The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has suspended the political party of former President Joseph Kabila and ordered the seizure of his assets, accusing the 53-year-old of high treason over alleged ties to the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group.
In a statement late on Saturday, the country’s Interior Ministry said Kabila’s People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) was suspended for its “ambiguous attitude” towards the M23’s occupation of DRC territory.
The M23 rebellion has reignited violence in DRC’s mineral-rich eastern provinces, where conflict rooted in the spillover from Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the struggle for control of minerals has persisted for decades.
The fighting has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands of people, according to the United Nations. The M23 has also taken two important cities, Goma and Bukavu, in the east since the start of the year.
DRC President Felix Tshisekedi has accused Kabila of preparing “an insurrection” and backing an alliance that includes M23.
In another statement, the DRC’s Justice Ministry said Kabila and other party leaders’ assets would be seized after acts amounting to high treason.
Both statements said prosecutors had been instructed to initiate proceedings against him, but no details of the accusations were given. It is understood that no formal charges have yet been filed.
There has been no direct comment from Kabila, who ruled the country from 2001 to 2019.
However, his spokesperson Barbara Nzimbi wrote on X that the former president would address the nation “in the coming hours or days”. PPRD secretary Ferdinand Kambere told the Reuters news agency the suspension amounted to “a flagrant violation” of the DRC’s constitution.
The move to suspend Kabila’s party follows reports that he has returned to the country after spending two years in South Africa. Kabila left the DRC before the last presidential election in 2023.
According to the Interior Ministry, he has travelled to Goma, but his presence there has not been confirmed independently.
Kabila, a former military officer, came to power at the age of 29 following the assassination of his father, Laurent-Desire Kabila, during the Second Congo War.
He won elections in 2006 and 2011 that were marred by allegations of fraud and human rights abuses. After two years of deadly protests and mounting international pressure, he handed power to Felix Tshisekedi in 2019 – a transition hailed as the country’s first peaceful handover of power since independence in 1960.
Earlier this month, Kabila said his return was driven by a desire to help resolve the country’s political and security crisis. In an interview with Jeune Afrique, he said he hoped to “play a role in seeking a solution after six years of complete retreat and one year in exile”.
The suspension of Kabila’s party came as peace talks between the DRC government and M23 rebels, due to take place in April, were postponed.
Irish actor Colin Farrell has been open about his son James and his rare genetic disorder – sharing the heartwarming moment he watched him reach a major milestone
Colin opened up about the emotional moment his son, James, reached a significant milestone (Image: Getty Images)
Hollywood actor Colin Farrell couldn’t hold back his tears when his ‘determined’ son, who has a rare genetic disorder, did something ‘magical’.
Earlier this week, the Irish actor opened up on the heartbreaking reason why he and his ex-partner, Kim Bordenave, made the emotional decision to place their 21-year-old son in a long-term care home. Their son, James, had previously been misdiagnosed with cerebral palsy. But it then transpired that he has Angelman syndrome – a rare genetic disorder known to severely impact the nervous system and cause significant learning disabilities.
The parents came to the agreement so that James, who is nonverbal and needs round-the-clock support, would receive the best support possible in care home. Opening up about their decision, Colin shared with Candis Magazine, “It’s tricky, some parents will say ‘I want to take care of my child myself’ and I respect that. ” He added, “But my horror would be… What if I have a heart attack tomorrow, and, God forbid, James’ mother, Kim, has a car crash and she’s taken too – and then James is on his own? “.
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Colin shared the heartbreaking reason why they decided to place their son James into a care home at the age of 21(Image: Instagram)
Colin, who won a Golden Globe for his role in The Penguin, has been open about the challenges and triumphs of raising James, from dealing with the initial misdiagnosis to celebrating every achievement, no matter how small. One heartfelt moment came when he watched his son walk for the first time.
