The ceremony took place at Kintele Stadium in the northern suburbs of Brazzaville, the capital city, in the presence of several African heads of state.
In his inaugural address, Sassou Nguesso pledged to implement his development programme, titled “Accelerating the March Toward Development,” with a focus on economic diversification and modernization, agricultural mechanization, infrastructure development, education, youth training, and improvements to the health system.
He said peace, stability and infrastructure development would be the priorities of his new mandate.
The president also called on Congolese citizens to promote Pan-Africanism and strengthen regional integration, while reaffirming his support for initiatives aimed at advancing Africa’s economic development.
President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso takes the oath of office during his inauguration ceremony at Kintele Stadium in the northern suburbs of Brazzaville, the Republic of the Congo, April 16, 2026.
Wadagni secured victory in the first round of voting held on April 12, defeating his moderate opposition rival, former culture minister Paul Hounkpe, who obtained 5.73 percent of the vote.
The Constitutional Court, Benin’s highest authority on electoral disputes, said Wadagni and his running mate Mariam Chabi Talata won 4,575,449 votes, while Hounkpe and Rock Judicael Hounwanou received 278,297 votes. Talata will serve as vice president.
The court said that more than 7.89 million voters were registered nationwide, with over 4.85 million casting ballots, representing a turnout rate of 63.57 percent.
Preliminary results released on Monday by the Autonomous National Electoral Commission had already indicated a decisive lead for Wadagni, who secured 94.05 percent of the vote.
Wadagni, 49, previously worked at Deloitte before entering government after Patrice Talon’s election in 2016. He has since served as minister of economy and finance, was reappointed in 2021, and later promoted to senior minister, playing a central role in implementing Talon’s economic policies.
Under Benin’s electoral code, the president and vice president are elected by direct universal suffrage for a seven-year term.
Romuald Wadagni has won Benin’s presidential election with 94.27 percent of valid votes.
In a communiqué issued on Thursday night, the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) said the revised prices will take effect on April 17 at 6:00 a.m., with all rates inclusive of Value Added Tax (VAT).
The latest adjustment reflects rising international oil prices and tightening supply conditions, which have been exacerbated by ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The conflict has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes, significantly disrupting global energy flows and pushing prices upward.
While petrol prices have been increased to align more closely with these global trends, the government has opted to hold diesel prices steady through targeted interventions. Diesel is a key input in Rwanda’s transport and logistics sectors, and keeping its price unchanged is aimed at limiting knock-on effects on public transport fares, goods movement, and overall inflation.
“The price of diesel remains unchanged in order to maintain support of public transport of persons and goods, as well as overall economic activities,” the statement noted.
RURA said the pricing decision balances market realities with the need to protect economic activity, particularly in sectors that rely heavily on diesel.
The move comes just weeks after the previous price revision in early April, when both petrol and diesel saw notable increases. Petrol rose to Rwf 2,303 per litre at the time, while diesel climbed to its current level of Rwf 2,205 per litre.
Since then, global oil markets have remained volatile, with supply disruptions and uncertainty continuing to shape pricing trends. The blockage of key shipping routes has compounded existing pressures, contributing to higher import costs for fuel-dependent economies such as Rwanda.
RURA has advised consumers and businesses to optimise fuel usage, including through efficient travel planning and greater reliance on public or shared transport.
The regulator said it will continue to monitor developments in global and regional petroleum markets and adjust pricing policies as necessary to ensure market stability, fair pricing, and reliable supply across the country.
Petrol prices on the pump have been increased to Rwf 2,938 per litre, up from Rwf 2,303, while diesel remains unchanged at Rwf 2,205.
On April 9, 1994, three days after the start of the Genocide against the Tutsi, Grégoire de Saint Quentin, a technical advisor to the commander of the Para-Commando battalion, Maj. Aloys Ntabakuze, visited Kanziga’s residence in Kanombe. He reportedly informed her that French President François Mitterrand had requested that she and her family be evacuated to France immediately.
Kanziga, whose husband had been killed on April 6, 1994, when the presidential aircraft was shot down near Kigali, was instructed to prepare for immediate departure. She and her entourage were given little time to gather their belongings, with each person allowed only one bag and approximately 30 minutes to get ready.
At around 3 p.m. that day, French soldiers escorted Kanziga and 11 members of her family and friends to Kigali International Airport.
Among those with Kanziga were her three children, her younger sister Catherine Mukamusoni and her four children, as well as her son-in-law Alphonse Ntirivamunda. They were transported on a C-130 military transport aircraft.
