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The decision said that the United States recently has once again announced arms sales plans to the Taiwan region, which has seriously violated the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, interfered in China’s internal affairs and undermined China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Pursuant to Articles 3, 4, 6, 9 and 15 of China’s Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, China decided to take the following countermeasures against Sierra Nevada Corporation, Stick Rudder Enterprises LLC, Cubic Corporation, S3 AeroDefense, TCOM, Limited Partnership, TextOre, Planate Management Group, ACT1 Federal and Exovera:

Their movable, immovable and all other types of property in China will be frozen.

Organizations and individuals in China will be prohibited from engaging in transactions, cooperation or other activities with the above-mentioned enterprises.

The decision will become effective from Sept. 18, 2024.

In response to a query concerning recent U.S. plans to sell arms to China’s Taiwan region, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a press briefing that U.S. arms sales to Taiwan seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, particularly the August 17 Communique of 1982; seriously violates China’s sovereignty and security interests; damages China-U.S. relations as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait; and sends an erroneous signal to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces.

“China strongly condemns and firmly opposes this, and has lodged stern representations with the U.S. side. China has taken firm countermeasures and announced that it will impose sanctions on nine U.S. military companies,” he said.

The United States continues to arm Taiwan, supporting Lai Ching-te and Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in their stubborn pursuit of “Taiwan independence” and their provocations regarding the one-China principle, Lin noted.

This once again proves that the biggest threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the greatest saboteur of the status quo across the Taiwan Strait are the separatist activities of “Taiwan independence” forces and the conniving support of external forces led by the United States, he added.

It should be noted that the DPP authorities are attempting to seek “Taiwan independence” through military build-up, and the United States is determined to help advance that agenda by arming Taiwan, Lin said, adding that any such actions will only backfire and lead to disastrous consequences, ultimately ending in failure, Lin said.

He stressed that the Taiwan question is at the heart of China’s core interests, and it is the most important red line that cannot be crossed in China-U.S. relations. No one should underestimate China’s firm will and strong ability to oppose “Taiwan independence” and defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

China urges the United States to abide earnestly by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, immediately end its dangerous trend of arming Taiwan, cease its conniving with and its support of “Taiwan independence” forces, and stop undermining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, Lin said.

China will take resolute and forceful measures to safeguard its national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, he said.

Xinhua

This achievement was highlighted in this year’s Global Cybersecurity Index report by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), which ranked Rwanda among the top countries worldwide, placing it in the first tier with a score exceeding 95%.

Rwanda was grouped with 46 other nations that have been designated as “Role Model” countries, demonstrating exemplary commitment to all five pillars of cybersecurity.

Among these were five African nations—Rwanda, Mauritius, Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania—standing alongside global powers such as Japan, the United States, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and South Korea.

The report noted Rwanda’s remarkable achievements across several key areas, starting with its legal framework.

Rwanda has enacted comprehensive laws governing cybercrimes and data protection, which ensure the security of personal data and mitigate the risks of cyberattacks on sensitive information.

This legal foundation fosters trust among both citizens and businesses engaging with digital technologies, positioning the country as a leader in safeguarding its cyberspace.

Another area of distinction is Rwanda’s technical approach to cybersecurity. The country has established the Rwanda Computer Security Incident Response Team (Rw-CSIRT), which plays a critical role in monitoring and addressing potential cybersecurity threats.

This proactive system enables Rwanda to mitigate risks and swiftly respond to any cyber-related incidents, reinforcing its reputation as a secure digital environment.

Organizationally, Rwanda’s National Cybersecurity Strategy was also highlighted in the report as a model framework for national protection.

The strategy outlines a comprehensive plan for defending the country’s cyberspace, with specialized agencies overseeing the implementation of policies and ensuring the nation is well-prepared to face potential technology-related risks.

Rwanda’s commitment to developing skills in cybersecurity was another key factor in its high ranking. The country has made significant investments in educating professionals and students in the field, notably through initiatives like the Rwanda Coding Academy.

This program equips young people with the technical knowledge necessary for success in the growing tech industry, while partnerships with international universities offer Rwandans the opportunity to gain global expertise in cybersecurity.

