NEW YORK — I’ll get you, my pretty! And your little pygmy hippo, too! Forgive us the shameless attempt to link the fantasy hit “Wicked” to the delightful Moo Deng . But, hear us out — there’s something the two have in common as the year draws to a close. Escapism. Whether we found it on the yellow brick road, or in videos from a Thailand zoo, or perhaps in unlikely Olympic heroes , we gravitated toward fantasy and feel-good pop culture moments this year. There were new trends, as always. “Brat summer” became a thing, as did “demure, mindful.” And for some inexplicable reason, we became obsessed with celebrity lookalike contests. There were breakups — Bennifer is, again, a thing of the past — and reunions: Oasis, please try to stay together for the tour. Yet some things stayed, remarkably, the same: Taylor Swift and Beyoncé kept on breaking records and making history. So, after a year where much changed but some things held steady, here’s our annual, very selective trip down pop culture memory lane: Lily Gladstone poses in the press room Jan. 7 with the award for best performance by an actress in a motion picture, drama for "Killers of the Flower Moon" at the 81st Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. It starts as a cheery tweet from a beloved “Sesame Street” figure: “ ELMO is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” The answers hint at something deeper and more worrisome. “Not great, Elmo. Not great,” says one milder reply. Doing much better is the viral phenomenon called “BARBENHEIMER,” which makes its awards season debut at the GOLDEN GLOBES . But perhaps the most poignant moment comes from neither film: LILY GLADSTONE , first Indigenous winner of best actress in a drama for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” begins her remarks in the language of her tribe, Blackfeet Nation. Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) kisses Taylor Swift on Feb. 11 after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime during the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game in Las Vegas. Valentine’s Day — a perfect time to settle into a sweet love saga via TikTok. Only that’s not quite what we get with “Who TF Did I Marry?,” REESA TEESA ’s depressing, fascinating, 50-part account of her disastrous marriage with a man who lied about absolutely everything. Meanwhile, if you're looking for a single week that encapsulates peak SWIFT cultural dominance , try this: she begins with the Grammys in Los Angeles (becoming the first artist to win album of the year four times AND announcing a new album), then heads to Tokyo for four tour dates, then jets back just in time for the Super Bowl in Las Vegas — where she shares a passionate smooch with boyfriend TRAVIS KELCE on the field of victory. Ryan Gosling performs the song "I'm Just Ken" from the movie "Barbie" on March 10 during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. “What was I made for?” BILLIE EILISH sings at the OSCARS, channeling BARBIE . And what was KEN made for? Not entirely clear — but it's clear RYAN GOSLING was made to play him. His singalong version of “I’m Just Ken” is one of the most entertaining Oscar musical moments in years. Still, Christopher Nolan's “OPPENHEIMER” prevails, a rare case of the top prize going to a blockbuster studio film. Will it happen again in 2025? CYNTHIA ERIVO and ARIANA GRANDE sure hope so; as presenters, they make a sly reference to their upcoming juggernaut, “WICKED.” Speaking of marketing, people are obsessed with that bizarre “DUNE” popcorn bucket. Beyonce And BEYONCÉ carves her space in country music with “Act II: Cowboy Carter,” which will make her the first Black woman to top the Billboard country chart. Taylor Swift performs June 21 at Wembley Stadium in London as part of her Eras Tour. Tennis, anyone? The game’s been around for centuries, but it’s having a cultural moment right now, helped mightily by “CHALLENGERS,” the sweaty romance triangle starring ZENDAYA, MIKE FAIST and JOSH O'CONNOR (40-love? More like 40-sex.) Elsewhere, a new era dawns: At midnight, SWIFT drops “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT," then drops another 15 songs two hours later. The fascinating and disturbing “BABY REINDEER,” the story of a struggling comedian’s extended encounter with a stalker, debuts on Netflix. Ben Affleck, left, and Jennifer Lopez arrive Feb. 13 at the premiere of "This Is Me ... Now: A Love Story" at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. It’s MET GALA time — or as it's known in 2024, another early marketing moment for “WICKED.” ERIVO and GRANDE make fashion waves on the carpet and then musical ones at dinner, with a soulful performance of “When You