No Shortcuts To Read Quickly And Understand
There are no magic shortcuts when it comes to reading more quickly while still fully understanding what we've read, says an interesting study.
The claims put forth by many speed-reading programs and tools are probably too good to be true, the study said.
Learning to speed-read seems like an obvious strategy for making quick work of all the emails, reports, and other pieces of text we encounter every day.
Some speed-reading technologies claim to offer an additional boost by eliminating the need to make eye movements by presenting words rapidly in the center of a computer screen or mobile device, with each new word replacing the previous word, the researchers said.
"We wanted to take a close look at the science behind reading to help people make informed decisions about whether to believe the claims put forth by companies promoting speed reading technologies and training courses," said Elizabeth Schotter, a psychological scientist at the University of California - San Diego in US.
However, skilled readers read quickly, averaging 200 to 400 words per minute, the findings showed.
The biggest obstacle, science shows, isn't our vision but rather our ability to recognize words and process how they combine to make meaningful sentences, the researchers explained.
While some technologies may claim prodigious speed-reading skills. Data suggest that the most effective "speed readers" are actually effective skimmers who already have considerable familiarity with the topic at hand and are thus able to pick out key points quickly, they added.
The study was published in the journal Psychological Science in the Public Interest.
Bomber kills 16 at Quetta polio centre
Labels:
International,
News
QUETTA - A suicide bomber yesterday killed at least 16 people, 13 of them policemen, outside a polio-eradication centre in Quetta.
The bomb blew up a police van that had just arrived at the centre to provide an escort for workers in a drive to immunise children under five.
The attack killed at least 13 policemen, one paramilitary officer and two civilians, officials said, adding 25 people were wounded.
At least three vehicles were also blown up in the explosion, while human remains lay strewn across the area, along with items of clothing, including caps and shoes of policemen.
The law-enforcement agencies and rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the dead and injured to Civil Hospital.
The condition of eight injured was reported critical by the paramedics at the hospital.
The law enforcers cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.
Balochistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, confirming the incident, said the personnel of law-enforcement agencies were among the dead and injured.
He said: “We are living in a conflict zone and hostile agencies are targeting us.
It is a conflict zone and hostile agencies have been carrying out sabotage acts after China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and other mega projects were announced in the region.
” Bugti said it was being investigated whether it was a suicide attack or a bomb blast.
Some officials began to gather evidence from the scene while others were collecting body parts.
Eyewitness Shabbir Ahmed, a 32-year-old police constable, said he had been deployed to protect a polio-vaccination team that was due to leave for various neighbourhoods of Quetta at 10am.
“Suddenly, there was a loud bang and I fell to the ground, I could not see anything, there was dust everywhere.
Then I heard people screaming and sirens of ambulances,” he continued, adding he had received shrapnel wounds to his stomach, hands, legs and feet.
“It was a suicide blast; we have gathered evidence from the scene,” Balochistan IGP Ahsan Mehboob said.
“The police team had arrived to escort teams for the polio campaign,” he confirmed.
Pakistani Taliban and Jundullah separately claimed responsibility for the attack.
Ahmed Marwat, a commander and spokesman for Jundullah, said his group was responsible for the attack.
“We claim the bomb blast on the polio office.
In the coming days, we will make more attacks on polio vaccination offices and workers,” he said by telephone.
The Pakistani Taliban also claimed responsibility in a statement released by their spokesman, Mohammad Khorasani.
The teams working to immunise children in Pakistan against polio are often targeted by Taliban and other militants who say the campaign is a cover for Western spies or accuse workers of distributing drugs designed to sterilise children.
Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world where polio remains endemic, the World Health Organization says.
The campaign to eradicate the virus in Pakistan has had some recent success, with new cases down last year, but violence against vaccination workers has slowed the effort.
In 2014 the number of polio cases recorded in Pakistan soared to 306, the highest in 14 years, falling to 52 in 2015.
Islamist opposition to all forms of inoculation mounted after the CIA organised a fake vaccination drive to help track down Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest, but most impoverished province, is also home to an insurgency that has claimed the lives of hundreds of soldiers and militants since it reignited in 2004, with rebels often attacking government installations and personnel.
The bomb blew up a police van that had just arrived at the centre to provide an escort for workers in a drive to immunise children under five.
The attack killed at least 13 policemen, one paramilitary officer and two civilians, officials said, adding 25 people were wounded.
At least three vehicles were also blown up in the explosion, while human remains lay strewn across the area, along with items of clothing, including caps and shoes of policemen.
The law-enforcement agencies and rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the dead and injured to Civil Hospital.
The condition of eight injured was reported critical by the paramedics at the hospital.
The law enforcers cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.
Balochistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, confirming the incident, said the personnel of law-enforcement agencies were among the dead and injured.
He said: “We are living in a conflict zone and hostile agencies are targeting us.
It is a conflict zone and hostile agencies have been carrying out sabotage acts after China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and other mega projects were announced in the region.
” Bugti said it was being investigated whether it was a suicide attack or a bomb blast.
Some officials began to gather evidence from the scene while others were collecting body parts.
Eyewitness Shabbir Ahmed, a 32-year-old police constable, said he had been deployed to protect a polio-vaccination team that was due to leave for various neighbourhoods of Quetta at 10am.
“Suddenly, there was a loud bang and I fell to the ground, I could not see anything, there was dust everywhere.
Then I heard people screaming and sirens of ambulances,” he continued, adding he had received shrapnel wounds to his stomach, hands, legs and feet.
“It was a suicide blast; we have gathered evidence from the scene,” Balochistan IGP Ahsan Mehboob said.
“The police team had arrived to escort teams for the polio campaign,” he confirmed.
