UN tight-lipped on outcome of talks with Congolese rebels
The head of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo has held talks with Rwanda-backed rebels about protecting civilians in areas under their control in the east.
Bintou Keita, the UN secretary general's special representative, said the rebels spoke of wanting a peaceful solution to the crisis, which escalated in January with their capture of the major city of Goma.
She said she had brought "a spirit of listening and exchange" to the discussions in Goma on Friday.
Little more detail has been released about any progress made at the summit.
But in a short written statement, Ms Kieta said it formed part of ongoing "joint efforts begun several months ago for the benefit of the population", and that it came at a critical moment.
Photos released from the meeting showed Ms Keita boarding a helicopter towards the eastern warzone for the summit, and also of her team sat across from leaders of the Congo River Alliance - which includes the M23 rebel group.
These were not the UN-led first talks since the takeover of Goma, but they are the highest profile.
Earlier this year the UN peacekeeping force, known as Monusco, was unable to stop the rebel group advancing and seizing large swathes of territory from the Congolese army. M23 rebels attacked some Monusco peacekeepers.
Since the start of this year, the M23 has made major advances in the mineral-rich east, including taking Goma in January.
The conflict has led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians in the last few months, with thousands of people killed.
Airports in the cities of Goma and Kivumu remain closed and livelihoods have been disrupted, with many civil servants and other workers not receiving their pay.
On Friday, almost 250 South African soldiers who were deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo arrived back home as the first part of a phased withdrawal from the eastern warzone.
They had been part of a force sent by the southern African bloc (Sadc) to assist the Congolese army, but 20 of its soldiers were later killed during an M23 advance which prompted the decision to leave.
At a meeting on Saturday, Monusco said its leader Ms Keita met a top Sadc commander in a show of mutual appreciation for the "support and solidarity" they had shown each other "in these recent, difficult months".
Additional reporting by Emery Makumeno, Samba Cyzuzo and Cecilia Macaulay
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Newsweek
40 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Army's 250th Anniversary Parade in Pictures
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The event has also sparked controversy, with supporters arguing it will boost recruitment for the U.S. military, while critics point to the cost and Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky warns it could look like "images you saw of the Soviet Union and North Korea." President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attend a military parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary, coinciding with his 79th birthday, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Washington. President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attend a military parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary, coinciding with his 79th birthday, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Washington. AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson What To Know The event coincided with Trump's 79th birthday and was timed to project strength and tradition on Flag Day. "How great our country is, very simple, and how strong our military is," Trump said when asked what he hoped people would take away from the event. "We have the strongest military in the world." US President Donald Trump (3L) and US First Lady Melania Trump attend the Army 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington, DC, on June 14, 2025. Trump's long-held dream of a parade will come true as nearly... US President Donald Trump (3L) and US First Lady Melania Trump attend the Army 250th Anniversary Parade in Washington, DC, on June 14, 2025. Trump's long-held dream of a parade will come true as nearly 7,000 troops plus dozens of tanks and helicopters rumble through the capital in an event officially marking the 250th anniversary of the US army. 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Six restored Jeeps and dozens of troops in 1940s garb highlighted the Army's role in the Allied victory. U.S Army vehicles from various eras cross the Arlington Memorial Bridge during the parade down Constitution Avenue marking the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army June 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Army is... U.S Army vehicles from various eras cross the Arlington Memorial Bridge during the parade down Constitution Avenue marking the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army June 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Army is marking its 250th birthday with a military parade including roughly 6,600 troops, 150 vehicles, and over 50 aircraft. The parade, which coincides with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday, is designed to tell the history of the Army. More Photo byTrump stood to salute passing troops, often returning their gestures. Though seated much of the time, he repeatedly rose to acknowledge marching units. 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President Donald Trump attends a military parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary, coinciding with his 79th birthday, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Washington. President Donald Trump attends a military parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary, coinciding with his 79th birthday, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Washington. AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson Vietnam-era helicopters buzzed the parade route in tribute to the "Helicopter War." The Huey, Cobra, and Loach were among those that soared over the capital. Soldiers from the Army 82nd Airborne Division, dressed in World War I era uniforms, march past the reviewing stand and President Donald Trump during a military parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary, coinciding with his... 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What Happens Next The parade, according to senior defense officials, is estimated to have cost between $25 million and $45 million — a figure that includes logistics, security, transportation of heavy equipment, and air operations. That total makes it one of the most expensive single-day ceremonial military events in U.S. history.
