Igihe

Author: b_igi_adm1n

  • Korea Expands Development AID to Africa

    Korea and African nations sent relations to new highs as they wrapped up the 3rd Korea-Africa Forum in Seoul on Thursday, highlighting the East Asian nation’s pledge to contribute fresh military personnel to peacekeeping efforts in the restive Darfur region and South Sudan.

    The 3rd Korea-Africa Forum is the largest yet ― the marquee event of a week of “Korea-Africa Cooperation,” which brought together 150 delegates from 19 African nations and the African Union, including heads of state and foreign ministers.

    Nigerian Ambassador to Korea Desmond Akawor said that Korea’s pledge to peacekeeping in South Sudan is good, but “actions speak louder than words,” adding that it is important for Korea to engage in projects that have a regional impact, signaling out areas of agriculture and infrastructure, as well as peacekeeping operations.

    Korea had been mulling involvement in the Darfur peacekeeping effort, the United Nations Mission in Darfur, since as far back as 2008.

    Korea agreed on Thursday to dispatch 300 military personnel to Bor, a small town north of the South Sudan capital of Juba.

    “Progress has been made but more can be done,” Akawor said.

    He said that Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan promised he would look into complaints of unfair treatment faced by Nigerians working and living in Korea during a one-on-one meeting with Nigerian Foreign Minister Olugbenga Ayodeji Ashiru, who delivered a keynote speech at the forum.

    Nigeria is the second-largest oil exporter in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, last year surpassing Iran, and is the most populous country in Africa with 170 million. It opened diplomatic relations with South Korea in 1980, and it is the only African nation to have a full embassy in North Korea.

    “(Kim) promised to look into normalizing the visa situation faced by about 1,000 Nigerians,” Akawor said. There are 2,000 Nigerians in South Korea.

    “Korea’s approach to Africa is the right one,” said Angolan Ambassador to Korea Albino Malungo. “Korea is a genuine partner on developing Africa as a continent.” Angola opened its embassy in Korea in 2008.

    Korean development assistance in the region doubled twice in six years, with about $42 million in 2006, $100 million in 2009 and more than $200 million so far this year.

    “It was a good conference,” said Rwandan Ambassador to Korea Eugene S. Kayihura. “Of course, we want to attract more investment from Korea, but the relationship between Korea and Africa is a complex one. It involves agriculture, ICT, health and much more.” Like Angola, Rwanda opened its embassy here in 2008.

    This coincides with a jump in Korean involvement in global affairs broadly, including notable involvement in United Nations peacekeeping operations around the world.

    “Some 1,500 Korean personnel are deployed to 15 nations and 17 regions to actively participate in global problem solving, such as armistice observation and reconstruction support,” said Lee Young-geol, vice minister of Defense, in a speech during the forum’s peace and security session Wednesday.

    In addition to its new pledge of troops for the U.N. Mission in Darfur, Korea has troops deployed with peacekeeping missions off the coast of Somalia.

    The government’s troop deployment announcement comes just days after yet another soldier was killed there, this time a South African, in an ambush in which peace keepers returned fire.

    It’s the second fatal attack this month, after the killing of four Nigerian troopers on Oct. 2. A total of 43 U.N. personnel have been killed since the peacekeeping force was deployed at the end of 2007.

    Some 300,000 people have been killed in Darfur, Sudan’s westernmost province, since 2003, according to U.N. figures. Sudan’s government puts the death toll at 10,000.

    The Roh Mu-hyun administration in 2006 initiated Korea’s robust engagement with Africa, whose economic growth is fastest in the world.

    Korea’s piqued interest in Africa has generated enthusiasm in Africa for Korea, too. The number of embassies of African nations in Korea has jumped in recent years, most recently by Ethiopia. Seventeen of the 55 African nations now have full embassies here.

    Seven of the 10 fastest-growing economies in the world are in Africa and, despite the global financial crisis, Africa is expected to grow 4.5 percent this year, well above the world average.

    Korea struck a deal during the forum to dramatically increase development assistance in Africa and to establish a technology training center in Ethiopia.

    “We have an excellent relationship with Korea,” Ethiopian Ambassador to Korea Dibaba Abdeta said.

