Rwanda, DR Congo Sign Peace Deal In US

President Donald Trump boasts of securing mineral wealth while Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda signed a peace agreement on Friday in Washington to put an end to the thousands of fatalities.

Trump addressed the two countries’ foreign ministers to the White House, saying, “Today, the violence and destruction come to an end, and the entire region begins a new chapter of hope and opportunity.” “This is a wonderful day,” the message continued.

The agreement comes after the M23, a rebel force that is related to Rwanda, invaded the mineral-rich east of the DRC this year, seizing vast land, including Goma, a crucial city.

The agreement, which has been negotiated through Qatar since before Trump took office, calls for Rwanda to take action to put an end to “defensive measures” it has taken, does not explicitly address the gains of the M23 in the region torn by decades of on-off war.

Rwanda has pleaded with ethnic Hutus to end the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which was established in response to the 1994 Rwanda genocide.

The “neutralization” of the FDLR is stated in the agreement, with Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe calling for the “first order of business” to be the “irreversible and verifiable end of state support for the Hutu militants.

At a signing ceremony held at the State Department, Nduhungirehe said, “the process will be accompanied by a lifting of Rwanda’s defensive measures.”

He continued, “We must acknowledge that there is a great deal of uncertainty in our region and beyond, because many previous agreements have not been put into action.”

Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, his Congolese counterpart, made a point about the state’s obligation to respect state sovereignty.

It offers a rare opportunity to turn the page with profound change occurring on the ground, not just in words. Some wounds can heal, but they never completely vanish,” she said.

A joint security coordination body will be established to track progress, as well as a vague call for a “regional economic integration framework” within three months.

Trump accepts credit;

Trump has praised the diplomatic maneuver that led to the agreement and introduced a journalist who claimed he merited the Nobel Peace Prize at his White House event.

Trump stated earlier on Friday that the United States would be able to “award a lot of mineral rights from the Congo”.

With US rival China now playing a key role in securing the resources, the DRC has vast mineral reserves, including lithium and cobalt, which are important for electric vehicles and other cutting-edge technologies.

Trump appeared to make reference to the horrors of the 1994 Rwanda genocide, which saw the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, mostly Tutsis, in just 100 days. He claimed he had been unaware of the conflict.

“I didn’t know too much about that one, so I’m a little out of my league.” They had been using machetes for many years, according to Trump, and I was aware of this.

Read more about the California governor’s $787 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News.

Although not widely praised, the agreement was nonetheless notable.

The deal, according to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, represents “a significant step toward de-escalation, peace, and stability” in the region’s eastern DRC and the Great Lakes region.

In a statement, Guterres urged the parties to fully fulfill their obligations under the Peace Agreement, including ending hostilities and all other agreed actions.

Germany praised the “excellent news” and demanded that it be implemented.

Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, praised the “historical step forward” and said that “peace must hold.”

Denis Mukwege, a gynecologist who received the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to stop the DRC’s epidemic of sexual violence in conflict, expressed concern about the agreement, saying it had had a positive impact on Rwanda and the United States.

The signing of the agreement would result in the victim “invoking the legal system to punish their aggression, legitimizing the plundering of Congolese natural resources, and imposing on them the victim to alienate their national heritage,” he said in a statement prior to signing the agreement.

Physicians for Human Rights, a group that has worked in the DRC, applauded the de-escalation, but claimed there were “major omissions” in the agreement, including accountability for rights violations.

Jeff Bezos’ wife Lauren Sanchez called ‘tacky’ by Katie Couric in cruel dig on wedding day

In Venice, Italy, some weren’t happy that Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos tied the knot in a multi-million dollar ceremony surrounded by numerous A-list friends.

Lauren was slammed as “tacky”(Image: Getty Images for Vanity Fair)

Katie Couric called Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos’ wife, “tacky” on the day of her wedding. This week, the billionaire couple celebrated their lavish wedding without incurring any expenses.

However, it appears that one journalist wasn’t all that impressed by the occasion because she described Lauren as “tacky.” Jack Schlossberg, a well-known author and the daughter of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Caroline Kennedy, became involved in Katie Couric’s final position.

This week’s wedding celebration in Venice, Italy, made it seem as though Schlossberg poked fun at Bezos and Sánchez. He reposted Lauren’s Vogue cover from last Friday, which featured her in a white wedding dress.

