Infantino said on social media that he met Trump on Tuesday evening to discuss preparations for the upcoming World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June to July.
“This evening, I met with the President of the United States, Donald Trump to discuss the status of preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, and the growing excitement as we are set to kick off in just 93 days,” Infantino wrote.
He added that the two also discussed the current situation in Iran and the fact that the Iranian team has already qualified for the tournament.
“During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino said. “We all need an event like FIFA World Cup to bring people together now more than ever.”
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated after military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, raising uncertainty over Iran’s participation in the tournament.
Mehdi Taj, president of Iran’s Football Federation, had said last week that Iran could not be optimistic about participating in the World Cup under the current circumstances.
According to the draw, Iran is placed in Group G alongside Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt, with all three of its group-stage matches scheduled to be played in the United States.
Iran have qualified for their fourth consecutive World Cup
During these five days, the country shipped a variety of products including coffee, tea, vegetables, fruits, flowers, livestock products, and more.
Coffee exports totaled 508 tonnes, earning over $2.7 million, while 846 tonnes of tea brought in more than $2.3 million. Vegetables, shipped at 440 tonnes, generated approximately $479,450. Fruit exports reached 462 tonnes, earning over $311,000, and 42 tonnes of flowers brought in more than $282,000.
The main destinations for these exports included the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, and other African countries.
Other agricultural products totaling 7,078 tonnes earned over $3.7 million, while 273 tonnes of livestock products generated more than $437,000. These were primarily exported to Oman, Nigeria, and other African countries.
Rwanda earned over Rwf14 billion from agricultural exports in five days.
The meeting is being held pursuant to Article 2 of the EAC Protocol on Cooperation in Defence Affairs and in accordance with the EAC Defence Sector Calendar of Activities for the period January–June 2026.
While opening the meeting, Brig Gen Patrick Karuretwa, Director General of International Military Cooperation at the Ministry of Defence, Rwanda, noted that the gathering reflects the collective commitment of EAC defence institutions to strengthening cooperation within the defence sector and enhancing the region’s security capabilities.
He highlighted that military industrial facilities play a critical role in enabling armed forces to operate effectively by providing reliable access to essential equipment, maintenance services, and technical capabilities. He further noted that defence industries contribute significantly to economic growth, industrial development, job creation, and technological advancement.
“For the East African Community, cooperation in this domain presents significant opportunities. Through the shared utilization of military industrial facilities, we can optimize our resources, strengthen regional capacity, and promote the exchange of knowledge, skills, and technological expertise,” he said.
Brig Gen Karuretwa further emphasized that Rwanda remains fully committed to working with all EAC Partner States to advance initiatives that promote collective security, innovation, and industrial development across the region.
The Chairperson of the meeting, Eng. James Mutamba from the National Enterprise Corporation of Uganda, expressed optimism about the engagement.
He noted that such meetings are essential for strengthening cooperation among EAC member states, enabling them to share available facilities within the region instead of relying on products from abroad.
He added that EAC countries have developed specific capabilities in defence manufacturing, making regional cooperation both practical and economically beneficial.
Countries represented at the meeting include Burundi, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, and the host nation, Rwanda.
The meeting was opened by Brig Gen Patrick Karuretwa, Director General of International Military Cooperation at the Ministry of Defence.The meeting is being held pursuant to Article 2 of the EAC Protocol on Cooperation in Defence Affairs.Countries represented at the meeting include Burundi, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, and the host nation, Rwanda.Chief Executive Officers of Military Industrial Facilities from member states of the East African Community (EAC) convened in Kigali for a three-day meeting from 10–12 March 2026.
At the opening of the forum on March 9 , Rwanda’s Ambassador to Sweden, Diane Gashumba, welcomed the visiting delegations.
“I want to take this moment to thank the delegation from the Baltic and Nordic countries. You are welcome to the Land of a Thousand Hills and a thousand opportunities.”
During the forum, the Minister of State for Primary Health Care at the Ministry of Health, Yvan Butera, highlighted the remarkable progress Rwanda has achieved in maternal and newborn health.
According to him, thanks to the joint efforts of the government and its partners, the country has made significant advances in recent years.
