The revocation followed remarks President Petro made during a street protest.
The State Department confirmed the decision in a post on X, stating: “Earlier today, Colombian president Gustavo Petro stood on a NYC street and urged U.S. soldiers to disobey orders and incite violence. We will revoke Petro’s visa due to his reckless and incendiary actions.”
The actions in question occurred when the leftist Colombian leader joined thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators outside the UN headquarters.
During his address, President Petro was filmed urging American service members to defy authority. According to multiple reports, he said: “I ask all the soldiers in the United States army not to point their rifles at humanity. Disobey Trump’s order! Obey the order of humanity!”
The remarks came amid escalating tensions between the two countries, which have historically been strong allies.
The incident followed President Petro’s formal address to the UN General Assembly earlier in the week. In that speech, he had already delivered sharp criticism toward the US, accusing President Donald Trump of being “complicit in genocide” in Gaza and calling for “criminal proceedings” against US officials over missile strikes on suspected drug-running boats in the Caribbean.
In response to the visa revocation, Colombia’s Interior Minister, Armando Benedetti, wrote on X that the action was politically motivated. The minister suggested that the US was targeting Petro because he “dared to denounce the genocide against Palestine at the UN.”
Colombian media reported that President Petro was already en route to Bogotá from New York on Friday night when the State Department made the announcement.
Petro is the second Colombian president whose US visa has been revoked; the first was Ernesto Samper in 1996, over alleged drug trafficking ties, according to TRT World.
Zelensky wrote earlier on the social media platform X that Ukrainian forces had recorded violations of the country’s airspace “by reconnaissance drones, which are likely Hungarian,” and that preliminary assessments suggested the flights may have targeted Ukraine’s border industrial areas.
Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto has strongly denied the allegation. Writing on his Facebook page, Szijjarto said Zelensky “is losing himself in anti-Hungarian sentiments” and “is chasing phantoms.”
Relations between Budapest and Kyiv have been marked by recurring tensions in recent years. Hungary has repeatedly criticized Ukrainian attacks against the Druzhba oil pipeline, a key route for its energy supplies from Russia, and has raised concerns over the rights of the ethnic Hungarian minority in Ukraine’s Transcarpathian region.
At the same time, Hungary is strongly opposed to Ukraine’s EU accession process, citing the need for guarantees on the protection of its minorities, but also the negative impact Ukraine’s accession would have on the EU’s agriculture subsidy system.
High-level exchanges have remained strained, with both sides often trading accusations in public statements.
Despite these disputes, Hungary has provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine since the outbreak of the armed conflict in February 2022, opening its borders to refugees and even setting up a Ukrainian-language school for the refugee children.
The new academy will serve as a regional center for education, research, and collaboration on conservation practices. Its location at the southern gate of Akagera National Park will give students and professionals direct access to real-world ecosystems, allowing practical training alongside theoretical studies.
“The academy will be established at the southern gate of the park, positioning Rwanda as a regional conservation hub,” Eugene Mutangana, Head of the Conservation Department at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) told The New Times.
The facility is expected to offer advanced training programs for conservation practitioners across Africa while creating opportunities for Rwandan park managers, rangers, and community leaders to develop specialized expertise to manage Rwanda’s protected areas.
The academy will be developed through a partnership with the African Parks Network, a non-profit conservation organization that co-manages several of Rwanda’s national parks.
A Cabinet meeting on September 15, 2025, approved the agreement, with the official signing scheduled for September 30, 2025.
Under the partnership, Rwanda will own 49 percent of the academy, while African Parks will hold the remaining stake.
Rwanda will contribute land and access to Akagera National Park for hands-on training.
“Our contribution includes the 8 hectares of land and granting students full-time access to Akagera National Park for their practical work,” Mutangana explained.
Following the signing, construction of the academy’s infrastructure and development of its academic systems are expected to take about one year.
The first cohort of students is projected to begin training in 2027.
The draft resolution, tabled by China and Russia, won four votes in favor and nine votes against, with two abstentions, failing to get the nine positive votes required for adoption.
If adopted, the draft resolution would have extended the nuclear deal between Iran and the six countries of Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States, as well as Security Council Resolution 2231 that endorsed the deal, for six months, and would have prevented a “snapback” of UN sanctions against Iran.
