Kenya Women Rugby team is named

By Fred Maingi
The Kenya Women's Sevens team that will represent the country at the
C.A.R Sevens Rugby World Cup(RWC )2012 Qualifying tournament in Rabat,
Morocco has been
named.
 The tournament, which runs between September 29-30  serves as the
African qualifiers for the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens slated for
Russia.
The team, coached by Kevin Wambua assisted by Enos Otieno and managed
by Doris Mwanzia with Ben Mahind as the physiotherapist departed
on tuesday(yesterday) and is  expected back in Nairobi on October 2nd.
The team comprises of Doreen Remour (Captain), Mary Otieno, Janet
Awuor, Mary Musieka, Celestine Navalayo, Irene Awino, Angela Olum,
Stacy Awuor, Rachel Odhiambo, Linda Nandwa, Catherine Abilla,
Philadelphia Olando
Camilyne Awuor, Adelaide Nasambu,and  Robina Wambui are the non
traveling players.
Captain Doreen Remour said," Morale is high in camp. We have trained
well and are waiting for the tournament's kick off. Early this year we
lost our captain, Abedeen Shikhoyi, and her wish was that we qualify
for the World Cup. I know the team will do its best and qualify for
the World Cup."
Speaking during the press briefing, Kenya Rugby Union Chairman Mwangi
Muthee said, " Women's rugby has come a long way, from the time these
girls played touch rugby at Mwamba. Now they are accomplished
internationals and I would like to say without batting an eyelid that
the Kenya women's sevens team is as competitive as the men's team. We
as the Kenya Rugby Union are putting a lot of emphasis on the women's
team."
"Women's rugby, boy's rugby, men's rugby are equal in the eyes of the
K.R.U. We are investing as much resources into girls' rugby just as we
are doing for boys' rugby. These girls have put in a lot of work and I
am confident that they have a real chance of winning in Morocco.I call
upon all Kenyans to support our girls as they head to Morocco.I am
sure they are going to bring the same glory that the men's team has
brought to this country``.

Meanwhile Airtel Kenya has announced its sponsorship of Kshs 4,000,000 for this
year’s Impala Rugby Floodlit tournament which will be held at the
Impala Club grounds for a duration of 3 weekends on October 6th, 13th
and 20th 2012.
The competitive event will bring together eight invited club sides,
eight school teams as well as eight university teams from all over the
country.
Speaking during the sponsorship cheque presentation held  at the
Impala Grounds in Nairobi, Airtel Kenya chief operating officer Mr.
Shivan Bhargava reiterated his company’s commitment to the promotion
of sports in Kenya going on to say that “We are committed to
supporting the development of sports in the country and we will be
supporting more sporting initiatives so as to expose and nurture
talent among the youth.”
Mr. Bhargava added that his Company is delighted to have the
opportunity to offer fans the opportunity to enjoy their favorite
sport while accessing free airtime to the value of the entry ticket,
enabling them to connect with their friends and family during and
after the games. He also explained that the Company will set up
exclusive Airtel customer service and sales points at the games venue.
Speaking that same occasion when receiving the check, the Chairman of
the Impala Rugby Football Club Mr. Oduor Gangla expressed his delight
at the offer from Airtel appealing to more organizations to join in
the promotion of the event to cater for more teams and better quality
of the games in the future.
Mr. Gangla said the tournament will kick off on Saturday with a
secondary schools competition that has attracted a total of eight
schools led by Rugby powerhouses Mangu, Nairobi School, Alliance and
Lenana High Schools. Defending champions Mean Machine will lead the
way in the clubs.
The 2012 edition will be a 24 team event just as in the last two
year’s. The winners of this tournament will bag KES 200,000 in Prize
money.
The Impala Rugby floodlit tournament turns 30 years this year and is
the most successful local rugby competition to be held in the country.
The tournament is expected to attract more than 12,000 rugby
enthusiasts from all over the country to this country."

DPM Mudavadi speaks to Kenyans on social Media from US as rumours spread Mutahi Kagwe is his running mate

-->

DPM Mudavadi

Good morning.
I have had a wonderful & very informative time in Boston with fellow Kenyans residing their. They raised pertinent issues and showed great concern for the future of their country. I assured them of a smooth election, a smooth transition, commitment to the full implementation of our new constitution, economic growth, peace and stability. I also lauded them for their contribution to our local economy.
Today, I spend the better part of the day at the United Nations in various meetings and later on in the evening at the Roosevelt Hotel accompanying H.E. Mwai Kibaki who shall meet with Kenyans residing in the United States of America.
I thank you dear Kenyans for the warmth in which you received my team (Hon Kagwe & Hon Kituyi) & I. God bless you.
Wishing you a good day.

