Author: Publisher

Will Salva Kiir release political detainees?

{Regional Governments met to discuss the end of conflicts in South Sudan, a three year old country that won its independence from North Sudan.}

South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir has been urged by his counterparts to agree peace talks with his rival former vice president Riek Machar accused of planning to overthrow President Salva Kiir.

Meanwhile there were media reports about the Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni who warned Riek Machar showing that if the later continues with his military action against South Sudan, regional country will collaborate to defeat him.

Despite the warnings, Riek Machar’s army wing “White fighters” captured different cities from South Sudan’s forces and there were other reported information about someone unknown from outside who is supporting “White fighters”.

Since the outbreak of the conflicts, western countries and some African countries started to evacuate their citizens from South Sudan including Americans Citizens who were first informed about the escalation of conflicts in South Sudan.

{{Now, Will Salva Kiir release political detainees?}}

The Obama administration has urged the South Sudan government to release allies of Riek Machar.

A State Department spokeswoman said at a press briefing Monday that the US does not view the detainees as alleged coup plotters but as “political detainees” who should be freed to take part in peace talks underway in Ethiopia.

“We do believe that to be meaningful and productive, senior SPLM members currently detained in Juba need to be present for discussions on political issues which are happening in Addis,” said spokeswoman Marie Harf.

“To help move these talks forward, we urge the government of South Sudan to uphold its commitments and release political detainees immediately,” Ms Harf added.

That stance puts Washington at odds with Juba, which relies heavily on US political and economic support. And by calling for the release of the imprisoned Machar allies, the US has put its weight behind a key demand of the rebels battling Kiir’s forces.

A South Sudan government spokesman had said in Addis on Sunday that the detainees would not be released.

““There is no way we can be asked to release people who are arrested and charged,” Information Minister Michael Makuei told reporters. Freeing the detainees would set a “bad precedent,” he declared.

January 7, 2014
Knowles & Kina Music in Dubai for video recording

{Renowned Rwandan singer, Knowles Butera, is expected to travel to Dubai, where she is to take video images for her third album.}

She will be accompanied by her colleagues from Kina Music Studio.

Their departure from Kigali to Dubai is planned for this Saturday, January 11, 2013.

Knowles will be accompanied by not only her audio music producer, Clément (People say he’s her lover) but also with Meddy Saleh who is responsible for the production of video images.

This Rwandan musician entrusted to IGIHE that “Apart from her colleagues mentioned before, Tom Close, may accompany him but it is not confirmed yet.”

She said that her preference to go take video in Dubai is because this city is not only attractive and the presence of many activities but also she wants to amble around in this city. Knowles also eyes Dubai as her next market of her music albums.

She said she wants to work hard this year and also takes her music talent to the international level.

January 7, 2014
Holland declares man-hunt on Rwanda genocide suspects

{After a long period of -time hiding undercover in the suburbs of Holland, finally the Holland government has decided to declare a man-hunt on genocide suspects who participated in the Rwanda 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.}

This deal of partnership between the two countries (Holland-Rwanda) follows discussions between the Holland Minister of internal and external security Fred Teeven who has been on a 1-day visit in Rwanda, this Monday 6 January 2014.

His visit comes after his country (Holland) expressed appreciation after a long time on what Rwanda government has done and still doing today in-terms of Justice and development to both Rwandans and foreigners living in Rwanda ever since the 1994 Rwanda Tutsi genocide

Speaking to Journalists, Fred Teeven was asked about what Holland thinks about the deportation of Genociders, he confirmed many suspects have been living in Holland for a very longtime, and it’s not easy to deport them at random, but we are ready to use all our efforts in partnership with Rwanda government for them to be deported immediately.

He also added that the decision will be examined on how these suspects have to be judged in either Rwanda or Holland.

According to the Rwanda Minister of Justice Honorable Busingye Johnston, the resolution has to be put into action but only to be done in a right way.

Currently, 20 genocide suspects who participated in the 1994 Tutsi mass killings backed by Holland nationality are hiding in different suburbs of Holland, a country situated in Europe, boardered with Belgium, France, and others.