Friday’s voting result was exactly the same as that on Sept. 19 on a draft resolution put forward by the Republic of Korea in its capacity as Security Council president for the month of September, which, if adopted, would have continued to provide sanctions relief for Iran.
Algeria, China, Pakistan and Russia voted in favor of Friday’s draft resolution. Guyana and the Republic of Korea abstained. The remaining nine members of the Security Council voted against it.
Britain, France and Germany — the three European countries in the Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — claimed they triggered the snapback mechanism on Aug. 28 by notifying the Security Council of Tehran’s “non-performance.”
Under Resolution 2231, the UN sanctions in place before the resolution’s adoption would resume 30 days after the notification, unless the Security Council adopts a resolution to decide otherwise. The Sept. 19 draft resolution to that effect failed.
However, the legality of the three countries’ move has been questioned as it has skipped the Dispute Resolution Mechanism (DRM) provided for in the JCPOA and Resolution 2231.
Under the JCPOA and Resolution 2231, the DRM has 35 days to resolve the disagreement. A snapback can be triggered only after the DRM fails to resolve the issue.
Resolution 2231 expires on Oct. 18, 2025, after which time the Security Council would stop considering the Iran nuclear deal.
The national carrier announced the promotion on September 26, 2025, through its official social media channels, encouraging travellers to take advantage of the reduced fares.
“Enjoy 50% off flights across our network for travel until 30 June 2026. From safaris to cityscapes and beaches, the world is yours to explore at half the price,” the airline said.
The latest announcement follows a similar offer made in August, which had slashed fares by half for tickets purchased for travel through November 30, 2025. At the time, RwandAir said the deal applied to flights on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, highlighting options for beach getaways, city breaks, and spontaneous trips.
RwandAir currently operates flights to more than 23 destinations worldwide. In 2024, the airline carried over 1 million passengers and is targeting 1.2 million travellers in the 2025/26 fiscal year.
A year after claiming the junior rainbow jersey in Zurich, Finn delivered a masterclass of tactics and strength, sealing his second world title in as many years with a decisive late solo move.
The race started with high tempo, and before the first lap was even completed, an early three-man breakaway, including Michal Pomorski (Poland), Danylo Kozoriz (Ukraine), and Ramazan Yilmaz (Turkey), surged ahead, building a 24-second gap. But the peloton, strong and controlled, hunted them down methodically, with Kozoriz the last of the three to be reeled back in after 142 km.
Kigali’s searing heat and relentless climbs soon began to take their toll. Riders from the UAE, Thailand, Turkey, Seychelles, and Slovakia were among the first to drop out, and by the fourth lap, only 77 of the initial 121 starters remained in contention.
As the race moved into its middle stages, Belgium took the reins, ramping up the pace to force further splits. Riders like Germany’s Mauro Brenner struggled to keep up, while early attacks from Italy’s Pietro Mattio and Belgium’s Jasper Schoofs were neutralised by the chasing pack. The peloton grew thinner as the pressure mounted.
{{Spain’s Héctor Álvarez ignites the race
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With 62 km remaining, Spain’s Héctor Álvarez launched a bold solo attack that shook up the race. His move created immediate gaps, and although Belgium’s Jarno Widar tried to bridge the gap, Álvarez’s sustained effort shattered the group, and a select chase formed behind him. By 45 km to go, Álvarez had a small lead, joined by Finn and four others, but the pace continued to ramp up as the final laps loomed.
{{Finn makes his move
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As the lead group hit the Côte de Kimihurura climb, just 30 km from the finish, the race reached its tipping point. With perfect timing, Finn attacked, surging away from the others with precision and power. Only Switzerland’s Jan Huber could match him, and together they built a 47-second gap as they entered the final lap, while the chasers struggled to keep up.
Inside the last 10 km, however, the partnership between Finn and Huber began to unravel. With just 6.5 km to go, Finn attacked once again, leaving Huber behind and riding solo to victory.
The Italian crossed the line with a time of 3:57:27, arms raised in triumph, as the streets of Kigali erupted in celebration. Behind him, Huber held on for silver at +31 seconds, while Austria’s Marco Schrettl took bronze at +1:13.
