rake in anywhere from $840 million to $6.7 billion a year in revenue from iPad-native Office, although some fear it may have moved too late to grab the attention of many.

Easy to use, touch-friendly work apps like Haiku Deck, Quip, Smartsheet and Evernote, not to mention Google Apps, have quickly gained a following among younger users who have never worked with Office applications, or relish the change.

Sources have said an iPad-friendly version of Office – which encompasses such popular applications as Word, Excel and PowerPoint – had been ready for years, but the Redmond, Washington-based company had been reluctant to compromise its signature PC operating system. At the time, the sources could not speak because they were not authorized to talk to the press.

However, Microsoft’s own efforts to produce a touch-friendly operating system capable of challenging the iPad have floundered, with poor sales of its Surface tablet, and a general lack of interest from third party hardware makers in making tablets running Windows 8.

Nadella’s willingness to break with the Windows tradition, which remains co-founder Bill Gates’ most enduring legacy, helped spur Microsoft shares to $40-plus levels not seen since the dotcom boom of 2000.

Wall Street is now guardedly optimistic on a company that, while still garnering billions of dollars in annual profit, risks gradual obsolescence in a mobile-powered tech industry.

To some investors, steering a new course for such a massive entity – Microsoft is the second-largest U.S. tech company by market value – is a daunting task. Before Nadella’s appointment, some investors had hoped for an outsider open to change to take the reins.

But bold moves with Office, and signifying a renewed drive to conquer the mobile arena and ‘cloud’ computing after years of shackling its best products to PC-centric Windows, are seen as a promising start.

“He talks the talk,” said Ives at FBR, referring to Nadella. “Now the big question is, will he walk the walk?”

{reuters}

March 28, 2014
350 Youth Meet in Musanze For Kwibuka Conversation

{{Over 350 young Rwandans from across the country are meeting today in Musanze District for a Kwibuka Conversation. }}

The event is organised by the Imbuto Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and ICT.

Those attending the Kwibuka Conversation are participants known as Urunana rw’Urungano from previous Ndi Umunyarwanda (I am Rwandan) forums.

Participants will take part in a conversation to reflect on the history of Rwanda, the role of Ndi Umunyarwanda in building unity and reconciliation and the important responsibility young people have in national development.

On the following day (29 March 2014), participants will join the Kwibuka20 Global Umuganda (Day of Global Service) with members of the Musanze community.

During the Kwibuka Conversation, various speakers will address the youth on the Kwibuka20 theme: Remember, Unite, Renew. Under Remember, Tom Ndahiro will discuss the stages of genocide: classification, dehumanization, polarization, discrimination, persecution, preparation, extermination and denial; as well as the role of leaders and the media in making the genocide happen.

Brigadier General Joseph Nzabamwita and Solange Mukasonga, Nyarugenge district mayor will talk about Unite. Nzabamwita will talk about the purpose of the struggle from a unity perspective; the effort and sacrifice required to achieve Rwandan unity; and the cost of being disunited.

Mukasonga will talk about the progress of present day Rwanda as a result of working together as Rwandans; different development programs and how they have helped us achieve shared prosperity.

Honourable Jeanne d’arc Uwimanimpaye and Governor Alphonse Munyentwali will talk about Renew. This session will be about the expectations Rwanda has of its youth; how to make conscious decisions to do the right thing for your country.

Governor Munyentwali will tell the youth how they can safe guard the gains the country has made since 1994.

Participants will discuss all presentations in more depth, during smaller group discussions.

To end the day, 20 Strong will be an opportunity for peers to discuss what they have learnt and share experiences about how they deal with challenges faced during the commemoration period.

Participants will also discuss strengthening the Ndi Umunyarwanda ambassador idea.

March 28, 2014
150 Families Homeless After Heavy Rains Hit Nyagatare

{{About 150 families in Nyagatare district have been left homeless following heavy rains that pounded the Eastern Province district this March 26, 2014.

Most affected areas include two sectors; Tabagwe and Rwempasha of Nyagatare District.

Residents said the rain was not predictable as it poured during night hours.
Mingi Augustin, one of the affected families, said that the rain destroyed his house. He added that his calf, was hit by a wall after succumbing to floods.

Mingi has sought refugee at his neighbour’s home together with his 15 family members.

The Executive Secretary of Tabagwe, Kabana Chrisopher asserted that the problem was communicated to the respective authorities for decision making about that issue.
}}

March 28, 2014
World Now 80% Polio Free-WHO Says

{{The World Health Organization has declared its South East Asia region polio-free.
The certification is being hailed a “historic milestone” in the global fight to eradicate the deadly virus.}}

It comes after India officially recorded three years without a new case of polio.

The announcement means 80% of the world is now officially free of polio, although the disease is still endemic in Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan.

