The Indian federal government urged states to increase surveillance and spread awareness to prevent transmission of the virus, but officials also urged the public not to panic. Many experts have stressed that HMPV has been around for decades and is not as fatal as COVID-19.
“Health experts have clarified that HMPV is not a new virus. It was first identified in 2001 and it has been circulating in the entire world since many years,” Indian Health Minister JP Nadda said in a video statement.
“HMPV spreads through the air, by way of respiration. This can affect people of all age groups. The virus spreads more during the winter and the early spring months,” he added.
Rajeev Jayadevan, the spokesperson on HMPV from the Indian Medical Association in Kochi, similarly tried to quell concerns, stressing that the virus is common in children.
“There is a lot of public anxiety about the HMPV. It is a common respiratory virus which most children get by the age of 3 or 4. It’s very rare to have a serious problem with this. Most children would have had at least one bout of this infection in their childhood, including all of us,” Jayadevan said.
“This is not COVID. This is not a killer virus. It has been around for many years in all countries, including ours,” Jayadevan explained.
Omedi and Kiwanuka put pen to paper on a two-year deal each today and also watched APR’s 2:0 League game win against Marines FC on Wednesday January 8, 20204 in Rubavu district.
For long, Omedi has been a centre of transfer speculation and Kitara FC Chairman Deo Kasozi confessed the player had over five suitors.
Last month, the forward was rumored to have completed a move to Singapore only for it to fall through when the two parties failed to agree on contractual terms.
Omedi has been a key figure at Kitara FC since joining them two years ago from Booma FC. He helped the team win the Stanbic Uganda Cup.
On the national team, Omedi was instrumental as Uganda Cranes qualified for AFCON 2025, scoring two goals in the campaign. On the other hand, Kiwanuka has been lethal for SC Villa and helped them to win the Uganda Premier League last year.
Interestingly, the duo was today morning named by coach Paul Put in Uganda Cranes provisional squad for CHAN 2024. The move to APR therefore, automatically rules them out of the tournament.
At APR, they become the third Ugandan player joining defensive midfielder Taddeo Lwanga.
It was in late December 2012, the day had started all well for Niyibizi, with shopping as he looked forward to joining his family to enjoy the festive season.
The joy turned into despair later that evening, when he was involved in an accident as he was going home.
“I lost my leg because of speeding. I think I was just happy that I was going home after months without going there, to enjoy Christmas and the New Year with them, and I forgot that I was on the road, which is shared with many other motorists and pedestrians. This ended up being my last ride,” Niyibizi reckons.
He recalls how carelessness and overexcitement cost him dearly. Having accepted the situation, Niyibizi now urges other road users to avoid making the same life-threatening mistakes.
“Towards the end of the year, people tend to overindulge, but that is dangerous for drivers and motorcyclists. You will regret your whole life when you lose your limb; that is if you don’t die and leave your loved ones heartbroken for something preventable.
“When I see people walking, I feel like I’ve lost something invaluable. My advice to motorists is to stay cautious, not prioritize celebrations over life, avoid speeding, and refrain from drinking and driving. If you lose your life, you leave your family in distress,” says Niyibizi.
Just like Niyibizi, Ernest Ndayishimiye, a former truck driver, recounts the same ordeal.
“It was in November 2011, when I was involved in an accident. I was driving a truck from Kigali to Rusizi and I had an accident in Nyamagabe. I lost my limb, which has since affected my life. Accidents have severe consequences. Economically, I’ve lost a lot having to spend years unable to work. I used to support my family, but now I can’t,” says Ndayishimiye.
Ndayishimiye advises road users to avoid driving under the influence, ensure vehicles are roadworthy, and observe speed limits. He also encourages pedestrians to use designated crossings.
Another road accident victim, Alice Mukamurenzi, who lost her leg as a child in 1996 while crossing the road, now plays football and advocates for road safety.
She said: “I live in Musanze and play football in a team for people with disabilities. I was a child when I was hit by a car while crossing the road, leading to my disability. Whether it was my carelessness or the driver’s speed, the accident happened because of negligence on both sides.”
“Whatever you want to achieve or to celebrate, you will only do it when you are in good health and without any harm. Drive sober, follow traffic laws, and as pedestrians, cross or use the road carefully.”
Road traffic accident (RTA) victims suffer from different types of injuries and disabilities, which can affect their quality of life. They usually face various physical, mental, and social problems. Most traffic accident victims experience difficulties adapting to the new life.