Moreover, Rwanda’s emphasis on international cooperation further bolsters its cybersecurity landscape. By fostering partnerships with other nations and private entities, Rwanda has demonstrated a strong commitment to addressing global cybersecurity challenges.

These collaborative efforts allow the country to stay at the forefront of cybersecurity innovation, continuously strengthening its defenses.

The Global Cybersecurity Index report praised Rwanda’s proactive stance in preventing and addressing cybersecurity threats, particularly highlighting its advancements in legal frameworks, technical infrastructure, and capacity-building initiatives.

Rwanda’s top-tier ranking underscores the country’s forward-thinking approach to digital security and its ongoing commitment to creating a safe, secure environment for its citizens and businesses alike.

Rwanda has been placed among leading countries with robust cybersecurity.

IGIHE

The resolution passed on September 18, 2024, demanded Israel “end without delay its unlawful presence” in the “Occupied Palestinian Territory” within 12 months. It also included a call for an arms embargo on weapons that Israel could use in those areas.

This resolution aligns with a previous decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which deemed Israel’s military presence in Palestinian territories unlawful.

The vote saw 124 countries in favor, 14 against, and 43 abstaining, including Rwanda.

Other abstaining nations included the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Germany, Italy, Canada, Australia, Austria, Japan, India, and Sweden.

The resolution was praised by several delegates, such as Syria, which called it an expression of global solidarity with the Palestinian people and a strong rejection of Israeli occupation, as reflected in a UN statement.

However, representatives of countries that opposed the resolution argued that it failed to address Israel’s significant security challenges.

The Czech Republic’s delegate expressed disappointment that the tresolution did not consider Hamas’ use of the Gaza Strip to launch attacks on Israel, using civilians as human shields.

Countries like Argentina, Hungary, and Papua New Guinea emphasized the need for a negotiated agreement, rather than unilateral actions, to foster long-term peace in the Middle East.

The UK delegation abstained, citing a lack of clarity in the resolution’s ability to support a negotiated solution. Switzerland also voiced concerns that the one-year timeline for Israel’s withdrawal did not address its legitimate security concerns.

Israel condemned the resolution, accusing it of ignoring the deadly attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which claimed the lives of 1,200 people, mostly civilians and during which terrorists abducted 251 people who were taken as hostages to Gaza.

The ongoing conflict has claimed over 41,250 Palestinian lives in Gaza, a territory with deep historical and geopolitical significance.

After Israel’s occupation of Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem in 1967, these areas became central to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with both sides asserting claims over the land.

The resolution demanded Israel to pull out from occupied Palestinian territories.

IGIHE

This two-day event, organized by the Elsa Miller Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the National Child Development Agency, and Imbuto Foundation, will gather international experts, policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders to discuss critical measures to combat stunting in Rwanda.

Despite Rwanda’s impressive strides in child survival, poverty reduction, and agricultural development, stunting remains a persistent challenge. The country’s stunting rate decreased from 48% in 2000 to 33% in 2020, yet disparities remain, particularly in rural areas.

Districts in the Western and Northern provinces still report stunting rates above 40%, signaling an urgent need for targeted interventions.

Antenatal and early childhood health programs that focus on providing adequate nutrition, micronutrients, and sanitation have been proven to reduce the incidence of low birth weight, as well as stunting by the age of two.

The meeting aims to examine the current state of stunting in Rwanda, evaluate ongoing efforts, and identify gaps in policy and practice.

The event will be structured around different main objectives which include assessment of the current stunting situation in Rwanda, including the challenges and successes.

The other objective is to learn from global experts about proven interventions and strategies that could be adapted to Rwanda’s context and mobilize resources and partnerships for a comprehensive stunting prevention trial set to begin in 2025.

Key stakeholders from the Rwandan government, non-governmental organizations, academia, and international experts will participate in discussions. The meeting will serve as a platform for exchanging knowledge on effective maternal and child health interventions, particularly those that target high-risk populations.

Rwanda’s stunting prevention trial, which will commence in 2025, aims to test innovative approaches to combat stunting through improved maternal care, early childhood development, and access to essential health services. The trial is expected to benefit thousands of children and mothers across the country.

