“I just want to say that Elon has worked tirelessly, helping lead the most sweeping and consequential government reform programme in generations,” said Trump.
Trump credited Musk with “a colossal change in the old ways of doing business in Washington” and said some of his staff would remain in the administration.
“I look forward to continuing to be a friend and advisor to the president,” Musk told reporters after Trump handed a golden key as a gift.
Having spent approximately 300 million U.S. dollars to back Trump’s presidential campaign and other Republicans, Musk recently said that he plans to cut his political spending substantially, because “I think I’ve done enough.”
In an interview with CBS News on Tuesday, Musk criticised Trump’s “One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act,” describing the legislation, a mix of tax cuts and enhanced immigration enforcement, as a “massive spending bill” that increases the federal deficit and “undermines the work” of DOGE.
Widely regarded as the father of the medical abortion pill, Baulieu revolutionised reproductive healthcare with the development of mifepristone (also known as RU-486), offering millions of women around the world a safe, non-surgical option to end a pregnancy.
“His research was guided by his commitment to progress through science, his dedication to women’s freedom and his desire to enable everyone to live better, longer lives,” said his widow, television producer Simone Harari Baulieu, in a statement on Friday, May 30.
Baulieu is survived by three children, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
French President Emmanuel Macron hailed him as “a beacon of courage” and “a progressive mind who enabled women to win their freedom,” adding, “Few French people have changed the world to such an extent.”
Born Étienne Blum in Strasbourg on 12 December 1926 to Jewish parents, Baulieu joined the French Resistance as a teenager during the Nazi occupation. He later adopted the name Émile Baulieu, adding Étienne back after the war.
Raised by a feminist mother following the early death of his father, he would go on to devote his life to scientific discovery and women’s rights.
After studying medicine and working in the United States, Baulieu was mentored by Gregory Pincus, the American biologist known as the father of the contraceptive pill. Under Pincus’s guidance, Baulieu began focusing on the biology of sex hormones, a path that would define his career.
His breakthrough came in 1982 when he developed a method to block the hormone progesterone, which is vital for a fertilised egg to implant in the uterus. This discovery led to the creation of mifepristone, which would become a cornerstone of medical abortion.
The drug was approved for use in France in 1988 and has since been authorised in over 100 countries.
However, Baulieu’s groundbreaking work was not without controversy. He faced threats, legal battles, and fierce opposition from anti-abortion groups, particularly in the United States.
In 2023, following Wyoming’s decision to become the first US state to ban the abortion pill, Baulieu described the move as “scandalous,” reiterating that he had spent much of his life fighting to “increase the freedom of women.”
Despite the resistance, mifepristone has been recognised by the World Health Organisation as an essential medicine since 2010. While critics continue to question its safety, scientific studies show it has a lower fatality rate than many common over-the-counter medications, such as aspirin.
Beyond reproductive health, Baulieu’s research extended into ageing, depression, and neurodegenerative conditions. Even into his mid-90s, he continued working from his office in Paris, with ongoing projects that explored treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and severe depression.
“I would be bored if I did not work anymore,” he once said.
In 2023, President Macron awarded Baulieu the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, France’s highest national distinction.
At the ceremony, Macron praised his resilience in the face of vilification: “You, a Jew and a member of the Resistance, were heaped with the most atrocious insults and compared to Nazi scientists. But you held firm, out of love for freedom and science.”
Baulieu’s passion for life extended beyond the laboratory. A literature enthusiast, he befriended artists like Andy Warhol in the 1960s and expressed admiration for those who “claim to have access to the human soul.”
The operation was particularly challenging because liver surgery in infants requires advanced technology to prevent excessive bleeding, which can lead to death during the procedure.
Liver surgery is inherently complex due to the medications involved and the significant risk of blood loss, especially critical in a six-kilogram infant with a limited blood supply.
