Congo, M23 rebels pledge in Qatar to reach peace deal next month
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Congo, M23 rebels to sign declaration of principles to end fighting, sources say
The declaration is expected to be signed on Saturday in Doha. It comes amid heavy U.S. pressure to finalise deals that would bring peace to eastern Congo. Congo had previously rejected the idea of holding talks with M23, branding it a terrorist group. M23 seized Goma, eastern Congo’s largest city, in January and went on to make gains across North Kivu and South Kivi provinces. The fighting has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands more this year while escalating the risk of a full-blown regional war. The U.N. and Western powers say Rwanda is supporting M23 by sending troops and arms. A report by a group of United Nations experts obtained by Reuters this month said Kali exercised command over the rebels during their advance. The United Nations says its forces are acting against Congo’s and ethnic Hutu militiamen, including the Democratic Forces of the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). The FDLR has long denied M23 is acting against them.
Summary Agreement expected to be signed Saturday in Doha
Key details to end fighting still need to be negotiated
U.S. hosting separate talks between Rwanda and Congo
July 18 (Reuters) – Congo and the M23 rebel group have agreed to a declaration of principles to end fighting in eastern Congo, a sign of progress after months of talks mediated by Qatar, though key details still need to be negotiated, four sources said on Friday.
The declaration, expected to be signed on Saturday in Doha, comes amid heavy U.S. pressure to finalise deals that would bring peace to eastern Congo. This could potentially attract billions of dollars of Western investment to a region rich in tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, lithium and other minerals.
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M23, in the latest of a string of uprisings supported by Rwanda, seized Goma, eastern Congo’s largest city, in January and went on to make gains across North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.
The fighting has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands more this year while escalating the risk of a full-blown regional war. Several of Congo’s neighbours already have troops deployed in the volatile region.
In March Qatar brokered a surprise meeting between Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame during which they called for an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire.
That led to direct talks, also in Doha, between Congo and M23. Congo had previously rejected the idea of holding talks with M23, branding it a terrorist group.
In April, both sides pledged to work towards a ceasefire. But sources in both delegations have expressed frustration with the pace of negotiations and the lack of progress on confidence-building measures including the release of M23 members held by Congo and the re-opening of banks in rebel-held territory.
It was unclear on Friday how many of those issues have been resolved. There are also bigger questions on possible Rwandan and M23 withdrawals from eastern Congo.
An official familiar with the discussions said the declaration of principles, reached after face-to-face meetings as well as shuttle diplomacy by the Qataris, would include an immediate ceasefire and outline “a commitment to begin formal negotiations on a comprehensive peace agreement in the near future.”
The official said there was also consensus on a mechanism for a permanent ceasefire and a roadmap for restoring state authority in eastern Congo once a peace agreement is signed.
An M23 source said the document does not mention any kind of troop withdrawal.
“The American pressure is very strong,” a Congolese source said on Friday, noting the presence in Doha of Massad Boulos, Trump’s senior adviser for Africa.
“But there are still many points unresolved. This is only one step in the discussions.”
TALKS IN WASHINGTON
Washington has also hosted talks between Congo and Rwanda. On June 27 the two countries’ foreign ministers signed a peace deal and met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. Trump warned of “very severe penalties, financial and otherwise” if the deal is violated.
Trump also invited Tshisekedi and Kagame to Washington to sign a package of deals that Boulos dubbed the “Washington Accord”.
Speaking to reporters on July 2, Boulos said the Trump administration would “love” to hold that meeting at the end of July. But he also said U.S. officials hope to have a deal in Doha finalised by then.
Congo, the United Nations and Western powers say Rwanda is supporting M23 by sending troops and arms. A report by a group of United Nations experts obtained by Reuters this month said Kigali exercised command and control over the rebels during their advance.
Rwanda has long denied helping M23 and says its forces are acting in self-defence against Congo’s army and ethnic Hutu militiamen linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).
