The move comes after the explosive reports last week that a quiz app harvested 50 million Facebook profiles for data which were then sent over to Cambridge Analytica, a firm that was caught claiming it handled the digital aspects of President Donald Trump’s 2016 election campaign.
Facebook is scrambling to regain the trust of users amid a backlash against the social network following last week’s revelations.
It said it redesigned the settings menu on mobile devices to make things easier to find. All the different sections under the settings tab will now be a in a single place.
The technology giant has also added a privacy shortcuts menu. Users can go to this menu to add extra security when logging in, review and delete what you’ve shared from search history to friend requests, and manage the information on your profile and who sees your posts.
Facebook is also introducing a tool called “Access Your Information” to let you see the comments you’ve left or posts you’ve shared and delete them. The company also said it will make it easier for users to download their data, such as photos and contacts you’ve added to your account, and even move it to another service.
Finally, Facebook said that it will be proposing new terms of service and will be updating its data policy to “better spell out what data we collect and how we use it.” The technology firm said that most of the updates “have been in the works for some time,” but the recent events “underscore their importance.”
“The last week showed how much more work we need to do to enforce our policies, and to help people understand how Facebook works and the choices they have over their data,” Facebook said in a blog post Wednesday.
Facebook is one of the many companies that are also facing a tougher regulatory environment, particularly in Europe. In May, a piece of legislation known as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is set to come into force. Many of the new tools Facebook has outlined will help it adhere to the new rules.
A deal would end the current alliance between the companies and marry them as one corporation, said the people, who asked not to be identified as the details aren’t public. Renault currently owns 43 percent of Nissan while the Japanese carmaker has a 15 percent stake in its French counterpart. Carlos Ghosn, the chairman of both companies, is driving the negotiations and would run the combined entity, the people said.
The parties are discussing a transaction in which Nissan would essentially give Renault shareholders stock in the new company, the people said. Nissan shareholders would also receive shares in the new company in exchange for their holdings, they said. The automaker may maintain headquarters in both Japan and France.
Renault shares jumped as much as 8.3 percent in early trading Thursday, hitting the highest intraday level in more than a decade. They were up 4.2 percent at 10:05 a.m. in Paris, giving the company a market value of about 29 billion euros ($36 billion). Nissan shares are down nearly 2 percent over the past year, giving the company a valuation of 4.6 trillion yen ($43 billion).
Getting a deal done could prove very difficult, the people said. The French government owns 15 percent of Renault and may be reluctant to relinquish control over its stake or have its position watered down. Both the French and Japanese governments would also have to approve a deal and may have strong opinions on where the combined company is domiciled, the people said.
While the companies have claimed a multitude of benefits from their partnership, its staying power could be complicated until imbalances in the companies’ ownership structures are resolved.
Ghosn reiterated last month that Japan wouldn’t agree to a tighter structure if France remains a shareholder. He also said he isn’t trying to convince the French state to reduce its stake in Renault.
“They decide to be here or to get out,” he said. “Frankly, I don’t even open this subject. I just consider that I have the shareholders that I have and I try to satisfy them in the best way possible and as much as possible make sure that they understand our strategy and appreciate our results.”
Born in the city of Agaro in Oromia, Abiy comes from a mixed Christian-Muslim family. He joined the OPDO in the late 1980s. His military days saw him serve and rise to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, where he also took part in the UN peacekeeping mission to Rwanda.
Composed of four ethnically based parties, the EPRDF and its allies wield unchecked power in Ethiopia and control all seats in the parliament, which must confirm the new prime minister
As leader of the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), Abiy is set to take over from Hailemariam Desalegn, who announced his resignation last month.
The decision to elect Abiy as party leader was made behind closed doors by 180 EPRDF elites at the end of a week-long meeting.
A former minister of science and technology, Abiy was became a soldier in the now Ethiopian National Defense Force in 1993 and worked mostly in intelligence and communications department. In 1995, after the Genocide against Tutsis, he was deployed as a member of the United Nations Peace Keeping Force (UNAMIR), in Rwanda.
Abiy will be the first Oromo prime minister in the 27-year rule of the EPRDF, which has presided over years of rapid economic growth in Africa’s second most-populous country despite growing unease both at home and abroad with its authoritarian governing style.
