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In October 2021, Air France started flying to Zanzibar twice a week via Nairobi. The carrier later in June, 2023 launched direct flights from Paris to Dar es Salaam.

KIA Director, Rehema Myeya, made the announcement on during the launch of Aviation Safety Week at the airport on December 17, 2024

Air France will operate three flights a week between KIA and Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, using its state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900WXB.

'We are delighted to welcome Air France back after a 28-year absence. This year, we’ve received their first flight since their services were suspended in 1996,” said Myeya, emphasizing the importance of improved aviation security as a key factor in attracting such international airlines.

The resumption of Air France services is a testament to the enhanced security measures at KIA, which continue to be a focal point for the airport’s management.

“We are delighted to welcome Air France back after a 28-year absence. This year, we’ve received their first flight since their services were suspended in 1996,” said Myeya, emphasizing the importance of improved aviation security as a key factor in attracting such international airlines.

She asserted that the resumption of Air France services is a testament to the enhanced security measures at KIA, which continue to be a focal point for the airport’s management, highlighting that maintaining safety standards is a shared responsibility for all those involved in airport operations.

Myeya also pointed out that the tourism sector has been a major contributor to KIA’s growth, with the airport now receiving over a million tourists every year.

“Kilimanjaro has greatly benefitted from tourism, and KIA remains a safe and reliable gateway for visitors from around the world,” she said.

Flight Guidance Services at the Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA) Director, Florah Alphonce, assured that security at KIA remains a top priority.

“This week, we’re promoting safety culture at our airports. It is essential that all stakeholders understand what is needed to maintain safety and continue attracting airlines to our country. When airports are safe, airlines trust us, and we’ve seen more carriers choosing to fly to Kilimanjaro. This growth is directly linked to the excellent aviation safety standards we maintain,” said Alphonce.

The return of Air France marks a major milestone in Tanzania’s attempt to become a key destination for international tourists and hub for regional aviation.

Air France has resumed flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) after a 28-year break.

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The delegation, led by Prof. Wole Soboyejo, Chairperson of the AMRS Board of Directors, included scientists and experts in materials science and technology. They are in Rwanda attending the 12th AMRS International Conference, which has brought together over 500 participants from diverse fields such as research, academia, and industry.

The conference aims to explore how materials science can keep pace with global technological advancements and address critical needs in Africa.

A statement from the Office of the President highlighted that the meeting emphasized 'advancing science, building partnerships among institutions, and identifying key areas to promote research that benefits Africa.'

The discussions revolved around developing materials for healthcare, agriculture, energy, housing, and infrastructure. Innovations in environmentally sustainable materials, solutions for water and electricity distribution, mineral processing, advanced technologies, and industrial applications were also dicussed.

AMRS, founded in 2000, is a Pan-African organization dedicated to promoting materials science and fostering collaboration among researchers.

The society was establisged during a meeting in Pretoria, South Africa, supported by the United States National Science Foundation (NSF) and the South African National Research Foundation (NRF). It officially launched in Dakar, Senegal, two years later, where it held its first General Conference.

Since then, AMRS has convened in countries including Rwanda, Morocco, Tanzania, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Botswana, bringing together experts committed to advancing materials science across the continent.

President Kagame in the company of Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Irere Claudette (R), during the meeting with the Chairperson of the AMRS Board of Directors, Prof. Wole Soboyejo (L).

President Paul Kagame at the meeting with the AMRS and ARIST delegation.

President Paul Kagame held discussions with representatives from the African Materials Research Society (AMRS) and the African Renaissance Institute for Science and Technology (ARIST).

The delegation is Rwanda to attend the 12th AMRS International Conference.

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As of early July 2024, the country had over 25,000 doctors, with the 4×4 reform expected to increase this number to 58,582 by 2028. The reform, which requires an investment of over $395 million, has made significant strides by the end of 2024.

A report from the Ministry of Health reveals that Rwanda received $62 million (over 86.3 billion Frw) in funding, which has been used for student scholarships, educational resources, equipment purchases, infrastructure development, and facility renovations—all aligned with the 4×4 initiative.

A key component of the program has been the expansion of medical schools. In 2024, the number of midwifery schools increased from four to eleven, while nursing schools grew by four, reaching a total of twelve.

Additionally, the African Health Sciences University (AHSU) has been fully accredited to operate in Rwanda, and it began accepting students for medical specializations in November 2024.

Similarly, the University of Medical Sciences and Technology (UMST) has been granted accreditation to offer undergraduate programs in general medicine and dentistry.

