The Airport said the Air India flight AI 379, with 156 passengers on board, had taken off from Phuket bound for India’s Delhi when the pilot reported a bomb threat message on board and requested to make an emergency landing, prompting the airport to activate its contingency plan.
An airport official told Xinhua that the plane has since safely landed. Monchai Tanode, general manager of Phuket Airport, told reporters that the pilot reported to air traffic control that a crew member found a note with a suspected bomb threat in the plane’s lavatory.
The airport said all passengers have been disembarked, and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams have started thorough searches for any explosives or suspicious items on the aircraft.
The incident comes a day after more than 240 people were killed in an [Air India Boeing 787 crash ->https://en.igihe.com/news/article/air-india-plane-with-242-on-board-crashes-near-india-s-ahmedabad-airport#:~:text=A%20London%2Dbound%20Air%20India,calling%20a%20major%20aviation%20disaster.] shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday afternoon.
The disclosure was made by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa, on June 12, 2025, during a press briefing following his presentation of the draft budget and medium-term economic strategy to a joint session of Parliament.
Minister Murangwa noted that one of the major priorities in the upcoming fiscal year is to advance the full-scale construction of the new international airport.
“We previously carried out feasibility studies and completed preliminary works over a significant period. However, we now have a firm commitment to complete the airport by 2028. This fiscal year marks the beginning of full implementation,” he stated.
Regarding the funding, he explained, “So far, we’ve planned for $600 million. As you know, we have strategic partners, including Qatar. While this amount is part of the budget plan, the actual implementation phase will give us a clearer financial outlook.”
Murangwa confirmed that construction of the airport is scheduled to be completed by 2028 and will have the capacity to serve up to seven million passengers annually.
While addressing Parliament, the minister said current progress on the project stands at approximately 25% to 30%. Work on the runways, access roads, and water systems has been completed, and the project has now entered the building phase—expected to employ more than 6,000 workers.
In 2019, Qatar Airways partnered with the Government of Rwanda, securing a 60% stake in the airport project, which was then estimated to cost more than $1.3 billion.
Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa, outlined key adjustments to customs duties and tax rates when he tabled the national budget for the 2025/2026 financial year in Parliament on Thursday, June 12, 2025.
Among the main incentives, electric vehicles, hybrid cars, and electric motorbikes will continue to be exempt from customs duties to promote green mobility and reduce air pollution.
Additionally, luxury vehicles valued above $60,000 will benefit from tax incentives, while those valued at $60,000 or less will pay the standard 25% customs duty and applicable taxes.
The government is also reducing customs duties on several essential goods to ease the cost of living and support the local economy. For example, imported rice will face a 45% customs duty, down from the previous 75%. Wheat will be fully exempt from customs duties, sugar will be taxed at 25% instead of 100%, and cooking oil will attract a 25% rate, down from 35%.
Tax relief also extends to industrial and transport equipment. Road construction machinery and large textile and shoe manufacturing machines will be fully exempt from customs duties, while trucks with load capacities between five and twenty tonnes will have their customs duty reduced to 10% from 25%.
Public transport vehicles with more than 25 seats will be taxed at 10%, and those with 50 seats or more will be exempt.
To encourage digital financial transactions, electronic payment devices such as payment cards and point-of-sale machines will now be exempt from customs duties, a change from the previous 25% tax rate.
Minister Murangwa further explained that goods imported for sale in shops designated for security personnel will be fully exempt from customs duties, previously charged at 25%.
However, to protect domestic industries and support the Made in Rwanda initiative, some duties will increase. Notably, second-hand clothes will now be taxed at a fixed rate of $2.5 per kilogram, replacing the earlier 35% customs duty. Used shoes will be taxed at $5 per kilogram instead of 35%.
The total national budget for the 2025/26 fiscal year is projected at Frw 7,032.5 billion, with Frw 4,105.2 billion expected to be generated from taxes and duties.
In a press statement, the members of the Security Council recalled Resolution 2736 of 2024, which demands that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) halt the siege of El Fasher.
