The idea came from a common frustration trying to tap a smartphone screen with long nails. Modern touchscreen technology works by sensing changes in an electric field when a conductive surface (like a fingertip) touches it. Nonconductive materials, like nails, don’t make that change, so the device doesn’t respond.
To solve this, the researchers experimented with dozens of formulas to find one that helps nails carry just enough electrical charge without being harmful or visibly cloudy.
After testing more than 50 different additives mixed into clear nail polish bases, the team found a promising combination of taurine (a safe organic compound found in many foods) and ethanolamine (a simple organic molecule).
This formula was enough to let a touchscreen register contact from nails coated with the polish. “Our final, clear polish could be put over any manicure or even bare nails,” said one of the researchers, explaining that the approach could benefit users with calluses or other fingertip challenges too.
Unlike previous attempts that used conductive metals or carbon materials which can be dangerous if inhaled during manufacturing and can make the polish dark or heavy the new formula stays clear and safer for everyday use.
The researchers believe the polish works through a chemical interaction that allows tiny charged particles (protons) to move when the screen’s electrical field is present, helping the device detect the touch.
Although the early results are promising, the polish isn’t yet ready for commercial sale. Even the best mixtures only last a few hours on nails because ethanolamine evaporates quickly, and researchers are still searching for a fully nontoxic ingredient that works as well.
The team says they are continuing their work and have even submitted a provisional patent for this approach.
A new clear nail polish could let people use their fingernails on touchscreens by helping them carry a tiny electrical charge.
The certification ceremony that took place on On March 25, was presided over by Mount Kigali University founder Prof. Simon Gicharu founder of Mount Kigali University, alongside Imbuto Foundation Director General Elodie Shami.
The training is part of a broader effort to improve the quality of care and education for young children in Rwanda.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Gicharu emphasized the importance of building strong foundations in early childhood, noting that the future of any nation depends on how well it invests in its youngest generation.
He reaffirmed the university’s dedication to supporting continuous professional development for caregivers and educators, highlighting that solving societal challenges requires empowering people with the right skills and mindset.
“As we reflect on our progress, one key issue stands out,” he said. “The challenge is not the presence of problems, but our ability to effectively solve them. We must focus on building solutions and equipping individuals with the capacity to address real-world challenges.”
He further stressed the importance of mission-driven work, collaboration, and innovation in shaping sustainable development, applauding caregivers for their dedication to community service and their lasting impact on families across the country.
Imbuto Foundation Director General, Elodie Shami expressed deep appreciation for the partnership, describing it as transformative and community-centered. She highlighted the critical importance of the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, noting that this period lays the foundation for future health, learning, and productivity.
“Caregivers are at the frontline of this work,” she said. “Their role cannot be overstated. They are central to ensuring that children receive not only education, but also proper care, nutrition, and support.”
She added that investing in Early Childhood Development aligns closely with Rwanda’s national vision for long-term growth, including Vision 2050, which prioritizes human capital development and the creation of a knowledge-based economy.
Mount Kigali University Vice Chancellor, Dr. Martin Kimemia, also commended the graduates, describing the occasion as both a celebration of achievement and a step forward in building resilient communities.
“Today, we celebrate not only your success but also the future you are helping to shape,” he said. “The early years of a child’s life are critical, and through your training, you are now better prepared to guide and support the next generation.”
During the event, Mount Kigali University also extended further support to more than 100 students in the Edified Generation Scholarship Program, which has already assisted more than 400 secondary school students with education costs. The program’s second phase is currently underway, with 200 students having graduated and 200 more progressing through their studies.
The collaboration between Mount Kigali University and Imbuto Foundation spans nine years, making it a long-standing initiative aimed at improving early childhood education and community development.
Over the years, the partnership has supported the establishment of several Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDCs), including projects in Masaka sector and the ongoing development of a new center in Kinyinya.
Dr. Martin Kimemia, Elodie Shami and Prof. Simon Gicharu award a certificate to one of the caregivers Prof. Simon Gicharu expressed his commitment to work with Imbuto Foundation on several projects Dr. Martin Kimemia encouraged the trainees to remain committed to excellence, innovation, and adaptability in their work, reminding them of the responsibility they carry in influencing young lives that is placed in their hands at a very critical stage.
“We are concerned about the Houthi missile strikes against Israel earlier today. These attacks risk further expanding the military conflict in the region,” Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said in a note to correspondents.
