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First Lady roots for poor womenThe First Lady, Jeanette Kagame, called on women who graduated in entrepreneurships skills at the School of Finance and Banking (SFB), to profitably use their skills by coming up with modern businesses. She made the remarks during the certificate award ceremony to 32 women who had successfully completed six month training under the Goldman Sachs programme.The programme is part of the corporate responsibility initiative by Goldman Sachs Group through its “10,000 Women” initiative. Mrs. Kagame commended the women for their commitment, urging them to pass on the skills to other women in their areas.She observed that women empowerment has played a major role in promoting women. The First Lady called the group to use the chance to improve their lives.Foreign minister reassures development partners The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo, expressed regret at “hasty decisions based on flimsy evidence” made by donor partners on Rwandan budget support. Media reports recently indicated that development partners had suspended aid to Rwanda due to the UN Group of Experts` report, which alleges that the Rwandan government is supporting the political conflict in DRC.Mushikiwabo said that the government held and discussed with the Group of Experts and rebutted the allegations with documentary evidence. The minister is confident that sharing the same information with developing partners will bring out the facts. She said that Rwanda is impatient in pursuit of poverty reduction, economic development and self-sufficiency. This week, media reports indicated that the Netherlands had cut their budget support to Rwanda worth US$ 6.15 million in the wake of the allegations. However, the Dutch Ambassador to Rwanda, Albrecht Makken, dismissed the allegations.US Embassy says Ambassador Rapp was misquoted on Rwanda The Public Affairs Officer at the American Embassy in Kigali, Susan Falatko, said that Ambassador Stephen Rapp was misquoted by the media, when it was reported that his remarks meant that senior Rwandan officials faced possible prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC).The Guardian, a UK based newspaper reported that the ambassador, who is head of the US Office of Global Criminal Justice, said that Rwandan officials might be prosecuted due to the allegations that the government of Rwanda is supporting the M23 rebels who have destabilized the eastern part of DRC. The Guardian went as far as relating the case to that of former Liberian president Charles Taylor, who was convicted for his role in political conflict in the neighbouring Sierra Leone. Taylor was sentenced to 50 years in prison.Falatko noted that Rapp may have been misunderstood since the context of the interview was Charles Taylor. She explained that Rapp only wanted to make it clear that countries that support armed groups in other countries have always been held responsible. 2012 international expo opensThe international expo kicked off at Expo Grounds in Gikondo, attracting over 400 exhibitors from different countries.The exhibitors said that the event is an important means through which they acquire knowledge, skills and market for their products. The products being exhibited include industrial and electrical goods and appliances, trade and services, engineering products, agricultural products, machinery, foods and beverages.Others are chemicals and cosmetics, farm implements, timber and furniture, textiles and garments, gift articles and crafts, ICT, Cultural and tourism articles and others.Some of the exhibitors are visiting Rwanda for the first time but say the expo is one of those biggest trade fairs. Ajmaal Khan, from Pakistan who is showcasing household materials is optimistic he will profit from the expo. Study shows limited access for people with disabilitiesThe way buildings are built is still a challenge for People Living With Disabilities (PLWD) to access public services, a study indicated. The Director of Inspection at the Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA), Catherine Kalisa, said that the 2009 Ministerial Order that orders the construction of where public services will be offered to have special passage ways for PLWDs has not been respected.He said that they intend to ensure that all buildings conform to the directive adding that currently, 40 per cent of the buildings can be accessed by PLWD. He noted that if PLWDs are not able to access public services, it is denying them their rights. At the end of every year, an exercise to evaluate buildings that have respected the directive is conducted and that a penalty will have to be given to those who fail to abide by the law. AU-Darfur mission extendedThe operation of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) was extended for another one year by the Peace and Security Council of the African Union. The council also called on the United Nations to extend the mandate.UNAMID operation was meant to end on July 31, 2012. The council’s 328th meeting that was held in Addis Ababa reviewed UNAMID`s activities and recommended its mandate to be extended. At the meeting, it was stressed that achieving peace, security, justice and reconciliation still remains the core of the mission, noting that the political situation has so much affected people in Darfur for long.