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U.S. “President (Donald) Trump has always expressed that diplomacy is the first option,” Leavitt said on Fox News. “However, he is unafraid to use the lethal force and might of the United States military if and when he deems that necessary.”

“What President Trump will do next only he knows, so the world will have to keep waiting and guessing, and we will let him decide,” she said, refusing to discuss any potential U.S. actions or policy decisions concerning Iran.

Leavitt said the U.S. forces last year “totally obliterated” the Iranian nuclear program, which she described as the Middle Eastern country’s “greatest leverage.”

Trump said Sunday his administration is weighing “some very strong options” including potential military action against Iran, claiming Iran was “starting” to cross the U.S. red line.

The U.S. president is scheduled to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine on Tuesday to weigh U.S. options, which could include boosting antigovernment sources online, deploying secretive cyber weapons against Iranian military and civilian sites, placing more sanctions on Iran and military strikes, as well as the possibility of the U.S. sending terminals of Starlink, a satellite-based internet service owned by Elon Musk, into Iran for the first time during the Trump administration, according to a Wall Street Journal report on Sunday.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday diplomacy remains the preferred approach for the United States to deal with Iran, though the Trump administration will not rule out military options if necessary.

Xinhua

Trump made the comments in a January 7, 2026, interview with The New York Times, where he emphasised that simply having a military presence on the island is not enough for him.

Trump argued that owning Greenland outright would provide strategic and psychological advantages that cannot be achieved through existing agreements or leases. Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark with significant self‑government, already hosts a U.S. military presence under a Cold War‑era defence agreement, but Trump said that 'ownership gives you a thing that you can’t do' through those arrangements.

When asked by a New York Times reporter whether it was psychologically important to him personally or to the United States as a whole, Trump responded without hesitation that it was 'psychologically important for me.' He added, 'Maybe another president would feel differently, but so far I’ve been right about everything.'

In the interview, Trump also hinted that he would be willing to consider using military force if necessary to acquire the Arctic territory, though he acknowledged that such action 'might upset NATO,' since Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, a NATO member.

The idea of owning Greenland has drawn widespread criticism from both allies and experts. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reiterated Denmark’s commitment to Greenland’s sovereignty and self‑determination, and many European leaders have rejected the notion of a U.S. takeover.

Greenland’s own government has strongly rebuffed Trump’s comments, insisting that decisions about the territory’s future belong to Greenlanders and Denmark under international law. EU officials have warned that any attempt by the United States to take over by force could jeopardise the future of NATO, as the alliance would be obligated to defend a fellow member state.

China has also criticised Trump’s stance, calling it self‑serving, and military analysts have dismissed the idea that ownership is necessary for defence, noting that the U.S. already maintains extensive global military partnerships without controlling foreign territory.

Trump’s remarks come amid rising geopolitical competition in the Arctic, where strategic resources and new shipping routes are attracting attention from major powers including Russia and China. As debates over Greenland’s future continue, Trump’s comments have added a controversial chapter to U.S. foreign policy discussions.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he wants the United States to have full ownership of Greenland, calling the idea 'psychologically important' to him personally, in a remark that has sparked international concern and political backlash.

Rania Umutoni

Trump wrote that the tariff policy is 'effective immediately' and described the order as 'final and conclusive.' He did not provide further details about the legal authority under which the tariffs would be imposed nor about whether the policy applies to all Iranian trading partners.

The tariffs would be paid by U.S. importers of goods from countries that continue doing business with Iran, a long‑sanctioned member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Iran exports large quantities of oil and other products, with major trading partners including China, Turkey, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and India.

Beijing strongly criticized the announcement. The Chinese embassy in Washington said it opposed what it called unilateral sanctions and the extension of U.S. jurisdiction beyond its borders, warning that China would take necessary measures to safeguard its interests.
Officials from Japan and South Korea said they were monitoring the situation closely but did not announce specific actions.

