Investigators are conducting a criminal investigation into murder, terrorist acts, and the illegal circulation of weapons and ammunition “in connection with the death of two servicemen in the capital,” the committee said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of the Russian Armed Forces’ radiological, chemical and biological defense troops, and his assistant were killed by an explosion in a residential building in Moscow.
The committee had previously said it opened a criminal case, adding the blast occurred after the detonation of an explosive device planted in a scooter parked next to the entrance of the residential building.
Conducted in Musanze District on the farmlands of the Twizamure Cyuve cooperative, the study utilized technology to monitor climate and soil conditions. Results showed a productivity rate exceeding 75%.
Dr. Martin Kuradusenge, a lecturer at UR, College of Science and Technology and the principal investigator (PI) of this research, explained that the research provides farmers with valuable insights, enabling them to predict crop yields more effectively.
“We’re presenting the results of three years of research on agricultural forecasting using technology known as Internet of Things (IoT) that tracks climate conditions, such as rainfall, temperature, humidity, and soil moisture” he said.
“This technology works both in the air and the soil, offering farmers a clearer picture of what to expect in the upcoming growing season according to the growth stage of the crop. With this information, farmers can take proactive measures, especially when yield predictions are low and they need support from local authorities.”
Dr. Kuradusenge emphasized that while forecasting cannot be entirely precise due to its predictive nature, a success rate of 75% or higher is considered an achievement.
He confirmed that the research has already produced yield predictions above 75%, and continuous improvements will be made to increase accuracy over time, with a target of 90% or higher.
Therese Uwamahoro, President of the Twizamure Cyuve Cooperative, highlighted the practical benefits of the research.
“This research helps us make informed decisions on what crops to plant, based on the data we gather about our fields. It enables us to avoid losses and optimize our yields,” Uwamahoro said.
“Farming is not just a livelihood; it’s an integral part of national growth, and this partnership with UR is helping us understand seasonal forecasts for both dry and rainy periods,” she added.
Charlene Umuhoza, a student at UR, expressed how the research offered valuable knowledge that will benefit farmers.
“Through this research, I’ve learned how agricultural technology will help solve many of the challenges farmers face. We can apply this knowledge to improve productivity and meet market demands,” she noted.
SMART-CYPS (Smart Crop Yield Prediction System) is the title given to the technology used in this study involving IoT sensors placed in fields to collect data on climate and soil conditions.
This data provides farmers with comprehensive insights, enabling them to optimize farming practices based on their specific needs.
The outcomes of this research were also published in the international scientific journals and can be accessed using the following links: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/1/225 and https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43926-024-00079-0
NISR Director General Ivan Murenzi announced the statistics during a joint press conference with the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa, on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
The growth was primarily driven by strong performances in the services and industry sectors, signalling continued economic resilience.
DG Murenzi highlighted that the country’s GDP at current market prices is estimated at Frw 4.806 trillion, a notable increase from Frw 4.246 trillion in Q3 of 2023. The services sector maintained its dominance, contributing 49% to GDP, while agriculture and industry accounted for 24% and 20% respectively.
Rwanda’s Q3 performance builds on earlier successes in Q1 (9.7%) and Q2 (9.8%), bringing the average growth for the first nine months of 2024 to 9.2%.
The services sector emerged as the top performer in Q3, recording a 10% growth. Significant growth within the sector was observed in wholesale and retail trade (19%), hotels and restaurants (17%), financial services (15%), and information and communication services (19%). Additionally, public administration activities increased by 10%, further contributing to the sector’s overall performance.
The industry sector experienced notable growth of 8%, primarily fueled by a significant 26% increase in mining and quarrying activities. Within this segment, exports of key minerals recorded substantial gains, with Coltan exports rising by 42%, Cassiterite exports growing by 27%, and Wolfram exports increasing by 15%.
Manufacturing also showed positive results, particularly in the production of chemicals, rubber, and plastic products, which increased by 20%, while metal products and machinery grew by 14%. However, food processing experienced a slight decline of 1% compared to its strong growth of 16% in Q3 of 2023.