Pakistani Taliban and Jundullah separately claimed responsibility for the attack.
Ahmed Marwat, a commander and spokesman for Jundullah, said his group was responsible for the attack.
“We claim the bomb blast on the polio office.
In the coming days, we will make more attacks on polio vaccination offices and workers,” he said by telephone.
The Pakistani Taliban also claimed responsibility in a statement released by their spokesman, Mohammad Khorasani.
The teams working to immunise children in Pakistan against polio are often targeted by Taliban and other militants who say the campaign is a cover for Western spies or accuse workers of distributing drugs designed to sterilise children.
Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world where polio remains endemic, the World Health Organization says.
The campaign to eradicate the virus in Pakistan has had some recent success, with new cases down last year, but violence against vaccination workers has slowed the effort.
In 2014 the number of polio cases recorded in Pakistan soared to 306, the highest in 14 years, falling to 52 in 2015.
Islamist opposition to all forms of inoculation mounted after the CIA organised a fake vaccination drive to help track down Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest, but most impoverished province, is also home to an insurgency that has claimed the lives of hundreds of soldiers and militants since it reignited in 2004, with rebels often attacking government installations and personnel.
FIFA fires Secretary General Valcke amid corruption allegations Reuters
Reuters A file picture shows FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke.
Valcke was placed on leave by FIFA in September following the allegations and initially suspended for 90 days in October.
ZURICH, Jan 13:
FIFA said on Wednesday it had fired Secretary General Jerome Valcke amid alleged corruption involving World Cup ticket sales, one of many scandals surrounding soccer's governing body.
The FIFA Emergency Committee decided, on 9 January 2016, to dismiss Jerome Valcke from the position of FIFA Secretary General with immediate effect," Zurich-based FIFA said in a statement without giving a reason for the dismissal.
Valcke was once one of the most powerful men in FIFA and responsible for ensuring that preparations for the last two World Cups, in South Africa and Brazil, were completed in time.
An ethics investigation into the case recommended a nine-year ban for the Frenchman, former right-hand man to FIFA President Sepp Blatter who himself has been banned for eight years.
Last week FIFA's ethics judges announced they had opened formal proceedings against Valcke, who has denied wrongdoing in the past.
Valcke was placed on leave by FIFA in September following the allegations and initially suspended for 90 days in October when the ethics committee started its investigation. That suspension was extended for another 45 days last week and a ban from all soccer activities remains in effect.
The secretary general's duties will continue to be carried out by Acting Secretary General Markus Kattner, FIFA said.
Valcke has now been sacked twice by FIFA. He joined the organisation in 2003 as marketing director but was fired in December 2006 for his part in botched sponsorship negotiations with credit card firms MasterCard Inc and Visa Inc.
His case has been overshadowed by the turmoil which has engulfed FIFA in the last year, with criminal investigations into the sport in both the United States and Switzerland.
Altogether, 41 people and sports entities, including top FIFA officials, have been indicted by U.S. prosecutors for offences including corruption, fraud and money laundering.
Freed Guantanamo detainees say they seek peace and quiet in Ghana
Labels:
International,
News
ACCRA (Reuters) - Two Yemenis transferred to Ghana after their release from the U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba said on Monday they hoped to live peacefully and rebuild their lives in the West African country.
Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammad Salih al-Dhuby were held in Guantanamo for more than a decade. Their transfer to Ghana was announced by the U.S. Defense Department last week.
"We were wrongly arrested for 14 years without any charge against us but we are not looking for revenge. We want to live in Ghana quietly and peacefully and we want to put our life together," Bin Atef told state radio on Monday.
Dozens of countries have received former Guantanamo Bay detainees but the transfers of Bin Atef and Dhuby were the first to Ghana.
The government has granted permission for the two to remain in the country for two years, subject to security clearances, and has sought to play down concerns about their presence in Ghana.
U.S. Government documents posted online by the New York Times identified Dhuby, who was sent to Guantanamo in May 2002 after his capture in Afghanistan, as someone who had been asessed as "a probable member" of al Qaeda. Bin Atef was identified by in the same documents as "an admitted member of the Taliban."
Both men had been cleared for release by the Pentagon years ago, however.
"I just want the listeners and the people of Ghana to know that we are not a part of any bad group, like al-Qaeda or anything like that," Bin Atef said on state-run UniiqFM.
Some religious and political groups, including Ghana's main opposition political party, have strongly criticized the government for accepting the men.
But Dhuby may have won some support by saying he was a big fan of Ghana's national soccer team, along with his fellow Guantanamo detainees, in his comments on national radio on Monday.
"We were very excited to come here because we love people in Ghana - somebody like Asamoah Gyan. We know him, we like him very much just as other people like him," Dhuby said.
Asamoah Gyan led Ghana's national team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup played in South Africa.
"In the name of Allah we want to thank the president and the good people of Ghana of the decision to accept us," Dhuby said
Islamic State claims responsibility for Baghdad mall attack that killed 18
Labels:
International,
News
Baghdad: The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the Baghdad mall attack that killed 18 people on Monday. Gunmen stormed into the Jawhara Mall after setting off a car bomb and launching a suicide attack at its entrance.
Iraqi officials say the attack which lasted over an hour, killed at least 18 people and wounded 50 in the city's mainly Shiite east.
The IS statement, posted online shortly after the attack, said a car bomb and four IS fighters carried out the attack, targeting an area where many Shiite Muslims are known to gather and warned of "worse" to come. Iraqi officials say the attack was carried out by seven men, one of whom died when he detonated his explosive vest at the start of the attack. The conflicting accounts could not immediately be reconciled.