Speaking to PEOPLE magazine last year, he joyfully reflected: “I knew they [James’s carers] were working on walking. And I stood over there, and she let him go, and he just came to [me]. It was so profound. It was magic. ” He continued: “I’ll never forget just the face of determination on him as he walked toward me. He took, like, six steps, and I burst into tears. ” He also told InStyle: “We share in the smallest victories,” adding: “When James took his first steps… I nearly broke in half. “
James was overcome with emotion when he watched his son, James, walk for the first time (Image: GETTY)
Colin also bravely shared how James inspired him to quit drinking in 2006, after years of battling addiction. “I wasn’t suicidal, but I never had much of a will to live a long time,” he previously shared. “Now I want to watch my son grow up, be his friend and his father. “
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At the 2007 Special Olympics in Shanghai, he chose to speak publicly about James’ condition for the first time, stating: “He has enriched my life… but I don’t want to minimise the trials that so many families go through. ” The doting dad has also established the Colin Farrell Foundation, which supports adult children with intellectual disabilities – a cause close to his heart that stemmed from his concerns for James as he entered adulthood.
Colin has also uses his platform to raise awareness about Angelman syndrome and shed light on the experiences of families coping with children who have special needs. The actor is also a father to 14-year-old Henry Tadeusz Farrell, whom he shares with Alicja Bachleda-Curuś.
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The beloved Corrie star was raking in millions at the height of her TV and modelling stardom, but now she’s opened up about her money woes as she’s forced to sell her beautiful family home after ‘losing all her money’
Helen Flanagan and Scott Sinclair were together for 13 years
Helen Flanagan was a successful actor and model in her own right before reaching WAG status with her ex Scott Sinclair, boasting an alleged £3. 5 million-a-year fortune at the height of her career.
When the couple moved in together and Scott proposed in 2018, the beloved Coronation Street star was elated. But three children and a broken engagement later, Helen’s once picture-perfect life has changed drastically in recent years, leaving fans concerned as she bravely shares her struggles.
This week Helen revealed how she forced to sell the eight-bedroom house she purchased with her footballer ex, as she could no longer afford the upkeep. The news came after she was hit by a driving ban when cameras clocked her Audi speeding twice in June last year. She was banned for driving despite pleas to the magistrate in January that it would cause her “exceptional hardship” – as she would struggle to afford the taxis she’d need to use for her children.
Helen Flanagan at home with her three children (Image: Instagram/hjgflanagan)
The mother-of-three said she was “struggling” financially and would not be able to afford taxis to take her youngest son Charlie to nursery. She added: “I think there might be a perception maybe that I would easily be able to afford a driver but that’s quite far from the case. I’ve got enough money in my account to pay off my tax and my VAT and basically that’s about it. “
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When asked, she said an Uber to the nursery cost about £10: “If I was doing that all the time it would be very, very expensive for me,” the Evening Standard reports. She added she also needed the car to take children meet her ex-partner, footballer Scott Sinclair, at a service station in Birmingham when the children went to stay with him. Asked if she had spoken to Sinclair about whether other arrangements could be made when he saw their children, Flanagan said: “No, I haven’t. I’ve got a very difficult relationship with my ex-partner. It’s very, very draining.”
The Corrie star’s defence lawyer told the Magistrate: “She is a single mother of three children and she is doing her best. I would invite you to look at this case on the cold, hard facts of who is in front of you and I would invite you to find that exceptional hardship is a real possibility. “
So how did the soap star’s fairytale life sour? Helen has been very open about her hardships since the devastating split and often opens up about her mental health. Her showbiz career began when she aged just four – appearing in TV adverts for the likes of Fairy Liquid and Daz before being cast as Rosie Webster in ITV soap Coronation Street in 2000 – the eldest daughter of Kevin (Michael Le Vell) and Sally (Sally Dynevor).
Helen in the early days of her Corrie career(Image: ITV)
Aged nine – the child star immediately stood out – despite some initially mundane scenes that saw her and younger sister Sophie (later played by Brooke Vincent) either being called downstairs for tea or sent upstairs to their room. Even for this – her earnings were an estimated £400 per episode, according to Mail Online.
