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In a significant step forward for the peace process, the Doha Framework Agreement for Peace between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Congo River Alliance (AFC/M23) was signed Saturday during a special ceremony at the Sheraton Doha.The signing took place in the presence of His Excellency Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh al-Khulaifi, Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His Excellency Dr al-Khulaifi affirmed that the framework agreement represents an important milestone in efforts to consolidate peace and stability in eastern DRC.**media[381877]**He reiterated Qatar’s commitment to supporting the peace process until a comprehensive and lasting settlement is achieved for the Congolese people. Speaking at a press conference alongside Massad Boulos, US Senior Adviser for Arab and African Affairs, His Excellency the Minister highlighted the genuine political will and responsible engagement demonstrated by both parties, noting that these qualities made the agreement possible.**media[381882]**He also expressed appreciation for their confidence in Qatar’s role in facilitating and advancing the peace efforts. His Excellency Dr al-Khulaifi recalled that Qatar’s mediation efforts began when His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani hosted President Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda in Doha, and when President Tshisekedi subsequently opened the door for dialogue with the AFC/M23 movement.This latest agreement marks a new and important milestone in the ongoing peace process led by Qatar, building on the progress made with the Doha Declaration of Principles signed on 19 July. The Framework reaffirms the parties’ shared commitment to addressing the root causes of the conflict through structured dialogue, confidence-building measures, and a phased approach to de-escalation and stabilisation.**media[381878]**It emphasises the protection of civilians, respect for human rights, the safe and dignified return of displaced persons, and the promotion of national reconciliation and unity.Serving as the foundational reference document for the broader peace process, the Doha Framework sets the stage for a series of forthcoming protocols, annexes, and technical arrangements that the parties have agreed to develop.**media[381880]**These instruments will address operational details such as ceasefire consolidation and verification, troop disengagement modalities, humanitarian access, reintegration mechanisms, and support for national dialogue.Once adopted, these protocols and annexes will form an integrated and harmonised part of the Doha Framework for Peace, ensuring coherence, clarity, and phased implementation. Qatar commended the constructive engagement of both parties and expressed appreciation for the cooperation of regional and international partners supporting the process.**media[381881]**In particular, Qatar acknowledged the contributions of the US, Togo, and the African Union Commission, whose sustained support has played a key role in advancing the peace efforts.

Joao Neves’ late winner returned Paris Saint-Germain to the top of Ligue 1 as they beat Lyon 3-2 on Sunday, while Emanuel Emegha netted a brace as Strasbourg defeated Lille.PSG had gone into the weekend’s action in top spot, but were knocked off it by archrivals Marseille who beat Brest 3-0 on Saturday to edge ahead by a point.The chance to restore their lead seemed to have slipped by Luis Enrique’s side until Neves’ 95th-minute header at the Groupama Stadium.Reigning champions PSG now sit on 27 points, two clear of second-placed Marseille.“Resilience is a word I like,” said PSG coach Luis Enrique.He added: “We showed the right mentality to win this match. It’s important because in adversity, we win, and we are first in Ligue 1.”This win acted as a pick-me-up for PSG after their midweek Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.Late defeat condemned Lyon to seventh spot, seven points off the leaders. The visitors went ahead on 26 minutes as Warren Zaire-Emery raced onto Vitinha’s ball over the top.Lacking options in the middle for a square pass, the 19-year-old instead decided to unleash a rasping drive which flew past Dominik Greif at his near post.Lyon responded four minutes later as Afonso Moreira sprung the PSG offside trap with a run from deep, before slotting past Lucas Chevalier.But the hosts’ joy turned to fury inside three minutes as PSG retook the lead via a crisp Khvicha Kvaratskhelia finish.Lyon players swiftly gathered around the referee to protest Vitinha’s challenge on Tanner Tessman to win the ball back, before teeing up the Georgian.The Portuguese seemed to go straight through the back of Tessman, but after a VAR review the strike was validated.A decision which resulted in assistant coach Jorge Maciel earning himself a yellow card for his reaction.“We need to talk about video refereeing. French football has an incredible league, but to have a real product, you need three teams on the pitch doing their job,” Maciel fumed after the match.Nicolas Tagliafico struck the PSG woodwork four minutes before the interval as Lyon went into the break bemoaning their luck.But Ainsley Maitland-Niles soothed those frustrations five minutes into the second half with a superb lofted finish from Tyler Morton’s ball over the top.The match then tightened up after that 24-minute flurry, which resulted in four goals, as both sides rang the changes.PSG suddenly found themselves on red alert on 80 minutes as Chevalier and his defence were required to pull off some last-ditch heroics to deny Lyon.Tagliafico was dismissed in injury time after picking up a second yellow for tussling with Lee Kang-in off the ball.The resulting free-kick went behind for a corner, and from that set-piece the diminutive Neves popped up to stun the hosts.After missing Strasbourg’s last five league outings with a thigh issue, Emegha returned with a bang as he fired the hosts to 2-0 victory over Lille.His goals either side of half-time lifted Liam Rosenior’s side to fourth place on 22 points.Lille dropped to fifth after falling to their fourth defeat of the campaign, and now trail Strasbourg by two points.“This match was similar to some of our recent matches,” Lille coach Bruno Genesio said.“You can’t say that we played very badly or that the opposition were superior to us. We made mistakes that cost us dearly and we lacked variety and initiative.”Emegha gave the hosts the lead three minutes after the half-hour as he adjusted well to knee home Diego Moreira’s cross which had just cleared the head of defender Nathan Ngoy.A catastrophic backpass by French 2018 World Cup winner Olivier Giroud on 62 minutes sent Emegha through one-on-one and the 22-year-old made no mistake.Elsewhere, Lorient and Toulouse played out a 1-1 draw in Brittany with both sides scoring from the penalty spot.Metz beat Nice 2-1 and bottom-side Auxerre lost 2-0 at Angers.

