{The 63rd annual Miss Universe pageant is unfortunately not happening this year but in January next year, to be held in Doral, Miami, according to an announcement posted on the pageant’s website. Scheduled to be aired live from Florida International University on NBC, the year’s biggest beauty contest will be on Jan. 25, 2015.}
Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler of Venezuela will crown her successor at the end of the highly anticipated event with 82 aspiring beauty queens vying for the crown. The announcement of the final date was made by Miss Universe Organizations (MUO) co-owners Donald Trump and NBC, together with MUO president Paula M. Shugart.
Since its incorporation in 2013, the City of Doral is massively expanding and gained a lot of attention from Fortune 100 companies. Thanks to its outstanding economic growth and industrial accomplishments, Doral is the next city to watch out and it’s the home of the largest Venezuelan population in the U.S.
Isler even revealed in the statement that every time she visits the city she feels right at home and stated that it’s a beauty contest and not about “political ideology.” With the latest Venezuelan government crisis, the pageant aims to bring all Venezuelan together and as what Isler said, they are there to represent the country.
“Doral is a symbol of success and holding the Miss Universe Pageant here will amplify its reputation as a world showcase city,” Shugart said. “Even as one of the newest cities in Miami, Doral is a premier place to live, work, and play due to its beautiful lifestyle and entrepreneurial opportunities.”
This will be the first time that the famed pageant will skip a year but it will still be Miss Universe 2014 pageant. The 2015 edition of the contest will be held later in the same year. Doral Mayor, Luigi Boria, announced via Twitter that the 2014 MU will be held in his city on Jan. 18, 2015, which caused a lot of controversy, only to be confirmed MUO in late September.
For this year’s pageant, Kyrgyzstan and Rwanda debuts their beauty queens while Albania, Uruguay, Portugal, St. Lucia, Kosovo, Cyprus, Cote d’lvoire, Montenegro, Egypt, Kenya and Ireland returns to stage. Other countries who confirmed their national pageants include Bulgaria, Tanzania, Guam and Guyana.
{STOWE, Vermont, USA – Amb Yamina Karitanyi, Head of Tourism and Conservation, Rwanda, will be a featured speaker at this year’s International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT) World Travel Market event “Cultivating Sustainable and Peaceful Communities and Nations through Tourism, Culture and Sports.”}
Wednesday, November 5, 10:30 am to 12:00 Noon
South Gallery Rooms 21 and 22
Ambassador Karitanyi will share the lessons learned following during years of conflict in Rwanda and the role of tourism, culture and sport in post-conflict reconciliation and socio-economic re-development.
Other panelists in the event being organized by the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) include: Dr. Taleb Rifai, Secretary General, U.N. World Tourism Organization (UNWTO); Martin Craigs, CEO Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA); Hiran Cooray, Director, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority and Chairman, Jetwing Hotels Ltd. and Mrs. Wahida Jaiet, Managing Director of the Tunisian National Tourist Office (TNTO). Professor Geoffrey Lipman, President, International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) will be the Moderator.
This will be an interactive session with questions, comments and insights welcome from the floor.
The world is currently faced with conflict on every continent – some that began as much as 70 years ago. As well, there are many conflicts in this same period that have been successfully resolved. What lessons can we learn from countries that have resolved their conflict? How can we work towards building sustainable and peaceful communities – sustainable and peaceful nations? As one of the world’s largest and fastest growing industries -what role can tourism play.
{General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, on Sunday received Rwandan President Paul Kagame.}
General Sheikh Mohamed welcomed the Rwandan President and his accompanying delegation and discussed bilateral, friendly and cooperation relations and ways to enhance these to serve the common interests of the two countries and their friendly peoples.
During the meeting, attended by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, the two sides exchanged views on a number of issues of common concern, and important areas of bilateral cooperation.
General Sheikh Mohamed stressed that the UAE, led by the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is interested in strengthening cooperation with its friends among African countries, especially with respect to developing and the diversifying economic projects.
Kagame expressed his country’s interest in establishing better relations with the UAE and benefiting from the UAE’s economic and development related expertise.
{Rwanda National Police officers serving under the United Nations Operation in Ivory Coast in a French acronym ONUCI, have been awarded medals for their outstanding peacekeeping services in the West African Nation.}
The Rwandan officers are among the 33 peacekeepers decorated by the UN in a ceremony held on October 24 in Bouaké in the eastern part of the country. The medal parade also coincided with the UN cerebrations to mark its 69th anniversary.
There are 41 RNP peacekeepers serving in Ivory Coast including a Rwandan, Commissioner of Police Vianney Nshimiyimana, who heads the UN Police component.
Aïchatou Mindaoudou, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of Mission, who presided over the medal awarding ceremony, said the medal illustrates their exemplary services in the stabilization of Ivory Coast.
“You served with dignity, dedication and hard work and it is a pride to the UN,” Mindaoudou stated.