READ MORE: This Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader-approved setting spray will keep your make-up in place this heatwave

Lauren wore an all lace gown
Lauren wore an all lace gown(Image: Tierney Gearon for Vogue)

Like I said, “Vogue,” he wrote in the caption of the photo. In the snap, Lauren looked stunning while rocking her dress with long sleeves and a figure-hugging shape while smiling from ear to ear.

She fanned out at the knees before being hugged by floral lace. The bride was then cruelly called “tacky” in a cruel joke by Couric.

Continue reading the article.

“Welcome to the eighties, a time when extravagant consumption and big hair ruled. She wrote, “Apparently tacky is back.”

Katie called Lauren
Katie called Lauren “tacky”(Image: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

The world’s second richest man Jeff Bezos got married to with his long-term partner Lauren in Venice, Italy yesterday. The couple are husband and wife after they said their “I do’s” in an extravagant £48million ceremony surrounded by their famous friends and family – despite already having a smaller, legal ceremony beforehand.

Family and friends gathered at the ceremony, which lasted about 25 minutes, for the couple to exchange their vows. After saying “I do,” they were able to hear them cheer, clap, and whine.

The Kardashian-Jenners, Oprah Winfrey, and Leonardo DiCaprio were among the celebrities who accompanied the couple to their wedding. Rania Al Abdullah, the Queen of Jordan, and Ivanka Trump were also present.

Although the couple celebrated their engagement in Venice this week, it is believed that the couple actually got married a few weeks prior.

They have been married for at least a month, or more, according to an insider in charge of the event planning. The marriage was legally and legally recorded in America.

Although the source claimed that the celebrations this week are solely ceremonial, they were widely reported to be their wedding. They made it clear that they were already secretly married when they were planning the wedding, according to them.

Bezos himself confirmed the legal union, according to reports that he also mentioned how the pair had arranged a prenuptial agreement to protect his $244 billion fortune. Before the infamous celebration even started, Bezos and Sanchez reportedly got married privately in the United States.

Continue reading the article.

Troops Neutralise Bandit, Recover AK-47 In Taraba

In the Kwesati community of Ussa local government area of Taraba State, A. K. 47 rifle has been recovered and a suspected bandit has been neutralized by soldiers from Sector 3 of Operation Whirl Stroke.

The incident is a part of a larger clearance operation to remove bandits, terrorists, and other criminal elements from Taraba state.

The success reported in a press release by the Brigade’s Public Relations Officer, Captain Olubodunde Oni, was a follow-up to reliable information about the bandits’ movement.

“Trusted forces stationed in Kwesati quickly deployed and tactically established a position along a suspected crossing route,” according to the statement.

“The troops engaged the criminals with superior firepower during the operation. The bandits were forced to flee in disarray as a result of the engagement’s high level, with some suspects claiming to have escaped with gunshot wounds into the nearby forest. During the confrontation, one bandit was rendered invisible.

READ ALSO: The Army begins discussions over resolution of conflicts between Tiv and Fulani in Taraba.

One AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine containing three rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one motorcycle, and two mobile phones were recovered following the operation, according to the statement.

Brigadier General Kingsley Uwa, commander of the Nigerian Army, praised the soldiers’ gallantry and professionalism while expressing the company’s commitment to carry out aggressive operations until all state-wide threats are eliminated.

He urged people to continue providing security agencies with timely and reliable information in order to support ongoing efforts to eradicate criminal elements.

When Tesco F&F’s 25% off summer sale starts and what to buy according to a fashion expert

When Tesco’s F&amp, F 25% off Clubcard deal launches, and senior shopping writer Faith has compiled the best items to purchase with the discount, we’ve got all the details.

The F&F sale is back, and it’s good news for Tesco shoppers without a local store (Image: Zoe Cripps)

Get your shopping baskets at the ready because Tesco has officially launched its highly-anticipated 25% off Clubcard sale – and it’s a good one. As usual you can shop the brand’s big bargains in Tesco stores, but now thanks to the official launch of F&F’s online shopping you can also pick up your favourite pieces online and have them delivered straight to your door.

The sale includes women’s, mens’, children’s and baby’s clothing, and even includes pieces from F&F’s celebrity collaborations like activewear from Kate Ferdinand ’s range. Whether you’re looking for some last minute holiday outfits, just want to add to your summer wardrobe, or stock up on staples, now is the perfect time to fill your basket for less.

