The development was announced by RNP spokesperson ACP Boniface Rutikanga, who said a project is underway to establish an International Driving Permit (IDP) linked to Rwanda’s driving licence system.
Rutikanga made the remarks while responding to a post by journalist Oswald Mutuyeyezu of Radio TV10 on X, who shared concerns from a Rwandan citizen over the lack of an internationally recognised driving permit.
The citizen said Rwandan truck drivers seeking employment abroad often face challenges because some countries require an International Driving Permit.
“There is a challenge affecting Rwandan truck drivers who want to find jobs abroad. They are often asked to present an International Driving Permit [IDP], but they cannot obtain one because Rwanda does not currently issue it,” the citizen said.
The citizen also noted that Rwanda signed international agreements on road traffic in Geneva and became a member on August 5, 1964, questioning why the system had not yet been implemented to allow Rwandans to access IDPs.
Responding to the concerns, ACP Rutikanga confirmed that Rwanda is working on introducing the permit.
“It is true that there is a project to establish the International Driving Permit, and we are waiting for a Ministerial Order that will provide regulations governing it,” he said.
RNP spokesperson ACP Boniface Rutikanga has disclosed that Rwanda is on track to issue international driving permits
In a post shared on Instagram, the American actress described her visit to the Imboni cooperative in Gikomero, where women collectively run a farm that has become a symbol of recovery, economic empowerment and community-led development.
“I recently visited the Imboni cooperative, a farm in Gikomero, Rwanda, run collectively by the women who work the land, and left deeply inspired by everyone I met there,” Jolie wrote on Thursday.
She noted that many of the cooperative’s members are survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, which claimed more than a million lives and left countless women and families deeply affected.
Jolie explained that for years, the women relied on farming rented swampland to feed their families, often earning less than one dollar a day while facing repeated crop losses caused by heavy rains.
The actress credited the cooperative’s transformation to the work of the Legacy of War Foundation, led by her longtime friend Giles Duley.
The American actress described her visit to the Imboni cooperative in Gikomero, where women collectively run a farm that has become a symbol of recovery, economic empowerment and community-led development.
According to Jolie, the foundation purchases fertile farmland and transfers ownership to survivors of conflict while supporting them to become profitable, climate-smart farmers.
She said the initiative has enabled the women to improve their livelihoods tremendously.
“These women have taken this land and built something incredible. In five years, they’ve gone from laborers to landowners, increasing their income fivefold and sending over 90 of their children back to school,” she said.
Describing the visit as deeply meaningful, Jolie said the experience reinforced her belief in community-driven development.
“It was a deeply meaningful visit, and we’re grateful for the time they spent with us. It was a strong reminder that local leadership is always the best way forward,” she added.
Jolie has spent more than two decades involved in humanitarian work alongside her film career. She previously served as Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), advocating for displaced people, women and children through visits to conflict zones and refugee camps around the world.
Duley, the Chief Executive Officer of the Legacy of War Foundation, is an award-winning photographer, writer, chef and presenter whose work focuses on the long-term humanitarian impact of conflict. Through the foundation, he has championed projects that help communities affected by war rebuild sustainable livelihoods and regain economic independence.
Researchers from the University of New England (UNE) in Australia reported that people with depression showed significantly greater “sensory hyposensitivity” across all five senses compared with non-depressed individuals, according to a UNE statement released Thursday.
“This had not been documented in such detail previously and shows how depression can trigger a whole-body response,” said UNE Professor of Neuroscience, Christopher Sharpley, lead author of the study published in Nature’s Translational Psychiatry.
Sensory withdrawal is the body’s way of coping with the pain, loss, stress, and conflict that can drive depression, Sharpley suggested.
“When someone’s world becomes so painful or inescapable they can no longer cope, the only response our body has is to withdraw,” he said, suggesting that a reduction in sensory sensitivity may help the body withdraw from an overwhelmingly unpleasant world.
The team reviewed 51 previous studies examining sight, touch, taste, hearing, and smell, and argued that incorporating sensory withdrawal into diagnostic criteria for depression could pave the way for more comprehensive diagnosis and evidence-based treatment.
The study forms part of broader work by UNE’s Brain-Behavior Research Group, which has identified five depression subtypes based on distinct brain wave patterns in more than 200 participants, with each subtype requiring more tailored therapeutic approaches rather than uniform treatment strategies, Sharpley said.
