“We are looking for a reliable framework — from which we can keep building our common trade,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament during a plenary session in Strasbourg, France.
While reaffirming the EU’s adherence to its principles and readiness for “all scenarios,” von der Leyen said the 27-nation bloc favored a negotiated settlement.
A Commission spokesperson echoed von der Leyen’s remarks, adding that an agreement in principle could be reached “in the coming days.”
“We’re working hard to get an agreement in principle with the U.S., and that is where our focus is at this point,” the spokesperson said.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he would “probably” send a letter to the EU within two days, adding: “A letter means a deal.”
“They treated us very badly until recently, and now they’re treating us very nicely. It’s like a different world, actually,” he said.
Trump also escalated trade tensions by threatening tariffs of up to 200 percent on foreign pharmaceuticals and 50 percent on copper. According to EU data, medical and pharmaceutical products, as well as medicaments have been among the bloc’s top exports to the United States over the past two years.
EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic told lawmakers that Brussels and Washington had made “good progress” on the text of a joint statement or agreement in principle.
“I hope to reach a satisfactory conclusion, potentially even in the coming days,” Sefcovic said. However, he emphasized that EU legislation and regulatory autonomy remain “red lines” and are “non-negotiable” in the talks.
Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament’s trade committee, said the EU continues to face “illegal and unjustified” U.S. tariffs, referring to the 50 percent duties on steel and aluminum, and the 25 percent on cars and auto parts.
“Of course, we are not really accepting this,” Lange told reporters in Strasbourg, adding that two key issues remain unresolved: Washington has yet to commit to significantly cutting existing tariffs or refraining from new ones.
Lange warned that the EU is prepared to retaliate, with a first package of countermeasures set to take effect on July 14 if no agreement is reached.
Regarding Trump’s letter, Lange said the EU had not received any correspondence so far and had “no clue” about its contents.
At the Yangquan Valve Co., Ltd., Xi inspected the company’s production workshop and products display, and had a cordial conversation with workers at the site.
At the monument square honoring the martyrs of the Hundred-Regiment Campaign during the war against Japanese aggression, Xi laid a floral basket to pay tribute to the martyrs, and then visited the memorial hall commemorating this major campaign.
During the visit, Xi reviewed the history of the CPC leading both the military and civilians in the courageous fight against Japanese invaders, and learned about local efforts to carry out revolutionary history education and promote the great spirit of resisting aggression.
The update was shared on July 8, 2025, when the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa addressed the Lower House of Parliament.
He noted that by August 2024, all 416 Umurenge Umurenge Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) had been digitized, and those in the districts of Nyarugenge, Gasabo, Kicukiro, Gicumbi, Rubavu, Rwamagana, and Nyamagabe had already been consolidated at the district level.
The ongoing integration of SACCOs is expected to eventually give rise to the Cooperative Bank, which will allow members to access their funds from anywhere and qualify for larger loans than those available through SACCOs operating at the sector level.
“We plan to complete the integration of SACCOs in all districts within this fiscal year [2025/26]. We have already merged SACCOs in seven districts; 23 remain. We are confident that by the end of this fiscal year, all remaining districts will have been integrated, and once that’s done, we will launch the Cooperative Bank,” he said.
Murangwa explained that the establishment of the Cooperative Bank will run in parallel with the district-level SACCO consolidation.
“We don’t want to wait until all districts are merged to begin preparing for the Cooperative Bank. We’re pursuing both processes simultaneously so that by the time SACCO integration is complete, the Cooperative Bank will be ready to launch as well,” he noted.
“The timeline for merging SACCOs at the district level and setting up the Cooperative Bank is the same. If everything proceeds smoothly, both processes will be completed within this fiscal year,” Murangwa added.
Currently, members can withdraw their money from any location within their district, in areas where SACCOs have been merged at the district level.
As part of the process to establish the Cooperative Bank, district-level SACCOs are being integrated into a system overseen by the National Bank of Rwanda.
“These district-level SACCOs will be incorporated into a system called RIPPS, which will streamline payments and enable SACCO members to access their funds from anywhere in the country,” the minister noted.
Umurenge SACCOs were first established in 2008 to help residents across various parts of the country save money and access low-interest loans as a means of improving their livelihoods.
By January 2025, M23 fighters led by Maj Gen Sultani Makenga captured Goma, a city of over two million people, marking a critical blow to the Congolese military. The following month, they advanced into South Kivu, taking Bukavu and several other areas. These rapid gains exposed the vulnerabilities of the Congolese army and its allies, including Burundian forces and the Wazalendo militia.