Beyond just marking an ethnic milestone, many Ethiopians are hopeful Abiy will change the ways of the party, which assumed power in 1991 after routing the communist Derg junta.
The lucky winners that were selected by different local radio stations were all prized with brand new Huawei smartphones.
The digital banking competition that has been staged for the third time now; is aimed at raising awareness about digital banking options provided by the bank and their (customers’) experience while using them.
Speaking at the prize giving function, Niragira Athanasie, head of marketing and customers experience at Equity Bank reminded the attendees that the Bank was investing in digital solutions to improve banking service delivery in Rwanda.
“We are investing in these digital solutions to deliver a digital ‘step change’ in banking service delivery, while bringing banking services closer to the people by expanding and improving financial service delivery. The EazzyBanking suite of products caters for the increasing preference by Rwandans for self-service channels,” she said.
Andrew Kulahige, Commercial Director at Equity Bank Rwanda who also attended the event, prompted the winners to stand as brand ambassadors for Equity Bank and to encourage others on the Eazzy banking range of solutions.
“As we are promoting a cashless culture among Rwandans; we encourage you to advocate the Eazzy banking range of solutions, to provide users an easy, comprehensive, and secure banking experience.”, he said
Kulahige also explained how the bank’s Eazzy loan platform enables customers to apply and access small loans on their mobile phones, while the Eazzy net app allows for internet banking.
The Eazzy Banking suite of products include the EazzyBanking app, a global financial app that directly integrates with telecom services, allowing customers to open accounts, send money and even make payments using their mobile phones anywhere, anytime.
Downloadable on both Android and iOS-enabled devices, the EazzyBanking App is easy to activate and provides a host of key service offerings, ranging from opening of accounts, sending money to bank accounts or mobile wallets, applying and repaying loans, and utility bills, among others.
Its EazzyNet retail internet portal enables customers to manage their bank accounts, while the EazzyPay interoperable payment platform allows one to pay for bills such as monthly TV subscriptions, as well as pay for goods and services at registered merchant outlets.
The system also boasts of a mobile loan product known as EazzyLoan and a cash and liquidity management solution for SMEs, corporate firms, big organisations and institutions called EazzyBiz.
Kagame was speaking Tuesday in Leaders Panel at the ongoing Next Einstein Forum that is taking place in Kigali.
On the Panel under the topic ‘Laying the Groundwork for Knowledge-Led Economies’, Kagame and Senegal President, Macky Sall discussed different matters about science.
The Head of State said that education is important as it benefits everyone in the country and that the government has invested in education, encouraged and incentivized science.
“We invest in education; of course the biggest part of National Budget is invested in health and education. We make sure that we have done things that actually we can do ourselves or together with other partners. Foundations and countries have been very helpful in investing in education,” he said.
“Apart from that education we also encourage and incentivize science, we encourage young people to go into science by availing what they can use as tools for their own development and other incentives in terms of what they have access to for their development,” he added.
Kagame said that they have encouraged a kind of ecosystem where from private sector and public partnership they facilitate ideas of youth and get developed.
Kagame said that they have invested in youth by sending them to study from different countries across the World. However, he said that Rwanda is yet to reach where Rwandans want to be.
“We are yet to realize half of where we want to be, but the trajectory is a pleasant one and we are moving forward,” he said.
He said that the government makes sure that they have put condncive environment on the investment side.
Kagame assured that Rwanda will continue to support the development of science.
“We will continue doing our best, we will invest our time, energy and policies to make sure that there is always place for science. Even if we didn’t do it, it has place whether we support it or not. We are the ones to lose if we don’t support that,” Kagame noted.
The Three-day biennial conference started yesterday. The next forum will take place in Kenya.
Bond first expertly prepared and served sumptuous French dishes at Marriott’s Soko Restaurant through the Largest Dinner in the World hosted by over 3,000 restaurants worldwide last Wednesday.
The French chef then led Marriott’s guests into a memorable weekend with an opportunity to have again a fill of French cuisine and Afro-French fusion of gastronomy.
Speaking to IGIHE at Marriott Kigali on Saturday, Bond said he has come to showcase French cuisine and learn about African cuisine so that he can take them out to the global market.
“My specialty is in gastronomy fusion. I use African cuisine and mix it with international cuisine. For example, today I have done saka-saka, cassava leaves locally known as ‘isombe,’ added spinach and avocado to create a sweet taste and a very green colour,” he said.