    “Korea’s engagement in Africa has seen a tremendous improvement since 2006,” said Kenyan Ambassador to Korea Ngovi Kitau. “Just look at the figures: trade growing by 60 percent in six years, investment by 80 percent and ODA by more than 260 percent.”

    “We’re moving in the right direction,” Kitau said.

    Korea’s African engagment is still playing catch up with China, which has long been a major investment player there, and Western nations like the United States, France and the United Kingdom.

    “With its limitless potential and growth, Africa has emerged as the last growth engine of the global economy,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kim Sung-hwan in a welcome speech delivered at the beginning of the forum.

    KH

  • Akagera Aviation Wants to Be Regions Best

    Rwanda’s Leading private Aviation company Akagera Aviation has launched a campaign to showcase its products and services to the general public saying it intends to become a leading aviation company in the region.

    Akagera aviation showcased its helicopters normally used by tourists visiting Rwanda.

    The company also trains aviation engineers and also repairs fautly planes among other services.

    Akagera aviation says its not well known in the region because it has not invested in promotions..but has now embarked on a vigorous promotion campaign targeting the region.

  • Akagera Aviation Wants to Be Regions Best

    Rwanda’s Leading private Aviation company Akagera Aviation has launched a campaign to showcase its products and services to the general public saying it intends to become a leading aviation company in the region.

    Akagera aviation showcased its helicopters normally used by tourists visiting Rwanda.

    The company also trains aviation engineers and also repairs fautly planes among other services.

    Akagera aviation says its not well known in the region because it has not invested in promotions..but has now embarked on a vigorous promotion campaign targeting the region.

  • Beer May be Healthier Than You Think

    For years, wine drinkers have indulged without guilt, reveling in the news that red wine can help protect against heart disease.

    Recent research shows that beer can also be good for what ails you, from reducing risk for broken bones to helping warding off diabetes and mental decline.

    It can even increase longevity, a large study suggests.

    However, the key to tapping into beer’s benefits is moderation, meaning just one 12-ounce beer per day for women and two for men.

    Heavy drinking ups the threat of liver damage, some cancers, and heart problems.

    Bingeing on brewskis can also make you fat, since a 12-ounce regular beer has about 150 calories, while light beer has about 100.

    Stronger Bones

    Beer contains high levels of silicon, which is linked to bone health. In a 2009 study at Tufts University and other centers, older men and women who swigged one or two drinks daily had higher bone density, with the greatest benefits found in those who favored beer or wine.

    However, downing more than two drinks was linked to increased risk for fractures.

    For the best bone-building benefits, reach for pale ale, since a 2010 study of 100 types of beer from around the word identified these brews as richest in silicon, while light lagers and non-alcoholic beers contained the least.

    A Stronger Heart

    A 2011 analysis of 16 earlier studies involving more than 200,000 people, conducted by researchers at Italy’s Fondazion di Ricerca e Cura, found a 31 percent reduced risk of heart disease in those who quaffed about a pint of beer daily, while risk surged in those who guzzled higher amounts of alcohol, whether beer, wine, or spirits.

    More than 100 studies also show that moderate drinking trims risk of heart attacks and dying from cardiovascular disease by 25 to 40 percent, Harvard reports.

    A beer or two a day can help raise levels of HDL, the “good” cholesterol that helps keep arteries from getting clogged.

  • Beer May be Healthier Than You Think

    For years, wine drinkers have indulged without guilt, reveling in the news that red wine can help protect against heart disease.

    Recent research shows that beer can also be good for what ails you, from reducing risk for broken bones to helping warding off diabetes and mental decline.

    It can even increase longevity, a large study suggests.

    However, the key to tapping into beer’s benefits is moderation, meaning just one 12-ounce beer per day for women and two for men.

    Heavy drinking ups the threat of liver damage, some cancers, and heart problems.

    Bingeing on brewskis can also make you fat, since a 12-ounce regular beer has about 150 calories, while light beer has about 100.

    Stronger Bones

    Beer contains high levels of silicon, which is linked to bone health. In a 2009 study at Tufts University and other centers, older men and women who swigged one or two drinks daily had higher bone density, with the greatest benefits found in those who favored beer or wine.

    However, downing more than two drinks was linked to increased risk for fractures.

    For the best bone-building benefits, reach for pale ale, since a 2010 study of 100 types of beer from around the word identified these brews as richest in silicon, while light lagers and non-alcoholic beers contained the least.

