“Since the release of the January WEO Update, a series of new tariff measures by the United States and countermeasures by trading partners have been announced and implemented, ending up in near-universal U.S. tariffs on April 2 and bringing effective tariff rates to levels not seen in a century,” the report said.
Noting that the tariffs alone are a “major negative shock,” the IMF said that the “unpredictability” with which these measures have unfolded negatively impacts economic activity and the outlook.
“The global economic system under which most countries have operated for the last 80 years is being reset, ushering the world into a new era. Existing rules are challenged while new ones are yet to emerge,” IMF Chief Economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas said at a press conference.
Under the reference forecast that incorporates information as of April 4, global growth is projected to drop to 2.8 percent in 2025 and 3 percent in 2026 — down from 3.3 percent for both years in the January WEO Update, and much below the historical (2000-2019) average of 3.7 percent, according to the latest WEO.
Growth in the United States is expected to slow to 1.8 percent, 0.9 percentage points lower relative to the projection in the January WEO Update due to “greater policy uncertainty, trade tensions, and softer demand momentum,” the report noted.
Euro area growth is projected at 0.8 percent in 2025, 0.2 percentage points lower than the January forecast.
Growth in advanced economies is projected to be 1.4 percent in 2025, while in emerging market and developing economies, growth is expected to slow down to 3.7 percent in 2025.
The report also noted that intensifying downside risks dominate the outlook. “Ratcheting up a trade war, along with even more elevated trade policy uncertainty, could further reduce near- and long-term growth, while eroded policy buffers weaken resilience to future shocks,” it said.
“Divergent and rapidly shifting policy stances or deteriorating sentiment could trigger further repricing of assets and sharp adjustments in foreign exchange rates and capital flows, especially for economies already facing debt distress. Broader financial instability may ensue, including damage to the international monetary system,” it said.
Gourinchas said the IMF’s policy recommendations call for “prudence and improved collaboration.”
“The first priority should be to restore trade policy stability and forge mutually beneficial arrangements,” said the IMF chief economist. “The global economy needs a clear and predictable trading system addressing longstanding gaps in international trading rules, including the pervasive use of non-tariff barriers or other trade-distorting measures.”
Flight prices are soaring, with the cheapest return ticket from Dublin Airport to Rome from Friday to Sunday costing €457 (approx. Frw 750,000) with Ryanair. This is more than double the price of the following weekend, with the cheapest return ticket costing €205.
To fly with Aer Lingus for the Pope’s funeral this weekend, passengers will have to fork out €782 for return flights on the same dates. Accommodation is also hard to come by, with Booking.com saying nine in ten rooms are already gone and the remainder have hiked fees.
Travel website On the beach saw bookings begin to surge just hours after ‘the people’s Pope’ passed away on Easter Monday. The firm’s Zoe Harris said: “His passing prompted an outpouring of grief around the world and what followed was a flurry of bookings to Rome.
“With the Pope’s burial due on Saturday and the historic process of the conclave beginning in two weeks, it’s clear that people will want to be in the heart of Italy for this historic moment. We’re expecting bookings to rise further over the next 48 hours following Tuesday’s confirmation of dates of service.”
President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina, were seen signing condolences for Pope Francis at the Holy See Apostolic Nunciature in Dublin, and will travel to the Vatican for his funeral.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has warned Irish travelers to prepare for significant crowds. “Following the Pope’s passing, it is expected that there will be significant crowds gathering in Rome over the coming days, particularly in the area of St. Peter’s Square and Via della Conciliazione,” a new travel alert reads.
“Irish citizens who are gathering in Rome to pay their respects should monitor local news and consult Italian authorities for the latest updates. The Embassy of Ireland to the Holy See and the Embassy of Ireland to Italy are monitoring the situations closely and will be posting relevant updates on their social media pages.”
“If you wish to attend the public elements of the funeral rites, including the lying in state, please be aware that queuing will be mostly outdoors and waiting times are expected to be very long. You should check the weather forecast and ensure that you have adequate food and water for the duration of your wait,” said the advisory.
RIB Spokesperson, Dr. Thierry B. Murangira, confirmed the arrest in a brief interview with IGIHE. “It is true that Moses Turahirwa was arrested and is being investigated for drug use, as confirmed by the results of tests conducted and analyzed by experts from the Rwanda Forensic Institute (RFI).”
