In a post on X on Tuesday, September 15, AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said the attacks took place in the morning, resulting in deaths and forcing civilians to flee their homes in search of safety.
He said the first attack was launched at around 8:30 a.m., followed by another at 9:30 a.m. in the Ntekomiko and Kareta areas of Masisi.
Kanyuka added that at around 11:30 a.m., DRC government forces launched another attack in the Point-Zéro area using ground troops.
'Currently, AFC/M23 forces continue to protect and defend civilians,' he wrote.
The accusations come despite an agreement by the two sides to observe a ceasefire and establish a joint mechanism to monitor compliance with the truce.
AFC/M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said the attacks took place in the morning, resulting in deaths and forcing civilians to flee their homes in search of safety.
A government report covering the epidemiological situation as of Sunday said 7,258 confirmed cases had been recorded in seven provinces, including 3,510 deaths and 1,726 recoveries.
A total of 905 patients were in isolation or hospitalized, while the overall fatality rate stood at 48.4 percent.
The outbreak has affected 62 health zones across seven provinces — Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, Bas-Uele, Tshopo and Sud-Ubangi. Sustained transmission continued in Ituri, North Kivu and Haut-Uele, while sporadic cases were reported in Tshopo and Bas-Uele.
The overall epidemic curve was trending downward as the peak appeared to have been reached around mid-August, said Dieudonne Mwamba Kazadi, head of the National Institute of Public Health, after a strategic coordination meeting in Kinshasa on Monday.
However, he cautioned that the decline was uneven across the country, with some provinces, particularly North Kivu, still reporting increases in cases.
Declared in May, the current outbreak has become the largest and deadliest Ebola epidemic in the DRC's history and the second-largest globally, behind the 2014-2016 epidemic in West Africa.
The outbreak has affected 62 health zones across seven provinces in DRC.
The decision was made during the World Athletics Council meeting in Budapest on Monday and Tuesday, September 14-15, following a competitive bidding process that included Nairobi, Munich, London and Rome. Munich was selected to host the 2031 edition.
The 2029 championships will be held in Nairobi, with the 48,000-capacity Kasarani Stadium serving as the main venue. The event will mark the first time the senior World Athletics Championships have been held on African soil.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe described Nairobi's bid as 'compelling and emotional', saying Kenya's deep connection with athletics made it an appropriate host for the historic edition.
'Kenya is one of the great athletics nations. The sport is woven into the fabric of the country,' Coe said.
'It was important that the World Championships should come to Africa when we had the right host, the right bid and the right circumstances. Nairobi has demonstrated emphatically that this is their moment.'
Kenya's athletics record was a central part of its successful bid. The country is the second-most successful nation in World Athletics Championships history and finished second on the medal table at the 2025 championships in Tokyo, winning seven gold medals and 11 medals overall.
Its athletes have also played a major role in shaping the history of the sport, including Olympic and world champions such as Faith Kipyegon, Eliud Kipchoge, Hellen Obiri, Vivian Cheruiyot and David Rudisha.
Kenya has also built experience hosting major international athletics events in Nairobi. The capital staged the World U18 Championships in 2017 and the World U20 Championships in 2021, while Kenya has hosted other major global athletics competitions.
Nairobi's bid also benefited from ongoing upgrades to Kasarani Stadium and other sports infrastructure ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Kenya will co-host with Tanzania and Uganda.
The successful bid follows Kenya's unsuccessful attempt to host the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Tokyo was ultimately awarded that edition.
World Athletics said Kenya's strong public interest in athletics was another factor supporting Nairobi's bid. Research cited by the governing body found that 68% of Kenyans surveyed had a high level of interest in athletics, compared with a global average of 39%.
The 2029 championships will represent a major milestone for African athletics, bringing the sport's premier global competition to a continent that has produced some of its most successful athletes but has never previously hosted the senior World Championships.
The next World Athletics Championships will be held in Beijing from September 10-19, 2027, before the event moves to Nairobi in 2029.
Kenyan athletes have played a major role in shaping the history of the sport, including Olympic and world champions such as Faith Kipyegon, Eliud Kipchoge, Hellen Obiri, Vivian Cheruiyot and David Rudisha.
