Category: News

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi officially inaugurated the colossal museum complex on the Giza Plateau in a ceremony attended by 79 delegations from around the world, including heads of state, members of royal families, and government officials.

In his speech, al-Sisi hailed the opening of the museum as “a living testament to the genius of the Egyptian people.”

“The Egyptian people were and still are builders of civilizations, creators of glory, and messengers of peace,” he said, describing the opening of the GEM as “writing a new chapter in the history of the present and the future.”

According to the Egyptian president, the GEM is the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization, the civilization of Egypt.

Spanning nearly 500,000 square meters, the museum will house an unprecedented collection of over 100,000 artifacts spanning thousands of years of Egyptian history. Its undisputed centerpiece is the complete collection of the boy-king Tutankhamun, some 5,992 pieces, including his iconic golden mask and two coffins. This priceless collection will be displayed together for the first time since the discovery of his tomb in 1922.

The museum occupies a symbolically significant site on the Giza Plateau, where the ancient pyramids are located, offering panoramic views of the pyramids and forging a direct connection between these ancient wonders and the new monumental cultural institution.

The inauguration ceremony, staged in the museum courtyard with the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx as a backdrop, featured cultural events and artistic performances celebrating Egypt’s rich heritage. Festivities included musical performances, a light show, and a fireworks display.

The GEM is expected to act as a major catalyst for Egypt’s vital tourism sector, with officials anticipating a substantial annual influx of visitors that will significantly enhance the country’s tourism revenue.

“The museum will completely change the map of cultural tourism in Egypt and significantly aid the tourism industry,” said Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary-general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities.

CEO of the GEM Ahmed Ghoneim hailed the museum as “Egypt’s gift to the world,” noting that the museum “changes the context of tourism in Egypt and enhances cultural tourism.”

“It is not only the heritage that we have, but rather how we show it,” he told Xinhua.

Construction of the museum began in 2005, but the project faced numerous delays over the years due to political instability and funding challenges. Now complete, the facility blends modern architectural design with elements inspired by ancient Egypt, featuring spacious halls and state-of-the-art display technologies.

The museum complex is set to officially open to the public on November 4.

In a statement released on Saturday, Tinubu stressed that Nigeria “stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty.” He said his administration has maintained active engagement with both Christian and Muslim leaders since 2023 and continues to address security challenges affecting citizens across all faiths.

“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality,” Tinubu said, noting the government’s consistent efforts to safeguard freedom of religion and belief. “Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it.”

The statement follows Trump’s social media posts accusing Nigeria of allowing the “mass slaughter” of Christians by Islamic terrorists. Trump said he had instructed the U.S. Department of War to “prepare for possible action” and warned that military intervention could follow if Nigeria does not act. He also announced that U.S. aid to the country would be immediately halted unless protections were strengthened.

Nigeria’s officials, however, rejected the allegations as exaggerated. Tinubu’s press secretary described the claims as “a gross exaggeration,” noting that attacks in Nigeria affect both Christians and Muslims and are often linked to communal tensions, resource disputes, and extremist activity.

Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the government is committed to protecting all citizens, regardless of faith, and celebrated the country’s diversity as a national strength.

She made the call on October 31 during an engagement with judges and judicial staff from courts under the Musanze High Court Circuit.

Mukantaganzwa underscored the importance of efficiency in case management, reminding judges that cases should be heard in the order they are filed. She, however, acknowledged that some delays arise from factors beyond the courts’ control, such as adjournments or party-related interruptions.

Data presented during the session indicated that the Musanze Intermediate Court currently handles 1,499 cases, of which 1,096 are backlog cases.

Mukantaganzwa noted that measures previously introduced to address case backlogs are beginning to yield positive outcomes, though further effort is still required.

“It has long been established that backlog cases should not be allowed to stagnate in our courts. That is why, in their reports, you can see consistent progress in clearing old cases each year,” she stated.

She added that most of the remaining old cases date back to 2022, and are being prioritised for conclusion in line with judicial procedures.

“Our principle is straightforward: cases filed earlier should be heard first. However, delays sometimes result from adjournments requested by the parties involved, rather than from the court itself,” she explained.

The Chief Justice further reminded judges that any case pending for more than six months is classified as a backlog. She said this benchmark aims to ensure timely service delivery and public trust in the judiciary.

“Six months may not seem long, but we set that target to promote efficiency and fast-track justice, so that citizens do not have to wait unnecessarily for verdicts,” Mukantaganzwa said.

During the discussions, it was revealed that the Musanze High Court Circuit currently has 1,214 cases, with 95% being criminal and 5% civil. Of the backlog cases, 585 date from 2022, 97% of which are criminal.