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Israel-Iran Strikes: What Are The Worst Case Scenarios For Oil Markets
An oil tanker negotiating shallow waters of northern Persian Gulf. (Photo: by Barry Iverson) Israel-Iran strikes have taken a dangerous turn in recent days. They follow an attack by Israel on the Iran's military and nuclear sites. Ever since tensions escalated on Friday, there have been calls for restraint from the United Nations, U.S., U.K., and European Union but to no avail. Fighting has so far been restricted to the two warring countries. However, the level of the ferocity of the strikes has raised the alarming prospect of a wider conflict in a region that is a key exporter of crude oil. On Friday, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country's forces had struck nuclear and military targets deep inside Iran and that action will continue until his country has met all its targets. Israeli strikes targeted sites in Arak and Isfahan, as well as Iran's main uranium enrichment site Natanz and its capital Tehran. In retaliation, Iran has launched over a 200 ballistic missile attacks against Israel so far, and counting. It has also called off the ongoing U.S.-Iran nuclear talks and threatened to attack U.S., U.K. and French military bases and ships in the region if they help with stopping its military strikes on Israel. Critically, Iran's oil and gas infrastructure has been left somewhat untouched by Israel. But given the unpredictability of the situation, this can no longer be ruled out. Late on Saturday, the Shahran oil depot in Tehran was hit by Israel, following on from earlier attacks on Iranian natural gas fields. Should Iran's energy infrastructure be hit more widely and the Islamic Republic retaliates to disrupt regional energy supplies or to draw the U.S. into the conflict, there could be consequences of varying degrees of severity for the oil market. Here are a five worst case scenarios, split between what Israel and Iran may do next in an unpredictable and rapidly escalating conflict. Israel may launch an attack on Kharg Oil Terminal, situated on Kharg Island, 15 miles off Iran's northwestern coast. The terminal handles over 90% of the country's global crude oil exports. If such an attack cripples the facility, the domino effect could be instant. It carries the potential for huge disruption, primarily to Iran's exports to China — the world's largest importer of oil. Not only would it contribute to a further short-term spike in prices, but forward oil futures contracts four to six months out may also see upswings. That's because bringing it back onstream would neither be easy nor quick. Instead of a high profile oil export target like the Kharg Terminal, Israel could hammer Iran's domestic energy chain. The Shahran oil depot in Tehran on Saturday by Israel lends weight to this theory. Upscaling the tactic may involve targeting a bigger cluster of oil terminals and hubs in the Southern province of Hormozgan. The region is also home to two free trade zones on Kish and Qeshm Islands. Kish also hosts the Iranian oil bourse — the only exchange of its kind that does not trade oil and derivatives in U.S. dollars. The domestically focused Abadan Refinery - located across Shatt Al-Arab River on the border between Iraq and Iran - could also be an Israeli target. Reliable up-to-date data on the refinery's production capacity is hard to find. But estimates and regional media sources (e.g. Financial Tribune) suggest it could be producing around 400,000 barrels per day. Abadan has symbolic status too as Iran's oldest oil processing facility. Originally built in 1909 by Anglo-Persian oil (which later became BP), it services around 25% of Iran's domestic fuel demand. Any outages there could be crippling for both Iranian consumers as well as the country's military. Mahshahr Oil Terminal, an oil port located on the Khor Musa Channel, is a related target. It stores and shifts products from the Abadan Refinery, and serves as an engineering and jetty construction hub for Iran. If any of these are hit, Iran's domestic supply chain will likely be severely crippled and may require Tehran to redirect resources. Instead of targeting oil production and export facilities, Israel may execute a plan to cripple Iran's natural gas industry. Iran produces just over 270 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year, almost entirely for domestic use. Israel has already attacked two of Israel's gas fields, including Phase 14 of South Pars so far. The attacks could be a harbinger of what may follow. Such targets would have little ramifications for the global natural gas industry, although Iran does share the natural gas basin with Qatar. However, Iran's natural gas production volume equates to around 6% of the world's output. Domestic outages may see Tehran turning to international liquefied natural gas supplies to meet its needs. For its retaliatory measures, many ponder if Iran could shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime artery for oil and liquefied natural gas shipments from the Persian Gulf out to the Gulf of Oman and beyond (see map below). Cargo volumes lend relevance to such discussions. Iran's own shipments, plus that of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, and to an extent United Arab Emirates' crude - roughly equating to 30% of the world's traded oil - as well as Qatar's LNG cargoes pass through the Strait daily. Strait of Hormuz, a waterway between Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, a strategically extremely ... More important choke point, with Iran to the north and UAE and Oman's exclave Musandam to the south. While Iranians could certainly can attempt to close the Strait, they most probably won't, despite junior Iranian political voices currently calling for it. For starters, it would disrupt Iran's own oil shipments. Furthermore, a U.S.