The competitions were part of the We Can Work project, an initiative led by Light for the World and supported by the Mastercard Foundation. The goal of the project is to highlight the talents and contributions of young people with disabilities in the workplace and beyond.
These contests encouraged participants to share stories with the power to inspire and shift perceptions about disability.
Joseph Rugemandinzi, an agronomist with physical and visual impairments, holds a master’s degree in Fertilizer Science and Technology from Morocco. He is also a filmmaker.
Speaking to IGIHE, he said the competition provided a powerful platform to showcase untapped talent and advocate for inclusion.
“It means a lot—especially for someone with a disability—to demonstrate that we can contribute to personal and national development. In my case, I want to contribute to the growth of Rwanda’s film industry because I studied it,” Rugemandinzi said.
His submitted story featured a man who lost his sight later in life but continued working with the same dedication and skill he had before his visual impairment.
“This man used to weave and sell baskets as a child. Even after becoming visually impaired, he kept doing the same job just as well,” Rugemandinzi explained.
Patrick Mfitumukiza, a student of Entrepreneurial Leadership at the African Leadership University, shared his personal journey—navigating the emotional and societal challenges that came with having a physical disability.
“I used to believe that jobs were only given to people without disabilities. These thoughts can trap you and stop you from moving forward,” he told IGIHE.
Both Rugemandinzi and Mfitumukiza received awards, professional internships, and were named ambassadors for the We Can Work initiative, which aims to create one million jobs for youth with disabilities across the participating countries within eight years.
Established in 1985, Huadong Baili Winery was the first in the country to fully adopt the international OIV standards, which govern winemaking on a global scale. Located in the Laoshan region and covering over 1,200 acres, this winery isn’t just a production facility—it’s an immersive destination.
I toured the vineyard grounds, walked through the exhibition halls, and entered the cool cellars where single-varietal, single-origin, and single-vintage wines are carefully crafted.
What stood out to me was how deeply the company integrates advanced techniques like dynamic temperature-controlled fermentation, ensuring both consistency and quality in every bottle.
I also had the pleasure of tasting a range of their wines, each reflecting the terroir of this unique region.
Later that afternoon, I boarded a bus and followed the Yellow Sea coastline for a two-hour ride to Yantai’s Marine Star Pier. As someone from a landlocked country, being by the sea already felt special—but what awaited me there surpassed expectations.
A short ride took us to the Marine Ranch, a pioneering project that fuses intelligent aquaculture with tourism. Its distinct gemstone necklace-shaped layout is not just eye-catching but symbolic of China’s commitment to sustainable development under its ‘blue economy’ strategy.
Here, I tried fishing for the first time—a moment that was both exciting and oddly meditative. We also explored the aquacultural platforms, observed various species, and enjoyed the golden-hour view from the sea.
The visit concluded with a virtual reality experience that simulated life under the ocean, showcasing how cutting-edge technology is now part of everyday learning and tourism in China.
The following day, I stepped back in time as I explored Suochengli Block, the historical core of Yantai. This area has a deep past, dating back to 1398 when it was established as a garrison during the Ming Dynasty.
Later, it transitioned into a farming community during the Qing Dynasty. Walking through its well-preserved alleys and stone walls felt like moving through a living museum.
Just nearby is Chaoyang Street, once a vital trading hub during Yantai’s commercial rise. Since 2021, the street has been revived as a wine culture destination, repurposing its Qing-era architecture into cafes, tasting rooms, and small museums.
While there, I met a man who left a lasting impression. He spoke English with an American accent but revealed that he had taught himself the language—no formal education, no tutors. His welcoming nature and curiosity mirrored the larger spirit of the city.
To wrap up my journey, I visited Yantai Mountain—referred to by locals as the “mother mountain” of the city. Spanning 45 hectares, this coastal hill is a convergence point for sea, land, and city. The area is lush with greenery and features unique geological formations and 19th-century buildings once used by foreign consulates.
