Majid bin Mohammed Al-Ansari, advisor to the Prime Minister and spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Qatar’s defenses successfully thwarted the attack and shot down the Iranian missiles.
In a statement, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had launched a missile campaign dubbed the “Annunciation of Victory,” targeting U.S. military bases in both Iraq and Qatar.
The IRGC described Al Udeid as “the headquarters of the U.S. Air Force and the largest strategic asset” of the U.S. Army in West Asia.
“Iran will not leave any attack on its territorial integrity, sovereignty, and national security unanswered under any circumstances,” the IRGC added in the statement.
Airspace over Qatar and the neighboring United Arab Emirates was closed ahead of the attacks.
Qatar says no casualties were caused in the Iranian attacks.
The competition, which celebrates beauty, culture, and intellect, is now entering its most thrilling phase. The 15 finalists will go head-to-head in the coming weeks, culminating in a spectacular finale scheduled for 25 July 2025, when the new queen will be crowned.
All the contestants, including those who didn’t advance, took part in an intensive boot camp designed to hone their cultural understanding, confidence, and public presentation skills. The winner will take over the crown from the reigning Miss Burundi, Lellie Carelle Ndayizeye.
As anticipation builds, all eyes are now on the finalists, each hoping to capture the crown and become the new face of Burundian elegance and ambition.
The list was compiled by British magazine Time Out.
Published at the end of last week, the ranking focused on buildings with remarkable history, exceptional architectural design, or unique features that make them stand out.
The Kayonza-based structure was ranked 22nd. It earned its spot due to its distinctive architectural style, particularly the way its bricks are arranged to form patterns inspired by Imigongo, a traditional Rwandan art form.
The building is also praised for its versatility. It includes a multi-purpose space that can easily be transformed into a meeting room, classroom, or auditorium—all with minimal adjustment.
Most of the materials used to construct the building were locally sourced in Rwanda, and women and girls made up 40% of the workforce involved in the construction.
The design of the centre was done by BE_Design, a New York-based firm. The building was inaugurated in September 2022.
This isn’t the first time the building has gained international recognition. In 2023, it was among the contenders for the prestigious Architizer A+Awards.
The Komera Leadership organisation, which built the centre, works to empower women and girls with skills and knowledge, aiming to improve their lives and impact their communities.
Topping the Time Out list is the world-renowned Taj Mahal in India. It is followed by Hallgrímskirkja in Iceland, and Egypt’s Pyramids in third place. Ad-Dayr in Petra, Jordan, ranks fifth.
The Fondation Louis Vuitton in France is in sixth place, while the Trinity College Library in Ireland comes in seventh.
Lamine Bah joined APR FC in the previous season and played a key role in helping the team secure three trophies, including the Rwanda Premier League Championship, which earned them a spot in the CAF Champions League.
Lamine Bah will continue to play an important role in APR FC’s lineup in the upcoming season.
After his wedding, he is expected to focus on preparations for returning to Rwanda and getting ready for international competitions.
The 23-year-old midfielder previously played for Olympique de Béja in Tunisia and was part of the Mali U-23 national team that qualified for the Olympic Games during their qualification tournament in Morocco.
The decision to shut down this vital route is seen as a strategy by Iran to pressure Israel and the U.S. to cease their military actions.
The closure of the Hormuz Strait is linked to the U.S. strikes on Iranian targets. Iran intends to use the closure as leverage to influence its adversaries and halt military aggression.
After the Parliament’s decision, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council began discussing the implementation of the resolution.
The Hormuz Strait lies between Iran and Oman and sees the daily transit of between 16 million and 21 million barrels of oil, accounting for 20% of the global oil transport.
Oil-producing countries in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), including Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Kuwait, heavily rely on this route to export oil, primarily to Asia.
Countries allied with the U.S. also use the route for transporting oil. In response, the U.S. stationed warships in Bahrain to protect commercial vessels passing through the strait.
A closure of Hormuz would severely disrupt the economies of many countries as oil is a key energy source and an essential driver of economic development globally. Economic analysts predict that the price of crude oil could soar from $74 per barrel to between $120 and $130.