Other countries in the WHO South East Asia region, such as Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bhutan, have been free of the virus for more than 15 years.

However, despite the “huge global significance” of the announcement, the WHO admits there are still major challenges to overcome if the world is the reach the goal of eradicating polio everywhere by 2018.

There have also been outbreaks in conflict-hit countries such as Syria, which had previously managed to stamp out the virus.

Polio mainly affects children under five years old. The virus is transmitted through contaminated food and water, and multiplies in the intestine. It can then invade the nervous system, causing paralysis in one in every 200 infections.

South East Asia is the fourth of six WHO regions to be declared polio-free after the Americas, Western Pacific and Europe regions. Eastern Mediterranean and Africa have yet to gain a similar status.

Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO South East Asia regional director, said: “This is very significant because before this region was certified polio-free, we had half the world’s population polio free.

“With the South East Asia region being added we now have 80% of the population polio free.

“This was a problem the region was struggling with for a long time, but now finally, we are polio free.”

Many experts thought India would be the last country in the world to get rid of polio says Deepak Kapur, of Rotary International’s India National Polio Plus Committee.

He said India faced several enormous challenges including its large population.

He said: “India has close to 170 million children under five who needed to be immunised.

“Then there’s the existence of insanitary conditions which helped the polio virus to proliferate – and impure drinking water because polio is a water borne disease.”

But he said the fact that India had managed it and now the whole of South East Asia could be declared polio free sent a powerful and optimistic message to the three remaining polio-endemic countries.

The world signed up to eradicating polio in 1988. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative was launched, which is a partnership between governments and organisations such as Unicef, the WHO and Rotary International. The aim was to banish polio once and for all.

In 1988 there were 350,000 recorded cases. By 2012 cases had fallen to 223. But last year there was a rise in cases to 406 new infections.

The increase is largely down to vaccination campaigns being interrupted by conflict. In October 2013, Syria reported its first case of polio since 1999. By March 2014 there were 25 cases.

An outbreak in the Horn of Africa, which started in May 2013, has seen 217 new cases in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia.

While Thursday’s announcement clearly marked an important milestone, there was still a long way to go, said Mr Kapur.

“Every child in the world is at risk of contracting polio until such a time as the wild polio virus is completely eradicated from every part of the world,” he said.

“Until then no child – be it in North America or Europe – will be free of polio potentially hunting them down all over again.

“The only way to ensure the wild polio virus no longer exists in any part of the world is to wipe it out of every community in the world.

“It is not good enough to wipe it out on one continent and not the rest of the world because today the world is just one global village.

“The only way to keep polio away is through immunisation.”

He said if every child on the planet were immunised, there would be nowhere for the virus to flourish and spread.

“Today’s a big occasion for the entire global polio eradication initiative because if India – which had the most difficult of situations – can do it, others around the world can do it too,” Mr Kapur said.

“So Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria need to replicate the example of India and go after this virus.

“Global eradication could and should be achieved in the very near future.”

BBC

March 27, 2014
MTN Rwanda title Sponsor of Kigali Peace Marathon

{{MTN Rwanda yesterday announced that they partnered with the Rwandan Athletic Federation to become the official title sponsor of the Kigali Peace Marathon slated for Sunday May 18th 2014, kicking-off at Stade Amahoro in Remera.}}

At the Press Conference held at MTN Headquarters, MTN Rwanda’s Chief Executive Officer, Ebenezer Asante said that the partnership with Rwanda Athletics Federation is a carefully planned part of their commitment to Rwandan athletics.

“We couldn’t be more excited about this partnership. We’re confident that working
together, we’re going to create great value for our athletes and create a platform to help in youth development and talent detection.”

“This year our sponsorship package is worth Rwf53 million. We decided to invest in the Marathon because we see the importance and potential for this event to foster community participation and integration,” he continued.

The Kigali Peace Marathon began with the idea that sport could be a way of building peace and reconciliation in the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Proceeds from this year’s participant registration fees will go to the Demobilization Commission to support the rehabilitation of former peace fighters.

The Rwanda Athletics Federation President, Jean Damascene Nkezabo, expressed gratitude to MTN for having chosen to partner with the Federation.

“We foresee a strong partnership with MTN that goes beyond just four years. We have also changed the name of the Kigali International Peace Marathon to the MTN Kigali Peace Marathon to reflect this.”

This year’s theme is ‘In the new world, we run together’.

“We believe that we are not just a mobile network, but we are a community. We use the togetherness spirit which binds all Rwandans as our call to action,” said Asante.
Registration has begun and will be done at all MTN Service Centers in Kigali.

Participants will be able to register through MTN Mobile Money as another option.
(MTN RWANDACELL Ltd) has been in operation since 1998 with over 3.5

March 27, 2014