The child was initially taken to a private hospital where doctors discovered an abdominal mass. The mother was advised to transfer the child to CHUK, which had better equipment and more specialised doctors. At the time, the baby was only two months old.
Upon admission to CHUK and after a thorough examination, the child was diagnosed with liver cancer. The tumour had completely infiltrated the liver.
Since such tumours can sometimes respond to medication, the child was put on treatment, which helped shrink the tumour, leaving it confined to the right lobe of the liver.
After extensive analysis of medical images, the team of doctors determined that although most of the liver was affected, approximately 30% of healthy liver tissue remained.
Dr. Alain Jules Ndibanje, a paediatric surgery specialist at CHUK and the lead surgeon in the operation, told IGIHE that this 30% was sufficient for the liver to continue performing its vital functions.
The liver plays a crucial role in detoxifying blood, storing and releasing glucose, aiding digestion, and more.
“After detailed analysis, we decided to operate and remove the part severely affected by cancer. The surgery was successful, and we left 30% of the liver that was still healthy,” Dr. Ndibanje said.
The complex procedure involved a team of around 20 medical professionals, including paediatric surgeons, paediatric oncologists, imaging experts, anaesthesiologists (who faced the delicate process of administering anaesthesia to a baby with compromised liver function), and a collaborative team from the University of Michigan working with Rwandan doctors.
To prevent excessive blood loss, advanced surgical technology was employed. The surgeons carefully tracked every blood vessel connected to the liver, mapping them out before and during surgery.
“We used specialised tools to isolate each blood vessel to avoid bleeding. We progressed very slowly. The operation lasted about nine hours. The baby is now awake, feeding again, and we’re hopeful for continued recovery,” Dr. Ndibanje explained.
The paediatric surgeon described the case as the most serious liver condition they’ve encountered in children, noting that they usually deal with more manageable issues.
Despite the complexity and high cost of the surgery, all expenses were covered by the national health insurance scheme, Mutuelle de Santé. Dr. Ndibanje also acknowledged the invaluable support from the University of Michigan team.
The surgery comes on the heels of other major medical milestones at CHUK, including the recent non-invasive removal of a coin from the stomach of an 18-month-old and a pioneering procedure where a foetus received a blood transfusion while still in the womb — a first for Rwanda.
The group shared the figures on Friday, May 30, 2025, during the presentation of its human rights report on areas under its control, challenging earlier estimates by the DRC government and organisations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
Delion Kimbulungu, a secretary of the AFC/M23, stated that the group discovered the bodies in Goma between February 2 and 13.
“It’s clear that the figure of 3,000 announced by the Kinshasa government was fabricated,” Kimbulungu stated.
He also addressed separate claims linking the AFC/M23 to a deadly incident at Munzenze Prison in Goma.
According to Kimbulungu, the events at the prison, including a fire and mass escape, occurred before M23 fighters entered the city.
On the morning of January 27, videos circulated on social media showing Munzenze Prison engulfed in flames as inmates escaped.
The United Nations Human Rights Office later reported that 165 women died in the blaze and that all had been sexually assaulted by the fleeing prisoners.
UN Human Rights spokesperson Seif Magango confirmed the figures came from the DRC justice system, stating, “We haven’t independently verified the justice report, but we believe it is credible.”
“These incidents at Munzenze Prison happened before M23 forces got there,” Kimbulungu added, distancing the group from any involvement.
The AFC/M23 report includes supporting evidence and testimonies. It also outlines the state of human rights in Bukavu since the coalition took control of the city in February 2025.
Speaking at the 2025 Astana International Forum, Nduhungirehe hailed the strategic potential of Rwanda-Kazakhstan relations, noting the opportunity to leverage Kazakhstan’s central geopolitical position and infrastructure projects to enhance trade and connectivity with Africa.
“I believe that the relations between Kazakhstan and Rwanda—and Kazakhstan and Africa in general—are entering a new era,” he said.