On Sunday accompanied by Muthahi Kagwe & Mukhisa Kituyi I had the pleasure of addressing a congregation of Kenyans living in the USA after attending a church service at the Christ for All Nations Church

in New Jersey.
I assured them that the country is on an irreversible path for monumental transformation through the implementation of the new Constitution & the coming 2013 elections.
I should know better given that my commitment for a new Kenya lies in my being part to negotiating the National Accord leading to a coalition government; the end of post-election violence; & a new Constitution; I was at Naivasha where I took a lead in the referendum & have been at the forefront of laws for devolution to take root & as your president I want to anchor the Constitution in our souls. I have personally walked through all the processes of leading to the new Constitution & understood it as the basis of creating an environment for Kenyans to progress & nothing will be left to chance in ensuring this process goes through & that devolution is not misguided into a tool for ethnic cleansing
The discovery of oil, coal & natural gas should embolden Kenyans to start thinking about the kind of leadership the country should have for prosperity to be realised. I have no doubt in my mind about this responsibility & the answer is to be faithful in implementing the Constitution & ensure resources are used to the benefit of all. I want to be that president who ensures that in Africa’s minerals are not a curse but a blessing.
Various constitutional commissions as required by the law are now engaged in a structured review of the way we have done things. It is not about kick-stating the process & neither is it an individual’s crusade as you cannot own what belongs to all of us. Commitment to implement the Constitution has been marked by the progressive change made in the Judiciary that has seen it make landmark decisions against impunity & even the Executive is no longer safe in the decisions made if they fail the constitutional test. The jinx about police reforms has been unlocked. These progressive changes are going to make it very costly for anyone to engage in vices such as corruption.
As a government we are committed to the rule of law & I would like to allay fears that elections will be postponed from March 4th & that the Kenyan Diaspora will be denied the right to vote. IEBC is rationalising the “progressive” wording in the Constitution by first ensuring the Diaspora participate in the presidential vote. Anyone entertaining that idea (postponement) can only be plotting to rapture our country.
Later on in the day I represented our government at the South-South Awards Gala at which President Michael Sata of Zambia, (the newly elected AU Commission Chairperson) Dr. N Zuma & former Nigerian President Oleshegun Obasanjo were honoured for various achievements.
Wishing you all well.

Mudavadi`s message from the US where he accompanied President Kibaki on an official tour comes in a wake of rumours in the Capital,Nairobi showing that he has settled on the former Cabinet Minister Mutahi Kagwe as his running mate in next year`s General election.We  at the Daily News Kenya will keep you posted on this development as it unfolds.

Egypt refers 3 Muslims to criminal court for offending Christianity

A Court in Egypt

 The Egyptian general prosecution has referred three Muslims, including a journalist, to the criminal court for disdaining Christianity publicly, state media reported Tuesday
The defendants, Abou Islam, chief of religious channel Cultured Nation, and his son, executive manger of the channel, as well as a journalist, have been referred to the criminal court and court will start procedures on the case on Sunday, according to official news agency MENA.
Abou Islam and his son are charged for burning copies of the Bible during earlier protests around the U.S. embassy over an anti- Islam movie.
The journalist is accused of repeating phrases denigrating Copts during an interview with Abou Islam, the report added.
Meanwhile the unveiling of a Nelson Mandela statue in the Hague was disturbed by members of an extreme-right group on Tuesday.
Former Archbishop and Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu unveiled a statue of his compatriot, anti-apartheid fighter and former President of South Africa Mandela when extreme-right rioters started to shout and threw smoke bombs.
According to local reports, the protesters wanted to draw attention to the plight of white farmers in South African society. The police made three arrests.
The unveiling had started peacefully with a speech by Ben Knapen, outgoing Dutch Minister for European Affairs and International Cooperation.
"This statue not only honors Nelson Mandela's great and selfless efforts on behalf of human dignity," he said.
The initiative for the statue was taken seven years ago by Dutch politicians in the Hague. The result was a large bronze statue, made by artist Arie Schippers.
Tutu, who was invited to the Netherlands by the Medical Knowledge Institute, said his week-long visit to the Netherlands would be his last.
The 80-year-old Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 and headed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South-Africa after the end of apartheid. (Xinhua)