“Rwanda, together with its partners, is proud of the remarkable progress achieved in maternal and newborn health, and we are ready to take the next step forward with partners who share the same ambitions.”
The minister noted that maternal mortality has declined significantly, while 98% of births now take place in health facilities with skilled health providers, reflecting the country’s strong commitment to safe delivery.
Progress is also visible in childhood vaccination. Today, 94% of children aged 12 to 23 months are fully vaccinated with basic antigens, and 98% receive key vaccines such as BCG.
Rwanda has also strengthened access to healthcare through its health insurance system. More than 90% of the population is covered by community-based or private health insurance schemes, allowing citizens to access quality healthcare services without facing heavy financial burdens.
Minister Butera invited Nordic and Baltic countries to strengthen their collaboration with Rwanda in order to accelerate progress in the health sector.
“Rwanda is not only one of the fastest-improving health systems in Africa, but also a transparent and corruption-free environment where investments generate a real impact on people’s lives.”
For his part, Rwanda Development Board (RDB) CEO Jean-Guy Afrika highlighted the country’s advances in pharmaceutical regulation and life sciences.
He noted that the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA) has reached World Health Organization (WHO) Maturity Level 3, demonstrating its ability to consistently and effectively regulate medical products according to internationally recognized standards.
Afrika also emphasized Rwanda’s ambition to become a regional biotechnology and vaccine manufacturing hub, notably through the establishment of facilities by BioNTech.
These infrastructures aim to produce vaccines locally in Africa, strengthen the continent’s health security, and improve access to innovative vaccines while reducing reliance on imports during future health emergencies.
During the forum, Dr. Albert Tuyishime, Head of the Diseases Prevention and Control Department (HDPC), also shared Rwanda’s experience in building an African bio-manufacturing and vaccine innovation ecosystem.
Drawing on the country’s effective responses to various outbreaks, he highlighted several key lessons, including the importance of strong public policies, effective regulation, innovation, and research to support vaccine development.
According to him, these efforts are closely linked to health security and emergency preparedness.
On this occasion, Rwandan officials invited investors from Nordic and Baltic countries to explore opportunities in Rwanda’s Life Sciences sector, a rapidly expanding field in the country.
A group photo of Rwandan officials and Nordic-Baltic delegations at the second Rwanda–Nordic and Baltic Business Forum in Kigali.Rwanda’s Ambassador to Sweden, Diane Gashumba, welcomed Nordic and Baltic delegations to Kigali at the opening of the business forum on March 9, 2026.Minister of State for Primary Health Care, Yvan Butera, addressed participants, highlighting Rwanda’s achievements in maternal and newborn health.Jean-Guy Afrika, CEO of Rwanda Development Board, shed light on Rwanda’s progress in pharmaceutical regulation and life sciences.Participants at the forum explored Rwanda’s health sector innovations and potential for collaborative projects.Delegates from Nordic and Baltic countries engaged in discussions with Rwandan officials on investment opportunities in health and life sciences.
Video footage from the site shows a building heavily damaged by the strike. DRC authorities reportedly believed the home of a Belgian national named Pascal was sheltering several group leaders.
Lawrence Kanyuka, spokesperson for AFC/M23, confirmed that three people died in the attack, including a foreign national. Among the victims was French UNICEF staff member Carine Buisset, who worked in Goma.
Bertrand Bisimwa, deputy coordinator of AFC/M23 in charge of politics, diplomacy, and governance, condemned the attack, accusing the DRC government of violating ceasefire agreements.
“At this moment, the city of Goma is under attack by drones from the Kinshasa regime. This latest escalation of violence reflects Kinshasa’s ongoing pattern of ceasefire violations, coupled with the surprising inaction of peace process partners,” he said.
On Wednesday morning, United Nations peacekeeping forces in DRC (MONUSCO)arrived at the site to investigate the attack.
The DRC government has indicated that it intends to reclaim territories held by AFC/M23 through military means, despite calls from the international community to prioritize political dialogue.
The Congolese National Center for Cybersecurity (CNC) has reportedly been used to track the phones of some AFC/M23 leaders and former President Joseph Kabila to facilitate drone strikes.
