Accompanied by his wife and two children, one cradled in his arms and the other assisted by members of his entourage, Lamar’s arrival marked the beginning of an exciting event at the BK Arena scheduled for December 6, 2023.
Swiftly disembarking from his private jet, Kendrick Lamar wasted no time, heading straight into a waiting car that transported him and his family to the luxurious Marriott Hotel, their chosen accommodation during their stay in Kigali.
The ‘Move Afrika’ concert promises a star-studded lineup, with Kendrick Lamar sharing the stage with fellow artists such as Bruce Melodie, Zuchu, and Ariel Wayz.
Notable figures from various fields are expected to attend, including Nkusi Arthur, a former journalist, Winston Duke, a renowned figure in world cinema recently granted Rwandan citizenship, and Jackie Lumbasi, a journalist at RBA.
Adding to the list of distinguished guests is Azziad Nasenya, a Kenyan movie star and social media sensation.
Kendrick Lamar, who has been globetrotting on his world tour, is set to unveil his latest album, ‘Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers,’ adding an extra layer of anticipation to the already high-profile event.
After a brief but impactful stopover in Kigali, Lamar departed from Kigali Airport, ending the initial chapter of what promises to be an eventful visit to Rwanda’s capital.
Umuraperi Kendrick Lamar yageze i Kigali mu gitondo cyo kuri uyu wa Kabiri, aho yitabiriye igitaramo cya ‘Move Afrika’ giteganyijwe kubera muri BK Arena ku wa 6 Ukuboza 2023. pic.twitter.com/NPkEdKiOLC
“As we strive to harness the potential of the AfCFTA, it is essential that we do so in a manner that safeguards our natural ecosystem, promotes renewable energy and mitigates the impact of climate change,” a UNECA statement issued Monday quoted Melaku Desta, coordinator of the UNECA’s Africa Trade Policy Center (ATPC), as saying. According to the statement, Desta made the remarks on behalf of Claver Gatete, executive secretary of the UNECA, at a side event held during the ongoing COP28 climate change conference in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
Desta, citing a recent UNECA study on the importance of the implementation of the AfCFTA agreement and parallel adoption of climate policies, said the effective implementation of the continental free trade pact can be aligned with green principles, renewable practices and low carbon strategies.
He noted a growing need to consider the impact on the environment as the continent moves toward greater economic integration and take proactive measures to mitigate any negative consequences.
“Africa is being negatively impacted by climate change despite contributing a small amount to greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.
According to data from the UNECA, the African continent presently accounts for approximately 7 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions from carbon dioxide and other gasses.
Desta said greenhouse gas emissions in Africa are forecasted to grow faster over the next decades than in other parts of the world, although starting from a relatively low level currently.
The recent UNECA study indicated that greenhouse gas emissions in Africa could rise to nearly 12 percent by 2045 based on current trends. It noted that if large emitting countries implement policies to transition to clean energy, Africa’s economic costs to export goods to those countries could increase.
“The AfCFTA creates opportunities for the continent to industrialize and transform through increased trade and as stressed at the session, the AfCFTA stands as a beacon of hope for fostering intra-African trade, economic integration and shared prosperity,” Desta said.
Desta, however, expressed concerns that the AfCFTA could add pressure to climate change through increased manufacturing and transportation use, among others, which in turn necessitates climate-friendly engagements.
UNECA projections show that intra-African trade could be 35 percent higher in 2045 with the AfCFTA agreement in place, as compared to without AfCFTA.
The results, unveiled on Monday, December 4, at the Ministry of Education’s headquarters, indicate that male candidates demonstrated a commendable success rate of 96.8% in General Education (GE), surpassing the 93.6% success rate achieved by their female counterparts.
Similarly, in the Teacher Training Centre (TTC), male candidates slightly outshone their female peers with success rates of 99.8% and 99.6%, respectively.
