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BlackBerry Launches Low-Cost Phone for Indonesia

{{BlackBerry has launched a new low-cost phone “exclusively for Indonesia”, one of the few markets where it is still a key player.}}

The BlackBerry Z3, Jakarta Edition will go on sale from 15 May for 2,199,000 Indonesia rupiah ($191; £113).

It the first phone to be launched under new chief executive John Chen.

Once a dominant player in the sector, BlackBerry has struggled in recent years amid increased competition from rivals such as Apple and Samsung.

However, it has continued to enjoy success in Indonesia, making the country a key market for the firm.

“From conception to delivery, the BlackBerry Z3, Jakarta Edition was designed specifically with our Indonesian customers in mind,” Mr Chen said in a statement.

According to the firm, the phone – which was first announced in February – also comes customised with local apps and content.

The latest phone is also the first one to be launched after the firm agreed a five-year deal with Foxconn, the Taiwan-based maker of electronic products and components.

In February, Blackberry reported a net loss of $5.9bn (£3.5bn) for its latest financial year.

However, it recorded a smaller-than-expected loss of $423m in the three months to 1 March, compared with a loss of $4.4bn in the previous quarter.

Mr Chen, who took charge of the struggling firm late last year, has said the firm was on “a path to returning to growth and profitability”.

wirestory

May 13, 2014
Brazil Deploys Troops to Secure Borders for World Cup

{{Brazil began deploying 30,000 troops on Saturday to patrol its borders and beef up security for the World Cup soccer tournament that will kick off in 12 Brazilian cities next month, the Defense Ministry said.}}

The army, navy and air force troops will use river patrol boats, helicopters and planes to crack down on drug trafficking and other smuggling activities on Brazil´s 16,900-km (10,500-mile) frontier with 10 South American nations.

Much of the border is Amazon jungle that is hard to patrol and notoriously porous, allowing undocumented immigrants easy access to the country.

Host Brazil has invited the leaders of the 31 other nations that will compete in the World Cup to watch their teams play, which will add to security concerns. Brazilian authorities say the risk of a terrorist attack is low because Brazil has no enemies.

The Brazilian Air Force will enforce no-fly zones over the soccer stadiums during the 64 games that will be played between June 12 and July 13.

The most serious security threat will likely come from a repeat of street demonstrations by Brazilians who turned out in mass last year during a warm-up for the World Cup to protests against poor public services, corruption and the great expense of building the stadiums.

reuters

May 13, 2014
Russia says EU Sanctions Will Hurt Ukraine Peace Efforts

{{Russia said on Tuesday new European Union sanctions will hinder efforts to defuse the crisis in Ukraine and urged the West to persuade Kiev to hold discussions on the country’s future structure before a May 25 presidential election.}}

The results of self-rule referendums in the mainly Russian-speaking eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk “should be a clear signal to Kiev of the depth of the crisis” in Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The Kremlin has stopped short of endorsing independence for the regions or their absorption into Russia but has said the referendums underscore the need for talks between the pro-Western government and separatists from the east.

“Moscow hopes … the EU and United States will use their influence on the current leadership in Kiev so that issues of state structure and respect for the rights of regions are discussed soon – in any case before the election scheduled for May 25,” it said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested the Ukrainian election, which the government hopes will increase its legitimacy and control, will not be legitimate if people in the east are not confident their rights will be protected.

The EU imposed sanctions on two Crimean companies and 13 people on Monday in response to Moscow’s annexation of the Black Sea peninsula from Ukraine and its support for Russian-speaking separatists.

The EU had already imposed asset freezes and visa bans on 48 Russians and Ukrainians, and the United States has also imposed sanctions during the worst crisis in relations between Moscow and the West since the Cold War.

wirestory

May 13, 2014
US Spy Planes Join Hunt for Nigerian Girls

{{US surveillance aircraft have joined the hunt for more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by Islamist insurgents in Nigeria.}}

Washington has sent military, law-enforcement and development experts to Nigeria to help search for the missing girls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram militants from a secondary school in Chibok in remote northeastern Nigeria on April 14.

