This maiden event, themed “Africa Renaissance: Chapter One Coffee,” is scheduled to take place in Ntungamo, Uganda, from October 10 to 12, 2025.
The announcement was made during the AU Extraordinary Summit on the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP), held in Kampala from January 9 to 11, 2025.
The summit, which hosted over 2,000 delegates from more than 40 AU member states, concluded with the adoption of the Kampala Declaration. This declaration lays out a strategic roadmap to transform Africa’s agricultural and food systems over the next decade.
Key priorities include boosting agricultural production by 45% by 2035, reducing post-harvest losses by half, and securing $100 billion in investments across the agricultural value chain.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni emphasized the importance of commercializing agriculture to drive prosperity. He urged households to adopt land-efficient practices and focus on value addition to increase productivity.
His remarks aligned with the CAADP’s objective for member states to allocate at least 10% of their national budgets to agriculture as a means of combating hunger and reducing poverty.
The Africa Coffee Festival aims to spotlight coffee’s role as a catalyst for economic growth and regional collaboration. Coffee, a key export for many African nations, offers immense potential to boost trade, create jobs, and encourage value addition across the continent.
The festival will bring together coffee producers, traders, and policymakers to explore opportunities for growth and innovation in the coffee sector.
Discussions at the summit also addressed critical challenges in Africa’s agricultural sector, including climate change, food insecurity, and the need for technological advancement.
Leaders highlighted the necessity of collaborative efforts involving governments, the private sector, and civil society to build resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.
The launch of the Africa Coffee Festival and the adoption of the Kampala Declaration signify the AU’s commitment to transforming Africa’s agricultural landscape.
By prioritizing innovation, investment, and sustainability, the AU seeks to position Africa as a global leader in agriculture while securing food security and economic prosperity for its people.
The two leaders met in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, an event focused on strengthening global partnerships to address climate change and explore innovative solutions.
This conference aims to advance the adoption of renewable energy and environmentally friendly technologies to combat climate-related challenges. Participating nations are encouraged to adopt strategies for sustainable development and environmental conservation.
Rwanda and Nigeria share a strong partnership in areas such as diplomacy, politics, and security. The two countries have working relations in aviation, technical cooperation, and healthcare, where Nigerian medical professionals collaborate with Rwandan counterparts to improve public health.
These discussions underscore the importance of Rwanda-Nigeria relations, marked by mutual support and shared priorities in various sectors.
On May 29, 2023, Kagame joined other leaders across the globe at the inauguration of President Tinubu, who won Nigeria’s February 2023 elections with 8.8 million votes, succeeding Muhammadu Buhari after two terms.
While in Abu Dhabi, President Kagame is scheduled to attend the 16th edition of the Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards, organized by the UAE to honor innovators and organizations creating impactful solutions to climate challenges. Small and medium enterprises and NGOs are among the award recipients.
The Head of State will also address fellow leaders during the summit’s opening session, a gesture reminiscent of Rwanda’s commitment to environmental sustainability and innovation.
The project will expand the road segment between Nyabugogo (Kigali) and Ruyenzi (Kamonyi District) to four lanes, with climbing lanes added to facilitate heavy truck movement.
Additional infrastructure will include drainage systems, bicycle lanes, and pedestrian sidewalks, ensuring a safer and more efficient transport corridor. “We aim to add lanes on uphill sections, allowing trucks to move without obstructing other vehicles,” he explained.
Kabera emphasized the importance of climbing lanes, which will separate trucks from smaller vehicles on ascents and revealed that expropriation activities will precede construction to clear the path for these upgrades.
Funding for the $120 million (approximately Frw166 billion) project comes from a loan agreement signed on September 13, 2023, in Busan, South Korea, between the Rwandan government and the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank).
The loan, approved by Parliament on November 13, 2024, will be repaid over 40 years with a 15-year grace period and a nominal interest rate of 0.01%.
The project involves rehabilitating the entire 45-kilometre road, widening 12.2 kilometers to four lanes, and adding 11.9 kilometers of climbing lanes for trucks. These enhancements are expected to improve road safety and reduce traffic congestion, supporting Rwanda’s broader infrastructure development goals.
The 36-year-old Fury previously announced his retirement after beating Dillian Whyte in April 2022 but returned six months later. The Briton has enjoyed two stints as heavyweight champion and holds a record of 34 wins, two defeats and one draw.
“Hi everybody, I’m going to make this short and sweet. I’d like to announce my retirement from boxing, it has been a blast, I’ve loved every single minute of it and I’m going to end with this; Dick Turpin wore a mask,” Fury said.
Fury shocked long-reigning world champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 to win the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO, and The Ring heavyweight titles.
After over two-and-a-half years out of the ring, during which he tackled mental health issues, Fury returned to action in 2018 and became a two-time champion by beating Deontay Wilder to claim the WBC belt in 2020.