On that day, I witnessed children dressed in traditional costumes performing dances and songs. These cultural presentations, combined with the natural beauty around us, created a heartfelt moment that highlighted Yantai’s pride in its heritage.
Reflecting on the trip, I recalled the words of Pan Shiyou, Deputy Director of the Standing Committee of Yantai Municipal People’s Congress, during a welcome banquet.
He said, “We sincerely hope that during your stay here, you will see around for yourself, taste great wine, enjoy the wonderland, experience the charm and romance of ‘Coastal wonderland, remarkable Yantai’, and tell the world with your writing and camera.” His invitation was an accurate summary of what I experienced.
“Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a historic opportunity for illegal aliens to receive both financial and travel assistance to facilitate travel back to their home country through the CBP (Customs & Border Protection) Home App,” the department said in a statement.
“Any illegal alien who uses the CBP Home App to self-deport will also receive a stipend of 1,000 dollars, paid after their return to their home country has been confirmed through the app,” the statement read.
The department noted that even with the cost of the stipend, it is projected that self-deportation using the app will decrease the costs of a deportation by around 70 percent. Currently the average cost to arrest, detain, and remove an illegal alien is 17,121 dollars.
“If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest,” said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
In a recent rally speech in Michigan, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed his first 100 days in office were the most successful of any U.S. administration in history, citing policies like increased deportations of illegal immigrants as key achievements.
Despite Trump claiming victory, mass deportations remain below targets due to logistical, legal, and diplomatic constraints.
“One area where the administration appears to be failing to meet its enforcement goals is in the number of deportations,” according to a recent analysis published by the Brookings Institution.
“The numbers of deportations remain modest, but the chilling effects are potentially severe,” the analysis said.
Meanwhile, many experts expressed concerns about the implications of the administration’s immigration policies.
“Americans worry about immigrants crossing the border illegally, so that has been a good issue for (Trump) politically. But polls show that people don’t like his approach and feel he has been deporting people without any due process,” Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West told Xinhua.
With this collaboration, Airtel Africa will further enhance its next-generation satellite connectivity offerings and augment connectivity for enterprises, businesses, and socio-economic communities like schools, health centres in even the most rural parts of Africa.
Airtel Africa will also explore rural coverage expansion through cellular backhauling.
Airtel Africa and SpaceX will continue to explore other areas to promote digital inclusion in the continent as well as SpaceX’s ability to utilize and benefit from Airtel’s ground network infrastructure and other capabilities in Africa.
Commenting on the development, Airtel Africa MD and Chief Executive Officer Sunil Taldar reaffirmed deep committment to its vision to enrich the lives of people of Africa.
“This partnership with SpaceX is a significant step to demonstrate our continued commitment to advancing Africa’s digital economy through strategic investments and partnerships.
“Next-generation satellite connectivity will ensure that every individual, business, and community have reliable and affordable voice and data connectivity even in the most remote and currently under-served parts of Africa,” he stated.
SpaceX Vice President of Starlink Business Operations Chad Gibbs also expressed delight at working with Airtel to bring the transformative benefits of Starlink to the African people in new and innovative ways.
“Starlink is available in more than 20 African markets and this agreement with Airtel highlights how, once licensed, Starlink welcomes the opportunity to join forces with important industry leaders to ensure as many people as possible can benefit from Starlink’s presence.
“The team at Airtel has played a pivotal role in Africa’s telecom story, so working with them to complement our direct offering across Africa makes great sense for our business,” he noted.
{{About Airtel Africa}}
Airtel Africa is a leading provider of telecommunications and mobile money services, with operations in 14 countries across sub-Saharan Africa.
Airtel Africa’s integrated offer provides national and international mobile voice and data services as well as mobile money services to over 156 million customers.
The company’s strategy is focused on delivering a great customer experience across the entire footprint and increasing digital and financial inclusion to transform lives across Africa, in line with our corporate purpose.
{{About Starlink by SpaceX}}
Starlink delivers high-speed, low-latency internet to users all over the world. As the world’s first and largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit, Starlink delivers broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls and more.