Although the closure would significantly harm Iran, which depends heavily on the route for its own oil exports, it would also impact its allies, including China, which imports around 90% of its oil from Iran.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that in the first quarter of 2025, Saudi Arabia transported 5.3 million barrels of oil per day through the Strait, Iraq 3.2 million barrels, and the UAE 1.8 million barrels. Iran itself exported 1.5 million barrels per day.
Vandana Hari, founder of energy intelligence firm Vanda Insights, told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” that the possibility of closure remains “absolutely minimalistic.”
If Iran blocks the strait, the country risks turning its neighboring oil producing countries into enemies and risks hostilities with them, she said.
Furthermore, a closure would also provoke Iran’s market in Asia, particularly China, which accounts for a majority of Iranian oil exports.
“So very, very little to be achieved, and a lot of self inflicted harm that Iran could do” Hari said.
However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on China to use its influence with the Iranian government to discourage Tehran from closing the Strait of Hormuz.
“I encourage the Chinese government in Beijing to call them about that, because they heavily depend on the Straits of Hormuz for their oil,” Rubio, who also serves as national security adviser, told Fox News.
“If they do that, it will be another terrible mistake. It’s economic suicide for them if they do it. And we retain options to deal with that, but other countries should be looking at that as well. It would hurt other countries’ economies a lot worse than ours.”
In the past, Iran had threatened to close Hormuz in retaliation against the U.S., but never followed through. This time, attention is on Iran’s security council, which will make the final decision.
{{Rwanda stays alert}}
Rwanda is one of the countries that imports oil through the Hormuz Strait. For oil to reach Rwanda, it passes through the Arabian Gulf, then through the Indian Ocean to either Mombasa, Kenya, or Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
During a discussion with parliamentarians on June 19, 2025, Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure, Dr. Jimmy Gasore, explained that disruptions in the Hormuz Strait could affect Rwanda due to potential price hikes.
“[…] A disruption there would impact the global market, and consequently, Rwanda. We would likely experience a price increase or reduced import volumes,” he said.
Rwanda’s Prime Minister, Dr. Edouard Ngirente, informed Parliament that since the emergence of conflict between Israel and Iran on June 13, Rwanda has set up a task force to assess potential impacts on the country.
“We are closely monitoring the situation with daily updates on oil prices, our national reserves, weekly imports, and how it affects shipments from Dar es Salaam or Mombasa,” he said.
Currently, Rwanda has seven oil reserves containing 117.2 million liters of petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel. The country has taken steps to build up its reserves to mitigate the effects of fluctuating prices due to international conflicts.
This plant is one of three expected to be built in the different districts of Kigali. The first one is being constructed in Nyarugenge District at Giti cy’Inyoni as part of the Kigali Centralized Sewerage System project.
The plant is projected to cost $63 million (over 100 billion Rwandan Francs) and will be completed within two years.
It will consist of 92 kilometers of underground pipelines across the Kigali districts of Nyarugenge, Gitega, and Muhima.
Rather than allowing people to dispose of wastewater into open pits, the wastewater will be directed into large pipes that will carry it to the plant for treatment.
The plant will have the capacity to treat 12,000 cubic meters of wastewater per day. Initially, the system will handle wastewater from over 208,000 households.
Experts have highlighted that wastewater pits can cause problems by weakening the ground, making buildings prone to collapse, especially in hilly areas.
WASAC Group CEO, Prof. Omar Munyaneza, explained that the project’s aim is to stop the excavation of pits, instead using the pipes to direct the wastewater to treatment plants.
“Instead of continuing to dig pits, we will transport the water and treat it before returning it to rivers or wetlands, rather than letting it flow where it can endanger lives, especially in hilly areas,” he said.
Prof. Munyaneza added that the treatment plant at Giti cy’Inyoni will begin construction next month after a thorough study was carried out to ensure the project’s success.
“This is a long-awaited project for many Rwandans. We took the time to carefully study it to ensure its quality and proper implementation because this is the largest project related to sanitation that the country is about to start.”
He further stated, “In the coming month, we will begin construction at Giti cy’Inyoni, and in the following months, we will begin digging the trenches for the pipes.”
Prof. Munyaneza also mentioned that they will begin discussions with residents living in business areas to ensure no major disruptions occur when large pipes are installed.