The aircraft also carried Kanziga’s cousin, Twahirwa Séraphin, who had insisted on being evacuated, claiming he was seriously ill. It also carried two other families.
Reports indicate that Twahirwa had made prior financial arrangements to leave the country, including the conversion of Rwandan francs and the deposit of approximately 1 million USD into an account at Belgolaise Bank.
All of them departed Kigali at 7 p.m., heading to Bangui in the Central African Republic.
Agathe Kanziga chose to flee, leaving the country in the hands of Col. Théoneste Bagosora and her brother, Protais Zigiranyirazo. Members of the “Akazu” reportedly agreed to her departure, believing she would return soon once the country was “restored to peace.”
They also asked her to continue using her name in politics and her network of friends to help those who remained obtain military, political, and diplomatic support.
It is reported that French forces refused to transport President Habyarimana’s body, instead ordering that it remain in the mortuary of the military hospital in Kanombe.
In Bangui, Kanziga met a Polish nun named Editha, who ran her orphanage called Sainte Agathe, located in Masaka.
In deep sorrow, the nun told Kanziga that the Tutsi children in the orphanage had been killed on 7 April 1994, and asked her: “How could you allow such things to happen? The soldiers at least should not have done this.”
Kanziga told the nun not to blame the soldiers, saying they acted out of anger. She then asked her to remain silent and not speak further on the matter.
In the Central African Republic, Agathe Kanziga’s family was later flown out by an Air France aircraft. Upon arrival, she was welcomed with a bouquet sent by Mitterrand and a $35,000 financial support to help her start a new life.
She was also received by her two children, Jean-Pierre and Bernard, who were studying in France, as well as Marie Rose and Jean Claude, who were studying in Canada.
The family first stayed at the Forest Hill Hotel in Paris before moving into an apartment that Habyarimana had recently purchased in the city.
Kanziga’s reception in France was controversial, and every French official questioned about it reacted angrily to journalists.
Michel Roussin, then French Minister for Cooperation, once responded: “We had relations with a president who was elected legally; we evacuated his family because they requested assistance. It is not normal to blame France for acting this way. Other countries abandon leaders they had good relations with. What we did could have placed them in danger of death.”
Kanziga fled to France, believing she would return within days, expecting a swift military resolution. However, the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) continued its advance, and the interim government eventually fled Kigali, relocating to Gitarama before crossing into what was then Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) following its defeat.
Agathe Kanziga, wife of then-Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana, fled Rwanda for France together with her children and close relatives three days after the Genocide against the Tutsi began.
The commemoration event began at the bank’s head office in Kigali, where management and staff laid wreaths at a memorial bearing the names of the 33 employees who lost their lives in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
After paying tribute to the victims, BPR Bank leadership and employees proceeded to Nyanza Genocide Memorial, where they honoured the victims buried there and received a historical briefing on the events that took place in the area during the genocide.
They were taken through the specific history of Kicukiro in 1994, particularly at the former ETO Kicukiro, where many Tutsi had sought refuge.
On April 11, 1994, United Nations peacekeeping forces (UNAMIR) abandoned more than 3,000 Tutsi who had taken shelter at ETO Kicukiro, withdrawing and leaving them vulnerable to attacks by Interahamwe militias and government forces, who subsequently killed them.
Speaking during the commemoration, BPR Bank Rwanda Managing Director Patience Mutesi said remembering the Genocide against the Tutsi is a responsibility for all employees, as it is a way of honouring the victims.
“Commemoration is our collective duty and a commitment to honour the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi, while continuing to protect the truth so that future generations never forget,” she said.
IBUKA Vice President Blaise Ndizihiwe called on young people, especially artists and workers, to take responsibility in remembering the genocide and to actively confront those who continue to deny or distort its history.
“Young people often remain silent and do not openly acknowledge that the genocide happened, or assume others will speak about it. No one will tell our history for us. Preserving our history is not the responsibility of IBUKA alone, but of all of us,” he said.
Families of BPR employees who were killed during the Genocide against the Tutsi took part in the commemoration event.BPR Bank Rwanda management and staff were briefed on the history preserved at the Nyanza Genocide Memorial.BPR Bank management laid wreaths at the memorial site of former employees who were killed during the Genocide against the Tutsi.BPR Bank staff paid tribute to their colleagues who were killed during the Genocide against the Tutsi.IBUKA Vice President Blaise Ndizihiwe told the youth and artists that commemorating the Genocide against the Tutsi also comes with the responsibility of confronting those who continue to deny or distort its history. BPR Bank Rwanda Managing Director Patience Mutesi said that commemorating the Genocide against the Tutsi is a duty of the bank’s employees, as it is a way of honouring the victims. Artists Marina and Kevin Kade laid wreaths at a memorial bearing the names of former BPR Bank employees who were killed in Genocide against the Tutsi. Relatives of former BPR employees also attended the commemoration event.