Iraqi officials initially described the attack as a hostage situation, estimating that 50 people were trapped inside the complex. But Iraqi forces soon surrounded the building and landed troops on the roof. They clashed with the attackers inside, killing two of them, and arresting the other four.
At least four police officers were among those killed in the assault, which lasted around an hour and a half, according to police and medical officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters.
Following the attack, authorities shut down the city's highly fortified Green Zone, home to a number of foreign embassies and most of the country's political elite. A number of major roads, shopping malls and bridges around the Iraqi capital were also closed for fear of follow-up attacks.
Also on Monday evening, a car bomb in southeast Baghdad in a crowded market area killed five and wounded 12, according to hospital and police officials.
Another deadly attack was carried out in the town of Muqdadiyah, about 60 miles (90 kilometers) north of Baghdad in Diyala province. A double suicide bombing at a cafe killed 24 and wounded 52, according to hospital and police officials. Police officials say the cafe was frequented by militia fighters under the government-sanctioned Popular Mobilization Forces and many fighters are among the dead.
The Islamic State group suffered a major defeat last month when Iraqi forces drove the extremists out of the western city of Ramadi, capital of the sprawling Anbar province. The group still controls much of northern and western Iraq.
The IS rampage across Iraq in the summer of 2014 was halted several miles away from Baghdad, but the group has claimed a number of attacks in the heavily guarded capital since then.
AP
Facebook Free Basics: Regulatory principles versus Ideology
Labels:
News
Should Facebook’s Free Basics initiative be stopped immediately? A response to this question cannot depend on claims, either of its promoter – Facebook – or its critics. And, the issue is not whether Facebook’s goal is to expand internet access to the poor or to further its business. It is whether there is any evidence that Free Basics violates any existing rule, harms consumers or other players in the market. An economic regulator, such as Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) will need to settle this, using data and well established tests, not petitions that support or oppose Free Basics.
Yet, several liberals, and even lawyers, want TRAI to do just this. They have pre-judged Free Basics and want it banned simply on suspicion of possible future mischief. They offer no evidence of harm to users or market-players – in India or in any other country where Free Basics is on offer.
However, critics’ misgivings and allegations deserve a response.
It is alleged that Facebook’s initiative will split the internet since Free Basics users will have little reason to explore beyond the few Facebook controlled free content. There are several reasons why this is far-fetched. The content on Free Basics is simply too small and unrepresentative. Free Basics – even if it expands 10 times – would be a negligible part of roughly billion websites on the Internet. Further, Free Basics offers no video, which is around 60 percent of internet traffic today, and expected to rise to over 80 percent in about 3 years. (Its technical guidelines explicitly discourage “high overhead” content that consumes too much bandwidth and may not work on low cost handsets.) To suggest that users will be satisfied with “unpopular” or “vanilla” internet content simply because it is free, is absurd. More so, since the other content, even if it is priced, is a proverbial click away.
Critics suggest that the partnering mobile operator gets to play a monopoly or “gatekeeper” role by making it impossible or expensive to access content not included in the Free Basics package. This too defies reason when applied to India’s telecom markets, where there is more competition than almost any country. While data speeds are admittedly, low in India, there are multiple ways to access the web – through private and government owned fixed and mobile operators, cable operators and other standalone ISPs. As for content on Free Basics, it is available with or without subscription to it. Far from being a restrictive gatekeeper, the operator offering Free Basics is one of the many doors to the internet. Any player with delusions of being a gatekeeper, risks losing business.
Some critics find it difficult to accept that the mobile operator offering Free Basics receives no money to do it. According to them, such an operator would have no commercial incentive to offer free services. They ignore that given the relatively small size of data markets,the operator, especially one without sufficient revenues from data services may see it differently. It might see Free Basics as a way, eventually, to bring its subscribers to popular content, for which data charges do apply.
It is suggested that Free Basics violates the concept of net neutrality which requires all players to treat all content at par. One can look at this in several ways. For a start, India currently has no such rule or legislation. Secondly, a country like US, which does have such a provision, still does not see free access to selected websites (“zero rating”) as necessarily a violation.
A separate issue is the relevance to India of an inflexible net neutrality legislation. Less than 20 countries have it. Several developed and developing countries, including India, currently permit some differential pricing for web content and have not incurred noticeable damage. Also, virtually no country has an internet market like India’s. Almost all have extensive fixed line networks and little competition for access. India relies predominantly on wireless and is therefore constrained for network capacity. And, it has abysmally low (20 percent) level of internet penetration. The critics have offered no serious evidence that consumers in countries with net neutrality regulation are doing better or that those without it, are doing worse. Therefore, even if Net Neutrality – no blocking, no throttling or paid prioritisation of internet traffic – is a sound principle the case for copycat rules is hardly clear cut.
Several critics have raised concerns related to privacy and security. It would be naïve to dispute the importance of these issues. However, they are generic to almost all popular internet content, cloud services, mobile apps, etc.
Several critics feel Free Basics is unlikely to work in expanding internet access to the poor. They believe offering a free data package without restrictions is a better idea. They may well turn out to be right and Facebook wrong. However, this is hardly reason for a market regulator to bar any alternate approach.
This is not to suggest that mischief by market players is an impossibility or that consumers may never be at risk in future. TRAI cannot afford to ignore market developments. However, TRAI’s responsibility is not to pick winners- or ease out players on suspicion! – but to protect consumers by ensuring that markets work effectively. It is obliged to act proportionately after determining the nature, size and likelihood of possible harm to consumers or markets.
Stopping Free Basics, without any data or subsequent analysis, is simply bad regulation.