The warning came in the WTO's annual flagship publication, World Trade Report 2026: A Critical Juncture for the World Trading System, which examines the achievements of the multilateral trading system over the past 80 years and the challenges it now faces.
'The multilateral trading system has delivered enormous benefits over the past 80 years, helping to create a more integrated and resilient global economy,' WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said.
About 72 percent of global merchandise trade still takes place under the WTO's most-favored-nation terms, she said.
'The global trading landscape has changed significantly but the founding logic of the system, that all economies are better off cooperating rather than acting unilaterally, remains as relevant today as ever,' Okonjo-Iweala said.
She said WTO members are actively discussing reforms and recognize that 'the status quo is not an option.'
The report models three possible futures for the global trading system.
Under a strengthened multilateral framework, global GDP could rise 2.9 percent and exports 17.9 percent by 2050 compared with the baseline trajectory.
The other two scenarios envision an erosion of multilateral trade rules. In a 'geo-fragmented world,' where trade cooperation is organized around geopolitical blocs, global GDP could fall 5.1 percent and exports 18.6 percent, while in a world where multilateral cooperation is replaced by a network of free trade agreements, GDP could fall 6.9 percent and exports 26.9 percent.
The difference between strengthened multilateral cooperation and erosion of the system could amount to as much as 10 percent of baseline global real GDP, WTO Chief Economist Robert Staiger said.
'If the status quo is unsustainable, as many members believe, this illustrates the potential cost of inaction on reform,' he said.
The report noted that over eight decades, the system has helped lower trade barriers, expand global trade nearly 50-fold and create a more integrated, rules-based global economy.
The World Trade Organization has repeatedly expressed concern about the economic effects of President Trump's tariffs.
According to a European Commission document seen by Reuters, the proposal is part of a planned EU Kids Act that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen are expected to present this week.
The proposal would introduce different levels of access based on age. Children aged 15 and above would be allowed to create their own accounts, while those aged 13 and 14 could access social media and video-sharing platforms through parental permission, with controls on contacts and screen time.
Children aged 3 to 12 would have access only to child-friendly services under parental control, while those under three would have no access.
The European Commission said the approach should allow children to benefit from digital services while protecting them from abuse and exploitation.
Under the proposal, technology companies would also be required to verify users' ages, limit addictive designs and harmful content feeds, and provide tools for reporting harmful material and parental controls.
Companies would also pay a supervisory fee to support regulatory enforcement.
Reuters reported that the proposal could still change before being formally presented and would require agreement with EU member states and the European Parliament before becoming law.
The European Union is set to propose restrictions preventing children under 15 from accessing social media.
The move is intended to expand the charging network across the country and make it easier for electric vehicle owners to travel without worrying about where to recharge.
Rwanda is expected to have 218 electric vehicle charging stations by 2027.
Byiringiro Alfred, Chief Technical Advisor for Transport at MININFRA, said the government has already identified priority locations for charging infrastructure and will work with private investors to develop the sites.
He made the remarks at the Renewable Energy for Sustainable Growth (RE4SG) 2026 in Kigali.
'Some areas may not offer enough commercial returns to attract private investment in electric vehicle charging infrastructure. In such cases, the government needs to support private investors and may also invest directly to ensure the necessary facilities are built,' Byiringiro said.
He said a reliable charging network was essential to the wider adoption of electric vehicles.
'You cannot promote electric mobility without adequate charging infrastructure. It is essential to have that infrastructure in place,' he said.
The government has already supported the sector by helping investors access land for charging stations and providing tax incentives.
Since 2021, Rwanda has introduced a range of measures to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles, including reducing or removing some taxes on electric vehicles and related equipment.
MININFRA is also working on standards for electric vehicles and charging equipment to ensure that products entering the Rwandan market meet required quality and durability standards.
'We need appropriate standards for both vehicles and charging infrastructure to ensure that people who buy electric vehicles can use them for many years rather than having them last only one or two years,' Byiringiro said.
More than 7,000 electric vehicles had been registered in Rwanda by the end of 2024, following their introduction to the country in 2020.
Rwanda plans to fund EV charging stations in areas with limited private investment.