Believe.” If the “Wicked” tour is in full force, another one stops in its tracks: JENNIFER LOPEZ cancels her summer tour amid reports of both poor ticket sales and trouble in her marriage to BEN AFFLECK . It’s been an eventful year for J.Lo, who's released an album and movie called “THIS IS ME ... NOW" — both reflections on her renewed love with Affleck. Welcome to BRAT SUMMER ! CHARLI XCX releases her hit “Brat” album , with its lime green cover, and launches a thousand memes. Collins Dictionary defines “brat,” its word of the year, as “characterized by a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude.” At the celeb-heavy SWIFT shows in London, we see PRINCE WILLIAM shaking it off, which is either charming or cringe, you decide. Even better: KELCE dons a top hat and tux and performs for one night. At another stadium across the pond, METS infielder JOSE IGLESIAS delights the crowd with his cheery number “OMG.” Stephen Nedoroscik is introduced June 29 at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials in Minneapolis. Bonjour, it’s OLYMPICS time! In Paris! An audacious opening ceremony along the Seine is punctuated by a fabulous CELINE DION , perched on the EIFFEL TOWER , singing her heart out — in the rain, too. Controversy swirls over a scene critics feel mocks Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” (organizers say it does not). Olympic stars are born — including French swimming superstar LEON MARCHAND , rugby player ILONA MAHER , and bespectacled “Pommel Horse Guy” gymnast STEPHEN NEDOROSCIK , who nets two bronze medals and comparisons to Clark Kent. Baby pigmy hippo Moo Deng plays with a zookeeper Sept. 19 in the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi province, Thailand. Also capturing hearts: yep, MOO DENG , born this month. Her name means “bouncy pork.” Australia's Rachael Gunn, known as B-Girl Raygun, competes Aug. 9 during the Round Robin Battle at the breaking competition at La Concorde Urban Park at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. This is them ... now: BENNIFER is no more. After two decades, two engagements and two weddings, J.Lo files for divorce. One union dissolves, another returns: OASIS announces a reunion tour. Everyone seems to want to get in on TikToker JOOLS LEBRON 's “ DEMURE, MINDFUL ” act — even the WHITE HOUSE press team. Back at the Olympics, in the new sport of breaking, we meet Australia’s RAYGUN , arguably neither demure nor mindful with her “kangaroo” move. Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani brings his dog Decoy to the mound Aug. 28 before Decoy delivered the ceremonial first pitch prior to a baseball game between the Dodgers and the Baltimore Orioles in Los Angeles. Cute animal alert: SHOHEI OHTANI ’s perky pooch DECOY does a great “first pitch” in his Major League Baseball debut. Chappell Roan performs "Good Luck, Babe" on Sept. 11 during the MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. One of the year’s biggest breakout artists, CHAPPELL ROAN , withdraws from a music festival after speaking out about frightening fan interactions. And more on the price of fame: In an excruciating moment, “Bachelorette” JENN TRAN , the franchise’s first Asian American lead, is forced to sit through a painful viewing of her proposal to her chosen suitor, after tearfully explaining how he’d later dumped her over the phone. Tran is keeping busy though — she’s announced as part of the new “Dancing with the Stars” lineup. Also on the list: rugby player Maher, and Pommel Horse Guy! Also, ANNA SOROKIN , dancing with an ankle monitor. Online fandom, meanwhile, is shaken when X is temporarily suspended in Brazil and celebrity stan accounts post tearful farewells, revealing to many across the globe that their favorite accounts are run by Brazilians. Miles Mitchell, 21, wins of the Timothee Chalamet lookalike contest Oct. 27 near Washington Square Park in New York. “Dune” Chalamets! “Wonka” Chalamets! Thousands gather in Manhattan for a TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET lookalike contest, and things really get interesting when Chalamet himself shows up. He doesn’t enter the contest, though, and with his mustache, he may not even have won. The trend continues with contests for JEREMY ALLEN WHITE, ZAYN MALIK and — in a very Washington version — Kennedy scion JACK SCHLOSSBERG , who's been gathering a following with some interesting social media posts. New York Liberty Kennedy Burke dances with the mascot, Ellie the Elephant, during an Oct. 24 ceremony after a parade in honor of the Liberty's WNBA basketball championship at City Hall in New York. Turning to basketball, who’s that dancing with USHER ? Why it’s ELLIE THE ELEPHANT , the now-viral NEW YORK LIBERTY mascot. Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, right, appears Nov. 2 with Maya Rudolph on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" in New York. MAYA RUDOLPH does a pretty good KAMALA HARRIS laugh on “Saturday Night Live,” but you know who does it better? HARRIS herself. The Democratic candidate makes a surprise cameo three days before the U.S. presidential election, following in the footsteps of HILLARY CLINTON , SARAH PALIN and others. Elsewhere in television, Bravo announces that “VANDERPUMP RULES,” the Emmy-nominated reality show that has lived through countless scandals, is entirely recasting its 12th season — apart from namesake LISA VANDERPUMP . As for MOO DENG , she doesn't have her own TV series yet, but our favorite pygmy hippo is generating plenty of merch . And THAT brings us back to ... Ariana Grande, left, and Cynthia Erivo pose for photographers Nov. 11 prior to the premiere of "Wicked" at Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City. “WICKED” ! Director JON M. CHU ’s emerald-hued fantasy remains very very popular, to quote one of its buzzy show tunes, dancing through life and defying gravity at the multiplex. Moviegoers also come for “GLADIATOR II” and, in a veritable tidal wave, Disney's “MOANA 2,” which beckons us back to the seas of Oceania. Once again, 2024 seems to be telling us: Give people some whimsy, a place to escape, maybe some catchy tunes — and no one knows how far they’ll go. The stories and images that defined 2024. Searching for something? From queries about U.S. politics to cricket in India, Wikipedia has become a source of information for millions of people across the globe. From the Paris Olympics to the Super Bowl. From Simone Biles to Shohei Ohtani. And, of course, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. These are the sp... AP photographers assembled a visual catalog of our civilization as life in 2024 hurtled directly at us at every speed and in every imaginable ... In 2024, photographers captured glimpses of humanity, ranging from a deeply divisive presidential election, to hurricanes and fires that ravag... Associated Press photographers captured voters with raw emotions of joy, excitement, contemplation or sorrow. See entertainment's biggest moments in 2024, through the lens of Associated Press photographers. It beat five other finalists: demure, slop, dynamic pricing, romantasy and lore. News anchors, politicians and other public figures in the U.S. struggled with these words the most this year. Is it any surprise Merriam-Webster's word of the year is "polarization"? Here are the other words that rounded out the top 10 for 2024. 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(The Center Square) — California’s senators have sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg requesting last-minute federal funding for the state’s high-speed rail project before the Trump administration takes office in January. This move comes amid concerns that the incoming administration might pull federal funding from the now $135 billion project, and use California as a national example for redirecting federal funds from Democratic priorities. Once complete, the project is supposed to carry passengers from San Francisco to Los Angeles in under three hours, with one-way tickets priced at $86. It’s unclear how competitive this will be with air travel; one-way flights booked more than two weeks in advance currently cost $59 on Southwest, which includes two checked bags. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), proposed by the incoming Trump administration, aims to reduce what it views as wasteful government spending, recently spotlighted the project, and Congressmen Kevin Kiley, R-California, announced his bill to eliminate federal funding for the endeavor. Amid the state’s financial foes, a pause or withdrawal of federal funding could leave the state with no choice but to put the project on hold. During the spring, the California High Speed Rail Authority requested the use of state rainy day funding to plug the $8 billion to $10 billion funding shortfall for the system’s initial $30 billion to $33 billion, 171-mile segment connecting the cities of Bakersfield and Merced in the relatively sparsely populated Central Valley. But with the state’s legislative analyst now finding the state has “no capacity” for new spending and projecting annual deficits will soon rise to $30 billion, enhanced state support for the project is unlikely, leaving federal funding as the only option to fill the gap. The letter , signed by Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, and Reps. Pete Aguilar, Zoe Lofgren, and