Trump’s comments come as Iran experiences significant anti‑government protests, described by rights groups as the largest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and as Washington weighs how to respond to the unrest. Tehran has indicated it is keeping lines of communication open with the United States even amid heightened tensions.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that any country doing business with Iran will face a tariff rate of 25% on all trade with the United States. The announcement was made in a post on Trump’s Truth Social platform and is intended as part of Washington’s response to the ongoing situation in Iran.

Rania Umutoni

Escalona replaces Anibal Coronado, who will serve as minister of Ecosocialism, Rodriguez said on Telegram.

“I know that his loyalty, ability and commitment will ensure the continued development of our Bolivarian Government’s plans together with the people,” Rodriguez said of Escalona.

Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodriguez on Monday announced her first cabinet changes, appointing Juan Escalona as the new minister of the Office of the Presidency.

Xinhua

The decision was announced by Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, during an exclusive interview with Jeune Afrique.

The deadline for submitting candidacies closes at the end of April. Mushikiwabo’s current term is due to expire later this year.

If re-elected, Mushikiwabo, who has steered the international Francophone network advancing language, culture, and cooperation since 2019, would join former Senegalese president Abdou Diouf as the only Secretary General to have served three terms.

According to Nduhungirehe, Rwanda’s decision to put forward Mushikiwabo for a third term follows consultations with her and reflects what Kigali sees as a strong and widely recognised record of leadership.

'At the last OIF ministerial conference, held in November in Kigali, several member states expressed their wish to see Louise Mushikiwabo run for a third term,' Nduhungirehe said. 'This recognition represents a strong political signal, which Rwanda has taken into account.'

“Since 2019, under her leadership, the OIF has embarked on a deep, structured, and coherent transformation that has strengthened its political credibility, institutional clarity, and operational effectiveness. We are therefore fully confident in the success of this proposal,” he added.

Louise Mushikiwabo has steered the international Francophone network advancing language, culture, and cooperation since 2019.

Rwanda hosted the 46th Conference of Ministers of La Francophonie (CMF) for the first time in November 2025, bringing together more than 400 delegates from 65 member states and governments.

Held under the theme 'Thirty Years After Beijing: The Role of Women in the Francophone World,' the meeting coincided with the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Beijing World Conference on Women and underscored the OIF’s renewed focus on gender equality and women’s leadership.

Since taking office, Mushikiwabo has overseen a deep institutional transformation of the OIF, aimed at strengthening its political credibility, institutional clarity and operational effectiveness.

Reviewing progress since the 2024 CMF in Paris during the summit, Mushikiwabo highlighted the organisation’s electoral assistance missions and high-impact campaigns against disinformation in countries including Lebanon, Moldova and the Central African Republic.

Under her leadership, the OIF has also stepped up efforts to support Francophone candidates seeking leadership roles in major international institutions such as the African Union, the African Development Bank and UNESCO.

Programmatic initiatives have included a mobility scheme for French-language teachers, which recently brought a third cohort of 50 educators from 15 countries to Kigali to exchange expertise with Rwandan counterparts. Similar deployments have taken place in Ghana and Seychelles, with Cambodia next on the list.

Mushikiwabo also emphasised the growing role of the Francophonie économique, citing successful economic missions, including one to Benin that resulted in several commercial contracts, one valued at €30 million.

On gender issues, she called for increased support to the 'Francophonie With Women' fund and invited member states to join a new initiative aimed at training and integrating girls and women into emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence.

Rwanda’s announcement comes against a backdrop of regional tensions in the Great Lakes area, a subject also addressed by Nduhungirehe in his Jeune Afrique interview.

He defended the Washington and Doha agreements aimed at resolving the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), arguing that they provide an adequate framework for lasting peace if implemented in good faith. He also rejected the need for additional mediation efforts, following recent diplomatic initiatives led by Angola.

Asked whether strained relations between Rwanda, the DRC and Burundi could affect Mushikiwabo’s candidacy, Nduhungirehe pointed to the right of every OIF member state to support or nominate a candidate of its choice.