Announced this week, the latest inductee list spans multiple categories, including Performers, Early Influence Award recipients, and Musical Excellence honourees. The ceremony is scheduled for November 14, 2026, in Los Angeles, California, and will later be broadcast on ABC and Disney+, underscoring the global attention surrounding this year’s selections.
Widely regarded as one of the most prestigious recognitions in the music industry, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame celebrates artists whose work has shaped the evolution of rock and popular music while preserving its history through its museum and archival legacy.
In the Performer category, Sade Adu joins an eclectic lineup featuring Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Luther Vandross, and Wu-Tang Clan. The inclusion reflects the Hall of Fame’s continued recognition of artists whose influence spans rock, R&B, soul, and alternative genres.
Sade band’s work has sold millions of copies worldwide and continues to influence contemporary artists across genres, from R&B to pop.
Sade, known for her smooth, jazz-inflected soul sound, has built a decades-long legacy defined by emotional depth and timeless recordings. Her band’s work has sold millions of copies worldwide and continues to influence contemporary artists across genres, from R&B to pop.
A major highlight of this year’s announcement is the recognition of Fela Kuti in the Early Influence category, where he stands alongside figures such as Celia Cruz, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, and Gram Parsons. The category honours pioneers whose innovations helped shape the direction of modern music beyond traditional genre boundaries.
Fela Kuti, widely regarded as the father of Afrobeat, is celebrated for fusing West African rhythms with jazz, funk, and highlife to create a revolutionary sound that doubled as political expression. The Hall of Fame described him as a transformative figure whose music challenged authority and inspired global cultural movements.
Fela Kuti, widely regarded as the father of Afrobeat, is celebrated for fusing West African rhythms with jazz, funk, and highlife to create a revolutionary sound that doubled as political expression.
Born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti in 1938, he first rose to prominence after forming Koola Lobitos in London and later developed Afrobeat following musical influences gathered in the United States during the civil rights era. His iconic works, including Expensive Shit and Water No Get Enemy, remain defining examples of music as both art and resistance.
Despite facing imprisonment and political backlash during his lifetime for his outspoken criticism of government systems, Fela Kuti’s influence has only grown, with modern global genres such as Afrobeats often tracing their roots back to his pioneering sound.
The 2026 class also highlights behind-the-scenes contributors in the Musical Excellence category, honouring influential producers and songwriters including Rick Rubin, Arif Mardin, Jimmy Miller, and Linda Creed, all credited with shaping modern music production.
According to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, eligibility requires that artists have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years prior, with selections made by a voting body of industry professionals, historians, and previous inductees.
This year’s class has been described as one of the most diverse in the institution’s history, reflecting the Hall of Fame’s continued expansion beyond traditional rock into a broader, global celebration of musical influence and legacy.
A research team led by UNSW Sydney has identified a newly described microbial pairing living within these structures that may help explain how early cellular partnerships evolved. The study, published in Current Biology, focuses on interactions that resemble processes thought to have driven the emergence of complex cells billions of years ago.
The Asgard connection
At the centre of the discovery is a newly identified archaeon, Nerearchaeum marumarumayae, belonging to the Asgard archaea group, microbes considered among the closest living relatives of the ancestors of eukaryotes, the domain of life that includes plants, animals and humans.
For decades, scientists have proposed that complex cells arose through a long-term partnership between an archaeon and a bacterium, an idea known as the endosymbiotic theory. But direct evidence of such close microbial interactions in natural environments has been limited.
A close microbial partnership
Using electron cryotomography, the researchers captured detailed 3D images showing Nerearchaeum physically associated with a bacterial partner through tiny tube-like structures.
“It could represent a snapshot of how these relationships began,” said Brendan Burns of UNSW Sydney, who described the microbes as interdependent “companions.”
The team spent nearly five years attempting to grow the organisms in the lab, but found neither could survive alone—suggesting a strong dependency between them, including the exchange of hydrogen, vitamins and other compounds.
Cultural and ecological context
The discovery also reflects collaboration beyond science. The species name, marumarumayae, was developed with the Malgana people, Traditional Owners of the Shark Bay region, and references the layered nature of the microbial mats found there.
Researchers say stromatolites should not be seen only as relics of early Earth, but as active ecosystems that continue to reveal how microbial relationships may have shaped the evolution of complex life.
