There is no clear evidence that Iran has placed mines in the Strait of Hormuz, he said at a news briefing.
He said the United States is planning for Iran’s various measures and “that’s not a strait we’re gonna allow to remain contested.”
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that connects the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, carrying around a quarter of global seaborne oil trade and significant volumes of liquefied natural gas and fertilizers.
Hegseth also told reporters that strikes carried out by the United States and Israel have significantly weakened Iran’s military capabilities.
“Between our Air Force and that of the Israelis, over 15,000 enemy targets have been struck,” he said.
Iran’s missile volume is down 90 percent and that of their one-way attack drones was down 95 percent as of Thursday, Hegseth further said.
Hegseth threatened that “today will be yet again, the highest volume of strikes that America has put over the skies of Iran and Tehran.”
Hegseth also told reporters that the U.S. Central Command has designated an investigating officer to complete a command investigation into a strike on an elementary school in Iran that killed over 160 people, mostly pupils.
The Feb. 28 strike on Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab occurred during U.S. operations targeting a nearby Iranian military base.
According to reports, a preliminary finding from an ongoing military investigation indicates that the school was struck by a U.S. Tomahawk missile.
A fire breaks out on a Thai cargo ship after it was struck in the Strait of Hormuz on March 11, 2026.
“The full cost to the Government of Rwanda is at least 10 times more, in addition to the ultimate sacrifice of loss of soldiers’ lives, all to stabilize Cabo Delgado,” she said.
Makolo was reacting to a report by Bloomberg indicating that the European Union’s funding to Rwandan forces deployed in Cabo Delgado could come to an end in May 2026.
The €20 million package was approved by foreign ministers of the European Union during a meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on November 18, 2024. It followed another €20 million support package granted to Rwandan troops in December 2022, about a year and a half after they began the deployment.
The reported halt in funding comes after the United States announced sanctions against the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) on March 2, 2026, accusing Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebel group, allegations Kigali has repeatedly denied.
A spokesperson for the European Union said the assistance programmes approved in 2022 and 2024 will expire in May 2026, adding that the bloc is reviewing the implications of the recent US sanctions targeting Rwandan military leaders.
Bloomberg reported that there are currently no plans to extend the funding.
Makolo noted that Rwanda’s continued deployment in Cabo Delgado, if deemed necessary, depends on sufficient and predictable support.
“The sustainability of Rwanda’s bilateral counter-terrorism deployment in Mozambique, if our forces are actually needed, depends on adequate, predictable funding,” she said.
She recalled that Rwanda first deployed its forces in 2021 following a request from the Mozambican authorities.
“Rwandan Forces went to Cabo Delgado in 2021 at the request of the Mozambican government, to work with a brotherly African country that needed the support; money was not the first consideration,” she said.
Makolo highlighted the impact of the mission, noting that civilians have returned to their homes, children have gone back to school, businesses have reopened, and major foreign investments have resumed.
Cabo Delgado is rich in natural gas resources and hosts major liquefied natural gas projects led by TotalEnergies, valued at around $20 billion.
The project has also received backing from the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
Makolo stressed that the work carried out by the Rwanda Defence Force has benefited both local communities and companies investing in LNG projects.
“To be clear, the work of RDF in countering terrorism in Cabo Delgado has benefitted the Mozambican people and the companies investing in LNG, and supporting that work is not a favor being granted to Rwanda,” she said.
“Should the RDF Command assess that the work being done by Rwandan Security Forces in Cabo Delgado is not appreciated, they would be right to urge the government to end this bilateral counter-terrorism arrangement and pull out,” Makolo concluded.
Rwanda first deployed its forces in 2021 following a request from the Mozambican authorities.
During the summoning, the direct involvement of Britain and France in this “terrorist attack,” which killed seven people and injured over 40, was pointed out, the ministry said in a media release.
“It is clear to us that the missile attack on Bryansk would not have been possible without the involvement of British and French specialists, as well as without the transfer of intelligence” to Kiev, it said.