The agriculture sector reported a 4% growth, driven by a 16% increase in export crop production, particularly coffee exports, which surged by 22%. On the other hand, tea production faced a decline of 10% during the period.
Grok was first launched on November 4, 2023, and has over the past year undergone significant improvements with the company launching Grok-2 in August 2024.
Previously, Grok was only available to X Premium and Premium+ subscribers, a move that limited access to paying users.
However, in a strategic shift, X has now rolled out Grok for free to all users on its platform. This decision aims to broaden the AI’s user base, gather real-time feedback, and refine its capabilities through more extensive interaction.
According to a recent statement, X said the latest version of Grok is faster, sharper, and offers enhanced multilingual support, making it more accessible and effective for users around the world.
The AI chatbot now includes additional features such as web search, citations, and Aurora, X’s recently released image generator.
“Since launching Grok-2 in August, we have been hard at work improving Grok on X, adding new features like web search, citations, and our recent image generator, Aurora,” the statement read.
“Over the past few weeks we have been quietly testing a new version of the Grok-2 model, which is three times faster and offers improved accuracy, instruction-following, and multilingual capabilities.”
This development is part of X’s broader push to enhance user experience through artificial intelligence.
Grok, inspired by Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, was designed to be playful and capable of handling a wide range of conversational topics, including those deemed “spicy” or complex.
According to the social media giant, the design also aligns with Musk’s advocacy for free speech, allowing Grok to tackle challenging and sensitive subjects with greater openness compared to its competitors.
Despite being free, access to Grok comes with certain limitations to ensure smooth performance and maintain a balanced user experience. Free-tier users can send up to 10 messages every two hours, analyze up to three images per day, and generate no more than three images daily.
Additionally, to access Grok, a user’s account must be at least seven days old and linked to a verified phone number.
Premium and Premium+ subscribers, on the other hand, enjoy significantly higher usage limits. Premium users can send up to 50 messages per day and face fewer restrictions on features like image generation and analysis.
With this move, X is aiming to establish Grok as a formidable rival to other leading AI chatbots, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Anthropic’s Claude.
The decision to make Grok free is also a part of X’s long-term strategy to integrate AI tools seamlessly into its platform, both on mobile and web. Users can interact with Grok through a dedicated section where they can engage in conversations, analyze content, and generate images using Aurora.
The project aims to streamline fuel transportation to landlocked countries, reducing their dependence on trucking systems, which are costly, environmentally harmful, and prone to inefficiencies such as accidents and fuel spillages.
Currently, fuel to Uganda and Rwanda is transported by trucks from Eldoret or Kisumu, with a smaller share moved across Lake Victoria via vessels loaded at Kisumu Oil Jetty and unloaded at Entebbe.
This pipeline project was first conceptualized in 1995 but has faced delays for nearly three decades. Renewed momentum emerged in May 2024 when Presidents William Ruto of Kenya and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate on the pipeline.
Talks expanded further in July 2024 to include Rwanda and South Sudan, signaling the growing importance of regional integration in energy security.
A recent ministerial meeting held in Entebbe, Uganda, brought together energy officials led by Uganda’s Minister of State for Energy, Okaasai Sidronius, and Rwanda’s High Commission Charge d’Affaires, Ismael Baguma.
At the forum, Rwanda reaffirmed its commitment to the Northern Corridor Integration Projects (NCIP) framework, noting the pipeline’s potential to reduce fuel transportation costs and enhance energy security.
At the onset, the pipeline is envisioned to play a role in fostering economic growth, energy stability, and environmental sustainability for the region. According to analysts, the project is a critical step toward regional energy independence and long-term prosperity.
To fast-track progress, a Joint Technical Committee (JTC) was inaugurated to oversee the project’s planning and execution. The JTC is tasked with updating previous studies to ensure alignment with current needs and regional development goals.
