The Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence is made up of 40 distinguished individuals from across the world.
“Today, we are taking an important step to help ensure artificial intelligence serves all of humanity,” said Guterres. “It will be the first global, fully independent scientific body dedicated to helping close the AI knowledge gap and assess the real impacts of AI across economies and societies.”
The panel will provide an authoritative reference point at a moment when reliable, unbiased understanding of AI has never been more critical, he told reporters.
A shortlist of 40 individuals with deep expertise across disciplines was formed following an open global call that drew more than 2,600 applications. All members will serve in their personal capacity, independent of any government, company or institution, said Guterres.
The panel will have a three-year term from the date of appointment.
“AI is transforming our world. The question is whether we will shape this transformation together, or allow it to shape us. At a time of deep geopolitical tension and growing technological rivalry, we urgently need common ground — and a practical basis for cooperation based on science and solidarity. That is what this panel can help deliver,” said Guterres.
The award was presented on February 4, 2026, during the World Government Summit held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, according to a statement from Rwanda’s Embassy in the UAE.
The recognition was awarded to IremboGov, a platform developed by IREMBO, in acknowledgment of its role in improving digital government services.
The award was received on behalf of the Government of Rwanda by Rwanda’s Ambassador to the UAE, John Mirenge, together with Estelle Kayitesi, Head of Policy and Partnerships at IREMBO.
The GovTech Prize 2026 recognizes global government entities for pioneering technology-driven solutions that enhance public services.
The awards are part of the annual World Government Summit, a global forum launched in 2013 that brings together government leaders, experts, and private sector stakeholders to discuss governance challenges and the role of innovation in addressing them.
The 2026 summit, held from February 3 to 5, brought together participants from more than 150 countries.
The awards are held annually in the UAE. Over the past decade, thousands of applications from 126 countries have been submitted for consideration.
Rwanda has invested heavily in digitizing public services, enabling citizens to access services remotely without the need to physically visit service centers.
By 2024, the country had digitized about 680 government services, making them accessible online.
These efforts go hand in hand with expanded internet infrastructure. According to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), more than 12 million people own and use mobile phones, while nine million use the internet.
The IremboGov platform was launched in 2015 and currently hosts over 240 government services. Statistics show that the platform processes more than 500,000 service requests each month, with 80 percent of payments made digitally.
This recognition highlights Rwanda’s growing profile as a leader in the use of digital solutions to enhance public service delivery.
Ryan Routh was convicted by a jury last September of five charges, including attempting to assassinate a presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon handed down the sentence in a Florida courtroom, plus a mandatory additional seven years for a firearm offense for Routh.
“It’s clear to me that you engaged in a premeditated, calculated plot to take a human life,” Cannon said.
Routh, in a court filing, denied any intention to kill, arguing that no crime occurred because he never fired a shot at Trump.
Routh was arrested on Sept. 15, 2024, after a Secret Service agent saw the barrel of a rifle poking from the bushes, a few hundred yards from where Trump was golfing at his West Palm Beach golf club. Routh fled the scene, but was arrested shortly after.
The incident occurred two months after a bullet fired by a gunman grazed Trump’s ear at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Both incidents took place in the run-up to the November 2024 election in which Trump regained the presidency after being defeated four years earlier by Democrat Joe Biden.
The Russian and Ukrainian delegations arrived in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday morning. The U.S. delegation, led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and including Jared Kushner, also arrived in the Emirati capital on Wednesday following a diplomatic stop in Israel.
“Another round of negotiations has begun in Abu Dhabi,” Rustem Umerov, head of the Ukrainian delegation, wrote on social media, adding Kyiv’s team was seeking “to achieve a just and lasting peace”.
The two-day trilateral talks come as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of violating a US-brokered agreement calling for a halt to attacks on energy facilities. A large Russian drone and missile barrage in the run-up to the talks pounded Ukraine’s energy grid, knocking out power and heating in freezing temperatures.
“Each such Russian strike confirms that attitudes in Moscow have not changed. They continue to bet on war and the destruction of Ukraine, and they do not take diplomacy seriously,” Zelenskyy said.
“The work of our negotiating team will be adjusted accordingly,” he added.
The main sticking points remain the long-term fate of Russian-occupied territory in eastern Ukraine and security guarantees for Kyiv. Moscow wants Kyiv to withdraw from parts of the Donbas and seeks recognition of territories it has annexed. Ukraine has rejected a one-sided pullback of forces and insists the conflict should be frozen along current front lines.
While Ukraine’s delegation is led by Umerov, Russia is represented by its military intelligence director, Igor Kostyukov. Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev met US officials in Florida over the weekend. US special envoy Steve Witkoff said those talks were “productive and constructive”.
Russia occupies about 20 percent of Ukraine and has threatened to take the rest of Donetsk if talks fail. Ukraine has warned that ceding ground would embolden Moscow and it will not sign a deal that fails to deter future invasions.
“We are working within the clear directives of (Ukrainian) President Volodymyr Zelensky to achieve a dignified and lasting peace,” Umerov said.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs underlined that hosting the talks reflects its balanced relations with all parties and its commitment to supporting international efforts for a “comprehensive and lasting political solution” to the crisis.