When asked whether the drug use could be linked to his recent behavior, which has drawn widespread criticism, Murangira said, “The amount of drugs found in his system was significant. We cannot ignore the impact that might have had on his behavior. As for the rest, the investigation is still ongoing.”
This is not the first time Turahirwa has faced drug-related charges. In 2023, he was similarly investigated but was released on provisional bail by the Nyarugenge Intermediate Court.
The tournament, which honors players, coaches, and fans of the sport, is being organized as Rwanda and the world mark the 31st commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi.
Scheduled to take place from April 23 to April 27, 2025, at Petit Stade in Kigali, the competition will include both men’s and women’s matches.
In addition to the invited regional teams, the tournament will feature Rwandan clubs such as APR BBC, REG BBC, Patriots BBC, and UGB in the men’s category, while Kepler WBBC, REG WBBC, APR WBBC, and East Africa University Rwanda will compete in the women’s division.
On Wednesday, April 23, Patriots BBC will face off with UGB at 6:30pm, followed by a clash between REG BBC and Kenya Ports Authority at 9:00pm.
In the women’s category, Kepler WBBC will play KPA, while East Africa University Rwanda will meet REG WBBC. Both matches are set for 4:00pm at NPA and Petit Stade.
All the invited teams are dominant in their home countries and have won multiple championships, including national league titles. Last year’s edition of the tournament was won by APR in both the men’s and women’s categories.
During peace talks held in Qatar since March 2025, both sides were urged to take confidence-building measures to demonstrate their commitment to resolving the conflict and achieving peace.
The AFC/M23 complied in early April by withdrawing its fighters from the town of Walikale and surrounding areas. However, it warned the DRC army that if it launched further attacks, it would reclaim those positions.
Through Qatari mediation, the coalition requested that the DRC government release certain individuals, including politicians and soldiers, who had been arbitrarily detained on accusations of collaborating with or being members of M23/AFC.
Reportedly, the AFC/M23 submitted a list of over 700 people it claimed were unlawfully detained by the DRC government and demanded their release. None of those listed were released.
The DRC government, in response, stated that it had freed five individuals, including a member of parliament from Haut-Uélé Province. However, AFC/M23 pointed out that these individuals were not on the submitted list.
The released individuals were former associates of Christophe Baseane Nangaa, the former Governor of Haut-Uélé and brother of AFC/M23 leader Corneille Nangaa.
Christophe Baseane Nangaa recently fled to the United Arab Emirates amid allegations of collaboration with his brother. He had been a member of the ruling coalition, the Union Sacrée, before being imprisoned for six months.
Confidence-building measures are a cornerstone of the agreement between DRC and AFC/M23, forming a key basis for drafting a joint document between the two sides.
Reports indicate that after a week of discussions in Doha, the AFC/M23 delegation left without signing the joint statement, citing the DRC government’s refusal to meet its demands.
Below are some fascinating reasons behind this biological inequality and what it might mean for human health bearing in mind that every day, cells face an onslaught of oxidative stress.
This occurs when unstable molecules called free radicals build up faster than your body can neutralize them. These free radicals damage cells through a process similar to how rust corrodes metal or how a cut apple turns brown when exposed to air.
The human body counters this threat by producing antioxidants, molecules that neutralize free radicals before they can cause harm. Antioxidants can be compared to cellular firefighters, constantly putting out tiny biochemical fires before they spread and cause serious damage.
While diet provides some antioxidants, the most important defense comes from enzymes your body produces internally. Unlike dietary antioxidants, which work once and are used up, these enzymatic antioxidants can neutralize thousands of free radicals before needing replacement.
The efficiency of this internal antioxidant production system varies dramatically between individuals. Some people simply hit the genetic lottery when it comes to antioxidant production. Their bodies naturally create more protective enzymes thanks to specific genetic variations.
Some people carry variants that make this system more responsive, essentially giving them a more sensitive alarm system that activates defenses earlier and more robustly.
If you inherited advantageous versions of these genes from your parents, your cells might be better equipped to handle oxidative stress without you doing anything special. It’s an invisible advantage that becomes apparent only over decades as your body accumulates less damage than others.
{{The hormonal effect}}
Beyond baseline genetic differences, some people’s bodies respond more effectively to environmental challenges, ramping up antioxidant production precisely when needed.
This adaptive response works like muscle growth. Just as lifting weights stresses your muscles and triggers them to grow stronger, mild biological stress can prompt your cells to boost their antioxidant defenses.
This phenomenon, called hormesis, explains why certain types of stress can actually make you more resilient. People with highly responsive stress adaptation systems experience a stronger hormetic effect.
