News
Deadly Blasts Rock M23 Meeting in Eastern DRC Amid Ongoing Rebel Advance
Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo – Two explosions struck a meeting between M23 rebel leaders and local residents in eastern DRC, leaving dozens injured in the city of Bukavu, which the group seized earlier this month.
Blasts Disrupt M23 Gathering
According to eyewitness accounts, the blasts occurred as rebel leaders were leaving the podium, causing panic among the gathered crowd. Videos circulating on social media show people fleeing in terror, with bloodied bodies strewn across the area.
A journalist present at the scene reported that Corneille Nangaa, the leader of the Congo River Alliance (AFC)—a coalition that includes M23—was among those on stage when the explosions went off.
The attack underscores the volatile security situation in the region, where the Rwanda-backed M23 has been making significant territorial gains in its fight against the Congolese national army.
M23’s Rapid Advances in Eastern DRC
Over the past few months, M23 has captured key cities, including Goma, the largest in eastern DRC, and Bukavu, the second largest. The group has vowed to continue its offensive, even threatening to march on Kinshasa, the nation’s capital, which lies more than 1,600 kilometers away.
The intensification of fighting has led to a humanitarian crisis, with over 7,000 people killed in the conflict this year, according to DRC Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka. She described the security situation in the east as reaching “alarming levels.”
International Pressure on Rwanda Increases
M23 has long been accused of receiving military and logistical support from Rwanda, a claim that UN experts say includes the deployment of approximately 4,000 Rwandan troops. The rebel group has also been implicated in serious human rights abuses, including allegations of rape and the killing of children.
The European Union has taken notice of Rwanda’s involvement, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas declaring that DRC’s territorial integrity is “non-negotiable.” She also warned that the EU would reconsider its raw materials trade deal with Rwanda if Kigali continues to back M23.
Rwanda’s Justification for Involvement
M23 claims it is fighting to protect ethnic Tutsis and people of Rwandan origin in eastern DRC. However, analysts argue that Rwanda is using this as a pretext for deeper involvement in the resource-rich region, which has been plagued by armed conflict for decades.
As the conflict escalates, international actors face mounting pressure to intervene diplomatically and prevent further destabilization in an already volatile region.
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
News
White House Unveils “Media Hall of Shame” Portal as Attacks on Press Intensify
News
Russia Launches Massive Overnight Barrage on Ukraine as Peace Talks With U.S. Continue
-
Entertainment1 year agoMeta Acquires Tilda Swinton VR Doc ‘Impulse: Playing With Reality’
-
Business2 years agoSaudi Arabia’s Model for Sustainable Aviation Practices
-
Business2 years agoRecent Developments in Small Business Taxes
-
Home Improvement1 year agoEffective Drain Cleaning: A Key to a Healthy Plumbing System
-
Politics2 years agoWho was Ebrahim Raisi and his status in Iranian Politics?
-
Business1 year agoCarrectly: Revolutionizing Car Care in Chicago
-
Sports1 year agoKeely Hodgkinson Wins Britain’s First Athletics Gold at Paris Olympics in 800m
-
Business1 year agoSaudi Arabia: Foreign Direct Investment Rises by 5.6% in Q1
