The Israeli military said in a statement that air defense systems are working to intercept the missiles.
Sirens were heard in the northern cities of Metula and Haifa, the southern city of Ashkelon, as well as in Jerusalem and several settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Debris fell in the Umm Al Faham area in southern Israel, causing damage. There were no immediate reports of injuries, the country’s Magen David Adom rescue service said.
The development came as the deadly regional conflict entered its 11th day. On February 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli and U.S. assets in the Middle East.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli military said it had begun a new series of airstrikes against Iranian government targets in Tehran, whereas Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Iran is well-prepared to continue missile attacks against Israel and U.S. bases in the West Asia region for as long as needed.
The designation, historically applied only to foreign adversaries, bars defence contractors from using Anthropic’s AI in Pentagon-related work and could cost the company billions in projected 2026 revenue.
The lawsuits were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., and argue that the Pentagon’s blacklisting is unlawful and violates Anthropic’s free speech and due process rights.
The company is seeking to have the designation overturned and to block federal agencies from enforcing the restrictions.
Anthropic executives warned the consequences could extend beyond defence contracts. Chief Financial Officer Krishna Rao said the government’s actions could reduce 2026 revenue by “multiple billions of dollars” and cause damage that would be “almost impossible to reverse.”
Head of Public Sector Thiyagu Ramasamy added that the blacklist is already harming commercial relationships and could wipe out projected public sector revenue exceeding $500 million.
Chief Commercial Officer Paul Smith noted that a partner shifted from Claude to a rival AI model for a Food and Drug Administration project, eliminating an expected $100 million revenue pipeline, while negotiations with financial institutions totaling around $180 million were disrupted.
The dispute stems from Anthropic’s refusal to grant unrestricted government access to Claude, citing ethical limits on autonomous weapons and mass domestic surveillance.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth criticised these restrictions, prompting President Donald Trump to order federal agencies to cease using Claude, while allowing the Pentagon six months to comply due to Claude’s integration into classified systems.
Anthropic maintains it remains committed to national security work. “Seeking judicial review does not change our longstanding commitment to harnessing AI to protect our national security, but this is a necessary step to protect our business, our customers, and our partners,” a company spokesperson said.
A group of 37 engineers from Google and OpenAI filed an amicus brief supporting Anthropic, warning that the government’s actions could stifle innovation and debate over AI’s risks and applications.
The lawsuits mark the first time an American AI company has faced a formal supply-chain risk designation, setting a potential precedent for the tech industry’s relationship with the U.S. government.
Anthropic, the U.S.-based artificial intelligence company behind Claude, filed two federal lawsuits on Monday challenging the Pentagon’s decision to label it a “supply chain risk.”
Speaking at the Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris, France, on Tuesday, President Kagame said Rwanda’s long-term ambition to become a high-income country by 2050 requires a reliable and abundant electricity supply. He noted that nuclear energy will play a central role in diversifying the country’s energy mix and providing the stability needed for sustained economic transformation.
According to the Head of State, nuclear power offers Rwanda a dependable source of electricity that can support industrial expansion while helping reduce carbon emissions.
“We have decided to make nuclear central to our strategy,” Kagame said. “It will diversify our energy mix while providing the stability required for industrial growth and long-term transformation.”
The president highlighted the importance of building strong institutions, regulatory systems and a skilled workforce to support Rwanda’s nuclear ambitions. He praised the support provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), led by Director General Rafael Grossi, in helping strengthen the country’s nuclear governance framework.
Rwanda has already made progress in developing human capital for the sector. Kagame noted that hundreds of Rwandans have been trained in nuclear science and engineering through partnerships with leading international institutions. The University of Rwanda has also introduced a new academic programme in nuclear science to build local expertise.
Recently, the IAEA conducted an Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review in Rwanda and confirmed progress across key pillars required to establish a nuclear energy programme.
“Our country is prepared to proceed through the agency’s milestone approach to the next stage,” he revealed.
Notably, Rwanda plans to establish a nuclear research centre in collaboration with Russia. The centre will focus on producing radioactive materials for cancer diagnosis and treatment, improving agriculture through radiation technologies, and advancing industrial testing methods.
Additionally, Rwanda is preparing to host Africa’s first demonstration of a Dual Fluid nuclear reactor and is exploring small modular reactor (SMR) technology to meet the country’s growing energy demands sustainably.