Mahesh Uppal is consultant specialising in regulatory aspects of telecom and internet markets and has advised diverse players in the sector. He can be reached on mahesh.uppal@gmail.com
Tanzania: Demolition Now Limited to Msimbazi Valley, Says Govt
The government said yesterday it has reviewed the countrywide demolition exercise to avert a humanitarian crisis and excessive economic loss to residents and businessmen.
A statement released by the Vice-President's Office said the government has also rescinded its decision for a Dar es Salaam citywide demolition and instead limit the exercise to the Msimbazi valley.
Throughout this week, officials from the National Environment Management Council (NEMC) went around the city marking houses for demolition. On Thursday, 885 houses were marked in Pugu, Ukonga and Gongo la Mboto in the Ilala district.
"The demolition exercise will continue in the Msimbazi valley in a manner that will not cause much disturbance and harm to residents," the statement reads in part, adding: "And we have decided to limit this phase of the demolition to the Msimbazi valley only." This time around, the statement added, those having valid title deeds which they obtained from relevant authorities will only have their houses demolished after being offered alternative settlement.
Last week, some 600 Msimbazi valley residents rushed to court where they successfully got a court injunction to stop demolition pending the determination of the main case.
In the main application, the residents said they have been living in the area for more than 60 years, possessed valid residential permits and have been paying property taxes. They wanted the court to determine that they be given enough time to relocate and be offered compensation for the demolition of their property.
The government said in its statement yesterday it will respect court injunctions but will seek speedy court processes so as to continue with the demolition exercise.
"And civil servants who issued them those documents will be traced and taken to task for allowing people to build in areas that are not fit for human settlement," it added.
The demolition of houses built on open spaces and river valleys, which started late last year, met with severe criticism and complaints from various stakeholders, especially after it emerged that there were no plans to relocate the victims.
Sights of elderly persons and mothers cuddling their little children stranded in the rubble and surrounded by open sewers shocked many people and led to calls for a review of the process to avert a humanitarian crisis.
The victims also complained that the demolition affected even house owners who had proper and valid title deeds.
In the unsigned statement, the government said it would offer assistance to the victims who would be found to be stuck in the squalid conditions with nowhere to go.
Officials carrying out the demolition exercise who contravene the law and procedures will be immediately taken to task, the statement added.
"Houses and other buildings that were constructed well before the enactment of the laws being enforced now will be spared, except when they are located in areas unfit for human settlement.
Likewise hotels located too close to the ocean in the Masaki area will not be demolished but owners will be advised on how to protect the environment to prevent further environmental degradation and avoid natural disasters for their clients," the statement said.
Stakeholders' reaction
Various stakeholders were quick to react to the new government's move yesterday. Ali Mufuruki, a prominent businessman, commended the change of policy, saying it addressed most of the criticism, suggestions and complaints levelled against it by stakeholders and the victims. However, his concern is that the requirement that all property built within 60 metres from the beachfront should be demolished will adversely affect a lot more people while other mitigation measures could be taken to avert environmental problems.
As far as the ongoing demolition in river valleys is concerned, he said the government should use its experts to design better ways to fight floods, including cleaning the river valleys, building levees along the river banks, deepening the existing waterways and constructing new ones to ensure that the flow of water is controlled.
"We should be smart this time. We should use our experts and let them come up with plans that will ensure that water flow in the city is controlled," he said.
Yefred Myenzi, director of HakiArdhi also said he supported the government's review of the exercise but it was supposed to be done with a human face.
He wondered why the same policy had not been used before the exercise started. "This shows there weren't adequate preparations before the exercise," he noted.
"The government was supposed to form a team of experts from the beginning, who would have conducted a comprehensive analysis and advise the government on the real situation on the ground and how to approach the issue," he said.
He charged that the government's statement is counterproductive and waters down the message it has been so strongly sending from the beginning that the new administration is keen on enforcing the law, he noted, adding that the decision to spare the Masakai hotels that are situated within 60 metres is indicative of selective justice.
To avert further socio-economic losses, the government must issue a schedule that will enable people living in demolition-designated areas time to relocate, he noted.
Tanzania forest project runs into trouble
SQUABBLES: The project is aimed to promote good governance and improved accountability in the forestry sector in Tanzania, REDD is the source of the entire dispute and we are not ready to give our land to Kisongwe come what may,” he vowed.
KILOSA, MOROGORO - Reducing emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) that is being implemented in Kisongwe village, Kilosa district boundary (over 500km from Dar es Salaam) has caused dispute with their neighbouring village of Rudewa-Batini, after the former claimed to have invaded the latter’s location in a bid to expand its project.
The dispute is said to have started some 10 years ago, but became more serious after the REDD project prospered in Kisongwe.
The project is aimed to promote good governance and improved accountability in the forestry sector in Tanzania. The initiative is a partnership between the Community Forest Conservation Network of Tanzania, known as MJUMITA and the Tanzania Forest Conservation Group.
Speaking to a team of experts and journalists who visited the two villages under MJUMITA Rudewa - Batini Village Executive Officer (VEO) Juma Mfaume Mdangu said they were surprised when they saw Kisongwe villagers surveying a portion of land at the boarder claiming it was theirs only for the purpose of expanding their REDD project.
“They requested our people to vacate the area and that it was part of their village as they had been given by the Division Secretary (of whom he didn’t mention his name),” he told the team.
He said the Rudewa-Batini residents refused after noticing that even the people from Kisongwe didn’t know the exact boundary between their village and Rudewa-Batini village.
“We are aware that their boundary is located at Msele Mountain. There is a signboard there pasted in a tree indicating where our village ends and theirs commences,” he said.