This year, the number of students entering the medical field has grown by 3.7 times, supported by the hiring of qualified instructors to maintain high educational standards.

The Ministry of Health also introduced advanced training programs for midwifery specialists, mirroring the training offered to doctors pursuing specializations in various medical fields.

The University of Rwanda has enhanced its capacity to increase the number of students pursuing Master’s degrees in medicine, with a 40% increase this year.

Two new Master’s programs focusing on ophthalmology and diagnostic imaging were launched.

The program has also expanded training for gynecologists, establishing new training programs in 10 district hospitals.

Specialist doctors capable of both treating and teaching were selected and placed in these hospitals to mentor others in gynecology.

Each hospital received two specialists, along with support teams of nurses, pediatricians, obstetricians, and other professionals, providing services comparable to those offered at the four main teaching hospitals: Kanombe Military Hospital, King Faisal Hospital, Kigali University Teaching Hospital, and the University Teaching Hospital of Butare.

International partnerships have played a key role, facilitating the first cohort of 44 doctors sent to Ethiopia, where they will specialize in treating various critical conditions.

In addition, 13 specialized training programs were introduced at the University of Rwanda, including those in kidney transplantation, cancer treatment, and neonatal care.

Currently, 11 medical training programs are being offered across Rwanda, with 13 doctors expected to complete their studies in 2024.

Additionally, 26 doctors are undergoing specialization abroad in countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, India, Israel, France, and Tanzania.

Rwanda has signed partnership agreements with institutions in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean to further enhance its healthcare education.

Meanwhile, 45 other doctors have been approved for training in Rwanda. While significant progress has been made, the Ministry of Health recognizes that funding challenges remain.

In 2025, there are 8,350 opportunities for medical training, but only 1,418 scholarships (17%) have been awarded thus far.

The 4×4 reform is expected to increase healthcare workforce in Rwanda to 58,582 by 2028.

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This event, designed for children and their families, promises a fun-filled celebration to kick off the holidays.

Typically, the hotel hosts a Sunday brunch offering a variety of meals and beverages from 11 AM to 1 PM, creating a relaxed atmosphere for guests.

However, this holiday season, they’ve teamed up with the Sherrie Silver Foundation to create a special experience tailored just for children.

The event will also feature children from the foundation who will showcase their talents through activities like dancing and singing.

The children are encouraged to dress in “Cinderella”-themed costumes, with prizes awarded to the best-dressed. Prizes include hotel services such as four complimentary brunches, a stay at the hotel, school supplies, and more.

In addition to the performances, various games will keep the children entertained throughout the day, ensuring a lively and joyful atmosphere for everyone.

The brunch is priced at Frw 25,000 for adults and Frw 12,500 for children under 12.

The price includes access to both Billy’s Bistro, offering international dishes, and Tung Chinese Cuisine, known for its Chinese food. Adults can also enjoy live music performed by Cedric Mineur and Afrozik Band.

To reserve a spot, call 0784071792 or 0782015450.

Tung is renowned for its Chinese food.

Guests at the brunch will enjoy a variety of delicious dishes.

Children will have a designated play area where they can have fun.

Children from the Sherrie Silver Foundation will participate in this brunch.

A variety of meals will be served.

The brunch at Century Park Hotel features a variety of meals and beverages.

There will be ample space for children to play and move around freely.

The day has been carefully planned for.

A range of games for children has been organized to ensure they have a fun-filled day.

This hotel has prepared a brunch to usher guests into the holiday spirit.

This brunch will feature a variety of meals and beverages.

Chinese cuisine lovers have been taken into account.

The brunch will offer a variety of meals, allowing guests to select according to their preferences.

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Lourenço serves as the African Union-appointed mediator in the ongoing Luanda Process aimed at addressing tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The visit comes amid rising tensions between Rwanda and DRC, following the resurgence of fighting between the M23 rebel group and the Congolese Army.

DRC has accused Rwanda of supporting the rebels, a claim strongly denied by Kigali, which instead urges DRC to address its internal issues without implicating Rwanda.

Rwanda has also criticized DRC for its collaboration with the FDLR, a terrorist group, which threatens Rwanda’s security.

Minister Antonio’s arrival follows the postponement of Luanda talks between Presidents Lourenço, Kagame, and DRC’s President Félix Tshisekedi, which were set for December 15, 2024.

The postponement occurred after DRC’s ministerial delegation refused to engage in talks with the M23, despite earlier commitments to do so through the “Nairobi Process,” led by former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.