'The principles of the OIF are clear: every member state has the right to present a candidate for the post of Secretary General, and Rwanda is not opposed to an open, healthy and respectful competition,' he said.

He added that Rwanda’s position rests on Mushikiwabo’s 'documented and measurable' record, which he noted had been unanimously praised at the OIF summits in Djerba and Villers-Cotterêts.

Rwanda has decided to nominate Louise Mushikiwabo for a third term as Secretary General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), ahead of the 20th Francophonie Summit, scheduled to take place in November in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

In a statement, the Office of Communications (Ofcom) said it was deeply concerned by reports that Grok, an AI tool available on X, had been used to create and share illegal non-consensual intimate images and child sexual abuse material.

The office described the case as “the highest priority” and noted that it could block access to the service “where appropriate.”

If the investigation determines that the company has breached the law, Ofcom said it can require the platform to take specific measures to come into compliance or remedy harm caused by any violations. The regulator can also impose financial penalties of up to 18 million pounds (24.27 million U.S. dollars), or 10 percent of the company’s qualifying worldwide revenue.

In what it described as “the most serious cases of ongoing non-compliance,” Ofcom said it can apply to a court for orders to require advertisers or payment providers to withdraw from the platform, or to demand internet service providers to block access to a site in the country.

However, the regulator stressed that such measures would be taken only “where appropriate and proportionate to prevent significant harm to individuals” in Britain.

X’s Grok AI tool has come under mounting criticism following reports that it was used to generate allegedly illegal sexual content. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had previously said that the use of Grok to create illegal images was “disgraceful” and “disgusting.”

Britain’s online safety regulator said on Monday it has opened a formal investigation into U.S. entrepreneur Elon Musk’s social media platform X under the country’s Online Safety Act, citing concerns that the platform was used to create sexualised imagery of women and children.

Xinhua

The delay is linked to pending financing agreements that must be signed between the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN) and the World Bank.

Construction to expand and modernise Nyabugogo Bus Terminal was initially scheduled to start in mid-2025 and conclude by 2027. However, the project has yet to commence.

During a visit to the City of Kigali, Members of Parliament from the Budget and State Patrimony Committee questioned city officials about delays affecting several development projects, including the new Nyabugogo terminal.

According to Kigali City’s six-month report for the 2025/2026 fiscal year, more than three procurement processes linked to the Nyabugogo project faced setbacks.

These delays are tied to the unsigned agreements between MINECOFIN and the World Bank, which is expected to finance the project.

Kigali City Vice Mayor in charge of Urbanisation and Infrastructure, Fulgence Dusabimana, explained that the delay is primarily due to these pending agreements.

'The feasibility study is complete, which should have enabled us to access funds for the project. We have requested MINECOFIN’s support to resolve the remaining issues. From the discussions so far, it seems the delay is not a refusal to sign but matters that still need alignment at their level to proceed smoothly,' he said.

If all goes according to plan, the financing agreements are expected to be signed by January 2026. The procurement process to select contractors could take at least ten months, potentially identifying a winning bidder by October 2026. Construction is then expected to begin in 2027.

Kigali City further explained that detailed architectural and engineering designs, along with construction works by the selected contractor, would start in January 2027. The construction phase is expected to last two years, with completion anticipated by 2029.

Nyabugogo Bus Terminal is the busiest transport hub in Rwanda, connecting passengers from all provinces and linking Kigali to major regional cities including Kampala, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, and Bujumbura.

City authorities note that the current terminal is constrained by limited space, leading to frequent congestion of vehicles and passengers. The master plan envisions upgrading Nyabugogo to international standards, providing passengers with a modern and comfortable experience similar to Kigali International Airport.

Plans to modernise the terminal were first announced in November 2017, with construction initially expected in 2018, but delays have persisted. The project was initially set to be implemented by the public transport company RFTC at a cost of Rwf 45 billion, but the City later announced that the World Bank would fund it.