Jim Costa, requests an additional $536 million to join $134 million in state funds to complete a 30%, or preliminary, design of one tunnel in Southern California and one tunnel in Northern California. The letter also recounted the federal government’s existing $6.8 billion in support for the project, and $22 billion from California for the project thus far. “By preparing for future final design and construction of complex tunnels in this corridor, the Project will advance both state and federal goals to improve safety, expand economic strength and global competitiveness, address equity issues, and implement sustainability practices to confront climate change,” wrote the federal legislators. “These investments will continue to support living wage jobs, provide small business opportunities, and equitably enhance the mobility of communities in need – including disadvantaged agricultural communities – all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.” In 2012, the state legislative analyst’s office found the bullet train would increase overall greenhouse gas emissions for the first 30 years of its operation, putting the project’s emissions impact — and state funding based on emissions reductions — into question. Kiley, who is aiming to pass a bill in Congress ending federal support for the project, said even if a grant is approved, he hopes to keep that money away from California’s bullet train. “A small group of CA Democrats is asking Biden to send even more money for High-Speed Rail ... before Congress can pass my bill to deny further funding,” said Kiley on X. “If Biden complies, we will make sure that the grant is promptly revoked.” Because U.S. Congress holds “power of the purse,” Kiley’s bill could allow the federal government to withhold any further funding from the project – even spending that is already approved. However, it's less clear whether the Trump administration could unilaterally halt funding. As a discretionary grant under the Department of Transportation, such a decision might fall within its authority, but political and legal challenges could arise.City Council gets earful from public as hearings on 76ers arena plan resumeMotoring News Don't miss out on the headlines from Motoring News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Two of the world’s biggest car manufacturers – well known to Aussie motorists – have said they are exploring merger talks which could drastically change the vehicle market. It’s a further example of the radical restructuring of the automotive industry in the wake of electric vehicles and competition from Chinese brands. Honda and Nissan, both of Japan, have confirmed they are exploring a deal to bring the firms together. Japanese newspaper Nikkei said a memorandum of understanding between the two was expected to be signed as early as next week. “Honda and Nissan are exploring various possibilities for future collaboration, leveraging each other’s strengths,” the companies said in a statement on Tuesday. “If there are any updates, we will inform our stakeholders at the appropriate time.” It’s been reported that rival Japanese car firm Mitsubishi could also be part of any future merger. Nissan owns 24 per cent of Mitsubishi. A three-way tie up could create the world’s third largest car maker with only Japanese rival Toyota and German behemoth Volkswagen bigger. Nissan has 4 per cent of the Australian car market and Honda 6 per cent. (FILES) The emblem of Japanese automaker Nissan Motor is seen at a showroom in Yokohama on May 9, 2024. (Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP) Nissan and Honda have storied histories but have been t by challenges in recent years. In its most recent financial results, Nissan stated its profit margin had plummeted from 5.6 per cent to just 0.5 per cent over the year while it cut its annual profit margin by 70 per cent. The maker of the Qashqai, Navara and Leaf models was rocked last month when French car giant Renault said it would sell its controlling stake after 25 year of partnership. That led Nissan, founded in 1911, scrambling to find a new backer. “We have 12 or 14 months to survive,” a senior official close to Nissan said. CR-V, Civic and Accord maker Honda is going through a turbulent time too, albeit slightly less rocky. Last month it announced it expected full year profits it be around 14 per cent lower than last year. With a market capitalisation of $68 billion, Honda would be the major partner in any merger with Nissan which is worth $15bn. A Honda logo outside a dealership in Tokyo. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP) China and US woes Like most western vehicle makers, Nissan and Honda have been heavily invested in the Chinese market. However, the rise of electric vehicles has stymied growth. While booth brands produce EVs, in China home grown manufacturers have grabbed more of the market from foreign brands. In China, brands like BYD and Great Wall are seen as more economical and technologically advanced. Where once Chinese motorists may have shunned Chinese brands now they are being embraced. In the US, and many other overseas markets, Tesla has been outperforming more established vehicle makers EVs. The 2023 Nissan X-Trail ST-L e-power. ‘Left it a bit late’ Talking to US network MSNBC , Peter Wells from the UK’s Cardiff University Centre for Automotive Industry Research said the joining of Honda and Nissan would create economies of scale. “Nissan has been struggling in the market, it’s been struggling at home, it doesn’t have the right product line-up. “There are so many warning signs, so many red flags around Nissan at the moment that something had to happen,” he said. “Whether this is the answer is another question.” But Prof Wells warned “they may have left it a bit late,” and that neither firm has the most current industry tech or products to compete effectively. Chinese car manufacturer BYD is on display at the Essen Motor Show in Essen, western Germany on December 4, 2024. (Photo by Ina FASSBENDER / AFP) The merger talks conformation sent Nissan shares surging by 24 per cent ion Wednesday, US time. Nissan was already close to finalising terms on an electric vehicle partnership with rival Honda. So a more formal merger would not be unexpected. Nissan has been criticised for falling behind on hybrid technology , with rivals such as Toyota, Hyundai and Kia having capitalised on the boom in petrol-electric models. Nissan does offer its own take on the hybrid theme with its e-Power models, which use a petrol engine only as a generator for an electric motor and battery pack. That tech is available in high-grade versions of the Qashqai small SUV and X-Trail family SUV in Australia. – with Matt Campbell and David Campbell. More Coverage Major car brand on brink of collapse Matt Campbell and David Campbell Another nail in Nissan’s coffin exposed David Campbell Originally published as Car giants confirm mega merger talks More related stories Motoring News Nissan’s insane merger call to save company The global Nissan crisis has taken another ugly turn after talk of a merger with a hated rival. Read more Motoring News Kombis don’t look like this anymore Volkswagen finally has an electric car in Australia and it is a fresh take on an old classic. Read more
Optima names education innovator Adam Mangana as CEO
Solstice Expands Expertise With Tree Of LifeFirm seeks investment in Data CentreWall Street's main indexes rose in a truncated trading session before Christmas, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq up for the third consecutive day, helped by gains in a handful of megacap and growth stocks. Broadcom and Nvidia provided the biggest boost to the indexes on Tuesday, advancing 2.7 per cent and 0.7 per cent, respectively, while Consumer Discretionary and Technology led gains among S&P 500 sectors. With few major catalysts, thin trading volumes expected in the final days of the year raised the prospect of choppy trading. Stock markets will shut at 1pm local time on Tuesday and will be closed for Christmas on Wednesday. In early trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 32.38 points, or 0.08 per cent, to 42,939.33, the S&P 500 gained 21.68 points, or 0.36 per cent, to 5,995.75, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 116.55 points, or 0.59 per cent, to 19,881.43. "Investors are breathing a sigh of relief that maybe the hawkish rate cut last week combined with the softer PCE reading indicate that inflation is not that big of a re-emerging threat," said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist of CFRA Research. "As a result, maybe this market will end up creeping higher between now and the end of the year." After a stellar run to record highs following the November election, which sparked hopes of pro-business policies under US President-elect Donald Trump, Wall Street's rally hit a bump this month as investors grappled with the prospect of higher interest rates in 2025. The US Federal Reserve eased borrowing costs for the third time this year last Wednesday, but signaled only two more 25-basis-point reductions next year, down from its September projection of four cuts, as policymakers weigh the possibility of Trump's policies stoking inflation. Traders expect the Fed to leave rates in the range of four per cent to 4.25 per cent by the end of 2025, from between 3.75 per cent and four per cent