The swap involved soldiers under the age of 25, as well as ill and wounded servicemen from the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the National Guard and the State Border Guard Service, the agency said in a statement.
Most of those released had been in captivity for more than three years, with some having taken part in the battles for Mariupol, the statement said.
All returning soldiers will undergo medical examination, receive psychological support and physical rehabilitation, it said.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized in his post on Telegram the importance of bringing all Ukrainians home from Russian captivity.
Emelyine Mutoni, a farmer from Kayonza District in eastern Rwanda, said that ever since she learnt mushroom farming with Juncao technology in 2020, it has been an exciting moment in her family’s fight against poverty.
She was taught the technique by Leonidas Mushimiyimana, one of the early adopters of Juncao technology and the owner of DEYI Ltd. in Kigali’s Gasabo District.
After a three-month training, Mutoni can now produce mushroom tubes, which she sells to other farmers for cultivation. Her company has increased production capacity from about 500 tubes per month to 5,000.
“I observed high levels of malnutrition among children in my area and felt I should play a role in helping address the problem,” Mutoni told Xinhua.
“Mushroom farming is the best thing to do. I look forward to expanding my business to produce mushrooms and other mushroom products for export,” she added.
Originally developed and used for mushroom farming in China, Juncao is a hybrid grass and a valuable multifunctional agricultural resource. The innovation, invented by Lin Zhanxi from China’s Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University in the 1980s, has benefited over 100 countries, including Rwanda.
Christine Uwimanihaye, another exhibitor, said their company, Omer Shop Ltd., makes mushroom tubes and grows mushrooms as well.
“We are in horticulture, but our main focus is mushroom production because of their unique nutritional content. From mushrooms, we produce several byproducts, including flour and biscuits,” she said.
Like Mutoni, Uwimanihaye was also introduced to mushroom farming by some early adopters of the Juncao technology.
According to the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board, over 4,000 Rwandan farmers have benefited from Juncao technology, which has created more than 30,000 jobs across the agricultural value chain.
Since 2006, experts from China’s Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University have been collaborating with the Rwandan government on Juncao technology, teaching and promoting it alongside other agricultural innovations through the China-Rwanda Agriculture Technology Demonstration Center.
The WTO’s latest Goods Trade Barometer, a composite leading indicator for global merchandise trade, rose to 103.5 from 102.8 in March. The rise was driven by importers frontloading purchases ahead of anticipated higher tariffs, the WTO said.
Barometer values above 100 indicate above-trend trade volumes, while values below 100 suggest that goods trade has either fallen below trend or is likely to decline in the near future.
However, the forward-looking new export orders index fell to 97.9, pointing to weaker trade growth later in the year, the WTO said.
The WTO has forecast a basically flat growth in global merchandise trade at 0.1 percent, after the U.S. tariff policy uncertainty and subsequent developments had caused fluctuations in the forecast.
The WTO warned of possible trade contraction if U.S. “reciprocal tariffs” are reinstated or if trade policy uncertainty spreads globally.
The five-paragraph statement outlined that the new spending target will be split between two key categories: 3.5 percent for core defense and 1.5 percent for related areas, including critical infrastructure, networks, and defense industrial capabilities.
The plan will undergo a review in 2029, taking into account the strategic environment and revised capability targets, the document added.
U.S. President Donald Trump hailed the agreement at a press conference after the summit, asserting that Washington had long carried more than its fair share of the alliance’s defense burden.
However, he singled out Spain, criticising Madrid as the only country refusing to meet its full commitment.
Trump said the United States is negotiating a trade deal with Spain and warned that Madrid could be made to “pay twice as much” through trade measures.
Spain has agreed with NATO to limit its military spending to 2.1 percent of GDP, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Sunday, ahead of the NATO summit.
In his Sunday statement, Sanchez warned that “rushing toward 5 percent” would lead to rising prices and public spending, and reduce investment in key sectors such as education and digital development.
Calling the 5 percent target “disproportionate and unnecessary” for Spain, Sanchez emphasized that Spain is “one of the five NATO countries with the most troops deployed worldwide.” He also stressed that “asymmetry within NATO is normal and inevitable,” citing the economic diversity among allies.
He made the remarks in a video message broadcast by state-run IRIB TV while congratulating the Iranian nation on its “victory” in the war with Israel and the United States.