The council members strongly condemned the attack on June 2 near al Koma in North Darfur on a joint World Food Programme (WFP) and UN Children’s Fund humanitarian convoy, which killed five humanitarian workers, injured several people, damaged life-saving humanitarian supplies and burned multiple trucks.
They reiterated UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ call for an urgent investigation and for the perpetrators to be held to account.
The council members also condemned repeated shelling by the RSF on May 29 that damaged a WFP facility in El Fasher.
They reminded the parties to the conflict to ensure the safety and security of UN and humanitarian personnel and their premises and assets. They reiterated that deliberate attacks against humanitarian personnel, their premises and assets may constitute war crimes.
The vessels, carrying over 100 passengers, set off on Wednesday afternoon from Bikoro port despite warnings of unstable weather and clear signs of overloading, according to a statement from the Provincial Coordination of the Panel of Civil Society Experts of Equateur.
“Witnesses reported that the overcrowding was so severe that passengers were being turned away from the canoes,” said Akula Dieu, a member of the civil society group.
Authorities say the boats had been hired by a family to transport people attending a funeral. The group departed from an unauthorised location, which may have contributed to the tragedy. Bikoro Lake Commissioner Gabriel Ifulu Bongolomba said the vessels were struck by heavy waves brought on by rain, causing them to overturn.
Officials said rescue operations face serious challenges due to a lack of basic equipment such as life jackets, rescue boats, and even fuel.
“We’re forced to requisition private boats for this type of operation, but sometimes we don’t even have enough fuel to carry out our work properly,” Bongolomba told the media.
Boat accidents are a frequent and deadly occurrence on Congolese waterways, largely due to overloading, weak regulatory enforcement, and the widespread absence of basic safety precautions.
The strikes, among the most extensive on Iranian soil since the 1980s war with Iraq, killed at least two of Tehran’s most senior military figures and plunged the Middle East into a perilous new chapter of conflict.
Multiple strategic sites across Iran were hit, including the country’s primary uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, where plumes of black smoke were seen rising. The International Atomic Energy Agency later confirmed the site had been struck and said it was monitoring radiation levels.
Iran’s state-run media confirmed the deaths of two key figures: Gen. Hossein Salami, the commander of the powerful Revolutionary Guard, and Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of the armed forces. Several top scientists linked to Iran’s nuclear programme were also reported killed, although their identities have not yet been disclosed.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed “severe punishment,” accusing Israel of a “wicked crime” and claiming that residential areas were also struck.
In an initial retaliatory move, Iran launched more than 100 drones toward Israel, though Israeli military officials said most were intercepted.
Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Forces, described the strikes as a “preemptive measure” involving around 200 aircraft targeting approximately 100 Iranian sites.
“We struck the heart of their nuclear and missile development infrastructure,” he said, adding that operations were ongoing.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the move, calling it a battle for Israel’s survival.
“This is a clear and present danger to our nation,” he said in a televised address. “We will continue until this threat is permanently removed.”
He further stated that the strike was aimed at Iran’s regime, not its people, expressing hope that it would mark the beginning of the end for what he called a “brutal dictatorship.”
The timing of the attack coincides with increasing international pressure on Iran. Just a day earlier, the IAEA Board of Governors issued a formal censure against Tehran for its refusal to cooperate with nuclear inspectors. Iran responded by announcing the establishment of a third enrichment site and the deployment of advanced centrifuges.
The Trump administration, which had advised against a strike during ongoing nuclear negotiations, denied any involvement.
“We were not part of these operations,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
“Our focus now is on safeguarding American personnel in the region.”
The U.S. had quietly withdrawn some diplomats from Baghdad earlier in the week and urged military families to consider leaving the region.
As airspace across Iran, Israel, Iraq, and Jordan was shut down, oil markets reacted sharply. Brent crude prices surged nearly 8%, and Israel’s main airport closed temporarily.
Analysts warn that a full-blown regional war is now a real possibility, especially if Iran’s promised retaliation causes civilian casualties inside Israel.