The most frequent offences among the pending cases include drug-related crimes, child defilement, theft, murder, and assault.

In a statement, the Africa CDC said it is dispatching critical medical supplies after last week’s assault on the Saudi Maternity Hospital in El Fasher.

“The assault, which killed hundreds of patients and caregivers and led to the abduction of several health workers, has crippled one of the few remaining medical facilities in the region and raised grave concerns about the continuity of essential health services,” the Africa CDC said.

It warned that ongoing conflict, mass displacement, and restricted access to healthcare are worsening Sudan’s health crisis, as the country battles concurrent outbreaks of cholera, dengue fever, measles, and diphtheria.

The African Union’s specialized health agency said it has deployed emergency medical and laboratory experts to assess conditions on the ground and support outbreak control, sustain essential health services, and strengthen biosafety in affected areas.

Working in partnership with Sudan’s Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization, the Africa CDC said it is verifying casualty figures, monitoring for potential disease outbreaks, and assessing the broader public health impact.

“This is not only a human tragedy but a public-health emergency,” the statement quoted Jean Kaseya, director general of Africa CDC, as saying. “Our immediate priority is to preserve life, prevent secondary outbreaks, and protect the health infrastructure that communities depend on. Health facilities and workers must never be targets of war.”

The agency urged all parties to the conflict to safeguard laboratories and biomedical facilities that store or handle dangerous pathogens, warning that any compromise could pose grave biosecurity and public health risks.

On Wednesday, Sudan’s government said more than 2,000 civilians had been killed by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since their entry into El Fasher.

Sudan remains gripped by a devastating conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023. The war has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions, plunging the country deeper into a humanitarian crisis.

In a statement shared via X by the U.S. Senior Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, on Saturday, the ongoing efforts through the Doha peace process were highlighted as a step forward in promoting peace and stability in the eastern DRC.

Boulos emphasized that both parties had made notable strides in demonstrating their shared commitment to peace, noting that this progress should not be jeopardized by recent violations of the ceasefire agreement.

Despite the ceasefire agreement signed in April 2025, fighting has continued in the North and South Kivu provinces, with both sides engaged in heavy attacks.

In mid-October, the DRC government and AFC/M23 agreed to establish a joint monitoring mechanism to ensure the ceasefire’s implementation. However, fighting has persisted, raising concerns over the fragility of the peace process.

Major General Sylvain Ekenge, the spokesperson for Congolese military, recently justified the continued fighting stating that his forces were retaliating against attacks from AFC/M23.

AFC/M23 also accuses Kinshasa of violating ceasefire with recurrent strikes to their positions and populated areas. This back-and-forth has fueled further instability, undermining efforts to create a peaceful environment for negotiations.

Boulos expressed concern that violations of the ceasefire could derail the significant strides made thus far, urging all parties to adhere to their commitments made in Doha.

“All must honor their commitments made in Doha, including maintaining the ceasefire and fully engaging the ceasefire monitoring mechanism to rebuild trust and reduce tensions on the ground,” he said.

Boulos also highlighted the potential for lasting peace and prosperity in the region if both the DRC government and AFC/M23 continue to demonstrate sustained effort in the peace process.

In a joint statement released on November 1, 2025, energy ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States vowed to continue supporting Ukraine’s energy resilience, including financial aid and setting conditions for long-term private sector investment.

Ukraine’s Prime Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko recently said, Russia’s goal is to disrupt power supplies ahead of winter.

According to reports, recent Russian airstrikes on power stations across Ukraine have resulted in widespread outages, leaving many areas struggling to keep warm as winter approaches. Several civilians have been killed, and vital power plants, including nuclear facilities, have been hit.

On Friday, Ukraine’s foreign ministry also called Russia’s attacks “nuclear terrorism,” especially after hitting substations that provide backup power to nuclear plants. They stressed the attacks violate international humanitarian law and put global safety at risk.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also voiced serious concerns, warning that Ukraine’s nuclear plants have been affected by power losses, increasing the risks to nuclear safety.

While Russia continues to deny targeting civilians, the conflict over energy infrastructure is intensifying, with both nations accusing each other of attacks on critical facilities.

The electoral commission announced that Hassan garnered over 31.9 million votes with voter turnout reaching nearly 87% of Tanzania’s 37.6 million registered voters.

This victory grants Hassan, who assumed office in 2021 following the death of her predecessor, a five-year term to lead the East African nation of 68 million people.

Hassan thus becomes the country’s first elected female president to lead theEast African nation of 68 million people for a five-year term.