It was also stated that Moscow views the shelling of Bryansk as a deliberate provocation aimed at undermining the intensified efforts to peacefully resolve the Ukraine crisis.
Moscow demanded that the United Kingdom and France issue a clear public response with a firm and unequivocal condemnation of the attack.
“Failure to do so will be considered solidarity with the terrorist methods, which is a disgrace for countries that are permanent members of the UN Security Council,” the release added.
Ukraine’s military hits Russian missile plant in Bryansk. Photo by Reuters
The Republic of Maldives has nominated Virginia Gamba, former UN under-secretary-general, for the position, according to a joint letter signed by UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Annalena Baerbock and Michael Waltz, president of the UN Security Council for March.
According to her curriculum vitae, Gamba is an Argentine scholar, practitioner and recognized authority on war and peace studies with over 40 years relevant experience on all themes related to peace and security, including crisis management.
At the United Nations, she served as under-secretary-general in two dockets: Children and Armed Conflict (2017-2025), and the Prevention of Genocide (2024-2025).
The four other candidates are former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, nominated by Chile, Brazil and Mexico; Rafael Grossi, the current director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, nominated by Argentina; Macky Sall, former president of Senegal, nominated by Burundi; and Rebeca Grynspan, economist and former vice president of Costa Rica, nominated by Costa Rica.
The UNGA is scheduled to conduct interactive dialogues with the candidates in the week of April 20.
Virginia Gamba served as the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict
The Ministry of Interior and National Administration said the victims comprise 46 men, eight women, and eight children.
“Nairobi recorded the highest number of deaths with 33, followed by the Eastern region at 17, and Rift Valley region with seven,” the ministry said in an update released in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.
The government said the floods have affected more than 10,000 households, with 4,845 people displaced and forced to seek shelter in safer areas.
The heavy rainfall has caused flooding in several parts across the East African nation, leading to road closures, property damage, displacement and distress among the affected communities.
In addition to the tragic loss of lives, significant damage to infrastructure and livelihoods has been reported.
The Kenya Meteorological Department has forecast continued heavy rainfall and urged residents to take extreme caution to prevent further loss of life.
Kenya said floods have affected more than 10,000 households, with 4,845 people displaced
Barrot made the announcement during a two-day trip to the country.
“This is the first time in eight years that a French foreign minister is present in Bangui and my presence marks the complete restoration of relations between our two countries after a period of strain and tension,” Barrot told reporters.
He said France was looking forward to “reinforcing our relations in all sectors”.
In 2024, Faustin-Archange Touadera, president of the Central African Republic, met with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Paris as part of efforts to resume ties.
Since the first State of the World’s Migratory Species report in 2024, the proportion of imperiled CMS-listed species has risen from 44% to 49%, highlighting an alarming trend over just two years.
Migratory animals, from shorebirds to freshwater fish, rely on moving across continents to breed, find food, and escape harsh weather.
Blue wildebeest, for instance, migrate across the Serengeti-Masai Mara Ecosystem in East Africa following seasonal grass growth, while humpback whales travel thousands of miles between tropical breeding grounds and Antarctic feeding areas.
When habitats are lost or fragmented, these natural journeys are disrupted, threatening the survival of entire populations.
The report identifies multiple drivers of decline, including habitat loss, hunting, overfishing, and climate change. Roads, railways, fences, and pipelines often block long-established migration routes, constraining species such as the Mongolian gazelle.
In the Arctic, mining activities and climate change have contributed to dramatic losses of tundra caribou, with some herds shrinking from hundreds of thousands to just a few thousand over decades.
Birds, in particular, are being heavily affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Since 2020, H5N1 has caused mass die-offs, killing tens of thousands of waterfowl and shorebirds, and spreading to more than 500 bird species and over 100 mammals worldwide.
Species impacted include Peruvian pelicans, hooded cranes, African penguins, and red-crowned cranes, with Australia remaining largely unaffected. The virus, combined with habitat loss, has intensified the decline of many avian species.
