In a white Fiat 500L, wearing nasal tubes for supplemental oxygen, Pope Francis entered Vatican City, marking a sigh of relief for many who feared his illness could lead to a fatal outcome or even his resignation.
According to media reports, the motorcade, which initially overshot the Vatican, took a detour to the basilica where Francis, too weak to get out of the car, offered a bouquet of flowers to the cardinal.
The flowers were placed in front of the revered Salus Populi Romani icon, a symbol of personal significance to the pope.
This moment followed his first public appearance in weeks, where he briefly waved from a hospital balcony, offering a thumbs-up and blessing to the crowd.
Despite his visible weakness, Pope Francis seemed grateful for the support of the many gathered outside the hospital.
According to AP, Love, who was a daughter of Haitian immigrants, had been battling brain cancer and had recently received immunotherapy as part of a clinical trial at Duke University’s brain tumor center.
Love’s family shared the news of her death through a statement on her X account, noting that she passed away peacefully at her home in Saratoga Springs, Utah State.
Love’s political journey began in 2003 when she won a seat on the Saratoga Springs City Council, later becoming the city’s mayor.
She ran for Congress in 2012, losing narrowly to incumbent Jim Matheson, before securing a victory in 2014 against Doug Owens.
During her career, Love became a prominent figure within the GOP and was briefly considered a rising star.
She emphasized her belief in the American dream and urged for a more unified country. Despite challenges in her political career, Love’s legacy of service and her determination to bridge divides remains an inspiration to many.
The expulsion followed Rasool’s critical comments about U.S. President Donald Trump during a webinar hosted by the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection, a South African think tank.
Rasool was labeled “persona non grata” by the U.S. government, a move he viewed as an attempt to humiliate him. However, he embraced the label, calling it a “badge of honor” and expressed his pride in returning to a place where “Ubuntu” (the African philosophy of interconnectedness) is valued.
Rasool spoke about South Africa’s approach to diplomacy, highlighting “the diplomacy of Ubuntu” as the art of speaking truth gently, not flattering others, and engaging in intellectual conversations. He emphasized that despite conventional diplomacy’s challenges, South Africa must continue to uphold its values.
Rasool expressed hope that President Cyril Ramaphosa would find someone to repair the relationship with the U.S. while preserving South Africa’s dignity.
Despite criticism from U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Rasool believed his message reached the highest levels of the U.S. government, proving that the diplomacy of Ubuntu had worked.
Rasool’s expulsion was announced by Rubio, who described him as a “race-baiting politician” and gave him 72 hours to leave the country.
Rasool is set to report the details of the incident to President Ramaphosa, who has downplayed the expulsion as a minor setback in relations between the two nations.
The heavily armed Lendu militants, fighting under the Cooperative for Development of the Congo (CODECO), launched a series of attacks on a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) battle group on 18 and 19 March 2025. The fighters attempted to overrun the Ugandan troops in early morning raids but were repelled each time, suffering heavy casualties.
According to UPDF, 31 CODECO militias were killed in action on Wednesday, while another 211 died in Thursday’s counteroffensive.
The Ugandan army lost one soldier, and four others sustained injuries. The wounded soldiers were evacuated to Uganda for medical treatment and are expected to recover.
The UPDF was deployed in the region weeks ago as part of ‘Operation Shujaa’, a joint military campaign with the Congolese army (FARDC) aimed at preventing remnants of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) from infiltrating the area.
Security officials say CODECO recently formed an alliance with ADF, intensifying its attacks on Congolese communities, particularly the Hema ethnic group in Ituri.
The group’s brutal raids have left hundreds of civilians dead, including women and children, while entire villages have been torched and looted. The arrival of UPDF forces in Fataki, as well as the nearby towns of Bunia and Mahagi, has been seen as a relief by local communities that have endured relentless attacks by Lendu militias and their allies.
Additionally, Ugandan troops are expected to help curb the growing refugee crisis, as hundreds of Congolese civilians have been crossing into Uganda in search of safety due to the ongoing violence.
According to Icelandic media, Thórsdóttir admitted to having a child with a 15-year-old boy when she was 22, more than three decades ago.
Thórsdóttir shared that she met the teenager while working as a counsellor for a religious group. At the time, she was 22, and the boy, who was 16, became the father of her child when she was 23, according to reports by Iceland’s public broadcaster, RUV.
Although the age of consent in Iceland is 15, the law prohibits adults in positions of authority—such as educators—from engaging in sexual relationships with minors under the age of 18. Those found guilty can face up to 12 years in prison.
The father of the child stated that he never viewed himself as a victim, noting he was in a difficult personal situation at the time and turned to the church group for support. The relationship remained secret, but the father was present during the birth of their child.
Initially, he had access to the child, but this was nearly entirely cut off before the child turned one. However, he was required by law to pay child support for 18 years.
The young father sought legal help from the Ministry of Justice and the church’s family service in an effort to maintain contact with his child, but Thórsdóttir reportedly denied him visitation rights.
Following the report from RUV, Thórsdóttir announced her resignation as Minister for Children and Education. However, she will continue her role as a member of parliament for the People’s Party.
Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir confirmed that Thórsdóttir had made the decision to resign after discussing the matter with the country’s three party leaders. Frostadóttir expressed that Thórsdóttir had taken responsibility swiftly and that the resignation was a personal decision.
While the minister denies the claims that she obstructed the father’s attempts to maintain contact with his son, her resignation will be confirmed by the President of Iceland at a meeting of the State Council on Sunday.
Thórsdóttir’s resignation has drawn significant attention in Iceland, though it remains to be seen whether the matter will further impact her political career.
