Russian drones strike Kyiv bridge as German leader visits Ukraine
Russian drones struck a major bridge in Kyiv on Sunday for the second consecutive day, injuring two people and disrupting traffic as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made an unexpected visit to Ukraine to reaffirm Germany’s support.
The Pivnichnyi Bridge was damaged, leaving a large hole in one of its traffic lanes. It was the fourth straight day that Russian attacks had targeted major bridges across the Dnipro River, following earlier strikes on the Pivdennyi Bridge.
Russia said the bridges were targeted because they were being used to move Ukrainian troops. Ukrainian authorities said the attacks had caused severe traffic congestion, while repair crews worked to restore access.
A heating pipeline was also damaged, affecting hot water supplies in parts of Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian drones had separately struck a warehouse in the Sumy region, killing one person.
Yemen government announces campaign against Houthi forces
Yemen’s internationally recognised government has announced an all-out military campaign aimed at retaking territory controlled by the Houthi movement following renewed clashes and attacks on strategic infrastructure.
President Rashad al-Alimi said the government would work to restore state authority across the country after the Iran-backed Houthis made advances along the coastline, including areas close to the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The announcement came after reports that the Houthis had attacked Saudi oil facilities. The group said the attacks were carried out in response to strikes by the Saudi-led coalition. Saudi Arabia has not publicly responded to the latest claims.
The Houthis have also reportedly disrupted a major supply route connecting the government-controlled city of Taiz with Aden, the country’s interim capital.
The latest escalation threatens to deepen a conflict that has divided Yemen for more than a decade.
France may close up to 500 schools amid protests
France could partially or completely close as many as 500 schools as demonstrations over education standards and deteriorating school conditions continue across the country.
Education Minister Édouard Geffray said classes would be suspended at schools where authorities could not guarantee safety. He said 24 schools had been burned or vandalised since protests began the previous week.
Students have taken to the streets over teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms and deteriorating school infrastructure.
The demonstrations have spread beyond Paris to cities including Montpellier, Nantes and Marseille, where clashes have occurred between protesters and police.
Geffray blamed some of the violence on far-left activists, while protest organisers accused the government of failing to respond adequately to their concerns. Further demonstrations are expected on Tuesday.
Australia investigates Flydubai co-pilot’s links to country
Australian authorities are investigating the connections between Australia and a Flydubai co-pilot accused of attacking a captain and attempting to seize control of a flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
The Australian Federal Police said it was examining the man’s links to the country in cooperation with state police and Australia’s security agency.
Authorities have not officially identified the man, although several media outlets have named him as Hamam al-Hammami.
Australian media reported that he entered the country on a student visa in 2014 and studied there from 2015 to 2017. His visa was reportedly cancelled in 2019 after he stopped attending his course.
The incident occurred on September 30 when the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain with a crash axe, causing the aircraft to lose more than 17,000 feet in altitude.
Passengers and crew members reportedly restrained him, allowing other pilots on board to safely land the aircraft in Saudi Arabia.
12-year-old girl killed in Baltimore shooting
A 12-year-old girl was killed in Baltimore after two men allegedly exchanged gunfire during an argument over a parking space, according to police.
The girl was caught in the crossfire while children were playing American football at a nearby park. A woman was also shot, while two men later arrived at hospitals with injuries linked to the incident.
Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said the two men had opened fire during the dispute and that investigators do not believe the girl was the intended target.
Police are searching for at least two suspects.
Mayor Brandon Scott condemned the incident, saying the killing of a child during an argument between adults was unacceptable. Investigators have appealed to members of the public who may have witnessed the shooting to provide information.
Africa
Tigray forces withdraw from Ethiopia’s regional capital
Forces from Ethiopia’s Tigray region have temporarily withdrawn from Mekelle, the regional capital, as fighting with federal troops intensifies and concerns grow that the renewed violence could spread across the Horn of Africa.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front said it moved its forces because of concerns over the safety of civilians.
Residents told the BBC that pro-government forces had taken control of the city.
The withdrawal comes amid renewed fighting between the TPLF and Ethiopia’s federal government, which is also dealing with clashes involving armed groups in the neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions.
The latest escalation follows rising tensions over the implementation of the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement, which brought an end to a devastating two-year war in Tigray.
The United States has called on all sides to exercise restraint and return to dialogue.
Congo Ebola death toll rises above 4,000
The death toll from an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has climbed to 4,018, while confirmed cases have reached 8,300 across seven provinces, according to government figures.
The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain, has become the country’s largest and deadliest Ebola outbreak, surpassing the 2018–2020 epidemic.
More than 2,000 patients have recovered.
Although health authorities and the United Nations have reported signs that transmission is slowing in some parts of Ituri province, the disease continues to spread in eastern Congo, including neighbouring North Kivu.
The current outbreak is now the second-largest after the 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic, which infected more than 28,600 people and killed over 11,000 across Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Cameroon secures $391m World Bank loan for trade corridor
Cameroon has approved a €347.5 million ($390.9 million) loan from the World Bank to support the development of the Douala-Bangui Economic Corridor, which connects Cameroon’s commercial capital with the Central African Republic.
President Paul Biya approved the financing agreement through a decree issued on Friday.
The project is designed to improve transportation and trade along the route connecting Douala, Cameroon’s main port city, with Bangui.
In a separate decree, Biya approved a €212.35 million loan from the Islamic Development Bank to rehabilitate the Douala-Bafoussam highway.
The financing comes as Cameroon increases borrowing to fund infrastructure projects and manage budgetary pressures.
The government has also approved up to 930 billion CFA francs in domestic and external loans for development projects and the settlement of arrears.
Guinea-Bissau military authorities block former president’s return
Military authorities in Guinea-Bissau have prevented former President Umaro Sissoco Embalo from returning to the country, citing security concerns ahead of a planned presidential election in December.
Embalo, who was removed from office during a military coup last November, had planned to return on Sunday and contest the election.
He has remained in exile since the coup, which occurred shortly before the results of presidential and legislative elections were expected to be announced.
The transitional government said security conditions were not yet adequate to guarantee his safe return.
The military suspended the electoral process after taking power and installed Major-General Horta Inta-a as transitional president.
The decision has added uncertainty to Guinea-Bissau’s political transition.
A new constitution approved in August requires presidential candidates to have lived continuously in Guinea-Bissau for five years, a requirement that could affect Embalo’s eligibility.
US waives human rights conditions on $320m Egypt military aid
The United States has waived human rights conditions attached to $320 million in military assistance to Egypt, citing Cairo’s support for Washington since the beginning of the US war with Iran.
A letter from Secretary of State Marco Rubio to congressional committees said the funding was necessary for counterterrorism, border security and non-proliferation programmes, or otherwise important to US national security.
Egypt has received approximately $1.3 billion in US military assistance each year since the late 1980s, following its 1979 peace treaty with Israel.
Part of the assistance has been subject to conditions linked to human rights and democracy.
The latest waiver represents a shift from the approach taken under former President Joe Biden, whose administration withheld some military assistance over rights concerns.
It also highlights Washington’s decision to place greater emphasis on security cooperation with Cairo amid ongoing regional conflict.