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national seated in 11A aboard Air India Flight AI171, lived to recount the harrowing moments when the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed just seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
The London-bound flight, carrying 242 people, including 11 children and crew, crashed into a residential complex housing doctors less than a minute after departing at 1:39 p.m. on Thursday. The impact triggered a massive fireball and left a trail of destruction and despair in the heart of Gujarat’s largest city.
Lying in a general ward at Civil Hospital, Asarwa, Vishwash described the chaos that unfolded.
“Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly,” he told Hindustan Times.
He sustained injuries to his chest, eyes and feet, but managed to crawl from the debris and escape.
“When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran. There were pieces of the plane all around me. Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance,” he recalled, clutching his boarding pass, which confirmed his assigned seat: 11A.
Vishwash, who has lived in London for two decades, had been visiting family in India. He was returning to the UK with his older brother, 45-year-old Ajay Kumar Ramesh, who was seated in another part of the aircraft.
“We visited Diu. He was travelling with me and I can’t find him anymore. Please help me find him,” he pleaded.
Police Commissioner GS Malik confirmed to news agency ANI that one passenger, the individual in seat 11A, had survived.
“He is under treatment at the hospital,” Malik said.
Rescue teams continue to comb through the charred wreckage, searching for remains and survivors. Authorities have yet to release an official death toll, though visuals from the crash site show a scene of near-total devastation.
Among those reportedly on board was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
Air India confirmed the passenger manifest included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian.
The Royal Family issued a statement expressing shock and offering “special prayers and deepest possible sympathy” to affected families across multiple nations.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy told the House of Commons that crisis teams have been activated in London and Delhi.
“We know that British nationals were on board, and we are working urgently with Indian authorities to provide support,” Lammy said.
The plane, a Boeing 787-8 registered as VT-ANB, was part of Air India’s Dreamliner fleet. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, though aviation authorities confirmed that the aircraft issued a distress call shortly after takeoff before losing contact with air traffic control.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ordered a full investigation and instructed federal and local agencies to provide maximum support to rescue and recovery operations. The airport remains closed indefinitely, and Boeing has said it is working to gather more information as global scrutiny intensifies.
The ambitious spending plan, unveiled on Thursday, June 12, by Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Yusuf Murangwa, reflects a strong commitment to strategic investments aimed at accelerating economic transformation and enhancing national resilience.
Presenting the budget to Parliament, Minister Murangwa stressed the importance of aligning fiscal priorities with Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation (NST-2), citing the need for sustained infrastructure development, enhanced service delivery, and inclusive economic growth.
“The Government is prioritizing spending to support investments that will help us achieve our NST-2 goals,” said Minister Murangwa. .
“We are also working to manage public finances carefully to reduce our budget deficit, stabilise debt, and make our economy more resilient to external shocks. At the same time, we want to improve household incomes and spending.”
The lion’s share of the budget, Frw 4.42 trillion (62.8%), has been allocated to economic transformation. Key investments include the construction of the New Kigali International Airport, expansion of access to electricity and clean water, modernisation of the transport network, and support for urban and rural settlement development.
The government is also focused on stimulating local manufacturing and exports to reduce the trade deficit, boosting the financial sector, promoting job creation, and strengthening climate resilience.
The social transformation pillar will receive Frw 1.53 trillion (21.7%) to improve healthcare and education services, strengthen social protection programmes, support family and gender promotion, and enhance disaster preparedness and nutrition services.
A total of Frw 1.09 trillion (15.5%) is earmarked for transformational governance. This funding will support service delivery improvements, public financial management, justice system reforms, and peace and security efforts, while also bolstering Rwanda’s economic diplomacy.
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The Frw 7.03 trillion budget will be financed through a mix of domestic and external sources.
Domestic revenues are projected at Frw 4.11 trillion, consisting of Frw 3.63 trillion in tax revenue and Frw 477.2 billion from other sources. External grants are estimated at Frw 585.2 billion, while loans, largely concessional, will contribute Frw 2.15 trillion.
Of the total expenditure, Frw 4.35 trillion will go toward recurrent spending, while Frw 2.68 trillion is allocated for capital investments, including equity funding and policy lending.