Slovenian President Dr Nataša Pirc Musar has reiterated her call to abolish the United Nations (UN) Security Council’s absolute veto power, arguing that the privilege 'corrupts absolutely' and has left the UN in a 'big struggle' to uphold its mission of global peace and security.“When you do have something absolute, it is always a problem,” she said. “You know what the saying is?, ‘Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely’. It is so true, also in politics,” Pirc Musar said in her lecture, titled “The Realities of Multipolarism vs the Need for Multilateralism”.She was speaking at Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s Minaretein Auditorium Monday, addressing global governance, artificial intelligence, and gender equity. The event forms part of her official visit to Qatar and reflected HBKU’s ongoing efforts to foster international dialogue on diplomacy and leadership.Elected in 2022 as Slovenia’s first woman head of state, Pirc Musar used the platform to make an appeal for UN reform, particularly targeting what she described as the “hybrid war” within the Security Council, where five permanent members – the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China – hold veto powers.The Slovenian president noted that while France and the United Kingdom have refrained from using the veto since 1986, other permanent members continue to use, and in some cases, abuse the power, stalling collective action in times of global crisis. “For 25 years we have been discussing UN reform. For 25 years we didn’t make any steps,” she added.Pirc Musar outlined three proposals to curb the Security Council’s unchecked authority: Restricting voting rights of countries under discussion in the Council; banning the use of vetoes in cases involving mass atrocities, crimes against humanity, or genocide; and subjecting veto decisions to review by the UN General Assembly, where a two-thirds majority could overrule or confirm them.The Slovenian president cited her September address at the UN General Assembly, where Slovenia urged the body to seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the legality and limits of the veto power in cases of humanitarian crises. “Now is the time to discuss this really very important topic,” she said, adding that “we don’t have another 25 years to waste.”Pirc Musar also touched on the interconnectedness of global issues, from wars in Ukraine, Palestine, and Sudan to the ethical implications of artificial intelligence: “Everything is interconnected,” she stressed, adding that knowledge-sharing and cultural dialogue are vital to overcoming political egoism and sustaining multilateral co-operation.“Knowledge is to be shared and not a single country on this planet has all the knowledge it needs,” she said. “If you only stick to your own country and are not willing to share, that is egoistic.”Pirc Musar also tackled the theme of gender equity, linking it to the broader struggle for fairness and inclusion in global governance.Echoing her faith in multilateralism, she described the UN as “the only multilateral body covering the whole planet,” insisting that it “should be the diamond of international politics.”

