Latest news with #Western
AsiaOne
29 minutes ago
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Rwanda and Congo sign peace deal in US to end fighting and attract investment, World News
WASHINGTON/PARIS/KINSHASA - Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo signed a US-brokered peace agreement on Friday (June 27), raising hopes for an end to fighting that has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands more this year. The agreement marks a breakthrough in talks held by US President Donald Trump's administration and aims to attract billions of dollars of Western investment to a region rich in tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, lithium and other minerals. At a ceremony with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, the two African countries' foreign ministers signed the agreement pledging to implement a 2024 deal that would see Rwandan troops withdraw from eastern Congo within 90 days, according to a copy seen by Reuters. Kinshasa and Kigali will also launch a regional economic integration framework within 90 days, the agreement said. "They were going at it for many years, and with machetes - it is one of the worst, one of the worst wars that anyone has ever seen. And I just happened to have somebody that was able to get it settled," Trump said on Friday, ahead of the signing of the deal in Washington. "We're getting, for the United States, a lot of the mineral rights from the Congo as part of it. They're so honoured to be here. They never thought they'd be coming." Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe called the agreement a turning point. Congo Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner said it must be followed by disengagement. Trump later met both officials in the Oval Office, where he presented them with letters inviting Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame to Washington to sign a package of agreements that Massad Boulos, Trump's senior adviser for Africa, dubbed the "Washington Accord". Nduhungirehe told Trump that past deals had not been implemented and urged Trump to stay engaged. Trump warned of "very severe penalties, financial and otherwise", if the agreement is violated. Rwanda has sent at least 7,000 soldiers over the border, according to analysts and diplomats, in support of the M23 rebels, who seized eastern Congo's two largest cities and lucrative mining areas in a lightning advance earlier this year. The gains by M23, the latest cycle in a decades-old conflict with roots in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, sparked fears that a wider war could draw in Congo's neighbours. Economic deals Boulos told Reuters in May that Washington wanted the peace agreement and accompanying minerals deals to be signed simultaneously this summer. Rubio said on Friday that heads of state would be "here in Washington in a few weeks to finalize the complete protocol and agreement." However, the agreement signed on Friday gives Congo and Rwanda three months to launch a framework "to expand foreign trade and investment derived from regional critical mineral supply chains". A source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday that another agreement on the framework would be signed by the heads of state at a separate White House event at an unspecified time. There is an understanding that progress in ongoing talks in Doha - a separate but parallel mediation effort with delegations from the Congolese government and M23 - is essential before the signing of the economic framework, the source said. [[nid:718669]] The agreement signed on Friday voiced "full support" for the Qatar-hosted talks. It also says Congo and Rwanda will form a joint security coordination mechanism within 30 days and implement a plan agreed last year to monitor and verify the withdrawal of Rwandan soldiers within three months. Congolese military operations targeting the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a Congo-based armed group that includes remnants of Rwanda's former army and militias that carried out the 1994 genocide, are meant to conclude over the same timeframe. Reuters reported on Thursday that Congolese negotiators had dropped an earlier demand that Rwandan troops immediately leave eastern Congo, paving the way for the signing ceremony on Friday. Congo, the United Nations and Western powers say Rwanda is supporting M23 by sending troops and arms. Rwanda has long denied helping M23, saying its forces are acting in self-defence against Congo's army and ethnic Hutu militiamen linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, including the FDLR. "This is the best chance we have at a peace process for the moment despite all the challenges and flaws," said Jason Stearns, a political scientist at Simon Fraser University in Canada who specialises in Africa's Great Lakes region. Similar formulas have been attempted before, Stearns added, and "it will be up to the US, as they are the godfather of this deal, to make sure both sides abide by the terms." The agreement signed on Friday says Rwanda and Congo will de-risk mineral supply chains and establish value chains "that link both countries, in partnership, as appropriate, with the US and US investors." The terms carry "a strategic message: securing the east also means securing investments," said Tresor Kibangula, a political analyst at Congo's Ebuteli research institute. "It remains to be seen whether this economic logic will suffice" to end the fighting, he added.