Researchers from the University of New England (UNE) in Australia reported that people with depression showed significantly greater “sensory hyposensitivity” across all five senses compared with non-depressed individuals, according to a UNE statement released Thursday.
Back in 2007, a 20-year-old Messi took part in a UNICEF charity photoshoot organised by Catalan newspaper Diario Sport at Barcelona’s Camp Nou. One of the babies selected for the campaign was six-month-old Lamine Yamal. The young Argentine, then an emerging Barcelona star, was photographed gently bathing the infant in a small plastic tub and later cradling him in his arms, creating an image that would become one of football’s most extraordinary stories.
The photoshoot came about through a charity raffle aimed at supporting vulnerable children. Families from low-income communities around Barcelona were invited to participate, and Yamal’s parents, who were raising their son in the working-class town of Mataró after emigrating from Equatorial Guinea and Morocco, were among those selected. By chance, their baby was paired with Messi, who had only recently broken into Barcelona’s first team.
Photographer Joan Monfort, who captured the images, recalled that Messi initially appeared unsure of how to handle the baby because of his naturally reserved personality.
At the time, neither family could have imagined the significance of the photographs. While Messi was still beginning his rise to football greatness, Yamal was only months old. Nineteen years later, the pair will meet again, this time on opposite sides as Argentina and Spain battle for the biggest prize in international football.
The iconic images resurfaced in 2024 after Yamal’s father shared one on social media with the caption, “The beginning of two legends.” The post quickly went viral as fans marvelled at the unlikely connection between the sport’s greatest player of his generation and one widely regarded as its brightest emerging talent.
Photographer Joan Monfort, who captured the images, recalled that Messi initially appeared unsure of how to handle the baby because of his naturally reserved personality.
“He came into the dressing room and suddenly had to take these photos with a little baby,” Monfort recalled. “His face changed like he had no idea what to do.”
The young Argentine, then an emerging Barcelona star, was photographed gently bathing the infant in a small plastic tub and later cradling him in his arms.
Looking back, Monfort described the reunion awaiting the pair in the World Cup final as something beyond imagination.
“It is a true miracle of destiny,” he said. “If you wrote this in a film it would not seem possible.”
Their reunion comes after dramatic semifinal victories. Spain booked their place in the final with a 2-0 win over France, while Messi inspired Argentina to a 2-1 comeback victory against England, helping send the defending champions into another World Cup final.
At 39, Messi is chasing another crowning achievement in a career already regarded as one of the greatest in football history. His two assists against England also moved him ahead of France’s Kylian Mbappé in the race for the tournament’s Golden Boot.
Standing in his way is Yamal, whose meteoric rise has captivated the football world. Still a teenager, the Barcelona winger has already become one of Spain’s most influential players and is widely viewed as a leading contender to carry the sport into its next era.
The famous photograph has been turned into a banner by Spain fans at Euro 2024 and the World Cup.
Beyond their unique connection, both players also share a commitment to UNICEF. Messi has supported the organisation for more than two decades and became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2010. Earlier this year, Yamal followed in his footsteps by becoming UNICEF’s newest Goodwill Ambassador, pledging to use his platform to champion children’s rights.
On Sunday, a chance meeting that began with a charity photoshoot at Camp Nou will come full circle on football’s biggest stage. What started with a young Messi bathing a baby from a humble family will culminate in a World Cup final, where one generation’s icon faces the player many believe could one day inherit his crown.
Lamine Yamal, right winger for the Spain national team and La Liga club Barcelona, was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador on June 11, 2026.
Instead of focusing only on removing harmful protein buildup in the brain, the experimental drug targets several changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease at the same time, raising hopes for a more effective treatment.
The drug, known as KCL-286, was originally developed to treat spinal cord injuries. In a recent study using mice, researchers found that it repaired harmful DNA damage in brain cells, reduced inflammation in the brain, and improved several biological changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and is marked by memory loss, confusion, and a gradual decline in thinking and reasoning abilities.
Current treatments mainly help manage symptoms and often focus on reducing amyloid or tau proteins naturally found in the brain.
However, scientists believe that Alzheimer’s develops through several interconnected biological processes, making it important to target more than one pathway.
The findings suggest that KCL-286 may offer a broader approach by tackling multiple causes of the disease at once.
