Latest from News24
News24
34 minutes ago
- Politics
- News24
Rwanda, DR Congo sign peace deal in US after rebel sweep
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo signed a peace agreement on Friday in Washington to end fighting that has killed thousands, with the two countries pledging to pull back support for guerrillas - and President Donald Trump boasting of securing mineral wealth. The two foreign ministers signed the deal brokered by the United States, Qatar and the African Union in the presence of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who acknowledged there was "more work to be done" but said the deal will let people "now have dreams and hopes for a better life." The agreement comes after the M23 rebel group, an ethnic Tutsi force widely linked to Rwanda, sprinted across the long-turbulent and mineral-rich east of the DRC earlier this year, seizing vast territory including the key city of Goma. The deal does not explicitly address the gains of the M23 but calls for Rwanda to end "defensive measures" it has taken. Rwanda has denied directly supporting the M23 rebels but has demanded an end to another armed group, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which was established by ethnic Hutus linked to the massacres of Tutsis in the 1994 Rwanda genocide. The agreement calls for the "neutralisation" of the FDLR. "The first order of business is to begin implementing the concept of operations for the neutralisation of the FDLR, to be accompanied by a lifting of Rwanda's defensive measures," Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said at the ceremony. "This is grounded in the commitment made here for an irreversible and verifiable end to state support for FDLR and associated militias," he said. His Congolese counterpart, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, highlighted the agreement's promises for a respect to sovereignty. She said: By signing this agreement, we reaffirm a simple truth. Peace is a choice, but also a responsibility to respect international law, to uphold human rights and to protect sovereignty of states. Massad Boulos, a Lebanese-American businessman and father-in-law of Trump's daughter Tiffany tapped by the president as a senior advisor on Africa, said that the agreement was also establishing a joint security coordination body that will help with the return of refugees. Trump takes credit Trump has trumpeted the diplomacy that led to the deal, and publicly complained that he has not received a Nobel Peace Prize. Trump will welcome both foreign ministers to the White House later on Friday. Speaking to reporters, Trump said that the United States will be able to secure "a lot of mineral rights from the Congo." The DRC has enormous mineral reserves that include lithium and cobalt, vital in electric vehicles and other advanced technologies, with US rival China now a key player in securing the resources. Trump, in an uncharacteristic expression of modesty, said that he had been unfamiliar with the conflict as he appeared to allude to the horrors of the 1994 Rwanda genocide, in which hundreds of thousands of people, mostly Tutsis, were killed in just 100 days. Per-"I'm a little out of my league on that one because I didn't know too much about it. I knew one thing - they were going at it for many years with machetes," Trump said. Denis Mukwege, a gynecologist who shared the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end the DRC's epidemic of sexual violence in war, voiced alarm about the agreement, saying it effectively benefited Rwanda and the United States. The deal "would amount to granting a reward for aggression, legitimising the plundering of Congolese natural resources, and forcing the victim to alienate their national heritage by sacrificing justice in order to ensure a precarious and fragile peace," he said in a statement ahead of the signing. Both countries have sought favour with the United States. The DRC offered a minerals deal loosely inspired by the Trump administration's minerals agreement with Ukraine. Rwanda has been discussing taking in migrants deported from the United States, a major priority for Trump. Rwanda, one of the most stable countries in Africa, had reached a migration deal with Britain's former Conservative government but the arrangement was killed by the Labour government that took office last year.
News18
34 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Shefali Jariwala, The Kaanta Laga Girl, Passes Away At 42 In Mumbai
Last Updated: Kaanta Laga fame Shefali Jariwala was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in Mumbai but was declared brought dead, as per media reports. Actor and model Shefali Jariwala, best known for her breakout appearance in the iconic music video Kaanta Laga, has reportedly passed away. She was 41. According to media reports, Shefali was rushed to Bellevue Multispeciality Hospital in Mumbai on Friday by her husband, actor Parag Tyagi, and three others. However, hospital staff confirmed that she had already passed away before being brought in. 'Shefali had expired before she was brought in. Her husband and a few others accompanied the body," said a staff member at the hospital's reception, as quoted in initial reports. The cause of death is currently unknown. There has been no official statement yet from the family or her representatives. Shefali Jariwala became a household name in the early 2000s with her sizzling performance in the remix video Kaanta Laga, earning her the moniker 'Kaanta Laga Girl." She later featured in Salman Khan's Mujhse Shaadi Karogi and participated in reality shows like Nach Baliye and Bigg Boss 13. Shefali was known for her outspoken personality and strong presence on social media. Over the years, she also became an advocate for mental health awareness and women's empowerment. Her sudden passing has shocked fans and colleagues across the entertainment industry. Tributes have already begun pouring in on social media, remembering her as a 'vibrant, fearless" artist who left a lasting impression in the world of pop culture. Shefali is survived by her husband Parag Tyagi. More details regarding the cause of death and funeral arrangements are awaited. First Published: June 28, 2025, 00:45 IST
News18
34 minutes ago
- Politics
- News18
India's Strategic Dilemma Amidst China-Pakistan Alliances
