Lionsgate motion picture chair Adam Fogelson said during a quarterly earnings call, as reported by Variety, that early preparations for the follow-up are progressing well.
“Preparations continue to go exceptionally well,” he said, adding that there remains “a ton of incredibly entertaining Michael Jackson story” that was not included in the first film.
He explained that many major moments from Jackson’s life and music career were left out of the original production, suggesting there is still enough material for a second film.
“There are so many other events that happened, even in the time frame of the original movie that weren’t touched upon, so we’re very, very confident that we’ve got an incredibly entertaining movie that will appeal once again to a global audience,” Fogelson said.
The first film, Michael, performed strongly at the box office, earning about $715.8m (£533.2m) worldwide after its release in April, with record-breaking openings in both the US and UK. The movie ended with Jackson’s 1988 Wembley Stadium performance during his Bad tour.
However, production of the film faced controversy linked to allegations of child sexual abuse against Jackson, which affected the original script and required significant changes.
Some planned content was removed after legal complications involving individuals connected to past settlements.
It remains unclear how a potential sequel will address these allegations, or whether it will follow a chronological storyline.
Fogelson suggested the narrative could move both forward and backward in time.
“We can go forwards and backwards in telling this story,” he said, adding that around “25 to 30% of a second movie” has already been filmed during earlier production work, which could also help reduce costs.
The studio based in the United States has not yet announced a release date for the sequel.
The studio behind the hit Michael Jackson biopic Michael has confirmed that a sequel is in development, despite controversy surrounding the original film.
The Embassy led the preparation and coordination of the flagship diplomatic and cultural event.
The celebration brought together more than 500 guests, including South Korea’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun, African ambassadors, senior government officials, members of the National Assembly, CEOs, business leaders, academics, media representatives, members of the diplomatic corps, and friends of Africa in Korea.
Rwanda’s leadership role in the organization of the event underscored its active diplomatic engagement within the African Group in Seoul, particularly in advancing cooperation between Africa and South Korea across political, economic, and cultural fields.
Beyond diplomacy, Africa Day 2026 placed strong emphasis on cultural exchange and innovation, showcasing the deepening ties between the two regions through fashion, music, art, and creative industries.
Organisers highlighted the emergence of “A-Culture” alongside the global influence of “K-Culture,” reflecting increasing cultural collaboration.
One of the key highlights of the event was a cultural fashion showcase featuring traditional Rwandan attire alongside Hanbok designs inspired by the colours of the Rwandan flag. The display symbolised growing friendship and cultural connection between Rwanda and South Korea.
The event also reflected broader efforts to strengthen Africa–Korea relations through shared priorities such as innovation, sustainable development, and people-to-people exchange.
Mr. Lie Sangbong, renowned Korean fashion designer and Mr. Samuel Chung Chairman of KCA, pictured wearing Mushanana after previously attending the Kwita Izina naming ceremony in Rwanda. Cho Hyun, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, delivering remarks during the Africa Day 2026 Korea celebration in Seoul.Mr. Jung Won-ju, Chairman of Daewoo E&C and Korea Herald, was honored with the Africa Contribution Award in recognition of his contributions to strengthening Africa–Korea cooperation and partnership.Lee Hun-seung, Chair of the National Assembly Forum for Africa of the Republic of Korea, delivering remarks during the Africa Day 2026 Korea celebration in Seoul.The evening featured live cultural performances highlighting African rhythm, dance, and artistic tradition as part of the Africa Day 2026 Korea celebration. Dr. Chafik Rachadi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to the Republic of Korea and Dean of the African Group of Ambassadors, delivering remarks during the Africa Day 2026 Korea celebration in Seoul.Mr. Choi Jin-Young, CEO of Herald Media Group, delivering Welcome remarks during the Africa Day 2026 Korea celebration in Seoul.
The ministry says national milk production has increased sharply over the past two decades, rising from about 332,000 litres per day in 2005 to approximately 2.9 million litres in 2025.
The figures were highlighted on May 21, 2026 during the second celebration of “Cow Day,” an event initiated by Rubavu District to showcase the importance of cattle in improving livelihoods and driving local development.
