Lumumba, who became prime minister of the newly independent Democratic Republic of Congo in 1960, was reportedly overthrown and killed in January 1961 by Belgian-backed mercenaries, just months after taking office. In 2002, a Belgian parliamentary investigation acknowledged Belgium’s “moral responsibility” for Lumumba’s death.
Davignon, who was a junior diplomat at the time, is facing charges of war crimes, including complicity in the unlawful detention, transfer, and mistreatment of Lumumba.
He is also accused of being involved in the murder of Lumumba’s political allies, Maurice Mpolo and Joseph Okito. Prosecutors claim that Davignon participated in depriving Lumumba of a fair trial and subjected him to degrading treatment.
According to Reuters, the trial is a significant victory for Lumumba’s family, with his granddaughter, Yema Lumumba, describing it as a “step in the right direction.”
It also signals a reckoning with Belgium’s colonial history, as Davignon becomes the first Belgian official to face trial in connection with the 1961 killing.
Congo’s Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba waves as he sits in car for the drive from Idlewild Airport, New York July 24, 1960 [AP]
The news about the supreme leader being in Russia for treatment is a “new psychological war,” Jalali said on X. “Iranian leaders do not need to flee and hide in shelters; their place is on the streets among the people.”
Kuwaiti daily Al-Jarida reported over the weekend that Mojtaba Khamenei was transported to Russia on a military aircraft and had already undergone surgery at a private clinic, citing a high-ranking source close to the new supreme leader.
Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the report during his briefing on Monday.
Iran has denied the transfer of recently selected Supreme leader to Russia for treatment.
“Hours ago, U.S. forces successfully employed multiple 5,000-pound deep penetrator munitions on hardened Iranian missile sites along Iran’s coastline near the Strait of Hormuz,” the command said.
“The Iranian anti-ship cruise missiles in these sites posed a risk to international shipping in the strait,” it added.
Earlier on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters that Washington is “not ready” to end its strikes on Iran, now in its third week.
Trump admitted that his demand for a joint escort mission through the Strait of Hormuz has been rejected by most NATO members and U.S. allies, saying he is “disappointed” in NATO’s decision and asserting the United States does “not need the help of anyone.”
He said Japan, Australia and South Korea also rejected his escort call.
Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Iranian parliament speaker, said in a post on X on Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz “won’t return to its pre-war status” but gave no further details.
In a recent report by J.P. Morgan, analysts warn that oil producers in the Middle East could sustain output for “no more than 25 days” if the Strait of Hormuz were completely shut.
Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, alongside Iran itself, depend on this narrow passage to export their crude oil.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told U.S. media last week that the strait remained open to international shipping, except for vessels belonging to the United States, Israel, and their allies.
The United States and Israel launched massive attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, disrupting global shipping, sending oil prices soaring and shaking the global economy.
U.S. has claimed a strike near the Strait of Hormuz
Move Afrika, a pioneering music touring circuit by Global Citizen, aims to drive economic growth, job creation, and entrepreneurship across Africa through world-class entertainment events.
According to Rwanda’s Office of the President, their discussion highlighted the partnership’s positive impact on Rwanda’s creative economy, and the wider work being done across key sectors including health and education.
Hugh Evans is in Rwanda for the ‘Move Afrika’ concert featuring American artist Doja Cat, which is expected to take place at BK Arena on the night of March 17, 2026.
Doja Cat becomes the third artist to perform in the ‘Move Afrika’ series, following Kendrick Lamar, who performed in 2024, and John Legend, who performed in 2025.
The 30-year-old artist has been in music for almost 15 years. She is well known for songs like “Say So,” “Kiss Me More” featuring SZA, “Streets,” and many others.
After performing in Kigali, Doja Cat is expected to head to South Africa, where she will perform on March 20, 2026.
Since its inception in 2023, Move Afrika has already created over 2,500 jobs.
President Kagame has met withGlobal Citizen founder, Hugh Evans ahead of Move Afrika concert at BK Arena. Hugh Evans and his delegation were hosted at Urugwiro Village on March 17, 2026.
He made the remarks in a post on social media platform X early Tuesday while reacting to a report by U.S. media outlet Axios claiming so, as the military campaign launched by the United States and Israel against Iran has entered its 18th day.
“My last contact with Mr. Witkoff was prior to his employer’s decision to kill diplomacy with another illegal military attack on Iran,” Araghchi said.
He added, “Any claim to the contrary appears geared solely to mislead oil traders and the public.”
On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing the country’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, high-ranking military commanders, and civilians. Iran responded through several waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. assets and bases in the Middle East.
Speaking at a press conference in Tehran on Monday, Araghchi stressed that Iran had not sent any message to the United States requesting a ceasefire, noting that the war must end in a way that it will not be repeated in the future.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has roundly rejected having had any new contact with U.S. president’s special envoy
During the talks, which are guided by the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, the two sides reached some new consensus and agreed to continue consultations.