According to the researchers, the drug repaired DNA damage that can contribute to the death of brain cells while also reducing inflammation, another major factor believed to speed up the progression of Alzheimer’s.
One of the biggest advantages of KCL-286 is that it has already completed Phase 1 clinical trials, where it was found to be safe and well tolerated in humans.
Because this early safety testing has already been completed, researchers believe the drug could move into Alzheimer’s clinical trials much faster than a newly developed medicine.
Professor Jonathan Corcoran, Professor of Neuroscience at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London, said KCL-286 is a first-in-class, orally available small molecule that has successfully passed Phase 1 human safety and tolerability trials.
“KCL-286 is a first-in-class, orally bioavailable small molecule that has already successfully cleared Phase 1 human safety and tolerability trials. This will dramatically cut down the traditional multi-year timeline required for new drug development,” Corcoran said.
Although the results are encouraging, the researchers caution that the findings are based on animal studies. Further clinical trials involving people with Alzheimer’s disease will be needed to determine whether the drug is safe and effective for treating the condition.
If future studies confirm these early findings, KCL-286 could represent an important step toward developing treatments that address the complex biology of Alzheimer’s rather than focusing on a single target.
Experimental drug shows promise in treating Alzheimer’s by repairing DNA damage.
Those sanctioned include Brig Gen Sebastien Uwimbabazi, also known as Gilbert Kimenyi or Nyembo Kimenyi, who is identified by the UN as one of the top leaders of the FDLR.
Born in 1968, Uwimbabazi is originally from Murunda Sector in Rwanda’s Rutsiro District.
During the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, Uwimbabazi was a gendarmerie officer in Rwamagana, then part of Kibungo Prefecture. He later fled to Nyanza after the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA Inkotanyi) took control of the area.
The UN said Uwimbabazi continues to support activities that threaten peace, stability and security in eastern DRC.
The second sanctioned FDLR leader is Col Gustave Kubwayo, also known as Sirkoof, who heads the group’s special forces unit known as CRAP. He took over the unit after its former commander Protogene Ruvugayimikore, alias Col Ruhinda, was killed in December 2023.
Kubwayo, born in 1969, is from Karago Sector in Nyabihu District, Rwanda. He is accused of supporting FDLR operations targeting civilians, including kidnappings for ransom, as well as involvement in the illegal exploitation of natural resources in DRC.
In June 2026, the United States also sanctioned Kubwayo, saying he had led FDLR fighters operating in Nyiragongo Territory since 2022.
A UN Group of Experts report released in late June 2026 described FDLR as a continuing threat to peace and security in eastern DRC and the wider region. The report said the group has continued rebuilding its capacity, with support from authorities in Kinshasa.
FDLR claims to have more than 10,000 fighters, with about half involved in active military operations.
However, UN officials and intelligence agencies estimate the group’s strength at between 3,500 and 4,500 fighters. The Washington Accords also estimated its forces at between 3,000 and 3,500 members.
The UN Security Council also sanctioned other individuals linked to armed groups in eastern DRC, including AFC/M23 leader Corneille Nangaa, Col Nzenze Imani, who oversees intelligence and military operations for the alliance, and Brig Gen Charles Sematama, commander of the Twirwaneho armed group operating in Minembwe.
Nangaa was sanctioned over his leadership role in AFC, which the UN says works with the M23 armed group already under sanctions. Col Nzenze was sanctioned for his role in leading activities of a sanctioned armed group, while Brig Gen Sematama was accused of leading a group involved in attacks against civilians, recruitment of children into armed forces and activities undermining peace and security.
Mohammed Lumisa, a doctor and external supplies coordinator for the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) terrorist group, was also sanctioned. The UN identifies him as originating from Kampala, Uganda.
UN sanctions include freezing assets held in member states, imposing travel bans and making individuals subject to arrest by international law enforcement bodies such as Interpol.
The UN Security Council has sanctioned two FDLR commanders.
This sentiment was the cornerstone of The Cave of Hope Forum: An UnConference on Business, Sustainability & Cultural Diplomacy, held on Wednesday, 15 July 2026, at MÖVENPICK Hotel Kigali.
Creatives need greater financial support, stronger business skills and closer collaboration with financial institutions if Rwanda’s creative economy is to realise its full potential, participants at the 12th Ubumuntu Arts Festival stressed.