“Despite all its propaganda and claims, Israel was almost knocked down and crushed under Iran’s blows,” said Khamenei.
He added that the Iranian missiles and other weapons managed to pass through Israel’s “advanced multi-layered defense” and raze to the ground many of Israel’s urban and military areas.
Khamenei said Israel should know that any aggression against Iran would be heavily costly for it.
He added the United States entered the war to rescue Israel, “but accomplished nothing from this war.”
He noted that the United States exaggerated its achievements in the war because they failed to achieve their objective and needed that to cover up the truth, emphasizing that “here again, the Islamic Republic of Iran achieved victory and responded by giving the United States a harsh slap in the face.”
Khamenei said Iran attacked U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, “which is among the U.S. important bases in the West Asia region,” and inflicted damages, stressing that some sought to downplay it and said nothing had happened.
On June 13, Israel launched major airstrikes on different areas in Iran, including nuclear and military sites, killing several senior commanders, nuclear scientists and many civilians. Iran responded by launching several waves of missile and drone attacks on Israel, inflicting casualties and damage.
On Saturday, the U.S. Air Force bombed three Iranian nuclear sites of Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. In retaliation, Iran on Monday struck the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar with missiles.
Following the 12-day war, a ceasefire between Iran and Israel was achieved on Tuesday.
This announcement was made during a media briefing ahead of the ‘Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa: NESIA 2025’, which will be held in Kigali, bringing together experts from 30 countries to discuss harnessing nuclear energy.
Rwanda has been pursuing nuclear energy for nearly seven years with the goal of fostering development. In 2018, the country began collaborating with Russia to establish a research center focused on nuclear energy, which will help increase the nation’s electricity production.
In August 2024, Rwanda signed a memorandum of understanding with the American company ‘Nano Nuclear Energy Inc.’ for the deployment of small modular reactors and microreactors.
A year earlier, the Rwandan government had signed an agreement with Dual Fluid Energy Inc., a company based in Germany and Canada, to test nuclear energy technologies in Rwanda.
The plans focus on constructing small plants using ‘Small Modular Reactors’ and ‘Micro Reactors’, which require minimal land, offer high output, and do not pose any significant risks to the population. These facilities will require between 220 and 250 employees across four categories.
By 2024, over 200 Rwandan students and RAEB staff were expected to be sent abroad to gain expertise in nuclear energy.
Dr. Fidel Ndahayo, the CEO of RAEB, said, “We now have a clear vision where we can say ‘we need a plant that can provide this much electricity, and we can place it here or there.’”
He further explained that multiple sites had been considered for the plant, but further detailed analysis is needed to assess factors like land suitability, seismic risks, and other environmental considerations.
He added that the chosen technology for the plant would be small reactors capable of producing substantial energy, with a site range of 15 to 50 hectares, located away from residential areas.
“We can still find a 50-hectare site to build the plant, even with high population density,” Dr. Ndahayo said.
In an interview with IGIHE, Dr. Ndahayo continued, “Our goal is to have the plant operational by 2030. We will need 234 workers, and we aim to have them trained by 2028.”
He also mentioned that as many organizations focus on new technologies for harnessing nuclear energy, Rwanda is positioning itself early to ensure its workforce is well-equipped to adopt and market this technology.
Dr. Ndahayo noted that around 30 to 50 experts in nuclear energy have already completed their studies and are now working at RAEB, while another 200 are gaining experience in advanced countries.
Some of these students will graduate next year, with others following in subsequent years.
“We continue to send more students abroad; this year, over 40 students will be sent. We have agreements with countries like Hungary, and we are looking to collaborate with China and South Korea,” he said.
He also highlighted ongoing efforts to establish local educational programs. For example, the University of Rwanda has already confirmed the launch of such programs, and similar plans are underway at technical and vocational schools.
Regarding the plant’s location, Dr. Ndahayo confirmed that the final site has not yet been decided, as feasibility studies are still ongoing. However, he is confident that suitable land for the plant exists in Rwanda.
Dr. Jimmy Gasore, the Minister of Infrastructure, emphasized that small modular reactors (SMRs) are safer and more aligned with Rwanda’s energy needs.
He explained that large plants producing over 1,000 MW are not practical in many parts of Africa. Instead, small plants producing up to 100 MW are more appropriate for Rwanda’s capacity.