A composite image of the Asgard archaeon (inset) found within the microbial mats of Shark Bay, Western Australia.
According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the sector performed strongly worldwide in 2025, with global growth reaching 4.1 percent. However, the story was very different for North America, which was the slowest-growing region globally, rising just 1.0%, and by only 0.9% in the U.S.
Despite an increase of 80 million international travelers globally, fewer chose the United States. Visitor numbers to the country dropped by 5.5 percent compared to 2024, while international spending declined by 4.6 percent to $176 billion.
Still, the U.S. remains dominant, contributing $2.63 trillion to global GDP and supporting 20.4 million jobs in 2025. Domestic travel spending also stayed strong, reaching $1.54 trillion.
WTTC President and CEO Gloria Guevara said, “The United States remains the largest Travel & Tourism market in the world and has an amazing foundation. To avoid losing its leadership position the U.S. must invest in promoting its attractiveness… change perception and position the U.S. as a welcoming destination.”
The report highlights a major opportunity ahead, as the U.S. prepares to co-host global football events in 2026, expected to attract about 1.24 million international visitors.
Meanwhile, countries in Asia-Pacific, led by China, are rapidly expanding. China’s tourism sector grew by 9.9 percent, contributing $1.75 trillion to GDP.
Jason Wynn noted, “the U.S. Travel & Tourism sector continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience… With the U.S. set to host a series of global events through 2028, we have an extraordinary opportunity to welcome new visitors.”
WTTC says future growth will depend on stronger promotion, investment, and improving the country’s global image.
The United States remained the largest Travel & Tourism market in the world in 2025 but is losing market share according to the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) latest Economic Impact Research.
The platform, called Carrot Intelligence, uses one of the largest private datasets in the field, covering information from 195 countries.
Unlike many AI systems that rely on general data, this platform is built from real clinical and financial records gathered over the past decade.
Carrot says this allows it to offer more personalized support based on each individual’s medical history, location, and personal goals.
The company has already supported millions of users and processed over $1 billion in claims, forming the backbone of the new system. According to Carrot’s founder and CEO, Tammy Sun, the goal is to ensure AI in healthcare is reliable, evidence-based, and focused on real outcomes.
Carrot Intelligence is behind several new tools, including a program aimed at reducing high-risk pregnancies and a system that detects errors and fraud in medical billing.
The platform can also step in earlier, helping people explore less invasive fertility options before turning to treatments like In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
In a recent survey, 89 percent of women said they would prefer alternatives to IVF, highlighting the need for earlier guidance. The platform responds by offering timely advice tailored to each stage of a person’s journey.
Importantly, Carrot says human clinicians remain in control of care decisions, with AI supporting rather than replacing them.
Carrot has introduced a new artificial intelligence platform designed to improve how people access and experience care.
Researchers from Mass General Brigham analysed large health databases and previous clinical trials to compare how different blood pressure goals impact long-term health outcomes. Using data from sources such as the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), they created models that simulated how many heart attacks, strokes, and cases of heart failure might be prevented by treating people more intensively.
The study found that targeting blood pressure below 120 mm Hg prevented more cardiovascular events than higher goals like 130 mm Hg, even after considering common measurement inaccuracies that occur in everyday clinical settings. This suggests that pursuing a stricter treatment target could lead to fewer serious heart-related illnesses over time.
However, lowering blood pressure more intensively isn’t without drawbacks. Patients treated to reach the stricter goal had a greater chance of experiencing side effects related to medications, including falls, kidney injury, very low blood pressure (hypotension), and slow heart rate (bradycardia). Additionally, stronger treatment required more doctor visits and medications, which increased overall healthcare costs.
Despite these challenges, the researchers concluded that the lower blood pressure target remained cost-effective when compared with higher targets. They estimated the cost to be about $42,000 per quality-adjusted life-year gained, a standard measurement used in healthcare to evaluate the value of medical interventions.
Lead author Dr. Karen Smith said the findings should give patients at high cardiovascular risk and their doctors more confidence in pursuing intensive blood pressure control.
“Our findings suggest the intensive less than 120 mm/Hg target prevents more cardiovascular events and provides good value, and this holds true even when measurements aren’t perfect,” said Dr. Smith.
She emphasised, however, that treatment decisions should be personalised, as not all individuals will benefit equally from very aggressive blood pressure lowering.
While there is some risk associated with lowering blood pressure more aggressively, this strategy may prevent more heart attacks, strokes, and heart failures and still be worth the investment for many patients, especially those at higher risk for cardiovascular disease.
Lowering blood pressure to under 120 mm hg could prevent more heart problems.