According to a statement released by the police on X, four of the robbery suspects were neutralized during the operation. A fifth suspect was severely injured and is currently in critical condition.
The suspects were already on the police watch list, and authorities suspect they may have been involved in a series of similar robberies that have taken place recently.
“Police have thwarted a bank robbery at Acacia Mall, neutralizing four suspects involved in a Stanbic Bank heist. A fifth suspect is in critical condition. These individuals were already on the police watch list and are believed to be linked to a series of robberies,” Police said.
The robbery attempt comes at a time when bank robberies have been on the rise in Uganda, with criminals targeting commercial banks and their clients.
However, thanks to the swift actions of the Ugandan police, this particular heist was unsuccessful, and the dangerous criminals were brought to justice before they could cause any harm.
Ugandans online have praised the efforts of the police, with many expressing their gratitude for the quick response and ability to prevent a major crime. Social media users are celebrating the police for their dedication and commitment to keeping citizens safe, and there is widespread appreciation for the police’s timely intervention.
“Commendable work done today. All gangs of this category should be put out of Action so that our prisons don’t get too congested by people who don’t want to work,” said an X user identified as Edmund Tumushabe.
The authorities are expected to provide more details soon as investigations continue.
This was announced by the State Minister at the Ministry of Infrastructure, Olivier Kabera, while addressing the Committee on Governance and Gender affairs in the Chamber of Deputies. He was clarifying on issues raised by the Office of the Ombudsman.
One of the concerns highlighted by the Ombudsman was the delayed compensation of citizens for land and property affected by infrastructure projects such as roads, water systems, electricity installations, and other initiatives.
Minister Kabera assured the Members of Parliament that the issue is well understood and that efforts are being made to resolve it urgently, with a clear plan to address it by June 2025.
He explained that in the 2024/2025 fiscal year, the energy sector had around 20,000 compensation cases valued at Frw6.8 billion of which payments exceeding Frw1.8 billion had already been made.
For water-related projects, 19,000 cases required payments amounting to Frw11.8 billion. Out of this, Frw10.4 billion had been disbursed, while compensation worth Frw1 billion is still pending.
Regarding transport infrastructure, such as roads, 10,907 individuals were owed over Frw18.8 billion in compensation, but slightly more than Frw10 billion had been paid.
In the housing sector, 252 properties valued at Frw10.2 billion were involved, with 117 of these, worth more than Frw2.5 billion, already compensated, while the remaining funds are still being sourced.
“We are doing our best to ensure that by 2025, this issue will be resolved. Last week, we held discussions with the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning. We want to put in more effort to solve compensation issues and other related challenges,” Kabera said.
He acknowledged recurring obstacles, such as citizens not having proper documentation for their properties, which complicates land transfer processes. Additionally, some projects commence before adequate funding is secured.
“On our side, we must focus on better planning. Where possible, we should leverage technology or find other solutions,” he added.
During a recent media briefing, President Kagame addressed the issue of citizens being displaced without proper compensation or experiencing delays in receiving it. He noted that the delays often stem from multiple factors, including errors by both citizens and authorities, but assured that the matter is being addressed urgently.
{{Why are citizens displaced without receiving compensation?}}
MP Germaine Mukabalisa questioned why citizens are not properly compensated before being relocated for infrastructure projects.
“There was a resolution that no citizen’s property should be affected without prior compensation, but this still happens. What is being done to ensure that citizens with proper documentation are not displaced without receiving their rightful compensation?” she asked.
She further emphasized that even though infrastructure projects benefit society, citizens without proper compensation are left in dire situations.
“It’s true that we all benefit from the road, but when you put yourself in the shoes of a farmer whose field was taken for the road, and that field was their sole livelihood for five years, how do they survive? Why can’t we adopt the principle that no infrastructure project should displace citizens without compensation?” she questioned.
The Director General of the Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA), Imena Munyampenda, explained that some projects begin before the government has all the necessary funds, which hinders the timely compensation of affected citizens.
However, he assured that efforts are being intensified to ensure that projects are only implemented after citizens have received their compensation.
With 19 days to start of the games, a delegation led by CAF Competitions and Events Director Samson Adamu was comprised of several departments including technical, safety and security, marketing, communications and events among others.
The assessment work started in Kenya on Tuesday and Wednesday last week before heading to Tanzania for the next two days and eventually concluded with Uganda on Saturday and Sunday, January 12, 2024.
The inspection was done on different facilities such as airports, hotels, hospitals, training grounds and stadia.
Whereas Uganda and Tanzania seem close to having the facilities ready, there has been concern about the progress in Kenya.
For instance, at Nyayo National Stadium, there is still a lot of fabrication works ongoing and the floodlights were also being erected as of last week. At Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, work is clearly behind schedule with the playing surface far from convincing despite efforts to patch up things.