The call was made during The Cave of Hope Forum: An UnConference on Business, Sustainability & Cultural Diplomacy, held on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at MÖVENPICK Hotel Kigali. The forum formed part of the 12th Ubumuntu Arts Festival, which is being held under the theme “Embracing Time: Holding On. Holding Together.”
Bringing together leaders from finance, the arts and mental health, the forum explored how creativity can be transformed into a sustainable economic sector through stronger financial support, business development and cultural diplomacy.
A recurring message throughout the discussions was that creativity extends far beyond entertainment. Speakers argued that when artists have access to financial knowledge, investment and appropriate financial products, the sector can generate jobs, revenue and broader social impact.
Among those advocating for stronger support was Bank of Kigali, which reaffirmed its commitment to helping creatives formalise their businesses and build sustainable enterprises capable of contributing more significantly to the national economy.
Marcelin Dukuzimana, Certified Product Manager at Bank of Kigali, said the bank views the creative industry as a sector with substantial emotional, social and economic value.
“When you empower one creative, you know that you are empowering an entire generation and the society around them,” he said.
Dukuzimana observed that while many creatives are already earning an income, they often operate informally, limiting their access to financing and opportunities for growth.
“These creatives are making money, although informally. As a bank, we have the expertise to help them put things in order, arrange their businesses, and convert their passion into entrepreneurial concepts that generate revenues,” he said.
He identified limited financial management skills and a lack of trust between creatives and financial institutions as key barriers preventing many artists from accessing formal financial services.
To bridge that gap, Bank of Kigali plans to roll out financial literacy programmes covering budgeting, bookkeeping, financial record-keeping and business planning. The initiative will be implemented through cohort-based training targeting creatives from different disciplines.
The bank is partnering with the Ministry of Youth and Arts and expects to launch the first training cohort in August 2026.
“We are going to keep training them every year until we establish a creative community that has the basics in terms of financial literacy,” Dukuzimana said.
The discussions extended beyond finance to examine the links between creativity, mental well-being and sustainable development.
During a roundtable titled “Building Sustainable Creative Futures through Cultural Diplomacy,” speakers highlighted how artistic expression can foster healing while also driving innovation and economic resilience.
Moderated by Fola Folayan, the panel brought together Dukuzimana, architectural consultant Fatou Dieye and Emmanuel Karamira, a clinical psychologist at Solid Minds. Their discussion explored how financial stability, mental well-being and cultural diplomacy can collectively strengthen the creative ecosystem.
The event concluded with remarks from Canada’s High Commissioner to Rwanda, Ambassador Judy Crowley, who praised The Cave of Hope initiative for creating a platform that connects art, creativity, nature and society.
“The inspiration that the team brought here this afternoon through discovering The Cave of Hope project is such a diverse and honest sharing experience. It is absolutely unique,” she said.
Crowley added that the initiative’s holistic approach has the potential to inspire similar collaborations beyond Rwanda.
“It is beautiful, it is well thought through, and the fact that it is bringing together nature, society, creativity, and art is truly inspiring,” she said.
The forum began with participants touring The Cave of Hope Gallery before hearing opening remarks and a poetic reflection on hope by Hope Azeda. Fatou Dieye later presented The Cave of Hope concept, describing it as a space designed to encourage sustainable creative solutions, collaboration and innovation.
As discussions concluded, participants agreed that unlocking the full potential of Rwanda’s creative economy will require continued collaboration between artists, government, development partners and financial institutions.
The 12th Ubumuntu Arts Festival continues on Friday, July 17, with the Ubumuntu Classic performances at the Kigali Genocide Memorial amphitheatre, showcasing artists from around the world and reinforcing the festival’s commitment to promoting creativity, humanity and cultural exchange.
The forum formed part of the 12th Ubumuntu Arts Festival, which is being held under the theme “Embracing Time: Holding On. Holding Together.”Bringing together leaders from finance, the arts and mental health, the forum explored how creativity can be transformed into a sustainable economic sector.The discussions extended beyond finance to examine the links between creativity, mental well-being and sustainable development.
CENTCOM said on X that U.S. forces redirected the three vessels, disabled one that failed to comply, and boarded another “to ensure full compliance with the ongoing U.S. naval blockade against Iran.”
U.S. forces resumed blocking maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports on Tuesday.
“The Strait of Hormuz and the surrounding waters remain free and open, except for vessels attempting to violate America’s steel wall blockade,” CENTCOM said.
