Officials from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have reached a draft agreement that could end decades of conflict. The breakthrough, mediated by the US and Qatar, provides for the “disengagement, disarmament and conditional integration” of armed groups fighting in eastern DR Congo. It also includes provisions for a joint security mechanism to prevent future flare-ups. The peace deal is expected to be formally signed next week. The deal could open the way for billions of dollars of western investment in the mineral-rich region, which been plagued by conflict for three decades. However, analysts say that many questions still...

One of the engines of the Air India plane that crashed last week was new, while the other was not due for servicing until December, the airline’s chairman has said. In an interview with an Indian news channel, N Chandrasekaran said that both engines of the aircraft had “clean” histories. “The right engine was a new engine put in March 2025. The left engine was last serviced in 2023 and due for its next maintenance check in December 2025,” he told Times Now channel. At least 270 people, most of them passengers, were killed last Thursday when AI171, a London-bound...

 President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he doesn’t want to carry out a U.S. strike on Iran but suggested he stands ready to act if it’s necessary to extinguish Iran’s nuclear program. Trump continued his increasingly pointed warnings about the U.S. joining Israel in striking at Tehran’s nuclear program as Iran’s leader warned anew that the United States would be greeted with stiff retaliation if it attacks. The stakes are high for Trump — and the world — as he engages in a push-pull debate between his goals of avoiding dragging the U.S. into another war and preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon....

Senior United State Senator Bernie Sanders on Wednesday sounded a warning to the country in aligning with Israel to attack Iran. Sanders in his statement on X reprimanded Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his advice/participation in U.S. foreign affairs while expressing skepticism about deepening U.S. involvement in the Mideast crisis. According to the US Senator: “Netanyahu is not the President of the United States. He should not be determining U.S. foreign and military policy. “If the people of Israel support his decision to start a war with Iran, that is their business and their war. The United States must...

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered Wednesday to help mediate an end to the conflict between Israel and Iran, suggesting Moscow could help negotiate a settlement that could allow Tehran to pursue a peaceful atomic program while assuaging Israeli security concerns. Speaking to senior news leaders of international news agencies, Putin noted that “it’s a delicate issue,” but added that “in my view, a solution could be found.” Asked how Russia would react if Israel kills Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Putin refused to answer, saying that “I don’t even want to discuss such a possibility.” Khamenei has rejected U.S. calls for surrender in the...

Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra faced growing calls for her resignation in a deepening political crisis set off by a leaked recording of her negotiating with Cambodia’s former leader in the two nations’ latest border dispute. Paetongtarn apologized to the public on Thursday, after a major coalition partner used the leaked phone call to pull out of the fragile government led by her Pheu Thai Party. Paetongtarn has already been criticized for a perceived soft stance toward Cambodia, especially by right-wing nationalists who are longtime foes of her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The latest border dispute involved an armed confrontation May...

Adekunle Gold: “Today is World Sickle Cell Day. And today, I’m proud to announce something that’s deeply personal to me. “We’re starting small by providing free health insurance to 1,000 people living with sickle cell in Lagos State. But this is only the beginning.”