As the minister, these reactors require less land and are less likely to cause significant environmental risks compared to larger plants.
Rwanda is working closely with various nuclear energy companies to explore technologies, including the nuclear reactor, which is the core component of the energy plant.
The reactor uses uranium to produce heat through nuclear fission, which is then converted into electricity. A single gram of uranium can generate 1 MW of energy per day, which is equivalent to the energy produced by three tons of coal.
As of January 2025, Rwanda had already achieved a capacity of generating 406.4 MW of electricity. With the new nuclear plants, the country aims to significantly increase its energy output.
The truce offers a critical window for both parties to address longstanding tensions through diplomatic channels, Cui Shoujun, a professor at the School of International Relations at Renmin University of China, told CGTN.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the ceasefire between Israel and Iran is “now in effect.”
“THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE!” he wrote on Truth Social platform.
Iran’s Press TV reported on Tuesday that ceasefire began following waves of Iranian attacks on Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said Israel had agreed to U.S.-brokered ceasefire, stating that Israel had achieved its military objectives against Iran.
The acceptance of the ceasefire by both sides came after Israel’s military said it was working to intercept Iranian missiles launched “a short while ago,” without specifying the exact time of the attack.
“If both sides can seize this moment to resume and deepen dialogue – particularly on nuclear and regional security issues – with the support and oversight of the international community, there is a genuine possibility of reaching a long-term peace agreement,” Cui said.
‘Cost of continued direct conflict too high for both sides’
Cui said one of the primary drivers behind the ceasefire is the prolonged risk of war. The cost of continued direct conflict is too high for both sides, he said, adding that a war will not only undo decades of economic progress in both countries, but also trigger severe domestic political upheavals, and potentially lead to the loss of control of nuclear facilities – resulting in irreversible ecological and humanitarian disasters.
“The leaders on both sides understand that there are no winners in war,” he emphasized.
Cui also pointed out that strong international mediation created a favorable environment for the ceasefire. The escalation of the conflict had posed a serious threat to global energy security and international shipping routes – particularly the Strait of Hormuz – sparking widespread alarm across the international community and prompting major powers to play a part in de-escalating the tensions.
Notably, emerging powers such as China have also played a constructive role, the professor added.
He further explained that years of sanctions and regional tensions have weighed heavily on Iran’s economy, while Israeli society has grown weary from a prolonged state of military readiness and deep political divisions.
“Both governments now urgently need a stable external environment so they can focus on resolving critical domestic challenges,” he said.
Speaking about the challenges ahead, the professor noted that the deep-rooted hostility and mutual distrust between Israel and Iran cannot be resolved overnight.
In addition to the region’s complex dynamics, numerous external factors also pose obstacles to lasting peace. Cui pointed out that the U.S. has long pursued its own strategic interests in the Middle East. Its consistent military and political support for Israel, along with an often inconsistent policy toward Iran, could complicate or even derail efforts at reconciliation between the two countries.
He further emphasized that other Middle Eastern nations maintain varying degrees of interest alignment and friction with both Israel and Iran. As a result, even subtle shifts in the regional balance of power could significantly influence the trajectory of Iran-Israel relations.
Set against the stunning backdrop of Heza Beach Resort in Rubavu, the festival will take place during the long weekend of July 4th, 2025, further cementing its status as one of Rwanda’s premier music events.
This year’s edition features an electrifying lineup of top DJs, artists, and MCs — all set to deliver an immersive experience of sound, rhythm, and culture.
{{A Summer activation like no other}}
In the lead-up to the main event, Virunga Beer has launched an exciting Road to Toxic Xperience campaign across select bars in Kigali and Rubavu.
At participating venues, customers who purchase Virunga Beer buckets will receive scratch cards for a chance to win exclusive prizes, including: VIP staycations for two (with transport, accommodation, and VIP event access);Regular concert tickets; Virunga-branded merchandise; ExtraVirunga beer buckets; …and more
Winners of the VIP staycations will travel to Rubavu in a full decked Party Bus, where their journey will be documented and shared on social media — offering fans a fun, behind-the-scenes look at the full Toxic Xperience journey.