Rwanda’s budget announcement coincides with similar fiscal year presentations across East African Community (EAC) member states, all delivered under the shared theme: “Inclusive economic transformation through domestic resource mobilisation and resilient strategic Investment for job creation and improved livelihoods.”
The SADC Secretariat announced the commencement of the second phase of the withdrawal process on Thursday, 12 June 2025.
The exercise entails the repatriation of mission personnel along with their personal belongings and the remaining operational equipment.
The withdrawing troops will be transported by road through Rwanda to Tanzania, where the Tanzanian contingent will continue to Dar es Salaam. South African and Malawian contingents will be airlifted to their respective countries.
The mission, launched in December 2023 to support Congolese forces in neutralising the M23 rebel group, was terminated in March.
The first phase of the withdrawal, which began on 29 April, focused on the removal of equipment and logistical supplies.
“SADC remains fully committed to supporting peace, security and political stability in the DRC and the broader region,” the bloc said.
“The orderly withdrawal reflects our adherence to collective security principles and support for peaceful conflict resolution.”
Deployed with an offensive mandate, SAMIDRC was tasked with pushing back the M23 rebels, who have repeatedly stated they are fighting against the marginalisation and persecution of Kinyarwanda-speaking communities in the DRC. However, the mission faced significant operational challenges.
In January, M23 rebels seized the strategic city of Goma in North Kivu, dealing a serious blow to the regional intervention force. The confrontation resulted in the deaths of 18 SADC troops, including 14 from South Africa, two from Malawi, and two from Tanzania, and left dozens injured.
Since the loss of Goma, SAMIDRC forces had largely remained confined to their bases, amid growing political pressure from within SADC member states to disengage. In South Africa, lawmakers increasingly questioned the rationale behind continued military involvement.
For over 15,000 years, dogs have been our steadfast partners, a bond traced back to an ancient pet dog buried alongside humans in Oberkassel, Germany. Science confirms what every dog owner feels: when you lock eyes with your pup, oxytocin (the love hormone) surges in both of you.
Your dog truly loves you back. But being a great friend to your dog takes more than treats and belly rubs. It requires care, patience, and sometimes a trip to dog school.
In Kigali’s Kimironko neighbourhood, a unique haven is reshaping how Rwandans view their four-legged friends.
Dog Haus is Rwanda’s first dog academy, where wagging tails meet purposeful training, and dogs transform from backyard guards to cherished family members. This is no fast-food joint. It’s a place where dogs learn good behaviour, build strength, and occasionally master tricks to steal the show.
Behind this mission are passionate individuals like Carla, Nderitu, and Dieubon, whose love for dogs is sparking a canine cultural revolution in Rwanda, turning ordinary pups into wonders of companionship.
Carla, a Belgian national, arrived in Rwanda two and a half years ago with two suitcases, a big heart, and two dogs. Her pack soon grew to four after she adopted a street dog and kept a foster pup from Wag, a local animal welfare group.
“I’ve always loved animals,” Carla says, smiling warmly as she sits surrounded by her furry crew.
Carla’s journey to Dog Haus began with a striking observation that many dogs in Rwanda were treated less like family and more like living alarm systems, locked up by day, released at night to fend off intruders, and often left lonely.
“It would make the dog aggressive,” Carla recalls. “I’m happy to see that’s happening less now.”
Determined to change this, she joined Dog Haus to create a safe space where dogs are seen as emotional, intelligent beings.
For Carla, training goes beyond simple commands like sit or stay. She wants owners to understand that dogs aren’t just guards—they’re companions, friends, even four-legged therapists.
“Once you start to know your dog,” she says, “you see how they miss you when you’re gone.”
Through her work, Carla is helping dogs rise from mere utility to wonders of love and loyalty.
At Dog Haus, there is also Nderitu Mushangi, a certified dog trainer whose calm demeanor and fur-covered clothes reflect the quiet confidence of someone who has spent years working closely with animals.
