In an interview with RBA, ACP Rutikanga highlighted that this was a positive contrast to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, during which two accidents occurred, resulting in two fatalities.
“Security was very good, as unlike Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, when there were only two accidents, no accidents were reported on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day across the country,” he said.
ACP Rutikanga further clarified what constitutes an accident, noting that it includes incidents that cause injuries or fatalities, as well as damage to infrastructure.
“I wouldn’t describe an accident as something like a vehicle lightly brushing against another, or a motorcyclist bumping into a car, falling, getting up, and continuing. I’m referring to incidents where vehicles are severely damaged, infrastructure is destroyed, and people are injured or lose their lives,” he added.
Between December 23, 2024, and January 1, 2025, 14 major accidents were reported. ACP Rutikanga stated that across the country, 16 people were injured, and a few lost their lives.
Authorities have labeled the incident an act of terrorism, as Jabbar drove a rented pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street, and later opened fire on police officers.
He died in a shootout with law enforcement, and investigators found weapons, a suspected explosive device in the truck, and other potential explosives in the French Quarter.
The presence of an ISIS flag in the vehicle has prompted further investigations into Jabbar’s possible connections to terrorist organizations. Although he is believed to have aligned himself with ISIS, no clear evidence has emerged regarding foreign involvement or direction in the attack.
Videos made by Jabbar before the incident show him claiming allegiance to ISIS, but authorities are still working to piece together the full details.
Jabbar had served in the U.S. Army for 13 years, including a deployment to Afghanistan in 2009-2010. He left active duty in 2015 and continued in the Army Reserve until 2020, achieving the rank of staff sergeant.
His roles included human resources and information technology. After leaving the military, Jabbar transitioned to a career in real estate, managing a Texas-based company, Blue Meadow Properties LLC.
In 2020, he appeared in a promotional video where he discussed how his military experience had shaped his approach to business, particularly his skills in negotiation and service.
Though Jabbar had some minor legal issues in the past, including a misdemeanor charge for property theft in 2002 and an arrest for driving with an invalid license in 2005, he had no violent criminal history.
His personal life included a divorce in 2022 after five years of marriage, without a child. Jabbar’s actions on New Year’s Day have stunned both the community in New Orleans and the nation, as authorities continue to investigate his motives.
The FBI and local law enforcement are actively working to identify possible accomplices, believing Jabbar did not act alone. “We are aggressively pursuing every lead, including those linked to his associates,” said FBI Assistant Special Agent Alethea Duncan.
Investigators also found precursor chemicals at Jabbar’s residence in Houston, which are commonly used in explosives, raising concerns that the attack may have been part of a broader plan.
While there is no confirmed link between this attack and other recent incidents, such as a separate explosion near a Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, investigators are exploring all possibilities.
Their two-year term officially started on Jan. 1. Thursday is the first working day of the council for 2025 after the Christmas and New Year break.
The five countries replaced Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland.
A flag installation ceremony was held at the United Nations headquarters in New York to mark the start of their responsibilities.
Kazakh UN ambassador Kairat Umarov, who presided over the ceremony, congratulated the five new council members and wished them success in their two-year term.
The flag installation ceremony for new Security Council members was initiated by Kazakhstan in 2018.
Algerian UN ambassador Amar Bendjama, in his capacity as president of the Security Council for the month of January, thanked the outgoing members and welcomed the newcomers.
He said that it is an “immense privilege” as well as “a huge responsibility” to serve in the Security Council, calling on all council members to work tirelessly and effectively to address the challenges facing the world “and uphold the values of multilateralism.”
The permanent representatives of the five new members made short speeches before they installed their respective national flags outside the Security Council Chamber.
The 15-member Security Council has five permanent members — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the UN General Assembly. Five non-permanent members are replaced every year.
Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, said on social media platform X, “There is no humanitarian zone let alone a ‘safe zone.’”
He called for an end to misleading evacuation orders and the killing of civilians, warning that every day without a ceasefire brings more tragedy.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the Israeli military ordered the evacuation of large areas within Gaza, citing rocket fire into Israel. The office said an initial analysis indicates the new orders cover about 3 square km in North Gaza and Deir al Balah governorates. Strikes have been reported in the Al Mawasi area, where people were ordered to move and take shelter.