Hamas sources said the bombing targeted a gathering of displaced people, resulting in a number of casualties. The sources considered the targeting of al-Bardawil a new escalation in Israeli attacks on the movement’s leaders as well as civilians in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas mourned al-Bardawil, saying that he was a prominent political figure who had served as a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council for the Change and Reform Bloc and as one of the movement’s official spokespersons.
The Israeli army has not commented on this incident yet.
The killing comes amid growing international calls to de-escalate the situation and protect civilians from the repercussions of the conflict.
The 88-year-old pontiff, who has been receiving treatment for double pneumonia since February 14, is expected to return to his residence at Casa Santa Marta following the Angelus prayer at noon.
Dr. Sergio Alfieri, head of the medical team overseeing the pope’s care, confirmed that Francis is in stable condition and will continue with a prescription to manage his recovery. While his pneumonia has been brought under control, the pope still requires a period of rest and physiotherapy, with doctors recommending a two-month convalescence.
The Vatican has reassured the faithful that Pope Francis will make his first public appearance on Sunday at the hospital’s balcony, where he will greet and bless the crowd before leaving for his residence. This will mark his return to the public eye after a month of absence, which has deeply moved Catholics worldwide.
Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni also emphasized that while Francis is improving, his recovery process will involve continued therapy.
“The pope’s voice is improving, but he still needs time,” said Dr. Luigi Carbone, vice director of the Vatican’s healthcare service. The pope’s health struggles have included multiple episodes where his life was reportedly at risk, leading to heightened concern among his followers.
During his hospitalization, the pope has remained active spiritually, with the Vatican releasing an audio message and a photograph of him praying in the hospital chapel. Despite his ongoing health challenges, Francis has remained in good spirits, frequently expressing his desire to return to his duties.
The pope’s discharge comes just days after Vatican officials reported that his condition was steadily improving. News of his recovery has been welcomed with joy by Catholics, with many gathering in prayer at St. Peter’s Square and in other locations worldwide, including in his home country of Argentina.
The DRC government had repeatedly stated that it would never negotiate with the rebel alliance, labelling it a terrorist group responsible for violent acts against Congolese citizens, opting instead to combat it through military force.
After M23 seized the city of Goma in late January, the heads of state from the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) met in Tanzania on February 8, urging the DRC government to accept political dialogue.
While these resolutions had not yet been implemented, M23 captured Kavumu Airport in South Kivu Province and the city of Bukavu on February 16.
On March 11, João Lourenço, the President of Angola and Chairperson of the African Union, announced that the DRC government would begin talks with AFC/M23 representatives on March 18.
Two days after President Lourenço’s announcement, SADC leaders decided to withdraw their military forces, which had been assisting the DRC government and began organizing their phased withdrawal.
Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the DRC’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, explained that the government initially saw no need to negotiate with AFC/M23 until Angola urged them to engage in talks.
“For a long time, we insisted that direct negotiations with M23 were unnecessary and not part of our approach, but the Angolan mediator initiated this process and invited all parties to come together for dialogue,” said Minister Kayikwamba.
She stated that multiple discussions had taken place, all emphasizing the need to cease hostilities and that the DRC government is ready to implement a ceasefire to alleviate civilian suffering.
“I also believe that across different regions of the DRC, the nature of the conflict is evolving in its intensity. What matters most to us and our people is to engage in direct talks with M23, followed by a ceasefire,” she added.
Minister Kayikwamba stressed that it would have been regrettable if the DRC government failed to recognize the shifting dynamics of the conflict in the eastern part of the country, especially given its responsibility to protect civilians.
The talks scheduled to take place in Angola on March 18, 2025, however, faced a setback after M23 withdrew in protest against last-minute sanctions imposed on its leaders on the eve of the negotiations.
The aircraft, a De Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo with registration 5Y-RBA, was operated by Kenyan aviation company Trident Aviation Ltd.
According to a statement from the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA), the crash occurred at approximately 5:43 PM local time (14:43Z) in Ceel Xabaaloow, about 24 kilometres from Mogadishu. The aircraft had departed from Dhobley (HCDB) and was en route to Aden Abdulle International Airport (HCMM).
Preliminary reports indicate that all five crew members perished in the crash. Search and rescue teams were immediately deployed to the site, and investigations into the cause of the accident are underway.
“Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those affected. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available,” the Somali Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement released on Sunday.
Trident Aviation Ltd, a Kenyan airline, specialises in cargo and humanitarian flights across the region.
After concluding his visit, Gen. Muhoozi took to X to extend his gratitude to Rwandan President Paul Kagame, First Lady Jeanette Kagame, and Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Mubarakh Muganga.
“I want to thank H.E. Paul Kagame, First Lady Jeanette Kagame, and my counterpart General Mubarak Muganga for the warm reception my delegation and I received in Rwanda. God bless the fraternal relations between Uganda and Rwanda,” he posted.
His message reinforced the significance of military diplomacy in fostering regional stability and collaboration.
Gen. Muhoozi’s visit, which took place from March 20 to March 22, 2025, included high-level security engagements aimed at strengthening defense cooperation between Uganda and Rwanda.
He was officially seen off by Gen. Mubarakh Muganga, the Commander of the Republican Guard, Maj. Gen. Willy Rwagasana, and RDF Spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Ronald Rwivanga.
During his stay, Muhoozi visited the RDF Senior Command and Staff College in Nyakinama, Musanze District, where he delivered a lecture on peacekeeping and security in Africa.
He also held discussions with senior RDF officers and Ugandan military officials on ways to enhance bilateral defense cooperation and address security challenges.
Speaking on the unity between the two countries’ armed forces, Muhoozi stated, “When we combine the strength of our powerful armies, there is no challenge we cannot overcome together.”
His visit, accompanied by top Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officials and veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda, is seen as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen diplomatic and military relations between Uganda and Rwanda.