On March 24, 2026, a subsequent strike near the Rubaya stronghold targeted top AFC/M23 leaders, including the group’s commander, Gen. Maj Sultani Makenga. The attack killed the group’s military spokesperson, Lt Col Willy Ngoma, along with other fighters including bodyguards.
DRC authorities reportedly believed AFC/M23 leaders were present in the targeted area.The building in Himbi was heavily damaged after a drone strike.The house reportedly belonged to a Belgian national named Pascal.
The study, published in Nature Communications, shows that the crater formed about 43 to 46 million years ago when a space object struck the seabed, triggering a massive tsunami. The research was led by Uisdean Nicholson of Heriot-Watt University, with support from the Natural Environment Research Council.
Located about 700 meters beneath the seabed and roughly 80 miles off the coast of Yorkshire, the three-kilometer-wide crater was first identified in 2002. Its circular shape and surrounding ring of faults led some scientists to suspect an asteroid impact, but others argued it might have been caused by underground salt movement or volcanic activity.
Using new seismic imaging, geological samples and computer simulations, the research team found clear evidence supporting the impact theory. Rock samples taken from an oil well revealed “shocked” quartz and feldspar crystals, microscopic minerals that form only under the extreme pressure generated by asteroid collisions. According to Nicholson, a roughly 160-meter-wide asteroid struck the seabed at a shallow angle from the west. The impact created a towering column of rock and water that quickly collapsed, producing a tsunami estimated to have exceeded 100 meters in height.
Scientists say the finding confirms Silverpit as one of the relatively few known impact craters on Earth. Fewer than 200 have been identified on land and only about 33 beneath the oceans, making the site a rare and well-preserved example of how asteroid impacts shape the planet’s surface.
A long-debated North Sea crater has finally been confirmed as the scar of a massive asteroid impact that unleashed a towering tsunami millions of years ago. Credit: Shutterstock
The ceremony marks the official beginning of the Rwandan envoy’s diplomatic mission in Austria. On this occasion, the exchanges between the two leaders reaffirmed the strong ties of friendship and cooperation between Kigali and Vienna, as well as their shared commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations.
During her visit to the Austrian capital, Amb. Bakuramutsa also held several meetings with Austrian officials. These discussions focused on prospects for cooperation in key sectors such as trade and investment, innovation, tourism, cultural diplomacy, and multilateral collaboration.
On the eve of the official ceremony, March 9, 2026, the Rwandan diplomat had already presented copies of her Letters of Credence to Ambassador Nikolaus Marschik, Secretary General of the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs.
The meeting took place in the presence of Ambassador Maximilian Hennig, Chief of Protocol, and Dr Stefan Scholz, Head of the Department for Sub-Saharan Africa and the African Union.
During her stay in Vienna, Amb. Bakuramutsa also met with Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal, Special Envoy to the Federal Chancellor of Austria, to explore opportunities for further deepening relations between the two countries.
Rwanda and Austria maintain strong cooperative relations, notably through various development partnerships. Several initiatives supported by the Austrian Development Cooperation Agency (ADA) have contributed to projects in areas such as water and sanitation, youth empowerment, employability, and strengthening the justice sector.
Through this new diplomatic mission, Kigali and Vienna aim to continue consolidating their partnership and exploring new opportunities for collaboration for the benefit of both nations.
Rwanda’s Ambassador to Austria, Urujeni Bakuramutsa, with President Alexander Van der Bellen after presenting her Letters of Credence at the Hofburg Presidential Palace in Vienna.Urujeni Bakuramutsa presented her Letters of Credence to Alexander Van der Bellen, Federal President of Austria, during a ceremony at the Hofburg Presidential Palace in Vienna on March 10, 2026.President Alexander Van der Bellen welcomed Rwanda’s new ambassador, Urujeni Bakuramutsa, during the official credential presentation ceremony in Vienna.
According to the charity Butterfly Conservation, the large tortoiseshell butterfly has recently been seen in counties including Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, Dorset and Cornwall, as well as on the Isle of Wight.
BBC has reported that the surge in sightings has led experts to conclude that the species is now breeding in the UK again rather than appearing only as an occasional migrant.
