Rwanda-backed rebels advance into eastern Congo’s 2nd major city

GOMA, Congo (AP) — Residents and community leaders say that Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in eastern Congo have entered the region’s second-largest city of Bukavu, the latest ground gained since a major escalation of their yearslong fighting with government forces. The M23 rebels entered the city’s Kazingu and Bagira zone and were advancing towards the center of the city of about 1.3 million people, according to Jean Samy, vice-president of the civil society in South Kivu. He reported gunfire in parts of the city. Videos posted online appeared to show rebels marching toward the Bagira area. In one of the videos, a voice in the background shouted: “They are there … there are many of them.”

Hamas names 3 more Israeli hostages set for release to uphold shaky Gaza ceasefire

JERUSALEM (AP) — Hamas named three Israeli hostages on Friday it will release in a weekend trade for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, the latest sign that the shaky Gaza ceasefire deal appears to be holding in spite of a tense dispute that has threatened to renew fighting.The militant group and a forum representing the families of hostages identified the three men set to be freed Saturday as Israeli-Argentinian Iair Horn, 46; Israeli-American Sagui Dekel Chen, 36; and Israeli-Russian Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, 29. The trio were abducted from one of the hardest-hit communities in southern Israel during the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack that ignited the devastating war. Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel is to release more than 300 Palestinian prisoners held in its jails in return for the three hostages.

Zelenskyy to Vance: Ukraine wants ‘security guarantees’

MUNICH (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that his country wants “security guarantees” before any talks with Russia, as the Trump administration presses both countries to find a quick endgame to the three-year war. Shortly before sitting down with Vice President JD Vance for highly anticipated talks at the Munich Security Conference, Zelenskyy said he will only agree to meet in-person with Russian leader Vladimir Putin after a common plan is negotiated with U.S. President Donald Trump. The roughly 40-minute meeting between Vance and Zelenskyy produced no major announcements detailing the way out of the deadliest war in Europe since World War II.

Prosecutors investigate possible Islamic extremist motive for car-ramming attack

MUNICH (AP) — The suspect in the car-ramming attack in Munich that injured 39 people appears to have had an Islamic extremist motive, but there’s no evidence that he was involved with any radical network, authorities said Friday. The 24-year-old Afghan, who arrived in Germany as an asylum-seeker in 2016 and lived in Munich, was arrested after driving a Mini Cooper into a labor union demonstration in the Bavarian city on Thursday. He was arrested after police officers pulled him out of the car after firing a shot at the vehicle, which didn’t hit him.