Nigeria has deployed two army divisions while Britain, Israel and France, have also offered help or sent experts.

“We have shared commercial satellite imagery with the Nigerians and are flying manned ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) assets over Nigeria with the government’s permission,” a US official said.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told a news briefing on Monday that the U.S. was providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support. She said U.S. teams on the ground “are digging in on the search and coordinating closely with the Nigerian government as well as international partners and allies.”

Two U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the United States was also considering deploying unmanned, drone aircraft to aid the search.

Boko Haram posted a video on YouTube yesterday offering to release the girls in exchange for prisoners held by the government.

About 100 girls wearing full veils and praying are shown in an undisclosed location in a part of the 17-minute video in which Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau speaks.

Boko Haram militants, who are fighting for an Islamist state, stormed a secondary school in the northeastern village of Chibok on April 14 and seized 276 girls who were taking exams. Some have managed to escape, but about 200 remain missing.

A government official said “all options” were being considered to secure the girls’ release.

In a 1.25-minute segment of the YouTube video, scores of girls in black and grey veils sit on the ground, chant and sing. Shekau, wearing military fatigues and holding an AK-47, then addresses the camera. He appears confident and at one point even laughs.

“All I am saying is that if you want us to release the girls that we have kidnapped, those who have not accepted Islam will be treated as the Prophet (Mohammad) treated infidels and they will stay with us,” he said, according to a translation of his words originally spoken in a Nigerian language.

“We will not release them while you detain our brothers,” he said, before naming a series of Nigerian cities. It was not clear if he was in the same location as the girls, although the release of the video appeared to signal a willingness on his part to negotiate.

Mike Omeri, a senior Ministry of Information official, told a news conference the government had seen the video.

“The government of Nigeria is considering all options towards freeing the girls and reuniting them with their parents,” he said.

May 13, 2014
Remera Sector to Represent Gasabo at ‘Umurenge Kagame Cup’

{{Remera Sector will represent Gasabo district in the ‘Umurenge Kagame Cup’ a tournament that will bring together all districts in the country to compete both male and female football teams.}}

The tournament is aimed at increasing awareness of good governance in the country and bringing leadership closer to the people and having their problems solved from where they live.

The competitions started in all sectors of the country and from this every district obtained a representative team that would compete at national level.

Gasabo district held final football competitions at the sports ground belonging to Rwanda’s Football governing body FERWAFA.

During the competitions in the women section; Remera sector beat Nduba Sector (1-0). Meanwhile in the men’s section Remera sector Beat Jabana sector (1-0) thus Remera Sector emerged overall winner in both the Men and women sections and will represent Gasabo district at the national competitions where district teams will compete.

May 13, 2014
WHO Urges Nations to Prevent Alcohol Related Deaths

{Above , the most common method of processing local potent gin ethanol (Kanyanga) popularly consumed in the East African region. Ethanol is cheap and consumers in the region like it for getting high or ‘knocked-out’ quick. In some countries including Uganda its legal whereas in Rwanda its illegal. However, mass production of this gin from Uganda has found its way through porous boarders to Uganda and DRC,Kenya and Tanzania.}

{{In 2012, deaths due to harmful use of alcohol reached up to 3.3 million says a new report launched by WHO Tuesday.}}

Governments around the world have been advised to establish policies and strategies to prevent such alcohol deaths.

According to the report, alcohol consumption can not only lead to dependence but also increases people’s risk of developing more than 200 diseases including liver cirrhosis and some cancers. In addition, harmful drinking can lead to violence and injuries.

The report also finds that harmful use of alcohol makes people more susceptible to infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and pneumonia.

The “Global status report on alcohol and health 2014” provides country profiles for alcohol consumption in the 194 WHO Member States, the impact on public health and policy responses.

“More needs to be done to protect populations from the negative health consequences of alcohol consumption,” says Dr Oleg Chestnov, WHO Assistant Director-General for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health. “The report clearly shows that there is no room for complacency when it comes to reducing the harmful use of alcohol.”