{{A triumph for the ages
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Finn’s victory places him in rarefied company, joining the ranks of cycling legends like Greg LeMond, Remco Evenepoel, Mathieu van der Poel, and Matej Mohorič, who have won world titles across multiple age categories.
“It’s exactly one year, ’26. It’s like last year, it’s just unreal,” Finn remarked.
{{Kigali’s unforgettable roar
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Reflecting on the electric atmosphere at the finish, Finn said: “The last 500 meters, my ears were hurting from how loud the crowd was. People from different nations were cheering me on! The people here in Kigali are fantastic. It’s been a wonderful week, and I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.”
When it came to race tactics, Finn acknowledged the uncertainty of how things would play out: “We wanted to see what Belgium wanted to do at the start of the race. They kept it pretty controlled for the first half, so we tried to save some energy. Then it was just like all hell broke loose—just attacks everywhere. Luckily, I had some good legs. I thought I was suffering, but then I asked my teammates too. They were suffering, so it was a hard second part of the race.”
At just 18, the youngest in the decisive front group, Finn is already a two-time world champion. Looking ahead, he now has his sights set on joining the WorldTour in 2026 while continuing his development.
“When you’ve got this jersey, you’ve got to show it,” Finn said, already thinking of his next big challenge.
{{Rwanda’s riders put up a brave fight
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For the host nation, the race was a monumental challenge, but also a proud moment. Four Rwandan riders, Niyonkuru Samuel, Tuyizere Etienne, Ufitimana Shadrack, and Ruhumuriza Aime, took on the world’s best in front of a home crowd. However, the tough course proved too much for most. Only Niyonkuru Samuel finished the race, marking a hard-fought but ultimately proud showing for the Rwandan team.
{{Men’s Under 23 Road Race: Top 10 Results
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1. Lorenzo Mark Finn (ITA) — 3:57:27
2. Jan Huber (SUI) — 3:57:58 (+0:31)
3. Marco Schrettl (AUT) — 3:58:40 (+1:13)
4. Héctor Álvarez Martínez (ESP) — 3:59:05 (+1:38)
5. Mateusz Gajdulewicz (POL) — 3:59:09 (+1:42)
6. Pau Martí Soriano (ESP) — 3:59:49 (+2:22)
7. Victor Loulergue (FRA) — 3:59:49 (+2:22)
8. Robin Donzé (SUI) — 3:59:51 (+2:24)
9. Adria Pericas Capdevila (ESP) — 3:59:51 (+2:24)
10. Mateo Pablo Ramírez Torres (ECU) — 3:59:51 (+2:24)
The celebrated singer arrived in Kigali accompanied by his partner and manager, Maisha Madrugada Wirth.
The couple, who have been in a long-term relationship, are reportedly already planning their wedding, according to reliable sources. Nviiri and Maisha started dating after his split from Elodie Zone, a well-known Kenyan social media personality.
Fans in Kigali are in for a treat as Nviiri prepares to share the stage with fellow Kenyan artist Bensoul, who is expected to arrive on Saturday morning. They will be joined by top Rwandan acts, including Shemi, Kid from Kigali, and Angell Mutoni.
The singer is set to perform a lineup of his biggest hits, including Pombe Sigara, Niko Sawa featuring Bien, Nikita, Kitenge, and other fan favourites.
Before fully committing to music, Nviiri studied mechanical engineering and worked in the field, collaborating with his father, but his passion for music ultimately won out.
Initially, Niewiadoma admitted she arrived with doubts, worried about health risks and focused only on making it safely to race day. But once she began exploring Kigali and its surroundings, her perspective shifted. She described it as a “heart-opening moment” that helped her discover compassion and connection with people she had never met.
She said the joy of children running alongside the roads especially moved her. “Seeing all the kids splits my heart in half. I feel for them, but at the same time I see joy and happiness in their eyes.”
At one point, Niewiadoma and her compatriot Marta Lach were captured on video handing out candies to schoolchildren who cheered them during training. Reflecting on the moment, she remarked, “The more we open up to people, the more smiles.”
Niewiadoma added that while outsiders may believe children in Rwanda need help, the opposite can also be true. “Probably they are actually helping us, softening our hearts,” she reflected.