“Kazakhstan has a very high trade volume with countries and blocs in the region, with trade with the EU at $50 billion, China at $ 45 billion, and Russia at $ 28 billion. But with Africa, it’s only $1 billion, which is still low, but it’s increasing,” he added.
Nduhungirehe highlighted Kazakhstan’s investment in infrastructure corridors such as the Trans-Caspian and the Trans-Afghanistan routes, which he said could connect Central Asia to Africa via the Indian Ocean, enhancing trade in key sectors including agriculture, mining, ICT and industry.
The minister’s remarks came as Rwanda and Kazakhstan recently signed a series of strategic cooperation agreements during President Paul Kagame’s official visit to the Central Asian nation.
The agreements, witnessed by President Kagame and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the Aqorda Presidential Palace, cover key sectors including ICT, education, finance, mining, agriculture, and diplomatic relations.
During the visit, President Kagame praised Kazakhstan’s developmental achievements and its growing stature on the world stage.
“Kazakhstan has made remarkable strides in national development, matched by a growing and constructive role on the world stage. This speaks to your leadership, Mr President, and to the determination of the Kazakh people,” he said.
Tokayev, in turn, lauded Rwanda’s institutional strength and 8% economic growth, describing the country as a model of resilience. He reiterated Kazakhstan’s commitment to deepening ties with African nations.
Both leaders agreed to prioritise trade, investment, digital transformation, e-governance, and sustainable agriculture as key pillars of future cooperation. The new agreements are expected to pave the way for increased private sector engagement, knowledge exchange, and coordinated policymaking.
The Astana International Forum, held under the theme Connecting Minds, Shaping the Future, convened over 5,000 delegates from around the world to address pressing global challenges, including climate change, energy insecurity, and economic volatility.
On Thursday evening, the National Assembly approved a request from the Prosecutor General at the Court of Cassation to open legal proceedings against Mutamba, following hours of heated debate.
The decision was reached following mounting allegations that the minister authorised an irregular $19 million advance payment for the construction of a new prison in Kisangani, Tshopo Province.
The payment, reportedly issued under a single-source procurement deal, was made before the contract had received formal approval from the relevant authorities, raising concerns of procedural violations and possible embezzlement.
The case involves a total of $39 million allocated for the prison project. Parliamentary sources say the investigation seeks to determine whether Minister Mutamba abused his position by directing funds to an unapproved contractor.
The parliamentary commission in charge of the case had earlier urged the full assembly to authorise legal action, describing the allegations as “extremely serious” under Congolese law and calling for accountability.
“The charges against the Minister of State for Justice and Keeper of the Seals are of a gravity that demands legal consequences,” the commission noted in its report.
With his immunity lifted, Mutamba is now expected to appear before prosecutors in the coming days. The development marks a rare move against a high-ranking official and highlights the growing scrutiny over the management of public funds in President Félix Tshisekedi’s administration.
Mutamba has previously defended himself against the accusations, claiming he is being targeted for his efforts to root out corruption within the justice sector.
Nonetheless, the case adds to the broader debate around transparency and governance in the DRC, a country long plagued by allegations of financial mismanagement and weak institutional oversight.
If found guilty, the justice minister could face significant legal penalties and be forced to step down.
DR Tah secured more than three-quarters of shareholder votes in a closely watched election on Thursday, emerging victorious over four other candidates, including Amadou Hott (Senegal), Samuel Maimbo (Zambia), Mahamat Abbas Tolli (Chad), and Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala (South Africa).
He is set to officially assume office on September 1.
His election comes at a pivotal moment for the AfDB, as the institution faces rising economic pressures across the continent and uncertainty over international support. Notably, U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed slashing $555 million in funding to the Bank’s key development fund, an essential financial lifeline for projects considered too high-risk for private investment.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, has extended his warm congratulations to Dr. Tah, describing his election as a testament to his exceptional leadership and steadfast commitment to advancing Africa’s development agenda.
