OpenAI said on Tuesday that it would team up with SoftBank and Oracle to build multiple data centers for artificial intelligence (AI) in the United States. The companies expect to commit 100 billion U.S. dollars to Stargate initially and invest 500 billion dollars into the venture over the next four years.
“SoftBank and OpenAI are the lead partners for Stargate, with SoftBank having financial responsibility and OpenAI having operational responsibility,” the joint statement noted.
“They don’t actually have the money,” Musk wrote in a series of posts on X on Tuesday. “SoftBank has well under $10B secured. I have that on good authority.”
Altman fired back at Musk in an X post Wednesday. “Wrong, as you surely know,” Altman said, responding to Musk’s allegation that SoftBank was short of capital.
Altman added that Stargate is great for the country. “I realize what is great for the country isn’t always what’s optimal for your companies, but in your new role, I hope you’ll mostly put America first.”
xAI, like OpenAI, is hungry for infrastructure to develop its AI systems. Musk’s company is estimated to have spent 12 billion dollars on its single data center in Memphis and could spend billions more upgrading the facility, according to a report by TechCrunch.
The growth, fueled by foreign investments in Rwandan businesses and assets, reflects the country’s increasing appeal to international investors and highlights the government’s efforts to improve its investment landscape.
FDI was the dominant contributor to Foreign Private Capital (FPC), making up 80.8% of total inflows. FPC increased by 33.8% to reach USD 888.9 million in 2023.
The report attributes the remarkable growth to several factors, including robust economic performance, with Rwanda maintaining an average GDP growth of 8.2% in both 2022 and 2023.
The growth in FDI inflows was driven by significant increases in equity capital, reinvested earnings, and intra-company borrowings. Equity capital alone grew by 22.7%, while reinvested earnings rose by 36.2%. Intra-company borrowings saw the highest jump at 72.9%, reflecting confidence among international parent companies in their Rwandan subsidiaries.
Sectors leading the charge included the financial sector, which attracted 21.4% of total FDI inflows, followed by manufacturing (19.1%), ICT (13.9%), and wholesale and retail trade (13.8%). Notably, real estate activities saw a drastic surge of 1,966%, demonstrating a growing demand for infrastructure development.
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Mauritius emerged as the top source of FDI, contributing 28.2% of total inflows in 2023. Investments from Mauritius were predominantly directed towards electricity, gas, financial services, and wholesale and retail trade.
India followed with a 12.2% share, focusing on ICT and education sectors, while Kenya accounted for 9.5% of the total, despite a decline compared to previous years. The United States, France, and Germany also significantly increased their investments, with growth rates of 86.6%, 408%, and a staggering 1,350%, respectively. These countries’ contributions were concentrated in real estate, manufacturing, and agriculture.
FDI’s impact extended beyond financial metrics, contributing to a 20.3% growth in employment within FPC enterprises. Over 10,000 new jobs were created, primarily in managerial and technical roles, underscoring the transformative potential of these investments in enhancing local skillsets and livelihoods.
The Rwandan government’s Second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) aims to double private investment from $2.2 billion in 2023 to $4.6 billion by 2029.
Key initiatives, such as the Manufacture and Build to Recover Program (MBRP), are expected to sustain this momentum. With USD 2.38 billion already mobilized through MBRP, the government remains optimistic about meeting its targets.
The Foreign Private Capital (FPC) survey is conducted by the Central Bank, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), and the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR).
The dam will have a height of 27.5 meters, a crest length of 377 meters, and a reservoir capacity of 6.5 million cubic meters, with a catchment area of 56.9 square kilometres.
The initiative aims to improve agricultural resilience to climate change and will facilitate the irrigation of 2,640 hectares of farmland in Gisagara District.
The concessional financing loan agreement was formalized during a signing ceremony attended by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa, and China’s Ambassador to Rwanda, Wang Xuekun. The agreement reflects the growing economic partnership between the two nations.
The project supports Rwanda’s Second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) goals, which promote water-saving technologies to boost irrigation productivity and drive economic growth.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Minister Murangwa praised China’s continued support, noting that the partnership will help achieve Rwanda’s agricultural transformation agenda.
“China has been a steadfast development partner for Rwanda, supporting various sectors critical to our development aspirations. The Giseke Dam and irrigation project will significantly contribute to the sustainable transformation of agriculture, as outlined in NST2,” he said.