Under the agreement, the government will receive a 25% stake in Almonty Rwanda Pty Ltd in exchange for contributing the Shyorongi tungsten exploration concession and a mineral processing licence, while Almonty will hold the remaining 75%.
The Shyorongi exploration block covers approximately 32 square kilometres in Rulindo District, Northern Province.
The partnership will initially allow Almonty Rwanda to acquire ore, pre-concentrate and panning tailings from Rwandan mining licence holders, including small-scale operators, for upgrading and sale. The company also plans to use a mobile processing unit near existing tailings dams before establishing a collection and processing plant in Rwanda.
Almonty Chairman, President and CEO Lewis Black said the arrangement would allow the company to work with material already being produced in Rwanda.
'The most immediate opportunity here is the material that is already being produced. Rwanda's small-scale license holders are producing ore, pre-concentrate and panning tailings today, and this agreement allows us to collect, upgrade and export that material while we build out the collection and processing plant,' he said.
Black said the company would combine Rwanda's existing production with modern processing, traceability and exploration.
Rwanda Mining Board CEO Alice Uwase said the partnership would contribute to the transformation of the country's tungsten industry.
'Rwanda is pleased to welcome Almonty as a strategic partner in the development of our tungsten industry. This investment will help to transform our mining sector by introducing world-class processing infrastructure, international standards for environmental and social governance, and a comprehensive training program to develop Rwandan talent,' she said.
Almonty Industries is an international company focused on the mining, processing and trading of tungsten. It is particularly known for taking over underperforming mines or mining projects and upgrading them to improve their operations. The company has projects in South Korea, Portugal and Spain.
Almonty was previously headquartered in Toronto, Canada, but relocated its headquarters to Dillon, United States, in April 2026.
The company is also listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange, one of the world's major financial markets.
Tungsten is a mineral used to produce hard metals for applications in construction, aircraft, tanks, spacecraft, firearms and ammunition.
The Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) indicates that Rwanda exports at least 24 tonnes of tungsten every week.
Tungsten is one of the minerals found in significant quantities in Rwanda. The country has a geological zone known as the Tungsten Belt, which stretches from Mageragere in Kigali City through Rulindo and continues to Gifurwe and Bugarama in Burera District.
Rwanda has joined Almonty in new tungsten exploration venture.
The two-day meeting will bring together members of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM), a body established to coordinate and monitor the implementation of the parties' security commitments.
The talks will also be attended by facilitators including the United States, Qatar, Togo and the African Union Commission.
The meeting comes as fighting continues in eastern DRC, while some key provisions of the peace agreement have yet to be fully implemented.
The Rwanda-DRC peace agreement was signed in Washington on June 27, 2025, and was later reinforced by the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity signed on December 4.
Among the key commitments is the complete dismantling of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) by the DRC, while Rwanda is expected to lift its defensive measures in line with progress on that commitment.
The FDLR is expected to remain a major issue in the Geneva talks. Rwanda has repeatedly accused the DRC of supporting, arming and cooperating with the group.
On July 28, the DRC government said part of the FDLR terrorist group had agreed to a process involving disarmament, demobilisation and relocation to designated sites. Kinshasa presented the move as progress towards fulfilling its commitments.
Rwanda, however, rejected the approach, arguing that the Washington agreement requires the complete dismantling of the FDLR rather than negotiations with the group.
Meanwhile, fighting between the DRC army, FARDC, and M23 has continued in North and South Kivu. M23 captured several areas in 2025, including Goma and Bukavu.
The September talks will follow the sixth JSCM meeting held in Geneva on August 12 and 13, where both sides agreed to strengthen mechanisms for monitoring and verifying implementation of the Washington agreement.
Delegations from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are expected to meet in Geneva, Switzerland, on September 16 and 17, 2026, for talks on the implementation of the Washington peace agreement.
The pharmaceutical company behind injectable weight-loss drugs has been accused of prioritising profits over the health of people in developing countries by halting production of its insulin pens.
People living with type 1 diabetes who are reliant on the human insulin produced by Novo Nordisk, will instead be given glass vials and syringes – which they say are inconvenient and harder to use with the same accuracy.