DRC’s reversal on the talks has delayed progress on critical issues, including plans to dismantle the FDLR and remove Rwanda’s security measures at its border.

Despite the setback, Angola’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed President Lourenço’s continued commitment to mediating efforts aimed at ensuring peace and stability in eastern DRC and the broader region.

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One of the plots involved a young woman believed to be attempting a suicide bombing in Mosul, a city that was once a stronghold of the Islamic State.

According to media reports, the pope shared these details in an excerpt from his upcoming autobiography Spera (Hope), which was released on December 17, 2024, on his 88th birthday.

In the excerpt, he recalled the high security risks surrounding the visit, stating, 'I had been advised against that trip by almost everyone, which would have been the first by a pontiff in the Middle Eastern region devastated by extremist violence.'

Despite the warnings, Francis felt compelled to make the journey. He explained, 'If your grandfather’s house burns down, if in his country his descendants risk their lives or have lost it, the [best] thing to do is to reach the house as soon as possible.'

Pope John Paul II had also planned a visit to Iraq to open the Jubilee Year 2000, but was prevented by Saddam Hussein.

Francis said he felt it was important not to disappoint the people again, emphasizing the significance of the visit to the region’s religious communities.

The full autobiography will be published in Italian in mid-January 2025.

Pope Francis has revealed failed assassination plots during 2021 visit to Iraq

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This pledged was disclosed on December 16, 2024, during the One UN Steering Committee meeting, which brought together government officials, UN agencies, members of the diplomatic corps, civil society organizations, and representatives from the private sector.

The meeting focused on reviewing the UN system’s progress in delivering as one in Rwanda.

Yusuf Murangwa, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, commended the UN system in Rwanda for aligning its cooperation with the country’s medium and long-term strategies.

'The One UN Committee provides an opportunity to assess our progress and discuss the way forward, specifically how the UN will continue to align its interventions with our National Strategy for Transformation Two. This is about delivering as one—not just the UN system, but all of us working together,' he noted.

Ozonnia Ojielo, the United Nations Resident Coordinator for Rwanda, explained that the new UNSDCF aligns with Rwanda’s Vision 2050, NST2, and global commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union Agenda 2063.

It prioritizes, among others, economic and social transformation, as well as transformational governance, to foster inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development.

'Key focus areas include innovative financing, climate-smart growth, human capital development, and strengthened governance systems to promote peace and accountability,' she said.

The Joint One UN Committee aims to provide strategic direction and oversight for the UNSDCF, ensuring its alignment with national, regional, and international development processes, such as Vision 2050, the National Strategy for Transformation, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Additionally, it connects with other processes like the Voluntary National Reviews and the Universal Periodic Review.

This platform also serves as an accountability mechanism for the Cooperation Framework, supporting the collective effort towards the 2030 Agenda.

Ozonnia Ojielo, the United Nations Resident Coordinator for Rwanda

Yusuf Murangwa, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, commended the UN system in Rwanda for aligning its cooperation with the country’s medium and long-term strategies.

The One UN Steering Committee meeting brought together government officials, UN agencies, members of the diplomatic corps, civil society organizations, and representatives from the private sector.

IGIHE

Officials and local residents confirmed the tragedy, highlighting ongoing safety challenges in river transportation.

The vessel, which departed from the town of Inongo, northeast of Kinshasa, was believed to be carrying over 100 passengers.

The accident occurred just a few hundred meters into its journey. In addition to passengers, the boat was heavily loaded with goods, according to local accounts.

David Kalemba, Inongo’s river commissioner, attributed the disaster to overloading, particularly on the boat’s roof. He reported that 25 bodies had been recovered by Tuesday evening, but fears remain that the death toll will rise as the search for survivors continues.

'Among the dead are children, but it’s difficult to determine the exact number as the boat carried many passengers,' said Alex Mbumba, a resident in the area.

This tragedy is the fourth boat accident in Maï-Ndombe province this year. The region, surrounded by rivers, relies heavily on water transport due to a lack of roads. However, safety measures are often neglected, and overloading is a persistent issue. Many residents, unable to afford other means of transport, have no choice but to rely on overcrowded vessels.

Deadly boat accidents are common in the DRC. In October, at least 78 people drowned when an overloaded boat sank on Lake Kivu in the east. Earlier in June, 80 lives were lost when a similar accident occurred on the Kwa River near Kinshasa.