Some countries are already strengthening measures to protect people. These include increasing taxes on alcohol, limiting the availability of alcohol by raising the age limit, and regulating the marketing of alcoholic beverages.

The report also highlights the need for action by countries including:

national leadership to develop policies to reduce harmful use of alcohol (66 WHO Member States had written national alcohol policies in 2012);

national awareness-raising activities (nearly 140 countries reported at least one such activity in the past three years);

health services to deliver prevention and treatment services, in particular increasing prevention, treatment and care for patients and their families, and supporting initiatives for screening and brief interventions.

In addition the report shows the need for communities to be engaged in reducing harmful use of alcohol.

On average every person in the world aged 15 years or older drinks 6.2 litres of pure alcohol per year. But as less than half the population (38.3%) actually drinks alcohol, this means that those who do drink consume on average 17 litres of pure alcohol annually.

The report also points to the fact that a higher percentage of deaths among men than among women are from alcohol-related causes – 7.6% of men’s deaths and 4% of women’s deaths – though there is evidence that women may be more vulnerable to some alcohol-related health conditions compared to men.

In addition, the authors note that there is concern over the steady increase in alcohol use among women.

“We found that worldwide about 16% of drinkers engage in heavy episodic drinking – often referred to as ‘binge-drinking’ – which is the most harmful to health,” explains Dr Shekhar Saxena, Director for Mental Health and Substance Abuse at WHO.

“Lower-income groups are more affected by the social and health consequences of alcohol. They often lack quality health care and are less protected by functional family or community networks.”

Globally, Europe is the region with the highest consumption of alcohol per capita, with some of its countries having particularly high consumption rates.

Trend analysis shows that the consumption level is stable over the last 5 years in the region, as well as in Africa and the Americas, though increases have been reported in the South-East Asia and the Western Pacific regions.

Through a global network, WHO is supporting countries in their development and implementation of policies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol.

The need for intensified action was endorsed in the landmark 2011 United Nations General Assembly meeting, which identified alcohol as one of four common risk factors* contributing to the non-communicable diseases (NCDs) epidemic.

May 13, 2014
FDLR Establishes New Militia Group to Protect Hutu

{{The FDLR Rebels (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda) operating inside DR-Congo has created a new militia group it claims will protect the Congolese Hutu’s.}}

The New militia group known as Protection du Peuple Hutu (PPH) will be operating in the Eastern Province of the vast mineral rich country that has been a host to dozens of militia groups.

Protection du Peuple Hutu (PPH) derives its support from FDLR-FOCA, FDLR-RUD and Mai Mai Nyatura.

According to MONUSCO, the new militia group Protection du Peuple Hutu (PPH) was created on May 6 at Luofu south of Lubero about 120Km north of Goma.

Protection du Peuple Hutu (PPH) is reported to have representatives in areas of Masisi and Rutshuru.

Digital Congo website reports that the birth of Protection du Peuple Hutu (PPH) is aimed at protecting Hutu people irrespective of their country’s of origin.

May 13, 2014
Leaked Video Shows Jay Z Attacked

The leak of a security video that appears to show Beyonce’s sister, Solange Knowles, attacking Jay Z is being investigated by a New York City hotel.

The Standard Hotel issued a statement saying it is “shocked and disappointed that there was a clear breach of our security system”.

US celebrity website TMZ posted the minute-long video on Monday and said it was shot last week inside a Standard Hotel elevator.

It appears to show Solange attacking Jay Z in his wife Beyonce’s presence. A security guard intervenes. There is no audio.

The hotel says the leaked video violates the confidentiality it provides customers.

“We are investigating with the utmost urgency the circumstances surrounding the situation and, as is our customary practice, will discipline and prosecute the individuals involved to our fullest capacity.”

TMZ posted a longer, three-minute version of the video later. Representatives for Beyonce, Jay Z and Solange declined to comment.

The footage shows the performers in the outfits they wore to the Met Gala last week.

Jay Z, 44, and Beyonce, 32, were married in 2008. They will kick-off their co-headlining On The Run Tour on June 25 in Miami.