But with so many options, ordering something might be challenging. Therefore, I’ve scoured the F&amp, F sale to find the best pieces that are too good to miss so you don’t have to. I’m our resident fashion expert. Before the Clubcard sale’s 25% off ends, here is exactly what you should include in your order.

You need only the Glastonbury mini dress from Holly Willoughby this year, not the full set of the festival.

This summer, Michelle Keegan, Zara Tindall, and Meghan Markle all sport this one accessory.

F&F Active Skort in Black

Was £16, now £12.

Kate Ferdinand F&F skort
Kate Ferdinand’s skort is in the sale(Image: F&F)

This Kate Ferdinand’s range activewear skort is the perfect way to get into the tennis fever since Wimbledon is set to begin on Monday (June 30). It’s ideal whether you want to practice your backhand or just want to sport some sporty chic.

F&amp, F Textured Plunge Tummy Control Swimsuit in Black

Was £25, now £18.75.

F&F tummy control swimsuit
F&F’s tummy control swimsuit is chic and flattering(Image: F&F)

You’re probably planning on taking a trip somewhere soon because summer is in full swing. A good swimsuit can boost your confidence and keep you feeling comfortable and secure, whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or taking a swim at the local pool. This chic swimsuit is flattering and conceals your tummy control, aiding in maintaining your shape while looking chic by the pool.

White F&amp, F Pure Cotton Embroidered Lace Maxi Skirt.

Was £39.50, now £29.62.

F&F lace maxi skirt
The lace maxi skirt can be worn with anything(Image: F&F )

A white maxi skirt should be a wardrobe staple this summer. They’re a mix-and-match dream that can be worn with anything, from swimwear to linen blouses and patterned crop tops. Even before the discount, this cotton embroidered skirt appears much more expensive than it actually is! and is a piece you’ll undoubtedly return to over and over.

F&amp, F Straight Jeans in Blue

Was £22.50, now £16.87.

F&F straight leg jeans
Straight leg jeans are a wardrobe staple(Image: F&F )

Straight leg jeans are one of the most flattering cuts you can wear, and no wardrobe is complete without some denim. You can dress them up for the evening with a fitted top and heels, or go casual with a T-shirt and trainers during the day.

Multi Red Bardot Midi Dress by F&F Edit Palm Print

Was £25, now £18.75.

F&F palm print dress
The oversized palm print makes this dress look more expensive(Image: F&F )

This red tropical palm print absolutely kills it when it comes to making your outfit look more expensive and high-end. The midi length and flowing fit keep it light, comfortable, and sophisticated looking, while the bardot silhouette is ideal for flaunting your bronzed shoulders on vacation.

Navy F&F Raw Hem Rigid Denim Shorts

Was £18, now £13.50.

F&F denim shorts
The denim shorts can be worn with countless different outfits(Image: F&F )

Finally, a fantastic pair of denim shorts is a must-have piece of summer wardrobe. These will flatter everyone and give you plenty of room to move because of their high waist and A-line fit, and they look just as good with a loose-fitting linen shirt and sandals on vacation as they do with a band T-shirt and biker boots at a festival.

Continue reading the article.

You’ll need to act quickly if you want to grab the bargains because you can use your Clubcard to save 25% off hundreds of other items across all categories for a limited time. There are also numerous other summer fashion sales available, including up to 50% off at Boden and up to 70% off at New Look.

Oscar-winning actress Marion Cotillard and Guillaume Canet split after 18 years together

After 18 years and raising two children together, French director Guillaume Canet and actress Marion Cotillard announced their split in a statement.

Marion Cotillard and Guillaume Canet have split after 18 years(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Oscar winnng actress Marion Cotillard and French film director Guillaume Canet have called time on their realtionship after almost two decades together.

Cotillard, 49, and Canet, 52, have been dating since 2007, but have now said they are leaving.

The couple, who share son Marcel, 13, and daughter Louise, eight, released a statement via their reps on Friday (June 27) revealing the end of their relationship. The statement confirmed they were making the public announcement “in order to avoid all speculation, rumours and risky interpretations.”

“After 18 years together, Marion Cotillard and Guillaume Canet have decided to separate by mutual agreement,” a statement made by their reps to the made by their reps to the Agence France-Presse news agency said. “This decision was made with mutual goodwill.”

 French film director and actor Guillaume Canet (L) and French actress Marion Cotillard
Marion Cotillard and Guillaume Canet have announced their separation after 18 years(Image: BELGA/AFP via Getty Images)

Before things turned romantic, the pair had been friends for more than ten years before they started dating in 2007. From 2001 to 2006, Canet was wed to Diane Kruger.