“Over 80 percent of the Gaza Strip is under unrevoked Israeli evacuation orders. Amid this situation, OCHA warns that the ability of humanitarian organizations to support people in need across Gaza is further diminishing,” said OCHA.
The humanitarians said some of the most onerous restrictions on humanitarian movement were recorded last month, including blocking access to border areas for collecting supplies, denying attempts to deliver goods and services, or assessing needs across Gaza. Overall, 39 percent of UN attempts to move aid workers anywhere in Gaza were rejected by the Israeli authorities, with another 18 percent disrupted or interfered with.
Access has been denied for the besieged areas in North Gaza since Oct. 6. According to OCHA, out of 166 attempts, 150 were refused, and 16 were initially agreed to but interfered with or faced impediments. The office noted that access to what remains of hospitals in the north is among the top priorities.
OCHA also said that in the West Bank, it joined with UNRWA and other humanitarian partners to assess the aftermath of an Israeli operation in Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camps last week. Teams visited the area on Tuesday and estimated more than 1,000 housing units and about 100 shops were damaged from explosions or bulldozing. Over 20 families of more than 90 people were displaced.
The office said that damage to infrastructure disrupted electricity, water and sewage networks. OCHA mobilized a humanitarian response by partners, who trucked water to people.
It said the West Bank assessment will inform further interventions, including installing new water tanks, vacuuming sewage and distributing hygiene kits and emergency cash.
The event, held at the Got Ramogi Hill shrines, also honored former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga with the same title.
The cultural leader, Ker Odungi Randa, conducted the crowning ceremony, presenting the leaders with traditional symbols of leadership, including a ruler’s seat, crown, elder’s cloth, shield, spear, and a whisk symbolizing peace.
The festival celebrated Luo heritage and unity, attracting participants from various East African countries and communities, including Uganda’s Alur, Acholi, Padhola, and Jo Nam groups, as well as other Luo communities from across Africa.
Museveni expressed his gratitude for the recognition and highlighted the festival’s role in fostering East African unity, urging for a stronger push towards an East African Federation to achieve regional prosperity and security.
He emphasized the shared heritage among East Africans, despite colonial-era borders, and called for greater integration.
Museveni reflected on Africa’s struggles under colonialism and praised historical leaders like Julius Nyerere and Jomo Kenyatta for their contributions to the East African integration process.
He presented Luo cultural leaders with plaques featuring historical moments, including the 1963 declaration by East African leaders to form a federation.
On his part, Ruto applauded Museveni for attending the festival on short notice, calling it a testament to his commitment to regional unity. He emphasized the importance of breaking down artificial borders to enable the free movement of people, goods, and services within East Africa.
He also reaffirmed support for Raila Odinga’s candidacy for the African Union chairmanship, positioning it as a step toward promoting African unity and progress.
Raila Odinga echoed these sentiments, calling for the removal of colonial-era borders that hinder regional prosperity. He stressed the importance of intra-African trade, noting that only 15% of African trade occurs within the continent compared to 70% in Europe.
Siaya County Governor James Orengo also called for practical steps towards the East African Federation, proposing free movement between Kenya and Uganda as a starting point.
As part of the festival, Ruto officially opened the Lamogi campus of Nyang’oma Technical Training College, a Ksh400 million project aimed at providing educational opportunities.
He announced the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate President Museveni’s presence at the event, symbolizing the celebration of East African unity.
The three-day festival, themed “Celebrating the Roots of Our Culture and Heritage,” featured cultural displays, including traditional dances, foods, attire, prayers, and folklore.
Participants visited historical landmarks like the Jaramogi Oginga Mausoleum and traditional Luo huts representing the community’s origins.
Later, Presidents Museveni and Ruto inaugurated the newly constructed Jaramogi Oginga Odinga stadium, a 20,000-seat FIFA-standard facility designed to boost sports in Western Kenya.