India.com
39 minutes ago
- Politics
- India.com
Russia Will No Longer Play One-Sided Games With West: Russian President Putin
New Delhi: Russia will no longer engage in "one-sided" games with the West, President Vladimir Putin stated while addressing journalists on the sidelines of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) summit in Minsk, RT reported. According to RT, Putin said that Western nations have repeatedly betrayed Russia by not honouring their promises regarding NATO expansion and resolving the Ukraine conflict. He emphasised that NATO is using alleged Russian "aggressiveness" to justify plans to increase defence spending to 5 per cent of member states' GDP and bolster military presence in Europe. "They [the West] are turning everything upside down," Putin said at a press conference on Friday. "No one is saying a word about how we've come up to the Russian special military operation," he continued, asserting that the Ukraine conflict's origins date back decades, when Moscow was "blatantly lied to" about NATO's intentions. "What followed was one expansion wave after another," he added. RT further quoted Putin as saying that Russia's repeated security concerns regarding NATO's activities were ignored by the West. "Isn't it aggressive behavior? That is precisely aggressive behaviour, which the West does not want to pay attention to," he said. The Russian President also accused Western nations of supporting separatist and terrorist movements as long as they targeted Russia. "Everything was good as long as it was against Russia. Haven't we seen this? They [the West] saw it as well. Yet, they only talk about our aggressiveness," he said, as per RT. Putin's remarks came just days after the NATO summit in The Hague, where the alliance's members committed to increasing defence expenditure to 5 per cent of GDP by 2035. NATO's recent decision to ramp up military spending will not significantly impact Russia's security, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday, according to a report by Russia Today. Speaking at a press conference, Lavrov dismissed the West's claim of a Russian threat as unfounded and reiterated Moscow's openness to peace talks if the core issues behind the Ukraine conflict are addressed. His remarks came after the NATO summit in The Hague, where member states pledged to increase defence expenditure to 5 per cent of GDP by 2035, citing the "long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security." US President Donald Trump described the agreement as a "monumental win," having long urged European allies to contribute more to their defense. Responding to a question on whether Russia views the NATO buildup as a threat, Lavrov stated, "I don't think it will have any significant effect." He added, "We know what goals we are pursuing; we don't hide them, we state them openly, and they are absolutely legitimate in terms of any interpretation of the UN Charter and international law. We know by what means we will always ensure these goals." RT reported that Moscow has consistently denied any plans to attack NATO countries, calling such accusations "nonsense" used by Western officials to justify increased military budgets. Lavrov also said Russia remains willing to engage in dialogue if NATO addresses root concerns, including its expansion toward Russia's borders and continued military support for Ukraine's NATO ambitions.
The Sun
39 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Sun
From tweets to tectonics
IT began, again, with a tweet. Donald Trump, from his digital podium, declared that Iran and Israel had 'come to him' asking for peace and that he was promising a future of 'love, peace and prosperity'. The post went viral. Commentators scrambled. Headlines reframed. But beneath the performance lay the more troubling reality: real peace is nowhere in sight and never was. Just hours after this so-called peace overture, Israel unleashed another wave of airstrikes. Yet, we already know Israel's operations are routinely underwritten by US logistics and satellite support. Emir Research has long highlighted this conceptual bifurcation within the US, now increasingly visible even to the most unscrupulous observers. On one side, a political class desperate to appear in control; on the other, a war economy that no longer answers to democratic oversight. These bombings expose not only Israeli aggression but also the extent to which Washington has become operationally fragmented. But perhaps the most revealing element is not the gap between Trump's rhetoric and reality but the possibility that this gap is intentional. What if Trump's apparent incoherence is not a miscalculation but a method? His declarations of peace are routinely followed by orchestrated escalation. Not because he controls outcomes but because he wants the world to see that he does not. The deeper message is strategic: that America cannot guarantee anything because it cannot even govern itself. Treaties signed today are disavowed tomorrow. Not that we did not know this before but with Trump the exposure becomes grotesque. Trump's theatre serves a darker purpose: to collapse