Continue reading the article.

The pair had previously collaborated on the 2003 dramatic comedy Love Me If You Dare. The couple also collaborated on the 2009 film The Last Flight while they were still together.

Their latest collaboration came earlier this year when Canet directed his partner in the upcoming film Karma, which is said to have reportedly finished shooting in May. Months earlier, Cotillard was seen walking the Berlin International Film Festival carpet alone.

Cotillard has appeared in a number of acclaimed French movies, but she gained fame by playing leading roles in major Hollywood motion pictures like Inception and The Dark Knight Rises.

French actress Marion Cotillard (L) and her partner French actor Guillaume Canet
The couple, who have been together since 2007, have decided to separate by mutual agreement(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Despite widespread speculation over the years, the couple never married or got engaged despite being married for 20 years. Six years later, they welcomed their daughter Louise and son Marcel with their first child.

Cotillard’s first significant relationship was with actor Julien Rassam before she started dating Canet. She worked as a director as well as a thespian Stephan Guerin-Tillie between 2000 and 2005.

Marion then began a two-year dated with French singer Mathieu Blanc-Francard before moving on to a nearly two-decade relationship with Canet.

Canet described her as the love of his life in a candid interview from 2011 about his partner. You move in a certain direction with someone, and then you awaken and declare, “She’s the love of my life.” He told the Guardian at the time, “I never saw it coming.”

“I need to be with someone who is searching and awake,” I said.

Continue reading the article.

Nowhere to run: The Afghan refugees caught in Israel’s war on Iran

Shamsi was once more reminded of how vulnerable she and her family are on Friday, June 13 when Israeli missiles started to fall on Tehran.

The 34-year-old Afghan mother of two was working at her sewing job in north Tehran. She ran home to find her daughters, both five and seven, huddled beneath a table in horror as she ran to the office in a state of panic and fear.

Shamsi fled Afghanistan’s Taliban-ruled country last year, hoping that Iran would provide security. Now, undocumented and terrified, she finds herself caught in yet another dangerous situation – this time with no shelter, no status, and no way out.

For security reasons, Shamsi told Al Jazeera that although she had escaped the Taliban, bombs were still pouring down on her and that she had stayed inside. “We were here for safety, but we were unsure of our destination.”

Shamsi, a former activist in Afghanistan, and her husband, a former soldier in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan before the Taliban returned to power in 2021, fled to Iran on a temporary visa, fearful of reprisals from the Taliban over their work. However, they were unable to renew their visas because it required them to leave Iran and travel through Afghanistan, which is likely to be too dangerous.

Iran hasn’t had a pleasant life. Without legal residency, Shamsi has no protection at work, no bank account, and no access to aid. She claimed that Iranians and any other international organizations did not assist them.

It’s difficult to contact family or find information due to Iran’s internet blackouts.

“Without a driver’s licence, we can’t move around. Before Israel began bombing, she claimed that they were able to circumvent restrictions on where they could buy food before it became much harder to do so once the police began to inspect every intersection in Tehran.

About 750, 000 registered Afghans are among Iran’s 3.5 million refugees and people living in refugee-like conditions. But more than 2.6 million are undocumented individuals. Thousands of Afghans, including activists, journalists, former soldiers, and other vulnerable people, have entered Iran seeking refuge since the Taliban’s return to power and the US’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

During the 12-day conflict, many Afghans were repeatedly reminded of their extreme vulnerability: unprotected and unable to access emergency assistance or even reliable information during air raids because the internet was shut down for extended periods of time. The majority of these are undocumented.

While many fled Tehran for the north of Iran, Afghan refugees like Shamsi and her family had nowhere to go.

On June 22, an explosion shook her neighborhood, breaking the apartment’s windows. She said, “I was awake until 3 a.m., and then another explosion woke me up.”

An entire residential apartment was levelled near her building. In order to be prepared if something happens to our building, I prepared a bag with my children’s main items.

Qatar and the US brokered the ceasefire on June 23, which was a great relief, but Shamsi’s family is now almost without money. Her employer, who used to pay her in cash, has left the city and won’t answer her calls. She claimed that “he’s vanished.” He simply said, “You’re an Afghan migrant, get out, out, get out. “When I [previously] requested my unpaid wages.