Road traffic accidents are a global concern as they are among the leading causes of death worldwide, claiming over a million lives each year and leaving many others injured.
From January to December 2024, Rwanda recorded around 9,600 road accidents, leading to 350 fatalities. Despite ongoing efforts by international organizations and governments worldwide to mitigate the effects of road accidents, the issue persists.
For the last five years, the Rwanda National Police (RNP) has been conducting the “Gerayo Amahoro” road safety campaign to educate and influence all categories of road users to adopt safer behaviors on road usage.
The campaign focuses on eliminating human behaviors that lead to accidents, fatalities or permanent disabilities, and to increase visibility and enforcement.
Gerayo Amahoro or ‘arrive safe’ encourages safe driving behavior, responsive use of the road and to make road safety a choice and culture.
The road security report indicates that road-related fatalities reduced by 50 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year.
Accidents involving cyclists, who are often among the most vulnerable road users, also dropped by 17%, reflecting significant changes in the behaviors of road users.
The RNP spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Boniface Rutikanga, echoed the message of road safety, urging people to drive safely without jeopardizing public safety.
He advises the public against driving or riding under the influence, and to seek alternative safer means.
“Roads are used by many people, who wish to get to their final destinations safely. So, when you are on the road as a driver, motorcyclist, cyclist, pedestrian or passenger, behave or act in a way that guarantees your safety and that of other people sharing the same road.
“Avoid speeding, using a phone when riding, driving or crossing the road; respect zebra crossing, refrain from drunk driving, wrong or dangerous maneuvers, reckless use of road; all of which increase risks of road crashes, injuries, loss of lives and destruction of property. Make road safety a choice and culture,” ACP Rutikanga says.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, spoke to reporters after meeting with President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso.
When asked about how China and Africa jointly address climate change, Wang said that President Sassou’s high attention to the issue of climate change reflects the foresight of African leaders, adding that China has always supported Africa in achieving green development as the installed capacity of photovoltaic power plants built jointly has exceeded 1.5 GW, lighting up thousands of homes across the continent.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has proposed that China and Africa should jointly advance modernization that is eco-friendly, which is the common goal of both sides and one of the key tasks of this visit, Wang said.
He said that China will implement the Partnership Action for Green Development, and work with African countries to carry out clean energy projects proposed at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
China will join hands with Africa to promote international climate governance, Wang said.
Noting that fair and common but differentiated responsibilities should be adhered to, Wang called on developed countries to face up to their historical responsibilities, earnestly fulfill their obligations, and provide financial, technical and capacity-building support to developing countries, especially African countries.
This development was confirmed by Rwanda’s Presidency via its X account.
In 2021, a tripartite declaration of intent was signed between OIF, Rwanda’s Ministry of Education, and the French Development Agency (AFD) to develop a national plan for teaching French in Rwanda.
This agreement marked a significant step in improving the quality of French language teaching across various levels of education, from basic schooling to higher education and vocational training, with a focus on enhancing the professional integration of young Rwandans.
Before becoming the Secretary General of the OIF in 2018, Louise Mushikiwabo served as Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
She was re-elected for a second term in 2022 during the 18th Summit of Francophonie Heads of State in Djerba, Tunisia.
Under her leadership, the OIF has undergone reforms to address global challenges such as security threats and environmental issues. Rwanda joined OIF in 1970.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said that the attack caused a series of explosions and a large fire at the site, leading to significant damage.
Ukrainian officials believe the strike will severely disrupt Russia’s logistics, particularly affecting its strategic bombers stationed at Engels-2, such as the Tu-95, Tu-22, and Tu-160.
These bombers are frequently used to conduct airstrikes against Ukraine as reported by local media.
In addition to the deaths in the Caribbean island country, more than 2,200 people were injured, and nearly 1,500 were kidnapped.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, expressed deep concern over the scale of the violence, calling it a severe humanitarian crisis.
He highlighted a December massacre in Port-au-Prince’s Cité Soleil area, where over 200 people were killed in a gang-led attack.
The victims, many elderly, were accused of causing the death of a gang leader’s son. The bodies were mutilated and thrown into the sea.
Other reports from OHCHR detailed 315 lynchings and 281 summary executions linked to gangs and alleged police involvement.
These incidents, coupled with widespread corruption and impunity, continue to fuel the country’s multi-dimensional crisis.
Türk emphasized the urgent need for international support, calling for strengthened efforts to restore the rule of law and accountability.