the perception of US reliability. His actions – whether on foreign entanglements, tariffs or climate withdrawal – teach the world that American leadership is structurally incoherent. The chaos is not accidental; it is a form of exposure. And this is not lost on foreign capital. Even long-time allies now quietly ask: If the American state cannot ensure internal coherence, how can it offer global stability? If its wars continue without presidential oversight and its treaties collapse with each administration, what does it mean to be aligned with Washington? It is in this disillusionment that real geopolitical recalibration begins. While bombs fell and tweets spiralled, the Nato summit convened with all the theatre of importance but none of the coherence. Once a cornerstone of postwar Western security, the alliance now resembles a museum exhibit: elaborate, well-lit but out of time. South Korea's absence was not a matter of disengagement. As reported by the South China Morning Post, it reflected a pragmatic diplomatic recalibration. Across the Global South, Nato is viewed increasingly as a relic: obsessed with 2% defence spending while the world burns from climate shocks, cyber threats, pandemics and migratory collapse. Even Nato members struggle to meet its goals. Reuters reports only a few are on track for the 2% target by 2025. The rest offer rhetoric, not readiness. Yet, rather than recalibrating, Nato has now endorsed a new goal of 5% defence spending by 2035. This shift reflects more about worldview than actual threat. Many in the Global South are asking: Containment of what, exactly? Is Nato defending the world or defending its relevance? The problem is not just strategic. It is existential. Nato's core logic – big-state militarism, fixed enemies, endless deterrence – is ill-suited to a world of decentralised threats and non-linear crises. The alliance now projects the image of an inward-looking bloc. Across Latin America, Africa and Asia, new coalitions are forming around infrastructure, energy resilience, digital sovereignty and climate action. These are not military alliances but post-Western lifelines. If Nato wants to remain relevant, it must shift from fortress to forum. So far, the signs are unconvincing. Something deeper is unfolding behind the theatrics of war and summits: a realignment not of blocs but of meaning. Across countries, the question is no longer whom to side with but whether the old story still holds at all. Take Iran. Its administration is probably far from universally embraced, even domestically. But its refusal to collapse under sabotage, sanctions and psychological warfare has turned it into a symbol of dignity under siege. From South Africa to Indonesia, Pakistan to Latin America, solidarity with Iran stems not from ideology but from memory. It comes from a shared experience of being coerced, demonised, dehumanised and denied narrative parity. Across Africa, Southeast Asia and parts of Latin America, political leaders and civil society voices increasingly point to a common view. Iran is not being punished for aggression but for independence. The pattern is familiar: covert interference, sanctions and media vilification. These pressures mirror what many postcolonial nations face for refusing alignment with dominant powers. What the Global South is registering is a declaration of strategic sovereignty. In this climate, Malaysia has found its own voice. It does not project force or fund proxy wars. What it offers is narrative clarity. Through consistent diplomatic positioning, Malaysia has argued that peace without accountability is a false peace. Israel's nuclear ambiguity, Western impunity and the systematic erasure of Palestinian dignity are no longer seen as unfortunate contradictions. They are becoming untenable pillars of a collapsing order. In this emerging terrain, narrative is the new front line. The Global South is no longer waiting for permission. It is reframing what dignity, deterrence and diplomacy mean in a world unmoored from Western centrality. What we are witnessing is not just a contest of weapons but a reckoning of words. The old order relied on language to mask contradiction. Today, those words no longer conceal. They expose. The Nato summit only magnified irrelevance. Its metrics, even if not false, are out of sync with the world's pulse. Climate collapse does not ask for battalions – nor does a broken food system or digitally displaced generation. As for the US, the facade of unity has never looked thinner. It is no longer a singular actor but a split organism – one hand tweeting peace, the other fuelling war. This is not a strategy; it is entropy. And in the margins of this collapse, a new world is taking shape. Multipolar networks are forming not through grand treaties but through quiet refusal. These actors refuse to be lectured, intimidated or ignored. If a new system emerges, it will not be born in Cold War summits or Nato declarations. It will be built on the courage of coherence and on the dignity of those once silenced who are now speaking in full. The Global South, long treated as an audience, is now writing its own script.