Solange, 27, recently performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, where Beyonce joined her onstage.

TMZ

May 13, 2014
Parents’ Wealth Influences Earnings

{{The wealth of your parents has more influence on earnings in Britain than in any other advanced country, according to a study.}}

Analysis by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) found only Italy had a similar level of “earnings persistence” through generations.

The report – Dismantling the Barriers to Social Mobility – compared the UK to other major economies on seven key criteria.

They included income equality, where Britain ranked 29th out of 34 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) states.

It came 14th out of 29 countries in Unicef research on the proportion of children living in households with below 50% of median income.

For full-time women’s employment, the UK was only 21st out of 26 wealthy nations.

But it was above average in per capita spending on education.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “People’s incomes in Britain are more influenced by their parents’ wealth than in any other advanced country.

“This lack of social mobility holds millions of people back and means that they don’t get a fair share of the benefits of a growing economy, such as decent pay and educational opportunities.

“Worse still, rising inequality means that the price people pay for a lack of social mobility is getter bigger.

“But while few people in this country would argue against social mobility, successive governments have a poor track record of tackling it.

“When it comes to income inequality and full-time employment rates for mothers, the UK is ranked well below our global competitors.

“Raising the full-time employment rates for mothers is an important way to boost social mobility and one we’d like all political parties to commit to.

“But with over six million people working part-time in Britain we also need to tackle the pay and career penalties faced by those who want – or need – to work shorter hours.”

May 13, 2014
AfDB Approves $76M Loan for Rwanda

{{The African Development Bank AfDB has extended to Rwanda a loan US $76 million aimed at financing of Skills, Employability and Entrepreneurship Program II for the three fiscal Years ( FY2013/14, FY2014/13 and 2015/16).}}

The loan was approved by AfDB on May 7, 2014, by AfDB’s Board of Executive Directors.

This second Sector Budget Support operation will contribute to the Government of Rwanda’s policy reforms aimed at promoting inclusive growth and accelerating poverty reduction.

SEEP II will specifically aim to consolidate, sustain achievements and scale-up reforms/interventions supporting skills and entrepreneurship development initiated under SEEP I.

Rwanda has made notable progress in developing skills and workforce that meet the demands of the labour market and enhance job creation for youth by increasing private sector participation in TVET; improving access to business advisory services especially for MSMEs and enhancing entrepreneurship skills through incubators.

“AfDB’s support directly contributes to Rwanda’s competitiveness, inclusive growth and poverty reduction”, said Ndoumbe Lobe, the Bank’s Acting Vice-President for Operations (Water, Agriculture, Human Development, Governance, and Natural Resources Departments).

However, Rwanda still experiences skills gaps as well as low labour productivity stifling private sector growth and competitiveness. The average skills deficit is at about 40%.

The main challenge therefore is to increase labour productivity, creating decent jobs and reducing underemployment, which is about 58% (63% for youth). SEEP II will therefore provide the much-needed resources to further deepen reforms and consolidate the achievements already undertaken by the government.

“The Government appreciates this timely support which will boost its efforts towards the implementation of its current medium-term Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy – the EDPRS 2,” said Leonard Rugwabiza Minega, Chief Economist in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Rwanda.

SEEP II will benefit youth, women and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Forty per cent of all registered entrepreneurs are women. Women also make up 52% of the population.

The youth comprise of 39% of the population, while SMEs account for over 92.6% of private-sector establishments and employ the majority of the population.

“This program once again, demonstrates the important relationship between the Bank and Rwanda. Over the last 40 years, the Bank’s total commitments to the Republic of Rwanda have been more than 1.1 billion Units of Account (approximately US $1.7 billion).

This commitment has gone towards promoting entrepreneurship in Rwanda not only through reducing the cost of doing business but also the risk of doing business,” added Rugwabiza Minega.

SEEP II was developed jointly by the African Development and the Government of Rwanda and in close consultation with the private sector and other key development partners (Germany, UK, USA, European Commission, France, Netherlands, Sweden and the World Bank).

May 13, 2014