“We are working with several agencies to ensure the project doesn’t interfere with other developments. As you know, there are underground power lines, communication cables, and other utilities, which we will carefully consider. We have also collaborated with RTDA to ensure there is no damage to roads,” he said.
The CEO explained that the initial focus will be on the Commercial Quarter and other areas to direct wastewater through the pipes for treatment at Giti cy’Inyoni.
“We will collect wastewater from households in places such as Onatracom, Biryogo, Kiyovu, Cercle Sportif, Kanogo, and RSSB. All the wastewater from these areas will be collected and directed to the treatment plant along with the water from Nyabugogo and Cyahafi,” he added.
Prof. Munyaneza further mentioned that, apart from the Giti cy’Inyoni project, another treatment plant will be built in Kicukiro, while another will be placed in Murindi to cater to wastewater treatment in those areas as well.
WASAC Group also announced that a treatment plant will be established in Gasabo, with its location in the Karuruma wetlands.
“While these two last projects are not yet underway, their studies have been completed, and we are still looking for the necessary funding to start them. The Gasabo plant will be built in Karuruma Wetland so that we can ensure all of Kigali’s wastewater is properly managed,” he explained.
Prof. Munyaneza emphasized that these wastewater treatment plants will help improve sanitation in Kigali, where many areas have suffered from foul smells due to untreated wastewater being channeled into open spaces without proper treatment.
He also mentioned that in areas with steep terrain, such as Jali, it will be challenging to install pipes, but another plant will be built in Masaka to collect wastewater from residents living in such areas.
He noted that the delay in building the Giti cy’Inyoni plant was due to changes in the Kigali Master Plan, which transitioned from the 2013 version to the 2020 version.
He also mentioned that the expansion of the Kigali-Muhanga road was coordinated with this project to avoid any conflicts between the two developments.
Shartsi Kutesa Musherure is the sister of Gen Muhoozi’s wife, Charlotte Kainerugaba. She is a Member of Parliament representing the ruling party, NRM, for the Mawogola North constituency in Uganda’s Parliament.
As Uganda gears up for parliamentary elections, it was expected that Shartsi Kutesa Musherure would seek re-election.
However, her re-election bid had put her at odds with Sodo Aine Kaguta, the younger brother of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and also Gen Muhoozi’s uncle, as he, too, is eyeing the same seat.
To ease tensions, on Sunday, June 22, 2025, Shartsi Musherure announced she would no longer contest for the seat, citing “respect for the President, Chairman of the NRM Party,” and a desire “to maintain the unity of the NRM party.”
In a message shared on Monday, Gen Muhoozi expressed appreciation for his sister-in-law’s decision to step aside.
“On Mawogola North, I applaud and congratulate my sister Hon.Shartsi. Government posts do not define a person. Shartsi is welcome to the struggle. I’m happy to have her as my fellow companion,” Gen Muhoozi wrote on X.
Following Musherure’s withdrawal, President Museveni’s younger brother visited Mawogola North on Monday to engage with local residents as he seeks to represent the area in Parliament.
Speaking at the event held on June 20, 2025 in Huye District, Xavier Shema Mugisha, Executive Director of Commercial Business at BPR Bank Rwanda Plc, explained that the annual initiative is intended to celebrate accomplishments with stakeholders while also seeking feedback for improvements and listening to client needs.
“In previous years, you offered valuable suggestions which we implemented, but that does not mean our work is complete. The journey continues, and we must keep improving our services for your benefit,” he remarked.
Patience Mutesi, CEO of BPR Bank Rwanda Plc, highlighted the importance of 2025 as the bank marks its 50th anniversary.
“This year, we are celebrating 50 years of a bank valued at over 1,000 billion Rwandan Francs. It has been a long journey with many challenges, but we’ve overcome them. Today, the bank stands as one of the leading institutions in East Africa. You made the right choice by trusting us. Our services now extend beyond Rwanda to the entire East African Community,” she said.
Mutesi also announced that, in 2025, shareholders began receiving dividends on their shares, a testament to the bank’s profitability and sustainable growth.
“We welcome your ideas to guide us through the next 50 years so we can continue to grow even faster,” she added.
Laurent Gatera from Huye District, a client of BPR since 1980, reflected on how the bank was once the only institution reaching people across the country and urged its leadership to continue meeting customers’ needs.
