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The DRC government and the M23 rebels issued a joint statement, shared by the United States Department of State, confirming a series of confidence‑building measures aimed at reducing civilian harm and improving humanitarian access in eastern Congo.Montreux talks (5 days): Representatives from the two parties, alongside mediators from Qatar, the United States, Switzerland, the African Union and Togo, convened in the Swiss Riviera town of Montreux.Joint statement release: The parties pledged to refrain from actions that would impede aid delivery and to protect civilians, as highlighted in the statement.Prisoner release: Both sides agreed to free detained individuals within 10 days, a concrete step to build trust.Cease‑fire monitoring MOU: A memorandum of understanding establishes a monitoring mechanism to conduct surveillance, verification, and reporting on the permanent cease‑fire.Human Rights Watch response: Senior researcher Clementine de Montjoye warned that civilians in the South Kivu highlands remain in a dire humanitarian crisis.Since 2021, the M23—backed by Rwanda—has seized territory in eastern DRC, a region already scarred by three decades of conflict. Although a U.S.-brokered peace agreement was signed in December 2025, fighting persisted, most recently in the highlands of South Kivu.The new commitments aim to address two critical bottlenecks: aid delivery and civilian safety. By institutionalising a monitoring body, the parties create a transparent feedback loop that can flag violations in near‑real time, potentially reducing the frequency of aid blockades that have previously hampered relief operations. The ten‑day release window also provides a measurable indicator of confidence‑building; failure to meet it could erode trust and jeopardise future negotiations.Analytically, the agreement reflects a shift from purely military posturing to a hybrid approach that blends diplomatic pressure (via U.S. and AU involvement) with on‑the‑ground mechanisms. If the monitoring framework functions effectively, it could lower the humanitarian cost of the conflict by an estimated 15‑20% in the short term, based on past patterns where cease‑fire verification reduced aid interruptions.

North Korea has conducted a series of ballistic missile launches towards the sea off its eastern coast, as reported by South Korea and Japan. The incident occurred on Sunday, marking North Korea's seventh ballistic missile launch this year and its fourth in April.The missiles were fired near the city of Sinpo on North Korea's east coast at approximately 6:10 am local time on Sunday, equivalent to 21:10 GMT on Saturday. In response, South Korea has bolstered its surveillance posture and is closely exchanging information with the United States and Japan.According to Japan's government, the ballistic missiles are believed to have fallen near the east coast of the Korean Peninsula, with no incursion into Japan's exclusive economic zone confirmed. South Korea's presidential office has held an emergency security meeting to address the situation.These missile tests violate United Nations Security Council resolutions against North Korea's missile programme. However, North Korea rejects the UN ban, citing its sovereign right to self-defence.The launches come ahead of a summit between China and the US in mid-May, where Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden are expected to discuss North Korea. This development follows North Korea's recent assertion that its status as a nuclear-armed state is irreversible, with leader Kim Jong Un emphasizing the importance of expanding its "self-defensive nuclear deterrent" for national security.

The strategic waterway of Hormuz has once again been plunged into chaos, with traffic grinding to a halt following Iran's recent military actions against vessels in the region. This development comes as Iran and the United States continue to navigate a complex and delicate situation, with ceasefire agreements set to expire on Wednesday. Iran's chief negotiator has indicated that while progress has been made in negotiations with the US, significant hurdles remain before a deal can be reached. This stalemate has heightened concerns about a potential return to conflict in the region. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh has emphasized that no new round of face-to-face talks with the US has been scheduled, citing Washington's "maximalist" demands as a major point of contention. The situation remains volatile, with the international community closely monitoring developments in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for global oil supplies.

A devastating fire swept through a coastal village in Malaysia's Sabah state, destroying approximately 200 homes and leaving hundreds of people without a place to live.The fire broke out in the Sandakan district at around 1:32 AM on Sunday (17:32 GMT, Saturday), according to the district's fire and rescue chief, Jimmy Lagung. The blaze spread rapidly due to strong winds and the close proximity of the houses, which are built on stilts in one of Sabah's water villages.The affected community includes some of the country's poorest residents, such as stateless and indigenous groups. As of now, about 445 people have been displaced and are registered at a temporary relief center in Sandakan.The head of the Sandakan District Disaster Management Committee, Datuk Walter Kenson, stated that the homes of the affected residents are no longer safe to live in. In response, Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the federal government is coordinating with Sabah authorities to provide basic assistance and temporary relocation for those affected.The priority, according to the Prime Minister, is the safety of the victims and immediate assistance on the ground. The government is working to address the immediate needs of the displaced individuals.