IMF forecast Kenya`s economy to grow by 5 percent in 2012-2013 financial year

-->
By David Musyoka and Ronald Njoroge
Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday forecast Kenya's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the 2012 and 2013 financial year to grow at  5 percent.
IMF Assistant Director for Africa Domenico Fanizza told journalists in Nairobi that the bank's impression of the economy is that despite a challenging global economic environment, this year's growth will surpass last year's 4.4 percent growth."Our projection is that Kenya will achieve 5 percent economic growth for the 2012 and 2013 due to high domestic consumption and investments, unless the global economy slows down further," Fanizza said at the end of his 12-day visit to Kenya to carry out the fourth under the ECF program, the IMF in January 2011 approved a 505 million U.S. dollar loan while in December of the same year it approved a further 755 million dollars to
Kenya. He noted demand for key export products from advanced economies has remained steady and that Kenya has even managed to diversify its trading partners.
According to the IMF official, sufficient rainfall has enabled agricultural production and domestic power production to increase and thus reduced the country's reliance on expensive food and oil imports. He commended the treasury for maintaining fiscal discipline despite spending pressures and revenue collection shortfalls."We agree with the government's position that the rising demands for public wage bills could be met through reallocation of funds from the existing budget and not from increasing public spending," Fanizza said.  He noted his financial institution supports the enactment of the proposed Value Added Tax (VAT) bill. "Since the law will among other things, exclude small shops from the tax, it will target the rich and middleclass who shop from establishments that have turnover of over 59,000 dollars," the director said.
According to the IMF, the revenues can then be used to subsidize the low income earners through targeted programs. The IMF also commended Kenya for accumulation of international reserves. "We are positive that the country will use its 5 billion dollars foreign exchange reserves to maintain a stable exchange rate regime as well as buffer the nation against any external shocks," Fanizza said.IMF Resident Representative for Kenya Ragnar Gudmundsson said the east African nation could achieve its inflation target by the end of the year. He noted that due to prudent monetary and fiscal policies the inflation rate moved from a high of 20 percent last November to currently about 6 percent. "So Kenya could reach its target of five by end of December 2012," Gudmundsson said.He said Nairobi has also benefited from the opening up of its country to new markets such as China and India. The representative noted beneficial policies by the government have lead to macro economic stability.
The IMF official said the growth in credit to the private sector year to year currently stands at 13 percent, down from 37 percent last year. "The increase in the key central bank rate last year was instrumental in reducing the unsustainable credit to the private that was partly responsible from high inflation," he said. Gudmundsson said the country's private sector including the banking industry has remained resilient even with a high interest regime that is now slowly coming down. The representative said economic growth cannot take place in an environment of high inflation.  He also said the estimated total public debt for the 2011/2012 financial stood at 44.6 percent of the GDP while in the current year, the figure will close at around 43.8 percent of GDP.  (Xinhua)

Kenya Tourism Board shines at the 2012 World Travel awards

Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) has been voted Africa’s leading Tourism Board 2012 in the Africa category, positively propelling the country’s image globally as a tourism destination.

 

Kenya’s coveted position came after a hotly contested voting by travel agents across the globe which has been going on for the last one year and culminating into last week’s 19th World Travel Awards held at Beach Turks and Caicos Resort in UK.

 

The award places the country in the limelight as a tourist destination having beaten South Africa which has been topping for the last four years.

Other African countries which competed with Kenya included Egypt, Namibia, Nigeria, Ghana, and Morocco among others.

 

Tourism industry in the country has termed the award good tidings coming at a time when the country has had negative publicity occasioned by cases of insecurity.  “Kenya stood out for its sustained innovative and cutting edge marketing campaigns targeting both the traditional and new niche market segments, in an increasingly competitive global tourism industry,” says KTB Managing Director Muriithi Ndegwa who also appreciated the contribution of all the stakeholders towards this achievements.

He noted that over the last two years KTB has been receiving impressive results following the successful implementation of the products diversification strategy, adoption of new promotion strategies, increased advertising campaigns and partnerships with major tour operators worldwide.