In his remarks, President Kagame emphasised the growing potential of emerging nuclear technologies for Africa. In particular, he said SMRs are well-suited to countries with smaller electricity grids and could allow African nations to become early adopters of advanced nuclear systems.
“I’m confident that Africa will emerge as one of the most important global markets for SMRs in the years ahead,” he said.
The president called for stronger international cooperation in three key areas: financing, technology partnerships and clear regulatory frameworks. He noted that nuclear energy projects often require specialised financing models that development banks are still unfamiliar with.
Kagame welcomed recent shifts in international policy, including the World Bank’s decision to lift its long-standing ban on financing nuclear power projects. He also referenced commitments made during COP28, encouraging international financial institutions to include nuclear energy in their portfolios.
“Now is the time to work together to make this shift a reality in Africa,” he said.
Looking ahead, Rwanda is preparing to host the 2026 Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa (NESA) in Kigali this May. Kagame said the summit will bring together leaders from governments, financial institutions and the nuclear industry to advance discussions on Africa’s nuclear future.
He extended an invitation to global partners to attend the event and support Rwanda’s efforts to harness nuclear energy for development.
“Rwanda is determined to do what it takes to power our development with nuclear energy,” Kagame said. “We look forward to you being part of this journey.”
President Kagame said Rwanda’s long-term ambition to become a high-income country by 2050 requires a reliable and abundant electricity supply. President Paul Kagame joined Emmanuel Macron, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi, and other leaders for the opening of the 2nd Nuclear Energy Summit.
Immigration Minister Tony Burke confirmed the players, Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramazanzadeh, and Mona Hamoudi, were “moved to a safe location” by Australian police.
He added that other team members had been told they were welcome to remain in the country.
“They want to be clear they are not political activists. They are athletes who want to be safe,” Burke said, noting that discussions with the players had been ongoing for several days.
The decision came amid concerns for the women’s safety after facing heavy criticism in Iran, where some commentators labelled them “wartime traitors.”
Australian police escorted the players during their stay, ensuring they could not be approached unaccompanied.
Burke emphasised Australia’s open offer to the rest of the team, saying, “Australia has taken the Iranian women’s soccer team into our hearts. These women are tremendously popular in Australia.”
The situation also drew attention from US President Donald Trump, who called on Australia to provide asylum and later confirmed the five had been “taken care of.”
During the tournament, the players sang the anthem in subsequent matches against Australia and the Philippines, reportedly under the watch of government officials.
Many supporters in Australia, including members of the Iranian diaspora, expressed solidarity with the team, waving pre-revolution Lion and Sun flags and booing the current Iranian anthem.
Human rights advocates highlighted the difficult position faced by the players, noting some may feel unable to stay due to concern for their families back home.
Craig Foster, former captain of the Australian men’s team, said, “Some may have concerns… even if offered the right to remain in Australia, if they feel unsafe, many may not accept that opportunity.”
The five players are now under Australia’s humanitarian visa program, which allows them to live, work, and study safely in the country.
Iran players react during their national anthem ahead of the Women’s Asian Cup soccer match between Iran and the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026.
In the experiment, mice were shown 10‑second video clips that included scenes of activities like horse riding and wrestling. While the mice watched, scientists used infrared lasers to record electrical signals from the animals’ visual cortex, the part of the brain that processes sight.
Using this data, they trained an artificial intelligence (AI) program to predict how neurons responded to what the mice saw. Then, the AI was used to generate images that matched the mice’s brain activity. The result was a series of grainy reconstructed video clips that give a glimpse of what the animals were seeing.
Although the recreated clips are still blurry compared with normal video, this research marks a major step toward understanding how brains interpret visual information. Scientists say that as technology improves, this technique might one day reveal even more detailed visual experiences and help answer questions about how animals think and dream.
However, lead researchers also warn that if similar techniques are used on humans in the future, it could raise privacy concerns especially if it becomes possible to reconstruct imagined thoughts, not just what someone sees.
Scientists decode mice’s visual perception using brain activity.
The international contest was held in Spain during the Coffee Fest Madrid exhibition on February 16, 2026.
The selection process begins with nominations, where coffee shops are proposed and voted for by people both locally and internationally. The first round of voting accounts for 30% of the total score, while the remaining 70% is awarded in the final stage, which determines the top 100 best coffee shops in the world.