Jean Claude Ndorimana is the Director General, Animal Resources Development for MINAGRI, praised the initiative and said there is a need to elevate the celebration to the national level.
He noted that cattle play a wide-ranging role in society, contributing not only to nutrition through milk but also to economic development through income generation, improved crop production via manure, and even social cohesion through practices such as bride price and livestock sharing.
“The benefits of cattle are well known. They provide milk that improves health and helps prevent child stunting, generate income, and produce manure that improves agricultural productivity. They also strengthen family and social ties,” he said.
Ndorimana attributed the rise in milk production largely to improvements in livestock farming, particularly the Girinka programme, which has transformed dairy production across the country.
He also urged farmers to take up livestock insurance, noting that the government subsidises 40% of the cost, while farmers contribute the remaining 60%.
Rubavu District Mayor Prosper Mulindwa said cattle play a central role in the district’s economy and culture, describing them as symbols of nutrition, unity, and agricultural productivity.
“A cow is like a factory. It is not an exaggeration to say so. That is why it deserves a special day, and it should reach everyone, as envisioned by the President who launched the Girinka programme,” he said. He added that modern dairy cattle in the district can produce 35 litres of milk or more per day.
Mulindwa also said Cow Day celebrations in Rubavu will be aligned with the number of cows ready to be passed on under the Girinka programme, to strengthen the system of cattle redistribution.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources further said Cow Day should be aligned with national development programmes, including the Rwanda Dairy Development Project Phase II (RDDP2), which aims to boost milk production in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and is implemented by the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB).
According to a 2025 MINAGRI report, Rwanda had an estimated 1,727,913 cattle nationwide.
34 households in Rubavu District received cows under the Girinka programme.In Rubavu, a cow can cost up to Rwf3 million. Farmers with cows producing 35 litres of milk per day received equipment to support livestock farmingJean Claude Ndorimana is the Director General, Animal Resources Development for MINAGRI giving milk to children. Cattle continue to contribute to the development of RwandansMayor Mulindwa awarded a farmer who cultivated quality fodder, which increases milk production on a three-hectare farm.The event also featured livestock farming equipment related exhibition. Mayor Mulindwa said that livestock farming in Rubavu District continues to develop day by dayVarious leaders attended Cow Day celebrations in RubavuThe ‘Cow Day’ has been celebrated in Rubavu for second time.
The pilot phase began on Monday, May 18, 2026, on the route connecting Kanombe to central Kigali, passing through Kigali International Airport, Chez Lando, Gishushu, KABC, Park Inn, Urban by CityBlue, BPR, and Serena Hotel.
The service introduces dedicated 100% electric buses designed specifically for airport passengers, particularly travelers moving between the airport and major hotels across Kigali.
According to Ecofleet’s Communications and Public Relations Officer, Havugimana Aldo, the buses will operate in line with flight schedules to ensure timely transfers for passengers.
The buses are fully electric.
This means that passengers departing from hotels to the airport will be picked up based on their flight departure times and transported directly to Kigali International Airport.
He noted that the pilot phase is intended to assess the service’s ability to reliably align with flight schedules once fully operational.
Regarding fares, Ecofleet stated that pricing is still under review and will be determined after the completion of the pilot phase.
The company also highlighted that designated stops and signage have been installed along the route to guide passengers accessing the airport service. The buses will be reserved exclusively for airport passengers, both arriving and departing.
“These buses will pick up passengers at the airport and designated stops along the route. They are exclusively for airport users and will have special fares. Other passengers travelling along the same corridor will continue using regular city buses on the Kanombe–Remera–Kabuga routes,” Havugimana said.
Ecofleet stated that pricing is still under review and will be determined after the completion of the pilot phase.
He further clarified that the buses will not operate like conventional city transport with frequent stops at terminals, but will instead follow a controlled route focused on airport connectivity.
Ecofleet added that the service is intended to complement existing airport transport options rather than replace them, giving travellers additional and more affordable choices compared to private taxi services.
Rwanda, which has positioned itself as a regional hub for tourism and international conferences, expects the new service to improve visitor mobility while promoting environmentally friendly transport solutions.