With the support of the Elsa Miller Foundation, the meeting highlights the importance of multi-sector collaboration in tackling stunting. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the event seeks to ensure that children across Rwanda have the opportunity to grow and develop to their full potential.

The anticipated outcome of the meeting is a stronger, more coordinated response to child stunting and a renewed commitment to addressing maternal and newborn health challenges, which remain critical to Rwanda’s future.

Early childhood health programs that focus on providing adequate nutrition, micronutrients, and sanitation have been proven to reduce the incidence of stunting in Rwanda.

Sam K Nkurunziza

This association brings together insurance professionals in the region to assess challenges in the insurance sector, explore solutions, identify opportunities, and discuss how to contribute to the industry’s growth in various ways.

Mhiribidi said, “We also discussed artificial intelligence (AI), considering how we can collaborate with tech-savvy youth to create advanced solutions that will improve service delivery.”

“We urged companies to invest in technology, better understand their customers, and enhance their services to meet clients’ needs,” she added.

The CEO of Rwanda Insurance Brokers Association (RIBA) is Mendies Mhiribidi

The Director of Policy and Legal Affairs in the Financial Sector Department at the National Bank of Rwanda, Bernard Nsengiyumva, pointed out the need for technology that connects insurance brokers, insurance companies, and service users to improve the efficiency of the sector and expand its reach.

He also noted that for the insurance sector to grow, efforts must be made to raise public awareness about the benefits of insurance, as many people are still hesitant to adopt it.

'How can today’s technological tools like phones help us? What is needed is for insurance brokers and companies to partner with young tech experts to develop technology tailored to their operations. We haven’t yet seen a strong connection between the tech industry and the insurance sector,' said Nsengiyumva

He urged insurance brokers to play a significant role in educating the public on the importance of insurance to ensure the sector continues to grow.

Data from the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) shows that the percentage of the population in Rwanda with insurance cover is 1.6%. Across Africa, less than 1% of people have various types of insurance.

During the assembly, it was also discussed that for the insurance sector to grow, companies offering these services must adapt their operations to current trends, especially in a world facing climate change challenges and sectors such as agriculture, which is vital to Africa’s economy.

The 3rd ANNUAL RIBA CONFERENCE was held from September 11 to 14, 2024 in Musanze district

Ngoga Alain, Head of Sales at SanlamAllianz General Insurance, highlighted that insurance brokers are essential as they help extend services and impact company profits.

'The key is to strengthen technology because most operations are now done through it. We are planning to boost efforts to enhance more positive results,' he said.

Currently, SanlamAllianz General Insurance works with over 14 brokers and more than 345 agents in their market, contributing to 60% of the company’s revenue.

One of the initiatives encouraged by the National Bank of Rwanda for the insurance sector is innovating with technology (insurtech).

This requires using technology and innovations to drive the growth of the insurance sector and keep pace with current times, including modernizing different insurance practices such as selling insurance, resolving insurance-related issues, managing insurance companies, delivering quality customer service, and assessing potential risks.

They are also encouraged to establish programs that support the national fintech policy and foster collaboration between public and private sectors.

MUA Insurance Rwanda sponsored the closing ceremony

The Director of Policy and Legal Affairs in the Financial Sector Department at the National Bank of Rwanda, Bernard Nsengiyumva speaking at the function

IGIHE

In her first substantive remarks on recent events that have cast a shadow over the upcoming civic poll, the president said statements of condemnation issued by several Western diplomatic missions stationed in Tanzania were not welcome and were in violation of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

She stressed that Tanzania would not take instructions from any country on how to go about investigating the politically-linked violence that reached a new zenith on September 6 with the brazen abduction and subsequent death in Dar es Salaam of a senior official of the opposition party Chadema.

Chadema secretariat member Ali Mohamed Kibao was snatched by supposedly plain-clothed security operatives off an upcountry-bound bus in full public view on the outskirts of the city. His lifeless body was found in a nearby bush hours later with his face partly disfigured by what is believed to be acid.

The incident came on the back of a growing number of disappearances, detentions and beatings involving political and human rights activists in what the United States in Dar es Salaam described in a September 9 statement as “efforts to disenfranchise citizens ahead of (the) elections.”