    A Stronger Heart

    A 2011 analysis of 16 earlier studies involving more than 200,000 people, conducted by researchers at Italy’s Fondazion di Ricerca e Cura, found a 31 percent reduced risk of heart disease in those who quaffed about a pint of beer daily, while risk surged in those who guzzled higher amounts of alcohol, whether beer, wine, or spirits.

    More than 100 studies also show that moderate drinking trims risk of heart attacks and dying from cardiovascular disease by 25 to 40 percent, Harvard reports.

    A beer or two a day can help raise levels of HDL, the “good” cholesterol that helps keep arteries from getting clogged.

  • France Says Ready to Work With Rwanda at UN

    France has announced, its ready to work with Rwanda after joining the Security Council of the UN as a non-permanent member.

    “We hope that Rwanda, as a new member of the Security Council, will fully contribute to the maintenance of peace and international security, in accordance with the role that is assigned to this chamber by the UN Charter,” said Philippe Lalliot, spokesman of the Quai d’Orsay, in a press briefing.

    Outside Rwanda, four other countries (Argentina, Australia, South Korea and Luxembourg) were elected as non-permanent members of the Security Council of the UN.

    France welcomed the five states of their election and congratulate them for non-permanent position to serve on the Council from 1 January 2013.

  • France Says Ready to Work With Rwanda at UN

    France has announced, its ready to work with Rwanda after joining the Security Council of the UN as a non-permanent member.

    “We hope that Rwanda, as a new member of the Security Council, will fully contribute to the maintenance of peace and international security, in accordance with the role that is assigned to this chamber by the UN Charter,” said Philippe Lalliot, spokesman of the Quai d’Orsay, in a press briefing.

    Outside Rwanda, four other countries (Argentina, Australia, South Korea and Luxembourg) were elected as non-permanent members of the Security Council of the UN.

    France welcomed the five states of their election and congratulate them for non-permanent position to serve on the Council from 1 January 2013.

  • M23 Rebels Renamed ‘Congolese Revolutionary Army’

    M23 rebel movement leader Jean-Marie Runiga said M23 has changed its name and is preparing to fend off expected new attacks by the government army.

    “The M23 army… is now named the Congolese Revolutionary Army (ARC),” the group’s leader Jean-Marie Runiga said in a statement issued after a press conference on Saturday.

    Runiga accused the FARDC army of collaborating with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).

    DR Congo’s army has itself accused the M23 of collaborating with the FDLR in the east, a chronically unstable region that is home to numerous armed groups with murky allegiances and motives.

  • M23 Rebels Renamed ‘Congolese Revolutionary Army’

    M23 rebel movement leader Jean-Marie Runiga said M23 has changed its name and is preparing to fend off expected new attacks by the government army.

    “The M23 army… is now named the Congolese Revolutionary Army (ARC),” the group’s leader Jean-Marie Runiga said in a statement issued after a press conference on Saturday.

    Runiga accused the FARDC army of collaborating with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).

    DR Congo’s army has itself accused the M23 of collaborating with the FDLR in the east, a chronically unstable region that is home to numerous armed groups with murky allegiances and motives.

  • Whitney Houston Daughter to Inherit US$20million

    The family of the late Whitney Houston is battling over a $20 million inheritance to the singers daughter.

    Houston’s 19-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, was slated to receive the money in a trust set up before the singer’s death just before the Grammy Awards broadcast in February.

    But now Whitney’s mother, the singer Cissy Houston, and Marion Houston, Whitney’s sister-in-law and business manager, have filed a petition as executors of the Houston estate against Brown in Georgia state court.

    Cissy Houston wants to restrict the inheritance payments to Brown, calling Brown ” a highly visible target for those who would exert undue influence over her inheritance and/or seek to benefit from respondent’s resources and celebrity.”

    Court documents say that the schedule of distributions of Brown’s inheritance aren’t in keeping with Whitney’s “intent to provide long-term financial security and protection for her child.”

    Media reports say Cissy Houston is worried that the money will make Brown a target for financial predators or tempt her into a dangerous lifestyle.

    While the Houston family has its own particular problems (and there have been many), wealthy families frequently confront the same question: how to leave millions to your kid without ruining her life?