Despite these challenges, there are some conservation successes. The reintroduction of the scimitar-horned oryx in Chad has increased its population to 575, and saiga antelope numbers have rebounded after disease outbreaks.
Mapping migration routes and creating safe corridors remain critical. Protected areas along the Serengeti-Masai Mara Ecosystem Corridor, for example, allow up to 2.5 million herbivores, including wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles, to migrate safely over vast distances.
CMS Executive Secretary Amy Fraenkel emphasizes the need for cross-border habitat protection, especially for birds and ocean species, which require networks of safe areas rather than single contiguous spaces.
Ahead of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP15), 42 new migratory species are being proposed for CMS listing, the largest number ever, to spur urgent action.
“We know what needs to be done, and we look forward to galvanizing action by governments and other stakeholders to protect, conserve and save these species. There is no time to wait,” said Susan Lieberman, vice president of international policy at the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Many bird species have lost vital stopovers along flyways, but with ongoing spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, some populations have been decimated. Shorebirds have been particularly hard-hit, including pelicans. Image by Sergey Dereliev.The Egyptian vulture can fly up to 640 kilometers (400 miles) in a day as it travels between its wintering grounds in the Sahara and European breeding sites — a migration that of up to 5,000 km (3,100 mi). Image by Sergey Dereliev.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, senior NASA official Lori Glaze said the agency is working toward the new launch date after the mission, originally planned for February, was postponed.
“We are on track for a launch as early as April 1, and we are working toward that date,” Glaze said, noting that although progress is encouraging, engineers still have work to complete. She described the mission as a crucial test flight that carries inherent risks.
The launch window is expected to open on April 1 at 6:24 p.m. GMT, with several additional opportunities available during the following days.
The mission will carry four astronauts: Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.
According to NASA, the spacecraft will first orbit Earth before heading toward the Moon, completing a flyby without landing and then returning to Earth for an ocean splashdown. The distance from the lunar surface will vary depending on the launch date, ranging between roughly 4,000 and 6,000 miles.
While the earlier Artemis I mission passed much closer to the Moon, Artemis II will still take astronauts tens of thousands of miles closer than any humans have traveled since the era of the Apollo program.
NASA plans to follow the mission with Artemis III, which aims to support a future lunar landing as part of the broader Artemis program to return humans to the Moon.
According to NASA, the spacecraft will first orbit Earth before heading toward the Moon, completing a flyby without landing and then returning to Earth for an ocean splashdown.
New Faces New Voices Rwanda is a non-profit organization that advances women’s economic participation through financial inclusion, entrepreneurship development, and leadership strengthening, ensuring women are active contributors to Rwanda’s economic growth.
Since its establishment in Rwanda in 2015, NFNV has worked to expand women’s access to finance, entrepreneurship skills, cooperative structures, and leadership opportunities.
The organization equips women with practical tools to earn income, manage finances, access markets, and participate in local economic decision-making.
Over the past decade, this work has contributed to visible shifts at the community level. Young women who once operated informal or subsistence activities have formalized businesses through cooperatives, entered trades traditionally dominated by men, and strengthened household income through collective enterprise.
Young women with disabilities have also expanded their economic independence through targeted support and improved access to financial services.
The anniversary event in Ruhango highlighted these experiences as examples of how women shape local economic systems when barriers are reduced and opportunities are expanded.
NFNV’s progress has been supported by strong partnerships over the past decade, including collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation and Rugori Investment Network through the Women-led, Women-owned MSME Investment Readiness Program, as well as partnerships with UN Women and other institutions advancing inclusive economic empowerment.
NFNV also established Rugori Investment Network as a sister organization to strengthen access to capital for women entrepreneurs.
Within this ecosystem, New Faces New Voices Rwanda operates as an incubator supporting women-led businesses with training, mentorship, and investment readiness, while Rugori Investment Network serves as the investment partner investing in prepared entrepreneurs.