This trend persisted in Training Vocational Education Technical (TVET), where male candidates achieved a success rate of 97.7%, slightly edging out females at 97.5%. The data encompassed a total of 80,892 candidates across categories, including GE, TTC, and TVET.
Within the GE category, out of 48,455 candidates (21,186 male and 27,269 female), 94.5% successfully passed this year’s examinations, representing a marginal decrease from the previous year’s 94.6% success rate.
TTC, with 4,000 candidates sitting for exams (1,708 male and 2,292 female), witnessed a pass rate of 99.7%, a slight dip from the previous year’s 99.9%.
Concerning TVET, 97.6% of the 28,070 candidates (15,163 male and 12,907 female) who sat for exams showed a marginal change from the previous results of 97.8%.
NESA emphasized that the highest achievable aggregate by excelling in all examinable subjects is 60, while the minimum aggregate stands at nine. Candidates and stakeholders can now access their results through NESA’s portal or via messages.
The commercial rocket blasted off at 7:33 a.m. (Beijing Time).
The launch was the 11th flight mission to use the CERES-1 rocket series.
Developed by Beijing-based Galactic Energy, CERES-1 is a small-scale solid-propellant carrier rocket designed to send micro-satellites to low orbit.
The commercial rocket is 1.4 meters in diameter, and has a total length of about 20 meters and a takeoff weight of 33 tonnes. It can carry a payload of up to 300 kg to a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 500 km.
With the capacity to carry both a single satellite and multiple satellites, the CERES-1 commercial rocket can be used for various tailored launch missions.
Galactic Energy has served 16 commercial satellite customers and launched a total of 35 commercial satellites of various types.
Tuesday’s launch mission is the first by this commercial rocket developer to successfully send satellites to the twilight orbit.
The twilight orbit is a special type of sun-synchronous orbit in which the satellite crosses the equator at approximately 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., exactly when the local sun rises and sets.
This means the satellite can always be illuminated by sunlight as the orbital plane and the Earth’s twilight line are approximately coincident. Therefore, the satellite can receive adequate and continuous energy supply.
One satellite carried by the CERES-1 Y9 rocket on Tuesday will focus on meteorological environment detection, while the other will provide real-time wide-area comprehensive perception satellite application services.
The Commonwealth Secretariat unveiled the Living Lands Charter Implementation Framework at a high-level event on 3 December 2023 in Dubai, organised alongside the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference (COP28).
The event comes after extensive consultations with Commonwealth countries since the adoption of the Living Lands Charter last year. It offered Commonwealth leaders, ministers, and development partners an opportunity to learn about the framework, share country experiences and foster collaboration on land issues.
Speakers, including Prime Minister Robert Abela of Malta; Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD); and David Cooper, Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, expressed their support for the framework during the event.
{{‘A giant leap forward’}}
Opening the event, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, said: “Our Commonwealth encompasses a quarter of the world’s land area and is home to a third of the world’s mega-biodiverse countries. More than 400 endemic species are found in our small island states.
“The impact of climate change is increasingly severe across our countries. Food insecurity is increasing. Soil is depleting. The sheer scale of these challenges compels us to lead with bold action.”
She added: “With this implementation framework, we are taking a giant leap forward. It will leverage the combined strength of the Commonwealth through thematic action working groups – learning from each other and spurring one another on towards systems change and a better future for all.”
The framework takes a system-wide approach towards implementing the Living Lands Charter through five thematic action areas: climate-resilient agriculture for food security; soil and water conservation; sustainable green cover and biodiversity; carbon neutral and climate-resilient livestock rearing and animal husbandry; and indigenous and local people for climate-resilient development.
{{Champion countries}}
Several countries have taken the initiative to lead in crucial areas of action: Guyana has stepped forward to champion initiatives focused on sustainable green cover and biodiversity.
Kenya has committed to spearheading action on climate-resilient agriculture with a primary emphasis on ensuring food security. Meanwhile, Malta has positioned itself to lead efforts in the conservation of soil and water.
Within each thematic area, the Commonwealth will offer extensive support to countries to achieve their commitments.