{{Tickets now available}}
Fans are encouraged to secure their tickets early via www.sinc.events. Both General Admission and VIP packages are available — with limited slots and growing anticipation, Toxic Xperience 2025 is expected to sell out fast.
{{About Toxic Xperience}}
Created by DJ Toxxyk, The Toxic Xperience has grown into one of East Africa’s most anticipated annual festivals, spotlighting Rwanda’s rich music culture while elevating local talent and contributing to the growth of Rubavu’s vibrant nightlife scene.
{{Stay Connected}}
Fans can stay connected and share their excitement by following @Virungabeverages on social media and using the hashtags #VirungaBeer and #ToxicXperience.
On the sidelines of the fourth annual regional national public health institute (NPHI) meeting for Southern Africa in the Zimbabwean capital of Harare, Africa CDC Regional Director Lul Riek told Xinhua that China has offered much support for building health infrastructure.
“China is an excellent partner for the work of the Africa CDC. Our beautiful emergency operations and disease control facility in Ethiopia was made possible because of the partnership that we have with China,” said Riek.
The Africa CDC headquarters, recognized as a flagship project in China-Africa public health cooperation, was officially inaugurated in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, in 2023.
Riek called for more partnership with China in supporting African countries with public health infrastructure, training capacity for laboratories and the building of NPHIs.
During the meeting, Riek also urged African countries to strengthen their public health systems in case of future pandemics and health threats.
“Our ultimate goal is to ensure that all 55 African Union members have functional NPHIs capable of driving progress toward a healthier, more resilient Africa,” Riek said
Hosted by the Government of Rwanda and the United Nations Development Programme’s Biodiversity Finance Initiative (UNDP-BIOFIN), the three-day 11th Regional Dialogue on Biodiversity Finance marks a decisive shift from mapping funding gaps to rolling out finance solutions – such as green bonds, nature-based insurance and biodiversity credits – tailored to national priorities.
“Rwanda is proud to host this dialogue on biodiversity finance,” said Juliet Kabera, Director General, Rwanda Environment Management Authority.
“As custodians of one of the world’s richest ecosystems, we believe in the power of innovative solutions to transform our biodiversity commitments into tangible action. This dialogue is a vital step in creating a future where biodiversity is not just preserved but becomes a cornerstone of sustainable development. Together, we can build economies that thrive in harmony with nature,” she added.
With support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), more than 40 countries in the two regions are joining the dialogue for the first time, laying the foundation for long-term financing plans that align national development priorities with the global biodiversity agenda.
“Scaling biodiversity finance is not just about mobilizing funds – it’s about transforming systems,” said Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, CEO and Chairperson, Global Environment Facility.
“The momentum we see in Africa and the Arab States shows what’s possible when countries take ownership and partners like the GEF and UNDP provide catalytic support,” he added.
Africa and the Arab States are home to some of the world’s most important ecosystems. But despite their natural wealth, these regions face serious financing gaps.
The global shortfall in biodiversity funding is estimated at over $700 billion per year.
Through UNDP-BIOFIN’s global partnership with the GEF, more than 90 new countries are advancing their national Biodiversity Finance Plans that seek to close the gap.
“This Regional Dialogue marks a pivotal moment for Africa and the Arab States. They represent the fastest-growing regions in the BIOFIN family, with 44 countries newly joining the initiative—accounting for nearly half of all recent global additions. This expansion has been made possible through the continued support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF),” said Onno van den Heuvel, Head of Nature Finance, UNDP.
“By combining innovative instruments like green bonds, nature-based insurance, and biodiversity credits with strong government and private sector partnerships, we’re demonstrating that finance can be a powerful driver for conserving ecosystems and lifting communities.”
The three-day dialogue aims to support countries to move from planning to implementation, with the new cohort benefiting from the solutions that have already succeeded in their respective regions.
“Biodiversity is critical infrastructure,” said Fatmata Lovetta Sesay, UNDP Resident Representative in Rwanda.
“Nature underpins food security, water, health, and climate resilience. Without it, our economic future rests on unstable ground. Our budgets must begin to reflect biodiversity’s true value. Rwanda is an example of what’s possible when leadership meets innovation. By digitizing enforcement and reinvesting in ecosystems, Rwanda is not only protecting nature – it is powering inclusive, sustainable development.”
Participating countries are expected to sharpen new finance plans while learning from early successes across the region.