Trained in Kenya and inspired by his veterinarian father, he has worked with over 30 dogs, including Dogo Argentinos, Caucasian Shepherds, German Shepherds, Malinois, and Dobermans.
According to Nderitu, breed matters. A Maltese and a Malinois might both be cute, but one will snuggle in your lap while the other chases a leaf at 90 km/h.
“Before they get even a breed, they have to understand what the breed comes with,” he explains.
At Dog Haus, Nderitu trains about 15 dogs at a time, but his star pupil is his own: Tequitos, a canine legend who won the 2024 Doctober Fest.
Tequitos doesn’t just sit and stay. He skates, rides bikes, opens doors, and even performs CPR. If you pass out, Tequitos might save your life, or at least slobber you awake.
Nderitu’s work goes beyond tricks, though. It’s about building a shared language between dog and owner, where both learn from each other.
“Every day, you’re learning something from the dog, and you’re teaching the dog something,” he says.
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Ngabonzima Mugisha Dieubon, Dog Haus’s unofficial Dog Whisperer, found his calling during a childhood game of hide-and-seek when he stumbled upon a dog and her puppies.
“I started feeding them, and something just clicked,” he says.
Without formal training, Dieubon had a natural knack for understanding dogs, whether aggressive or anxious.
“I could sense when a dog was defensive or scared. I treated them with understanding,” he explains.
Dieubon’s mission took shape when he rescued a local street dog and trained it to outperform some imported breeds.
“People think only foreign dogs can be trained,” he says. His scrappy street pup, now a star at Dog Haus, proves otherwise.
Starting with free training sessions after high school, Dieubon turned his passion into a profession.
“I wasn’t planning to make it a job,” he admits. “I just wanted to train my dog and maybe post it online.”
But his methods worked, and word spread. By turning a street dog into a shining example of skill and loyalty, Dieubon showcases the wonder of giving any dog a chance to thrive.
At Dog Haus, everyone believes that dogs are more than just security tools or status symbols. They are living beings with emotions and needs. Carla, Nderitu, and Dieubon work together with a shared goal to change how Rwandans think about their dogs and to foster stronger, more compassionate relationships.
“Training with your dog matters,” Dieubon emphasises.
A two-week program with an involved owner is more effective than a month of training without them. While foreign residents often grasp this, local owners are still catching up, but Dog Haus is bridging that gap.
Training benefits both dogs and their owners. Without proper guidance, dogs can become confused, resulting in jumped-on guests, ignored commands, and chewed-up shoes. When dogs are trained to respond to commands like “sit” or “stay,” daily life becomes safer and more manageable for everyone.
Dieubon stresses responsibility: “A dog should never leave the compound without a leash. The streets are unpredictable with chickens, goats, and toddlers with brochettes.”
To him, a leash isn’t about control; it’s about keeping your dog safe in the streets.
Costs are part of the equation, but manageable. Dieubon explains that feeding a dog might cost Frw 150,000, depending on whether you choose processed kibble or natural food. Puppies need quality nutrition to avoid health issues.
“If you don’t take care of your dog, it shows in their behaviour,” Dieubon warns.
Compared to replacing furniture or paying for vet visits, training is a bargain. Dog Haus’s accessible programs make this transformation possible for more Rwandans, turning dogs into wonders of harmony in the home.
Dog Haus is also challenging stereotypes, such as the belief that only foreign breeds can be trained or that dog ownership is a luxury.
Dieubon’s street-dog success story proves local pups can shine, and affordable programs make training accessible. Even tricky breeds like the Chow Chow, stubborn as a coworker who ignores your emails, can be trained with the right approach, though Dieubon admits they’re not for beginners.
Dogs have been close to humans since ancient times, evolving from hunting companions to valued family members. Dog Haus is helping Rwanda recognise this reality. Whether it’s a rescued street dog gaining confidence, a Malinois developing impressive skills, or Tequitos performing life-saving CPR, the dogs at Dog Haus are showing Kigali a new approach to caring for and living alongside their canine companions.
Watch the full Dog Haus documentary to discover more about the team’s work.