“We emphasize that international law, including international humanitarian law as applicable, must be respected by all parties at all times,” he said. “UN Security Council resolution 2768 (2025) and subsequent resolutions related to Houthi attacks against merchant and commercial vessels must be fully respected.”
Yemen’s Houthi armed forces said on Saturday that they had launched a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting “sensitive Israeli military sites” in southern Israel, which marked the group’s first such attack since Israel and the United States started massive attacks on Iran a month ago.
The group signaled readiness for further military action, framing its recent military strikes on Israel as “legitimate right” to confront what it called “brutal American-Israeli aggression” against Iran and the wider region.
In a statement, the group’s foreign affairs authority said that its intervention was part of a broader regional strategy tied to Iran, Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon.
He was speaking on Saturday at the 11th Summit of OACPS in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea where he represented President Paul Kagame.
Dr. Nsengiyumva highlighted the importance of aligning the organization’s financing model with global changes.
“As the global context evolves, it is natural that our approach to financing must also adapt,” he said.
He urged member states to rethink traditional financing approaches and to leverage OACPS as a platform not just for cooperation, but also for investment and economic transformation.
To achieve sustainable financing, Dr. Nsengiyumva outlined three essential priorities for the OACPS.
First, he emphasized the need to strengthen domestic resource mobilization across member states as a foundation for greater financial ownership of the organization. He pointed out that ensuring timely and predictable contributions would be crucial for sustainability.
The second priority was promoting the scale and bankability of regional projects to attract long-term institutional investment. Dr. Nsengiyumva noted that OACPS needs to promote the scale and bankability of projects, particularly at the regional level, as key to attracting long-term and institutional investment.
This, he explained, requires stronger projects, risk mitigation, and coordinated efforts to unlock viable investment opportunities across our countries.
The third priority was deepening partnerships for co-investment, which would involve both traditional and emerging partners in a spirit of mutual benefit and shared responsibility.
Dr. Nsengiyumva also referred to the Samoa Agreement, noting that it provides a valuable framework for supporting sustainable financing efforts.
However, he stressed that its success would depend on member states’ ability to translate commitments into concrete, measurable outcomes. “The impact [of the Samoa Agreement] will depend on our collective ability to translate commitments into concrete and measurable outcomes,” he remarked.
Premier Nsengiyumva also reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to timely contributions.
“Rwanda has consistently continued to pay its assessed contributions on time, and Rwanda commits again to continue to honor its commitments and its assessed contributions to this great organisation and that will be done on time,” he stated.
The Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) is a group of countries in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific that was created by the Georgetown Agreement in 1975. Formerly known as African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), the organisation’s main objectives are sustainable development and poverty reduction within its member states, as well as their greater integration into the world’s economy.
Premier Dr. Nsengiyumva has called for sustainable financing at OACPS Summit.Premier Dr. Nsengiyumva represented President Paul Kagame at the summit. The 11th Summit of OACPS took place in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
Any potential ground operation would fall short of a full-scale invasion and could instead involve raids by a mixture of Special Operations forces and conventional infantry troops, the newspaper quoted officials as saying on the condition of anonymity.
Such a mission could expose U.S. personnel to an array of threats, including Iranian drones and missiles, ground fire and improvised explosives, the report noted, adding the Trump administration in recent days has vacillated between declaring that the war is winding down and threatening to amplify it.
Discussions within the U.S. administration over the past month have touched upon the possible seizure of Kharg Island, a key Iranian oil export hub in the Persian Gulf, and raids into other coastal areas near the Strait of Hormuz to locate and destroy weapons capable of targeting commercial and military shipping, said officials.
They added that in the past month, 13 U.S. troops have been killed in action, including six in a plane crash in Iraq, six in a drone attack on Port Shuaiba in Kuwait, and one in an attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. More than 300 service members have been wounded by Iranian drones and missiles in retaliatory attacks targeting U.S. facilities in at least seven countries across the Middle East, with at least 10 sustaining serious injuries.
According to The Post, recent polls indicate strong public resistance in the United States to sending combat troops in Iran. A survey conducted by the Associated Press and the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago found that 62 percent of respondents were strongly opposed to deploying ground forces, while only 12 percent were in favor.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Saturday that a task force of 3,500 marines and sailors arrived in the Middle East on Friday.
As a result, the provisional results announced on Tuesday, March 17, by the Minister of Interior, Raymond Zephirin Mboulou, on behalf of the National Independent Electoral Commission remain unchanged, officially declaring Denis Sassou Nguesso re-elected as president of the republic for a new five-year term.