The agreement was signed in Kigali on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, during the Rwanda–Brazil Economic Cooperation Forum, a meeting focused on enhancing economic ties between the two countries.
Rwanda was represented by the Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Jean-Guy Afrika, while Brazil was represented by Jorge Viana, President of the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (APEX-Brazil).
APEX-Brazil also signed an MoU with the Private Sector Federation of Rwanda (PSF), represented by its Chairman, Stephen Ruzibiza to enhance cooperation between the two institutions.
In his remarks, RDB Chief Executive Officer Jean-Guy Afrika noted that the forum is about connecting businesses, identifying projects, and creating investment pathways that generate value for both countries.
“Brazil and Rwanda are two dynamic economies with complementary strengths. Brazil brings global leadership in agribusiness, manufacturing, and energy on an industrial scale. Rwanda offers a stable, reform-driven investment environment, strategic access to East and Central African markets, and a fast-growing services and logistics sector,” he said.
Brazilian Ambassador to Rwanda Irene Vida Gala welcomed the Brazilian delegation, noting that the forum marked a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two nations.
The Rwanda–Brazil Economic Cooperation Forum was jointly organized by RDB and APEX-Brazil. Its objective is to further promote trade, economic cooperation, business partnerships, and investment, with a strong focus on private-sector engagement.
Diplomatic relations between Rwanda and Brazil date back to 1981, and since then the two countries have signed several cooperation agreements. In 2019, they signed a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) to enhance air transport cooperation.
Another cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening food security was signed in 2011. Brazil is the world’s leading producer of coffee, soybeans, sugarcane, and oranges.
Since 2022, Rwanda has been importing wheat from Brazil following a decline in supplies previously sourced from Ukraine. Rwanda also imports sugar from Brazil.
Both sides should explore the potential for cooperation in emerging fields including green development, digital economy, artificial intelligence, and clean energy, so as to drive economic growth and transformation, Xi said when holding talks with President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay Yamandu Orsi in Beijing.
Orsi on Sunday began a week-long state visit to China. He is the first leader from Latin America to visit China in 2026, and his visit follows those of leaders from Ireland, the Republic of Korea, Canada, Finland and Britain.
“On this day 38 years ago, China and Uruguay established diplomatic relations,” Xi said, pointing out that over the years, regardless of changes in the international situation, the two countries have always got along with each other on the basis of mutual respect and mutually beneficial cooperation.
Xi called on both sides to carry forward their traditions and deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership under the new circumstances, to make sure their friendship grows stronger and more vibrant.
China and Uruguay should continue to firmly support each other’s core interests and major concerns, strengthen friendly exchanges at all levels and across all areas, enhance exchanges of experience in governance, and continuously deepen strategic mutual trust, Xi emphasized.
Xi said that the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China had adopted the recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, outlining a blueprint for China’s development over the next five years, which will offer broad opportunities for countries worldwide, including Uruguay.
The peoples of China and Uruguay share a natural affinity, Xi noted, adding the two sides should continue to deepen exchanges in areas like culture, education, sports, media and subnational engagement, and facilitate personnel exchanges, to strengthen the bonds of friendship between the two peoples.
The world today is undergoing major changes unseen in a century, said Xi, noting the international landscape is marked by a mix of turbulence and transformation, while unilateral bullying is intensifying.
China supports Uruguay in taking over chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China for the year 2026 and is willing to work with Uruguay to strengthen solidarity in the Global South, jointly promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and work together to seek common development, so as to make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for humanity, Xi said.
Xi added that China has always valued its relations with Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries and supports LAC countries in upholding their sovereignty, security and development interests.
China also supports Uruguay in assuming the rotating presidencies of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), and stands ready to work with Uruguay and other regional countries to further promote the building of a China-LAC community with a shared future, Xi said.
Orsi said China is an important cooperation partner of Uruguay, and the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries is at its best in history.
Noting that Uruguay firmly supports the one-China principle and supports the “one country, two systems” policy, he said Uruguay aspires to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership with China and bring bilateral cooperation to a higher level.
Echoing Xi, Orsi called for boosting cooperation in wide-ranging areas to inject stronger momentum into Uruguay-China relations and deliver greater benefits to the two peoples.
Uruguay stands ready to work with China to stay committed to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, uphold multilateralism, safeguard the international trading system, further advance LAC-China relations, and defend the common interests of the Global South, he said.
After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of more than 10 cooperation documents covering investment, trade and other fields.
Prior to the talks, Xi hosted a welcoming ceremony for Orsi in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People. At noon, Xi hosted a welcome banquet for him in the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
During Orsi’s visit, the two sides issued a joint statement on deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership.
The appointment of Steward Soroba Budia, a member of the opposition United Democratic Party, appeared in a presidential order dated January 30. Local media quickly noted that Budia passed away in 2021, sparking widespread ridicule on social media.
In a short statement, the presidency announced the dismissal of Press Secretary David Amour Major and Valentino Dhel Maluet, the chief administrator in the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, without giving reasons. The statement thanked both officials for their service.