In Tanzania, there has been tremendous work done especially at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium with the press conference room and other amenities fixed. In Uganda, Mandela National Stadium (Namboole) is nearly ready. New Floodlights have been set up for both the main pitch and the training ground.
The pitch at Namboole is undergoing transformation into a hybrid turf with 5% of synthetic fiber added. Additionally, there has been addition of emergency outlets at the stadium.
Floodlights have been set up at the Kadiba Training facility but there is race against time to make sure the playing area and access roads are finished. At Wankulukuku, a new VIP shade and dressing rooms are being set up with the pitch also patched up. The same is also happening at Kampala International School Uganda (KISU).
The floodlights for Kyambogo Training Facility arrived in the country recently and the local organizing committee was contemplating on putting them at Wankulukuku for the meantime but they were guided that this cannot be done in the remaining days.
The inspection team will now make a report to the CAF Executive Committee who will then make final decisions. The draw event for the 2024 CHAN is slated for this Wednesday, January 15, 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya.
A week ago, these infernos ignited in various parts of Los Angeles, starting in its northern regions. The U.S. National Weather Service had issued prior warnings, alerting residents to the impending danger that was expected to peak at 10 a.m. on January 6, 2024.
At that exact time, the fire began in the Palisades, a Los Angeles suburb. Initially small, the blaze rapidly escalated, fueled by strong winds and dry conditions, consuming homes, vegetation, vehicles, and other assets.
The destruction has been catastrophic, with damages valued between $52 billion and $57 billion, making it the worst wildfire in Los Angeles’ history. Zephany Nsengumuremyi, an Environmental Health Expert based in Kigali, shares views on why wildfires are becoming more devastating worldwide.
“Wildfires today are a dangerous mix of climate change, urbanization, and human activities. As temperatures rise and vegetation dries out, the smallest spark can ignite a massive blaze,” he says. The exact cause of the Los Angeles fire remains unclear, with speculations ranging from lightning strikes to electrical faults or discarded cigarette butts.
Nsengumuremyi says that while natural events like lightning can start wildfires, human activity remains a major driver. Careless actions, coupled with poorly managed ecosystems, set the stage for such disasters.
The recent wildfires in Los Angeles highlight the escalating impact of climate change. Prolonged dry spells, erratic winds, and heavy rains that spur vegetation growth (only for it to dry out later,) create ideal conditions for wildfires.
“Climate change is altering weather patterns in ways we can no longer ignore. Events like the Santa Ana winds, which reached speeds of 129 kilometers per hour during this disaster, turn fires into unstoppable infernos,” Nsengumuremyi explained.
Such winds are not unique to California. Globally, erratic wind patterns have contributed to wildfires and other natural disasters, causing significant structural damage and threatening ecosystems.
Available data indicates that wildfires can burn as much as 1,704 hectares in a single day, or 2.3 million hectares annually. These staggering figures raise concerns about the sustainability of living in high-risk areas prone to such disasters.
Urbanization has also played a significant role for example, California’s haphazard development has disrupted ecosystems and increased the vulnerability of many areas to wildfires.
“When cities expand into forests or grasslands without proper planning, they create a collision course with nature. The result is more frequent and severe wildfires,” Nsengumuremyi noted.
The toll of these disasters extends beyond physical destruction. Insurance companies face mounting losses as they compensate for damages, and even advanced technologies like surveillance cameras have proven insufficient in preventing such tragedies.
While technology is a valuable tool, it cannot replace proactive measures such as building fire-resistant infrastructure and managing land use responsibly. Experts recommend various strategies to mitigate wildfire risks, including constructing homes with fire-resistant materials and ensuring communities are not situated too close to forests
Leaders are urged to establish clear and effective emergency protocols to protect lives and property during such disasters. “Preparedness and prevention are the keys to reducing the impact of wildfires. Governments must prioritize education and policies that address both human activities and climate change,” Nsengumuremyi advised.
The recent wildfires in California rekindle memories of other devastating events, including those in Chile and Greece in 2024 and Canada and the UK in 2023. These tragedies underscore the urgent need for global action.
As these disasters grow more frequent and intense, humanity’s resilience is being tested like never before. The world is at a critical juncture and the respond to these challenges will determine the future of the planet and the safety of generations to come.
As these cellular factories gradually slow their production, they unveil the striking silver tones that characterize mature hair. At the heart of hair pigmentation lies melanin, the remarkable compound responsible for giving our hair its distinctive color.
Produced by specialized cells called melanocytes, melanin comes in two primary forms: eumelanin, which creates brown and black pigments, and pheomelanin, responsible for red and blonde shades. These pigments combine in varying proportions to create the vast spectrum of natural hair colors observed in humans.