Under the strategic guidance of the important common understandings between the two heads of state, and following five rounds of economic and trade consultations last year, China and the United States have reached a series of outcomes in the economic and trade area, said Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng during the new round of China-U.S. economic and trade talks with U.S. lead person Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
These outcomes have injected greater certainty and stability into bilateral economic and trade relations as well as the global economy, He said.
Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the tariffs imposed by the U.S. government under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were unlawful, said He, noting that subsequently, the U.S. side levied an additional 10 percent import surcharge on all trading partners under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, and successively introduced a series of negative measures concerning China, including the Section 301 investigations, corporate sanctions and market access restrictions.
China has consistently opposed the unilateral tariffs imposed by the United States, He said, urging Washington to completely remove such tariffs and other restrictive measures.
China will take necessary steps to firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests, He added.
China expects the United States to move in the same direction, follow through on the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, expand areas of cooperation and reduce problems, so as to promote the healthy, stable and sustainable development of China-U.S. economic and trade relations, He said.
The U.S. side said that a stable China-U.S. economic and trade relationship is of great importance to both countries and the world, and helps promote global economic growth, supply chain security and financial stability. Both sides should reduce frictions, avoid escalation of the situation, and resolve differences through consultation.
The two sides agreed to study the establishment of a cooperation mechanism to promote bilateral trade and investment, continue to make good use of the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism, strengthen dialogue and communication, properly manage differences, expand practical cooperation, and promote the sustained, stable and sound development of bilateral economic and trade relations.
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, shakes hands with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent prior to their talks in Paris, France, March 15, 2026. The Chinese and U.S. delegations convened on Sunday and Monday for talks on economic and trade issues in Paris.
In the latest episode of China Economic Roundtable, an all-media talk show hosted by Xinhua News Agency, officials, economists and business representatives shared their views on China’s economic and social development priorities and prospects for the next five years.
Crucial five years
“Realizing Chinese modernization is a historical process that unfolds in stages and moves forward step by step,” said Liu Rihong, an official with the Research Office of the State Council.
Liu said that in the next five years, the country will build on the foundation laid over the past five years to further strengthen the basis of development and enhance its resilience. It will also make coordinated efforts across various economic and social fields to achieve systemic breakthroughs and an overall improvement.
The country has mapped out major projects in areas including the development of new quality productive forces, modern infrastructure, urban-rural integration, and the improvement of people’s well-being, according to Hou Yongzhi, a researcher at the Development Research Center of the State Council.
Those projects cover various aspects of China’s modernization drive, balance short-term and long-term priorities, combine “hard investment” with “soft development,” and promote both material and cultural-ethical advancement, said Hou.
Some projects will focus on strengthening industrial foundations and competitiveness, fostering emerging industries and new arenas, advancing frontier technologies, and enhancing innovation capacity, said Hou.
The projects will help nurture and expand new quality productive forces and enable China to gain a stronger edge in the increasingly intense global industrial and technological competition, Hou added.
Advancing high-quality development
High-quality development will continue to be a key focus of social and economic development over the next five years, experts said.
To advance high-quality development, efforts should be made to consolidate and strengthen the real economy and build a modern industrial system led by advanced manufacturing, said Liu.
It is also important to boost sci-tech self-reliance and strength through stronger innovation and breakthroughs in core technologies, advance the construction of a Digital China, and promote greener ways of production and life, Liu added.
Developing new quality productive forces is an inherent requirement for high-quality development, and strengthening innovation-driven development and fostering new quality productive forces should be prioritized, experts said.
Enterprises should strengthen their basic research and intensify efforts to achieve breakthroughs in key core technologies, aiming to develop products with fully independent intellectual property rights, said Chen Zhilie, chairman of EVOC Group.
Chen called for forming innovation consortia with universities and research institutes to accelerate the translation of scientific and technological advances from laboratories to production lines and promote deeper integration between frontier technologies and manufacturing applications.
Reform and opening up
During the period, China will need to deepen reforms in key areas and expand high-standard opening up to inject fresh momentum into high-quality development, experts said.
Huang Hanquan, head of the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research under the National Development and Reform Commission, said efforts will be made to continue fostering a unified national market and to deepen market-based reform in the allocation of production factors.
China will deepen the reform of state-owned enterprises and state capital while implementing regulations related to private-sector development, ensuring that private firms can compete fairly in the market, said Huang.
On opening up, Huang said key steps include proactively aligning with high-standard international economic and trade rules, promoting trade innovation such as digital trade, expanding two-way investment cooperation, and pursuing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
For private high-tech manufacturing firms long engaged in high-end equipment manufacturing and industrial artificial intelligence, high-standard opening up represents a major opportunity to further tap global markets and connect with global innovation and industrial resources, said Chen.