The VEO said they advised them (Kisongwe) leaders to provide maps that indicate the boundary and /or come with elders who will help identify the old boundaries of the two villages, but all in vain.
“We reported the matter to the Division Secretary but he told us blankly that what he had decided was final,” he said.
Adding “We are aware that all this is because we think these leaders have stake in the REDD project. REDD is the source of the entire dispute and we are not ready to give our land to Kisongwe come what may,” he vowed.
Rudewa –Batini councilor Subira Joseph Mwanamsisi claimed that they were not involved when the district government was surveying land for Kisongwe’s project to improve forest governance and local livelihoods.
“It was only done on one side while we are neighbours. We have our village map and we have the elders who know well our boundaries and we are aware that Kizunguti River is part of our land,” he said.
He emphasized that Kisongwe border is located at Msele Mountain, though the Division secretary dictates that the boundary must be at the river. “We are not ready for that,” he said.
The Rudewa-Batini village Chairman Omary Mohammed Maboga noted that they refused to follow the government directive for allowing their boundary to be deterred forcibly. “All administration matters, including all elections, census etc are done within our location why today our people and land be shifted to Kisongwe,”? he queried.
He pointed an accusing finger and threw all the blames to the district authorities for allowing the REDD project at the expense Rudewa-Batini residents while benefiting only Kisongwe residents.
Speaking to Kisongwe forests committee and village leadership, MJUMITA Eastern Zone Coordinator, for Dar es Salaam, Morogoro and Coast region Fatma Kitine said the boundary dispute between the two villages had lasted long and greatly hampered the forestry projects.
“These problems concern forest conservation hence Kisongwe village leaders have done their best but in vain. They have held meetings, met district leaders and their neighbours but nothing has been achieved,” she said.
The Coordinator said the solution has failed because leaders from Rudewa-Batini have refused to collaborate and they continue living inside Kilungula forest reserve thinking they had the right to do so.
Thomas Chiduo a Kisongwe elder and former village chairman said although the dispute started in 1998/1999, things became worse in 2012 when the REDD project started bearing fruits. “When the project became a success, Rudewa residents invaded the forest reserve claiming it was theirs and that is when they started cultivating, cutting down trees, harvesting timber and carrying out other activities,” he explained.
He said worse was when the Rudewa-Batini residents decided to pull out beacons located as boundaries between Kisongwe and Rudewa - Batini villages.
The Kilosa District Forest Officer Sebastian Malisa said the dispute was a serious one that needed the support of top district officials and advised both parties to send the matter to the district commissioner for further action.
How famine affects children in Dodoma
Dr Vincent Assey, Assistant Director of Nutrition Services in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
As food shortage ravages Dodoma Region, children are the most hit as at least four percent of patients admitted in hospitals are children with malnutrition complications, it has been revealed.
Acting Regional Medical Officer (RMO), Dr Mzee Nassoro, told The Guardian this week that malnutrition was one of the challenges for healthy growth in children in the region.
He said the situation was attributable to the serious shortage of food that has struck almost all the districts of the district.
Some districts in the region have reported food shortage following poor harvest in the last season, forcing people to resort to eating wild fruits and vegetables.
Speaking with this paper during an interview in his office, the RMO said Dodoma remained the leading region in micronutrient deficiency in the country.
He said the rate of deficiency was quite alarming, calling on parents in the region to use fortified foods in order to reverse the trend.
“Most people are unaware of the benefits of fortified flour, which is the easiest way to control malnutrition,” he said.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the stunting prevalence in the region was 56 percent, with an estimated number of stunted children under five years old at 30 per cent. Maternal under malnutrition and underweight rates were also extremely high, at 24.5 per cent and 26.8 per cent, respectively.
The acting RMO made the remarks a few weeks after the first annual Dodoma Fortification Advocacy Meeting hosted by SANKU, a company focused on the fortification of grain flour, such as wheat and maize, using small-scale technology.
Speaking during the meeting on behalf of the Dodoma Regional Commissioner (RC), Chiku Gallawa, Regional Nutrition Officer Mary Bonaventure noted that poor nutrition was one of the biggest obstacles to Tanzania’s development.
She said according to the Tanzania Demographic Health Survey (TDHS) 2012, micronutrient deficiency was high among women of child-bearing age, with 40 per cent anaemic, 36 per cent iodine deficient, 30 per cent iron deficient and 37 per cent vitamin A deficient.
“Chronic under-nutrition affects 45 per cent of all rural children in Tanzania, and it is highly prevalent in the region of Dodoma,” she said.
The regional nutrition expert added that wasting indicated a recent and severe process that had led to significant weight loss, usually as a consequence of acute starvation or severe disease.
According to her, wasting, which represented recent failure to receive adequate nutrition, was over 5.2 per cent in the region.
However, Dr Vincent Assey, Assistant Director of Nutrition Services in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, revealed that Tanzania lost Sh 800 billion in revenue every year owing to malnutrition cases.
“Globally, over two billion people are affected by malnutrition and food fortification is the most effective way to prevent malnutrition” he said.
He said despite the government efforts to promote the importance of nutrition advocacy, still exists a major issue of lack of consumer demand for fortified maize flour at district level, making it a challenge for millers to comply with the government’s mandate of fortification.
“Not only are consumers unaware of the benefits of fortified flour, but there also seem to be limited knowledge of the government mandate among its officials at the regional and district levels.” he added.