-led global retaliation may likely follow that would leave Iran's own coastline and all its ports vulnerable to a vastly superior American air and naval strike arsenal. Nearby Bahrain is home to the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet. Any disruption would also irk Iran's number crude oil customer - China. Iran exported on average 1.65 million bpd of oil to China last year. Furthermore, nearly half of crude oil passing through the Strait - whether Iranian or not - in the region of 20.5 million bpd also heads to China. A potential blockade would be very difficult to maintain under pressure from Beijing, the world's main taker of Middle Eastern oil. In an attempt to drag the U.S. into the conflict, Iran may either directly or via its regional proxies in Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, West Bank and Gaza, attack the energy infrastructure of neighboring Gulf states. This has alleged precedent, for in the past Iran has been accused of targeting Saudi Arabia's oil fields (2019) and an attack in the UAE (2022). While the route of direct attacks remains open to Iran, its regional proxies Hamas and Hezbollah are severely diminished at the moment courtesy of Israel's sustained campaign against them. However, the Houthi Rebels in Yemen - the last standing Iranian proxy ally - remain in a position to ramp up their attacks on commercial shipping, and oil and gas cargoes in the Red Sea - a campaign that began in 2023. Sidestepping energy infrastructure, on Saturday, Iranian officials also warned that the country would attack the military bases of the U.S., U.K. and France in the region, if they are seen to be coming to Israel's defense. All three nations have also have special forces camps and large diplomatic missions in the Gulf. Such a scenario is being widely contemplated in intelligence circles, with U.S. regional forces closely monitoring the situation and the U.K. opting to send more military aircraft to its bases 'for contingency support across the region.' Any such escalation will likely trigger a wider regional war, and prolonged disruption to oil cargoes will likely draw China into a diplomatic row too. As things stand, should one or more of the above scenarios, especially an attack on Iran's Kharg Terminal, materialize during the Israel-Iran strikes, there could be serious near-term ramifications for the global oil and gas markets.
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Accused Minnesota assassin Vance Boelter has ties to Middle East and Africa, runs security company
The Minnesota man being sought in connection with the Saturday morning assassination of a state lawmaker and the shooting of another runs a security company and has ties to the Middle East and Africa, online biographies showed. Vance Luther Boelter lists himself on LinkedIn as the CEO of the Red Lion Group, which is based in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He also worked with Minnesota Africans United, a statewide organization working with African immigrants in the state, according to a now deleted biography on the group's web site. Advertisement 3 Vance Luther Boelter owns a security company and has ties to the Middle East and Africa, online biographies show. Minnesota Department of Public Safety Boelter, 57, who is believed to have posed as a police officer during the shootings, and his wife, Jenny, appear to head Praetorian Guard Security Services, a Minnesota-based company 'here to set up security options and provide security services right to your doorstep and property to keep what you own safe and secure,' according to its website. Boelter has 'been involved in security situations' in Eastern Europe, Africa, North America and the Middle East, 'including the West Bank, Southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip,' according to the Praetorian web site. Advertisement 3 Boelbert is being sought in connection with the Saturday morning assassination of a Minnesota state lawmaker and the shooting of another. Obtained by NY Post Last month, Boelter said he was open to work. Boelter listed food service more than security in his work history. His LinkedIn profile includes jobs at 7-Eleven, where he was a general manager from 2016 to 2021. He also worked at various times as a manager at Del Monte, Johnsonville Sausage and at a company called Greencore, which manufactures convenience foods in the United Kingdom. Advertisement He was twice appointed to Minnesota government by different Democratic governors. In 2016 then-Gov Mark Dayton named Boelter to the Workforce Development Council, and in 2019 Walz to serve a four-year stint on the Workforce Development Board, documents show. Boetler last registered to vote in 2022 as a Republican. In a Nov. 5, 2018 post on his profile, Boetler encouraged others to vote in the upcoming presidential election — and expressed his fears for the outcome. 'I am very big on just telling people to be a part of the process and vote your values and be part of this adventure we are all a part of living in the United States of America,' he wrote. Advertisement 3 In a Nov. 5, 2018 post on his profile, Boetler encouraged others to vote in the upcoming presidential election — and expressed his fears for the outcome. FEVRIER DEVANT TA FACE 'I think the election is going to have more of an impact on the direction of our country than probably any election we have been apart of, or will be apart of for years to come.' Boetler earned his undergraduate degree in international relations at St. Cloud State University, according to his LinkedIn, and later obtained a Masters of Science and Management and Doctorate in Leadership degrees, both from Cardinal Stritch University. Messages for Jenny Boelter, Praetorian and Minnesota Africans United were not immediately returned. Authorities are searching for Boetler, who remains on the loose after cops say he shot Sen. John Hoffman and his wife in their Champlin home early Saturday, leaving them seriously injured before moving on to former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortmon's house, where he is believed to have slaughtered her and her husband, police sources previously told The Post. The suspect allegedly exchanged gunfire with the cops who responded to Hortman's home and briefly cornered him inside — but he got away, and left behind a 'manifesto' listing the names of 70 politicians, including Walz, and a stack of papers stating 'No Kings' in reference to the nationwide anti-Trump protests Saturday, according to cops.