“This award is an outstanding endorsement for the investment we have made in positioning Kenya as the premier tourism destination in Africa, and a worthy competitor in the global platform. We are honored to be recognized as Africa’s Leading Tourist Board this year”, said Muriithi.

The Award saw 50 awards being presented to travel industry practitioners across the Caribbean region, North and South America with Kenya Tourism Board, who were the  highlight of the event in getting this highly valued award.

Muriithi added, “While we have been in contention for this and other awards, this is by far one of the greatest achievements we have received. We are alive to the fact that we must sustain our lead, through additional investments in the sector to ensure that the Kenyan experience for tourists remains unmatched”.

The World Travel Awards, described by the Wall Street Journal as the ‘Oscars’ of the global travel and tourism industry, serves to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel, tourism and hospitality industry

The Award was first held in 1994, as a tourism industry initiative, with travel agencies, tour and transport companies and tourism organizations across the globe voting for the winners.

The award places KTB in the same league with the other winning tourist Boards in the Europe, Caribbean, Americas and Middle East categories for the World Travel Awards Grand Final, which will take place at The Oberoi, Gurgaon in Delhi on 12th December 2012.

 

God`s Word

Mathew 23:12
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Compiled by Pastor Vincent Achesa

Magelo says they have not sacked Koops as Nyamweya says he is concerned with Coaches jobs lose

Ole Magelo:AFC Leopards Chairman

By Fred maingi
AFC  Leopards Chairman Alex Ole Magelo has reaffirmed his confidence
with the club head coach Jan Koops and threatened to sideline any
official bend to curtail his work.
   He affirmed that the Dutch coach has the full confidence of his
office and allayed fears that  he has lost his plum job.
    He assured Koops whom he paraded infront of a  packed crowd that
turned up at the Nyayo National Stadium to  witness the unveiling of
the new bus  christened “The Monster” that the  club will continue to
rally behind him.
    Magelo who was widely cheered  said though he was not impressed by
the clubs latest  dismal performance, he was still confident his
charges will carry the day, come end of the League season.
  ‘We have not sacked anybody in the team.Koops  still remains our
head coach.We shall continue to give him a free hand and anybody who
will scuttle or interfere with his  work, either from the technical
bench or any member,we shall term him as the greatest enemy of the
club.We shall do away with such a person. From this weekend, we are
going to win our remaining matches.It will be a  win, win, win
situation “he observed.
 He said the unveiling of the new bus proves  the club is heading
places.”This, he added, is the second bus in the club history.The
previous one was sold in Arusha  Tanzania by former club detractors.
We shall not allow that to happen again as long as I am the club
Chairman.”
    Mumias Sugar new Chief Executive officer(CEO) Peter Kebati assured
the club fraternity that they will continue to  support the club
financially and materially.
   Kebati who replaced Evans Kidero who resigned his plum position to
concentrate  with politics said his firm feel’s proud  to be
associated with ‘Ingwe’ who  have made their  Sugar brand viable  and
marketable.
  Earlier at the same venue, club organizing secretary Winston Kituyi
confirmed that Koops was still the head coach.He dismissed earlier
allegations adding that Koop’s  contract must be honoured until the
end of the season.
 ‘We have internal mechanism in the club.We may differ in principles.
When we show  concern with the team’s performance, that does not mean
we don’t work as a team.Football is  a game of winning and losing.We
must accept the situation and move on and correct where we have  gone
wrong.As far as we are concerned,Koops  is  still in charge.The result
of a team does not depend on one person,it’s a  combined effort which
we are trying to address.We shall continue to give our coach a  free
hand at all times until his contract expires” said Kituyi.
Uncertainty has been rife at AFC Leopards  camp since the painful 2-1
defeat from their arch rivals Gor Mahia  with social network
indicating the Dutchman had lost his job and replaced by his deputy
Mickey Weche.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has put  clubs on notice to respect
their binding contracts  with their coaches or else they will forfeit
their positions in any League organised by the Federation.
  Meanwhile  The Federation Chairman Sam Nyamweya said he was  deeply 
concerned over the alarming rate that  coaches are losing their jobs

Nyamweya said that the coaches should be protected and their
contractual obligations met."We have requested clubs to furnish the
Federation with copies of the coaches contracts within seven days
without fail.It is for the interest of the federation to seek
protection for the coaches,but also some coaches just take up
appointments without contracts making it difficult for us to
intervene."he said.