The United States will share a draft resolution on President Donald Trump's peace plan for Gaza with the 10 elected members of the United Nations Security Council, a US official said. Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas agreed a month ago to the first phase of Trump's 20-point plan for Gaza: a ceasefire in their two-year war and hostage-release deal.The United States has drafted a UN Security Council resolution that would approve a two-year mandate for a Gaza transitional governance body and an international stabilization force in the Palestinian enclave, according to the text seen by Reuters.A resolution needs at least nine votes in favour and no vetoes by Russia, China, the US, Britain or France to be adopted.It was not immediately clear if the US has yet shared a copy of the draft resolution with Russia and China. The two-page text seen by Reuters would authorize a Board of Peace transitional governance administration to establish a temporary International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in Gaza that could "use all necessary measures" - code for force - to carry out its mandate.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has denied reports suggesting the existence of an agreed-upon "12-point peace plan" to end the war with Russia."It's important in this matter whether I, as the President of Ukraine, have seen this plan. I haven't. I think that answers all the questions. There are different European thoughts and proposals regarding a peaceful settlement," Zelenskyy said in remarks cited by Ukrainian National News Agency (Ukrinform).He also expressed surprise at claims regarding Russia's alleged participation in possible negotiations, saying: "It's strange to hear that Russia is at the negotiating table, since currently no European leader or the US president can force them to do so."Zelensky stressed that any further progress toward a peace settlement must involve the United States, emphasizing that moving to a diplomatic stage is impossible without Washington's political and military support."Our position is this: there are now consultations among advisers, several different discussions are ongoing, but there is no concrete, finalized plan on the table yet," he added.

Jordan and Germany said on Saturday that an international force expected to support a future Palestinian police in Gaza under US President Donald Trump's post-war governance plan should have a UN mandate.Under the US-brokered ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, a coalition of mainly Arab and Muslim nations is expected to deploy forces in the Palestinian territory, which has been devastated by the war that broke out on October 7, 2023 with Hamas's attack on Israel.The so-called international stabilisation force is supposed to train and support vetted Palestinian police in the Strip, with backing from Egypt and Jordan, as well as secure border areas and prevent weapons smuggling to Hamas."We all agree that in order for that stabilisation force to be able to be effective in getting the job done, it has to have a Security Council mandate," Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said.Jordan, however, will not be sending its own forces to the Strip."We're too close to the issue and we cannot deploy troops in Gaza," Safadi said, adding his country was nonetheless ready to cooperate with the international force.Safadi was speaking at the IISS Manama Dialogue conference in Bahrain alongside his German counterpart Johann Wadephul, who also supported a UN mandate for the force, saying it would "need a clear basis in international law"."We understand that this is of utmost importance to those countries who might be willing to send troops to Gaza and for the Palestinians. Germany would also want to see a clear mandate for this mission," Wadephul said.The idea of the stabilisation force has drawn some criticism, with UN experts last month warning it would "replace Israeli occupation with a US-led occupation, contrary to Palestinian self-determination".The UN has mandated international peacekeeping forces in the region for decades, including UNIFIL in southern Lebanon, which is currently working with the Lebanese army to enforce a November 2024 ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel.

Nasser Medical Hospital in the Gaza Strip received Friday the bodies of 30 martyrs released by Israeli occupation forces.According to local sources, cited by the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA), the bodies were transferred to the hospital via the International Committee of the Red Cross.This marks the fifth batch of martyrs' bodies handed over by the Israeli occupation since the ceasefire agreement in Gaza took effect.Most of the bodies bore signs of torture, burning, and execution. Many were found with bound hands and blindfolded eyes, their features severely disfigured, making identification by families nearly impossible.The handover is part of a prisoner and detainee exchange deal under the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli entity, which came into force on Oct 10.Under the truce, Israel is to return the remains of 15 Palestinians for every deceased Israeli hostage returned by Hamas. Friday's transfer brings the number returned to Gaza to 225. Hamas has already returned 20 surviving hostages.Hamas insists it is committed to the ceasefire plan but is struggling to find the remaining dead because two years of Israeli bombardments have erased Gazan landmarks.Egyptian recovery teams equipped with earth-moving equipment have joined the effort to search for the bodies.