Corneille Nangaa, leader of the AFC coalition, claims M23 now controls over 34,000 square kilometres across North and South Kivu—territory inhabited by more than 11 million people. But the cost to the Congolese government has gone beyond territorial loss; it has also been economic, military, and institutional.
{{DRC’s loss of land and civilian control}}
The areas lost by Kinshasa include regions rich in natural resources. Rubaya, in Masisi Territory, is one of the world’s largest sources of coltan, a key mineral used in electronics. While mining companies continue operations, the state no longer exercises control—nor does it benefit financially.
M23 also controls major commercial hubs like Bunagana and Goma, which are vital for cross-border trade with Uganda. These cities, previously strong revenue sources for the state, are now under rebel administration.
Across areas from Bunagana to Bukavu, M23 has installed its own civil and military administration, providing basic services and security to the population. Many locals now identify more with M23 than the distant government in Kinshasa. The group has won support, particularly among youth, through messaging that frames its campaign as a revolutionary movement. Recruits are trained at the Rumangabo military base in Rutshuru.
{{Heavy military casualties and defections}}
While no official figures have been released, the scale of military losses is apparent. The Congolese army’s repeated defeats led it to shift strategy, increasingly relying on long-range artillery, combat aircraft, and drones.
The overcrowding of Katindo Military Hospital morgues in Goma prompted urgent requests for additional facilities from Colonel Dr. Muyumba Lubanga. High-ranking officers, including Maj Gen Peter Cirimwami Nkuba—then military commander of North Kivu—were killed in action near Sake in January 2025.
Following the fall of Goma, M23 claimed to have killed many Congolese soldiers and Wazalendo fighters. Survivors fled to Rwanda or crossed Lake Kivu by boat to Bukavu. Others surrendered or defected, some joining M23’s cause and receiving training at Rumangabo under the supervision of Maj Gen Makenga.
{{Billions spent, little gained}}
The DRC government has poured vast sums into the war effort. It purchased tanks, Sukhoi-25 fighter jets, Chinese-made CH-4 drones, and hired European mercenaries reportedly paid up to $6,000 per month. It also financed a Burundian military presence estimated at 5,000 soldiers.
According to Africa Intelligence, military spending rose from $459 million in 2021 to $700 million in 2022, then to $1 billion in 2023. Between January and April 2025 alone, the DRC spent another $1 billion, largely due to a pay raise for soldiers after the loss of Goma and Bukavu.
Despite these investments, the M23 continued to advance, undermining the state’s objectives and raising questions about the effectiveness of Kinshasa’s strategy.
{{Loss of revenue and tax base}}
With M23 controlling border towns such as Bunagana, Goma, and Bukavu, the group has taken over customs operations, sidelining the official immigration and tax authorities (DGM). This has enabled M23 to dominate cross-border trade and daily customs revenue.
Rene Tapsoba, IMF’s country representative, recently told Reuters that the DRC’s inability to control mineral-rich regions in the east could reduce national tax revenue by 4% this year.
In response, the DRC government has cut budgets for several ministries and reduced salaries of state-owned enterprise executives. Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka announced in May 2025 that the war has cost the country 1.7% of its total national budget.
“We’re in an active war in the east, and it’s severely cutting into our finances,” she said. “In the last cabinet meeting, we approved a revised budget to be presented to Parliament. We’ve lost 1.7% of our fiscal resources, mostly redirected toward security.”
{{Weapons and equipment lost to rebels}}
During the capture of Goma and surrounding areas, M23 seized a range of Congolese military equipment—Sukhoi jets, drones, BM-Grad rocket launchers, RPGs, AK-47s, and mortars. The battle also resulted in the loss of four CH-4 drones, three of which were shot down, and one crashed near Kavumu airport in South Kivu.
M23 also captured military trucks and several jeeps, now used for transporting their fighters and maintaining control of occupied zones. The group openly admits that most of its arsenal has been acquired from the Congolese military during battle.
As the war drags on, the DRC continues to haemorrhage resources, losing land, lives, revenue, and military hardware. Meanwhile, M23 not only holds strategic ground but appears to be consolidating civilian control, deepening the crisis facing Kinshasa both militarily and politically.
In its latest Global Trade Update report, the UNCTAD warned that the global trade outlook remains uncertain due to persistent policy instability, geopolitical tensions, and signs of weakening global growth in the second half of the year.
According to the report, global trade rose by about 1.5 percent in the first quarter and was expected to grow by 2 percent in the second quarter.