Bond, turning 26 years old this month with nine-years of experience in the culinary field, said he is working on a project that aims to put African cuisines among the top 50 globally.
“Why not have African cuisine in the top 50 in the world? I decided to come to Rwanda to put in gastronomy a signature dish which represents Rwanda. Gastronomy is my passion that I am practising and I like sharing my skills. I want to spend one or two months here to see the true Rwandan cuisine, how they use different products so that I can then prove in the eyes of everyone that there are good dishes in Rwanda.” he added.
Over the last year, Kigali Marriott has been showcasing different cuisines to the Kigali community including Italian, Turkish, Belgian, Brazilian and now French cuisine.
Having opened its doors in mid-2016 as part of Marriott International, the five-star hotel has now positioned itself as an unrivalled hub of delicacies, entertainment and state-of-the art services in the country.
Mutimura was speaking Yesterday in Kigali, in a Pre-event to the Next Einstein Forum Global Gathering in a one day discussion with researchers under ‘Science Africa Workshop’.
He said that researches are being carried out, but their outcomes do not reach people who have problems which they would help to solve.
“We should conduct research that creates impact. Findings should help us during planning and execution of projects that lead to people’s development. Research should help us in devising sustainable solutions,” he said.
The Principal of College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in University of Rwanda, Dr Laetitia Nyinawamwiza said that research carried out by university lecturers helps them attain high level of education, but do not facilitate in solving people’s problems.
“In university, researches are being carried out, the reason why you will see lecturers continue to climb high in grades; however, most of their findings are published in scientific journals but citizens or business community do not know their findings,” she said.
However, Nyinawamwiza said that researchers still have funding issues where research results are not disseminated to grassroots, staying academic other than being translated into practical solutions.
The celebration that took place under the theme; ‘Women of Rwanda, keep up the good work and let’s build Rwanda we want and deserve”, served as a platform to reflect on the achievements registered so far, the challenges and the way forward in regard to women empowerment in Rwanda and The Netherlands.
In his speech during the celebrations, Rwanda’s Ambassador to The Kingdom of the Netherlands, Jean Pierre Karabaranga emphasized Rwanda’s achievements in the last 24 years, especially in empowering women.
In his remarks, Amb. Karabaranga quoted President Kagame’s message on March 8th, 2018 where he designated Women as a cornerstone of prosperity for the society.
“It is no accident that the renewal of Rwanda was also accompanied by significant upgrades in the status, roles, and responsibilities of women. The same is true in nearly every country where gender equality has been taken seriously. Women are a cornerstone of prosperity for society as a whole. Even in situations of conflict, they are in a position to make unique contributions to peace and stability”, President Kagame said.
Rwanda was ranked 4th worldwide in the World Economic Gender Gap Report 2017; a report that ranks countries on their ability to close the gender gap in four fundamental areas: economic participation and opportunity, education, health and survival, and political empowerment.
Here below is a Joint Communiqué on the Occasion of President Kagame’s Official visit to Uganda
1. At the invitation of His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, paid a one-day Official Visit to Uganda on March 25, 2018. His Excellency President Paul Kagame was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and East African Community and other Senior Government Officials.
2. The two Heads of State held Official Talks at State House, Entebbe in a cordial and friendly atmosphere on a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues.
3. Their Excellencies noted the existing bonds of friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries and reiterated their commitment to strengthen them further. In this regard, they reviewed cooperation particularly in the sectors of railway and air transport as well as electricity interconnection.
4. The two Heads of States observed that the Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) between the two countries provides a good mechanism for discussing matters of mutual interest and strengthening cooperation. They therefore directed their Ministers responsible for Foreign Affairs to convene the next JPC within three months.
5. His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni congratulated His Excellency President Paul Kagame, the Government and people of Rwanda on the successful hosting of the historic African Union Extra Ordinary Summit in Kigali on March 21, 2018 during which the Agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area as well as the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons were signed.
6. The two Heads of State reiterated their commitment to the economic integration of Africa, accelerating industrialization, development of regional and continental infrastructure to improve the livelihoods of the peoples of Africa. His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni commended His Excellency President Paul Kagame, in his capacity as current Chair of the African Union, for his leadership.