Ambassador Wang Xuekun, on his part, hailed the project as a milestone in implementing President Xi Jinping’s “10 Partnership Action Plans” for China-Africa cooperation.
“This project is a tangible outcome of the China-Rwanda collaboration and holds significant importance in advancing Rwanda’s agricultural modernization and production capacity,” Ambassador Wang remarked.
An estimated 915 households, comprising 4,578 individuals, will directly benefit from the irrigation infrastructure, enabling them to cultivate crops more efficiently.
The project is also expected to boost the commercialization of agricultural products in local and regional markets, driving economic growth in Gisagara District and beyond.
The deal reinforces the robust economic cooperation between Rwanda and China, which has seen significant investments in infrastructure, education, health, and energy.
Currently, China’s financial support to Rwanda includes $600 million in concessional loans and grants, with $450 million allocated to loans and $150 million to grants.
Mondlane of the Podemos party made the comments during an interview with the BBC, signalling a potential thaw in the icy relationship between the two political rivals.
The overture comes after months of unrest following Mozambique’s contested October 2024 election, which Chapo won with 65% of the vote. Mondlane, who secured 24%, has consistently denounced the results as fraudulent.
In the interview with the BBC, Mondlane stated that he had decided to temporarily halt protests. However, he outlined three demands as conditions for resolving the ongoing political crisis.
These include the unconditional release of 5,000 individuals detained during the demonstrations, financial compensation for the families of those killed by security forces, and the provision of free medical treatment for those injured in the post-election unrest.
“If [President Chapo] meets these conditions, I will open a window for negotiations,” Mondlane told the BBC. He added that he would be willing to serve in Chapo’s government if the president genuinely sought dialogue.
President Chapo of the Frelimo party was inaugurated on January 15, 2025, in Maputo in a ceremony conducted under heavy security.
Addressing around 2,500 attendees, Chapo vowed to unify the nation, stating, “Together, we will restore patriotism and pride in being Mozambican.”
He also pledged to combat corruption and deliver reforms aimed at decentralizing power, promoting human rights, and improving the economy.
“Mozambique cannot remain a hostage to corruption, nepotism, and incompetence,” Chapo declared.
Chapo affirmed his pledge to create job opportunities for the nation’s youth, adding that economic revitalization was key to stability.
“We must recover our country economically… it’s easy to destroy, but building is not an easy task,” he said.
President Chapo has also indicated openness to forming an inclusive government.
“We are considering profiles of individuals who demonstrate competence, patriotism, and meritocracy,” Chapo said, referring to ongoing discussions about involving opposition members in governance.
In a message shared on X, President Kagame described the incident as tragic, extending his condolences to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the bereaved families. He also wished a quick recovery to those who were injured.
“My heartfelt condolences to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the people of Türkiye for the tragic loss of life in the devastating fire at the ski resort in Bolu. Our thoughts are with the bereaved families and all those affected by this tragedy. We extend our wishes for recovery to those injured,” he wrote on Wednesday morning.
The tragedy occurred early Wednesday at the Grand Kartal Hotel, located in the popular Kartalkaya ski resort in the Bolu mountains of western Turkey.
The 12-storey hotel, which housed 238 registered guests, was engulfed in flames after the fire broke out on the restaurant floor at around 3:30 a.m. local time.
Survivors recounted harrowing scenes of panic as they scrambled to escape, with some jumping from windows to evade the smoke-filled corridors.
The incident occurred at the height of Turkey’s winter tourism season, as many families from Istanbul and Ankara had travelled to the Bolu mountains for skiing.
The fire has sparked widespread grief and anger in Turkey, with Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirming the detention of nine people, including the hotel owner, in connection with the tragedy.
Authorities are investigating the hotel’s safety measures, as survivors reported that no fire alarms were activated during the incident, leaving guests to navigate the dark, smoke-filled building without guidance.
The Turkish government is working to identify victims, with DNA tests being conducted at a forensic institute.
The hotel management issued a statement expressing profound sorrow and pledged full cooperation with authorities to uncover the cause of the disaster.
President Erdoğan declared Wednesday a day of national mourning to honour the victims.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the WHO also said it looks forward to maintaining its partnership through constructive dialogue. It reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the root causes of diseases, strengthening health systems, and detecting, preventing, and responding to health emergencies, such as disease outbreaks.