The stadium hosted a friendly football match between Kenya’s Gor Mahia and Uganda’s Kitara FC, with Gor Mahia winning 9-8 in penalties. Museveni praised both teams for their spirited performances and encouraged East Africans to create wealth through agriculture, ICT, services, and manufacturing.
The Piny Luo Festival underscored the cultural and historical ties binding East African communities while advocating for deeper regional integration and cooperation. The event also served as a platform to promote peace, reconciliation, and shared aspirations for a prosperous future.
In an end-of-year address on Tuesday, President Alassane Ouattara declared that the 43rd BIMA marine infantry battalion stationed at Port-Bouët in Abidjan would be handed over to the Ivory Coast armed forces by January 2025.
“We can be proud of our army, whose modernisation is now effective. It is in this context that we have decided on the concerted and organised withdrawal of French forces from Ivory Coast,” President Ouattara announced.
France’s presence in West Africa, once robust, has been rapidly diminishing. Ivory Coast follows nations such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, and Chad in scaling back or completely severing military ties with Paris.
Notably, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger expelled French troops after military coups, shifting towards alliances with Russia.
In November, Senegal and Chad both announced the departure of French forces, signaling a shift in regional security dynamics. On December 26, France officially returned its first military base to Chad, marking the end of its military presence in the Sahel region.
The decision to remove French forces has been tied to growing local sentiments against French influence. Analysts see this as part of a broader transformation in Africa’s relationship with its former coloniser.
While France ended its colonial rule in West Africa in the 1960s, its military presence has often been viewed as a lingering symbol of external control.
In Senegal, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye recently reinforced this sentiment, citing the incompatibility of military bases with national independence.
“Senegal is an independent and sovereign country, and sovereignty does not accommodate the presence of military bases,” Faye said in an interview commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Thiaroye massacre, where French forces killed hundreds of African riflemen demanding their pay.
Faye also called for further investigations into the incident, which French President Emmanuel Macron has officially recognized as a massacre.
France’s diminishing footprint on the continent has now resulted in its expulsion from more than 70 percent of the African countries where it maintained a military presence after the end of colonial rule.
The French military’s permanent presence is now limited to Djibouti, with 1,500 soldiers, and Gabon, with 350 personnel.
A vehicle fire was first reported around 8:40 a.m. local time in the valet area of the hotel. The Cybertruck pulled up to the front to the entrance when smoke started showing and there was an explosion, Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill was quoted as saying, adding that one person inside the vehicle was killed.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said in a post on X that “We are investigating a vehicle fire at the entrance to Trump Towers. The fire is out. Please avoid the area.”
Officials confirmed to media that seven people suffered minor injuries as a result of the explosion, with two of them taken to a hospital for treatment.
Most people staying at Trump International have been moved to a nearby hotel, Resorts World Las Vega, said the report of KSNV television station, citing McMahill.
Videos posted on social media showed a Tesla Cybertruck engulfed in flames outside the hotel’s lobby entrance.
An official who briefed on the probe told ABC News that the Tesla Cybertruck had a load of fireworks-style mortars onboard.
Investigators are urgently working to determine a motive and whether the driver intended to set off an explosion and why, said the report, noting that “Until a motive is determined and other possibilities are ruled out, police are treating the explosion like a possible criminal act and a possible act of terror.”
Elon Musk, the co-founder and CEO of Tesla, said in a post on X that “The whole Tesla senior team is investigating this matter right now.”
The staunch ally of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump noted that “We’ve never seen anything like this.” He wrote later that “We have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself.”
“Earlier today, a reported electric vehicle fire occurred in the porte cochère of Trump Las Vegas,” Eric Trump, the president-elect’s son and a leader of the Trump Organization, said in a post on X. “The safety and well-being of our guests and staff remain our top priority.”
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Las Vegas Fire Department and local law enforcement for their swift response and professionalism,” he added.
Concerns raised by the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA) revealed that in 2023 alone, 228 houses were damaged by fire outbreaks. This trend persisted into 2024, with another 87 houses destroyed between June and August, revealing a significant gap in insurance coverage among property owners.
RHA Director General Alphonse Rukaburandekwe explained that the ongoing assessment seeks to address these gaps and inform future interventions.