about 10 days ago, according to CME's FedWatch tool. Markets are currently in a historically strong period called the "Santa Claus rally". The S&P 500 on average has gained 1.3 per cent in the last five days of December and first two days of January, according to data from the Stock Trader's Almanac going back to 1969. However, market participants are questioning if US stocks' climb to new record highs will be attainable in the coming days, amid concerns about sky-high valuations and the market's overall health. The benchmark S&P 500 fell about one per cent in December but the equal-weight S&P 500, a proxy for the average index stock, is down 5.8 per cent. NeueHealth soared 64 per cent after the healthcare provider said New Enterprise Associates, its largest shareholder, and a group of existing investors will take the company private in a $1.3 billion ($A2.1 billion) deal. American Airlines' shares were down 1.9 per cent after the carrier briefly grounded all its flights in the United States due to an unspecified technical issue. Declining issues outnumbered advancers by a 1.21-to-1 ratio on the NYSE, and by a 1.07-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P 500 posted two new 52-week highs and no new lows, while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 17 new highs and 31 new lows.
Australia’s Record-Breaking Stocks Rally Seen Continuing in 2025
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Bryce Thompson scored 17 points, Marchelus Avery had 15 points and eight rebounds, and Oklahoma State beat Miami 80-74 on Friday in the consolation bracket of the Charleston Classic. Oklahoma State (4-1) will play in the fifth-place game on Sunday, while Miami (3-2) will try to avoid going winless in the tournament. Oklahoma State led 43-27 at halftime after making 8 of 15 from 3-point range, while Miami was just 8 of 27 overall. Four different Cowboys made a 3-pointer in the first half, with Brandon Newman making three. Thompson banked in a shot early in the second half to give Oklahoma State a 20-point lead at 49-29. Miami, which opened the game by missing 7 of 8 shots, went 1 for 8 from the field to begin the second half. Miami trailed by double figures the entire second half until Matthew Cleveland made a difficult shot in the lane while being fouled. He made the free throw to pull the Hurricanes within 75-67 with 49 seconds left. Arturo Dean restored a double-digit lead by making two free throws at 43.8. Thompson reached the 1,000 career points with the Cowboys on a shot in the lane with 13:01 left in the second half to give Oklahoma State a 55-38 lead. Nijel Pack scored 20 points and Brandon Johnson had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Miami. Cleveland finished with 11 points, and Lynn Kidd and Paul Djobet each had 10. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "NewsArticle", "dateCreated": "2024-12-08T21:51:20+02:00", "datePublished": "2024-12-08T21:51:20+02:00", "dateModified": "2024-12-09T10:05:42+02:00", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22444/news/featured/featured-rwanda-celebrates-10-startups-transforming-srh-across-africa-through-technology", "headline": "FEATURED: Rwanda celebrates 10 startups transforming SRH across Africa through technology", "description": "The Ministry of ICT and Innovation celebrated 10 outstanding Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) startups that emerged with innovative,...", "keywords": "", "inLanguage": "en", "mainEntityOfPage":{ "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22444/news/featured/featured-rwanda-celebrates-10-startups-transforming-srh-across-africa-through-technology" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/12/08/65914.jpg", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/12/08/65914.jpg" }, "articleBody": "The Ministry of ICT and Innovation celebrated 10 outstanding Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) startups that emerged with innovative, technology-driven solutions that have significantly improved access to healthcare services across Sub-Saharan Africa. The event held on December 6, at Norrsken. Kigali’s premier innovation hub and marked the successful conclusion of flagship startups participating in the HangaPitchFest’s SRH programme launched in October 2023. The occasion also celebrated their achievements in leveraging technology to address critical sexual and reproductive health (SRH) challenges. This initiative was conceived in 2022 as part of HangaPitchFest, aiming to leverage technology startups for improved Sexual & Reproductive Health outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa. 20 startups from across Sub-Saharan Africa selected to