January 7, 2014
Rwanda invites the world to join in marking the 20th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi

{On 7 January 2014, Rwanda will officially launch Kwibuka20 at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre. The event will include the premiere of the Kwibuka20 short film, remarks from Minister of Sports and Culture, Protais Mitali and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Louise Mushikiwabo and survivor testimonies. }

It will be marked by the lighting of the Kwibuka Flame (Flame of Remembrance) which will then travel through Rwanda’s thirty districts. The flame symbolises remembrance as well as the resilience and courage of Rwandans over the last twenty years.

The event will also feature the premiere performance of the “Urumuri Rutazima” song by Liza Kamikazi and Children’s’ Choir. The event will be live streamed on www.kwibuka.rw.

The Urumuri Rutazima (Kwibuka Flame) tour from 7 January to 7 April 2014 is distinct from the official mourning period, Icyunamo, which will begin on 7 April 2014 with the lighting of the National Flame of Mourning.

{{
Urumuri Rutazima – Kwibuka Flame (Flame of Remembrance)
The Flame Tour: 7 January – 7 April 2014 }}

The launch of Kwibuka20 will be marked by the lighting of Urumuri Rutazima (Kwibuka Flame) that will travel through Rwanda’s thirty districts before reaching Kigali on 7 April 2014, the start of the national mourning period.

Community conversations will take place in each district, offering Rwandans the opportunity to reflect on the events of 1994 as well as the country’s journey since then. Peace education workshops and a countrywide arts competition will also accompany the flame.

The flame symbolises remembrance as well as the resilience and courage of Rwandans over the past twenty years. Carried in a simple lamp, it will be used to light other lamps in communities around Rwanda.

To mark the 20th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi, all memorial fires throughout the country will stem from this single Kwibuka Flame.

On returning to Kigali, President Paul Kagame will use the Kwibuka Flame to light the National Flame of Mourning. This will take place on 7 April 2014, marking the official beginning of the national mourning period. The flame will also be the source of the fire used at the candlelit vigil at Amahoro Stadium on the evening of 7 April 2014.

January 7, 2014
Musanze: Armed Men attack to Mayor’s home killed one & injured Two

{Unidentified group of armed men attacked the house of the Mayor of Musanze District killed a two year old child and seriously injured two other children who were at home.
}

The incidence took place yesterday at about 6:30 pm in Muhoza sector, Musanze District in the Northern Province of Rwanda.

IGIHE tried to contact Musanze District’s Mayor, Winfrida Mpembyemungu, unfortunately we haven’t reached her for a comment.

Speaking to the driver of the Mayor, Jean Baptist Bozukongira who was at home said that the bomb blasted few minutes later when he brought potatoes at home.

The Mayor was conducting a meeting at the District Office when armed men attacked her home.

Police investigation is undergoing to arrest the criminals.

rubibi@igihe.rw

January 6, 2014
Korea Telecom may scale down Rwanda business

{Korea Telecom CEO Hwang Chang-gyu has revealed plans to review the company’s projects across Africa and place greater focus on bolstering the firm’s competitive edge in its domestic telecommunication market.}

According to a Korea Times report, this review will likely result in the scaling down or scrapping of the company’s activities in Rwanda and other countries on the continent.

Under the leadership of outgoing Chairman Lee Suk-chae, Korea’s second-largest mobile carrier signed an agreement in March 2013 to invest $140 million in Rwanda to build a fourth-generation (4G) mobile network that will serve 95 percent of the country’s population.

The investment, however, is being questioned as it takes quite a long time to generate profits. Since signing the agreement, the company has sought to expand its footprint in other countries including Kenya and Uganda.

“One of the key priorities for the upcoming CEO is to recover KT’s telecommunications-related business. Synergy will be maximized only after realizing business structures that can generate profit in a stable manner regardless of market situations,” one KT official told Korea Times, adding moves are already under way to realign its overseas business projects.

“The new CEO will re-examine our African business projects from a zero-base,” he said.

The review of the overseas projects comes on the back of KT officials feeling the pinch in its domestic market as its globalization efforts are seen to have sacrificed its competitiveness locally.