Amour later said the president’s office had relied on names submitted by stakeholders and that one party failed to properly verify the list, calling it an “administrative oversight.” It remains unclear whether this explanation led to his removal.
The panel was created to help prepare the country for elections, though doubts remain about whether the vote will happen as planned.
South Sudan continues to face insecurity, with recent fighting displacing more than 180,000 people, according to the UN.
Previous elections have been repeatedly postponed, leaving Kiir in power since independence in 2011.
The 19th National Dialogue Council held in 2024, adopted 13 resolutions aimed at strengthening economic growth, improving citizens’ livelihoods, and enhancing governance.
The State Minister for National Treasury at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Godfrey Kabera, has told Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA) that overall implementation stands at more than 80%.
He said agriculture has seen steady improvement, driven by expanded cultivated land, irrigation projects, and supporting infrastructure.
Projects such as the development of the Nyiramageni and Akanyaru wetlands, along with irrigation schemes in Kirehe, Kayonza, and other areas, have played a key role. These efforts were accompanied by investments in post-harvest handling and storage to reduce losses.
Kabera emphasized that access to markets is critical for agricultural and livestock products, noting that more than 4,200 kilometers of feeder roads have been upgraded and maintained to improve connectivity. He added that over 58% of these roads are currently in good condition.
On the resolution calling for the establishment of furniture workshops across the country and increased value addition, Kabera said improved management systems have been introduced to ensure sustainability and profitability.
He noted that the facilities have so far created employment for more than 370,000 people, highlighting their importance to the economy and household incomes.
In the area of skills development, 24 technical and vocational education and training (TVET) schools have been completed since the conclusion of the 19th National Dialogue Council, while 135 others have started offering vocational courses. As a result, each administrative sector now has access to TVET programmes.
{{Growing diaspora contribution}}
Efforts to engage Rwandans living abroad have continued to focus on investment promotion and increasing remittances. Data from the National Bank of Rwanda shows that remittances amounted to USD 502 million in 2024, compared to USD 505 million in 2023.
Kabera said members of the diaspora have been sensitized about investment opportunities in sectors such as construction, agriculture, manufacturing, and industry.
He added that diaspora investment reached USD 35 million, describing the figure as a positive sign of strong commitment by Rwandans abroad to national development.
Other outcomes of the Umushyikirano resolutions include identifying young Rwandans pursuing advanced studies abroad and encouraging them to return home upon completion. According to Kabera, more than 150 skilled professionals have already returned and been integrated into key sectors facing skills shortages.
The 20th National Umushyikirano Council meeting is scheduled to take place on February 5–6, 2026.
The word [Umushyikirano->https://www.umushyikirano.gov.rw/about] translates to a meeting where participants are able to exchange ideas, share experiences and question each other. Today Umushyikirano is known as the National Dialogue Council.
As part of efforts to reconstruct Rwanda and nurture a shared national identity, the Government of Rwanda drew on aspects of Rwandan culture and traditional practices to enrich and adapt its development programs to the country’s needs and context.
The result is a set of Home Grown Solutions, culturally owned practices translated into sustainable development programs. One of these Home Grown Solutions is Umushyikirano.
Governed by the Rwandan Constitution (Article 168), Umushyikirano is a forum where participants debate issues relating to the state of the nation, the state of local government and national unity. The Office of the Prime Minister is responsible for the overall co-ordination of Umushyikirano.
The Sudan Doctors Network said the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted several residential neighborhoods and the Al-Shartai Health Center. The group condemned the attack as a “flagrant violation” of international humanitarian law.
“Most of the victims were patients who were receiving treatment inside the health center at the time of the strike,” a witness in Kadugli told Xinhua, adding the attack occurred at 4:00 p.m. (1400 GMT).
The RSF did not immediately respond to the volunteer group’s report.
The strikes follow a strategic shift in the conflict. Earlier on Tuesday, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) said its units had finally entered the city, which has been besieged for more than two years by the RSF and the allied Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N).
The prolonged blockade has forced nearly 80 percent of Kadugli’s 183,750 residents to flee and caused severe food shortages, according to the UN data.
The RSF has intensified its campaign across the Kordofan region since October 2025, following its capture of El Fasher, the last major army stronghold in neighboring Darfur.
Sudan has been engulfed in a power struggle between the SAF and RSF since mid-April 2023. The war has killed tens of thousands and created the world’s largest displacement crisis.
The airline shared the update on X account, on February 4, 2026.
“Due to heavy fog causing low visibility at Kigali International Airport, some flights to and from Kigali may experience delays,” the statement read. RwandAir sincerely apologized for any inconvenience this may cause to affected passengers.
Under international aviation regulations and safety standards, adverse weather conditions, such as dense fog that reduces visibility below safe operational minimums, are a valid and recognized reason for airlines to delay, divert, or suspend flights.
Pilots and air traffic control prioritize safety, and proceeding in unsafe conditions could pose serious risks, including potential accidents.
Common weather-related triggers for such disruptions include heavy rainfall, strong crosswinds, dense fog, thunderstorms, extreme temperatures, or any factors deemed hazardous by aviation authorities.