Doha Forum and Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) reaffirmed their joint commitment to advancing peace, dialogue, and sustainable development through their renewed partnership with the 8th edition of the Paris Peace Forum, held under the theme "New Coalitions for Peace, People and the Planet." The Paris Peace Forum convened global leaders from governments, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society to deliberate on collective responses to growing global fragmentation, mounting development challenges, and escalating geopolitical tensions. Within this framework, the Doha Forum and QFFD co-hosted a high-level session titled "New Coalitions for Peace and Development: How Can We Address the Funding Gap" The discussion highlighted the urgent need for innovative, inclusive, and sustainable financing mechanisms to support peacebuilding and development efforts, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. The session was moderated by Head of Regional Development Dynamics Division at the OECD Development Centre, Sebastian Nieto Parra, and featured the participation of Deputy Director General of the Planning Sector at Qatar Fund for Development Sheikha Haya Al Thani; Humanitarian Director and Deputy Director-General for Stabilization, Humanitarian Assistance and Peace Building at the Ministry of External Affairs, Germany Ina Heusgen ; Deputy Director of the Crisis Support Center at the French Ministry of External Affairs Fanny Demassieux; and Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Yonsei University Chung-in Moon. With only 17% of the Sustainable Development Goals currently on track, the discussion emphasized the urgent need for a broader and more adaptive financing ecosystem — one that engages non-traditional donors, leverages private capital, strengthens public-private collaboration, and channels philanthropic investment toward long-term stability and resilience. General Manager of the Doha Forum, Maha Al-Kuwari, highlighted the Forum's commitment to driving meaningful partnerships, stating: "With the world facing multiple, overlapping crises, we must move beyond pledges to tangible outcomes. Our collaboration with QFFD at the Paris Peace Forum reflects Doha Forum's belief that innovative partnerships — across governments, philanthropy, and the private sector — are key to advancing sustainable peace and development." Deputy Director General of the Planning Sector at Qatar Fund for Development, Sheikha Haya Al Thani, emphasized: "At Qatar Fund for Development, we believe that the complex challenges facing our world today cannot be addressed in isolation. They require collective action, bold partnerships, and innovative financing that bridge divides and drive meaningful impact. Our trilateral partnership between the Doha Forum and the Paris Peace Forum reaffirms our shared commitment to advancing constructive dialogue, strengthening international cooperation, and accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals." This year's engagement marks the third consecutive year of the strategic partnership between Doha Forum, QFFD, and the Paris Peace Forum. This ongoing collaboration reaffirms the State of Qatar's steadfast commitment to reinforcing effective multilateralism, grounded in inclusive dialogue and collective action to advance global peace, stability, and prosperity for all.

Kuwait has called for adherence to international law and the principles of human rights as the only way to maintain international peace and security. This came in a statement delivered by the Diplomatic Attache of Kuwait's Permanent Mission to the UN, Abeer Al Methen, before the third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) of the UN General Assembly, during discussions on item (71) regarding the promotion and protection of human rights, as part of the 80th session of the General Assembly.She said that the world stands at a critical crossroads amid growing violations and declining respect for international conventions, noting that recent UN reports underscore the urgent need to strengthen global solidarity in confronting humanitarian crises, achieving sustainable development, and promoting just and lasting peace, according to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).Al Methen added that Kuwait continues to play a leading role in humanitarian work through relief and development initiatives that have reached numerous affected countries, pointing to the dispatch of 19 humanitarian air bridges to Palestine, a reflection of Kuwait's steadfast foreign policy based on supporting afflicted peoples and alleviating their suffering.She welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, expressing Kuwait's hope that it will serve as a step toward ending the long-standing humanitarian suffering. She reiterated that a just and lasting solution lies in the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative.Furthermore, she underscored the importance of respecting the sovereignty of Lebanon and the occupied Syrian Golan, reaffirming Kuwait's firm stance rejecting any measures that violate international law or undermine regional peace and security.

