“Putting together all the recent tariff increases, pauses, escalations, and exemptions, it seems clear that the U.S. effective tariff rate has jumped to levels last seen several lifetimes ago,” Georgieva said in a speech before the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings scheduled for next week.
“The complexity of modern supply chains means imported inputs feed into a broad range of domestic products. The cost of one item can be affected by tariffs in dozens of countries. In a world of bilateral tariff rates, each of which may be moving up or down, planning becomes difficult,” Georgieva said.
“The result? Ships at sea not knowing which port to sail to; investment decisions postponed; financial markets volatile; precautionary savings up. The longer uncertainty persists, the larger the cost,” she continued.
The IMF chief noted that rising trade barriers hit growth “upfront,” and protectionism erodes productivity over the long run, especially in smaller economies.
The IMF will quantify these costs in its new World Economic Outlook, to be released early next week.
“In it, our new growth projections will include notable markdowns, but not recession. We will also see markups to the inflation forecasts for some countries,” Georgieva said.
The IMF chief urged policymakers to redouble efforts to “put their own houses in order,” noting that most countries must “take resolute fiscal action to rebuild policy space,” setting out gradual adjustment paths that respect fiscal frameworks.
She also called for “agile and credible” monetary policy, along with strong financial regulation and supervision.
Highlighting the importance of “cooperation in a multi-polar world,” the IMF chief emphasized that trade policy must aim for a settlement among the largest players that preserves openness and delivers a more-level playing field – “to restart a global trend toward lower tariff rates while also reducing nontariff barriers and distortions.”
Held in the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room of the Palais des Nations, UN Headquarters at Geneva, the ceremony brought together Rwandans, friends of Rwanda, diplomats, UN officials, and university students in a moment of remembrance, reflection, and renewed commitment to the promise of “Never Again.”
On the same day earlier, a Students Conference on the 31st Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi was held.
A group of students from the University of Vienna in Austria explored the role of literature in preserving memory and confronting genocide denial, reaffirming the importance of educating future generations.
Sissi Domitrie Mukanyiligira, survivor of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and author of Do not accept to die, retraced her journey of survival, a life shaped by unbearable loss, near-death encounters, and an unyielding will to live.
Her voice carried more than memory; it stood as a solemn tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Mr. Edmond Tubanambazi, First Counsellor and Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Rwanda, reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to fighting genocide ideology, countering genocidal denial, and demanding justice for genocide survivors.
He challenged the international community to face an uncomfortable truth, pointing out that the international community has not learned from its failure to stop the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, nor has it done enough to render justice to genocide survivors and to prevent genocide from happening again anywhere in the world.
He cited as evidence the fact that Genocide fugitives are still at large in some countries because of lack of political will to act.
Referring to the genocide ideology that is persistent in the region, he cautioned that no vested interests should prevail over the warning signs of another genocide in the region.
He paid tribute to the courage and resilience of survivors like Ms. Mukanyiligira and emphasized the importance of educating youth to resist historical distortion, reminding attendees that the Genocide against the Tutsi was the culmination of decades long ethnic-based hate and ideology of division instigated, taught and spread since the colonial period by colonial administrations.
In her address, Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of UN Geneva, delivered the Secretary-General’s message and expressed solidarity with the people of Rwanda.
Nada Al-Nashif, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, delivered a reflection on the need to uphold international commitments to prevent genocide, calling on the international community to address atrocity crimes wherever they occur.
César Murangira, President of IBUKA Mémoire et Justice Suisse, delivered a powerful message grounded in historical clarity and moral urgency.
He recalled how the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi was the result of a long process of racial ideology, deeply rooted in colonial manipulation and reinforced by propaganda and institutional complicity.
He warned that the same genocidal rhetoric continues to resurface, particularly in the ongoing targeting of Kinyarwanda-speaking Tutsi communities in Eastern DRC.
Echoing this warning, Itonde Kakoma of Interpeace urged global actors to confront the cyclical nature of violence, and to invest in healing that spans generations.
Fifteen-year-old Rwandan student Belko Kenza Naike moved the audience with a stirring poem titled “Rwanda, essuie tes larmes!”.
Her message reflected the voice of a new generation raised in remembrance and committed to protecting the truth.
Seventeen-year-old pianist Peter Grove offered a moving tribute through music, his performance echoing the solemnity of the occasion and offering a moment of quiet reflection that resonated deeply with those in attendance.
This ceremony formed part of a broader series of commemorative events marking Kwibuka31 across Switzerland.
These included a wreath-laying ceremony at Place des Nations in Geneva on 7 April, and a memorial vigil in Lausanne on 12 April.
Each event contributed to preserving memory and reaffirming solidarity with genocide survivors and the Rwandan people.
As the lights dimmed at the UN Office at Geneva, the message of the day remained clear: truth must be protected, justice must be pursued, and the memory of the victims must guide humanity’s path forward to ensure that no genocide happens again — anywhere in the world.