Denis Sassou Nguesso, who ran under the banner of the Presidential Majority composed of nearly 20 political parties, competed against six other candidates.
He had secured over 94 percent of the vote in the provisional results released on March 17 by the minister of interior, Raymond Zephirin Mboulou.
Out of an expected electorate of 3,167,909 voters, 2,681,571 cast their ballots, representing a voter turnout of 84.65 percent.
Denis Sassou Nguesso, who ran under the banner of the Presidential Majority composed of nearly 20 political parties, competed against six other candidates.
In the study, researchers exposed human brain blood vessel cells to erythritol in amounts similar to what people might consume in everyday products. What they found was concerning.
The sweetener seemed to affect how the blood vessels in the brain work. Specifically, erythritol makes the cells produce less nitric oxide, a molecule that helps blood vessels relax and remain flexible.
It also increased the production of endothelin-1, which causes blood vessels to tighten. This combination could make blood vessels more prone to constriction, a condition that can increase the risk of serious issues like strokes.
The study also showed that erythritol could affect the body’s ability to dissolve blood clots naturally. The cells exposed to erythritol produced less t-PA, a natural compound that helps break down clots. Additionally, the erythritol exposure led to higher levels of free radicals, which are harmful molecules that can damage cells and tissues, potentially contributing to other health problems like heart disease.
While this research was conducted on cells in a lab, the results align with previous studies that suggest higher levels of erythritol in the bloodstream are linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular events, like heart attacks and strokes.
Because of these findings, the researchers are urging people to be more mindful of their erythritol intake. Many sugar-free and low-calorie products, which are often marketed as healthy alternatives, could contain higher amounts of this sweetener.
For those who regularly consume such products, it may be a good idea to check labels more carefully and consider limiting erythritol intake until more research can fully understand its long-term effects.
While erythritol has been popular as a sugar substitute, the new research highlights the importance of being cautious about its possible impact on health.
A common sugar substitute may quietly impair brain vessels and raise stroke risk.
These projects were selected from 90 youth and women who had been trained in various vocational skills by BPR Foundation under the ‘IGIRE & Women Economic Empowerment (WEE-IKAMBA)’ program.
The participants had undergone six months of training in fields such as construction, carpentry, electrical work, catering, mechanics, ICT, and other trades, aimed at addressing unemployment and creating new job opportunities in Rwanda.
The award ceremony took place on March 26, 2026, in Kigali, where five standout projects were recognized. Each of the winning projects received 3 million Rwandan Francs to support their expansion efforts.
Gireh Maurice, CEO of Jamup Electronica Hub Ltd, a company that specializes in welding and maintaining electronic equipment, was one of the recipients. His company was founded by five young entrepreneurs who recently completed their training through the BPR Foundation program.
Gireh expressed gratitude for both the knowledge gained and the 3 million Rwandan Francs (Rwf), noting that the financial support would enable them to secure a permanent base for their operations, as they previously lacked the resources to do so.
“We are grateful to BPR and the ‘IGIRE’ program for the award. The Rwf3 million will allow us to expand our business. When we started, we had little capital and limited resources. Now, we can have a permanent address and grow our business.”
Dr. Jean Claude Habumugisha, Deputy Principal in charge of Academics and Training at Rwanda Polytechnic-Ngoma College urged the graduates to go beyond acquiring knowledge, stressing the importance of applying it in a professional manner.
“Let the knowledge you have gained help you grow personally and contribute to the country’s development. Wherever you work, your professionalism and integrity should define your approach. Our country needs your contribution, and we are here to support you,” he remarked.
Ngabo Brave Olivier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Arts, reminded the graduates to uphold strong moral values, explaining that development cannot be achieved by individuals who, despite having skills, engage in harmful behaviors like drug abuse.
Patience Mutesi, Managing Director of BPR Bank Rwanda Plc, emphasized that initiatives like vocational training cannot succeed without the collaboration of various institutions and sectors. She reaffirmed that the BPR Foundation is committed to these programs because they believe investing in individuals is a critical way to support sustainable development.
Graduates of the training provided by BPR Foundation were urged to help Rwanda achieve the development it aspires to.Women trained in WEE IKAMBA with promising projects were also recognized and praised.Graduates of the IGIRE program have committed to creating new job opportunities.Various partners of BPR attended the ceremony to award the best-performing projects.BPR Bank Rwanda Plc, through its ‘IGIRE’ program by BPR Foundation, has awarded 15 million Rwandan Francs to five youth-led projects that demonstrate outstanding innovation.BPR Bank Rwanda Plc, through its ‘IGIRE’ program by BPR Foundation, has awarded 15 million Rwandan Francs to five youth-led projects that demonstrate outstanding innovation.The event also highlighted the crucial role of women in the country’s development.90 students graduated from the ‘IGIRE & Women Economic Empowerment (WEE-IKAMBA)’ program.