This support entails mobilising resources for implementation, conducting analyses for policymaking, facilitating institutional governance, offering capacity-building assistance, and generating knowledge for member countries.
{{‘An urgent priority’}}
Prime Minister Abela said: “The world is experiencing a planetary crisis, addressing climate change, protecting biodiversity, and nurturing ecological restoration of our land has become an urgent priority for all Commonwealth members.
“We are here to renew our commitment to work together towards the same through the Living Lands Charter. We hope that our experience inspires Commonwealth countries facing similar tough challenges.”
UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw said: “Land degradation is affecting 3.2 billion people. Most of those affected are in the Commonwealth because of the diversity of its members.”
“The biggest threat to security in the world today is environmental destruction,” he added. “We must be clear that living lands is not only about a sector or a line ministry but also about entire nations and livelihoods.”
The implementation framework has been developed in response to a mandate from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in June 2022.
The Secretariat for the three Rio Conventions welcomed the framework and expressed confidence in its ability to help countries achieve targets set out in the Paris Agreement, the Global Biodiversity Framework and the UNCCD Strategic Plan for Land Degradation Neutrality.
The framework’s launch coincides with the Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action.
“The death toll has now reached 47, up from 23 earlier announced,” Manyara regional commissioner Queen Sendiga told Xinhua over the phone. “The number of injured persons is 85.”
Rescue operations were continuing, Sendiga said, adding that a special rescue squad from the Tanzania People’s Defense Forces joined other security organs in the search and rescue efforts on Sunday evening. “The rescue operations will continue throughout the night,” she said.
Earlier on Sunday, Sendiga said rescue efforts were underway to assist individuals trapped in the landslides on Hanang hills in the Hanang district of the Manyara region, as well as to retrieve bodies trapped in the debris. She identified Katesh town and the villages of Jorodom, Gendabi, Mogito and Gedan’gonyi as the most affected areas.
Describing the situation as “horrifying,” Sendiga said that one village had been completely engulfed by mudflow, suggesting a potential rise in the number of casualties.
Gabriel Mbogoni, a senior official from the Geological Survey of Tanzania, said that a team from the institution was en route to the area for investigations.
Sendiga has urged the Prime Minister’s Office, security agencies and the Ministry of Health to promptly deploy personnel and resources to the Manyara region to bolster relief efforts.
Hanang district in the Manyara region is predominantly inhabited by traditional livestock keepers. The region has a population of about 1.9 million, according to the 2022 population census.
The Tanzania Meteorological Authority in August issued an advisory for the September-December rainfall season, warning that the season was more likely to be influenced by El Nino conditions. It also warned that the rains could have devastating consequences, including flooding and disruption of businesses and transport.
The wounded Palestinians, along with 21 family members, boarded a Tunisian military plane and arrived at the international airport of Tunis Sunday evening, Ridha Dhaoui, the president of Tunisian National Council of the Order of Physicians, told Mosaique FM.
According to Dhaoui, the wounded Palestinians, aged 1-21, will be admitted to both public and private hospitals in Tunis to receive the medical treatment.
Dhaoui added that most of the injured Palestinians had broken bones and serious burns.
Dhaoui announced that another plane carrying 150 wounded Palestinians was expected to arrive in Tunis on Dec. 5.
The move is part of Tunisia’s efforts to treat the large number of wounded Palestinians in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. More than 15,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict on Oct. 7, and 41,316 others were injured, according to the Gaza-based Media Office.
“Joe Biden is not a defender of American democracy; Joe Biden is the destroyer of American democracy,” Trump declared, attempting to counter the anti-democratic allegations against him.
According to USA Today, Biden’s team and supporters rejected Trump’s claims, pointing out his proposals to fill the civil service with politically motivated loyalists and his promise to use the Justice Department against Biden and others.
It remains uncertain whether Trump will adopt this argument as a new direction for his campaign, but his remarks could indicate that voter rights and other democratic issues will be central to the 2024 election.