The Federation observed that  they recognize the Kenya Football
Coaches Association (kefoca) who still remain their members.
   The latest casualty is AFC Leopards tactician Jan Koops who was
said to have been suspended by the club reversed the decision after
club fans raised their concern.
    Of late clubs have been making news with the sacking of coaches
citing poor results a move that has seen the local coaches raise
concerns
   Other recent casualties include former  Sofapaka coach Salim
Ali,Sammy Omollo(Tusker),Ezekiel Akwana(Rangers)  and  Gabriel
"Kingi"Njoroge from

Magelo label Waititu as ``Common thug`` during demonstration

AFC Leopards Chairman Ole Magelo (left)

A group of Maasais living in Nairobi staged street demonstrations as it condemned comments attributed to Embakasi MP, Ferdinard Waititu.

Led by AFC Leopards chairman Simon ole Magelo and politicians ole Mosetet and ole Sapalan the team marched through city streets condemning the MP and branded him a perennial thug.

“He is known to be a thug in his area and we urge police to put him where he blongs.. in jail,” said Magelo.

He said Waititu is a known criminal who usually causes violence whenever he is.

TNA secretary general Onyango Oloo urged his party potential aspirants  to remain focused on the goal of unifying the Nation and avoid any utterances or actions that may compromise that vision. 

“As we welcome the prompt actions by the Director of Public Prosecutionand the Internal Security Minister Katoo Ole Metito, we also ask for speedy investigations to establish and resolve the conflict in Kayole area that saw one person killed; resolving the issue wholesomely should be our commitment as a nation,” said Oloo.

The rule of law should be accompanied by a resolve to address the root causes of conflict so as to ensure cohesion and brotherhood in the long term, he added.

He said they have demanded an apology from the Assistant Minister, a clear plan of reconciliation to heal any divisions that may have been caused by those comments and most importantly the party is considering further action.

Waititu was a besieged man last evening following orders that he be arrested and be prosecuted over hate speech and incitement to violence.

Tobiko ordered the police to arrest and bring to justice the Water assistant minister. Metito too told police to ensure the MP spent his night in custody before he would face justice.

Mr Tobiko said the MP incited his constituents to violence and incited 'feelings of hatred and hostility against the Maasai community".

"This is therefore to advise that you (police) cause prompt action to be taken to ensure that all those found to have been involved including Hon Waititu are immediately apprehended and brought to justice," said the DPP in a statement Tuesday.

Teams of police camped outside Parliament Buildings waiting to arrest the MP as he went on with his business inside the chambers.

This follows an incident in which on Monday, two people were killed and a third one injured in a violent confrontation between street boys and Maasai watchmen in Kayole, Nairobi.

Trouble started when watchmen attacked and killed a street boy accused of stealing chicken in the estate.

Mr Waititu later visited the area as the confrontation went on and told the street gangs to chase away the Maasai watchmen from the area.

 “From today, we do not want to see any members of this community here in Kayole.”

On his part, Metito said the government would take action on him.

"As a government, we shall not hesitate to take action against any persons who incites the public to violence, irrespective of their position or status in society," Mr Metito said at Harambee House, Nairobi.

Revealed:How Presidential candidates plot to use Media for campaigns

Uhuru Kenyatta:Has invested much in the media

Raila Odinga

By Jerry Otieno

Martha Karua

As the country gears towards the elections, major presidential candidates are leaning towards various media houses for support and championing of their ideologies.

While others are lobbying and banking on the support of the media, some are buying and investing in them.

Our analysis shows the candidates have marked media houses that will support them. Some have marked those that will not support them.

For instance, Uhuru Kenyatta has invested or bought K24, People Daily, Kameme FM, Milele FM formerly owned by Radio presenter turned media investor Grantonne Samboja and Mbaitu FM to champion his agenda.

Musalia Mudavadi

Apart from these media houses, others who have top Kikuyu managers like Capital FM and somehow Nation tend to support him.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has the support of the Standard, KTN, Umoja FM, Sunday Express, Star, Citizen TV and Radio, Ramogi FM , Radio Maisha among others.

Water minister Charity Ngilu who launched his Presidency bid recently has the support of KTN, NTV, Citizen, Mbaitu and Standard.

