Making public the cabinet decisions, Minister for Education, Science and Technology Sasmit Pokharel said the decision of holidays on Saturday and Sunday will be enforced with immediate effect. Nepal has been practicing a one-day weekend on Saturdays.
He also informed that the cabinet has decided to prepare laws necessary to facilitate conversions of fossil fuel vehicles into electric vehicles.
On March 21, Trump threatened to “hit and obliterate” Iranian power plants if the country fails to fully open the strait within 48 hours. Two days later, he postponed strikes on power plants for five days, claiming to have held “productive conversations” with Tehran.
On March 26, Trump again pushed the deadline back, saying that he will pause planned strikes on Iranian energy facilities for 10 days, to April 6, the upcoming Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. On Saturday, Trump reaffirmed that Iran has 48 hours to strike a deal on opening up the strait or face “Hell.”
However, in the post on Sunday, Trump appeared to hint at extending the deadline for Iran to reopen the strait for another time.
In a post earlier Sunday, the U.S. president threatened that Tuesday would be “Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one” for Iran, and again urged Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Sunday, Trump threatened to destroy all of Iran’s power plants if the country’s leaders don’t agree to reopen the strait by Tuesday evening.
“If they don’t come through, if they want to keep it closed, they’re going to lose every power plant and every other plant they have in the whole country,” Trump said.
In a phone interview with Fox, Trump said that a deal to end the conflict in Iran could be reached by Monday.
However, Trump’s optimism does not seem to be echoed by the other side. Iran has rejected a U.S. proposal for a 48-hour ceasefire, which was recently sent through one of its “friendly countries,” the semi-official Fars news agency reported Friday, citing a source.
The expo officially opened on April 3, 2026, and was inaugurated by the Governor of Karachi, Nehal Hashmi, alongside Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Fatou Harelimana, and other officials.
The event has brought together major international tourism stakeholders as well as local Pakistani companies, with the aim of strengthening partnerships and promoting the development of the tourism sector.
At the exhibition, Rwanda is showcasing its top tourist destinations and positioning itself as an attractive hub for investment and business in Africa.
Visitors to the Rwandan stall are being introduced to some of the country’s most iconic sites, including Nyungwe National Park, Akagera National Park, and Lake Kivu, among others.
Several high-profile Pakistani officials, including Sardar Yasir Ilyas, National Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Tourism, and Aftab ur Rehman Rana, Director of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation, visited Rwanda’s stand.
According to the High Commission of Rwanda in Pakistan, the officials expressed appreciation for Rwanda’s progress in the tourism sector and showed strong interest in the country’s business and investment opportunities.
This expo is considered the largest tourism event in Pakistan, bringing together key players such as tour operators, airlines, hotels, and other stakeholders in the travel industry.
In 2024, Rwanda generated $647 million in revenue from tourism, underlining the sector’s growing contribution to the national economy.
He called on private investors to take advantage of the growing business opportunities linked to this increase.
Located in Kirehe District along Rwanda’s border with Tanzania, Rusumo is the country’s busiest and most strategic crossing point for imports. Over the past three years, daily truck traffic has doubled, reflecting the growing volume of goods entering Rwanda.
Rangira noted that three years ago, the border handled between 300 and 400 heavy trucks per day, but that figure has now surpassed 600. He projected that within the next three years, daily traffic could reach as many as 1,000 trucks.
He emphasized the need for the private sector to invest in supporting infrastructure, including parking facilities and other services required by truck drivers and logistics operators.
“One of the biggest opportunities Kirehe District has is its location on the borders with Tanzania and Burundi, particularly along the busy corridor from the Port of Dar es Salaam,” he said.
“We encourage private investors to capitalize on these opportunities. There is a need for expanded parking, as the number of trucks continues to grow. There is also an opportunity to build more storage facilities here, as not all trucks need to offload their cargo in Kigali.”
The First Vice Chairperson of the Private Sector Federation (PSF) in Eastern Province, Gakuba Francis, said that during their recent district visits, they observed the increase in truck traffic at Rusumo and pledged to work closely with investors to maximize these opportunities.