As guest of honor, Reeta Roy, former CEO and President of the Mastercard Foundation, emphasized the importance of generational leadership: “There is something deeply generational about the work being done. When older women pass their skills and knowledge to younger ones, they ensure continuity and long-term resilience. That is exactly what New Faces New Voices Rwanda is helping to achieve.”
A young program participant also reflected on her experience: “New Faces New Voices helped me believe in myself. Through this journey, I learned that I can lead others and have a clear direction for my life, especially knowing that NFNV is walking alongside me.”
Joy S. Rwamwenge, CEO of New Faces New Voices Rwanda, highlighted the organization’s impact, from supporting 35 cooperatives in its early pilot to over 460 cooperatives creating 11,500 youth in work today.
“With a presence in 28 districts across Rwanda, we are witnessing what happens when preparation meets opportunity for women entrepreneurs,” she said
As NFNV enters its second decade, the organization seeks to focus on strengthening pathways from skills to income, deepening financial inclusion for underserved women, and working with partners to embed inclusive economic practices within cooperatives, financial institutions, and local markets.
With ten years of progress, the organisation emphasizes, the next phase will focus on scale, sustainability, and systems that work for women over the long term.
Reeta Roy, Former President of Mastercard Foundation, with Ivan Ntwali, Mastercard Foundation Country Director for Rwanda. Reeta Roy, former CEO and President of the Mastercard Foundation, toured the exhibitions and interacted with the participants.Joy Ndungutse Board Chair of New Faces, New Voices also graced the event. Joy S. Rwamwenge, CEO of New Faces New Voices Rwanda, highlighted the organization’s impact, growing from 35 pilot cooperatives to over 460, now engaging 11,500 youth in work.Representatives from partner institutions joined the celebration of a decade of women’s economic empowerment.Participants gather in Ruhango as New Faces New Voices Rwanda marks 10 years of advancing women’s economic participation.Participants listen during discussions on strengthening women-led enterprises.Women who benefited from entrepreneurship programs showcased the impact of skills training and mentorship.Leaders and partners reflected on a decade of empowering women economically across Rwanda. The anniversary event highlighted how women are shaping local economies through entrepreneurship and financial inclusion.Young women supported by New Faces New Voices Rwanda shared their experiences during the 10-year anniversary event in Ruhango District.Women entrepreneurs attended the anniversary event celebrating a decade of impact by New Faces New Voices Rwanda.Women were appreciated for their dedication. Young women supported by New Faces New Voices showcased their agricultural products.Other showcased art products. Different products were showcased by the beneficiaries.The organization seeks to focus on strengthening pathways from skills to income, deepening financial inclusion for underserved women
The financial district, one of the region’s most important economic hubs, was struck amid a broader wave of aerial threats targeting Gulf states. Explosions were reported shortly after the incident, raising alarm in the busy commercial area.
Authorities later confirmed that the damage was limited. The Dubai Government Media Office said debris from a successful air defense interception fell onto the façade of a building in central Dubai, causing minor structural damage.
“Authorities confirm that debris from a successful interception caused a minor incident on the façade of a building in central Dubai. No injuries have been reported,” the office said in a statement, adding that investigations into the incident were ongoing.
Meanwhile, the UAE National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority stated that the country’s air defense systems were responding to a missile threat but did not provide further details.
Elsewhere in the region, Saudi Arabia reported intercepting two hostile drones over Al-Kharj Governorate, according to the Saudi Defense Ministry. Another drone was also shot down near the embassies district in Riyadh.
The incidents come amid a wave of retaliatory strikes by Iran since the outbreak of the U.S.–Israeli war on Iran on February 28.
The UAE has been subjected to over 1,000 Iranian attacks, more than any other targeted country, despite not participating in the war, according to the UAE’s foreign affairs ministry. The ministry previously affirmed the UAE’s right to self-defense under international law.
Authorities later confirmed that the damage was limited.