In January 2026, coffee houses from Rwanda and around the globe competed in the contest, with Rubia Coffee Roasters emerging among the winners and earning the 54th spot worldwide.
This marks the first time a Rwandan coffee brand has entered the global top 100. Across Africa, only a few countries had coffee roasters featured in the ranking; namely Ethiopia, Egypt, and South Africa.
Robert Kabandana, Chief Operations Officer at Rubia Coffee Roasters, told IGIHE that winning the award signifies that the coffee meets international standards at every stage, from cultivation to the final cup, reflecting exceptional quality.
He noted that the recognition highlights the growth of Rwanda’s coffee farming sector and the increasing focus on processing coffee locally. He also emphasized that the achievement comes with greater responsibility.
“This award has given us extraordinary motivation because the world has recognized our capability,” Kabandana said. “We are planning to open another branch in Kigali, and there are international companies interested in using our brand name in their countries due to the uniqueness we have demonstrated.”
However, he stressed that while Rwanda’s coffee gaining international visibility is positive, it is equally important to strengthen local processing and expand roasting facilities within the country, as Rubia Coffee Roasters has done with its own roasting plant.
“We encourage Rwandans to continue supporting coffee farmers so that more value is added locally instead of exporting large quantities unprocessed. When domestic coffee consumption increases, we boost the economy because more revenue stays within the country, creating jobs and increasing tax revenues,” he added.
Rubia Coffee Roasters was established in 2017 as a small coffee processing shop and added a roasting plant a year later. The company now has the capacity to process between 500 and 600 kilograms of coffee per day. Its products are supplied to hotels and various institutions in Rwanda and exported to countries including Qatar, Egypt, and Dubai.
The company continues to sell coffee at its outlet in Kimihurura, Kigali. Rubia Coffee Roasters works closely with coffee farmers, purchasing their harvests and providing training on improving quality and productivity. It also supports other businesses in accessing coffee equipment, as a dealer for Italy’s Simonelli Group in Rwanda.
According to the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), Rwanda’s coffee production and export revenues continue to grow. In the 2024/25 fiscal year, the country produced 21,295 tonnes of coffee, up from 16,979 tonnes the previous year, an increase of 25%.
Coffee companies ranked among the world’s top 100 are considered globally competitive.Mbonyi Kalisa Mathias, founder of Rubia Coffee Roasters, received the award.Employees of Rubia Coffee Roasters celebrate the award won by the company.The facility processes and prepares coffee using modern equipment and techniques.Rubia Coffee Roasters also offers a space where visitors can taste its coffee.Rubia Coffee Roasters sells a variety of coffee it processes in-house.Rubia Coffee Roasters has the capacity to roast up to 600 kilograms of coffee per day.This coffee is grown and processed in Rwanda.
The ruling had been delivered by Kicukiro Primary Court on February 27, 2026.
The court explained that Ishimwe François Xavier had videos on his phone showing Yampano and his wife engaging in sexual activity, which he distributed in WhatsApp groups. This act was considered a crime of distribution.
The court also stated that Kwizera Nestor, who had requested the videos from Yampano and then shared them with Kalisa John, was guilty of distribution as well.
As for Kalisa John, the court ruled that, although he only requested the videos and showed them to others without directly distributing them, his actions still constituted a crime.
Meanwhile, the judge noted that Djihad owned a platform with 989 people, where the videos of Yampano were shared. Although Djihad was not the original source of the videos, he provided the platform through which the crime was facilitated.
The court further emphasized that Djihad had taken a screenshot of a portion of the video and posted it on his WhatsApp status, using it in conversations, which further indicated his intent.
The court ruled that Djihad, Nestor, and K John were guilty of distributing pornographic material.
The judge reminded the accused that they had 30 days to appeal the decision.
Djihad and Nestor, currently held at the Nyarugenge Correctional Facility, have already appealed the decision, seeking acquittal of the charges.
The Nyarugenge Intermediate Court has accepted their appeal, but no date has yet been set for the hearing of their appeal.
Djihad and co-accused have appealed three-year sentences.
The high-level meeting brought together heads of state and government, leaders of international organizations, financial institutions, nuclear industry representatives and energy experts to discuss the future of civil nuclear energy.