Novo Nordisk has told governments and non-profit organisations that it will no longer be producing human insulin in pens and has already stopped supplying in South Africa, where patients have had to switch to glass vials.
Campaigners claim the move is to allow the scaling-up of the production of injectable weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy.
Novo Nordisk has already stopped supplying human insulin in pens to South Africa. Photograph: Tom Ittle/Reuters
Novo Nordisk this year announced a $4bn (£3bn) investment in a production plant in the US to 'grow its ability to produce current and future injectable treatments for people with obesity and other serious chronic diseases'.
Lecritia Roberts, 31, from South Africa, has type 1 diabetes. She said it feels as if the clock has been turned back on treatment.
'It makes me angry. They don't understand how much harder they are making our lives,' she said. 'Why are they making things more convenient for people who want to lose weight over people struggling with a disease?'
Roberts used vials to inject insulin as a teenager but said it was difficult to accurately administer, was often embarrassing in public and required a lot of caution, as dropping the bottles could result in losing a month's worth of medicine in one go.
She said the pens transformed how she managed her diabetes because they were easier to carry and could be discreetly used, even while at her desk at work.
'When I was younger it was challenging, I didn't like injecting. Sometimes I injected it into the floor because I didn't like having the needle in my arms or thighs,' said Roberts. 'If your break the vial and don't have any [saved] back, you basically don't have any insulin unless you buy it, but people in rural areas can't afford it.'
She said she had recently seen a blind diabetes patient in hospital having to learn how to use the vials and feared for her – the clicking sound made by a pen helps people with visual impairments to measure dosage.
A survey by the medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and T1International, which campaigns for people with type 1 diabetes, found that 82% of patients preferred pens over syringes and vials.
A patient injects herself with an insulin pen. Photograph: Guido Krzikowski/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Novo Nordisk will continue to produce pens for analogue insulin – synthetic substances that are more costly than human insulin, putting them out of budget for many in developing countries.
Candice Sehoma, advocacy adviser for MSF's Access Campaign said Novo Nordisk's decision would result in unequal care around the globe, and pointed out that syringes and vials are outdated and rarely used in wealthy countries.
'While the corporation continues to profit immensely by supplying newer, more expensive insulin and semaglutide pens (Ozempic and Wegovy) to wealthier nations, its decision to withdraw human insulin pens may push people with diabetes in resource-limited settings, who rely on insulin for survival, to revert to using vials and syringes, which virtually nobody uses any more in high-income countries,' she said.
Novo Nordisk denied that the discontinuation of insulin pens was to make way for the production of weight-loss drug pens, saying that a different type of device was used. A spokesperson said it was phasing out products to address 'capacity constraints'.
'Patients in a number of countries, including South Africa, will eventually have limited access to our human insulin in pens,' the spokesperson said.
'We recognise the impact these decisions will have on patients and we are in dialogue with local health authorities to ensure that patients continue to have access to the treatment they need. We will continue to deliver our newer insulins in pens.'
Advertising for Wegovy and other weight loss injections outside Penn station in New York earlier this year. Photograph: Richard Levine/Alamy
The scientists who discovered insulin assigned the patent to the University of Toronto to ensure its accessibility, but today more than 90% of the medication's production is in the control of three companies. The same firms produce the new weight-loss drugs, developed initially to treat diabetes, and have been accused of having a 'stranglehold' on that market, charging up to 400 times more than needed for products.
MSF has called on other insulin manufacturers to guarantee lower prices for all types of the devices, which it says could still be profitable at $1 a pen.
'The profiteering on a lifesaving medicine that has been available for more than a century must stop now,' said Sehoma.
The death toll from Israeli airstrikes on a municipality building in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh has risen to six, with 43 injured, according to the Lebanese ministry of health.
Rescue workers continue to remove debris from the attack, the ministry said. The attack also killed the city's mayor.
Walid Al-Hashash, director of the operations unit of Lebanon's civil defense force, said a civil defense worker was among those killed in the strikes.
Alexy Nehma, director of emergency medical services at the Lebanese Red Cross, told CNN that responders struggled to reach people in need due to repeated strikes and had to withdraw their team from the area.
Ahmad Kahil, the mayor of Nabatieh, was killed in the strike, Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported earlier.