When exposed to moderate exercise, intermittent fasting, temperature extremes, or even certain plant compounds, their bodies dramatically increase antioxidant enzyme production.
This biological resilience isn’t distributed equally. Some individuals show a robust hormetic response to mild stressors, while others produce a much weaker reaction to the same stimulus.
Those with more responsive systems effectively train their cellular defenses each time they encounter manageable stress, continuously strengthening their protection against oxidative damage.
The difference becomes apparent when facing major stressors like illness, injury, or environmental toxins. High responders rapidly mobilize their enhanced antioxidant defenses, potentially limiting tissue damage and accelerating recovery.
Your body’s relationship with inflammation fundamentally influences its antioxidant capacity, creating another source of variation between individuals.
Autonomic nervous system balance also plays a crucial role. Those whose nervous systems favor parasympathetic activity tend to experience less stress-induced inflammation.
This biological tendency toward a “rest and digest” state rather than “fight or flight” reduces oxidative burden and preserves antioxidant resources.
Autoimmune tendencies create another source of variation. Some individuals have immune systems more prone to attacking their own tissues, creating inflammation and oxidative damage. Others maintain better immunological self-tolerance, avoiding this additional oxidative burden.
These differences in inflammatory tendency mean that even among people with similar antioxidant-producing capacity, those with naturally lower inflammation effectively have more antioxidant resources available to handle other challenges.
{{The lifestyle amplifiers}}
While genetics sets your baseline antioxidant production capacity, lifestyle choices can dramatically amplify or diminish this natural potential.
Sleep quality acts as a major regulator of oxidative stress. During deep sleep, your body activates powerful antioxidant and repair systems. People who naturally sleep deeply or prioritize quality sleep give their bodies extended time to neutralize free radicals and repair oxidative damage.
Dietary patterns influence both inflammation levels and the raw materials available for antioxidant production. Some individuals intuitively prefer foods rich in antioxidant precursors like sulfur compounds and minerals that support enzyme function.
This natural preference provides their bodies with optimal building blocks for antioxidant enzymes. Exercise habits also create perhaps the most significant lifestyle difference. Regular physical activity stimulates mitochondrial growth and enhances antioxidant enzyme production.
However, excessive exercise without adequate recovery can overwhelm antioxidant defenses and increase oxidative damage. People who naturally find the sweet spot of beneficial hormetic stress without crossing into damaging territory reap the greatest antioxidant benefits.
Environmental exposure varies dramatically between individuals. Some people habitually avoid toxins in their food, water, and household products, reducing the oxidative burden on their bodies.
Others inherited detoxification systems that more efficiently neutralize unavoidable environmental contaminants. Either way, their antioxidant systems face less demand from external toxins.
{{The practical takeaways for everyone}}
While we can’t change our genetic inheritance, understanding the factors that influence antioxidant production offers practical insights for everyone, regardless of your natural starting point. Genetic testing can provide clues about your antioxidant potential.
Phytonutrient consumption becomes particularly important if you suspect your antioxidant genes aren’t top performers. Compounds like sulforaphane from cruciferous vegetables, resveratrol from grapes, and curcumin from turmeric can activate the pathway and boost your body’s antioxidant enzyme production.
Strategic hormesis through practices like contrast showers, intermittent fasting, or high-intensity interval training can train your adaptive stress response systems to become more efficient.
Start gently and progress gradually to avoid overwhelming your current capacity. This approach becomes especially valuable if you have genetic variants associated with higher inflammatory tendencies.
Micronutrient adequacy ensures your body has all the raw materials needed for antioxidant enzyme production. Key nutrients include selenium, zinc, manganese, and copper, which serve as cofactors for various antioxidant enzymes.
Whether you’re naturally blessed with robust antioxidant production or need to work a bit harder to support your cellular defenses, these approaches can help maximize whatever genetic potential you have.
The goal isn’t to compare yourself to others but to optimize your unique biological machinery for greater resilience and longevity.
The remarkable diversity in human antioxidant capacity reminds us that health isn’t just about what we do but also about the invisible biological resources we’re working with.
Understanding these differences fosters both self-compassion and targeted approaches to supporting our individual biochemistry.
The awards, which honour exceptional storytelling and literary achievement, will recognise outstanding writers in four categories: Lifetime Achievement Award, Outstanding African Writer, Outstanding Young Rwandan Writer, and Outstanding Female Rwandan Writer.