Starlink is engineered and operated by SpaceX. As the world’s leading provider of launch services, SpaceX is leveraging its deep experience with both spacecraft and on-orbit operations to deploy the world’s most advanced broadband internet system.
This growth builds on an annual average increase of 9.4%, reflecting the country’s continued efforts to strengthen and diversify its industrial base.
Among the sectors driving this expansion, electricity production stood out with a remarkable 23.2% year-on-year increase.
This substantial growth highlights the ongoing improvements in energy infrastructure and a rising demand for power, both from industrial users and households.
Electricity alone contributed 4.4 percentage points to the overall annual change—making it the most influential factor behind March’s performance.
Manufacturing, Rwanda’s largest industrial subsector by weight, recorded a 1.7% increase.
Within this category, food processing performed particularly well, growing by 7.8% compared to March last year.
The furniture and other manufacturing segment also saw a strong 19.3% rise, suggesting growing activity in small-scale production and consumer goods.
However, not all segments fared equally—textiles, clothing, and leather goods fell sharply by 11.2%, and the wood, paper, and printing industries declined by 8.2%, signaling possible structural or demand-related challenges in those areas.
Mining and quarrying, another key industrial activity, experienced a 4.1% increase compared to March 2024, while water and waste management rose modestly by 1.4%.
These sectors contributed marginally to the overall index but remained part of the broader industrial expansion.
On a month-to-month basis, March 2025 also showed signs of healthy momentum, with output rising by 3.9% compared to February.
Mining activity was especially dynamic during this period, jumping by 17.2%, while the manufacturing of beverages and tobacco products increased by 11.4%.
This upward trend illustrates Rwanda’s broader push toward industrialization, supported by strategic investments, policy reforms, and a commitment to reducing reliance on imports.
At Qingdao, automation, artificial intelligence, and green energy converge to create a smart port that is setting new standards for the 21st century.
From the moment a vessel approaches the berth, every move is orchestrated by advanced systems: cranes detect ship contours and unload containers autonomously, guided vehicles (AGVs) glide across the dock using real-time data to avoid collisions, and all cargo is sorted, stored, or dispatched with machine precision.
Two core platforms, A-TOS and A-ECS, drive this seamless performance, directing operations from ship scanning to truck coordination with minimal human input.
Hydrogen-powered machines and 5G-enabled logistics boost the speed and sustainability of port activities, while automated gates ensure quick customs clearance without the need for paper documentation or long waits.
As the port transitions toward full reliance on clean energy, it leverages solar, wind, and storage systems to reduce emissions. All of this makes Qingdao a pioneering model of how modern infrastructure can be built not only for efficiency but also for sustainability.
Yet the true significance of Qingdao Port extends far beyond its technical sophistication. It lies in how the port serves as a backbone of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), weaving Africa into a broader web of trade, infrastructure, and diplomacy.
Acting as a launch point for China-Europe rail corridors and maritime routes to Africa, Qingdao has become a logistical hub where oceans and continents meet. Africa’s role in this system is growing rapidly. Apparently more of Qingdao’s container traffic now involves BRI countries, with Kenya, Egypt, Senegal, and Morocco emerging as key trading partners.
Cold chain systems at the port handle 15% of China’s frozen seafood imports, much of it from Africa, while agricultural exports from East Africa are seamlessly routed through Qingdao’s integrated customs platforms.
As Chinese companies expand their footprint through African port infrastructure deals, often under debt-for-infrastructure frameworks, Qingdao serves as the operational command center linking those distant nodes into a single trade ecosystem.
By the numbers, Qingdao’s 2024 performance reflects its growing global role. The port handled 30.87 million TEUs in container traffic, a 7.3 percent rise from the previous year, securing its spot as China’s fourth busiest container terminal.
Total cargo volume reached 712 million tons, buoyed by strong flows of bulk commodities like iron ore and oil. The Qianwan Automated Terminal alone processed 9 million TEUs using AI-powered systems.
Qingdao added 12 new international shipping routes in 2024, including direct links to Egypt’s Sokhna Port and Greece’s Piraeus, strengthening access to both African and European markets.