U.S. forces have carried out strikes on Iranian targets for six consecutive days after U.S. President Donald Trump last week declared the ceasefire reached in April “over.”
U.S. forces resumed blocking maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports on Tuesday.
Speaking at the high-level segment of the Economic and Social Council on the “Way forward to 2030,” Mohammed said the 2026 UN Secretary-General’s report on progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals indicates that more than a third of SDG targets are on track or making moderate progress, but progress remains deeply uneven across the goals and among countries.
She said that among the more than one-third of the SDG targets on track or making moderate progress, access to electricity has reached 92 percent of the world’s population, and Internet connectivity has increased from 40 percent in 2015 to 74 percent today.
The SDGs matter, and they are making a difference, said Mohammed. “But our world today is very different from 2015.”
While multiple, intersecting crises — from geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty to the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, food insecurity, debt distress, and widening inequalities — continue to slow progress across the SDGs and test the ability to deliver, the planet is warming at an alarming pace and violent conflict has reached its highest level in decades, she said.
“These are not isolated challenges,” warned the deputy secretary-general.
“The question before us is not whether the SDGs remain relevant … The question is whether we are prepared to make the choices, mobilize the financing and strengthen the cooperation required to deliver them,” she said, calling for stronger multilateral cooperation, increased investment, and integrated solutions that can advance multiple SDGs simultaneously while strengthening resilience to future shocks.
Describing the upcoming 2027 SDG Summit as a milestone, Mohammed said the summit must be more than “a stocktaking exercise,” and it must be a delivery moment: to sharpen priorities, scale what works and renew political commitment in the final stretch to deliver on the SDGs by 2030.
Mohammed said the 2026 UN Secretary-General’s report on progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals indicates that more than a third of SDG targets are on track
The discussions took place during the fifth meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM), held on July 15-16, 2026, at the U.S. Mission in Geneva, Switzerland.
According to a joint statement released after the meeting, the parties “assessed the security environment in eastern DRC and worked toward a shared understanding of conditions on the ground.”
Rwanda and the DRC also “reaffirmed their commitment to rapidly implement the Washington Accords,” including accelerating efforts on the neutralization of the FDLR and lifting of defensive measures.”
A report by the United Nations Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo identifies the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) as a terrorist group that continues to play a significant role in destabilizing eastern DRC and posing a security threat to Rwanda.
The report describes the FDLR as comprising three main factions and at least four senior leaders.
While the group claims to have more than 10,000 fighters and its armed wing, CRAP (Commando de Recherche et d’Action en Profondeur), claims to have over 20,000 members, the UN and intelligence agencies estimate its actual strength at between 3,500 and 4,500 combatants.
According to the report, the FDLR is divided into three principal factions: FDLR-FOCA, FDLR-RUD, and FDLR-FPP.
The report further notes that these factions have adopted different names to conceal their affiliation with the FDLR.
FDLR-FOCA operates under the name “Bataillon Jungle,” FDLR-RUD uses “FDP-R,” while FDLR-FPP continues to operate as “FPP.” The report says these name changes are intended to disguise their links while continuing the same activities.
In late March 2026, the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) announced plans to eliminate the FDLR.
However, analysts familiar with the Congolese military argued that such an objective would be difficult to achieve, contending that any genuine effort to dismantle the group would first have to address FDLR elements integrated within state security forces.
Subsequently, FDLR fighters were redistributed among the Wazalendo militia groups.
To reinforce transparency and accountability, the parties agreed to explore possible verification mechanisms to support implementation of the Washington Accords.
The meeting also received a briefing from the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) on its Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration programme.
The discussions focused on how the programme contributes to the objectives of the Washington Accords through the repatriation of FDLR members, while the parties also identified steps to strengthen coordination going forward.
In another commitment aimed at supporting the peace process, Rwanda and the DRC agreed to maintain regular information sharing to ensure “an accurate picture of developments on the ground in eastern DRC.”
The two countries also thanked the United States, Qatar, the African Union and Togo for their continued support throughout the peace process.
Describing the agreement as “an historic opportunity to unlock security and prosperity for people in the Great Lakes region,” the parties reaffirmed their determination “to see this process through” and agreed to reconvene in the coming weeks to review progress on implementing the Washington Accords.
This photo shows some members of the FDLR including those captured during the fighting in Goma early 2025, repatriated to Rwanda.