“We were informed that about 700 trucks enter through the border daily. When you see such numbers and are told that parking space is already insufficient, it becomes clear that expansion is necessary, and this is something we are considering,” he said.
Rwanda and Tanzania maintain strong trade relations, with Rwanda heavily relying on the Port of Dar es Salaam for imports. A significant portion of goods entering the country, particularly petroleum products, comes through Tanzania.
It is estimated that Rwanda imports at least 60 million liters of petroleum products each month, most of which are sourced via Tanzania. This is largely because Dar es Salaam hosts major fuel storage facilities supplied by countries such as Saudi Arabia.
Another advantage is the flexible payment arrangements offered by Tanzanian traders, who often allow Rwandan importers to pay after delivery, unlike in Kenya, where upfront payment is typically required.
In the fourth quarter of 2023, Rwanda imported goods worth $228.26 million from Tanzania, second only to imports from China, which totaled $328.17 million.
In addition, the Port of Dar es Salaam is closer to Rwanda than the Port of Mombasa, making it a more efficient route. Transport via Dar es Salaam takes approximately 90 hours, compared to about 180 hours from Mombasa to Kigali.
Reuters reported that, in an email to customers, Planet Labs said the U.S. government had asked all satellite imagery providers to place an indefinite hold on publishing images from the conflict zone. The company said the move further expanded a 14-day delay policy it had already adopted last month. Under the latest arrangement, imagery dating back to March 9 will be withheld, and the policy is expected to remain in place until the conflict ends.
Planet Labs said it will adopt a system of managed distribution for some imagery, releasing material only on a case-by-case basis for urgent needs, critical missions or matters deemed to be in the public interest. The company said it was seeking to balance competing demands under what it described as an unusual situation.
Reports said satellite imagery has become increasingly important in modern conflicts, where it can be used for purposes such as target identification, weapons guidance and missile tracking. As commercial remote-sensing capabilities continue to improve, such imagery is playing a growing role in conflict-related analysis while also raising concerns that it could be exploited by parties involved in hostilities.
Reuters reported that another commercial satellite imagery supplier, Vantor, said it has not been directly contacted by the U.S. government, but has long reserved the right to tighten access controls during geopolitical conflicts and has already imposed restrictions on some parts of the Middle East.
The Wall Street Journal also reported on Saturday that the U.S. government is seeking to limit outside access to satellite images of the Iran conflict zone.
The event, scheduled for May 29, 2026, in Kigali, is being organized by Groove Kigali in partnership with Intore Entertainment.
The concert is sponsored by SKOL Brewery Ltd through its SKOL Malt brand, alongside Bank of Kigali. The announcement of Shallipopi’s upcoming performance was made on April 3, 2026, at La Noche nightclub in Kigali.
Shallipopi is among the fast-rising African artists gaining popularity across the continent, with hit songs like “Laho” enjoying strong airplay in several countries, including Rwanda.
The partnership between SKOL and Bank of Kigali aims to boost the entertainment industry by supporting large-scale events. SKOL Malt, in particular, has been actively involved in Rwanda’s entertainment scene, previously sponsoring concerts featuring international stars such as Davido and Shenseea.
In the lead-up to the concert, a series of promotional events dubbed “Shallipopin’ Ahanad” will take place across different parts of Kigali throughout May 2026, helping to build excitement around the show and promote the SKOL Malt brand.
For Bank of Kigali, the concert is part of its broader BK@60 campaign marking 60 years of service in Rwanda’s financial sector. The event will also serve as a platform to engage young people on financial services and innovation-driven economic growth.
During the preparations and on the day of the concert, the bank will facilitate seamless payments through its digital platforms, including BK Pay and other card-based payment systems.
Details regarding the exact venue and ticket sales are expected to be announced in the coming days.
The Archbishop of Kigali, Antoine Cardinal Kambanda, delivered this message during the Easter Vigil Mass held at Saint Michel Cathedral Parish in Kigali.