The renewed Eldoret-Kampala-Kigali pipeline reflects the collaborative determination of the EAC member states to address energy challenges and unlock economic opportunities across the region.
The mercenaries, part of the Agemira group from Bulgaria and RALF from Romania, have been collaborating with DRC forces since 2022 to fight the M23 armed group in the volatile North Kivu province.
The DRC government insists that the fighters are not mercenaries but rather instructors training its army in various skills, including warfare and the use of modern weapons. Additionally, they are among those safeguarding the cities of Goma and Sake.
In a post on X on Monday, December 16, 2024, General Muhoozi threatened decisive action against the “white mercenaries”.
“I’m going to give only one warning to all white mercenaries operating in eastern DRC. From 2nd January 2025, we will attack all mercenaries in our area of operations.”
The Ugandan army general added, “In the name of Jesus Christ, the God of all Bachwezi, there shall not be left one white mercenary in DRC this time next year!”
Since November 2021, Ugandan forces have been conducting operations named “Shujaa” to combat the ADF terrorist group in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, in collaboration with DRC forces.
It is unclear whether the mercenaries operating in eastern DRC have reached areas controlled by Ugandan forces. However, reports by UN experts confirm that the mercenaries operate primarily in Goma and Sake.
In some advanced nations, nuclear power accounts for up to 20% of electricity production, while the rest comes from hydropower plants and other renewable energy sources.
On December 16, 2024, ministers from various countries responsible for energy met in Rwanda to discuss what African countries need to achieve self-sufficiency in nuclear-generated electricity.
Dr. Jimmy Gasore, Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure, stated that Africa aims to accelerate its development using nuclear energy, which requires investments from partners and financial institutions.
“Many countries used nuclear power to advance their development. As Africans, we are now discussing with experts, including those from South Africa who already use this energy, to ask: What are the requirements? What are the risks, and how can we mitigate them? Most importantly, how can we harness nuclear energy to meet our needs?” he wondered.
Gasore confirmed that strategies are being developed to ensure Africa has sufficient energy for development within the next 30 years.
He underscored that achieving this goal requires boldness. “Many developed countries relied on nuclear energy. Why shouldn’t we adopt it to propel our progress?” he questioned
Generating nuclear energy requires significant investments, consideration under discussion “We are exploring how development partners, financial institutions, and other stakeholders can support Africa in this journey toward nuclear energy,” he said.
Another key requirement is advanced technical knowledge for Africans and Rwandans, which Gasore believes is attainable, given that some African countries like Egypt and South Africa are already using nuclear energy.
In recent years, Rwanda signed an agreement with Russia regarding the development of nuclear energy and the Minister confirmed that discussions are ongoing, as this is a long-term project.
Currently, Rwanda reports having sufficient energy to meet its domestic needs, but additional energy is continuously required to support economic growth, which increases daily demand.
The initiative is aimed at empowering both large enterprises and small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) with reliable, high-speed connectivity at no upfront cost.
Alexis Kabeja, Chief Executive Officer of Liquid Intelligent Technologies Rwanda, highlighted the importance of connectivity during the holiday period, a time when businesses are busier than ever.
“The holiday season is a time for staying connected with family, friends, or business networks. It’s also an incredibly busy time for enterprises across the African continent,” he said.
While Rwanda is making significant strides toward digital transformation, over 65% of the population remains offline, posing challenges for businesses during peak periods such as December’s retail rush. Liquid Rwanda’s festive season promotion seeks to address this gap by providing businesses with an opportunity to access cutting-edge internet solutions without the barrier of installation fees.
“This seamless process allows companies to redirect resources toward innovation, resource optimisation, and customer satisfaction during the busy holiday season,” Kabeja added.
The promotion comes as Liquid continues its efforts to expand connectivity across Rwanda. Recent fibre network expansions into regions such as Nyamata, Huye, Muhanga, and Rusizi demonstrate the company’s commitment to bridging the digital divide and ensuring inclusivity for underserved areas.