Jenipher Niyonziza, a Medical Doctor based at Ruhengeri Referral Hospital in Musanze district explains that melanocytes don’t work alone in this intricate process. She says that they partner with hair follicle cells, orchestrating a complex biological dance that determines hair color.
Niyonziza, who exhibits a keen interest in Dermatology says that during hair growth, melanocytes transfer melanin to keratinocytes, the cells that form the hair shaft. “This transfer occurs through a fascinating process called melanin unit transfer, where pigment-containing packages are delivered to growing hair cells,” she says.
As one ages, several changes occur within the hair follicles that contribute to the silvering process. The melanocytes gradually become less efficient at producing melanin, and some may stop functioning altogether.
This decline isn’t uniform across all hair follicles, which explains why some areas of hair turn gray while others retain their original color. The process typically begins with a reduction in melanin production, leading to lighter shades before eventually resulting in white hair.
Niyonziza also says that genes play a crucial role in determining when and how quickly hair turns silver. Scientific research has identified several genes involved in the timing of hair graying, including IRF4, which helps regulate melanin production.
These genetic factors explain why some people begin to notice silver strands in their twenties while others maintain their natural color well into their fifties or beyond.
{{Environmental influences and stress factor on hair color}}
While genetics set the stage for when hair begins to turn silver, environmental factors can significantly impact this timeline.
Oxidative stress, caused by factors such as pollution, UV radiation, and certain lifestyle choices, can accelerate the graying process by damaging melanocytes and disrupting melanin production. This explains why smokers often experience premature graying compared to non-smokers.
Recent scientific research has revealed fascinating insights into the relationship between stress and hair graying. Chronic stress can affect the melanocyte stem cells responsible for maintaining the population of melanin-producing cells.
When these stem cells become depleted, the affected hair follicles can no longer produce pigmented hair, resulting in silver strands.
{{Medical conditions and the role of nutrition}}
The food we eat can influence the health of our hair follicles and their ability to produce pigment. Essential nutrients such as vitamin B12, folate, copper, and vitamin D play crucial roles in melanin production and overall hair health.
A deficiency in these nutrients may contribute to premature graying, highlighting the importance of a balanced diet in maintaining natural hair color.
Several medical conditions can influence the graying process. Autoimmune disorders, thyroid problems, and vitiligo can all affect melanin production and lead to premature graying.
Understanding these medical connections helps healthcare providers better diagnose and treat underlying conditions that may be contributing to unexpected hair color changes.
According Niyonziza, while the natural graying process is generally considered permanent, some research suggests that addressing underlying nutritional deficiencies or health conditions may help restore some hair color in certain cases.
However, these instances are relatively rare and typically occur only when the graying is caused by reversible factors rather than natural aging.
The emergence of silver hair represents more than just a cosmetic change; it marks a natural milestone in the human biological journey. While society has traditionally viewed gray hair through the lens of aging, many people now celebrate their silver strands as a symbol of wisdom and authenticity.
This shift in perspective has led to the “silver revolution,” where individuals proudly showcase their natural hair color transition.
As scientists continue to explore the mechanisms behind hair graying, seeking to understand better how to maintain or restore natural hair color, recent advances in stem cell research and genetic studies offer promising insights into potential future treatments for those who wish to maintain their natural hair color longer.
The journey from pigmented to silver hair involves complex biological processes influenced by genetics, environment, and lifestyle choices. Understanding these mechanisms not only satisfies scientific curiosity but also helps make informed decisions about hair care and maintenance.
Whether choosing to embrace the silver or seek ways to maintain natural color, knowledge of these processes empowers humanity to approach the transition with confidence and understanding.
As research continues to unlock new insights into hair biology, additional factors that influence the graying process may be discovered.
Until then, appreciating the intricate science behind this natural transformation helps one view silver strands not as a sign of aging but as a testament to the fascinating biological processes at work within the human body.
The Brazilian international moved to United in a high-profile £85m deal, but the negotiations were drawn out, leaving Antony frustrated. During the transfer saga, he reportedly missed training sessions and matches, prompting Ajax to fine him for absenteeism.
The fines, reportedly amounting to several hundred thousand euros, were deducted from his wages, even after the deal was finalized. Antony has since contested the fines, bringing the matter to the arbitration committee of the Dutch football association.
The hearings are going on near Utrecht, with the player seeking restitution for what he claims was “unlawful” behavior by Ajax. According to Dutch outlet AD, Antony first approached the committee six months ago.
Ajax’s former manager, Alfred Schreuder, addressed the situation at the time, stating: “I only want players who are fully focused on Ajax. We have talked about it, and I think it is a difficult situation.”
Antony’s career at Manchester United has been inconsistent since his move. While he made a promising start, scoring on his debut against Arsenal in a 3-1 win, his form has faltered.
Across three seasons, he has managed just 12 goals in all competitions, with only one coming this season in a League Cup match against Barnsley. The arbitration committee’s decision is expected within a month.