Nyabugogo Bus Terminal, opened in 1998, has since served as Kigali’s main hub for domestic and international bus routes. The upgrade is estimated to cost between USD 100 million and USD 150 million and will include parking areas, passenger waiting lounges, offices, commercial spaces, ticketing areas, information desks, security offices, rest areas, and other modern amenities.

The artistic impression of anticipated Nyabugogo Bus Terminal.

Nyabugogo Bus Terminal is the busiest transport hub in Rwanda, connecting passengers from all provinces and linking Kigali to major regional cities.

Kigali City Vice Mayor in charge of Urbanisation and Infrastructure, Fulgence Dusabimana, explained that the delay is primarily due to pending agreements.

IGIHE

The agreement was signed on January 8, 2026, at Toyota Rwanda Ltd’s headquarters in Karuruma, Kigali.

The collaboration enables I&M Bank customers, and anyone interested in banking with I&M, to buy Toyota vehicles with special discounts and streamlined loan arrangements.

Kayihura Yves, Head of Retail Banking and Branch Operations at I&M Bank Rwanda, said the partnership will strengthen business ties between the two organisations and remove financial barriers for those who want to own new Toyota vehicles.

'This collaboration between I&M Bank Rwanda and Toyota Rwanda will help our customers access high-quality vehicles. The bank will provide the vehicles as collateral, so customers will not need to offer additional assets,' he explained.

He added that I&M Bank will also offer vehicle insurance through a dedicated department, allowing customers to complete all required services in one place and without delays.

Nenad Predrevac, Managing Director of Toyota Rwanda Ltd, described the partnership as a commitment to enhancing customer services and deepening the existing relationship with I&M Bank.

Patrick Kanyandekwe, Operations Manager at Toyota Rwanda, emphasised that the agreement will deliver price discounts and faster vehicle delivery for eligible customers.

'Any I&M Bank customer, or anyone who chooses to work with the bank, can receive discounts on the vehicles they want and benefit from prompt service, whether they approach us through the bank or directly at Toyota Rwanda,' he said.

He also noted that Toyota Rwanda handles post-sale maintenance and currently offers 13 different vehicle models.

I&M Bank Rwanda has signed a partnership agreement with Toyota Rwanda Ltd to simplify the process of purchasing Toyota vehicles through affordable financing options and discounted prices.

The agreement was signed on January 8, 2026, at Toyota Rwanda Ltd’s headquarters in Karuruma, Kigali.

Patrick Kanyandekwe, Operations Manager at Toyota Rwanda, emphasised that the agreement will deliver price discounts and faster vehicle delivery for eligible customers.

Nenad Predrevac, Managing Director of Toyota Rwanda Ltd, described the partnership as a commitment to enhancing customer services and deepening the existing relationship with I&M Bank.

Kayihura Yves, Head of Retail Banking and Branch Operations at I&M Bank Rwanda, said the partnership will strengthen business ties between the two organisations and remove financial barriers for those who want to own new Toyota vehicles.

IGIHE

Data from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) reveal that, between 2019 and 2024, a total of 54,287 people in Rwanda were diagnosed with HIV. The highest numbers were recorded in the City of Kigali and the Western Province.

In 2024 alone, 9,019 people tested positive for HIV, including 3,503 men and 5,516 women, out of 1,026,851 individuals tested that year. In 2023, more than 1.1 million people were tested, with 9,270 positive cases (3,752 men and 5,518 women), marking a slight increase from 2022, when 8,507 people tested positive (3,404 men and 5,103 women) from over 1.1 million tests. In 2021, 9,422 people were diagnosed, comprising 3,673 men and 5,749 women from more than 1.5 million tests.

In 2020, 9,279 people tested positive out of over 2.09 million tests, including 3,577 men and 5,702 women. This was an increase compared to 2019, when 8,790 people were diagnosed (4,040 men and 4,750 women) from 2.6 million tests.

Kigali and Eastern Province most affected

The City of Kigali continues to record the highest number of HIV cases in the country. In 2024, 2,883 residents tested positive, compared to 2,811 in 2023 and 2,756 in 2022. Previous years saw 2,983 cases in 2021, 3,136 in 2020, and 3,707 in 2019.

