Trump hosts signing of peace deal between leaders of DR Congo and Rwanda
The leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have signed a peace deal aimed at ending the long-running conflict in the region at a summit hosted by US President Donald Trump in Washington, BBC reported.
Ahead of the summit, there was an escalation in fighting in resource-rich eastern DR Congo between government forces and rebels believed to be backed by Rwanda.
DR Congo's army accused its rivals of attempting to "sabotage" the peace process, but the M23 rebels said the army had launched an offensive in breach of a ceasefire, according to BBC.
EU's former top diplomat Mogherini resigns from post after fraud accusation
Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief until 2019, has resigned from a leading role in Belgium after she was detained for questioning and accused in connection with an anti-corruption investigation, BBC reported.
The investigation, ordered by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), related to suspected fraud involving the award of an EU-funded training for junior diplomats to the College of Europe.
Ms Mogherini, 52, was head of the highly regarded institute based in Bruges. She was questioned this week along with another staff member at the college and a senior official from the European Commission, Stefano Sannino, according to BBC.
Israel strikes south Lebanon after first direct talks in decades
The Israeli military has carried out a new round of air strikes in southern Lebanon, less than a day after Israel and Lebanon held their first direct talks in decades, BBC reported.
Residents of the towns of Mjadel, Baraachit, Jbaa and Mahrouna were told to evacuate areas around locations that the Israeli military alleged were weapons warehouses belonging to the Iranian-backed group. No casualties have been reported.
An Israeli military spokesman said the sites constituted a ceasefire violation and warned that it would continue to operate "to remove any threat" to Israel, according to BBC.
Putin says Russia will take Donbas by force or Ukraine's troops will withdraw
President Vladimir Putin has warned again that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, rejecting any compromise over how to end the war in Ukraine, BBC reported.
"Either we liberate these territories by force, or Ukrainian troops will leave these territories," he told India Today. Moscow controls around 85% of Donbas.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ruled out ceding territory, according to BBC.