Speaking on the implementation of the 2013 Peace and Security Cooperation Framework, at the UN Security Council, Kayinamura highlighted the FDLR’s destabilizing role and urged the international community to take decisive action to neutralize the group and address the root causes of conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Kayinamura emphasized that the FDLR, despite over 20 UN Security Council resolutions condemning its activities since 2003, remains a significant security threat.
He accused the group of continuing to recruit, train, and commit atrocities, including sexual violence, ethnic cleansing, and mass killings.
“Now FDR has graduated to being integrated into FARDC [Congolese Army]before your own eyes. This is no longer a secret but a fact based on the reports of the secretary general presented in this council,” he noted, highlighting that the coalition undermines both regional stability and the peace and cooperation framework itself.
The Rwandan envoy was unequivocal in labeling the FDLR an “existential threat” to Rwanda and the region. He criticized any efforts to entertain or legitimize the group, warning that such actions only exacerbate the conflict.
“Entertaining or legitimizing the FDLR, even tacitly, prolongs the conflict and destabilizes the region further,” Kayinamura declared, calling for the Security Council to enforce its resolutions without selectivity and hold accountable those who support or collaborate with the FDLR and its splinter groups.
He noted that the 2013 framework, designed to end the cycle of conflict in the DRC, has not achieved its goals due to persistent challenges such as ethnic discrimination, armed group proliferation, and impunity. The FDLR’s activities, he argued, are a primary driver of these issues, perpetuating violence and hindering peace efforts.
Proposing concrete steps, Kayinamura called for the disarmament and neutralization of the FDLR as a top priority. He urged the Security Council to ensure full enforcement of its resolutions and to condemn hate speech and ethnic incitement in the DRC, which he said fuels violence and division.
Additionally, he advocated for stronger support for African-led regional processes, such as those led by the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which he believes offer the best chance for lasting peace.
The envoy also criticized the DRC’s lack of ownership in addressing its internal challenges, accusing Kinshasa of externalizing blame and relying on militias like Wazalendo, which he said violate ceasefires without condemnation.
“Blame games have become their business,” Kayinamura remarked, emphasizing that the DRC must confront its internal contradictions to achieve sustainable peace.
Kayinamura’s address reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to the Peace and Cooperation Framework and its vision of transforming the Great Lakes region into a zone of peace and stability.
He called for genuine accountability, regional alignment, and bold political leadership from the DRC, the region, and the Security Council to eliminate the FDLR and the legacy of genocide once and for all.
“Rwanda looks forward to working with all partners to permanently get rid of armed groups,” he concluded, signaling Kigali’s readiness to collaborate on regional solutions.
The remarks come amid heightened tensions between Rwanda and the DRC, with Kigali repeatedly accusing Kinshasa of supporting the FDLR, a group formed by individuals responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Emma Claudine Ntirenganya, Director General in charge of Communication and Education at the City of Kigali, made the disclosure during an interview on the Ignite Show.
She explained that the relocation was prompted by warnings from Meteo Rwanda, which indicated that rainfall is likely to increase, posing further risk to lives and property.
Over the weekend, Kigali was hit by continuous rain for nearly two days, resulting in significant damage and the loss of two lives. This situation pushed city authorities to take urgent action to move residents away from dangerous areas.
“In Nyarugenge District, 385 people have been relocated, most of them from Kigali Sector, with a few others from Gitega, Nyamirambo, and Mageragere,” Ntirenganya said. “In Gasabo District, we had the largest number to relocate — residents from 10 different sectors — totaling 505 households. So far, 312 people have already moved, and the relocation continues today. In Kicukiro, 35 people were supposed to be relocated.”
She added that the targeted residents include families living in severely risky conditions — such as homes already damaged by rain, houses located below water-absorbing slopes, people living near cracked buildings, and those whose compounds are structurally unsafe and could collapse with further rainfall.
According to the Ministry in charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA), 191 people died due to disasters across the country in 2024.
“Unlike in the past, the army is not evacuating areas that have been cleared and seized,” Katz stated.”Unlike in the past, the (Israeli military) is not evacuating areas that have been cleared and seized,” said Defence Minister Israel Katz.
According to Euro News, this stance risks setting back ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, which demands a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza for the release of the remaining hostages.
Israel currently controls more than half of the Gaza Strip after resuming military operations last month. It also maintains forces in parts of southern Lebanon and a buffer zone in Syria.
Palestinians, Lebanon, and Syria consider Israel’s military presence an illegal occupation under international law.
Israel argues that holding these zones is essential to prevent future attacks like the one carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people and led to 251 abductions.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to annihilate Hamas and return the remaining 59 hostages who are still in Gaza, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.
Netanyahu also supports a plan, originally proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, to resettle much of Gaza’s population in other countries through what he calls “voluntary emigration.”