The organization emphasized its crucial role in safeguarding global health and safety, including the well-being of the American people.
The statement highlighted that the United States has been a founding member of the WHO since 1948 and has played a vital role in shaping and governing the organization with other 193 member states, actively participating in the World Health Assembly and the WHO Executive Board.
The WHO acknowledged the contributions of American institutions to its mission and the mutual benefits derived from the U.S. membership.
The statement also underscored the historic reforms undertaken by the WHO over the past seven years developed collaboratively with the United States and other member states. These reforms aim to enhance the organization’s accountability, cost-effectiveness, and global impact, with ongoing efforts to strengthen these achievements.
This development followed battles that began on January 20, 2025, with a coalition of DRC forces, which included Wazalendo militias and Burundian troops.
The capture of the town was strategically important for the militants as the route is frequently used by Burundian forces and members of the Imbonerakure militia travelling northward into North Kivu province to reinforce DRC forces in their fight against M23.
Before seizing Minova, M23 captured several other areas in South Kivu province, including Lumbishi, Numbi, and Shanje, beginning on January 18. All these locations are within Kalehe territory.
The fighting leading up to the fall of Minova prompted many residents to flee, with many heading toward the city of Goma or seeking refuge on Idjwi Island via Lake Kivu.
Separately, on January 20, clashes were reported in areas surrounding the town of Sake, located a short distance from Minova. Reports indicate that M23 forces stationed in Busangara sought to dislodge the DRC coalition forces from their positions in Kimoka.
Kimoka holds significant strategic value, having served as a critical stronghold for the DRC coalition since 2024 in their efforts to protect the city of Goma from falling into M23’s control.
M23 aims to end the violence and persecution of Congolese Tutsis carried out by the country’s armed forces and allied militias, including the FDLR, a group composed of individuals responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
The agreement was signed on Monday, January 20, 2025, by Clementine Mukeka, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan, Additional Foreign Secretary for Africa.
The MoU establishes a foundation for closer collaboration between the two nations.
During the discussions, both parties explored ways to expand cooperation in diplomacy and identified opportunities for mutual benefit.
They agreed on potential areas of partnership, including trade and investment, defence and security, education, culture, science, technology, and agriculture.
Following the MoU signing, a delegation of Pakistani military officials, led by Maj Gen Muneer-ud-Din, Director General of Foreign Military Cooperation at the Joint Staff Headquarters of the Pakistan Armed Forces (PAF), held discussions with Rwanda’s Minister of Defense, Juvenal Marizamunda, and the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) Chief of Staff, Maj Gen Vincent Nyakarundi.
During their three-day visit to Rwanda, the delegation will explore avenues to enhance cooperation between the Rwandan Defense Forces and Pakistan’s security institutions.
Their itinerary includes visits to the Gako Military Academy, the Kigali Genocide Memorial at Gisozi, and the Campaign Against Genocide Museum at the Parliamentary Building.
The funding will bolster immediate response measures, including deploying a multidisciplinary team of 12 public health experts within the next 24 hours.
The team, comprising epidemiologists, infection prevention and control (IPC) specialists, laboratory experts, and risk communication officers, will work on the ground to strengthen surveillance, diagnostics, IPC measures, and community engagement.
Tanzania President Samia Suluhu declared an outbreak of Marburg virus in the country on Monday, January 20, 2025, after confirming one case and identifying 25 suspected cases in Northwestern Tanzania’s Kagera Region.
The Marburg virus, a highly infectious and often fatal disease, is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and monkeys and is similar to the Ebola virus.
This marks Tanzania’s second encounter with the deadly virus, following an outbreak in the Bukoba District of the same region in March 2023 that resulted in nine cases and six deaths.
“Africa CDC stands firmly with Tanzania in this critical moment. To support the government’s efforts, we are committing US$ 2 million to bolster immediate response measures, including deploying public health experts, strengthening diagnostics, and enhancing case management,” said Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC.
“Building on Tanzania’s commendable response during the 2023 outbreak, we are confident that swift and decisive action, combined with our support and that of other partners, will bring this outbreak under control,” he added.
Dr. Kaseya has engaged with President Suluhu and the Minister of Health to ensure coordinated efforts and secure political commitment for the outbreak response.