Reporting by Sonia Rolley and Stanis Bujakera; Additional reporting by Ange Adihe Kasongo in Kinshasa and Andrew Mills in Paris; Writing by Robbie Corey-Boulet; Editing by David Gregorio and Daniel Wallis
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Trump to meet Qatar’s PM as push for Gaza ceasefire deal continues
U.S. President to meet with Qatari Prime Minister in Doha on Wednesday. U.S., Qatari and Israeli negotiators have been trying to reach a deal on a cease-fire. The latest round of talks began on July 6 and is expected to last for a week. The U.N. has accused Israel of war crimes in the Gaza conflict, which has killed more than 1,200 people since mid-2011. The Israeli government says it is trying to end the conflict through a phased withdrawal. The Qatari government has said it is committed to working with Israel on a ceasefire.
WASHINGTON, July 16 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump will meet with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani on Wednesday, the White House said, as Trump presses for progress on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage-release deal.
Israeli and Hamas negotiators have been taking part in the latest round of ceasefire talks in Doha since July 6, discussing a U.S.-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire that envisages a phased release of hostages, Israeli troop withdrawals from parts of Gaza, and discussions on ending the conflict.
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Trump will host the Qatari leader for dinner at the White House on Wednesday evening, the White House said in a daily schedule for the president.
Trump on Sunday said he hoped talks for a ceasefire deal would be “straightened out” this week.
Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff had said on Sunday he was “hopeful” about the ceasefire negotiations under way in Qatar, a key mediator between the two sides.
U.S., Qatari, and Egyptian mediators have been working to secure an agreement; however, Israel and Hamas are divided over the extent of an eventual Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian enclave.
The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered in October 2023 when Hamas attacked Israel. Israel says Hamas killed 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages.
Gaza’s Health Ministry says Israel’s subsequent military assault has killed over 58,000 Palestinians. It has also caused a hunger crisis, internally displaced Gaza’s entire population, and prompted accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice and of war crimes at the International Criminal Court. Israel denies the accusations.
A previous two-month ceasefire ended when Israeli strikes killed more than 400 Palestinians on March 18. Trump this year proposed a U.S. takeover of Gaza, which was condemned globally by rights experts, the U.N., and Palestinians as a proposal of “ethnic cleansing.”
Trump and Sheikh Mohammed are also expected to discuss efforts to resume talks between the U.S. and Iran to reach a new nuclear agreement.
Reporting by Enas Alashray; Editing by Christian Schmollinger, Michael Perry and Rod Nickel
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South Africa’s Maziv valued at $2 billion after revised deal with Vodacom
South Africa’s Vodacom Group said on Friday its proposed acquisition of a 30% stake in fibre network operator Maziv could value the target company at up to 36 billion rand ($2 billion) The telecoms operator, majority-owned by Vodafone (VOD.L) , opens new tab is moving closer to finalising the long-delayed deal. A breakthrough with the Competition Commission last week to clear the way for an unopposed hearing at the Competition Appeal Court on Tuesday. The transaction also includes Maziv’s 49.96 per cent stake in wireless internet provider Herotel.
JOHANNESBURG, July 18 (Reuters) – South Africa’s Vodacom Group (VODJ.J) , opens new tab said on Friday its proposed acquisition of a 30% stake in fibre network operator Maziv could value the target company at up to 36 billion rand ($2 billion) after agreeing revised terms.
The telecoms operator, majority-owned by Vodafone (VOD.L) , opens new tab is moving closer to finalising the long-delayed deal following a breakthrough with the Competition Commission last week to clear the way for an unopposed hearing at the Competition Appeal Court on Tuesday.
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After agreeing revised terms with the Commission and Community Investment Ventures Holdings (CIVH), Maziv’s parent company, Vodacom will now contribute fibre network infrastructure worth 4.9 billion rand in return for new shares in Maziv and pay 6.1 billion rand in cash for new shares, it said in a statement.
Previously Vodacom offered 6 billion rand in cash and in fibre assets valued at 4.2 billion rand at the time.
Vodacom will also acquire additional shares from CIVH for an estimated 2.5 billion rand to reach the 30% stake.