Thailand and Cambodia on Sunday signed a joint declaration on a peace deal, marking a formal step toward halting hostilities and restoring peace along their disputed border. The agreement was signed by Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Manet, on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, which began today, according to the Malaysian news agency (BERNAMA). The signing was witnessed by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, in his capacity as ASEAN Chair, and United States President Donald Trump, BERNAMA reported. The declaration reinforces the ceasefire understanding reached in July following talks between the two countries. It also formalises the establishment of an ASEAN Observer Team to monitor compliance and prevent renewed clashes in the border zones. The peace deal marks a milestone in ASEAN's regional diplomacy, reflecting the bloc's commitment to conflict prevention, stability and cooperation under Malaysia's 2025 Chairmanship, with its theme of "Inclusivity and Sustainability". Malaysia, as this year's ASEAN Chair, is hosting the 47th ASEAN Summit from Oct. 26 to 28 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

Israeli forces carried out a "targeted strike" on an individual in central Gaza, Israel's military said Saturday.A US-backed ceasefire is in force between Israel and the Palestinian resistance group Hamas more than two years after the war in the Gaza Strip began.Witnesses said they had seen a drone strike a car and set it ablaze. Local medics said four people had been wounded, but there were no immediate reports of deaths.Witnesses said separately that Israeli tanks had shelled eastern areas of Gaza City, the Gaza Strip's biggest urban area.Several Israeli media sites said Israel, in a reversal of a policy of barring entry to foreign forces, had allowed Egyptian officials into the Gaza Strip to help locate the bodies of hostages taken captive on October 7, 2023.As part of the ceasefire agreement, Hamas has said it will return all the hostages, but the remains of 18 are still in the enclave. Reuters

A number of Palestinian factions, during a meeting in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, have affirmed their support for and continued implementation of the ceasefire agreement measures in the Gaza Strip.These measures include the withdrawal of the occupation forces from the Strip, the complete lifting of the blockade imposed on it, the opening of all crossings, including the Rafah crossing, the entry of all humanitarian and health supplies, and the initiation of a comprehensive reconstruction process that will restore normal life to the Strip and end the suffering of its residents.The factions explained in a statement Friday that their meeting in Cairo came at the invitation of Egypt, complementing the efforts of mediators in Qatar, Egypt, and Turkiye to stop the war on Gaza and address its repercussions.The statement noted that the meeting aimed to discuss developments in the Palestinian issue and the second phase of US President Donald Trump's plan to stop the war on the Gaza Strip, as part of the preparations for holding a comprehensive national dialogue to protect the Palestinian national project.According to the statement, the attendees expressed their appreciation for Arab, Islamic, and international efforts, including those of President Trump, to halt the war on Gaza.They emphasised that the current phase requires a unified national stance and a political vision based on unity of voice and destiny, and the rejection of all forms of annexation and displacement in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and Jerusalem.They also condemned the Israeli parliament's (the Knesset) approval of the preliminary reading of the "Applying Israeli Sovereignty to the West Bank" law, considering it a dangerous aggression against Palestinian identity and existence.They also praised the US president's decision to halt this move and his promise not to repeat it. They emphasised that Palestinian national unity is the decisive response to these policies and the need to take all necessary steps to achieve this.The statement indicated that the attendees agreed to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to an interim Palestinian committee composed of independent "technocrats" from the Gaza Strip.This committee will be responsible for managing daily life and basic services in co-operation with Arab partners and international institutions, based on transparency and national accountability.They also agreed to establish an international committee to oversee the funding and implementation of the Gaza Strip's reconstruction, while emphasising the unity of the Palestinian political system and independent national decision-making.They also agreed to take all necessary measures to maintain security and stability in the Gaza Strip, stressing the importance of issuing a UN resolution regarding the interim UN force to monitor the ceasefire.They called for an end to all forms of torture and violations against Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, and stressed the need to hold the occupation to relevant international laws and conventions. They emphasised that the issue of prisoners will remain a top priority until their freedom is achieved.The Palestinian factions affirmed their continued joint efforts to unify visions and positions to confront the challenges facing the Palestinian cause, including calling for an urgent meeting of all Palestinian forces and factions to agree on a national strategy and revitalise the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) to include all components of the Palestinian people and its vital forces.The participants pledged to "make this meeting a true turning point toward national unity in defense of the Palestinian people and their right to life, dignity, and freedom, and to safeguard the trust of the Palestinian cause and the rights of future generations, as well as their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, while ensuring the right of return for Palestinian refugees."