Celestine Mgobe from Tanzania Food Nutrition Centre observed that 2.7 per cent of the national GDP was lost annually through malnutrition, with Dodoma and Lindi leading other regions in malnutrition rates
-The Guardian
Attacking AU forces in Burundi a mistake, says Uganda
Labels:
International,
Politics
The minister of Defence, Doctor Crispus Kiyonga addresses journalists during a press conference about the peace talks of Burundi at Uganda Media Centre, Kampala on 8/1/2016. PHOTO BY JULIET KASIRYE
Uganda, the chief mediator in the Burundi talks, has said the president of the East African nation, Pierr Nkurunziza, would be committing a grave mistake by attacking the African Union (AU) peacekeepers.
Burundi has been ensnared in a political crisis in which close to 400 people have died and about 300,000 forced to flee into neigbouring countries in the East African region.
The violence erupted after Nkurunziza launched his bid to stand for another term in office after completing the constitutional two five year terms. He won the controversial election with a resounding victory in July, triggering further violence that has concentrated in Bujumbura and its suburbs.
The 54-member AU gave Burundi a four-day deadline on December 17 to accept a 5,000-strong force to halt months of violence. However, Nkurunziza on December 30 threatened to fight the proposed AU peacekeepers if they set foot on Burundian soil, defying intense global pressure to accept the force.
“Shooting at the African Union peacekeepers would be a big mistake. We are all members of AU and we are bound by its resolutions. If one is not satisfied with AU’s decision, they can challenge it through proper channels like through the AU summit,” Uganda’s defense minister, Crispus Kiyonga on Friday.
Uganda, the chief mediator in the Burundi talks, has said the president of the East African nation, Pierr Nkurunziza, would be committing a grave mistake by attacking the African Union (AU) peacekeepers.
Burundi has been ensnared in a political crisis in which close to 400 people have died and about 300,000 forced to flee into neigbouring countries in the East African region.
The violence erupted after Nkurunziza launched his bid to stand for another term in office after completing the constitutional two five year terms. He won the controversial election with a resounding victory in July, triggering further violence that has concentrated in Bujumbura and its suburbs.
The 54-member AU gave Burundi a four-day deadline on December 17 to accept a 5,000-strong force to halt months of violence. However, Nkurunziza on December 30 threatened to fight the proposed AU peacekeepers if they set foot on Burundian soil, defying intense global pressure to accept the force.
“Shooting at the African Union peacekeepers would be a big mistake. We are all members of AU and we are bound by its resolutions. If one is not satisfied with AU’s decision, they can challenge it through proper channels like through the AU summit,” Uganda’s defense minister, Crispus Kiyonga on Friday.
Adelaide Strikers go top with convincing win
Labels:
International,
Sports
Mahela Jayawardene scored a breezy half-century. © Getty
Brisbane Heat's slim chances of making the semi-finals vanished in front of a record Gabba crowd as they lost by eight wickets to a near-perfect Adelaide Strikers on Friday (January 8). Strikers moved to the top of the table by making short work of their target of 176, with each of their top three contributing breezy half centuries.
Man of the match Mahela Jayawardena's silky strokes and deft touches were on display as he raced on to 20 from eight balls with a couple of sixes and a four in the second over. He pulled a muscle shortly after that early blitz and received some treatment, but that hardly slowed him down. The Sri Lankan brought up his second successive half-century in the 10th over before he was trapped in front of the stumps by Samuel Badree.
Travis Head, who walked out next, raced to a 25-ball 50 before getting out in the 17th over. The in-form left-hander smashed four sixes and a four in his whirlwind knock. Opener Tim Ludeman remained unbeaten until the end on 57 with five boundaries.
Asked to bat first, Brisbane Heat lost their overseas star Lendl Simmons in the second over. That brought the tournament's leading run-getter Chris Lynn out to the middle and it took him just five balls to score his first boundary which was followed by two more. Adil Rashid, who has been in tremendous form this season, removed Lynn in his very first over for 34. Opener Jimmy Peirson carried on to register a 36-ball 51 that included three hits over the fence.
From there on, Nathan Reardon's unbeaten 40 and James Hopes' little cameo carried the Heat to 175. Rashid ended up with figures of 2 for 17 off his four overs.
The bottom-placed Heat will now come up against the Sydney Sixers who are just one spot above them. Strikers, on the other hand, will host the Hobart Hurricanes in their next game.
Brief scores: Brisbane Heat 175 for 6 (Jimmy Peirson 51, Nathan Reardon 40*, Adil Rashid 2-17, Travis Head 1-12) lost to Adelaide Strikers 179 for 2 (Tim Ludeman 57*, Jayawardene 53, Samuel Badree 1-25) by 8 wickets.
Burundi not against peace talks, assures Dr Mahiga
The chairperson of the East African Community Council of Ministers, Dr Augustine Mahiga
The chairperson of the East African Community Council of Ministers, Dr Augustine Mahiga, has denied allegations that Burundi boycotted a consultative meeting on the way forward to avert the crisis in the country.
Dr Mahiga, who is also Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation, East Africa and International Cooperation minister, said the talks were up and running even though the dialogue on peace talks scheduled for Wednesday night failed to take place.
He further reiterated the need for parties in Burundi to embrace political dialogue as the only feasible way to end the crisis in the country.
The diplomat’s assurance follows a no show by Burundians in the consultative meeting held throughout Wednesday night and claims that resurfaced on the same day that the Burundi government had ruled out participating in peace talks at the East African Community headquarters arguing that it breached the agreement date for dialogue.
Joseph Bangurambona, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Burundi had earlier claimed that there was no set agreement on the new date for dialogue between Burundians.
The official maintained that delegates from his country would not travel to the EAC headquarters in Arusha arguing that January 6 was not 'a valid date' for talks and said that they have to solve other irregularities before agreeing on a date to resume the talks.
However, briefing reporters after a 5 hour long closed door intensive consultative meeting, Dr Mahiga said the dialogue scheduled for January 6 did not take place due to ‘ongoing consultations in Burundi’.