Deputy PrimeMinister and Sabatia MP Musalia Mudavadi is being supported by Standard, Star, Nation and Weekly Citizen where he has identified specific reporters who are pushing his agenda.

Eldoret North MP William Ruto gets better coverage in the Standard, Kass FM, Kass TV, Kass Magazine,Citizen TV, and his local radio stations operating in his area.

Prof.James  ole Kiyapi is yet to get a lining in his quest to convince major media houses to support him even though some like the Standard try to highlight his ideas whenever he speaks.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has the support of The Standard, Star, Nation, People, KBC, Musyi FM and few religious radio stations.

William Ruto

Cyrus Jirongo has too been getting fair coverage in the Standard, Mulembe FM, Radio Maisha and Sunday Express owned by a former Standard Journalist Mr Ayub Savula.

Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua has been getting support of the Standard, Citizen TV, KTN  and Radio Maisha. She recently complained on her social media site (facebook and Twitter) that the Nation has been unfair to her.

Peter Kenneth has the support of Kiss TV and radio Africa team, Standard, KTN, NTV and Citizen Weekly. Nation too tries to support him.

Highly diminishing Raphael Tuju gets support on KBC, KTN and Citizen.

Analysts say NTV and Standard try to be fair to all candidates and state facts the way they are.

The candidates are also said to be interested in being covered by the online publications after realizing the effects of social media and what it can do as  in the Middle East and Northern Africa.Though we at the Daily News Kenya we will give equal coverage to all the aspirants.

We will keep an eye on the coverage at large and keep you informed.

God`s Word

Luke 1:37
For with God nothing will be impossible.
Compiled by Pastor Vincent Achesa

1 000 Congolese flee to Uganda over renewed fighting in Eastern DRC

DRC President:Joseph Kabila

 At least 1,000 Congolese refugees have fled into Uganda in the last two weeks following renewed fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), local media reported here on Monday.
The state owned New Vision daily reported that the new wave of fighting between the government forces and M23 rebels in DRC's Rutshuru area has forced another 1,000 people to take refuge in Uganda.
The rebels are reported to have overrun Nyamirima, Buganza and Nyakakoma towns, all in Rutshuru area, after heavy fighting with the government forces, forcing people to flee.
The refugees, mostly women and children, began trickling into the East African country through Ishasha border post on Sept. 14, the paper reported.
The refugees were temporarily being sheltered at Kihiihi Police Station awaiting to be transported to Nyakabande transit centre in the western Ugandan district of Kisoro.
Jean Bosco Kamanzi, a refugee who is a teacher by profession, on Saturday said that he had counted five dead bodies of civilians as he fled towards Ishasha.
"The situation has become unbearable because there in nobody to care for the civilians. The fighting forces are only showing off their superiority," said Kamanzi.
Juuko Kasiita, Kanungu deputy Resident District Commissioner, who is supervising the exercise of receiving refugees, said they have been registering about 200 people every day except for Friday when the number shot higher.
"We have seen more refugees coming in unlike in the past when they would come in groups of 10 or 20. Our duty is to ensure that they are all registered," said Kasiita.
Meanwhile, security authorities in Kanungu have asked Ugandan citizens to stop crossing into eastern DRC with immediate effect, saying their security cannot be guaranteed.
Several people in Butogota, Kihiihi in Kanungu and areas bordering DRC have been doing brisk business with their counterparts across the border while others have gardens which they till during the day and return in the evening.
"We cannot guarantee the people from Uganda that their lives would be safe if they crossed to do business or attend to their gardens. We advise them to stop going there until the situation is calm," said Kasiita.
Great Lakes region leaders who met up in the capital, Kampala earlier this month set up a neutral international force to hunt down armed groups in eastern DRC. (Xinhua)