The report noted that price increases contributed to the overall rise in trade value, while trade volumes grew by just 1 percent. Prices for traded goods edged up in the first quarter and continued to rise in the second quarter.
Services trade remained the primary driver of growth, rising 9 percent over the last four quarters.
The report showed mixed trends in merchandise trade among major economies in the first quarter of 2025, with developed economies outpacing developing countries. The report attributed this to a 14 percent surge in imports by the United States and a 6 percent rise in exports from the European Union.
Meanwhile, the United States has seen a widening trade deficit over the last four quarters, contributing to deepened trade imbalances.
The report also highlighted the heightened risks of trade fragmentation brought by recent U.S. tariffs, including a 10 percent baseline tariff and additional duties on steel and aluminum. It warned that a further wave of unilateral actions could trigger trade tensions.
According to the ICC, Akhundzada, the Taliban’s Supreme leader, and Haqqani, the Chief of Justice, are charged with persecution “on the gender grounds”, a grave offence under the Rome Statute.
This crackdown stems from widespread reports of severe restrictions and abuses targeted at women and girls since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
“Pre-Trial Chamber II considered that the Taliban have implemented a governmental policy that resulted in severe violations of fundamental rights and freedoms of the civilian population of Afghanistan, in connection with conducts of murder, imprisonment, torture, rape and enforced disappearance,” ICC said in a statement released on Tiesday, July 8.
According to the ICC, while the Taliban have imposed certain rules and prohibitions on the population as a whole, they have specifically targeted girls and women by reason of their gender, depriving them of fundamental rights and freedoms.
“Specifically, the Taliban severely deprived, through decrees and edicts, girls and women of the rights to education, privacy and family life and the freedoms of movement, expression, thought, conscience and religion.”
In addition, other persons were targeted because certain expressions of sexuality and/or gender identity were regarded as inconsistent with the Taliban’s policy on gender.
Furthermore, the Chamber found that individuals perceived as opposing these policies, even passively or through omission, were also targeted by the Taliban. This included those described as “allies of girls and women”, who were viewed as political opponents.
“The Chamber has decided that the warrants will remain under seal at this stage, in order to protect victims and witnesses and safeguard the proceedings,” the statement added.
“Nevertheless, the Chamber considered that the conduct addressed is ongoing and that public awareness of the warrants may contribute to the prevention of the further commission of these crimes. Accordingly, the Chamber found that it is in the interests of justice to publicly disclose the existence of these warrants.”
The Taliban dismissed the ICC’s warrants as “baseless rhetoric,” with spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid defending the leadership by claiming they uphold justice based on “the sacred laws of Islamic Sharia.” The clash between the ICC’s global mandate and the Taliban’s defiant stance makes this a developing story to watch.
While ICC’s recent actions send a powerful message, the true challenge lies in their enforcement. Although Afghanistan was a member of the ICC under the previous government, the Taliban, now firmly in control, has rejected this status. This means the prospects of any arrests happening soon are slim.
Despite this hurdle, human rights groups worldwide, including Amnesty International, have praised the ICC’s move as a crucial beacon of hope for Afghan women and girls facing severe oppression.
In a statement, Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard highlighted the importance of this decision, saying it “gives hope to Afghan women, girls, and all those persecuted on the basis of gender identity or expression.”
“Rwanda recognizes the importance of Kiswahili in achieving inclusive and equitable education. Our government made a decision in 2017 to designate Kiswahili as one of the official languages of the country, alongside Kinyarwanda, English, and French,” Minister of State for Education Claudette Irere told the closing the 4th World Kiswahili Language Day celebrations in Kigali, the Rwandan capital, on Monday.
“This move was not just symbolic. It was a deliberate strategy to position Rwanda within the East African Community and the broader African linguistic landscape, while also strengthening African solidarity and fraternity,” she said.
Caroline Asiimwe, executive secretary of the East African Kiswahili Commission, said Kiswahili language is fundamental to building society, nations, and the EAC region.
She emphasized the commission’s commitment to youth empowerment and digital innovation, urging young people to take ownership of Kiswahili’s digital future and use it as a tool for entrepreneurship and peace building.
“Let us build AI tools, dictionaries, and platforms in Kiswahili not only to preserve the language but to empower the next generation of African innovators,” Asiimwe said.
Co-hosted by Rwanda and the East African Kiswahili Commission, the two-day celebrations were held under the theme of “Kiswahili, Inclusive Education and Sustainable Development” to examine relevant policies, best practices, and stakeholder engagement.