“It is not true that Burundi have snubbed the talks, they have notified us that they are still planning on whom to send for the talks,” noted the diplomat.
According to Dr Mahiga, the meeting had earlier committed to intensify consultations with the Burundi government and the opposition with a view of continuing the country’s political dialogue as soon as possible.
“But it was still important to convene the consultative meeting to deliberate on the way we could help our neighbours despite their absence,” he said.
In another development, Dr Mahiga cautioned that there is the possibility that Burundi clashes could spill over to the neighbouring countries and called for efforts to demilitarise and depoliticise refugee camps.
He said if there is a problem in one country and it is not well controlled, it might spill over to other countries as well.
The consultative meeting comes as a follow up on the re-launch of the dialogue convened in Kampala on December 28 last year by President Yoweri Museveni in his capacity as the facilitator of the Burundi dialogue.
The meeting was also attended by the Angolan Minister for Foreign Affairs Georges Chikoti who doubles as the chairperson of the Regional Inter-Ministerial Committee of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).
Others in attendance included Ugandan minister for Defense Crispus Kiyonga, EAC chief Dr Richard Sezibera and Kassimi Banda from the African Union Office in Burundi.
The talks in Arusha were announced last month as part of regional efforts to resolve the crisis. Meanwhile, on Monday, explosions hit the capital Bujumbura, injuring at least two people, police and civil society representatives said.
CHANZO: THE GUARDIAN
Cardinal Pengo's health stabilises
The Archbishop of the Dar es Salaam Catholic Church Archdiocese of, Polycarp Cardinal Pengo
The Archbishop of the Dar es Salaam Catholic Church Archdiocese of, Polycarp Cardinal Pengo’s health condition has improved and is expected to be discharged from the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute at anytime now.
The cleric was admitted last Friday due to cardiac related complications but the Director of (JKCI), Professor Mohamed Janabi told reporters yesterday that Cardinal Pengo will be discharged soon because his health has improved.
He attributed his miraculous recovery to modern technology at the facility and the competence of its staff.
He said Cardinal Pengo is no longer in need of an oxygen machine, drips and other ‘critical condition’ equipments; “but he is still in the hands of doctors...a few days from now he will be discharged,” the doctor reassured family, friends and congregation.
In her comments, Minister of Health ,Social Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Ummy Mwalimu expressed her contentment with the hospital’s services and pledged financial support to JKCI.
“Cardinal Pengo told me that due to the good services he received from this institute he will no longer travel abroad for treatment,” she said.
Mwalimu said the government is committed to continue financing JKCI to make sure the Institute becomes regionally competitive .
She insisted that since JKCI started operations at least 3bn/- that would otherwise be used to take patients abroad for the heart surgery and other cardiac diseases has been saved.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
Dar–Mtwara bound passengers stranded as drivers down tools
Dar es salaam - Mtwara bound passengers were stranded yesterday for three hours after the drivers went on strike to press Police in the region to release their three colleagues who were detained due to reckless driving.
Some passengers at Mtwara bus terminal blamed the drivers for going on strike while they had sold tickets to them, saying the strike has interfered with their plans.
“We are traveling for different reasons, some of us have problems while others want to arrive earlier so that they can sort out some business issues said Muhidini Chinenge who wanted to travel to Dar es Salaam and then connect a train to Shinyanga.
He said that he made efforts to consult ticket vendors but they only said that their drivers were on strike following the arrest of three drivers due to speeding.
Another passenger Iddi Selemani said that he was disappointed to see traffic police at the bus terminal who did not help to ensure that the matter was resolved to allow them to proceed with their journey.
One of the drivers Zungu, Abdul Mcharu said that they want to know the fate of three drivers who were arrested due to speeding.
“The arrest of our colleagues have raised many questions because they were offended for speeding …how can a person be detained for two days just because of reckless driving …we went to police to see how the issue could be resolved but no one was ready to cooperate with us.
Mtwara Regional Traffic Officer (RTO) Meloe Buzema said that police were working on the matter and the suspects were expected to be taken to court to answer their charges.
He said police Traffic were currently on special operation to control speeding which has been cited as the main contributor to traffic accidents while the drivers causing the accident were paying fine and repeat the offence … “the best way is to prosecute them,”
“Most of the accidents are due to speeding, we can not tolerate seeing people’s lives claimed by accidents …they have been paying fine but still they repeat the offense that’s why we have decided to take them to court,”
However the buses resumed operations three hours later.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
Education minister seeks explanation for examination grading system shift
The Minister for Education, Science and Technology and Vocational Training, Prof Joyce Ndalichako
The minister issued the directive in Dar es Salaam during her meeting with National Examination Council (NEC) of Tanzania executives following ‘cheap’ answers regarding the reason for changing examination grade from divisions to grade point average for secondary schools.
Prof Ndalichako had observed that since her appointment and subsequently taking oath of office in December 28 last year, she had endless received queries from parents and education experts on the system used to grade students’ examination results.
She maintained that she had to seek for scientific reasons especially on the effects of using the previous system and as well the benefits for adopting the GPA system which has been disputed by education experts.
Dr Charles Msonde, NECTA Executive Secretary defended that the new changes, saying was a result of policy demands with the adaptation of e-Government that requested all computerised system in all government departments to be changed.
“We reviewed the system to match with that of the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU). All our graduates were also requested to submit their certificates … the system would enable TCU and Nacte easily to scrutinise applicants,” he said. Adding; “using division for instance A had 1 point in secondary while at university and college meant 5 points …we needed similarity and the system had not changed anything in terms of academic performance.”