The Polish star concluded that her experience in Rwanda reminded her of the deeper lessons of sport and travel. “Travelling teaches you life, kindness, love and understanding for others, and I’m so grateful for that.”
Niewiadoma, who rides for Canyon–SRAM, won the Tour de France in 2024 after securing the climber’s jersey in the same race a year earlier. She will line up for Poland in the women’s road race on Saturday, September 27.
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, September 26, 2025, Lappartient praised the successful staging of the UCI Road World Championships in Kigali, the first time the event has been held in Africa.
He said the event was “really perfectly organised”, adding that even officials who had doubts were convinced once they arrived: “When they arrived here, they thought, ‘Wow, that’s really perfectly organised.’”
Lappartient also highlighted the hospitality and atmosphere in Kigali: “It’s safe, it’s beautiful, and the people are very friendly, happy to be here. A lot of smiles on their faces… I can feel also the African spirit, and that’s something really nice.”
He noted that many of his colleagues had never been to Africa and came with different expectations: “They had the image of Africa that is not really at the level of Rwanda that we can witness today. They were really impressed by everything here.”
Asked whether Africa could host more major competitions, Lappartient affirmed, highlighting Rwanda as a potential host for the Mountain Bike World Championships.
“Yes, I think it will be possible. I’m sure that mountain biking can be organised one day. You have everything needed to host it.”
He stressed the importance of ensuring that cycling grows beyond Europe, saying the UCI is “always very careful to really have the events worldwide, not only located in Europe.”
Looking ahead, he pointed to Rwanda’s potential to host more regular races as a legacy of the 2025 championships: “It would be good that, as a kind of legacy of these championships, we can even have more races here in the country… You need to compete, and we will not be able to bring everybody to race in Europe. So we need to have races here.”
Lappartient, who was recently re-elected to lead the UCI until 2029, also underlined the federation’s global vision. After Kigali, the next cities set to host the UCI Road World Championships are Montreal, Canada (2026); the French Alps, France (2027); Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (2028); Roskilde, Denmark (2029); Brussels, Belgium (2030); and Trentino, Italy (2031).
Adams made the remarks during the official inauguration of the ‘Field of Dreams cycling facility, built in Rwanda’s Eastern Province, Bugesera District.
The event was attended by Rwanda’s Minister of Sports Nelly Mukazayire, Israel’s Ambassador to Rwanda Einat Weiss; Serge Gasore, founder of the Gasore Foundation; Richard Mutabazi, Mayor of Bugesera District, Shaul Haztir, CEO of Winner Rwanda, and other dignitaries.
The project was launched in February 2022 as part of the #RaceForChange initiative, an effort to advance cycling and promote positive social transformation.
The facility features two cycling tracks, a pump track and a race track, both designed to nurture cycling talent and improve the well-being of children in Bugesera and across East Africa, according to Gasore.
“I remember when we first planned this project this was just an empty field,” Gasore said. “Now you can see exciting activities happening here, from basic skills development to talent growth. Today, we host around 500 children every weekend who come to ride for free.”
“We have children like Uwera Aline, who started riding here and, after just nine months, competed internationally. Alongside her regular studies, she is now skilled in coffee processing and is set to take a leading role in these programs,” he added.
Minister Mukazayire urged the children to make the most of the opportunity: “You must not waste this chance. Sports infrastructure like this is one of our key pillars to promote sports and develop your talents,” she said.
Speaking at the event, Sylvan Adams explained that Rwanda’s past shaped his commitment to investing in sports that bring people together.
“The history of Rwanda, especially the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, calls on everyone to contribute to the unity and reconciliation of its people. Sports are a powerful tool to help communities live together peacefully and thrive. This is something Rwanda and Israel have in common,” Adams said.
The investment, supported by Winner Rwanda, is valued at about $40 million. It includes a school offering education from nursery through the fourth year of secondary school, alongside specialized cycling training.
The center is equipped with a technology-driven cycling training hub, spectator facilities for live races, a bike garage, and administrative offices. The pump track is designed for mountain and BMX bikes, while the race track accommodates traditional road bikes.
In partnership with Bugesera District, the initiative also established the Bugesera Women’s Cycling Team, affiliated with the Gasore Serge Foundation.