He also reiterated the need for a full implementation of the UN Security Council’s sanctions, especially regarding arms control, as illegal weapons continue to fuel the violence.
Among others, the High Commissioner urged nations to halt deportations to Haiti, where ongoing insecurity makes safe returns impossible.
The three-day meeting was officiated by Brigadier General Patrick Karuretwa, Director General of International Military Cooperation in the Ministry of Defence.
He encouraged participants to develop updated and useful documents.
“I urge you to produce refined documents that address past discrepancies” Brig Gen Karuretwa said.
According to Rwanda’s Ministry of Defence, discussions will focus on mechanisms for the occasion of the mutual defence pact, coordinating foreign affairs, defence, peace, and security policies, and mechanisms for comprehensive conflict prevention, management, and resolution.
Lt Col Francis Odhiambo Walwa from Kenya’s Defence Headquarters underscored the Northern Corridor’s role in enhancing mutual defence cooperation to promote peace and strengthen good neighborly relations among partner states.
He further highlighted the critical importance of security as a cornerstone for driving economic growth in the region.
The Northern Corridor is a regional development initiative established in 2013 during the inaugural Infrastructure Summit of the Heads of State of Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. The Republic of South Sudan became a full member of the NCIP in 2018.
Its goal was to accelerate regional growth by fostering collaboration in infrastructure, trade, and political cooperation to promote deeper regional integration.
The company announced the end of its third-party fact-checking program, introduced in 2016, and plans to replace it with a new system called “Community Notes,” akin to the feature on Elon Musk’s platform X (formerly Twitter).
CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained the move as a step toward restoring free expression.
“The recent U.S. elections felt like a cultural tipping point, and it’s time to prioritize speech again,” he said.
The Community Notes system will allow users to provide context to posts, ensuring diverse perspectives are included. Unlike traditional fact-checking, Meta will not manage these notes but will rely on contributors with varying political views to maintain balance.
The fact-checking program had drawn criticism for alleged biases and overreach. Meta’s global affairs head, Joel Kaplan, admitted that mistakes were made, particularly regarding legitimate political discourse being flagged or suppressed.
“Experts, like everyone else, have biases. These surfaced in their choices of what to fact-check and how,” Kaplan said.
The changes align with Meta’s broader strategy to focus enforcement on high-severity violations, such as terrorism, child exploitation, and scams, while relying on user reports for less severe cases. Automated systems will also be fine-tuned to reduce mistakes that may restrict free expression.
Meta’s decision comes as Donald Trump prepares for his second term as U.S. president. The company appears to be recalibrating its relationship with the administration, elevating Republican policy executive Joel Kaplan to global affairs head and adding Trump ally Dana White to its board.
Trump welcomed the changes, calling Zuckerberg “impressive” and suggesting the move might be a response to his earlier threats against the CEO.
The rollout of Community Notes will begin in the U.S. over the coming months, with plans for refinement based on user feedback.
Meta will also restore visibility to political and civic content, previously de-emphasized due to user complaints, by implementing personalized recommendations.
Critics, however, have expressed concerns. The International Fact-Checking Network challenged Zuckerberg’s characterization of its members, asserting that their role has always been to provide context rather than censor. Others, like Ross Burley from the Centre for Information Resilience, labeled the move as political appeasement amid growing misinformation challenges.
While these changes currently apply only to the U.S., Meta faces scrutiny abroad, especially in the European Union, where platforms are held to stringent content moderation standards under the Digital Services Act.
Meta’s pivot could set the tone for broader shifts in the social media landscape.
Mashami has been coaching the security forces’ team for two and a half years. His dismissal came just four days after Police FC suffered a 2-0 defeat to Rayon Sports, which left the team in fourth place at the end of the first half of the season, trailing league leaders Gikundiro by 13 points.
A source intimated to IGIHE that the club’s management had summoned the coach on Wednesday to discuss the terms of their separation.
Efforts by IGIHE to obtain a statement from Police FC management were unsuccessful, as no response was provided through any available channels.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that unresolved issues persist between the club and Mashami, who still had six months remaining on his contract. This follows his notable achievement of leading Police FC to victory in the Peace Cup in May 2024.
During the last summer transfer window, Police FC made heavy investments, acquiring several high-profile players, including internationals, with the aim of excelling in the CAF Confederation Cup. Despite the efforts, the team was eliminated in the preliminary round.