The Sun
39 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Trump's peace tweets mask deeper global power shifts
IT began, again, with a tweet. Donald Trump, from his digital podium, declared that Iran and Israel had 'come to him' asking for peace and that he was promising a future of 'love, peace and prosperity'. The post went viral. Commentators scrambled. Headlines reframed. But beneath the performance lay the more troubling reality: real peace is nowhere in sight and never was. Just hours after this so-called peace overture, Israel unleashed another wave of airstrikes. Yet, we already know Israel's operations are routinely underwritten by US logistics and satellite support. Emir Research has long highlighted this conceptual bifurcation within the US, now increasingly visible even to the most unscrupulous observers. On one side, a political class desperate to appear in control; on the other, a war economy that no longer answers to democratic oversight. These bombings expose not only Israeli aggression but also the extent to which Washington has become operationally fragmented. But perhaps the most revealing element is not the gap between Trump's rhetoric and reality but the possibility that this gap is intentional. What if Trump's apparent incoherence is not a miscalculation but a method? His declarations of peace are routinely followed by orchestrated escalation. Not because he controls outcomes but because he wants the world to see that he does not. The deeper message is strategic: that America cannot guarantee anything because it cannot even govern itself. Treaties signed today are disavowed tomorrow. Not that we did not know this before but with Trump the exposure becomes grotesque. Trump's theatre serves a darker purpose: to collapse the perception of US reliability. His actions – whether on foreign entanglements, tariffs or climate withdrawal – teach the world that American leadership is structurally incoherent. The chaos is not accidental; it is a form of exposure. And this is not lost on foreign capital. Even long-time allies now quietly ask: If the American state cannot ensure internal coherence, how can it offer global stability? If its wars continue without presidential oversight and its treaties collapse with each administration, what does it mean to be aligned with Washington? It is in this disillusionment that real geopolitical recalibration begins. While bombs fell and tweets spiralled, the Nato summit convened with all the theatre of importance but none of the coherence. Once a cornerstone of postwar Western security, the alliance now resembles a museum exhibit: elaborate, well-lit but out of time. South Korea's absence was not a matter of disengagement. As reported by the South China Morning Post, it reflected a pragmatic diplomatic recalibration. Across the Global South, Nato is viewed increasingly as a relic: obsessed with 2% defence spending while the world burns from climate shocks, cyber threats, pandemics and migratory collapse. Even Nato members struggle to meet its goals. Reuters reports only a few are on track for the 2% target by 2025. The rest offer rhetoric, not readiness. Yet, rather than recalibrating, Nato has now endorsed a new goal of 5% defence spending by 2035. This shift reflects more about worldview than actual threat. Many in the Global South are asking: Containment of what, exactly? Is Nato defending the world or defending its relevance? The problem is not just strategic. It is existential. Nato's core logic – big-state militarism, fixed enemies, endless deterrence – is ill-suited to a world of decentralised threats and non-linear crises. The alliance now projects the image of an inward-looking bloc. Across Latin America, Africa and Asia, new coalitions are forming around infrastructure, energy resilience, digital sovereignty and climate action. These are not military alliances but post-Western lifelines. If Nato wants to remain relevant, it must shift from fortress to forum. So far, the signs are unconvincing. Something deeper is unfolding behind the theatrics of war and summits: a realignment not of blocs but of meaning. Across countries, the question is no longer whom to side with but whether the old story still holds at all. Take Iran. Its administration is probably far from universally embraced, even domestically. But its refusal to collapse under sabotage, sanctions and psychological warfare has turned it into a symbol of dignity under siege. From South Africa to Indonesia, Pakistan to Latin America, solidarity with Iran stems not from ideology but from memory. It comes from a shared experience of being coerced, demonised, dehumanised and denied narrative parity. Across Africa, Southeast Asia and parts of Latin America, political leaders and civil society voices increasingly point to a common view. Iran is not being punished for aggression but for independence. The pattern is familiar: covert interference, sanctions and media vilification. These pressures mirror what many postcolonial nations face for refusing alignment with dominant powers. What the Global South is registering is a declaration of strategic sovereignty. In this climate, Malaysia has found its own voice. It does not project force or fund proxy wars. What it offers is narrative clarity. Through consistent diplomatic positioning, Malaysia has argued that peace without accountability is a false peace. Israel's nuclear ambiguity, Western impunity and the systematic erasure of Palestinian dignity are