India's Strategic Dilemma Amidst China-Pakistan Alliances | #therightstand with Anand Narasimhan In a recent discussion, Sadanand Dhume analyzes India's strategic position amid rising tensions with China and Pakistan, emphasizing the need for increased defense spending and a stable relationship with Bangladesh, while reflecting on the complexities of regional geopolitics. n18oc_world News18 Mobile App -
News18
34 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Shefali Jariwala's Last Post Goes Viral After Sudden Death At 42: ‘Bling It On Baby'
Last Updated: Shefali Jariwala's final Instagram post in a shimmering silver outfit is now going viral after her shocking death at 42. Fans are heartbroken. Shefali Jariwala, best remembered as the Kaanta Laga girl and a popular face on Bigg Boss 13, passed away on Friday at the age of 42. While the news of her sudden demise has left fans in disbelief, her final Instagram post, shared just three days ago, is now going viral. In the post, Shefali Jariwala is seen wearing a stunning silver embellished jumpsuit that perfectly accentuated her curves. The outfit featured a deep neckline, sheer full-length sleeves, and flared bottoms with vertical shimmer detailing. Striking a confident pose against a backdrop of studio lights, Shefali looked radiant and fierce. Her caption, 'Bling it on baby," has since taken on a heart-wrenching meaning for fans now reeling from her death. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shefali Jariwala 🧿 (@shefalijariwala) Shefali was rushed to Bellevue Multispeciality Hospital in Mumbai on Friday by her husband Parag Tyagi and three others. However, hospital authorities confirmed she was declared brought dead. The cause of her death has not been made public yet. Shefali Jariwala shot to instant fame with her appearance in the hit remix Kaanta Laga in the early 2000s and went on to appear in reality shows like Bigg Boss 13, where she reunited with ex-boyfriend Sidharth Shukla. She married actor Parag Tyagi in 2014 and had since kept a relatively low profile while continuing to make occasional appearances in the entertainment world. Her last post now stands as a final glimpse into her vibrant personality, full of confidence, glam, and life. For fans, it's a painful reminder of how fleeting and unpredictable life can be. First Published:
France 24
35 minutes ago
- Politics
- France 24
'Shooting the messengers': Trump tears into media over Iran report
Trump has staked significant political capital on the success of last weekend's strikes, which he ordered despite criticism within his own support base for breaking his campaign promises to avoid foreign military interventions. The president has blasted press coverage of a preliminary classified report from his own administration that suggested that Trump's claim that Iran's nuclear facilities were "obliterated" was overstated. The unusually scathing attack on reporters underscores what many observers view as Trump's effort to put the media -- already battling record low public trust -- on the defensive and stifle scrutiny of the bombing raid. "Having made the decision to join the fight against Iran, being able to claim that the intervention was brief and successful has obvious political upside for Trump in repairing rifts within his coalition," Joshua Tucker, co-director of the New York University Center for Social Media and Politics, told AFP. "The discussion by the media of the preliminary intelligence report therefore complicated the president's preferred narrative about the US attack." The preliminary intelligence assessment, first reported by CNN and The New York Times, then picked up by other mainstream media, suggested that the strikes may not have destroyed the core parts of the nuclear sites and had set back Iran's nuclear program by only a few months. Trump said CNN should throw the reporter on the story out "like a dog." He said CNN and New York Times reporters were "bad and sick people" attempting to demean American pilots involved in the strikes. At a televised news conference on Thursday, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth reiterated the president's complaints and pushed back on the findings of the report -- issued by the US Defense Intelligence Agency –- but did not deny its existence. 'Increasingly ugly' Both news outlets have stood behind their journalists and defended their reporting. "President Trump and his administration are going after shooting the messengers in an increasingly ugly way," said CNN's top political anchor Jake Tapper. "They're calling journalists 'fake news' for true stories," he added. Trump has also threatened to sue The New York Times and CNN over their coverage of the intelligence report. In a letter, the president's personal lawyer said the New York Times had damaged Trump's reputation and demanded that it "retract and apologize" for its report, calling it "false," "defamatory" and "unpatriotic," according to the newspaper. The newspaper said it had rejected those demands. "Trump is killing the messenger," Todd Belt, director of the political management program at George Washington University, told AFP. "He's taking it out on the press because he knows that the press are unpopular," particularly among his core Make America Great Again (MAGA) base, he said. "Additionally, he and others in the administration are using the attack line of patriotism to bolster their side against the press." 'Peace through strength' The anti-media rhetoric escalates Trump's longstanding battle with the press. Since the beginning of his second term, his administration has sought to target the finances of media organizations -- already struggling in an increasingly tough commercial climate -- by cutting government agencies' news subscriptions. He has also targeted news outlets with multi-million dollar lawsuits. Trump's latest attacks come amid a public relations campaign to portray himself as a peacemaker in the Middle East, while retaining the support of his core MAGA base. On Friday, Trump doubled down on his stance, stating that Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei "got beat to hell" in the hostilities involving the United States and Israel, while exhorting Tehran to return to the negotiating table. "If his 'peace through strength' single attack didn't work and the conflict gets drawn out, this undermines his claim as a peacemaker," said Belt. "If the public believes the single strike didn't work, then he will either have to attack again or negotiate from a position that recognizes that Iran still maintains fissile material, which may not work."
