M23 rebels in Kibumba, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, in December 2022. AP
M23 rebels in Kibumba, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, in December 2022. AP
M23 rebels in Kibumba, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, in December 2022. AP
M23 rebels in Kibumba, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, in December 2022. AP

DRC and Rwanda-backed rebels sign declaration of principles for permanent ceasefire in the east


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The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels on Saturday signed a declaration of principles in Qatar to end decades-long fighting in eastern Congo that commits them to a permanent ceasefire and a comprehensive peace agreement to be signed in one month.

The truce was agreed in the declaration signed by the two sides after three months of talks in the Qatari capital, Doha, and follows a separate Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)-Rwanda peace deal signed in Washington last month.

A final peace deal is to be signed no later than August 18, and such a deal “shall align with the peace agreement between Congo and Rwanda”, the declaration said.

"The parties commit to uphold their commitment to a permanent ceasefire," including refraining from "hate propaganda" and "any attempt to seize by force new positions", a statement said.

It is the first direct commitment by both sides since the rebels seized two key cities in the eastern DRC in a major advance.

The M23, which took vast swathes of mineral-rich territory in a lightning offensive in January and February, had insisted on seeking its own ceasefire deal with Kinshasa.

The group is the most prominent of more than 100 armed groups fighting for control in the DRC's east. It said the Washington deal left out various "problems" that still needed to be addressed.

The warring parties agreed to open negotiations on a comprehensive peace agreement. The deal also includes a road map for restoring state authority in eastern DRC, which has been racked by conflict for more than three decades.

With seven million people displaced in the DRC, the UN has called the conflict in the east “one of the most protracted, complex, serious humanitarian crises on Earth".

The front line had stabilised since February, but fighting was still breaking out regularly between the M23 and multiple pro-government militias.

The African Union said the signing of the declaration of principles was a "significant development".

"This ... marks a major milestone in the continuing efforts to achieve lasting peace, security, and stability in eastern DRC and the wider Great Lakes region," African Union chairman Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said in a statement.

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Panipat

Director Ashutosh Gowariker

Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment

Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman

Rating 3 /stars

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

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Dunki
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The Little Things

Directed by: John Lee Hancock

Starring: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto

Four stars

If you go

The flights

Fly direct to London from the UAE with Etihad, Emirates, British Airways or Virgin Atlantic from about Dh2,500 return including taxes. 

The hotel

Rooms at the convenient and art-conscious Andaz London Liverpool Street cost from £167 (Dh800) per night including taxes.

The tour

The Shoreditch Street Art Tour costs from £15 (Dh73) per person for approximately three hours. 

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo hybrid

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 390bhp

Torque: 400Nm

Price: Dh340,000 ($92,579

Results

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Rawat Al Reef, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)

5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Noof KB, Richard Mullen, Ernst Oertel

6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Seven Skies, Bernardo Pinheiro, Qaiss Aboud

6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Jabalini, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

7pm: UAE Arabian Derby – Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Dergham Athbah, Richard Mullen, Mohamed Daggash

7.30pm: Emirates Championship – Group 1 (PA) Dh1,000,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle

8pm: Abu Dhabi Championship – Group 3 (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Irish Freedom, Antonio Fresu, Satish Seemar

TECH%20SPECS%3A%20APPLE%20WATCH%20SERIES%208
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THE SPECS

Engine: 4.0L twin-turbo V8

Gearbox: eight-speed automatic

Power: 571hp at 6,000rpm

Torque: 800Nm from 2,000-4,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 11.4L/100km

Price, base: from Dh571,000

On sale: this week

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Profile of Tarabut Gateway

Founder: Abdulla Almoayed

Based: UAE

Founded: 2017

Number of employees: 35

Sector: FinTech

Raised: $13 million

Backers: Berlin-based venture capital company Target Global, Kingsway, CE Ventures, Entrée Capital, Zamil Investment Group, Global Ventures, Almoayed Technologies and Mad’a Investment.

Avengers: Endgame

Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Josh Brolin

4/5 stars 

Updated: July 19, 2025, 5:55 PM