no longer seen as unfortunate contradictions. They are becoming untenable pillars of a collapsing order. In this emerging terrain, narrative is the new front line. The Global South is no longer waiting for permission. It is reframing what dignity, deterrence and diplomacy mean in a world unmoored from Western centrality. What we are witnessing is not just a contest of weapons but a reckoning of words. The old order relied on language to mask contradiction. Today, those words no longer conceal. They expose. The Nato summit only magnified irrelevance. Its metrics, even if not false, are out of sync with the world's pulse. Climate collapse does not ask for battalions – nor does a broken food system or digitally displaced generation. As for the US, the facade of unity has never looked thinner. It is no longer a singular actor but a split organism – one hand tweeting peace, the other fuelling war. This is not a strategy; it is entropy. And in the margins of this collapse, a new world is taking shape. Multipolar networks are forming not through grand treaties but through quiet refusal. These actors refuse to be lectured, intimidated or ignored. If a new system emerges, it will not be born in Cold War summits or Nato declarations. It will be built on the courage of coherence and on the dignity of those once silenced who are now speaking in full. The Global South, long treated as an audience, is now writing its own script. Dr Rais Hussin is the founder of Emir Research, a think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations based on rigorous research. Comments: letters@
The Star
44 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
MPO steps up its efforts to elevate Malay heritage music
Under the baton of conductor Ahmad Muriz, the 'Simfoni Budaya II' performance on July 5 will bring classic Malay songs to life as the MPO presents joget, asli and zapin in rich symphonic form. Photo: The Star/Ong Soon Hin In the heart of Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) continues to champion traditional local music as a vital part of the nation's cultural heritage through its culturally-themed programmes at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, KLCC. MPO conductor Ahmad Muriz Che Rose sees the bigger picture – framing Malaysian folk music as an art form worthy of celebration, on par with classical traditions worldwide, and central to the orchestra's long-term vision. "We want the public to understand that MPO is not solely about Western classical music but is also actively involved in the development of the nation's traditional music,' said Ahmad Muriz in recent Bernama interview. He added the MPO is now more open and plans its annual programmes with a more diverse genre approach, including allocating dedicated space for folk music and cultural performances. "In the past, we may have focused solely on classical music but now we need to broaden that. Folk music, traditional music - all of these are now part of MPO's offerings to the public. "We have genres like asli, inang, zapin, joget and others, which are not only unique but also reflect the grace and beauty of Malay culture,' he said, hoping that these rhythms will continue to be appreciated, especially among the younger generation. Ahmad Muriz added that MPO is also taking a community-centred approach by holding promotional performances in public spaces such as LRT stations, as a way to introduce traditional music in a more relaxed and accessible setting. "We want people to feel that this music belongs to them. When it's played in public spaces, we show that traditional music is not just for formal performances but a part of everyday life. "For example, yesterday we held a flash mob at the Pasar Seni LRT station (in Kuala Lumpur). It wasn't just locals who were drawn to the music but even tourists showed interest and joined in with us,' he said. Simfoni Budaya returns On the big stage, MPO will present the second edition of the Simfoni Budaya concert at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas on July 5, following the enthusiastic response to the first edition last year. A follow-up to last year's successful Simfoni Budaya – a joyous showcase of Malay musical heritage featuring genres like ghazal and keroncong – the upcoming concert continues the journey of blending traditional sounds with lush orchestral arrangements. Audiences can expect a rich tapestry of classic melodies reimagined, brought to life by a mix of seasoned legends and rising talents. Among the featured performers is legendary singer Datuk Andre Goh, alongside a new generation of talent, including Mohd Rozaidy Shukry, better known as Rojer Kajol, a familiar name in the local folk music scene, known for performing ghazal and traditional irama asli songs. Under the baton of conductor Ahmad Muriz, the performance will bring classic Malay songs to life as the MPO presents joget, asli and zapin in rich symphonic form. "This concert is part of our mission. But more importantly, the message is clear - Malay music is a heritage and that heritage must be preserved, shared and celebrated,' he said. Evergreen favourites such as Dikirim Jangan Dipesan Jangan, Mas Merah, Fatwa Pujangga, Nirmala, Tudung Periuk, Simfoni Bunga Tanjung, Joget Burung Merpati, Makan Sireh, Joget Wan Lebor and Mak Inang Kayangan will take centre stage. All songs will feature orchestral arrangements by Luqman Aziz, Ilham Subri, Azhad Sulaiman, Teuku Umar and Shahakam Mokhtar. More info here.