7. His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni expressed his appreciation to His Excellency President Paul Kagame for honouring his invitation and for the fruitful discussions they held. His Excellency President Paul Kagame, on his part, expressed his appreciation to His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the Government and people of the Republic of Uganda for the warm reception and hospitality accorded to him and his delegation during the visit.
8. His Excellency President Paul Kagame extended an invitation to His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni to pay a State Visit to the Republic of Rwanda. The invitation was gladly accepted and the dates will be agreed upon through diplomatic channels.
Unveiled in Brussels yesterday, the new Belgian Icon will represent Belgium on the carrier’s aircraft A320 named Aerosmurf as part of the Brussels Airlines fleet until 2023.
Seven months on with 1415 submitted ideas since the start of the Belgian Icon contest, Brussels Airlines’ fifth iconic plane has finally got ready to carry out its Belgian colours around Europe and beyond with the Smurfs design by the Italian Marta Mascellani but chosen by the public.
“The Smurfs, who celebrate their 60th birthday this year, are one of Belgium’s most loved comic characters and are sure to be the perfect flying ambassadors for Belgium. As from tomorrow, Aerosmurf will bring the world to Belgium and the best of Belgium to the world, just like the four other Belgian Icons,” reads Brussels Airlines’ statement released on Saturday.
The name Aerosmurf is the title of a Smurfs comic album which tells the story of a little Smurf whose dream is to fly. The little Smurf tried several ideas but none of them work until he builds a plane. Since then, the little Smurf is known as Aerosmurf.
“To design our fifth Belgian Icon, we wanted to ask the public who they wish to see flying through the skies as an ambassador for Belgium. That’s why we launched a contest last year to which everyone with a heart for Belgium, every enthusiast and every designer, could participate by sending in their idea or plane design. And we received an overwhelming amount of ideas, from fries to the saxophone,” says Tanguy Cartuyvels, VP Marketing at Brussels Airlines.
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The designers of studio Peyo adapted Marta’s design to fit the round fuselage of an aircraft. The result is a plane with 19 smurfs, passengers as well as crew, interacting with each other. In the cockpit, we find Smurfette as the captain and Papa Smurf as co-pilot. The design contains Belgian details, representing the many other ideas that were submitted during the contest.
On the left hand side, Harmony Smurf is playing the Belgian national anthem on the saxophone – a Belgian invention – together with another smurf who is playing the harmonica, referring to the famous Belgian musician Toots Thielemans. On the crew smurf’s trolley, we find a miniature Atomium.
On the right side of the plane, a crew smurf is serving Belgian fries and waffles to the smurf passengers. Aerosmurf also has two secret passengers, Gargamel and Azrael, trying to escape through a hatch in the belly of the plane, a treat for plane spotters since they are only visible during takeoff and landing.
For passengers flying with Aerosmurf, the experience continues inside. Little smurf footsteps on the carpet are leading the Aerosmurf guests to their seats, while a Smurfs video and adapted boarding music complete the Smurfs experience.
Led by airbrush specialist André Eisele, 14 artists worked 14 days non-stop to paint the eleven meters high and 37.56 meters long design on the plane by hand. They used 28 colours, 420 littres of paint, 24,000 meters of masking tape and 4,500 m² masking paper.
As the winner of the contest, Marta Mascellani followed the plane’s creation process behind the scenes. She stood front row at the revealing of the aircraft yesterday and the Aerosmurf is taking Marta home to Milan today with, in the cockpit, her brother Lorenzo who is a pilot at Brussels Airlines.
“It is amazing to see how they really made my design come alive. Drawing is a passion of mine and seeing my design on a plane that will fly around Europe is a wonderful way to share that passion with the world,” said Marta Mascellani, designer of Aerosmurf
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As the fifth Belgian Icon, Aerosmurf joins Rackham, Magritte, Trident and Amare in the Belgian Icons series. To carry out the best of Belgium to the world, Brussels Airlines decided to dedicate a plane named Rackham to Tintin in 2015. With Aerosmurf the company launches a possible successor for Rackham as one of the most photographed planes in the world.
Two years later Magritte followed together with Trident, dedicated to the Belgian national soccer team, Red Devils. In 2017 Brussels Airlines and Tomorrowland created Amare, a tribute to the iconic Belgian music festival.