The port is poised to boost container capacity by another 10 million TEUs annually by 2025, largely to accommodate rising trade with BRI partners. It also expanded its energy handling capacity by acquiring key oil assets, reinforcing its strategic role as a regional energy hub.
On the environmental front, Qingdao joined hands with the Port of Long Beach in the U.S. to launch a green shipping corridor, while upgrading its own logistics with innovations like monorail container systems and next-gen smart grids.
In the grand scheme, Qingdao Port is not just moving cargo—it is reshaping global trade routes and tightening the links between China and the Global South, particularly Africa.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, “The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death.”
“Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States. Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated,” Trump said in the post, calling the situation “a National Security threat.”
“Therefore, I am authorizing the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100 percent Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands. WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!” he added.
Trump’s announcement caused a stir nationwide, especially in the film industry. The Hollywood Reporter, a major Hollywood industry magazine, wrote that it “could shake up the entertainment industry.”
“There are a number of expensive tentpoles due out in the coming months that filmed overseas. Would they be grandfathered in via a grace period or hit with a tariff?” the news outlet asked.
Variety, another major industry news outlet, also said that it’s “a move that sent shockwaves through Hollywood.”
“Studio executives convened emergency calls after Trump issued his declaration, though there is enormous uncertainty about whether the president has the authority to institute these tariffs, as well as how they would work practically,” Variety reported. “It was also unclear what the impact would be on the many films that shoot overseas.”
“Trump has complained about trade deficits as he has imposed tariffs on other countries, but the movie industry has been a bright spot,” said Deadline, a premier publication for Hollywood business, adding that the industry generated a positive balance of trade in every major market in the world, with exports 3.1 times that of imports.
“Other countries also could respond to the 100 percent tariff with their own duties on U.S. films, which would have an impact on international box office returns, which are a huge chunk of major studio revenue,” the news outlet warned.
The raids targeted 38 suspects tied to the Gulen movement, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement, without specifying the time frame of the operations.
The Turkish government has blamed the movement for a 2016 coup attempt and has classified it as a terrorist organization since then.
The prosecutor’s office said that 20 of those detained are active public sector employees and that efforts to locate and arrest five other suspects were ongoing.
The suspects allegedly sought to nest in the General Directorate of Security (or Turkish National Police), recruiting and coding police personnel under their internal system while monitoring their loyalty to the group.
According to President Donald Trump’s senior advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, these agreements will pave the way for billions of dollars in investments from American and Western companies into both countries.
“When we sign the peace agreement … the minerals deal with the DRC [Democratic Republic of Congo] will be signed on that day, and then a similar package, but of a different size, will be signed on that day with Rwanda,” Massad Boulos told Reuters recently during an interview in Doha, the capital of Qatar.
However, the path to signing these agreements involves preconditions. For instance, the DRC is requested to address security threats that affect Rwanda, particularly neutralizing the FDLR militia.
On Rwanda’s side, the conditions involve the request to end alleged support for the M23 rebel group, claims Rwanda has repeatedly denied.
At the same time, the DRC is expected to implement domestic reforms that ensure equitable resource distribution across its regions and promote decentralized governance.
Once these steps are completed, the U.S. will proceed with bilateral economic agreements focused on trade and investment.
Since Donald Trump returned to office, business-driven diplomacy has been at the heart of his foreign policy, with his Senior Advisor on African Affairs, Massad Boulos, leading negotiations.
While the DRC, with its vast natural wealth, will be the principal recipient of U.S. investments, Rwanda is not overlooked. The U.S. has acknowledged Rwanda’s mineral reserves, technical expertise in extraction and refining, and its efficient global export systems.
“The [agreement] with the D.R.C. is at a much bigger scale, because it’s a much bigger country and it has much more resources, but Rwanda also has a lot of resources and capacities and potential in the area of mining as well … not just the upstream, but also midstream and downstream to processing and refining and trading,” Boulos said.