“Over the past few months, RHA has initiated a comprehensive data collection exercise to assess the insurance status of buildings across the country. This process is still ongoing, and we are working closely with stakeholders to compile and validate the data,” he told The New Times.
The results of this exercise will clarify the disparity between insured and uninsured properties, enabling policymakers to craft more effective strategies.
Adalbert Rukebanuka, MINEMA’s Director General of Planning, Policy, and Risk Reduction, emphasized the challenges posed by urban living conditions, such as overcrowding and inadequate infrastructure.
These factors, combined with limited firefighting resources, exacerbate fire risks in densely populated areas. “Most of the buildings are not insured for fire risks,” Rukebanuka noted.
“Overcrowded settlements with narrow alleyways hinder firefighters, leading to greater damage and loss of life.”
Informal settlements and inadequate public awareness about fire safety contribute to the prevalence of fire-related incidents. To mitigate these risks, the RHA has engaged some insurance companies to streamline insurance access for government institutions.
Regular reminders and follow-ups are expected to ensure compliance with insurance requirements.
The claims, which have been circulating among certain individuals, suggest that the RIB unfairly accused over 150 people, including Rwandans and foreigners, of being involved in the bank’s fraud, without sufficient evidence or proper legal procedures.
The accusations stem from a 2023 investigation into the misuse of Mastercard prepaid multicurrency cards, a service introduced by I&M Bank.
The bank had marketed the cards as a way for customers to exchange Rwandan Francs into various foreign currencies at favourable rates.
According to RIB, some individuals exploited the system by deceiving others into providing personal information, which was then used to obtain multiple cards and carry out fraudulent transactions. The stolen funds amounted to approximately $10.26 million.
Following the discovery, RIB launched an investigation, and a number of suspects were placed under investigation. Some were arrested, while others fled the country.
A total of 148 suspects have been pursued, and over 2.27 billion Rwandan Francs have been recovered, along with other assets, including properties purchased with the stolen money.
Despite the progress in the case, several individuals have claimed that they were wrongly accused and victimized by the RIB’s actions.
Among the claims, one individual, through a post on X, alleged that the investigation was manipulated by some corrupt officials who abused their power for personal gain.
However, RIB has firmly rejected these allegations, stating that its actions have always been based on law and evidence. The bureau maintains that it followed proper procedures throughout the investigation and that any claims of injustice are being used to deflect attention from the true perpetrators.
“We are committed to upholding the law and ensuring that all individuals involved in illegal activities are held accountable,” RIB said while reacting to the social media seeking President Paul Kagame’s intervention.
“The allegations of wrongful targeting are baseless and part of a broader attempt to discredit our efforts.”
RIB assures the public that the investigation is ongoing, with continued efforts to bring those responsible to justice.
The incident, which occurred on Monday, December 30, 2024, has drawn widespread attention.
In a statement released on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, KSA said preliminary assessments indicate that the object is a fragment of a space vehicle, specifically a metallic ring used as a separation mechanism for rockets.
The object, measuring approximately 2.5 meters in diameter, startled residents when it fell in the village, creating a loud thud upon impact. Panic quickly turned to curiosity as residents gathered to inspect the mysterious debris.
KSA explained that such objects are typically designed to burn up upon re-entering Earth’s atmosphere or land in uninhabited areas, such as oceans. However, in this rare case, the fragment reached the ground in a populated area, making it an isolated but significant incident.
KSA is now working within established international space law frameworks to investigate the matter and determine the exact origin of the object.
The agency expressed its gratitude to the residents of Mukuku Village for their swift action in reporting the incident and cooperating with authorities to ensure public safety.
KSA further assured the public that the fallen object poses no immediate threat to safety.
“Our experts will analyze the object, use existing frameworks to identify the owner, and keep the public informed of the next steps and outcomes,” the government agency stated.
The incident has reignited discussions about space debris and the need for stringent measures to manage objects re-entering Earth’s atmosphere. Space agencies worldwide are increasingly grappling with the challenge of ensuring that rocket components and satellites are disposed of responsibly.