Leading enterprises should work with upstream and downstream firms in the industrial chain to foster an open, win-win industrial ecosystem and advance the digitalization of research and development, the intelligent transformation of manufacturing, and more resilient supply chain management, Chen said.
A drone photo shows an automated production line at the Seres Super Factory in Liangjiang New Area, southwest China’s Chongqing, Sept. 19, 2025.
The announcement was made by Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, on Tuesday, though Iran has not confirmed or denied the claims.
Larijani, who was last seen publicly at an Al-Quds Day rally in Tehran on Friday, had been a prominent political figure in Iran for years, even leading the country’s nuclear negotiations with the West.
He was also the speaker of Iran’s parliament. If true, his death would be one of the highest-profile killings in the ongoing conflict, following the assassination of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei earlier in the war.
Israeli military officials also reported killing Soleimani, the Basij commander, with an airstrike in Tehran, claiming it was a strategic success.
Soleimani has long been reportedly involved in suppressing dissent within Iran, particularly during protests. Despite the claims, experts caution that these deaths may not signify the collapse of the Iranian regime.
Israel has claimed the death of Ali Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani
This fighting comes just two days after FARDC, Wazalendo, and other allied groups blocked the RN5 road, which connects the city of Uvira to Bukavu, citing security concerns.
AFC/M23 spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka, reported that as of 06:00 AM on March 17, 2026, FARDC forces began firing heavy artillery in the Kabunambo area, forcing many residents to flee.
Benjamin Mbonimpa, the Permanent Secretary of AFC/M23, stated that Kabunambo residents had been peaceful and safe while under AFC/M23 control, but that the Congolese government chose to threaten their security with artillery strikes.
Kanyuka further emphasized that AFC/M23 is prepared to protect the people of Kabunambo and their property as long as FARDC continues its aggressive actions.
The Ruzizi Plain has been a hotspot for intense fighting since early December 2025, triggered by attacks from FARDC forces against areas controlled by AFC/M23, including the Kamanyola sector.
AFC/M23 responded with force, gaining control of several territories including the city of Uvira, which was vacated in January 2026 to resume peace talks.
As FARDC returned to the city, they made it clear they would stabilize the region once they retake all areas controlled by AFC/M23, including the city of Bukavu, Goma, and Bunagana, which had been captured in December 2022.
The ongoing drone strikes by FARDC forces on Minembwe commune and neighboring regions indicate their intent to continue military operations in areas under AFC/M23 control.
In the early hours of February 24, FARDC launched a drone attack near Rubaya, which killed their former military spokesperson, Lt. Col. Willy Ngoma.
On March 11, FARDC conducted another drone strike in the city of Goma, killing three civilians, including French national Karine Buisset, a UNICEF worker.
AFC/M23 reported that from the night of March 16 to March 17, FARDC, Burundian forces, FDLR, Wazalendo, and mercenaries launched additional drone strikes on Minembwe and surrounding regions.
The alliance warned that the Congolese government would be held accountable for the continued bloodshed of innocent civilians under the sielnce of the international community.
The conflict began in late February when the United States and Israel launched coordinated air strikes against Iranian military positions.
In response, Iran has retaliated with drone and missile attacks not only against U.S. and Israeli targets but also against neighbouring Gulf states including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia disrupting energy operations in the region.
Amid these rising tensions, Trump demanded that allied nations support his plan to protect commercial vessels and reopen the strait.
However, countries including Germany, Spain and Italy declined to participate, citing legal constraints and a lack of clear international mandate.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was quoted emphasizing that any mission would require approval from entities such as the United Nations, NATO or the European Union before deployment.
At a White House event in Washington, Trump expressed frustration with allies who had not shown what he described as sufficient enthusiasm.
He noted that some countries had offered support in principle but were reluctant to commit naval forces, particularly given the risks of being drawn deeper into the conflict. Trump’s remarks also hinted at long-standing geopolitical tensions, as he pointed to nations that the U.S. has historically helped or protected.
The ongoing military exchanges have had significant economic consequences, with disruptions in Gulf oil infrastructure and closures of key transport routes contributing to a rise in global energy prices.
In some cases, airports were temporarily shut down and major oil export facilities in the UAE were forced to halt operations due to attacks attributed to the conflict.
In addition to criticising allies, Trump claimed that some Iranian regional strikes were unexpected, despite intelligence warnings that Tehran might retaliate if attacked.
While the White House maintains that protecting global energy flows is a priority, the standoff underscores deep divisions among American partners over how best to respond to Iran’s actions and the broader escalation in the Middle East.
Trump has criticized western allies over rejection of Hormuz escort plan amid rising tensions with Iran.