In addition to financial support, Africa CDC confirmed it had provided diagnostic and sequencing resources to Tanzania’s public health laboratories. PCR test kits and genomic sequencing reagents have been dispatched, with further supplies in the pipeline.
Technical assistance will also be provided to strengthen pathogen detection and genome sequencing capabilities. The efforts aim to ensure rapid identification and confirmation of cases, better characterizing the virus for an effective response.
Support will extend to improving case management protocols and enhancing Tanzania’s capacity to deliver safe and effective treatment.
Africa CDC announced that the agency will work closely with the Tanzanian government, regional partners, international organizations, and global stakeholders, including the World Health Organization (WHO), to stop the virus from spreading further.
The Marburg virus is a highly virulent disease that can spread through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected persons, contaminated surfaces, or infected animals. The symptoms include fever, severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, and diarrhoea, often leading to severe haemorrhaging in advanced cases.
The measures, focused on energy independence, economic revitalization, and a rollback of diversity and immigration initiatives, signal a dramatic pivot in national policy.
At the forefront of President Trump’s initiatives was the declaration of a national energy emergency, a move he claimed would unlock the nation’s untapped potential in fossil fuel resources.
“We have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we are going to use it,” Trump said during his inaugural address.
The declaration grants the administration sweeping powers to expedite permits for fossil fuel infrastructure, including mining and drilling projects.
Trump also ordered the resumption of oil and gas drilling in Alaska and the repeal of Biden-era restrictions on liquefied natural gas exports, asserting these steps would boost domestic energy production and lower energy costs for Americans.
The 47th President of the United States ordered his administration to “eliminate the electric-vehicle mandate” — his bid to undo regulations governing automotive pollution and fuel-economy standards which he believes unfairly limit consumer choice.
The declaration to encourage expanded fossil fuel production is expected to draw criticism from environmental advocates, especially as climate disasters continue to escalate.
Meanwhile, in line with his “America First” agenda, President Trump signed orders to investigate alleged unfair trade practices and re-evaluate trade deals, including the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The administration plans to assess China’s compliance with the 2020 trade deal and explore imposing new tariffs to protect domestic industries.
“Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich other countries, we will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens,” Trump said.
Trump also proposed the creation of an “External Revenue Service” to oversee tariff collections and launched a review of the U.S. industrial base to identify opportunities for strengthening manufacturing.
The Trump administration reinstated a freeze on federal hiring, barring exceptions for military and immigration enforcement roles, and reintroduced Schedule F, a controversial category of federal employment that removes job protections for certain civil servants. Federal workers were also ordered to return to in-office work, ending remote work policies implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Immigration policies saw some of the most dramatic reversals. Trump reinstated the “Remain in Mexico” policy for asylum seekers, suspended the refugee admissions program, and declared a national emergency at the southern border to redirect funds toward wall construction. He also announced plans to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants, a proposal likely to face significant legal challenges.
“We’re taking back control of our borders,” Trump declared. “No longer will America be a sanctuary for those who enter illegally.”
In a broad push to reshape federal priorities, Trump ordered the termination of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and recognized only two genders under federal law: Male and Female. Protections for transgender individuals in federal prisons were also rescinded.
On climate, Trump’s orders included withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Agreement and halting offshore wind farm leasing, moves he justified as essential for economic growth.
Trump also ordered the withdrawal of the U.S. from the World Health Organization (WHO), marking the second time he has issued such orders.
“Oooh, that’s a big one,” the newly inaugurated US president, who has been critical of how the international body handled Covid-19, said as he approved the document after arriving back at the White House.
Trump began the process of pulling America out from the Geneva-based institution during the pandemic in his first term. President Joe Biden later reversed that decision.
On Monday, Trump also ordered a review of the TikTok ban, granting the platform a 75-day extension to comply with a law requiring either a sale or a ban due to national security concerns raised by U.S. lawmakers.
The President has floated the idea of a joint venture, proposing a 50-50 partnership between “the United States” and TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance.
Other orders issued on Monday include the renaming of Mount Denali and the Gulf of Mexico. Trump also tasked tech billionaire Elon Musk, a close associate, with leading a cost-cutting initiative dubbed the Department of Government Efficiency.
