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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Head of State was speaking at the inauguration of the World Health Organization (WHO) Academy on Tuesday, 17 December 2024 at the WHO Academy campus in Lyon, France.
This hybrid event brought together WHO Member States and local, national, and international partners to highlight the importance of lifelong learning in the health sector and provide an opportunity to experience the Campus facilities in action.
In his remarks, President Kagame expressed gratitude to the WHO and its Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, for this significant milestone, emphasizing the importance of the WHO Academy in enhancing global health education.
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed critical gaps in health systems worldwide, particularly in Africa.
President Kagame acknowledged that the ongoing health challenges make it necessary to focus on advancing science, technology, and learning opportunities for health professionals.
“The COVID pandemic showed us the importance of training Africa’s health workforce. New health challenges have continued to arise since then,” he remarked, underlining the growing need for skilled healthcare workers to respond to emerging threats.
He went on to highlight Rwanda’s ambitious goal of quadrupling its health workforce in the next four years, noting that the WHO Academy will be key in achieving this target.
“The WHO Academy will be instrumental in helping us achieve this objective and we intend to make full use of it,” he said, signaling Rwanda’s strong commitment to harnessing the Academy’s resources for the benefit of its health sector.
The Government of Rwanda has set a target to expand the healthcare workforce through the 4×4 program, aiming to increase the number of healthcare workers from over 25,000 in July 2024 to more than 58,000 by 2028.
This initiative will improve the doctor-patient ratio, with one doctor serving 1,000 patients, compared to the current ratio where one doctor is responsible for a significantly larger population.
President Kagame also emphasized the importance of international partnerships to build sustainable health systems.
“We owe it to our people to deliver consistent, affordable, high-quality healthcare,” he said, adding that Rwanda is eager to benefit from knowledge transfer in fields like biotechnology.
The WHO Academy aims to help Member States address critical gaps in health workforce training by leveraging new technologies and applying the latest advancements in adult learning.
The Academy will offer high-quality courses to health and care workers, decision-makers and the WHO workforce, both online and in-person.
Located in the bio-district of Gerland in Lyon and funded by France, the WHO Academy Campus is an eco-friendly facility designed to foster innovation and collaboration.
It features a world-class simulation centre and will serve as a hub for learners, trainers, academics, and researchers from around the globe.
Starting from December 23-24, 2024, and December 30-31, 2024, passengers will board buses at designated locations in addition to the Nyabugogo Terminal.
Travelers using the Southern Corridor from districts such as Kamonyi, Muhanga, Ruhango, Nyanza, Huye, Nyamasheke, Karongi, Ngororero, Gisagara, Rusizi, Rutsiro, and Nyaruguru will board buses at Nyamirambo’s Pele Stadium.
Passengers traveling along the Eastern Corridor to Rwamagana, Kayonza, Gatsibo, Nyagatare, Ngoma, and Kirehe will board buses at the Kabuga Terminal.
For those using the Northern Corridor from Gicumbi or traveling to Nyagatare via Gicumbi, Rulindo, Musanze, Rubavu, Burera, Gakenke, and Nyabihu, buses will depart from the Nyabugogo Terminal.
RURA further stated that passengers heading to Bugesera will board at Nyanza in Kicukiro. Travelers are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance to avoid delays.
Staff from the City of Kigali and relevant agencies will be on hand to assist passengers throughout the holiday period. RURA also urged travelers to remain patient with any challenges that may arise during this busy season.
By the start of the 2025/2026 school year, 21% of schools will be newly connected to the internet, with efforts underway to increase that number further.
Technology has become a critical tool in transforming education across Rwanda, from primary schools to universities. Digital tools, including audiovisual books, are increasingly being used to enhance teaching materials and streamline educational processes.
However, school leaders in areas without electricity or internet connectivity face challenges in delivering lessons and submitting digital reports.
At the close of the 2022/2023 school year, Rwanda had a total of 4,923 schools, comprising 1,568 public schools, 2,065 government-subsidized schools, and 1,290 private schools.
Notably, over 80% of these schools were connected to the electricity grid.
However, Minister of Education Joseph Nsengimana revealed late last week that more than 500 schools in remote areas still lack electricity, although efforts to connect them to the grid are ongoing.
Nsengimana shared, “Many of these schools are located far from the electricity grid, and we are exploring alternative ways to connect them.”
Currently, about 62% of schools have internet access, but this figure is set to increase significantly.
“Many schools now have electricity, and 62% are connected to the internet. An additional 21% will gain internet access in the first semester of the upcoming 2025/2026 school year, and the process is ongoing,” Nsengimana noted.
Prime Minister Dr. Edouard Ngirente, speaking at the International Teachers’ Day celebration, acknowledged the ongoing challenges related to electricity and internet access in some schools.
He emphasized the need for a collective effort from all stakeholders to ensure that every school has access to these vital resources.
Statistics from the Ministry of Education show that internet access is already high in certain sectors.
In Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) schools, 83.1% have internet, while internet penetration in general secondary and vocational education schools stands at 75.3%.
In primary schools, 56.5% have internet access, with further improvements expected in the coming years.
Rwanda is among the countries focusing on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and since 2019, it has signed an agreement with Russia to establish a Center for Nuclear Science and Technology (CNST) in Rwanda.
Speaking to the press on the sidelines of a ministerial roundtable on Financing Africa’s Nuclear Energy Future in Kigali on December 16, 2024, Dr. Gasore emphasized that many developed countries have successfully embraced nuclear energy.
He reiterated that while discussions with Russia continue, nuclear energy projects require careful consideration and long-term planning.
“The project has progressed, and we are in discussions, but nuclear energy requires a thoughtful approach. It’s our first time venturing into this area, so we must proceed cautiously. The projects are moving forward, and when the time is right, we will make a decision to begin implementation,” Dr. Gasore stated.
He noted that before Rwanda embarks on building a nuclear power plant, it is crucial to consult with other countries that already have nuclear facilities. This will help Rwanda learn from their experiences, understand the challenges they faced, and determine the best approach for its own projects.
Dr. Gasore further explained that nuclear energy projects are long-term endeavors.
“It’s not something for the immediate future, but rather a medium to long-term project, often taking over five years. Once a plant is built, it typically operates for about 60 years.
“Therefore, implementation takes between five and ten years. It’s a careful process because, as we know, nuclear accidents, though rare, can have severe consequences. Additionally, there are strict international regulations that must be adhered to, making it impractical to rush the process,” he added.
In August, Russian Ambassador to Rwanda, Alexander Polyakov, announced that experts from Rosatom, Russia’s nuclear energy agency, would visit Rwanda to provide detailed insights on how the projects outlined in the agreements would be executed.
Nuclear power plants are operational in 32 countries, providing more than 10% of the world’s electricity. For example, South Africa produces 8.154 gigawatt hours (GWh) of nuclear electricity per hour, South Korea generates 171.640 GWh, and the United States produces 779.186 GWh.
Nuclear energy has various uses, including electricity generation, medical treatments (especially for serious diseases like cancer, where radiation is used for treatment), security applications (such as in scanning devices), and even in the development of weapons.
To generate electricity from nuclear energy, uranium ore is utilized, which is also used in the production of nuclear weapons.
Investigators are conducting a criminal investigation into murder, terrorist acts, and the illegal circulation of weapons and ammunition “in connection with the death of two servicemen in the capital,” the committee said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of the Russian Armed Forces’ radiological, chemical and biological defense troops, and his assistant were killed by an explosion in a residential building in Moscow.
The committee had previously said it opened a criminal case, adding the blast occurred after the detonation of an explosive device planted in a scooter parked next to the entrance of the residential building.
