​ DR Congo and Rwanda reach deal to de-escalate tensions following US talks. 32 minutes ago. Basillioh Rukanga. Getty Images via AFP. The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have committed to “concrete steps” to reduce tensions during a stalled peace effort, following US-hosted talks in Washington. Despite a peace agreement signed last year with US President Donald Trump, conflict persists in eastern DR Congo. This pledge follows US sanctions earlier this month on Rwanda’s Defence Forces and four top officials, with accusations that Rwanda is directly backing the M23 rebels and fueling the escalation. A joint statement from DR Congo, Rwanda, and the US outlines “a series of coordinated steps to de-escalate tensions and make progress on the ground.” The countries vowed to uphold each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Rwanda agreed to withdraw its forces and end “defensive measures… in defined areas of DR Congo’s territory,” while DR Congo promised to ramp up “time-bound” operations against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR)—a militia including some Rwandan Hutus linked to the 1994 genocide, still operating in eastern DR Congo. Rwanda calls the FDLR a “genocidal militia” whose presence endangers its borders. It has consistently rejected claims of supporting M23, despite strong evidence, insisting its forces are there for defense against threats from DR Congo-based armed groups. Violence continues in eastern DR Congo even after the US-mediated December peace deal intended to halt the protracted war. Shortly after the signing, M23 seized the Congolese city of Uvira near the Burundi border—the conflict’s largest escalation in months. It later withdrew under US pressure, though it still holds large areas of eastern DR Congo, including the region’s two largest cities, Goma and Bukavu. Earlier this month, while imposing sanctions on Rwanda, the US stated that despite the M23’s pullback, its ongoing presence near the Burundian border and Rwandan military backing posed “the risk of escalating the conflict into a broader regional war.” Rwanda dismissed the claims, arguing that the sanctions unfairly singled out one party and “misrepresent the reality and distort the facts of the conflict.” It also charged DR Congo with breaching the peace deal through “indiscriminate drone attacks and ground offensives.” You may also be interested in: The United States imposes sanctions on Rwanda’s military and senior commanders due to conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. What is the conflict in DR Congo about? Trump’s ‘historic’ peace agreement for DR Congo collapses as rebels capture major city.  

​ How the Iran war has plunged Europe into yet another energy crisis. Two hours ago. Katya Adler, Europe Editor at BBC. The ripple effects of the conflict currently sweeping through the Middle East are reviving memories of past crises that rattled the European Union. Seven months after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the European Commission President took to the podium in the European Parliament, accusing Russia of tampering with the EU’s energy market. “They prefer to flare the gas than to deliver it,” declared Ursula von der Leyen, as soaring energy prices battered consumers across the continent. This market is no longer operational. “It’s a war on our energy, our economy, our values, and our future,” she stated, emphasizing that Europe was already shifting from Russian gas to more reliable suppliers like the US and Norway. Yet four years later, profound energy-related discontent has resurfaced at Europe’s core. “We vowed we would learn.” “A European diplomat, deeply frustrated, told me: ‘We promised change, but here we are.'” He requested anonymity to speak freely. His main frustration centered on Europe’s intensifying energy crisis, sparked by the raging Middle East conflict and poised to overshadow a Brussels summit of European leaders on Thursday. “Instead of focusing on essential long-term strategies—for making Europe more competitive in this increasingly unstable world—[European] prime ministers and presidents are now panicking over [energy] prices, fretting about furious voters, and grasping for quick fixes. EPA/Shutterstock.  

​ Oil surpasses $110 per barrel following gas field attack. Seven hours ago. Rachel Clun arbeitet als Wirtschaftsreporterin. Images from Getty. Oil prices climbed above $110 (£82.78) per barrel following reports from Iranian media of an airstrike on a facility at the world’s largest natural gas field. The Brent crude benchmark reached $112 a barrel in early Thursday trading in Asia, up more than 9% from Tuesday’s levels. The price has dipped slightly since then. The benchmark UK gas price rose 6% to 143.53p per therm before retreating to about 140p. The increase came after reports that Iran’s petrochemical complex on the South Pars gas field was struck. Several hours later, Qatar announced “extensive damage” at the Ras Laffan industrial site after Iranian threats. Although oil and gas prices surged, they stayed below previous conflict peaks—oil hit $116.78 per barrel on March 9, and UK gas reached 162.55p per therm on March 3. Iran’s oil ministry stated, via Tasnim (a news outlet linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps), that a fire at its petrochemical complex was contained. Iran’s military vowed “decisive action” against the attack on its energy facilities, declaring in a Tasnim-published statement: “As we previously warned, if the American-Zionist enemy strikes our fuel, energy, gas, or economic infrastructure, we will launch a powerful counterattack on the enemy and severely target the source of aggression. We deem attacks on the fuel, energy, and gas infrastructure of aggressor nations legitimate and will retaliate forcefully at the first opportunity.” Qatar also runs facilities on the gas field, which it refers to as North Dome. However, the country—which accounts for a fifth of global liquefied natural gas production—had suspended operations earlier in March due to the conflict. Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman, Majed Al Ansari, stated that attacks on energy infrastructure “pose a threat to global energy security.” Shortly after 1815 GMT, the Qatari interior minister announced it was addressing “a fire in the Ras Laffan area after an Iranian strike.”  