In announcing the call for entries, Bridgevision also unveiled this year’s panel of five judges, drawn from both Rwandan and international institutions.
“Our panel of experts are representatives of five respectable Rwandan and international institutions, and we believe that they will do an honorable job in selecting and elevating books meant to educate, inform, inspire, challenge, and comfort Rwandan and African readers all over the continent,” said Joe E. Sully, CEO of Bridgevision.
The judging panel features a blend of writers, publishers, academics, critics, and literary enthusiasts. They represent institutions such as the Ministry of Youth and Arts, UNESCO Rwanda, the Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy, the United States Embassy in Kigali, and the East African University.
Detailed profiles of the judges will be made available on Bridgevision’s website, [www.bridgevisionllc.com->www.bridgevisionllc.com].
The Radiate Rwanda Literary Excellence Awards is an initiative spearheaded by Bridgevision in partnership with local and international organisations. The aim is to recognise and elevate voices shaping the Rwandan and African literary landscape.
Eligible authors and stakeholders in the book industry are encouraged to submit their works before the deadline of May 9, 2025, at 6:00 pm (Central Africa Time).
Winners will be revealed during an in-person awards ceremony scheduled for Saturday, August 9, 2025, in Kigali.
The winners of the inaugural Radiate Rwanda Literary Excellence Awards included Yolande Mukagasana, who received the Outstanding Woman Writer Award. Other recipients were Bishop Alexis Kagame and Bishop Aloys Bigirumwami.
Marie Ntakirutimana is one of witnesses. During the Genocide, she was raped multiple times by Interahamwe militiamen—so many times that she lost count—all in a desperate attempt to protect her children from being killed.
Although the rapes left her infected with HIV, her children survived. Her husband, however, and many members of his family were murdered.
Ntakirutimana was born Hutu, but she had married a Tutsi man—a decision she never regretted, affirming that love follows its own path.
Tragically, that love was cut short when her husband was killed by a group that included his own brothers.
When IGIHE visited the 62-year-old woman at her home in the “Village of Unity” in Cyimana Cell, Tumba Sector, Huye District, she recounted how she offered her body to save her five children from death.
On April 21, 1994, open killings began in Tumba and across other parts of what was then Butare prefecture. At the time, the family lived in Gateme, and tried to flee. Her husband first went to check on his sister nearby, but couldn’t return home.
Ntakirutimana sent her two older children to hide at her sister’s house in Muyira, Kibirizi Sector, Gisagara District. She stayed behind in Cyarwa, but remained out of contact with her husband.
Four days later, she returned to find their house in Gateme had been destroyed. As the Genocide escalated, the family managed to reach her home village, where she herself was not targeted. Her father began bribing Interahamwe to protect her husband and children, but her brothers refused to cooperate.
“My brothers, Ngamijimana Edouard and Nsabumukiza Alexis, were particularly cruel,” she recalled. “One of them once took the newborn from my arms, held him up in public and mocked me, saying, ‘Look at how a snake looks like.’”
As the situation worsened, she decided to hide in sorghum fields with her children. It was during this time that Rutagengwa Emmanuel—then a senior figure at LABOPHAR and someone who had tried to court her when they were younger—tracked her down. He told her that she could no longer escape him, and that if she let him rape her, he would spare her children.
He was not the only one. Ntakirutimana also recalled being raped by another man named Murwanashyaka, a former schoolmate. He knowingly infected her with HIV. Although she knew of his status, her love and desperation to save her children drove her to endure the abuse.
Fighting through emotion, she said, “I didn’t want this. Murwanashyaka came and raped me. Rutagengwa too. They both promised not to kill my children. That’s why I let it happen—I wanted to protect them.”
What pained her most was that some of the men raped her near the very place where her husband was hiding, humiliating him and breaking his heart in his final days.
Ntakirutimana never got tested until much later, but always suspected she had contracted HIV. Her fears were confirmed during testing, and she has been living with HIV for 31 years.
She later learned that Murwanashyaka died of AIDS, along with his wife. “He raped me many times. I can’t even count.”
Ntakirutimana continued to hide her children until the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) arrived in Butare. Unfortunately, by the time they got there, her husband had already been killed just one day prior by a large militia group that included his own brothers.
Despite the trauma she endured, Ntakirutimana finds pride in having saved her five children. She says seeing them alive today gives her peace and purpose.
“I’m proud of my children. They all went to school and graduated. I told them they survived because I gave up my body. Even though I live with HIV, I’m grateful to still see them standing.”