Maziv, which owns network operators Vumatel and Dark Fibre Africa, may declare a dividend of up to 4.2 billion rand before the deal closes. If declared, Vodacom’s cash consideration would be reduced by up to 1.3 billion rand, the company said.
The revised terms of the deal reflect a pre-acquisition transaction equity valuation of 29.8 billion rand if the dividend is declared, and 34 billion rand if it is not, Vodacom said.
The transaction also includes Maziv’s 49.96% stake in Herotel, a wireless internet provider. Vodacom will pay an additional 600 million rand for its share of that stake, raising the total equity value to 31.8 billion rand, or 36 billion rand if no dividend is declared.
Vodacom’s option to increase its stake in Maziv has been revised down to 4.95% from 10% previously, potentially raising its total stake to 34.95%.
($1 = 17.6922 rand)
Reporting by Nqobile Dludla, Editing by Louise Heavens
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Italy’s Chianti wine makers eye South America, Asia amid Trump tariff threat
Chianti producers seek EU-backed export strategy for South America, Asia, Africa. Italy currently exports more wine to the U.S. than any other country. Producers increasingly looking to diversify amid the trade uncertainty. Spanish winemakers are also eyeing Canada, along with Southeast Asia and Latin American countries, hoping reciprocal tariffs on American wines might generate a gap in the market.. The United States were our first country, now we need to pay more attention to other areas,” said Giovanni Busi, the president of Consorzio Vino Chianti, an association gathering wine producers in the Tuscany region. The. Prosecco, the wine made in the northeastern Veneto and Friuli regions, are deeply concerned about the prospect of new tariffs. They sell around 130 million bottles every year to the United States – around 30% of their total export – worth almost 500 million euros.
Summary Chianti producers seek EU-backed export strategy for South America, Asia, Africa
Trump’s tariff threat prompts Italian wine makers to diversify export markets
Spanish winemakers eye Canada, Latin America amid U.S. trade uncertainty
MILAN, July 14 (Reuters) – Producers of Italy’s renowned Chianti wine have demanded a new export strategy backed by the EU targeting markets such as South America, Asia and Africa following U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of additional tariffs on European imports.
Italy currently exports more wine to the U.S. than any other country, but producers are increasingly looking to diversify amid the trade uncertainty.
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“There is no point in feeling sorry for ourselves. It should be seen as an opportunity to accelerate a new export strategy, focusing on alternative and more stable markets,” said Giovanni Busi, the president of Consorzio Vino Chianti, an association gathering the Chianti wine producers in the Tuscany region.
Trump on Saturday threatened to impose a 30% tariff on imports from Mexico and the European Union starting on August 1, adding pressure on Italy, which exported 2 billion euros ($2.3 billion) worth of wines, spirits, and vinegars to the U.S. last year, accounting for a quarter of its global sales, according to industry group Federvini.
Busi identified South America, Asia, and Africa as pivotal markets for Italian wine, citing Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay as regions with significant growth potential.
He also noted increased demand in Asian markets, including China, Japan, Vietnam, and Taiwan, emphasizing the need for targeted promotion and distribution strategies.
“Africa and India are also areas where the wine consumption is beginning to spread,” he added, encouraging structured efforts to penetrate these markets.
Matteo Lunelli, CEO of spumante sparkling wine producer Gruppo Lunelli, shared Busi’s worries, highlighting opportunities in Japan, China, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Middle East, while also identifying Canada as a growing market.
“The United States were our first country, now we need to pay more attention to other areas,” Lunelli told daily la Repubblica on Monday.
Producers of Prosecco, the wine made in the northeastern Veneto and Friuli regions, are deeply concerned about the prospect of new tariffs.
They sell around 130 million bottles every year to the United States – around 30% of their total export – worth almost 500 million euros.
“Prolonged uncertainty weighs on the strategic choices of companies; we hope for a final and reasonable decision,” Consorzio Prosecco president Giancarlo Guidolin said in a statement.
Meanwhile, across the Mediterranean, Spanish winemakers are also eyeing Canada as a potential market, along with Southeast Asia and Latin American countries, hoping reciprocal tariffs on American wines might generate a gap in the market.