participate. After a rigorous selection and funding process, 10 standout ventures progressed to the acceleration phase. The SRH programme targeted key challenges such as maternal mortality, unsafe abortion, gender-based violence, unmet need for contraception , and limited access to youth-friendly SRH services. Through technology and innovative approaches, the startups provided impactful solutions that break traditional barriers. ALSO READ: Hanga Pitchfest, a path to innovation-led opportunities Esther Kunda, the Director General of Innovation and Emerging Technologies at the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, pointed out that the private sector faces significant challenges, particularly in the health sector, despite its substantial contributions to improving healthcare in Africa. Particularly in Rwanda, issues like teenage pregnancy, limited access to youth friendly services continue to persist. “Our main goal when we started the program was to start seeding these companies in tackling such issues. We worked with partners such as ‘Brink innovations’ to successfully deliver the program,” she said. As noted by Kunda, the programme has already demonstrated significant impact including funding, where ventures raised approximately $1.5million from venture capitalists and foundations. Additionally, they generated $55,000 through sales of products and services. The startups also reached out to over 33,500 individuals who benefited directly from these solutions. Job creation is another milestone celebrated where more than 130 jobs have been created across various regions. Kunda said; “We’re very happy where the success of this program has gone and we hope that in the subsequent years, we're going to be able to understand how we continue building sustainable ventures within this challenging sector. We've seen good partners and we hope that more partners can come onboard to support programs at these ventures.” She assured that the Ministry will continue to engage in this space, supporting innovators and closely monitoring their progress. She also noted that all supported ventures have been able to secure scale up funding from various partners including the Rwanda-based ventures who will be supported by UNFPA Rwanda to ensure their growth and sustainability. “We are proud of this cohort’s journey and their impactful contributions to SRH. As they transition to independence, we will continue to offer advisory and technical support where necessary,” she added. ALSO READ: A look at Hanga Pitchfest progress through the eyes of past winners The Hanga SRH, Program Manager, Annet Mwizerwa noted that from the moment these ventures were selected, they embarked on a journey of transformation. “Initially, some of these start-ups came to us with only a model or a minimum viable product (MVP). Today, they have successfully moved from concept to live solutions, scaling their operations and creating meaningful impact.” She added: “The Hanga SRH Showcase represents not just an opportunity to celebrate the incredible achievements of these ventures but also to ignite new possibilities for collaboration, investment, and growth in the SRH sector. The challenges we face in sexual and reproductive health are complex, but as these ventures have shown us, innovation, collaboration, and determination can overcome even the most significant obstacles.” Highlights from the flagship startups The Advancing Access to Safe Abortion Platform (AASAP), founded by Richard Mbazumutima, is Rwanda's first telehealth initiative for safe abortion. It provides real-time, accurate information about facilities offering legal and safe abortion services, ensuring girls and young women have access to essential care in a safe, legal, and stigma-free environment. “Through our AASAPFinder web- based platform we offer a safe, legal, and acceptable channel that effectively guides and connects girls and young women to health facilities where they can specifically access legal safe abortion services without delays, stigma, judgement, or discrimination, guided by the Rwandan ministerial order determining conditions to be satisfied for a medical doctor to perform an abortion,” said Mbazumutima. He added: “Over the past year, we have raised approximately $68,000 which has enabled us to support over 4,000 young girls and women in accessing these services. Additionally, we are working to reduce stigma by training healthcare providers on value transformation and qualification standards to ensure they address stigma effectively within the community.” Malaica, founded by Dr. Lorraine Muluka from Kenya, is dedicated to making pregnancy safe and joyful for millions of African women. The organization