​ Cesar Chavez, US civil rights leader, accused of sexual abuse. Six hours ago. Nardine on teel. Images from Getty. Cesar Chavez, the renowned US civil rights leader who championed farmworkers’ rights, faces posthumous allegations of sexual abuse. Dolores Huerta, his co-founder of the United Farm Workers (UFW) union, revealed that in the 1960s, Chavez once “manipulated and pressured” her into sex and forced her on another occasion. This follows a New York Times investigation published Wednesday, which outlined claims from Huerta and two other women accusing Chavez of grooming and abusing young women in the labor movement during the 1960s and 1970s. Chavez’s family expressed devastation in a statement, commending the women’s bravery in speaking out. Chavez, who died in 1993 at age 66, mobilized California’s farmworkers from the 1950s onward through boycotts and marches to improve working conditions. Huerta, now 95, stated the incidents led to pregnancies she kept secret, placing the children with other families. “I kept this secret for so long because advancing the movement and farmworker rights was my life’s mission,” she explained. Ana Murguia and Debra Rojas, both 66, told the Times that Chavez abused them repeatedly from about 1972 to 1977, when they were girls and he was in his 40s. Several Cesar Chavez Day events—observed on March 31—have been canceled or rebranded. The UFW announced it would not participate, stating it had “not received direct reports” or “firsthand knowledge” of the claims. California Governor Gavin Newsom called the farmworker and labor movements “bigger than any one person,” affirming support for “courageous women” like Huerta. At another event, he indicated openness to renaming the holiday. Republican Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo has introduced a bill to rename it Farmworker Day. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass described the experiences of Huerta, Murguia, and Rojas as “not isolated or historical,” urging ongoing efforts to dismantle harmful systems. The allegations have drawn broad backlash, including from the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), which stated: “No one, no matter their status or legacy, is exempt from accountability in safeguarding others’ dignity.” The Cesar Chavez Foundation acknowledged “disturbing allegations” of its founder engaging in inappropriate sexual conduct with women and minors during his UFW presidency. It expressed being “deeply shocked and saddened,” and is collaborating with farmworker leaders to address the claims and assist potential victims. United States. California.  

​ US aircraft carrier heading to Crete for repairs following on-board fire. Eight hours ago. Byline: Jessica Rawnsley, Reuters. US officials report that the USS Gerald R. Ford, the US Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier, is set to depart the Red Sea for repairs at a US Navy base on Crete following an onboard fire that injured sailors and inflicted substantial damage. The blaze erupted in the laundry facility last week, requiring hours to put out, with authorities confirming pierside repairs ahead. The world’s largest warship has faced multiple issues during its nearly nine-month Middle East deployment, including a prior toilet system failure. Deployed as part of US operations related to the war with Iran, the carrier saw over 200 crew members evaluated for smoke inhalation after the March 2 fire, all later resuming duties. One sailor was medically evacuated in stable condition, and two others received treatment for minor injuries. The incident triggered an extensive damage control effort, with sailors battling the flames for hours to prevent spread. Smoke damage affected sleeping areas, rendering over 100 bunks unusable, per officials. Spare cots have been provided, and extra mattresses and clothing were delivered to the ship following the destruction of its laundry facilities. A US Fifth Fleet spokesperson confirmed the ship is still operational. Investigators are probing the fire’s cause. The Ford is set to sail to Naval Support Activity Souda Bay in Crete for over a week of repairs, according to a US official who spoke to USNI News, a US Navy-focused outlet. In January, the ship experienced a toilet system failure, with US media reporting backed-up bathrooms and long restroom queues aboard. The Navy confirmed minor problems, quoting the ship’s leadership that “clog incidents are addressed promptly by trained damage control and engineering personnel, with minimal downtime.” Reuters. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier has been crucial in the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, as its onboard fighter jets have conducted numerous strikes. The $13 billion ship has drawn criticism regarding the duration of its deployment. It was first deployed to the Caribbean amid rising tensions with Venezuela and then sent to the Middle East in February. If it stays at sea past mid-April, it would surpass the post-Vietnam War record for a US aircraft carrier deployment, established in 2020 by the USS Abraham Lincoln, per USNI News. On Tuesday, Senator Mark Warner, vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, condemned its extended deployment. “The Ford and its crew have been pushed to the brink after nearly a year at sea, and they have been paying the price for President Donald Trump’s reckless military decisions,” he stated. The New York Times reports it is expected to be relieved by the USS George H.W. Bush. More on this story.