Ammar Moussa, a spokesperson for the Biden campaign, dismissed Trump’s democracy argument as “his latest desperate attempt at distraction” from crucial issues such as healthcare. Moussa emphasized that the American people see through these tactics.
Biden and Trump have recently intensified longstanding debates, including disagreements over healthcare, which are expected to be significant in the upcoming election. Biden criticized Trump’s consideration of alternatives to the Affordable Care Act, accusing him of wanting to eliminate the healthcare legislation.
While Trump and Biden engage in clashes reminiscent of a general election, democratic institutions are poised to be a major focus in the 2024 contest. In Cedar Rapids, Trump continued to accuse Biden of orchestrating the criminal cases against him, despite federal and state prosecutors bringing those charges.
The clash over democracy occurs amid increasing concerns about Trump’s impact on democratic principles. Some political leaders, including former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, describe Trump as a significant threat to democracy, citing his plans to enhance presidential power. Trump, however, insists he is fighting against what he calls “the anti-Democratic Party,” predicting that the upcoming election will be a “political earthquake that will echo around the world.”
Before facing Biden, Trump must navigate the delegate race against Republican rivals such as former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Despite criticism from a few prominent conservatives, Trump maintains a substantial lead in national polls, emphasizing the need for vigilance among his supporters: “Nothing’s over; bad things can happen.”
These troops, engaged in a peace-restoration mission in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), announced their withdrawal, commencing on December 2, 2023, from North Kivu Province and returning to their respective countries. The DRC had set a deadline of December 8, 2023, for the forces to exit its territory.
On December 3, 2023, M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka conveyed in a statement that once the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) left the DRC, M23 would reclaim and retain all areas previously relinquished during peace talks, emphasizing this move as essential for the welfare of the civilian population.
A released statement from the EACRF revealed the absence of security in North Kivu, attributed to the resurged conflict since October 2023, compelling numerous residents to evacuate their homes.
Kanyuka reported ongoing attacks on M23 bases by a coalition of government forces, FARDC, and armed groups, including the FDLR implicated in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Despite these challenges, M23 affirmed its commitment to preserving security and safeguarding civilian lives.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Bank of Kigali, in a landmark collaboration announced at COP28 in Dubai, are spearheading this pioneering effort, marking the largest-ever EIB support for private sector investment in Rwanda.
This sustainable agriculture financing initiative, anticipated to launch early next year, seeks to alleviate long standing credit constraints hindering private sector agriculture investment in Rwanda. The scheme will provide dedicated, long-term loans, fostering climate resilience and empowering farmers, agribusinesses, and agricultural cooperatives.
The partnership, facilitated by the EIB and the Bank of Kigali, with support from the European Union, aspires to unlock EUR 100 million in climate investments. This includes improved financial accessibility for businesses owned by women, addressing the significant gender gap in agricultural loan access.
Rwanda, having experienced a temperature rise of 1.4 degrees Celsius since 1970—exceeding the global average—faces intensified rainfalls that contribute to floods and landslides. The climate finance scheme seeks to enhance agricultural productivity, enabling smallholders to adopt modern farming technologies, increase crop yields, and adapt to changing climate conditions. With agriculture contributing over 60% to Rwanda’s economy, the initiative also aims to stabilize the food supply by fortifying smallholders against climate-induced disruptions.
The financial collaboration between the EIB and Bank of Kigali, supported by the European Union, exemplifies how committed partnerships can mitigate the impact of the climate emergency and uplift vulnerable communities. The initiative not only addresses the broader economic stability of agribusinesses in Rwanda but also aligns with the country’s ambitious climate action plan, urging global participation in achieving a 38% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030.
![A wounded Palestinian from the Gaza Strip is carried out of a C130 Hercules military aircraft upon arrival at Tunis-Carthage airport on Dec 3, 2023. [Photo/VCG]](https://en-images.igihe.com/jpg/656d2ecfa3109068cb00f6f1.jpg)