leverages technology to deliver proven interventions through dedicated nurse-midwives, ensuring a safe and fulfilling pregnancy journey. “The program connects pregnant women with registered nurse- midwives via WhatsApp, providing support throughout pregnancy, including counseling services for pregnancy loss,” explained Dr. Muluka. What sets Malaica apart is its hybrid (online and in- person) asset-light model; instead of building its own facilities, Malaica partners with existing healthcare providers. This approach enhances the care journey for pregnant women while enabling the program to scale rapidly and sustainably. “Definitely, embracing technology in the SRH is what we need to do to address the challenges that we have in this sector. I'm really honored to have been part of this program. We’re really thankful for the Ministry of ICT and Innovation,” she added. Tafadzwa K. Munzwa, a Zambian entrepreneur, is the founder of “Dawa Health”, an AI-powered clinic that democratizes access to maternal care. By training and supporting local health workers, Dawa Health provides essential maternal health and reproductive services. This ensures that women and girls in underserved communities in Zambia receive the information, care, and products they need, exactly when they need them. “Dawa Health offers offline and online solutions include mobile clinic vans making maternal healthcare accessible in marginalized Zambian areas, the DawaMom Al app offering tailored maternal services, a hybrid retail pharmacy selling SRH products like birth kits with delivery services available through eBikes and eTricycles addressing transportation barriers in marginalised communities,” explained Tafadzwa K Munzwa. “We are scaling rapidly in Zambia, growing by more than 50 per cent each month. With a team of over 15 workers, we have already reached more than 7,000 patients. Our goal is to continue expanding and reach 25,000 to 30,000 patients by 2025. We are truly grateful for the support we’ve received from the Ministry of ICT,” he said. Another outstanding venture is “JoCare”, a Rwandan based project that provide SRH information and service accessible to young people with disabilities Specifically, it provides tailored sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information, easy-to-use tools, and private support designed for people with disabilities. This helps everyone make informed health decisions, no matter their physical or cognitive abilities. JoCare provides a user-friendly mobile app that includes online medical consultations. The app focuses on being inclusive, involving the community, and using data to improve services.", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frank Ntarindwa" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/", "sameAs": ["https://www.facebook.com/TheNewTimesRwanda/","https://twitter.com/NewTimesRwanda","https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuZbZj6DF9zWXpdZVceDZkg"], "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "/theme_newtimes/images/logo.png", "width": 270, "height": 57 } }, "copyrightHolder": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/" } }
Ott Tanak has dramatically crashed out of the lead of Rally Japan which has handed Thierry Neuville the World Rally Championship and swung the manufacturers title battle towards Toyota. Tanak started Sunday with a 38 second rally lead over Toyota’s Elfyn Evans which he needed to maintain to keep his WRC title hopes alive. However, Sunday morning’s opening stage (Nukata, 20.23km) proved decisive in the outcome of the WRC drivers’ championship. Tanak was caught out by dirt on the road and understeered wide off the road at speed. It resulted in a heavy impact for his i20 N which suffered terminal damage. Tanak and co-driver Martin Jarveoja escaped the incident unscathed, but the retirement handed Hyundai team-mate Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe the championship. Neuville had started the day needing to score two points from Sunday’s offering of 12 points to claim the title. But Tanak’s crash means he can no longer be caught even if he fails to finish the rally, meaning the Belgian is now the 2024 world rally champion, clinching his maiden WRC title in dramatic fashion. The accident has swung the battle fir the manufacturers’ crown in Toyota’s direction with Tanak now surrendering his first place after Saturday’s classification, and will no longer be able to fight for Sunday points. The drama also means Toyota’s Elfyn Evans now leads the rally by 1m36.9s from team-mate and eight-time world champion Sebastian Ogier with M-Sport's Adrien Fourmaux in third. More to follow"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.