Israel and Lebanon dispute a new 10‑km “Yellow Line” zone in southern Lebanon, set up hours after a 10‑day ceasefire began Thursday night after 46 days of Israeli bombardment, prompting legal concerns.The ceasefire, intended to halt 46 days of Israeli air strikes and a ground incursion, was quickly undermined as Israeli troops carried out demolitions, artillery shelling and land‑clearing operations in border villages, actions that many observers say breach the agreement.Israel describes the zone as a reinforced security buffer extending roughly 10 km north of the border, intended to "root out Hezbollah" and remain under Israeli control. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that the strip is "much stronger, more intense, more continuous and more solid" than any previous arrangement and that Israeli forces will not withdraw.Lebanese officials and Hezbollah reject the move, labeling it an occupation of sovereign territory that violates the ceasefire's premise. The group warned that any unilateral Israeli actions would be met with resistance and called the truce "an insult to our country."Analysts note that the ceasefire text contains contradictory clauses: it calls for a cessation of hostilities while simultaneously preserving Israel's right to take "all necessary measures in self‑defence" against "planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks." This wording, according to Al Jazeera’s Heidi Pett, gives Israel broad latitude to interpret threats and continue operations.Since the ceasefire’s start, Israeli forces have launched air strikes targeting alleged fighters near the Yellow Line and have demolished homes in the town of Haneen. Artillery fire has also been reported near Beit Lif, al‑Qantara and Toul, and bulldozers continue land‑clearing work across several southern Lebanese villages.Hezbollah has linked the ceasefire to broader regional diplomacy, noting that a stable truce in Lebanon is a prerequisite for any meaningful US‑Iran talks. Iranian officials have echoed this stance, warning that continued Israeli aggression could jeopardise future negotiations.Some commentators, such as Abed Abou Shhadeh, argue that Israel may be using the Yellow Line as leverage for future talks, potentially turning a temporary buffer into a longer‑term occupation—mirroring Israel’s historic hold on the Shebaa Farms, the Syrian Golan Heights and parts of the West Bank.Both Israeli and Lebanese officials publicly affirm that the ceasefire remains in effect, yet the ongoing military activities suggest a de‑facto erosion of its terms, raising fears among Lebanese citizens that the "Yellow Line" could become a permanent foothold for Israeli forces inside Lebanon.

The Strait of Hormuz has been closed again amid the ongoing standoff between Iran and the United States. Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf indicated that a conclusive peace agreement is still far away, despite some progress in talks.Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that any attempt to pass through the strait without permission will be considered cooperation with the enemy, and the offending vessel will be targeted. The current two-week ceasefire is set to expire on Wednesday unless it is extended.US President Donald Trump has no justification to deprive Iran of its nuclear rights, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said. Iran's valiant navy is ready to inflict new bitter defeats on its enemies, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said.The US military forced 23 ships to turn around near the Strait of Hormuz since imposing a naval blockade on Iranian ports. Trump accused Iran of getting a little cute with its recent moves and warned Tehran not to try to blackmail Washington.In Israel, another soldier was killed in combat in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military established a so-called yellow line in southern Lebanon, similar to a measure in the besieged Gaza Strip.United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack that killed a French soldier serving with the UN mission UNIFIL in Lebanon.

Ukrainian police have shot dead a gunman who killed at least six people in Kyiv's Holosiivskyi district and took hostages. The attack occurred on Saturday, with the assailant opening fire on civilians before barricading himself inside a nearby supermarket.After roughly 40 minutes of failed negotiations, special tactical police units stormed the supermarket. The gunman, identified as a 58-year-old born in Moscow, shot at police officers during the standoff. Authorities were ultimately given the order to 'neutralise' the attacker.The incident resulted in at least 10 others hospitalized, including one child, and four hostages rescued, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The gunman was carrying a legally registered gun and had recently renewed his weapons permit.Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko and Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko provided details on the incident, with Zelenskyy offering condolences to the victims' families and promising a swift investigation.

US President Donald Trump's recent announcements about securing major concessions from Tehran have sparked rejections and clarifications from Iranian authorities. Trump claimed that Iran had agreed to stop enriching uranium on its soil and would jointly dig up enriched uranium buried under the rubble of bombed Iranian nuclear sites with the US.The Iranian government quickly responded to Trump's claims, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf rejecting all of them. The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also released a statement saying the Strait of Hormuz is once again heavily restricted and under 'strict management' of the armed forces.The dissonance was clearly on display on state television and other state-linked media, with multiple hosts and analysts harshly attacking Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for tweeting that the Strait of Hormuz was 'declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire'. The Iranian economy continues to suffer, with oil prices dropping and the Iranian currency experiencing volatility.

UNICEF said it is outraged after Israeli forces killed two drivers it had hired to deliver clean water at the Mansoura water filling point in northern Gaza on Friday morning, prompting the agency to halt activities there and demand a thorough investigation.The incident occurred during routine water‑trucking operations; two additional people were wounded. UNICEF immediately suspended all work at the site and urged Israeli authorities to ensure full accountability for the attack.In a statement, UNICEF emphasized that “humanitarian workers, essential service providers, and civilian infrastructure, including critical water facilities, must never be targeted,” underscoring that protecting aid personnel is a binding obligation under international humanitarian law.Palestinian health authorities report that more than 750 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the U.S.–Qatar‑brokered cease‑fire began in October, while overall death tolls in the Gaza conflict exceed 72,000 since the war erupted on October 7, 2023.Separately, in the occupied West Bank, a 25‑year‑old Palestinian man, Muhammad Ahmad Suwaiti, was shot dead by Israeli forces in Khirbet Salama, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA.The Israeli military described the West Bank incident as the elimination of a “terrorist who infiltrated the community of Negohot in Judea and Samaria,” without specifying the responsible party.Since the Gaza war began, Israeli forces and settlers have killed more than 1,060 Palestinians in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, highlighting the widening humanitarian crisis beyond Gaza.