The executive secretary went on to defend that the new system, adding it was very clear than the former system which had seriously confused teachers.
Dr Msonde told the Education, Science Technology and Vocational Training Minister who was also flanked by her Deputy Permanent Secretary Prof Simon Msanjila that the new system to be equivalent with that of high learning institutions.
The explanation by the NECTA executive secretary was ‘very cheap’ to the minister who sought explanation from her deputy Permanent Secretary Prof Msanjila. The deputy Permanent Secretary told the minister the system used by TCU to admit high learning students did not require GPA but student’s performance in subject relating to a specific course being applied for.
“If a student wants to pursue education course, then you will look at his performance in Biology for example B, C, or 0 … during this selection process we don’t consider GPA,” the Deputy Permanent Secretary said.
Prof Ndalichako insisted however Tanzanians wants to know what transpired for the council to change the system.
The minister further requested technical and scientific explanation as to
why the council continues to assess exams for repeaters.
She was concerned why there was no other alternative methods to examine their capacity rather than doing two things at once. “All private candidates they only show up during final exams, is there no other way that the council can examine them instead of waiting during the final exam?” she quarreled.
She reminded that while she was the executive secretary she was also required to introduce the same thing but since it was not professional she rejected the idea.
The minister warned however failure to the council to institute scientific explanation all private candidates will now be sitting for a single exam.
Promote efficiency, Tazara told
Prof Mbarawa said the Fifth Phase Government wants the railway authority to improve efficiency in transportation of passengers and cargo to uplift its financial position. “You should avoid favoritism and secrecy in your operations because these cause sabotage and embezzlement which eventually weakens the company,” he stressed.
He urged workers to adhere to ethics in bringing about positive results for Tazara and member countries of the authority. Prof Mbarawa also revealed that the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) was conducting investigations on reports of embezzlements and warned that legal actions will befall culprits behind the vice.
For his part, Deputy Managing Director, Mr Betram Kiswaga, told the minister that Tazara was facing a number of challenges including limited capital as well as shortage of locomotives and wagons.
He assured Prof Mbarawa that the company has secured reliable transporters, noting that increased capital will encourage more transporters to use Tazara services. The 1,860 kilometre railway line connects the Dar es Salaam port in Tanzania and copper-rich region of Kapirimposhi in Zambia.
It was constructed by the Chinese government in the 1970’s to ease transport between the two countries.
Magufuli mourns Inspector Ryoba
In a statement issued by the Directorate of Presidential Communications, President Magufuli, asked the IGP to accept his sincere condolences saying that collectively they had lost a hardworking and competent person.
“I have received the news of the death of your aide and his family. It is a very painful incident. I am aware of the pain that you are going through from the loss of a hard working person,” read part of the statement. In the incident, eight people died.
Six of them were family members of the late Ryoba, who were in the motor vehicle. Two more bodies were recovered after the water level subdued. The passengers who perished in the car were Ryoba and his wife, Fidea Kondo and two children namely Gabriel and Godwin. Others were the driver of the ill-fated vehicle, Corporal Ramadhani and a housemaid identified by one name of Sara.
The family was travelling from Geita to Dar es Salaam on the fateful day. Apart from the six passengers in the vehicle; two more were also recovered from the stream during the rescue operation Dodoma Regional Police Commissioner (RPC), David Misime, said the late Inspector Ryoba was the bridge between low rank officers and the police leadership.
According to the Police force, Inspector Ryoba joined Moshi Police Academy in 2004. After graduating he was posted to Dar es Salaam. Later he joined University of Dar es Salaam and graduated with Bachelor degree of Education.
Cyber crime case involving student adjourned
The case will come before Principal Resident Magistrate, Respicius Mwijage of the Kisutu Resident Magistrates’ court in Dar es Salaam. Earlier, State Attorney, Estazia Wilson had informed the court that the case had come up for hearing but the prosecution’s intended witness was on leave.
Magistrate Mwijage expressed his disappointment regarding the fact that the prosecution had not availed alternative witnesses to cover the position of the one who was absent.
“I dislike situations whereby people come up with this kind of excuse when hearing is supposed to be in good progress,” said the Magistrate. He urged the prosecutor to avail two or more witnesses on the specified dates for the hearing and cautioned them that he was going to issue a ruling if otherwise.
Ngonyani, who resides at Magomeni Mapipa, becomes the first person to face the new law since it was endorsed by President Jakaya Kikwete to operate in Tanzania last year.
The accused is charged under section 16 of the Cyber Crime Act, which prohibits people to publish materials which are false or not verified by relevant authorities. Under the provision, whoever is convicted of the offence is liable to serve three years imprisonment or pay 5m/- in fine or both sentences.
Ngonyani is alleged to have published information in the face book network that General Mwamunyange has been poisoned. According to the prosecution, the accused person did so while knowing that such information was false and it was intended to mislead the public.
Meanwhile, A Nigerian National, Ejiofor Henry Ohagwa (33) has been arraigned before the same court for trafficking 4,197.42 grams of narcotic drugs. Before Principal Resident Magistrate, Mwijage the accused, who is a businessman, was not allowed to enter any plea to the charge, because his case will be tried by the High Court after completion of investigation.
Senior State Attorney, Mtalemwa Kishenyi alleged that on January 1, this year, at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Ilala District in the City, Ohagwa was found trafficking from the United Republic of Tanzania 4,197.42 grams of narcotic drugs namely, Heroin Hydrochloride.
Ohagwa told the court that he came in the country to run his cosmetics business. Magistrate Mwijage adjourned the case to January 18, 2016 when the case will come up for mention and ordered the accused to be remanded in custody.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