Carlos Villar, managing director of top Spanish winemaker Protos, said Mexico was already his primary market, and Brazil could open up if a European trade agreement with Mercosur is finally inked
Jose Luis Benitez, director of the FEV Spanish Wine Federation, said Mexico was a good short- to medium- term option particularly for Spain’s Ribera del Duero wines but as a country that increasingly produces its own wine, would only take any surplus for so long.
Canada was a good alternative, he said. “Canada has told Europe that it’s interested in buying its wines because it won’t buy in the U.S.,” he said. “That’s a gap that European wine could plug.”
($1 = 0.8553 euros)
Reporting by Cristina Carlevaro and Corina Rodriguez, Additonal reporting by Elisa Anzolin Editing by Keith Weir and Aurora Ellis
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Tanzania’s Flamingos among World’s most sought-after wildlife experiences
Tanzania’s Lesser Flamingos at Lake Natron ranked second on the list of the most sought-after animal encounters worldwide. The flamingos’ surreal presence in the caustic waters of the lake has become a bucket-list attraction for eco-tourists and photographers alike. The lake is the world’s largest breeding ground for the species, hosting 75 percent of the global population. Wildlife tourism is booming, growing at an annual rate of 5.2 percent as more travelers seek meaningful, nature-based experiences. Other popular experiences featured in the top 10 include swimming pigs in the Bahamas, cuddly koalas in Australia, and even butterflies in Texas.
A study by JR Pass, which analysed global search volumes and social media engagement, placed Tanzania’s Lesser Flamingos at Lake Natron second on the list of the most sought-after animal encounters worldwide—only behind Thailand’s famous long-tailed macaques on Ko Phi Phi Don’s Monkey Beach.
With 39,000 monthly searches and tens of thousands of Instagram posts showcasing their dazzling pink plumage, the flamingos’ surreal presence in the caustic waters of Lake Natron has become a bucket-list attraction for eco-tourists and photographers alike.
Over one million Lesser Flamingos migrate to the lake each year, making it the world’s largest breeding ground for the species. The lake’s extreme alkalinity—so toxic it can burn human skin—makes it inhospitable to predators, providing a safe haven for flamingos to nest and hatch their young. These inhospitable conditions, however, only add to the site’s mystique and allure.
“This spectacle of nature, which was famously featured in Sir David Attenborough’s Planet Earth II, is a prime example of Tanzania’s unmatched natural heritage,” said an ecologist and conservationist. “It’s not just about the birds—it’s about the fragile, almost alien ecosystem that supports them.”
Wildlife tourism on the rise
The global fascination with natural encounters like Tanzania’s flamingos reflects a larger trend in travel. Wildlife tourism is booming, growing at an annual rate of 5.2 percent as more travelers seek meaningful, nature-based experiences—a trend often referred to as “biophilia travel.”
Across the top ten rankings, several animal encounters from around the world stood out for their unique cultural significance, ecological importance, and visual allure.
Leading the list is Ko Phi Phi Don’s Monkey Beach in Thailand, which draws an impressive 68,000 monthly searches and has been tagged in over 182,000 Instagram posts.
Whale and dolphin watching in the Azores, Portugal, ranked third, offering travelers a chance to observe marine life in its natural Atlantic habitat. In fourth place are the wild yet iconic feral ponies of Assateague Island in the United States.
Completing the top five are Japan’s revered and bowing Sika deer at Nara Park, known for their polite interactions with visitors and deep cultural symbolism.
Other popular experiences featured in the top 10 include swimming pigs in the Bahamas, cuddly koalas in Australia, and even butterflies in Texas.
With Lake Natron hosting 75 percent of the global Lesser Flamingo population, conservationists stress the importance of protecting this delicate habitat from threats like pollution, unsustainable tourism, and proposed upstream hydropower projects that could alter the lake’s water chemistry.
The growing visibility of Tanzania’s flamingos on social media and global search engines is helping to raise awareness about both their beauty and vulnerability.