The pilot initiative comes as Rwanda hosts several major international events, including the Basketball Africa League (BAL) 2026 Playoffs and Finals, scheduled for May 22–31, 2026.
The pilot phase began on Monday, May 18, 2026, on the route connecting Kanombe to central Kigali, passing through Kigali International Airport, Chez Lando, Gishushu, KABC, Park Inn, Urban by CityBlue, BPR, and Serena Hotel.
The tournament brings together eight elite clubs, promising another intense chapter of elite basketball on the continent.
Defending champions absent again
For the second time in BAL history, the playoffs will be played without the reigning champions. Libya’s Al Ahli Tripoli, who lifted the trophy in the previous edition, failed to qualify for this year’s finals.
The only previous occurrence of this came in 2023, when US Monastir, the 2022 champions, shockingly crashed out during the group phase and failed to return to defend their title.
Teams chasing a historic second title
Over its history, the BAL has produced a unique string of different champions. As the 2026 bracket stands, only two clubs in this year’s field have previously won the prestigious title: Petro de Luanda (the 2024 champions) and Egypt’s Al Ahly SC (the 2023 winners). Both are looking to become the first club in league history to win two BAL championships.
The rest of the field is heavily comprised of ambitious newcomers and hungry contenders looking to make their first championship game, including Rwanda’s RSSB Tigers, Tanzania’s Dar City, Tunisia’s Club Africain, and Senegal’s ASC Ville de Dakar. They are joined by other experienced continental powerhouses like Morocco’s FUS Rabat and Libya’s Al Ahly Ly (the 2024 runners-up).
Ivorian guard Souleyman Diabate stands out as the only player in this year’s finals who has already won the BAL twice. He lifted the trophy in the inaugural 2021 season with Zamalek and again in 2022 with US Monastir. Now a veteran leader, Diabate brings a wealth of international experience from professional leagues across Europe and Asia, and will suit up for ASC Ville de Dakar in this year’s tournament.
Unique competition format
The playoff stage introduces a high-stakes format. The quarterfinals open the tournament using a distinct two-legged aggregate tie system. Teams will face off twice, and the cumulative score across both games will determine who moves on. From the semifinals onward, the format switches back to a high-pressure, single-elimination knockout format.
Several elite teams in the final eight booked their spots by navigating the grueling, FIBA-run “Road to BAL” qualifying tournaments. Among them, teams like Dar City have shown incredible resilience, bouncing back from early-stage qualifying losses to peak exactly at the right time for the Kigali showpiece.
The tactical battles on the sidelines will be fierce, featuring highly decorated coaches with extensive continental pedigrees. Spanish tactician Sergio Valdeolmillos, who guided Petro de Luanda to continental prominence, returns with deep tactical knowledge. He is joined by veteran Moroccan coach Said El Bouzadi, leading FUS Rabat, who brings decades of experience coaching top-tier North African clubs at the highest levels.
The Basketball Africa League (BAL 2026) playoffs tip off today in Kigali, with the competition running from May 22 to 31, 2026. This marks the decisive final stage of the sixth season of Africa’s premier basketball competition, hosted once again at the state-of-the-art BK Arena in Rwanda.
According to BBC, the item was handed back to Rye Library in East Sussex, a county in the south-east of England, during an annual library amnesty that allows people to return overdue or lost books without being fined or judged.
The returned book, The Potter’s Book of Glaze Recipes by Emmanuel Cooper, is a guide for potters on creating ceramic glazes. Library staff said the due date stamped inside the book showed it should have been returned in June 1983.
East Sussex is a county in southern England, and its libraries run the amnesty scheme each year to encourage the return of long-overdue materials.
According to East Sussex County Council, the longest overdue item ever returned during such an amnesty remains the children’s book Havelok the Warrior by Ian Serraillier, which was returned 48 years later. It had originally been due back at Hastings Library in April 1975 before being returned in 2023.
This year’s amnesty has already seen thousands of returns. Since it began on 16 February, a total of 22,160 overdue loans and 683 lost books have been brought back or renewed across the county.
Nick Skelton, assistant director of communities at East Sussex County Council, said the scheme helps restore books to shelves while encouraging people to return items without fear of penalties.