She thanked them for their dedicated services to support communities and local security organs.
CP Nshimiyimana also commended the officers for the outstanding discipline and professionalism and urged them to continue focusing on their mission mandate.
The Rwanda contingent commander, Chief Supt Gerald Ntare pledged Rwanda’s continued support towards peace and security in the West African nation.
The mandate of the Rwandan peacekeepers includes humanitarian assistance, fighting gender-based violence and partnering with the local police in community policing.
{The two week East Africa Community Field Training Exercise (FTEX) dubbed “Ushirikiano Imara 2014” in which a Rwandan Contingent of 370 personnel from the military, police and civilians participated was officially closed on 24 October 2014 by the President of the Republic of Burundi, H.E Pierre Nkurunziza at Mwaro barracks in Mwaro Province. The EAC Secretary General, Dr Richard Sezibera, was also present as well as other different dignitaries.
}
In his closing remarks, the President of the Republic of Burundi commended the strides made in Defence Cooperation. “Through these exercises, we are gradually reaching the benefits of regional integration”, he said before noting that the EAC Partner States have to work hard for the ultimate goal of the regional integration, the political federation.
President Nkurunziza also declared that more than 1900 military, police and civilians were exercised in planning and conducting peace support operations, disaster management, counter piracy and counter terrorism at multinational and multi-dimensional level.
“All Exercise players have worked successfully”, he said. H.E Pierre Nkurunziza congratulated the FTX “Ushirikiano Imara 2014” participants for having changed the dreams into reality. He underlined that the Exercise that brought together EAC Armed Forces was conduct in a spirit of friendship and solidarity (esprit de corps).
The Exercise Director, Maj Gen Cyprien Hakiza observed that the objectives of the Exercise of enhancing interoperability between the EAC Partner States Armed Forces and other key stakeholders have been achieved. “All Components performed well”, he said.
In his remarks, the EAC Secretary General, Dr Richard Sezibera hilighted that “through its activities, the Defence Sector has been at the forefront of setting the pace for integration under cooperation in Defence by the EAC Partner States, guided by a Memorandum of Understanding”. He said that the Exercise enhanced the operational readiness of the EAC Partner States Armed Forces.
The closing ceremony was characterised by military parade, cultural dance and exchange of gifts.
{Luis Suarez’s Barcelona debut ended in defeat as Real Madrid cut the gap on the La Liga leaders to just a point as they came from behind to win El Clasico 3-1 on Saturday.
}
Playing for the first time in a competitive game since being handed a fourth month ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup, Suarez’s Barca career had got off to a flying start as he set up Neymar to slide home the opening goal after just three minutes.
However, Real responded like European champions as Cristiano Ronaldo levelled from the penalty spot before second-half goals from Pepe and Karim Benzema handed them a deserved ninth consecutive victory in all competitions.
{Construction of the railway line from Tanzania to Burundi and Rwanda could start next year after the three countries hired a transaction advisor for the project.
}
Canadian Pacific Consulting Services (CPCS), railways transportation services consultancy firm is to source funding and investors in the planned railway line connecting the three countries.
The hiring by the governments of Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania, which are jointly funding the project, paves the way for CPCS to market the project to investors and ultimately attract financiers.
A functional and reliable railway line along the Central Corridor is seen as crucial in bringing down transport costs and also as key oto protecting roads, which are being damaged by heavy trucks.
Information from the Dar es Salaam-Isaka-Kigali / Keza-Gitega-Musongati Railway project co-ordination office in Kigali indicates that the planned 1,672 kilometre standard gauge railway project is to cost the three countries $5 billion.
And the model of investment is a private public partnership. It is also emerging that Chinese, Indian, African and German investors have expressed interest in the project. But what is holding back negotiations is that the three countries have no expertise in the private-public partnership mode of investment for railway project.
“A note of no objection has been sent to African Development Bank and should the bank okay it, CPCS will start marketing the project to prospective investors,” said a source in the Rwanda Transport Development Agency.
AfDB is a key financing agency of this project after studies that have informed the three countries about the viability of the project.
Traders spend 40 per cent of the cost of an item on transport partly because of an inefficient railway system, a poor road network and growing non-tariff barriers.
{The number of cases in the Ebola outbreak has exceeded 10,000, with 4,922 deaths, the World Health Organization says in its latest report.
}
Only 27 of the cases have occurred outside the three worst-hit countries, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.
Those three countries account for all but 10 of the fatalities.
Mali became the latest nation to record a death, a two-year-old girl. More than 40 people known to have come into contact with her have been quarantined.
The latest WHO situation report says that Liberia remains the worst affected country, with 2,705 deaths. Sierra Leone has had 1,281 fatalities and there have been 926 in Guinea.
Nigeria has recorded eight deaths and there has been one in Mali and one in the United States.
{{London}} – {Queen Elizabeth II has sent her first tweet — and she’s signed it “Elizabeth R.”