With a career in development finance spanning nearly four decades, Dr Tah brings deep experience and a reputation for reform. Most recently, he served for ten years as president of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), where he oversaw a period of growth that saw the bank’s credit rating upgraded and its assets increase from $4 billion to $7 billion.
Earlier in his career, Dr Tah was Mauritania’s Minister of Economy and Finance from 2008 to 2015. He has also held positions at the Mauritanian Bank for Development and Commerce, the Islamic Development Bank, the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID), and the country’s Food Security Commission.
An economist by training, Dr Tah holds a PhD from the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis in France, a master’s from Paris Diderot University, and a bachelor’s from the University of Nouakchott.
In a recent interview, Dr Tah emphasised the importance of innovation and a more assertive African voice in global economic forums.
“I believe that the AfDB has the responsibility to be the voice of Africa in the international arena as far as macroeconomics and economic development are concerned,” he told The EastAfrican.
“The bank has the legitimacy, the convening power, and the ability to do so,” he added.
He has also called for a shift away from excessive public borrowing toward more public-private partnerships to finance infrastructure. Dr Tah has criticised what he sees as unfair treatment of African economies in global credit markets and argued for reframing Africa’s image to unlock greater investment.
As he prepares to lead one of Africa’s most influential financial institutions, expectations are high that Dr Tah will focus on diversifying the AfDB’s funding base and leveraging his Gulf connections to expand the bank’s resources and reach.
Speaking at the 2025 Astana International Forum in Kazakhstan, Kagame warned that the prevailing model of conflict mediation, dominated by ceasefires and short-term diplomacy, has consistently failed to deliver lasting peace.
“There is more attention paid to managing conflicts rather than addressing the root causes,” Kagame told a packed plenary session, which included Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, North Macedonian President Gordana Davukova, and other global dignitaries.
“You can cool down the situation and a few months, a few years later, you have the same crisis getting worse or others emerging. So, you don’t just manage conflicts. You address the root causes.”
He pointed to longstanding unresolved issues and vested interests as the silent drivers of instability in various regions, including Africa, where conflicts continue to rage in Sudan and in Rwanda’s neighbour, the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where M23 rebels have in recent months captured large swathes of territory.
In the eastern DRC, Kagame has in the past accused the government of failing to address the conflict rooted in colonial border drawing, which has led to the continued marginalisation of Kinyarwanda-speaking communities, some of whom have taken up arms to demand inclusivity.
Beyond the Great Lakes region, Kagame’s message struck a chord in a year marked by multiple conflicts, including wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
The Astana International Forum, themed Connecting Minds, Shaping the Future, brought together over 5,000 global participants to tackle interlinked global crises—from climate and energy to geopolitical tensions and economic resilience.
During the plenary session, President Kagame also elaborated on Rwanda’s post-1994 Genocide against the Tutsi recovery journey, highlighting the importance of resilience and homegrown solutions.
“We learned from our history when genocide was taking place and the rest of the world looked the other way,” he said. “We began putting our pieces together, creating that level of trust that gave us an opportunity to build institutions accountable to our people’s needs.”
While acknowledging the importance of external support, Kagame stressed that such aid is only effective when coupled with strong domestic commitment.
“We got support from a number of friends and partners, but this would not have been helpful, would not have had an impact if we were not standing together ourselves and doing our part from within,” he remarked.
Kagame stressed that this principle applies across the board, not just for small or developing nations, but for all countries seeking to secure their futures in an increasingly volatile world.
The president also turned a critical eye to the global financial architecture, calling it both
“structurally flawed and politically biased.”
He argued that developing nations continue to suffer from outdated risk assessments and unequal enforcement of international financial rules, which restrict access to capital and hinder development.
“There has been much talk of reforming the global financial architecture… But the problem is not just structural, it is political,” Kagame said.