The service brought together believers preparing to celebrate Easter, one of the most significant feast in the Catholic Church, which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In his homily, Cardinal Kambanda stressed that faith remains the foundation of all aspects of life, noting that many of today’s challenges, including family breakdowns and conflicts around the world, stem from a lack of strong belief.
“Faith is the foundation of everything,” he said, urging Christians to remain rooted in their beliefs and to become true witnesses of Christ in their daily lives.
He further encouraged the faithful to let the spirit of Easter strengthen love among them, helping them resist violence and wrongdoing. He called on Christians to embrace the light of Christ and turn away from sin and hatred.
The Cardinal also warned against growing materialism, saying that the desire for worldly possessions is increasingly overshadowing love for God. He reminded believers that one cannot serve both material wealth and God at the same time.
As Rwanda approaches the commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Cardinal Kambanda reflected on its connection to faith, describing the tragedy as a sign of moral failure where true Christian values were lacking.
He drew parallels between the suffering of genocide victims and that of Jesus Christ, emphasizing the importance of remembrance and compassion.
He urged Christians to continue honoring the victims while also supporting survivors with care and love, noting that their needs remain significant despite their survival.
Cardinal Kambanda also called on all believers to pray for peace in Rwanda, the region, and the world, so that people may live together in harmony and stability.
Speaking on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump declared, “We got him,” revealing that the rescued officer, a highly respected colonel, had been trapped deep in Iran’s mountainous terrain after the aircraft went down two days earlier. Despite sustaining injuries, the pilot is expected to recover.
According to Trump, the rescue followed hours of intense planning and coordination, with military leaders closely monitoring the pilot’s location while he remained behind enemy lines. He praised the operation as a moment of national pride, highlighting the professionalism and determination of US forces involved.
Reports indicate that the mission involved a specialized commando unit backed by heavy air support and included a firefight during the extraction. While the pilot has been secured, officials said the operation remained sensitive until all forces safely exited the area.
This marks a rare instance where two US pilots have been rescued separately from hostile territory following the same incident. The first pilot had been recovered earlier, but confirmation was delayed to avoid compromising the second mission.
The incident stems from escalating tensions after Iranian forces reportedly shot down the US F-15 jet, as well as an A-10 Warthog aircraft in the region on Friday. Both sides had launched search efforts for the missing crew members in the aftermath.
Repeated armed conflicts and unsafe ammunition storage have left a widespread legacy of explosive ordnance contamination across Libya, affecting residential areas, roads and agricultural land, UNSMIL said in a statement.
Issued on the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, the statement stressed the importance of mine action in protecting civilians and supporting peace and stability in Libya.
UNSMIL said large-scale armed clashes in Tripoli in May 2025, along with four accidental explosions at ammunition depots in populated areas over the past two years, have underscored the severity of explosive ordnance contamination in Libya.
Risks remain even in areas where active conflict has subsided, particularly due to unsecured weapons and stockpiles, posing an immediate danger to displaced families returning home, according to the statement.
UNSMIL reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Libyan-led efforts to enhance the security of weapons and ammunition stockpiles and to clear explosive ordnance contamination. The mission called on national authorities, international partners and civil society to strengthen coordinated and sustained support for mine clearance efforts.
Libya remains divided between the UN-recognized Government of National Unity in the west and a rival eastern administration headed by Osama Hammad and backed by Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army.
Police said the incident occurred at around 9:30 p.m. local time (1830 GMT) and involved a 10-seater minibus, locally known as a matatu, which was traveling from the lakeside town of Naivasha toward Nakuru City.
According to police, the minibus rammed into a stalled truck that had been parked along the highway due to a mechanical problem.
The latest incident brought the total number of people killed in separate accidents on Friday to 20, which includes 16 passengers and four riders, police said, adding that 27 others were injured.
According to police, fatal accidents are common in Kenya due to reckless driving, dangerous overtaking, drunk driving, and failure to use helmets.
An estimated 4,000 Kenyans die in road accidents annually despite concerted efforts by the state and the private sector to promote road safety, according to the National Transport and Safety Authority.