As Rosie hit her late teens so did the juicy storylines. This included blackmailing her mum when she discovered she was having an affair and most famously when student Rosie began an affair with teacher and serial killer John Stape. She was nominated in 2006 for ‘Best Dramatic Performance from a Young Actor’ and ‘Villain of the Year’ in 2007.
Rosie ends up being kidnapped by her lover John Stape (Image: ITV)
Within a couple of years, she achieved happiness in her personal life when she started dated Scott Sinclair. Scott, who was playing for Birmingham City at the time, was on a hefty weekly wage. Her enviable status as a want-for-nothing WAG who also had her own successful career seemed sealed when the couple got engaged in 2018.
Due to her stunning looks and star power she was in big demand for other media work so she took a break from the cobbles. Later she was paid big bucks to appear in I’m A Celebrity in 2012, with some news outlets reporting payment to be well over the one million mark.
For the next few years savvy Helen appeared on numerous shows including Big Brother and Celebrity Juice and, Eight Out of Ten Cats and her rising profile meant there was ever increasing endorsement work on offer. Meanwhile Scott, now a Man City midfielder, was earning around £55,000 a week and the glam couple were regulars on showbiz magazine covers, giving interviews on their luxury home – and happy family life.
Their first child Matilda was born in 2015. After this, they moved to Scotland whilst Scott was playing football for Celtic. As a ‘yummy mummy’ influencer, Helen saw her social media followers increase and she racked over a million Instagram fans. In 2017 she returned to Corrie as Rosie.
Helen Flanagan ‘struggled emotionally’ after the difficult split with Scott Sinclair(Image: Helen Flanagan/Instagram)
According to Mail Online, her annual personal income was estimated to be around £500,000 when in 2018, while Helen was pregnant, Scott proposed with an extravagant diamond ring while the pair enjoyed a family holiday at Disneyland Paris
A few months later they welcomed second child Delilah in June 2018. They later moved to near Bolton, Greater Manchester in 2021 paying £840,000 in cash for their forever home – with third baby Charlie born on Scott’s 32nd birthday
But just a year later the fairytale was over and there was no dream wedding. The couple separated in June 2022. The pair had reportedly hit a “rough patch” over the summer and Helen was then first pictured without her engagement ring on the red carpet at the Pride of Britain Awards that October. Helen blamed Scott’s inability to deal with her mental health problems for the break-up of their family – she was diagnosed with ADHD but she continued to work, juggling her role as a single mother with media gigs.
Helen Flanagan and her three kids celebrate son Charlie’s fourth birthday (Image: Instagram)
Last year Helen bravely revealed that she suffered a “very scary” episode of psychosis after a “bad reaction” to ADHD medication. The star explained she had been “emotionally struggling” after splitting with her long-term partner.
Back in 2023, she was paid an estimated £300,000 to return to the I’m A Celebrity jungle, this time in South Africa, for just two weeks. But the star still appears to be struggling financially. Apart from I’m A Celeb – her profile is now much lower and her earning opportunities fewer. But recent commercial deals incude lingerie firm Ann Summers who paid sponsored Instagram posts to her 1. 1 million followers.
Her new boyfriend, former non-league footballer Robbie Talbot, is not believed to be anywhere near as financially comfortable as Helen had once been. The 34-year-old’s company HJF Darling Ltd published accounts for the year to the end of August 2024 of £135,387, leaving after tax a balance of £75,615, Mail Online reports.
Helen Flanagan and her new partner Robbie Talbot
The actress herself is frank about her monetary woes – telling the magistrate in her speeding case – she “basically had no money”. These days Scott’s career has also taken a turn. The 36 year old started strong at City before moving to lower paying clubs such as Preston North End – and back where he first got his big break – Bristol Rovers.
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There is now the possibility of relegation from the third tier of professional football with his best playing days well behind him. He now earns an estimated £2,600 a week – just 5% of what he was paid 12 years ago. And not enough to uphold the lavish lifestyle he and Helen once enjoyed.
Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski was diagnosed with a hamstring injury on Sunday and is set to miss the Copa del Rey final and Champions League semi-final according to Spanish media reports.
The 36-year-old Polish forward, Barcelona’s top goalscorer with 40 goals across all competitions, came off during his team’s 4-3 La Liga win over Celta Vigo on Saturday.
“Tests carried out on Sunday have confirmed that first-team player Robert Lewandowski has a semitendinosus injury in his left thigh,” said Barcelona in a statement, without specifying how long he would be sidelined for.
Spanish media reported Lewandowski could be out for three weeks, meaning he would not be available next Saturday as Barcelona face Real Madrid in the Copa final in Seville.
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The La Liga leaders also host Inter Milan on April 30 in the Champions League semi-final first leg, and visit the Italians on May 6.
Lewandowski is set to miss league games against Mallorca on Tuesday and Valladolid on May 3, with a potential return against Real Madrid on May 11, a match which could decide the title race.
Barcelona, who won the Spanish Super Cup in January, are chasing a potential quadruple and are in the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2019.
Coach Hansi Flick has used Ferran Torres through the middle as a replacement for Lewandowski before, and has also experimented with Dani Olmo operating as a false nine.
Russia and Ukraine have carried out the largest prisoner exchange since the start of the war, swapping more than 500 prisoners in total. It comes as Russia’s President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary ‘Easter’ ceasefire, but Ukraine says the attacks haven’t stopped.
If you’ve been on the hunt for a skincare device that gives ‘a cleaner, smoother, and softer complexion’ in a flash, this Foreo Luna set is not one to snooze on as it’s got £110 off its usual RRP
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Cleansing and anti-ageing skincare device worth £140 drops to £29 in flash sale(Image: Getty)
A covetable skincare set is currently boasting a massive discount thanks to this limited-time deal. The Luna Go Set from Foreo, worth £140, is up for grabs right now for a whopping £110 less, bringing the price all the way down to £29. 99.
But if you want to get your hands on the cleansing and anti-ageing skincare gadget touted as delivering fast and noticeable results after just two minutes of use a day without breaking the bank, you’ll need to act fast—there’s no telling how long this sale or stock will last.
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This Foreo LUNA Go Set is currently 79% off(Image: Boop)
The Luna Go Set features a cleansing and anti-ageing massager and a free cleanser that will become your new holy grail in your skincare routine. The compact device is perfect for a busy lifestyle as it only requires a quick two minutes a day, and it’s set to keep your skin soft and healthy with minimal work.
The Swedish cleansing brush is designed for all skin types. With just two minutes of daily use, it achieves a cleaner, smoother, and softer complexion without irritating sensitive skin or causing discomfort.
Foreo LUNA Go Set – Pearl Pink
£140
£29.99
Buy Now on Boop Beauty
The Luna Go is touted as the ultimate beauty tech that seamlessly fits into any lifestyle. It boasts a lightweight and compact design that can easily go with you wherever you choose to indulge in your skincare ritual.
Featuring T-Sonic pulsations that unclog pores and remove impurities, excess oil, and dead skin cells, this massager also has an anti-ageing mode that helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Designed to enhance the absorption of creams, serums and moisturisers, this set comes with a free micro-foam cleanser to use in conjunction with the massager, ensuring deep absorption and optimal benefits. Plus, this device provides a firming massage that is set to reveal younger-looking skin.
Worth £140, savvy skincare shoppers can currently get their hands on this set for the majorly reduced price of £29. 99 while this sale lasts. At the time of writing, this gem is still in stock, but there’s no promise that it will last, so you’ll need to act fast.
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For alternative skincare devices, check out this Viveca Ultrasonic Facial Cleansing Brush from Pure Tone for £159. 99 or take a peek at this Super Facial Vibrating Cleansing Brush for £100 from Beauty Pie.