“The annual amnesty is an effective way of reclaiming books without the public fearing being judged or fined,” he said. “The library service is simply happy to have them back.”
At the start of the amnesty, data showed that Hastings and Eastbourne libraries together had 13,454 overdue loans. The council also reported that 65.4% of overdue items were from the junior fiction section.
Librarians have welcomed back books that had been missing for more than 40 years
The planet, known as TOI-199b, is about the size of Saturn and orbits a star located more than 330 light years from Earth. The findings were published in the Astronomical Journal on May 20 by researchers from Penn State and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
The James Webb Space Telescope is the world’s most powerful space telescope. Launched in 2021, it was designed to study distant planets, stars and galaxies using advanced infrared technology that can detect heat and light invisible to human eyes.
Scientists said giant planets are usually either extremely cold, like Jupiter and Saturn, or extremely hot planets known as “hot Jupiters” that orbit very close to their stars. However, TOI-199b falls somewhere in between, making it a rare “temperate” giant planet.
Researchers estimate the planet’s temperature at around 175 degrees Fahrenheit. While still too hot for humans, it is much cooler than many giant planets previously discovered.
Using the James Webb telescope, scientists studied the planet’s atmosphere as it passed in front of its star. By analyzing how the starlight changed, they identified gases present in the atmosphere.
According to researcher Aaron Bello-Arufe from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the telescope detected methane, while signs of ammonia and carbon dioxide were also observed.
Scientists say studying planets like TOI-199b could improve understanding of how planets and atmospheres form and evolve, including Earth’s own atmosphere.
Artist’s impression of a gas giant planet orbiting its distant host star. New research, led by astronomers at Penn State and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, used NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to analyze the atmosphere of a gas giant planet about the size of Saturn but with Earth-like temperatures and found it to be rich in methane. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Officials say the success of this plan depends heavily on Rwanda’s long-term ambition to develop nuclear energy capacity of 600 megawatts by 2030 and up to 1.5 gigawatts by 2050, which is expected to provide the stable, high-volume electricity needed to support energy-intensive sectors such as data centers, mining, and advanced manufacturing.
Global demand for artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital services is rapidly increasing, placing unprecedented pressure on electricity systems worldwide. Experts estimate that by 2030, AI could contribute up to $15 trillion to the global economy, but this growth depends on reliable energy infrastructure.
Data centers, which operate continuously to store and process information, are among the fastest-growing sources of electricity demand. In 2024, global data center consumption reached roughly 415 terawatt-hours and is projected to double by 2030.
Major technology companies including Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta continue to expand infrastructure investments to meet this rising demand.
Various officials discussed the importance of nuclear energy in technology and mining operations at the recent Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit on Africa (NEISA) held in Kigali.
Industrial sectors competing for electricity
Beyond digital systems, heavy industries also place significant pressure on electricity supply. Mining and mineral processing operations require continuous and stable power, particularly in processes such as smelting, which can reach temperatures of up to 1,600°C.
Global firms such as Rio Tinto and Alcoa consume large amounts of electricity across their industrial operations, often at scales far beyond the current generation capacity of many developing economies.
Rwanda currently produces electricity in the range of hundreds of megawatts, highlighting a significant gap between existing supply and the requirements of large-scale industrial and digital expansion.
Nuclear energy positioned as long-term solution
Nuclear power is being considered as a key solution to meet this growing demand due to its ability to provide continuous, high-output, low-emission electricity.
Unlike intermittent renewable sources, nuclear plants deliver stable baseload power suitable for industries that cannot afford interruptions, such as data centers and mineral processing facilities.
One kilogram of uranium, for example, can generate energy equivalent to thousands of tons of coal, without producing greenhouse gas emissions during operation.
Senior officials, including Minister of ICT and Innovation Paula Ingabire and Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board CEO Alice Uwase, have emphasized that Rwanda’s digital and mining ambitions are closely tied to the availability of stable electricity.
Minister Paula Ingabire said that Rwanda plans to develop a $5 billion data center.
Officials note that nuclear projects require substantial upfront investment and long payback periods, making clear financing models and guaranteed demand essential for viability.