Atleast 3 killed in suicide bomb attack at Northern Nigeria Catholic Church

 At least three people were killed and 22 others sustained serious injuries in an explosion which rocked a St. John's parish of the Catholic Church located in Wunti area of northern Nigeria's Bauchi State on Sunday, during a morning mass, rescue officials have said.
Spokesperson of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Yushau Shuaib confirmed the incident to Xinhua, but was unable to give the exact casualty figures. However, rescue officials on ground at the scene of the incident confirmed that three corpses including the suicide bomber, a female adult and a child had been evacuated from the Catholic Church cathedral near Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ABTU), Bauchi State.
"The dead and injured persons have been taken to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ABTUTH) and rescue officials are on top of the situation with the military officers that were quickly deployed to cordon-off the area," said a top rescue official who pleaded for anonymity.
The rescue official added that due to the various degrees of injury sustained by some of the casualties, the death toll might increase if proper medical attention was not given to the victims.
In a text message sent to Xinhua, NEMA's spokesperson had explained the suicide bomber detonated his explosives very close to the Catholic cathedral. According to the text message, rescue officials were still combing the area in search of more casualties of the Sunday blast.
No group has claimed responsibility for now.
On June 3, at least 12 people were killed and several others were injured when a suicide bomber from the Boko Haram group attacked a church in the northern city of Bauchi, in which mostly children and women were the casualties.(Xinhua)

AU Special representative condemns assasination of Somali MP in Mogadishu

Diarra:Condemned killings

By DNK Correspondent in Mogadishu

The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia, Ambassador Boubacar Diarra, has condemned the assassination of newly elected MP Mustafa Mohamed Mo’alin in Mogadishu.

Mustafa Mohamed Mo’alin was killed in the Waaberi District of Mogadishu as he returned home from prayers on Saturday evening.

“Members of Parliament represent the voice of the Somali people and any attack on parliamentarians is an attack on the people and it is unacceptable. I deplore this attack on a Somali Member of Parliament elected just weeks ago as part of Somalia’s continuing journey of political progress. We offer our sincere condolences to his family. Such criminal and barbaric acts must not be tolerated.” Said ambassador Diarra.

Ambassador Diarra said AMISOM will continue to do all it can to help the Somali security forces to reduce the threat of attacks in Mogadishu. He said through successfully ending the transitional period, Somalia and the Somali people have embarked on a new political beginning. Cowardly attacks such as this will not be allowed to derail that hard won progress.

Sudan and South Sudan leaders discuss oil and borders

Kiir (right) and Bashir left leave meeting

The leaders of Sudan and South Sudan have held direct talks in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa aimed at resolving long-running disputes

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir and his South Sudan counterpart Salva Kiir met for almost two hours late on Sunday ahead of long-delayed talks.

Differences over borders, oil revenues and the disputed region of Abyei took them to the brink of war in April.

The UN has threatened sanctions if the latest talks do not produce a deal.

South Sudan seceded from Sudan last year following a long civil war in which two million people died - but serious disputes between the two countries remain.

The BBC's James Copnall in Addis Ababa said very little information had filtered out from Sunday night's direct talks.

Afterwards, the two men appeared together, smiling and looking relaxed.

Demilitarised zone

Mr Kiir told South Sudanese state media he hoped for a "celebration" after meeting Mr Bashir.

Previously, spokesmen for both negotiating teams said substantial progress had been made on many of the issues.

The main summit, which begins on Monday, is expected to bring together both presidents, a few key advisers, an African Union mediating team and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.

have fought the north for decades

The UN Security Council has called for urgent agreement on a demilitarised border zone - another issue hotly disputed by the two countries.

Mr Ban called for "co-operation and mutual development", and the US said Sudan should agree to an African Union border plan already accepted by South Sudan.

Last month, the two countries agreed to re-open their land border after a closure lasting more than a year.

However, the border remains unmarked.

At independence in July 2011, the South gained two-thirds of the region's oil while Sudan retained the processing and export facilities.

In January, the South shut down oil production, accusing Sudan of stealing its oil, and the two countries' economies have been damaged as a result.

Negotiating teams said they had made progress on several of the outstanding issues before the heads of state arrived.

The hope is that some degree of progress will encourage South Sudan to restart oil production, providing much needed revenue to both countries, our correspondent says.

Foreign diplomats are cautiously optimistic and exerting gentle pressure on both sides, he adds.

Delegations from the two states have been in Addis Ababa for talks since 4 September.

An ambassador quoted by Reuters news agency over the weekend said it was unlikely the two leaders would agree on borders although a deal on resuming oil exports was possible.

"The borders will take forever," the unnamed diplomat said. "They will exchange maps with experts, visit each other, go maybe into arbitration."

South Sudan, where people chiefly follow the Christian faith or traditional indigenous religions, fought for decades with mainly Muslim Sudan.

 Courtesy of BBC Website