Foreign
FOCAC akeyplatform for deepening partnership between China, Africa: Rwandan President

By Huang Weixin, People’s Daily
Based on mutual respect and shared interests, Rwanda and China have achieved fruitful results in their practical cooperation in infrastructure, poverty reduction, agriculture, trade, green development, and digitalization, said Rwandan President Paul Kagame in a recent interview with People’s Daily ahead of his attendance of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing.
“We look forward to further strengthening our cooperation, especially in new and emerging fields, ensuring that our partnership continues to benefit both China and Africa,” noted Kagame.
Kagame has visited China multiple times and attended the 2006 and 2018 Beijing summits of the FOCAC. He said that the FOCAC is a key platform for deepening the partnership between China and Africa. “China’s approach to Africa, characterized by sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith, resonates strongly with Rwanda’s values,” Kagame said.
China has proven to be a reliable friend and partner, supporting Africa’s development without imposing its will. This model of cooperation is one that Rwanda deeply appreciates and seeks to continue, he added.
“Our collaboration has led to tangible results, especially in poverty reduction and infrastructure development,” said Kagame, highlighting that China has become one of Rwanda’s largest trading partners, and Rwanda has deepened its cooperation with China across various fields, including agriculture, green development, and digitalization.
The president said the Belt and Road Initiative has played a crucial role in enhancing Rwanda’s infrastructure and promoting sustainable development. Projects like roads in different corners of Rwanda and in the city of Kigali, IPRC North in Musanze, and the Nyabarongo II Hydropower Plant have had a direct impact on improving livelihoods and supporting economic growth.
“Looking forward, we see potential for further cooperation in areas such as digital economy, renewable energy, and agricultural modernization,” Kagame said.
Kagame has visited several places in China, including Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing, among others. “What impresses me the most is the scale of development and modernization, particularly in infrastructure and technology, which serves as an inspiration for Rwanda’s own development journey,” said Kagame.
He said that Rwanda and China share a history of overcoming immense challenges to achieve significant progress, and in terms of governance. “We both prioritize long-term planning, social stability, and the well-being of our citizens,” said Kagame.
He believes that China’s model of development offers inspiration for Rwanda. “We should adapt the experiences of Chinese modernization to our unique context based on our cultural, social, and economic realities,” Kagame noted.
He envisions Rwanda becoming a country with a diversified economy driven by innovation, technology, and high-value sectors, saying Rwanda aspires to be a leader in peacekeeping, environmental sustainability, and regional integration, and will continue to play a constructive role in African development.
Kagame said the claims of “debt traps” and “new colonialism” are often unfounded and reflect a misunderstanding of the nature of China-Africa cooperation.
Rwanda, like many other African countries, values its partnership with China, which is based on mutual respect and shared interests. The country believes in evaluating partnerships based on their actual outcomes, he said.
“Our approach to cooperation is one that emphasizes sovereignty, self-reliance, and the pursuit of win-win outcomes,” Kagame stressed.
“As the voices of the Global South grow stronger on the international stage, it is essential for China and Africa to continue to strengthen their unity and cooperation,” Kagame said, adding that China’s commitment to being a member of the Global South and aligning its interests with those of developing countries is commendable.
He hopes that such a collective voice is heard in multilateral forums, advocating a more just and equitable global order.
“Rwanda has much to offer in terms of tourism, and we are keen to welcome more Chinese tourists,” Kagame said, hoping China and Rwanda to promote cultural exchanges, educational partnerships, and tourism initiatives, and enhance mutual understanding and awareness.
Foreign
Trump begins mass layoffs at Voice of America

The Trump administration has initiated sweeping layoffs at Voice of America (VOA) and other U.S.-funded international broadcasters, effectively dismantling institutions long seen as critical for American influence abroad.
On Sunday, contractors working for VOA received an email notification that their employment would be terminated by the end of March. “You must cease all work immediately and are not permitted to access any agency buildings or systems,” the email read, according to multiple staff members who confirmed the development.
The move, which comes just a day after all employees were placed on administrative leave, disproportionately affects non-English-language services, where contractors make up a significant portion of the workforce. Many of these contractors are not U.S. citizens and may now face visa issues, further complicating their status in the country.
While most full-time staff remain employed for now, they have been told not to work, leaving VOA and its sister organizations in a state of uncertainty. Some services, unable to produce new programming, have resorted to playing music.
VOA, founded during World War II, has been a critical tool for U.S. public diplomacy, broadcasting in 49 languages to audiences in countries where press freedom is restricted. However, President Trump signed an executive order on Friday targeting its parent organization, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), as part of broader federal budget cuts.
The cuts extend beyond VOA, affecting other U.S.-funded media entities such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Radio Farda (which broadcasts in Persian to Iran), and Alhurra, an Arabic-language network launched after the 2003 Iraq invasion. The administration argues that taxpayers should not fund what it calls “radical propaganda,” despite VOA’s longstanding editorial independence.
Liam Scott, a VOA journalist covering press freedom and disinformation, expressed concern over the decision. “I’ve covered press freedom for a long time, and I’ve never seen something like what’s happened in the U.S. over the past couple of months,” he wrote on social media.
The move has drawn international attention, particularly from China and Russia, which have been expanding their own state-funded media efforts. The Chinese state-run *Global Times* reacted with an editorial declaring that “the monopoly of information held by traditional Western media is being shattered.”
Trump’s administration has pursued aggressive cuts across federal agencies, including eliminating most foreign aid and significantly reducing the Department of Education. With input from tech billionaire Elon Musk, Trump has focused on reducing government size to facilitate tax cuts.
As the global media landscape shifts, the dismantling of U.S.-funded broadcasters leaves a vacuum that could be filled by rival state-controlled networks. Whether Congress or legal challenges will intervene remains to be seen, but for now, the future of America’s international broadcasting efforts hangs in the balance.
Foreign
Judge blocks Trump from deporting non-citizens using wartime law

A federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s attempt to deport migrants allegedly linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua under a wartime law.
US District Judge James Boasberg issued a restraining order preventing the administration from using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expel undocumented migrants accused of gang ties. The order initially protected five individuals challenging the deportation but was later expanded to all affected noncitizens in US custody.
Boasberg also directed that any planes carrying these migrants be returned to the United States. “Any plane containing these folks that is going to take off or is in the air needs to be returned,” he ruled. The restraining order will remain in effect for 14 days or until further court action.
The Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act, citing Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization that has “unlawfully infiltrated the United States” and is engaging in hostile actions. However, civil rights groups, including the ACLU, argue that the gang’s activities do not meet the legal definition of an invasion.
The Justice Department has appealed the ruling, while the case continues in court.
Foreign
China’s new chapter in global innovation

By Gu Yekai, Liu Yiqing, People’s Daily
At a smart construction project site managed by China State Construction Engineering Corporation, a quiet technological revolution is underway. Amid cranes and concrete, engineers are deploying advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems that could fundamentally reshape the construction industry.
Li Fengjian, an AI specialistwith Xianyuan Technology, detailed how the company’s latest intelligent system – built on a large model – adapts to complex construction environments.”Engineering machinery equipped with intelligent agents can adjust its operations automatically in response to weather conditions,” Li explained, adding that a spatiotemporal sensing network further enhances the system, providing real-time tracking of both personnel and materials throughout the construction site.
In February this year, Xianyuan Technology rapidly integrated its self-developed model with DeepSeek-R1, effectively blending a general-purpose framework with industry-specific models. This integration, Li noted, has produced a solution capable of delivering expert-level performance in challenging, dynamic environments. The firm is based in the Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center, aburgeoning AI incubator that now hosts over 200 innovative enterprises.
China’s technological transformation extends well beyond the construction sector. Overthe past three decades, the country has evolved from its initial forays into internet connectivity to becoming a key player in global digital innovation.
Here, a steady stream of technological innovations are emerging, from the early days of emails and web browsing to the cutting-edge technologies represented by DeepSeek and the dynamic evolution of social media.
Wu Jianping, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering and headof the Zhongguancun Laboratory, pointed out that while China had introduced only one internet standard before 2005, it now contributes to over 200 worldwide. Such strides illustrate the country’s concerted push toward high-level technological self-reliance – a journey marked by both persistence and determination.
Beyond the digital realm, China is makingsignificant inroads in aerospace, new energy, and other high-tech sectors. It has transitioned from being a follower to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with global leaders, and in some areas, even taking the lead. Wu attributed these achievements to a dynamic ecosystem of policy reforms and talent cultivation that encourages creativity and technical expertise at every level.
Amid intensifying international competition, collaborative research and the integration of new technologies with traditional industries are central to China’s high-quality economic development.
Mei Linhai, a researcher at China’s State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Intelligence, remarked that the age of AI calls for continuous exploration. “In this era, everyone is an innovator. Only by persistently pushing the boundaries can we remain at the forefront of both technological and industrial development,” Mei observed.
In the field of general-purpose AI, Mei emphasized that independent innovation is paramount. He advocates for a self-driven industrial ecosystem that leveragesbreakthrough technologies to boost productivity and unlock new possibilities, Mei said.
-
News16 hours ago
Dangote, Amosun bicker over demolition of cement factory in Ogun
-
News16 hours ago
Trump revokes security details for Biden’s children
-
Business16 hours ago
Naira appreciates N1,590/$ in parallel market
-
News16 hours ago
Four suspected kidnappers shot dead in gun battle with police in Delta
-
News10 hours ago
Rivers Crisis: Niger Delta monarchs ask Tinubu to fire Wike or call him to order
-
News16 hours ago
Seyi Tinubu deserves some medals, not attacks – Balami
-
News16 hours ago
RIVERS CRISIS: Process for impeaching a governor
-
Sports10 hours ago
Super Eagles Face Rwanda in Must-Win World Cup Qualifier