He called for renewed momentum in South-South cooperation, particularly between Africa and Central Asia, as a strategic complement, not an alternative, to global engagement.
The latest consignment, which arrived in Amman, Jordan, on Thursday, May 29, 2025, comprises over 20 tons of foodstuffs and medical supplies.
In a statement, the office of the Government Spokesperson said the aid was received by the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation, which is facilitating the onward distribution to Gaza.
This marks Rwanda’s third humanitarian contribution to Gaza since the outbreak of the current conflict in October 2023.
The initial aid package, sent in late October 2023, consisted of 16 tons of essential medicines, food, and water. A second shipment followed on November 7, 2024, delivering over 19 tons of fortified food for children, medicines, and other critical supplies.
The consignments were transported by Rwanda’s national carrier, RwandAir, and coordinated in close collaboration with Jordanian authorities.
Last year, the Office of the Government Spokesperson reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to international relief efforts and reiterated the call for “an end to the conflict and the protection of civilian lives.”
The devastating conflict erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a large-scale assault on Israel, prompting a massive Israeli military response in Gaza.
The violence has since escalated into one of the region’s deadliest confrontations, resulting in over 60,000 deaths and displacing hundreds of thousands of civilians. The scale of the humanitarian crisis has drawn widespread international concern and appeals for urgent aid.
Recognising this, RwandAir recently launched an innovative eSIM service that lets passengers enjoy seamless mobile connectivity in more than 160 countries without the hassle of swapping SIM cards or racking up sky-high roaming fees.
{{What is an eSIM?
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An eSIM, or embedded SIM, is a digital alternative to the traditional physical SIM card. Instead of inserting a card into your phone, you download a digital profile onto your device.
The eSIM enables you to activate a mobile data plan without needing to physically visit a store or handle any hardware. It’s a smart, flexible solution for modern travellers, especially those hopping across borders.
RwandAir’s eSIM service is tailored for globetrotters, offering a range of standout benefits that make staying connected abroad effortless. One of its biggest advantages is global coverage. You can connect instantly in over 160 countries without the need to swap SIM cards or search for local telecom shops.
According to the airline, the service also offers significant cost savings, with data plans that are up to 85% cheaper than the roaming rates typically charged by home carriers. As soon as you land, instant connectivity ensures that your eSIM activates automatically, allowing you to access mobile data immediately after stepping off the plane.
Another key benefit is that you can retain your primary number, and since the system is entirely digital, there’s no risk of losing or damaging a physical SIM card, adding a layer of convenience and security.
The service is ideal for frequent flyers and business travellers, digital nomads and remote workers, tourists exploring multiple countries, and anyone seeking a no-fuss, cost-effective way to stay online while abroad.
{{Step-by-step guide: How to use RwandAir’s eSIM
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{{1. Check device compatibility
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First, confirm that your device supports eSIM functionality. Compatible models include:
-* Apple: iPhone XS and newer, iPads with cellular capability
-* Samsung: Galaxy S20 and newer, Note 20 series, Fold and Flip models
-* Google: Pixel 3 and newer
You can check your phone’s settings or consult the manufacturer’s website for confirmation.
{{2. Purchase your eSIM plan
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Visit RwandAir’s official[ e-SIM page->https://amadeus-api.optionizr.com/api/esim/deeplink?site=P02XP02X] to choose a data package that suits your travel destination and needs. The process is straightforward and fully online.
{{Receive your eSIM profile
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After your purchase, RwandAir will email you a QR code or download link for your e-SIM profile.
{{4. Activate the eSIM on your device
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Depending on your operating system, follow these steps:
{{For iOS (Apple) devices:
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-* Go to Settings > Cellular > Add Cellular Plan
-* Scan the QR code or enter the download link manually
{{For Android devices:
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-* Navigate to Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Network > Advanced > Carrier
-* Follow the prompts to scan the QR code or input the provided link
Once installed, your eSIM will connect to the best available local network when you land in your destination country.