The Large Tortoiseshell Butterfly was once widespread across England and Wales but was last recorded breeding in Britain in the 1980s.
Its decline has largely been linked to the spread of Dutch Elm Disease across Europe during the 20th century, which devastated elm trees, an important host plant where the butterfly lays its eggs.
Although rare sightings have occurred over the years, conservationists say the recent cluster of around 20 reports suggests the species may be re-establishing itself.
Professor Richard Fox, head of science at Butterfly Conservation, told BBC that scientists are unsure why the butterfly disappeared from Britain in the first place. However, he believes climate change may now be helping expand its range again across Europe.
One enthusiast, Trevor Collett, travelled more than 90 minutes from Surrey to woodland near Ashford in Kent in search of the butterfly.
After hours of searching, he finally spotted one and described the moment as a “degree of elation.”
Conservationists say the renewed sightings offer a rare piece of good news at a time when many butterfly species are declining.
The large tortoiseshell has been declared a resident breeding species
According to Vatican News, the report is now available in English and Italian on the official Synod website, along with a summary translated into five languages. It follows the recent publication of reports from Study Groups No. 3 and No. 4, which examined the Church’s mission in the digital environment and the formation of priests from a missionary synodal perspective.
The publication was directed by Pope Leo XIV in a move aimed at promoting transparency and sharing the outcomes of the Church’s reflection with the wider Catholic community.
The document is structured in three main parts. The first section explains the history and working method of Study Group No. 5. The second offers a synthesis of the themes that emerged during the study, drawing from consultations with women working in Church structures, contributions from various Church bodies, and testimonies gathered by the Dicastery involved in the process.
This reflection places strong emphasis on listening to the experiences of women who already hold responsibilities within the Church. Among the key themes discussed are the recognition of the “question of women” as a sign of the times, the importance of local cultural contexts, and the relational and charismatic contributions women bring to ecclesial life.
The report also examines concrete steps taken by Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV to appoint women to leadership roles within the Roman Curia, presenting these decisions as examples for the wider Church.
A final appendix compiles extensive materials on women’s roles in Scripture, Church history, contemporary leadership, and theological perspectives on authority in the Church.
The study groups that submitted their reports have now completed their mandate, while Church institutions will prepare practical proposals based on the findings for the Pope’s consideration.
Sisters of Life Beata Victoria, left, Léonie Thérèse, and Maria Augustine respond as New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan questions them on their readiness to dedicate themselves to God prior to professing their perpetual vows during Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan on August 6, 2025.
Moses Vilakati, AU commissioner for agriculture, rural development, blue economy, and sustainable environment, made the remarks at the official launch of the 2025 Global Hunger Index (GHI) at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.
Vilakati said that African countries lagged in implementing the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP), which required them to eradicate hunger, halve poverty, and triple intra-African agricultural trade and build resilience by 2025.
“According to the 2025 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations report, nearly 300 million people on the continent are food insecure. This aligns with the CAADP biennial review, which shows that no member state was on track to achieve zero hunger by 2025. Alarmingly, the continent spends up to 100 billion U.S. dollars each year on food imports,” he said.
Vilakati called on African governments to recommit to zero hunger through policy reforms, smarter investments, and enhanced accountability mechanisms.
“We must strengthen agrifood systems, invest in climate resilience, improve our soil productivity, expand social protection and safety nets, empower women and youth across value chains, and promote innovation that improves productivity and market access, while mitigating food loss and wastage,” the commissioner said.
The 2025 GHI revealed that chances for achieving zero hunger by 2030 worldwide are slipping away, while undernourishment, child stunting, and child mortality levels are far from international targets.
According to the 2025 GHI, various challenges, including climate change, armed conflicts, economic fragility, and political disengagement, exacerbate the situation of hunger in Africa and beyond.
The 2025 GHI scores show that hunger is considered alarming in seven countries, namely Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Madagascar, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen.
The index flagged conflict as the most destructive force driving hunger in different parts of the world, with armed violence fueling 20 food crises affecting nearly 140 million people last year.
General view of the 30th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on January 25, 2018.