According to Ingabire, nuclear energy becomes more attractive to investors when 60%–70% of generated electricity is secured through long-term contracts with large industrial users rather than reliance on government off-take alone.
Mining and telecommunications expansion driving demand
Rwanda’s mining sector, which employs more than 90,000 people, is increasingly focused on value-added processing of minerals such as gold, coltan, and tin. However, limited electricity supply has constrained further industrial expansion, forcing some operations to rely on costly backup generators.
At the same time, telecommunications infrastructure is expanding rapidly. By the end of 2025, Rwanda had deployed 1,781 mobile network towers and nearly 25,000 kilometers of fiber-optic infrastructure.
Government projections indicate that more than 2,500 towers will be required to achieve full national coverage, further increasing electricity demand across the sector.
The CEO of the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board, Alice Uwase, noted that several large-scale mining projects require nuclear energy to sustain continued operations.
Officials argue that combining reliable nuclear energy with large-scale data infrastructure could position Rwanda as a regional hub for digital services. Even a 5-megawatt data center requires tens of millions of kilowatt-hours annually, highlighting the scale of energy required to support the sector.
Global technology firms such as Amazon, Google, and others continue to prioritize locations with stable, clean, and uninterrupted electricity supply, factors Rwanda aims to strengthen through its long-term energy strategy.
Data centers are among the most electricity-intensive infrastructure systems.
The findings were published in the journal Aging-US by researchers David Gems, Alexander Carver and Yuan Zhao.
According to the scientists, the first stage begins earlier in life when the body experiences damage from infections, injuries or genetic changes.
Although the body repairs much of this damage, some hidden problems may remain for years without causing illness.
The second stage happens as people grow older and the body gradually becomes weaker. Researchers say this makes it harder for the body to control earlier damage, allowing diseases to slowly develop.
The scientists believe this may explain why some illnesses appear mainly in old age even though their causes may have started decades earlier.
For example, viruses that stay inactive in the body for years can become active again when the immune system weakens, leading to diseases such as shingles. Injuries suffered during youth may also later contribute to arthritis as body tissues age and lose strength.
The review also suggests that some inherited genetic mutations may remain harmless for many years before increasing the risk of diseases like cancer later in life.
Researchers say the new model could help doctors and scientists find better ways to prevent chronic diseases by reducing damage earlier in life and improving health during aging.
The study presents aging as a complex process caused by many factors working together over time.
Researchers are offering a new way to understand why aging is so closely connected to chronic illness. AI generated photo
The comet, officially named C/2025 K1 (ATLAS), was not the original object researchers intended to observe. According to researchers from Auburn University, technical challenges forced them to switch to another target, only for the comet to suddenly split during observation.
A comet is a giant icy object made of frozen gases, dust and rock that travels through space. Scientists consider comets to be ancient remains from the birth of the solar system billions of years ago. When they move close to the Sun, heat causes their ice to melt, creating bright glowing tails visible from Earth.
Research professor John Noonan said the team only realized what had happened after reviewing Hubble’s images the next day. Instead of seeing one comet, they found four separate pieces.
The researchers explained that the comet likely broke apart after passing very close to the Sun, where extreme heat and pressure weaken such icy bodies. Before splitting, the comet was estimated to be about eight kilometers wide.
According to the scientists, the breakup may help reveal ancient material hidden inside the comet for billions of years, giving researchers a better understanding of how the solar system formed.
The study also revealed another mystery. Scientists expected the comet to brighten immediately after splitting, but the increase in brightness happened more slowly than expected.
The comet fragments are now drifting farther away from Earth and are unlikely to ever return to the solar system.
This diagram shows the path the long-period comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS), or K1 for short, took as it swung past the Sun and began its journey out of the Solar System. On November 10, 2025, Hubble captured the inset image of the fragmenting comet. Hubble took this image just a month after K1’s closest approach to the Sun, called perihelion. During perihelion, a comet experiences its most intense heating and maximum stress. Just past perihelion is when some long-period comets like K1 tend to fall apart. K1’s perihelion was inside Mercury’s orbit, about one-third the distance of the Earth from the Sun. This is the first time Hubble has witnessed a comet so early in the process of breaking up. Credit: NASA, ESA, R. Crawford (STScI)