The Eastern Province follows Kigali in new infections. In 2024, 2,439 people tested positive, compared with 2,675 in 2023 and 2022, 2,398 in 2020, and 2,676 in 2019.

The Southern Province also reported significant numbers, with 1,573 positive cases in 2024, compared to 1,543 in 2023, 1,420 in 2022, 1,589 in 2021, 1,665 in 2020, and 1,045 in 2019.

In the Western Province, 1,257 people were diagnosed in 2024, compared to 1,431 in 2023, 1,400 in 2022, 2,460 in 2021, 1,319 in 2020, and 852 in 2019. The Northern Province recorded 867 new cases in 2024, compared with 810 in 2023, 728 in 2022, 932 in 2021, 761 in 2020, and 510 in 2019.

Age and gender trends

Over the six-year period, most HIV diagnoses were among people over 25 years old, totaling 41,385 cases, followed by young people aged 15 to 24, who accounted for 11,234 cases. Among pregnant women, 1,221 were living with HIV in 2024, up from 1,141 in 2023, while earlier years recorded 1,420 in 2022, 1,625 in 2021, 1,314 in 2020, and 1,831 in 2019.

In 2024, 5,570 women living with HIV were receiving antiretroviral therapy, representing 99.0% coverage. That year, 67,761 couples were tested, with 3,350 found to be discordant, meaning one partner was HIV positive while the other was not.

National HIV landscape

As of December 2025, the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) reported that 234,000 people were living with HIV in the country. HIV-related deaths are estimated at around 2,500 annually, while new infections among people aged 15 to 49 stood at 2.7%.

Rwanda has achieved and surpassed the United Nations 95-95-95 targets, which aim for 95% of people living with HIV to know their status, 95% of those diagnosed to be on treatment, and 95% of those on treatment to achieve viral suppression. The country currently stands at 96-98-98.

The Ministry of Health notes that strong investment in HIV care is yielding positive results. In 2025, people aged 50 and above accounted for 30% of all individuals living with HIV, reflecting improved life expectancy among patients.

Data from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) reveal that, between 2019 and 2024, a total of 54,287 people in Rwanda were diagnosed with HIV. The highest numbers were recorded in the City of Kigali and the Western Province.

IGIHE

The agreements were signed in Muscat on Sunday following an official visit by a high-level Rwandan delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe.

The delegation also included the Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire; the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa; and the Minister of State in charge of Infrastructure at the Ministry of Infrastructure, Eng. Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye.

According to an official statement, one of the MoUs focuses on logistics services, including the development and operation of inland ports, as well as related logistics and supply chain services.

Another MoU covers transportation, specifically the operationalisation of direct flights between Muscat and Kigali.

Under this agreement, Oman Air will begin operating direct flights to Kigali starting in June, with two direct flights per week.

A third MoU, signed between the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Oman Airports Management Company, focuses on development cooperation, including potential investments linked to the new Bugesera Airport District.

The fourth MoU addresses ICT and innovation, signed between the Ministries of ICT of Rwanda and Oman. It covers cooperation in data hosting, cloud services, and data centre services.

Speaking after the signing ceremony, Ambassador Nduhungirehe described the MoUs as a significant step forward in Rwanda—Oman relations, noting that their implementation would deliver tangible benefits to citizens of both countries.

He emphasized Rwanda’s commitment to implementing the agreements in good faith and indicated that further cooperation initiatives are expected in the future.

Oman’s Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, Bin Hamoud Al Maawali, said the agreements would help Oman expand its engagement with East Africa, while also reinforcing the strong bilateral relationship between the two countries.

He added that the partnerships serve as a bridge for broader cooperation between the Middle East and Africa.

Rwanda and Oman have signed four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation across key sectors, including logistics, transport, development, ICT and innovation.

Rwanda and Oman have signed four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation across key sectors, including logistics, transport, development, ICT and innovation.

IGIHE