According to Boulos, U.S. companies will invest in both countries. Some firms are already in talks to invest at least $1.5 billion in the DRC’s mining sector. Oversight of the U.S. contribution to these partnerships will be handled by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).
{{Infrastructure and energy at the center}}
A major component of the negotiations has been infrastructure. The U.S. believes the DRC’s mineral wealth cannot be fully tapped without better transport and energy systems.
This includes the Lobito Corridor, a 1,300-kilometer railway linking Angola, the DRC, and Zambia. The project is expected to expand and protect critical mineral supply chains, increase rail transport capacity, and reduce freight transit times and costs.
The United States has pledged funding for the infrastructure project, which is expected to be completed by 2029.
Another high-priority project is the Ruzizi III Hydropower Plant, a regional energy initiative expected to produce 147 megawatts (MW) of electricity.
Funded by the World Bank, European Union, and African Development Bank (AfDB), the $450 million project was launched in 2016 but delayed, with completion now expected by 2030.
Once operational, Rwanda will receive 47 MW, with the remaining energy shared between the DRC and Burundi.
{{Rwanda’s role in mineral processing}}
A particularly notable topic is the possibility of processing DRC’s minerals in Rwanda.
Rwanda already has well-established refining facilities, including Gasabo Gold Refinery, Power X Refinery (tantalum), and LuNa Smelter (tin).
Exporting raw minerals often results in lost economic value. For instance, when coltan is processed, it yields tantalum—but also produces valuable by-products such as niobium (used in steel and electronics) and phosphate (used in fertilizer).
When countries export unprocessed coltan, they lose all potential gains from these by-products, which are only extracted in refineries.
Gold refined in Rwanda reaches 99% purity, and its tailings—silver—is a valuable metal commonly used in jewelry.
Because Rwanda processes these materials locally, it avoids refinery charges and captures revenue from every by-product.
This dual benefit, saving costs and adding value,is a strategic advantage that Rwanda is set to expand.
As part of the upcoming trade agreements with the U.S., Rwanda is positioned to become a regional hub for mineral transformation.
This means minerals extracted from the DRC may increasingly be transported to Rwanda for processing, before being exported to global markets under Rwandan trade infrastructure.
The U.S. has also recognized Rwanda’s efforts to create industrial zones dedicated to mineral processing.
These zones could soon host new facilities built to handle imports from countries including the DRC.
He made the disclosure on May 4, 2025, in an interview with the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA).
Minister Nduhungirehe confirmed that diplomatic talks are ongoing and noted that whenever he meets his Burundian counterpart, both sides express a shared willingness to address their differences and strengthen bilateral relations.
“The problem we face is that, sometimes, the President of Burundi gives interviews to international media accusing Rwanda, and this jeopardizes the progress we are trying to make. It’s not just Rwandans—Burundians too want to see good relations between our two countries,” he stated.
He specifically referred to recent interviews where President Ndayishimiye accused Rwanda of attempting to invade Burundi—an allegation that Rwanda has repeatedly denied as baseless.
“These kinds of statements delay our efforts,” Nduhungirehe said, “but they will not discourage us from continuing to pursue peace and a renewed relationship with Burundi.”
To move forward, Minister Nduhungirehe emphasized that Rwanda is ready to continue security cooperation with Burundi but stressed the need for reduced inflammatory statements.
“These accusations are not based on facts. When someone says that Rwanda is planning to invade Burundi, it’s simply not true—and even Burundians know that. We hope these kinds of comments decrease, especially from the Burundian side, so that we can continue working together and restore relations in the right time.”
On March 10, 2025, intelligence delegations from both nations met in Burundi’s Kirundo Province to address security issues, including the reopening of borders closed by Burundi in January 2024.
The closure followed Ndayishimiye’s 2023 year-end speech, where he had suggested Rwanda supported the RED Tabara rebel group—a claim Rwanda rejects, noting the group’s activities occur far from its border.
Despite the border closure, Ndayishimiye has continued to accuse Rwanda of destabilizing Burundi, allegations Rwanda refutes.