“The outgoing CEO was busy following ‘trendy business projects.’ KT should set short-term, mid-term and long-term targets if it wants to earn results from overseas business projects that the company is involved in,” said Chang Joon-hyuck, senior vice president at Atlas Research and Consulting.

January 6, 2014
Police arrests “Sana radio” journalist over death fake

{After rumors and many condolence messages sent by journalists airing on Christian radios in the country, over the disappearance of Sana radio journalist Umuhoza Honoree a.k.a Mc V finally Rwanda police finds him.}

Following the past news that was aired on various radios that he was missing in an accident that occurred in Rubavu district, after police questioning at Kicukiro police station they found that the journalist faked his death in order to gain public popularity.

Speaking to IGIHE on a phone interview the Rwanda police spokesman in the western province chief supt (CSP) Gahima Francis confirmed the accident wasn’t bizarre as doctors and nurses at the hospital also confirm.

CSP Gahima added that, after this fake lie from Umuhoza Honore, the police immediately announced his arrest as it was also supported and said by Ndabarasa John the chief editor of Sana radio.

According to Ndabarasa John, Sana radio boss, Honore,s return came after he had written a letter of forgiveness through SMS on his fake death.

His sms came after he, one time, requested a journalist who was working on an internet media in Rwanda, to write on him wrong things in order for him to gain his popularity in Rwanda.

After that he had also published 2 stories, saying he is loved and embraced by girls in the country, he also claimed he worked with “illuminati” to one journalist of isange.com but fortunately the journalist refused to publish the story.

January 6, 2014
Why Obesity is increasing at a high rate in developing countries

{Almost twice as many obese people in poor countries than in rich ones as fat and sugar consumption rises, warns ODI}

The extent of the world’s obesity epidemic has been thrown into stark relief as a report from the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) puts the number of overweight and obese adults in developing countries at more than 900 million.

Future Diets, an analysis of public data about what the world eats, says there are almost twice as many obese people in poor countries as in rich ones. In 2008, the figures were 904 million in developing countries, where most of the world’s people live, compared with 557 million in industrialized nations.

“The growing rates of overweight and obesity in developing countries are alarming,” said the report’s author, ODI research fellow Steve Wiggins. “On current trends, globally, we will see a huge increase in the number of people suffering certain types of cancer, diabetes, strokes and heart attacks, putting an enormous burden on public healthcare systems.”

The report warns that governments are not doing enough to tackle the growing crisis, partly due to politicians’ reluctance to interfere at the dinner table, the powerful influence of farming and food lobbies and a large gap in public awareness of what constitutes a healthy diet.

According to the report, overweight and obesity rates since 1980 have almost doubled in China and Mexico, and risen by a third in South Africa, which now has a higher rate than the UK.

Regionally, North Africa, the Middle East and Latin America all have overweight and obese rates on a par with Europe.

Workers install lights on a giant McDonald’s sign in Beijing. Diets in China are proportionally richer in animal products than in the 1960s. Photograph: AP

“The evidence is well established: obesity, together with the excessive consumption of fat and salt, is linked to the rising global incidence of non-communicable diseases, including some cancers, diabetes, heart disease and stroke,” says the report.

“What has changed is that the majority of people who are overweight or obese today can be found in the developing rather than the developed world.”

The report highlights a paradox in the developing world. As well as obesity, under-consumption remains a problem for hundreds of millions of people in poor countries, where progress on reducing stunting – low height to age – has been slow. Up to a third of infants in the developing world are stunted.

Factors behind the increase in obesity include rising incomes and urbanization, which tend to lead to diets rich in animal produce, fat, salt and sugar; and the various influences of globalization, among them advertising and the media, on diets.

But the report cautions against jumping to conclusions that national diets are converging on a single international norm.

In China, for example, diets are proportionally richer in animal products and vegetables than in the 1960s, but sugar consumption remains low.

In contrast, Thailand has experienced an increase in the per-head consumption of starchy roots and pulses as well as fruit, which Thais consume more than animal products.