Currently, nuclear energy generates about 10 percent of the world’s electricity. Many countries consider it a sustainable solution for increasing energy supply while reducing carbon emissions.
At the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025, Rwanda joined 32 other countries in committing to triple nuclear energy capacity worldwide by 2050.
President Kagame’s participation in the summit comes shortly after experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) visited Rwanda from March 2 to 9 to assess the country’s readiness to develop nuclear energy infrastructure.
The Chief Executive Officer of RAEB, Fidele Ndahayo, said Rwanda has been expanding the peaceful use of nuclear technology, particularly in sectors such as healthcare. He also noted that a university program dedicated to nuclear science has been introduced.
Last week, Dr. Ndahayo explained that Rwanda had completed a preliminary assessment identifying potential sites where small nuclear reactors could be built. According to the plan, the country hopes to have its first nuclear power plant operational in the early 2030s.
He added that studies have also been conducted to determine whether the existing electricity transmission network can accommodate power generated by future small modular reactors.
Rwanda aims to increase its electricity generation capacity to more than 3,000 megawatts, up from the current 447 megawatts. Authorities believe small nuclear reactors could play a key role because they require less land, produce low carbon emissions and generate significant power.
Feasibility studies estimate that building a nuclear power plant in Rwanda could cost between $5 billion and $6 billion. RAEB says the project would likely require a partnership between the government and private investors.
Currently, South Africa is the only African country operating a nuclear power plant. However, interest in nuclear energy is growing across the continent. Kigali is set to host the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit on Africa from May 18 to 21, 2026.
President Kagame was received by his French counterpart Emmanuel MacronPresident Kagame is among heads of state who attended the summit. Participants of the summit in a group photo.
Gen Muganga made the remarks on March 9, 2026, in Ngarama Sector of Gatsibo District, during the launch of three-month Defence and Security Citizen Outreach Programme 2026.
He explained that the core mission of the Rwanda Defence Force is to protect the country and its people, even if it means paying the ultimate price.
“Normally, it may not make sense mathematically, but to show how valuable Rwanda’s citizens are, we would accept sending even 1,000 soldiers into battle and have them fall there to protect one Rwandan citizen,” he said.
Gen Muganga’s statement comes at a time when some countries have been pressuring Rwanda to remove defensive measures deployed along its border. Rwanda says these measures are intended to prevent attacks from the FDLR terrorist group and allied forces.
Rwanda established the defensive measures following a series of attacks in Musanze District in March, May and June 2022, which Rwanda says involved the FDLR and allied forces from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Authorities say the measures have helped reduce security threats. In January 2025, Rwanda intercepted several rockets fired toward Rubavu town, although the provocations left ten civilians dead.
Speaking to diplomats accredited in Rwanda on March 7, President Paul Kagame defended the country’s position, saying the defensive posture remains necessary because the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has not dismantled the FDLR genocidal group.
A 2025 governance scorecard by the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) showed strong public confidence in security and stability in the country, with the security pillar scoring 90.02 percent.
Gen Muganga has reaassured Rwandan citizens on their safety noting that soldiers are ready to pay ‘ultimate price’.
Authorities say the suspect, 35-year-old Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, was apprehended nearby shortly after the incident and is currently in police custody with a $10.2 million bond. Formal charges are expected to be filed by prosecutors.
The Los Angeles Police Department reported that multiple gunshots were fired at the couple’s residence in the upscale Beverly Crest neighbourhood around 1:15 p.m. local time on Sunday. Fortunately, Rihanna, 38, A$AP Rocky, 35, and their children were unharmed. Initial reports indicate that the shots may have been fired from a parked vehicle.
Police recovered an AR-15-style rifle and several shell casings at the scene. While authorities have not yet disclosed a clear motive, Ortiz’s arrest followed a swift investigation by local law enforcement.
Representatives for Rihanna and A$AP Rocky confirmed that the couple is safe and focusing on their family. The incident has sparked renewed discussions about the security of high-profile individuals in affluent neighbourhoods.
The Los Angeles Police Department has vowed to continue its investigation and will provide further updates as new information becomes available.
The Los Angeles Police Department reported that multiple gunshots were fired at the couple’s residence in the upscale Beverly Crest neighbourhood around 1:15 p.m. local time on Sunday. Fortunately, Rihanna, 38, A$AP Rocky, 35, and their children were unharmed.