Beyond the promise of speed, Liquid’s internet services are backed by 24/7 customer support. Businesses will benefit from round-the-clock technical troubleshooting, network monitoring, and on-demand assistance, ensuring uninterrupted operations throughout the festive season and beyond.
Businesses interested in taking advantage of this offer can sign up or inquire further by calling +252100100 or emailing sales@liquidtelecom.rw.
During the 66th ECOWAS summit held in Abuja, Nigeria, on Sunday, December 15, 2024, regional leaders acknowledged the withdrawal notice submitted earlier this year by the three military-led nations.
While the official termination date is set for January 29, 2025, a six-month grace period was granted, making July 29, 2025, the final date for their exit.
ECOWAS leaders had hoped to find common ground during ongoing negotiations. Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, tasked with spearheading talks alongside Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé, expressed cautious optimism but stopped short of guaranteeing success.
“The discussions remain open, and we will continue to engage in good faith until the final deadline,” President Faye stated.
The withdrawal comes amidst rising tensions between ECOWAS and the three countries, all of which are under military rule following coups that overthrew democratically elected governments.
In January, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger jointly announced their intention to leave, arguing that ECOWAS no longer reflects the founding ideals of regional cooperation.
While formal ties will be severed, the departing nations reassured that their exit does not signify complete isolation. They affirmed commitments to free movement of people and goods, maintaining trade and travel flows with neighboring states.
However, analysts warn that the departure could deal a blow to regional integration efforts, saying that the formation of the three nations’ alternative coalition, the Alliance of Sahel States, signals a desire for autonomy rather than hostility toward regional neighbors.
The situation has drawn comparisons to Mauritania’s exit from ECOWAS in 1999. Although it rejoined as an associate member in 2017, Mauritania’s withdrawal underscored how unresolved disputes can fracture regional alliances.
The pending exit of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger raises significant questions about ECOWAS’ influence and its future role in fostering regional stability. For now, the six-month extension offers a final opportunity for reconciliation before the bloc bids farewell to three of its key members.
The vote came after Scholz’s coalition government crumbled amid rising tensions and disagreements over budget priorities. Out of 733 lawmakers in the Bundestag, 394 voted against the chancellor, while 207 supported him and 116 abstained, leaving Scholz far short of the 367 votes needed for a majority.
The collapse of the coalition followed Scholz’s dismissal of Finance Minister Christian Lindner, leader of the pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP), in November.
Lindner’s removal came as the three coalition parties; Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD), the FDP, and the Greens, failed to agree on billions of euros in spending cuts for the upcoming fiscal year.
Scholz accused Lindner of “unjustifiable obstruction” in blocking budget measures that included increased aid to Ukraine. “Shortsightedness might save money in the short term, but the mortgage on our future is unaffordable,” Scholz said, defending his spending priorities.
In response, Lindner criticized Scholz’s handling of Germany’s economy. “Olaf Scholz has consistently refused to prioritize economic recovery for our country,” Lindner stated. Following his dismissal, the FDP announced their decision to withdraw all ministers from Scholz’s government.
The Greens, however, chose to remain in the coalition despite expressing disappointment at the deepening political rift. They emphasized Germany’s need for stability in light of geopolitical pressures, particularly the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president.
With the elections now confirmed, Scholz has framed the vote as a critical choice for Germany’s future. He pledged significant investment in infrastructure while rejecting austerity measures advocated by conservatives.
On the other hand, Friedrich Merz, leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Scholz’s main rival, criticized the chancellor for his “unsustainable” spending plans.
Merz has called for tighter fiscal policies and more military support for Ukraine, including the delivery of German-made Taurus missiles, something Scholz has firmly refused, warning of further escalation with Russia.
As Germany prepares for elections, opinion polls show the conservatives standing in a position. Scholz’s SPD trails behind the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), while the Greens sit in fourth place.
Amid economic uncertainty, growing far-right influence, and political fragmentation, the outcome of the February elections will set the direction for Germany’s leadership and its role in Europe in the next years.