This sentiment was echoed by François Nyamaswa from Gisagara District, a client since 1990, who praised the bank’s progress and encouraged others to remain loyal to BPR Bank Rwanda Plc, noting its clear path toward a brighter future.
Huye District Mayor Sebutege Ange commended BPR Bank Rwanda Plc for engaging with citizens in a way that fosters friendship and trust, emphasizing the alignment with the national vision of citizen-centered service delivery.
He further urged BPR Bank to continue expanding its outreach to communities, providing information on financial services to promote saving habits and responsible borrowing.
The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) recently announced that the funding was part of the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1), a seven-year development plan that has now been concluded.
The projects have so far resulted in the establishment of 631 hotel rooms along the country’s scenic lakes, including Lake Kivu, Lake Ruhondo, and Lake Burera.
RDB Deputy Chief Executive Officer Juliana Kangeli Muganza said the growth of lakeside tourism is not only diversifying Rwanda’s hospitality offerings but also contributing to broader economic development.
“As more hotels are established to cater to visitors, we see other economic activities emerging,” Muganza said. “These investments are creating jobs and supporting communities.”
Figures from the Rwanda Chamber of Tourism indicate that the number of private tourism establishments rose sharply from 450 in 2018 to 1,360 by 2023. The government now aims to increase the national hotel room capacity from 10,000 to 35,000 over the next five years.
In Karongi District, located along the northern shores of Lake Kivu, authorities report a notable increase in tourism infrastructure. More than 14 hotels are now operational in the district, drawing both leisure and research visitors.
Karongi Mayor Gerald Muzungu said hospitality investments are creating demand in related sectors such as food supply chains, transportation, and construction.
“Hotels are creating demand in food supply chains, transport, and other services, boosting job creation far beyond the hospitality sector,” Muzungu noted.
One of the standout projects is Château Le Marara, a newly opened European-style hotel located on a peninsula in Bwishyura Sector. The facility is already hosting guests and events while sourcing fresh produce from local suppliers, according to interim General Manager Solange Kayondo.
Beyond formal employment, the lakeside tourism boom is generating a wave of informal job opportunities. Workers such as painters, masons, and porters are finding steady income from construction and hotel maintenance.
According to RDB, the lakeshore projects completed so far have created approximately 364 jobs, with another 400 positions expected as ongoing projects are finalised.
{{Sector outlook
}}
The broader hospitality and tourism sector in Rwanda currently employs around 165,000 people, a number that is projected to rise with the ongoing expansion of infrastructure and services.
Officials say lakeside tourism will remain a central pillar in Rwanda’s long-term economic development strategy, with plans to deepen investments and promote sustainable, community-driven growth.
Around 100 protesters rallied on Times Square, holding signs reading “Stop The War On Iran,” “Hands Off Iran” and others.
A group of people also held similar protests outside the White House, according to videos circulated on social media.
The emergency protests were planned in over 15 cities across the country, according to the website of the ANSWER Coalition, one of the organizers of the protests.
“(U.S. President Donald) Trump’s unprovoked bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities is an outright war crime. It violates the UN Charter, international law and the U.S. Constitution. It threatens to set into motion a regional or even global war with massive casualties, nuclear radiation and catastrophic consequences,” said a post on the website.
“We demand an immediate end to U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and its sovereignty,” said the ANSWER Coalition.
The people of the United States want more funding for health care, education and infrastructure, while Trump and his war hawks are launching a new war that endangers the world, sheds the blood of Iranians and eventually Americans, and serves only the interests of the military-industrial complex, said the coalition.
“President Trump took his faithful decision without Congressional approval, even though it will trigger serious reprisals from Iran and put American soldiers directly in the line of fire. It was done not in response to any imminent threat,” said Etan Mabourakh, the organizing manager with the National Iranian American Council.
“We urge restraint. We urge diplomacy. Diplomacy is the only way to solve problems. Bombs have never brought liberation,” said Mabourakh at Times Square.
The United States is expected to see more similar protests in the coming days, including a national march in Washington D.C. on June 28, according to the website.
![Protesters rally outside the White House to denounce US air strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, in Washington, DC, the United States, on June 22, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]](https://en-images.igihe.com/png/6859021ca310a04a967adb01.png)