The event drew more than 300 participants, including senior government officials, delegates from EAC partner states, academics, Kiswahili experts, and university students.
The celebrations featured a regional symposium, youth engagement sessions, and an exhibition.
Participants explored how Kiswahili, artificial intelligence, and inclusive education can advance a culture of peace and drive innovative initiatives.
Of the fatalities, 87 occurred in Kerr County, officials said. Camp Mystic, located along the river in Hunt, Texas, confirmed on Monday that at least 27 campers and counselors died in the flooding.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott told a news briefing Tuesday afternoon that at least 161 people are known to be missing after the deadly flooding, noting that searches will persist throughout the Guadalupe River system in the hope of locating anyone else. He also asked the public to contact local officials with information about friends or relatives believed to be missing.
“Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly,” Camp Mystic said in a statement. “We have been in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls.”
At least five Camp Mystic campers are still missing, along with one counselor, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha was quoted by CBS News as saying on Tuesday. There were about 750 children at Camp Mystic when the floods hit, the sheriff said earlier.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County at Abbott’s request. On Saturday, Abbott said he visited the summer camp, describing the scene as “horrendously ravaged.”
The agency addressed the progress and challenges of the project during a briefing on issues raised in the Office of the Auditor General’s report for the fiscal year ending June 2024.
RISA’s Director General, Innocent Muhizi, explained that the initiatives under the Rwanda Digital Acceleration Project, which aims to advance technology, including the development of the Digital National ID system, have made significant progress.
He clarified that previous delays have been resolved and that the current phase is progressing rapidly.
“Within the next three to four months, we will begin the initial activities for data collection and entry (pre-enrolment exercise). To be clear, the project’s implementation is led by NIDA, and they will begin inputting data,” he said.
Muhizi further noted that biometric data collection for the new system will be more comprehensive than what was required for the current ID.
“Previously, when applying for a national ID, only two fingerprints were taken. Now, all ten fingers will be recorded, along with an iris scan. This means that, whereas today you are required to present your national ID to open a bank account, in the future you’ll be able to do so digitally and securely—even if you are not physically present,” he explained.
Once the digital ID system becomes operational, individuals will be able to access services remotely.
“In other words, even without being physically present, you’ll be able to complete financial transactions. By using your fingerprint, iris scan, or other biometric methods, we will introduce a smartphone application that allows you to verify your identity simply by saying, ‘This is me,’ and the system will confirm it. This isn’t possible today because our current ID lacks such features,” he added.
Josephine Mukesha, Director General of the National Identification Agency (NIDA), speaking in an interview with the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, announced that data collection for the Digital National ID system will begin in July 2025.
“With the new digital ID, we will no longer issue IDs starting at age 16. Instead, everyone will be assigned an ID from birth. We will collect photographs and biometric data from young children. The key difference is that the new ID will exist in three versions. Those who wish can still use the current physical ID, but it will contain less personal information. Today’s IDs display age and other data that don’t necessarily need to be shared with everyone,” she said.
The digital ID will include names and photos, along with a QR code containing additional data that can be accessed based on the viewer’s authorisation level.
She cited the example of entering a venue with an age restriction:
“If a place requires someone to be 18 or older, the digital ID can confirm that without revealing your name or other personal details. Having a digital ID allows you to choose what information to share based on the service you’re accessing.”
The digital ID will also be available on mobile phones, allowing holders to display only relevant information depending on the situation. Alternatively, someone may request the ID number and verify biometric data for authentication.
Any action involving the data on a person’s digital ID will require their approval. Individuals will have the right to authorise which organisations or persons can access their data, and to object to any misuse.
Mukesha added, “What we are currently doing is building the systems that will enable this process. Before launching, we want everyone to verify that the data we already have is accurate. Sometimes, people discover errors—such as a misspelt parent’s name—when applying for services or documents. We want individuals to confirm their information before receiving their digital ID.”
Data verification activities are expected to begin in July 2025.
“We want to stay up to date by ensuring everyone is registered, including children and entire families. Remember, for anyone under 18, a parent or legal guardian must give consent. We plan to make this process convenient by allowing family members to verify data together,” she said.
Mukesha also emphasised the need to reach communities directly in order to accelerate the process and ensure no one is left behind.
RISA’s Director General, Innocent Muhizi, reiterated that the Digital National ID project is progressing steadily and is now approaching the critical stage of data integration.
RISA noted that its technology projects have now reached a phase of acceleration, following initial delays during the early stages of implementation.