This variety in diets carries certain implications, the report argues. Globalization will not – in the medium term – place massive restrictions on the scope for policy action, and policy needs to start where people are, in terms of their preferences and traditions.

“Trajectories are not preordained; there is scope to influence the evolution of diet to get better outcomes for health and agriculture,” says the report.

Yet, Wiggins acknowledges that governments have been timid in staking out positions on diet. “Who wants to take on the food industry?” he said. “Then there is the moral and ethical dimension: people would not like the government to tell us what to put on the dinner table.”

This is not to conclude that diet policy must be timid, says the report, even if that is, apparently, the public mood. It contrasts government reluctance to act on diets with strong action to limit smoking.

Although diet is a more diverse issue than smoking, says the report, there may be scope for governments to take more incremental measures that could pave the way for the public to accept something needs to be done if future health costs are to be contained.

Some governments have managed to change diets for the better. South Korea has increased fruit and vegetable consumption through publicity, social marketing and education campaign, including training of women to prepare traditional low-fat, high-vegetable meals.

Denmark banned Trans fats, which have made its McDonald’s among the healthiest in the world.

Further back, the introduction of rationing in the UK during the Second World War ensured that the poorest people were able to eat a balanced diet.

But these are the exceptions. For the most part, diets are increasingly unhealthy – with an increase in the consumption of sugar. Sugar and sweetener consumption has risen worldwide by more than a fifth per person from 1961 to 2009.

Less than a third of countries are consuming less than the recommended top limit of 50g of sugar a day per person, and 69 countries have average per capita sugar consumption of more than double this recommended upper limit.

The world’s top sugar consumers include the US, Belgium, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Costa Rica and Mexico.

Fat consumption remains a concern. Among developing countries the highest consumption of fat is in East Asia and southern Africa.

However, industrialized countries still have much higher levels of fat consumption – often more than double their developing counterparts.

January 6, 2014
FARDC collaborates with FDLR-New UN Report

A recent report by UN experts as the latter establishes facts showing that Congolese army, (FARDC), collaborates with Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).

The UN report released yesterday demonstrates how the Congolese army works everyday with FDLR.

The UN report highlighted in particular “cases of collaboration” at the local level between the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and the Congolese army.

However, UN experts did not mention that members of the armed group have directly served in the regular army.

This report also pointed the finger on Uganda and Rwanda to support M23 rebels even if, this group of rebels were defeated.

rubibi@igihe.rw

January 6, 2014
French jobseeker posts CV on motorway billboard, gets job

{Frustrated French jobseeker Laurent Le Bret resorted to posting his CV during December on a giant roadside billboard, saying “all he wanted for Christmas was a job”.}

His seasonal wish came true. The 41-year-old, unemployed for the last five months, has just been offered a temporary position “that will probably turn into a full-time post after three months”.

The four-metre by three-metre billboard went up on the side of the RN7 motorway just outside the Riviera town of Antibes in south-east France on December 17.

Alongside a picture of a smiling Le Bret complete with Santa hat, his CV read: “Trilingual operations manager seeks position in hotels, restaurants, tourism and leisure.

“All I want for Christmas is a job.”

‘Father Christmas really came through for me.’

Within 10 days he had been contacted, interviewed and had started his new position as operations manager with the Azureva holiday resort near Antibes.

“Father Christmas really came through for me this year,” he told FRANCE 24. “I couldn’t be happier.”

Seasonal generosity also came from advertising firm Pisoni Publicité which gave him the space – for free.

“We thought it was an interesting idea,” company CEO Vincent Piot told FRANCE 24. “When people come up with ideas like this we are always keen to see what we can do. We’re very happy to prove that what we do works and that Mr Le Bret is back at work.”

With the French economy struggling to recover from financial crisis and recession, and with record unemployment, jobseekers in France are having a hard time getting back to work.

Not all of the country’s 3.3 million unemployed will be as lucky as Le Bret. According to Pisot Publicité, the inventive jobseeker benefitted from around 2,000 euros worth of free advertising space that was seen by upwards of 70,000 drivers a day.

{{France 24}}

January 6, 2014