A view shows the aftermath of an Israeli strike on a building in Tehran, Iran, on June 26, 2025]Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters]

Conflict costs in terms of human lives.

The 12-day conflict with Israel has sharply reawakened feelings of trauma and displacement for all Afghans trapped in Iran, including those who were forced to flee or those who stayed in their homes.

Furthermore, according to the Iranian health authorities, three Afghan migrants – identified as Hafiz Bostani, Abdulwali and Habibullah Jamshidi – were among the 610 people killed in the recent strikes.

In an Israeli strike on their construction site in Tehran’s Tehranpars neighborhood on June 18, 18-year-old Afghan laborer Abdulwali was killed and several others were hurt. Abdulwali left his studies in Afghanistan about six months ago to work in Iran to provide for his family, according to the victim’s father. In a video widely shared by Abdulwali’s friends, his colleagues at the construction site can be heard calling to him to leave the building as loud explosions echo in the background.

Since the Israeli strikes, there have been no more missing Afghans. Afghani resident of Takhar province in Afghanistan Akimi claimed to have been in Iran for four days without communication from three of his grandsons. “They were stuck inside a construction site in central Tehran with no food”, he said.

He explained that when they heard the sound of bombs, they retreated to the basement of the still-unfinished apartment building. The nearby shops were shut down, and their Iranian employers have since fled the city without paying their wages.

Even if they have survived, he added, they are undocumented. According to Hakimi, “if they get out, the police will deport them.”

Afghan refugees Iran
Following the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan on September 8, 2021, Afghan nationals are awaiting at an Afghan refugee camp in Zahedan, Iran.

From one danger zone to another

UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett urged all parties to ensure the safety of Afghan migrants in Iran during the conflict, citing immediate humanitarian measures and serious risks.

Laila Forugh Mohammadi, an activist from Afghanistan who currently resides outside the country, is using social media to spread awareness about Iran’s precarious situation. “People can’t move, can’t speak”, she said. The majority of them lack legal documentation, which puts them in danger of even being able to recover unpaid wages from frightened employers.

She also pointed out that there is no government organization supporting Afghans in the midst of the Iran-Israel conflict. “There’s no bureaucracy to process their situation. For the safety of our country’s citizens, we feared an increase in the violence between Iran and Israel, she said.

In the end, those who were able to leave Iran’s most hazardous areas largely did so with the aid of Afghan organizations.

The Afghan Women Activists ‘ Coordinating Body (AWACB), part of the European Organisation for Integration, helped hundreds of women – many of whom fled the Taliban because of their activist work – and their families to flee. They retreated to safer cities like Mashhad in the northeast of the nation from high-risk locations like Tehran, Isfahan, and Qom, which are sites of significant nuclear installations that Israel and the US both targeted. In addition, the group assisted in facilitating phone calls to Afghan families during Iran’s ongoing internet blackouts.

“Our capacity is limited. Before the ceasefire, Dr. Patoni Teichmann, the group’s founder, told Al Jazeera, “We can only support official members of AWACB.” Out of our current 450 members, 103 women have been evacuated, the majority of whom are Afghan women’s rights activists and protesters who gathered against the women’s education ban and fled Afghanistan.

Tehran
A man stands near a damaged car in Tehran, following an Israeli strike, June 26, 2025]Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters]

I’m unable to return to the Taliban.

Despite the dangers and difficulties they might face there, some chose to return despite Iran’s recent plans to deport up to two million undocumented Afghans during the 12-day conflict.

World Vision Afghanistan reported that, throughout the 12-day war, approximately 7, 000 Afghans were crossing daily from Iran into Afghanistan via the Islam Qala border in Herat. According to field representative Mark Cal, “People are arriving with only the clothes on their backs.” They are “traumatized, perplexed, and returning to a nation that is still experiencing economic and social collapse.”

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has voiced grave concerns about the deteriorating humanitarian situation for Afghans in Iran, adding that it is monitoring reports that people are on the move within Iran and that some are leaving for neighbouring countries.

Tensions continue to rise even as Israeli strikes come to an end, and Afghan refugees are expected to emigrate from Iran.

There is, however, no place left for many.

Back in northern Tehran, Shamsi sits beside her daughter watching an Iranian news channel. She softly replies, “We came here for safety.” When asked what she would do if things get worse, Shamsi says, “I’ll stay here with my family.” I can’t go back to the Taliban”.