The latest incident has prompted renewed calls for government action. Residents and officials have urged authorities to equip river transport services with safety measures such as flotation devices and to enforce stricter regulations.

'The government must act to improve safety on the waters of our province because navigation conditions are dangerous,' said Mbumba.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

The agreement, signed on December 18, 2024, under the Financing Green and Gender-Sensitive Public Spaces project, follows a previous 20 million euro grant intended to support investments in environmental protection initiatives.

The Minister of Finance and Planning, Yusuf Murangwa, thanked the Federal Republic of Germany for its strong development partnership with Rwanda and expressed optimism for continued cooperation.

He further noted that the grant would contribute to enhancing climate resilience in both rural and urban areas of secondary cities.

'Some of the investments to be made as part of this project include wetlands rehabilitation, improvement in stormwater management, and green infrastructure for the social and economic development of the areas involved,' he said.

Rwanda has set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 38% by 2030, with a budget of $11 billion allocated for addressing the impacts of climate change and environmental conservation through its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

German Ambassador to Rwanda, Heike Uta Dettmann, praised Rwanda for being an ambitious partner and effectively utilizing received support to improve the lives of its people.

'This investment will provide critical support to strengthening the resilience of cities to climate change and the quality of life of the urban population, and particularly for women, because it’s all over the world that women are a huge part of everything,' she stated.

This project is part of the bilateral climate and development partnership between Rwanda and Germany, signed in 2022. According to Amb. Dettmann, this partnership is already valued at over 260 million euros.

The Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) program, which aims to address the effects of climate change and protect the environment, has a budget of $11 billion, with $6.2 billion required for implementation by 2030.

Juliet Kabera, Director General of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), confirmed that the grant would help close the existing funding gap for Rwanda’s climate change mitigation and environmental resilience programs.

She added that, based on current stakeholder participation, there is confidence that by 2030, the necessary funding will be secured.

Currently, the Rwandan government allocates 10% of its budget to environmental protection and addressing climate change impacts.

The Minister of Finance and Planning, Yusuf Murangwa, thanked the Federal Republic of Germany for its strong development partnership with Rwanda.

The financing agreement was signed on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.

German Ambassador to Rwanda, Heike Uta Dettmann, praised Rwanda for being an ambitious partner and effectively utilizing received support to improve the lives of its people.

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Andrey Kaprin, General Director of the Radiology Medical Research Center under the Russian Ministry of Health, made the revelations on Radio Rossiya, as reported by the Russian news agency TASS.

Alexander Gintsburg, Director of the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, disclosed that the mRNA-based vaccine had shown positive results in pre-clinical trials, suppressing tumour growth and the potential for metastases.

Gintsburg also highlighted the role of artificial intelligence in expediting the development of personalized cancer vaccines.

He noted that neural networks could reduce the time required to compute personalized mRNA vaccines from a lengthy process to just 30 minutes to an hour.

“Now it takes quite long to build [personalized vaccines] because computing how a vaccine, or customized mRNA, should look like uses matrix methods, in mathematical terms. We have involved the Ivannikov Institute which will rely on Al in doing this math, namely neural network computing where these procedures should take about half an hour to an hour,” Russia’s vaccine chief said.

Details such as the vaccine’s name, the types of cancer it targets, and specifics of the clinical trials have not yet been disclosed.

Russia’s announcement comes amid global efforts to advance cancer vaccine technology.
For instance, the UK government has partnered with German company BioNTech to develop personalized cancer treatments, aiming to reach 10,000 patients by 2030.

Similarly, pharmaceutical companies Moderna and Merck & Co are working on an experimental cancer vaccine for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Preliminary results from a mid-stage study revealed the vaccine reduced the risk of recurrence or death by half after three years of treatment.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had earlier hinted at the progress during a February 2024 forum on future technologies in Moscow.

'We have come very close to creating so-called cancer vaccines and immunomodulatory drugs of a new generation,' Putin said, expressing hope for their use in individual therapy soon.

Globally, vaccines against human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B (HBV) have already demonstrated success in preventing cancers like cervical and liver cancer, respectively.

Russia’s efforts represent a new addition to ongoing developments in mRNA-based cancer vaccines.

Russia’s previous vaccine projects include the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, which was distributed internationally during the pandemic. However, Sputnik V faced challenges domestically due to vaccine hesitancy.

The Russian government has announced the development of a cancer vaccine, which it plans to distribute free of charge to patients. The vaccine is expected to launch in early 2025, potentially offering a new approach to cancer treatment.

Wycliffe Nyamasege