The 18-year-old contestant, Kamolwan Chanago, who is competing for the Miss Thailand title, was responding to the judges when the accident occurred. She was not allowed to stop and restart her answer as per the rules.
Quickly reacting to the mishap, Kamolwan turned away from the camera to discreetly reposition her dental prosthetics before returning to the judges to continue her presentation.
A spokesperson for Miss Grand Thailand, the pageant she was competing in, confirmed that the incident was an accident and expressed pride in how Kamolwan handled the situation.
The spokesperson said, “It was an unfortunate accident when her dental prosthetics fell out while she was speaking. We are proud of how she maintained her composure. This incident will not affect the ongoing competition, which will proceed as planned.”
The winner of the Miss Grand Thailand title is set to be announced on March 28, 2026. The winner will go on to represent Thailand at the Miss Grand International competition in India in October 2026.
Upon realizing what had happened, the contestant turned around to reposition her dental prosthetics and then went on to present herself to the judges.
On March 27, 2026, media reports indicated that the AU had decided not to support Macky Sall’s candidacy due to procedural violations.
Amb. Nduhungirehe, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, has explained that the 20 AU member states who broke their silence were not rejecting any candidacy but rather opposing the flawed procedure initiated by President Ndayishimiye, which ignored AU rules governing international nominations.
“What happened today at the African Union is a stark reminder that leadership matters. It’s unbelievable to note that a whole continental organisation can be tarnished or driven into a crisis by its own Chairperson, who is in office for not even two months,” Nduhungirehe posted on X .
The nomination process for the UN Secretary-General can be initiated by any country or group of countries, but the nominee need not necessarily be from the country that submits the candidacy.
On March 2, 2026, the Permanent Representative of Burundi to the UN notified the General Assembly that the Burundian government serving as current Chair of the African Union nominated Macky Sall, former President of Senegal, for the position.
“This submission of an African candidature to the position of UN Secretary General came as a surprise to all African Heads of State and Government, as none of them was consulted by the AU Chairperson before taking this important decision,” Nduhungirehe emphasized.
After the nomination, President Ndayishimiye attempted to pressure fellow African leaders into endorsing his decision by imposing a 24-hour “silence procedure.”
According to Amb. Nduhungirehe, Ndayishimiye convened the AU Bureau, where only two other members participated, and gave African governments 24 hours to approve or reject the nomination either by silence or by response.
“In other words, President Ndayishimiye, instead of calling an AU meeting for advice on the right procedure, chose to give his fellow AU Heads of State and Government only 24 hours to either endorse, by keeping silent, an AU decision that ‘EXPRESSES ITS FIRM SUPPORT to the President of the Republic of Burundi, H.E. Evariste Ndayishimiye, Chairperson of the AU for 2026, for having presented the candidacy of President Macky Sall […] for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations,’ or to reject it by breaking the silence,” Amb. Nduhungirehe added.
This authoritarian approach was too much for many AU member states, which responded by breaking their silence and blocking the decision. They reminded Ndayishimiye that the AU must be governed by the rule of law.
Despite the damage to the AU’s international reputation, Nduhungirehe hopes this incident will serve as a lesson for future appointments of AU Chairpersons.
The new UN Secretary-General will begin their term in January 2027. Any candidate must be nominated by a country or group of countries, and it is not a requirement for the candidate to come from the country making the nomination. This means that Burundi could have nominated Macky Sall on their own behalf, but the actions of Ndayishimiye caused a stir within the AU.
While it is not always followed strictly, UN leadership positions are generally rotated among different regions of the world, and there is growing support for the idea that it is time for a woman to lead the UN.
Other candidates who have submitted their nominations for the position include Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile; Rafael Grossi, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency; Rebeca Grynspan, former Vice President of Costa Rica; and Virginia Gamba from Argentina.
Since Ndayishimiye took over the AU chairmanship, analysts have criticized his leadership, questioning his ability to address the pressing challenges facing Africa, such as the ongoing war in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Burundi is involved in the conflict.
Since Ndayishimiye took over the AU chairmanship, analysts have criticized his leadership, questioning his ability to address the pressing challenges facing Africa