The European Union, British and Canadian High Commissions, and Norway and Switzerland embassies also issued a joint statement on September 10 condemning the incidents.

While the US embassy in Dar called for an “independent, transparent, and prompt investigation” into the incident, the other five missions called for a “thorough inquiry.”

In a televised speech at an event in Moshi on Tuesday this week marking the 60th anniversary of the Tanzania Police Force’s formation, President Samia said no “outsiders” could claim to be more pained by the sequence of events than Tanzanians themselves.

“It is our own responsibility to find out why they are happening at this moment in time. We know what we need to do as a sovereign nation and do not appreciate other countries telling us to do one, two, three,” she stressed.

“I believe these statements were not sanctioned by the heads of state of those countries, but I have my own ways of checking with my fellow presidents and once I confirm that they were I will lodge formal complaints with them,” she added.

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has warned against meddling into her country’s issues

Before the diplomatic corps intervened, the president had already ordered that Kibao’s death be investigated as quickly as possible and the final report to be made public.

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa on Monday said that although it was “easy to point fingers at the police” other disruptive elements working covertly could be responsible for “such incidents that tend to crop up during periods of elections.”

Meanwhile, Chadema party leader Freeman Mbowe has called for Britain’s Scotland Yard investigative unit to be incorporated into the probe on Kibao’s death, stating that the party did not trust Tanzanian law enforcement to conduct a “proper and transparent” inquiry.

The party has also threatened to lead nationwide protests from next week if there is no tangible progress in the Kibao investigation by then.

Kibao’s death along with other incidents have sparked public outrage and heightened safety concerns in relation to the nationwide municipal poll scheduled for November 28, which is expected to form the template for next year’s general election.

Next year, President Samia will be vying for another term as well as for the ruling CCM party to maintain its majority legislative control until 2030.

Chadema secretariat member Ali Mohamed Kibao was snatched by supposedly plain-clothed security operatives and his body was found in a nearby bush hours later

IGIHE

This message was highlighted during the celebration of World First Aid Day on September 14, 2024, under the theme “First Aid and Sports.”

Emmanuel Mazimpaka, Director of Communication, Fundraising, and Humanitarian Diplomacy at Rwanda Red Cross, stressed the need for first aid preparedness, especially in sports.

“There are sports activities that proceed without adequate first aid measures in place. Yet, injuries can occur, and without immediate intervention, they may worsen,” Mazimpaka explained.

He pointed out that many severe cases could have been avoided if someone trained in first aid had intervened quickly.

'In sports, an individual may start out perfectly healthy, but a sudden injury or emergency can occur. Having basic first aid skills can make a significant difference.'

Beyond sports, Mazimpaka emphasized the necessity of first aid knowledge in everyday life.

“In homes and communities, people often face accidents like burns or injuries. Knowing first aid allows individuals to help themselves or others before professional medical assistance arrives,” he said.

He highlighted the importance of first aid in emergency situations such as fire outbreaks or natural disasters like floods.

“Accidents like cuts, bleeding, or fractures are common in households, and first aid knowledge can be a lifesaver.”

Mazimpaka also urged employers in high-risk sectors, such as industries, mining, and construction, to ensure their employees receive first aid training.

He encouraged professions that frequently encounter accidents, including motorcyclists and drivers, to carry basic first aid kits and be prepared for emergencies.

The Rwanda Red Cross reported that over the past few years, they have trained 20 volunteers in every sector across Rwanda, and over 68,000 individuals have gained first aid skills nationwide.

Mazimpaka concluded by urging everyone to take first aid training seriously.

“Knowing how to help in an emergency ensures that assistance is provided correctly, preventing further harm.”

This nationwide push for first aid training aims to equip Rwandans with the skills needed to respond swiftly and effectively during emergencies, both in sports and daily life.

An ambulance carrying injured individual after receiving first aid.

Knowing first aid allows individuals to help themselves or others before professional medical assistance arrives.

The general public is urged to own first aid kit for immediate asisstance.

A football match between volunteers was a key part of the celebration.

A walk preceded the football match

Théophile Niyitegeka