}
The queen removed a glove to type on a touchscreen tablet, writing “I hope people will enjoy visiting” the exhibition. She sent it through the official British monarchy account under the Twitter handle @BritishMonarchy on the social media website, as some 600 guests looked on.
{{Check out the tweet:}}
Most members of the royal family do not tweet personally – they are represented by official accounts managed by spokespeople.
The gallery, called “Information Age,” explores the technological breakthroughs that have changed communication.
{{Check out a pic taken as the Queen sent out her first tweet:}}
The queen was the first monarch to send an email, in 1976 when the technology was in its infancy.
{{
– AP}}
Today, Rwanda will once more join the global community in celebrating the United Nations (UN) Day, which constitutes the anniversary of the founding of the UN on October 24th, 1945.
The signing of the UN’s Charter in San Francisco, USA, on that day was a solemn pledge to the world’s people to prevent serious and widespread assaults on human dignity and the wholesale destruction of human life, infrastructure and properties as happened during the WWII as well as to always provide assistance and protection to affected populations in the face of natural disasters and emergencies. It was also a pledge to promote sustainable development of all countries within peaceful environments.
With the passage of time, the UN Day celebrations have also come to provide the opportunity for recognizing the important contributions that the Organization has made to world peace, security, humanitarian response and development. Numerous UN workers continue to risk their lives in many parts of the world to protect innocent civilians from the ravages and destruction of war and natural disasters. Many have made the ultimate sacrifice of giving their lives while carrying out their duties in such processes.
The UN’s landmark integrated approach to security, humanitarian assistance and sustainable development makes it a unique partner for countries and people throughout the world in their search for human security, good governance, peace and inclusive development. This is particularly underscored by the Millennium Development Goals, which have provided the world with a unique compact for combating extreme poverty, disease burdens, environmental deterioration and promoting gender equality and much better international cooperation.
But over the past few years the UN Day has also increasingly prompted a somber reflection on the deepening challenges it is facing in terms of the sheer magnitude of problems that the world is facing against the dwindling resource base of the Organization. The resurgence of conflicts and terrorism over the past few years in so many parts of the world, notably the Middle East and North Africa and the outbreak of epidemics like Ebola in West Africa as well as the worsening effects of climate change have presented the UN with unprecedented challenges.
These challenges notwithstanding, there are important achievements from the UN’s work to celebrate. We are currently in the last year of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) implementation and they have helped to galvanize more holistic development efforts at both the global and national levels. With the agreed deadline for the MDGs fast approaching, the UN has been working with governments, civil society and other partners to build on the momentum generated by the MDGs and fashion an ambitious post-2015 development agenda.
The decisions that will be finally adopted next year regarding this new agenda will undoubtedly lead to a much more decisive global action plan for ending poverty, ensuring prosperity and well-being for all, stepping up of environmental protection and addressing climate change threats effectively.
As the UN Secretary-General puts it, “the UN treaties addressing inequality, torture and racism have protected peoples, while other agreements have safeguarded the environment. UN peacekeepers have heroically separated hostile forces, our mediators have settled disputes and our humanitarian workers have delivered life-saving aid”.
There is no doubt that more than ever before, the United Nations is needed in addressing the multiple crises and conflicts around the World. Despite some of the much discussed deficits of the Organization, it is uniquely placed to lead the global response to epidemics, terrorism, war, discrimination, poverty and climate change.
In Rwanda, the UN has continued over the past year to reinforce its delivering as one (DaO) frameworks and mechanisms, building upon the successes of the pilot phase of the DaO between 2008 – 2012. These processes have rendered the UN’s operations more relevant, efficient, effective and results-oriented. Thus the UN system in Rwanda is currently is better placed to support the country’s accelerated poverty reduction and transformational agenda as encapsulated in Vision 2020 and second the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS II), 2013-2018.
Within the framework of the Rwanda UN Country Team’s single business plan, the United Nations Development Assistance Plan (UNDAP) 2013-2018 the UN agencies are implementing joint programmes in the areas of Inclusive Economic Transformation, Accountable Governance, Human Development as well as Humanitarian Actions and Disaster Management. Thus, its programmes are responding directly to the key priorities of the country’s medium-term priorities.
Rwanda has not only sustained its contribution to UN reforms at both national and global levels, but it continues to expand its contributions to UN Peace Keeping missions in various parts of the world. It is also among the few countries in Africa that are on track to meeting the MDGs, and it is also already playing a lead role in the fashioning of the Post-MDGs agenda. All this is a clear testimony to the commitment of the Rwandan leadership to the fulfillment of the key ideals underpinning the founding of the UN and successful domestication of important international agreements.
This year, with the development and implementation of UN – supported joint programmes, the UN family in Rwanda has engaged even more vigorously the Government of Rwanda and its development partners for the country’s transformation and sustainable development, trying to put into effect the words of the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who called on “Governments and individuals to always work in common cause for the common good”.
