Central Asia’s fintech ambitions face test beyond Tashkent forum
Central Asia’s fintech ambitions are in the spotlight as a major forum in Tashkent draws to a close, shifting attention from the region&rsquo...
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Kenyan President William Ruto have called for an immediate ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) amid escalating violence. Their appeal follows the capture of key cities by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group.
During a phone call, Rubio and Ruto discussed the deteriorating situation in eastern Congo and urged a diplomatic resolution to the crisis, the U.S. State Department confirmed on Friday.
"Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to push for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis," the State Department said.
The conflict, driven by ethnic and geopolitical tensions, has intensified in recent weeks, with M23 rebels capturing the cities of Goma and Bukavu. The group’s resurgence marks the most severe escalation in over a decade.
M23, accused of receiving military support from Rwanda, has reignited tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali. Rwanda denies allegations from Congo, the United Nations, and Western nations that it supplies arms and troops to the rebels.
On Thursday, the U.S. imposed sanctions on a Rwandan government minister and a senior member of an armed group for their alleged involvement in the conflict. A diplomatic note seen by Reuters earlier this month stated that regional stability would require Rwanda to withdraw its military forces and advanced weaponry from eastern Congo.
The U.S. and Kenya’s joint call for de-escalation reflects increasing international concern over the conflict’s impact on regional stability. As fighting intensifies, diplomatic efforts are being stepped up to prevent further humanitarian fallout and geopolitical instability.
Oil prices fell after the U.S. expanded economic sanctions on Iran, as Tehran vowed to retaliate and warned it had tools to respond, raising concerns over potential disruption to regional oil supplies.
Kyiv has recently received a small number of U.S.-made Patriot interceptors capable of downing Russian ballistic missiles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. It comes as Britain and France pledged stronger military support for Ukraine.
Only four commodity vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, following 13 transits a day earlier, as disruptions continue to restrict traffic through the key energy chokepoint.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told allied foreign ministers Washington will focus on sanctions and other pressure on Iran “for the time being”, Axios reports. Meanwhile, Iran and Oman have resumed talks on a temporary shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz.
Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 10 prisoners of war each in Belarus, Moscow's Human Rights Commissioner, Yana Lantratova, has said.
Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 10 prisoners of war each in Belarus, Moscow's Human Rights Commissioner, Yana Lantratova, has said.
Meta Platforms has agreed to pay up to $16.68 billion and make sweeping changes to Facebook and Instagram to settle claims that its platforms put children and teenagers at risk.
At least nine people have been killed and hundreds of tourists are missing after a massive landslide triggered catastrophic flooding near Nepal’s Himalayan border with China’s Tibet region.
Instagram Chief Adam Mosseri has acknowledged that few teenagers used Instagram’s “Take a Break” feature before it became a default setting, as Meta faces a major U.S. trial over child safety.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 26th of August, covering the latest developments.
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