However, the proposal has been widely condemned by Palestinians, Arab nations, and human rights experts as a likely breach of international law.
The tour began at the Kagitumba border post, where students received comprehensive briefings from RDF generals and senior commanders who participated in the RPA liberation war.
The briefings offered critical insights at both operational and tactical levels, informing the students about the strategic planning, operational and tactical engagements of the RPA Liberation War.
The objective of the tour is to analyse and research key battles of the RPF/RPA Liberation War, focusing on how the war was strategically planned as well as operationally and tactically executed, to derive valuable lessons.
The tour follows a sequenced route through the regions of Umutara, Byumba, Ruhengeri, Kigali, and the Southern Province
“President Trump’s unlawful tariffs are wreaking chaos on California families, businesses, and our economy – driving up prices and threatening jobs,” Newsom said in a statement, adding that “We’re standing up for American families who can’t afford to let the chaos continue.”
“Donald Trump does not have the authority to impose these destructive and chaotic tariffs. America stands to lose too much,” said the governor in a post on X platform.
“We’re taking him to court,” said the governor.
“California is the largest manufacturing state in our union, one of the largest trading partners around the globe. No state will be impacted more than the state of California as it relates to the unilateral authority that’s been asserted by the Trump administration to impose the largest tax increases in modern American history,” he noted.
Newsom pointed out that “In America, forty percent of goods movements in this country come through two ports of entry in California. About 50 percent of that from China itself.”
In the lawsuit, expected to be filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, California officials will argue that the law, known as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which Trump cited to impose the tariffs, does not grant him the ability to unilaterally adopt those tariffs.
California, also the most populated U.S. state, is the first state in the nation to sue Trump administration on tariffs.
The Golden State is the largest importer among all U.S. states, with more than 675 billion U.S. dollars in two-way trade supporting millions of jobs throughout the state. Mexico, Canada and China are California’s top three export destinations, buying nearly 67 billion dollars in California exports, which was over one-third of the state’s 183 billion dollars in exported goods in 2024, according to the data released by the governor’s office.
The report details that 50% of households are now connected to the national grid, while 22% utilize solar panels, primarily through standalone solar systems.
While urban areas experienced an increase in household electricity access from 76% to 88%, the growth in rural areas has been even more substantial.
Access in rural areas dramatically increased from 24% in 2017 to 65% in 2024. Notably, electricity access has also improved for the lowest economic segment, with 53% of households in the lowest quintile now having access, compared to only 9% in 2017.
The EICV7 report also provides insights into household electricity usage, indicating that it is most commonly used for lighting and charging mobile phones.
Regarding cooking methods, the report indicates that a majority of households still rely on traditional fuels. Approximately three-quarters of households use firewood (63%) or straw/sticks (12%) for cooking, while 24% use charcoal (19%) or other improved methods, mainly bottled gas.
The survey further examined infrastructure access in Rwanda where ninety-six percent of households are reported to live within 20 minutes of an all-weather road, an increase from 93% in 2017.
However, the report notes regional disparities, with households in the Western Province having less access to all-weather roads (89%) compared to other regions.
The survey also indicates that 90% of households have access to an improved source of drinking water, up slightly from 87% in 2017.
In terms of poverty reduction, the report shows that the poverty rate in Rwanda has decreased to 27.4%, down from 39.8% in 2017. Besides, the population in exteme poverty was 5.4% in 2024, down from a predicted 11.3% in 2017.
Speaking to IGIHE on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, RIB spokesperson Dr. Murangira B. Thierry stated, “Yes, Ntazinda Erasme has been arrested in connection with an ongoing investigation. We cannot share further details at this time to avoid interfering with the process.”
Ntazinda’s arrest follows a decision by the Nyanza District Council to suspend him from his mayoral duties on April 15. The Council Chairperson, Judith Mukagatare, told IGIHE that his suspension was due to misconduct, though she did not elaborate on the nature of the behavior.
Ntazinda was serving his second term as Mayor, having been re-elected in 2021 after already leading the district for five years.
“We strongly oppose the United States imposing tariff barriers and engaging in trade bullying, as such actions are detrimental to all parties,” NBS Deputy Director Sheng Laiyun told a press conference.
Citing the Chinese economy’s solid fundamentals and strong resilience, Sheng said the country has the confidence and capability to tackle external challenges and achieve its economic development goals.
China aims to grow its GDP by around 5 percent year on year in 2025. NBS data showed that the Chinese economy expanded 5.4 percent year on year in the first quarter of this year, up 1.2 percent compared with the previous quarter.
Since reform and opening up, China’s economy has weathered significant challenges and gained extensive experience in terms of macroeconomic management, Sheng noted, while adding that China will implement incremental policies in response to changes in the external environment.
“A robust toolbox of policy measures ensures our capacity to address external shocks and challenges,” Sheng explained.