Ntakirutimana later testified against all those who harmed her, including the rapists and the brothers who killed her husband.
She also thanked the Government of Rwanda for its health initiatives, especially supporting those living with HIV, which have helped her survive.
The meeting was confirmed by President Museveni through a post on his X account, stating that their discussions focused on matters of mutual interest between the two countries, as well as regional security.
Gnassingbé’s regional diplomatic tour began on April 16, 2025, with a visit to Kinshasa—just five days after the AU General Assembly officially endorsed him as the mediator for the Rwanda-DRC tensions.
During his visit to Kinshasa, Gnassingbé met with President Félix Tshisekedi to discuss pathways to restoring peace and stability in eastern DRC and the Great Lakes region.
On the afternoon of April 21, he was received in Kigali by President Paul Kagame. The two leaders reviewed the progress of the regional processes towards achieving durable peace in the region.
According to the Office of the President of Togo, Gnassingbé’s visit to Kigali was intended to reaffirm his commitment to working closely with key stakeholders in finding a sustainable solution to the ongoing Rwanda-DRC conflict.
Gnassingbé succeeded Angola’s President João Lourenço in this mediation role. The African Union tasked him with building on the progress made through the Luanda talks, which began in 2022 amid rising tensions between Rwanda and the DRC.
Both the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have called for the harmonization of the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes in pursuit of lasting peace in eastern DRC and the region at large.
To ensure coordination between the Luanda and Nairobi processes, Gnassingbé is expected to work closely with other mediators appointed by these two regional blocs, who are specifically tasked with facilitating dialogue among Congolese stakeholders.
Lin said Trump’s methods reflect a businessman’s mentality that overlooks the cooperative, rules-based foundations of global trade.
He made the remarks during a press conference held under the theme “China’s Medium- and Long-Term Development Prospects and the Significance of Its Stable Economic Growth to the World.”
Lin was answering journalists’ questions regarding the ongoing trade tensions between China and the United States.
“Since I am not Trump, I can only infer his thinking from his policies. As a businessman, Trump takes great pride in his negotiation skills. He believes that international trade, economics, and politics can be handled like business deals—by creating advantageous bargaining positions to strike better terms,” Lin said.
He explained that Trump’s strategy is based on the belief that other countries are more dependent on trade with the U.S. and will therefore be forced to yield to pressure. However, Lin warned that such thinking is both flawed and dangerous.
“Trump assumes that, apart from China and the EU, which have economies as large as the U.S., other countries are much smaller. In his view, if you refuse to trade with me, your loss is bigger than mine… But I think there’s a major flaw in his logic. The world still depends on public goods and international rules. Without them, it’s hard to maintain order.”
He added that even small countries shouldn’t give in to unilateral pressure, as doing so could lead to repeated demands—a pattern already seen in U.S. dealings with Canada and Mexico. Lin urged the global community to restore a system based on trust and shared rules.
“Countries like China and the EU won’t easily give in… Even small countries shouldn’t surrender, because if you give in today, tomorrow he’ll ask for more. That’s already happened with Canada and Mexico. Therefore, the world now realises that deals with Trump cannot be trusted. We should restore a rule-based international order. This benefits us, American businesses, and ordinary Americans.”
Lin emphasised that the rest of the world, representing 85% of the global economy, must work together to resist isolationist trade tactics and promote open cooperation.
{{China urges closer ties with Africa
}}
As global trade tensions continue to rise, China is also calling for stronger alliances with developing countries, especially in Africa, to push back against protectionism and safeguard multilateralism.
Recently, China’s Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Affairs, Xue Bing, addressed a high-level seminar in Beijing and warned that moves such as decoupling supply chains, erecting trade barriers, and weaponising tariffs are endangering the global economic system, particularly for smaller economies in Africa and the Global South.
“We need to jointly shoulder historical responsibilities and advocate for an equal and orderly multipolar world, as well as universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation. China is ready to work with Africa to remember history, forge ahead together, and jointly uphold the basic rules of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter,” Xue said.
In 2024, trade between China and Africa reached a record $296 billion, marking a 6.1% increase from the previous year, according to Chinese customs data. South Africa remained China’s largest African trading partner, with trade totalling $52.4 billion.
To further strengthen these ties, China abolished customs tariffs on imports from 33 African countries in December 2024. The decision aligns with President Xi Jinping’s announcement at the September FOCAC summit of a $50 billion funding package for Africa over three years.