She previously served as vice president from 2010 to 2021 and first assumed the presidency in March 2021 following the death of then-President John Magufuli from heart disease, marking a historic milestone as Tanzania’s first female head of state.

Tanzanians went to the polls on Wednesday in general elections that were marred by days of violent protests.

Held every five years, the elections saw voters choose the president, members of parliament, and local council representatives, with 17 parties fielding presidential candidates and 18 contesting parliamentary and local seats.

Crowds, largely made up of young people, gathered in major cities including Dar es Salaam, calling for electoral reforms and accusing authorities of sidelining opposition candidates in the polls.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan, representing the long-ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, is widely expected to secure victory once official results are announced.

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The Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Jacob John Mkunda, on Thursday urged citizens to stay off the streets, saying the army was working with police and other agencies to restore order. He described those engaged in violent acts as “criminals” and said security forces had the situation under control.

Despite the appeal, some demonstrators returned to the streets on Friday, particularly in the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam. Authorities have since extended a night-time curfew and maintained an internet shutdown, making it difficult to verify reports circulating on social media.

Witnesses say police have used tear gas to disperse crowds, while several public offices and buildings were vandalised earlier in the week. Government officials have emphasised that the measures being taken are temporary and necessary to protect citizens and property.

In a message to the diplomatic community broadcast on state television, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs assured that the government was monitoring the situation and taking necessary steps to maintain stability.

“Owing to isolated incidents of breaches of law and order, the government has heightened security and taken precautionary measures. These are temporary but necessary steps, and normalcy will return shortly.”

The United Nations has expressed concern over reports of casualties, urging Tanzanian security agencies to exercise restraint. UN human rights spokesperson Seif Magango said credible reports indicated that at least ten people had been killed in the unrest in Dar es Salaam, Shinyanga, and Morogoro.

Amnesty International said it was unable to independently verify those figures due to the ongoing internet restrictions. Hospitals and local authorities have also declined to comment publicly on the number of casualties.

The main opposition party, CHADEMA, which boycotted the election after its leader Tundu Lissu was arrested on treason charges earlier this year, has alleged that hundreds of people have died. The government has not confirmed those figures.

According to the National Electoral Commission, results from 80 out of 100 regions have already been tallied, with President Hassan holding a commanding lead. Her main challengers, Tundu Lissu of CHADEMA and Luhaga Mpina of the ACT-Wazalendo party, were unable to participate, the former due to his detention and the latter following disqualification over legal technicalities.

On the semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar, the CCM’s Hussein Mwinyi has been declared the winner with nearly 80 percent of the vote. Opposition groups there have alleged electoral irregularities, though authorities insist the process was free and fair.

The celebration took place in Kigali on the evening of October 25, 2025, bringing together the company’s management, staff, and clients to mark two decades of progress achieved through LOLC Unguka Finance’s growth and commitment to financial inclusion.

Théoneste Mutsindashyaka, a cassava and grain flour trader based in Kigali, was among clients who attended the event and credited LOLC Unguka Finance for his business success.

He began working with the institution in 2005, when he could only access a loan of Frw 350,000, but has since grown to qualify for loans exceeding Frw 50 million.

“I am a successful businessman today, thanks to LOLC Unguka Finance,” he said. “I started my business in 2000, but it was still small when I joined Unguka in 2005. My first loan was Frw 350,000, which I used to buy a milling machine. I have worked with Unguka ever since, and over the past 20 years, my business has grown tremendously. I thank God and Unguka for supporting me. Today, I qualify for over Frw 50 million loan.”

Angélique Beza, who runs a veterinary and agricultural supply shop in Nyabugogo, also shared her success story. She started working with LOLC Unguka Finance in 2005 and has remained a loyal client ever since.

“I was among the first clients to join LOLC Unguka Finance,” she said. “I left other banks because Unguka treated us with care and dedication. They welcomed us warmly, opened accounts for us easily, and offered great service. That’s why I have stayed all these years and I plan to keep working with them in the future.”

The Chairperson of the Board of LOLC Unguka Finance, Yves Sangano, reminded guests that the company was founded with the goal of becoming one of Rwanda’s leading providers of financial services, noting significant progress in ensuring high-quality customer service.

“We have played a significant role in Rwanda’s economy,” he said. “We’ve adapted to changes in financial sector regulations while continuing to innovate and ensure that our clients receive the best possible service.”

The Chief Executive Officer, Justin Kagishiro, thanked clients and partners, acknowledging that their trust and cooperation have been key to LOLC Unguka Finance’s success over the past 20 years. He promised more innovations in the years ahead, including new digital services aimed at improving customer experience.

During the event, the institution with more than 200 employees, recognized and rewarded outstanding employees for their exceptional performance in 2024.