Monday, September 14, 2026
Sunday, September 13, 2026
Russia hits Ukrainian train shortly after Boris Johnson and top European officials leave station
By Jaroslav Lukiv, KYIV Ukraine
A Russian drone has hit a train near the Ukraine-Poland border shortly after former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and top European security officials had passed through.
No casualties were reported after the strike at Yahodyn, which hit the train's engine. All the passengers had been evacuated, Ukrainian authorities said.
Johnson and other European national security advisers, including the UK's Jonathan Powell, had passed along the same line on a different train on their way back from a conference in Kyiv.
Russia said it had struck "railway infrastructure" in western Ukraine, but Ukraine's state railway company Ukrzaliznytsia said that "quite possibly, the target of this drone could have been the diplomatic train".
Former CIA chief David Petraeus, who had been on board another train at Yahodyn station at the time of the strike, said the incident was "terrifying".
In an interview with the New York Times, Petraeus said: "This is the act of a truly barbaric leader trying to terrorize Ukrainian civilians."
In a statement, Ukrzaliznytsia said the diplomatic train "had left the station earlier than expected because of the timetable change... due to constant threats of Russian strikes".
It also said an evacuation order for passengers on the hit train had been given "just 15 minutes" before the strike by a Russian jet-propelled drone.
Both Ukrainian and Polish authorities said the Russian drone had struck 2km (1.2 miles) from the Polish border.
Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, who had also attended the conference in Kyiv, told the reporter passengers on board his train had been told to prepare for evacuation before subsequently being allowed to continue their journey.
"On the train I was on we received order to prepare evacuation after it had stopped. But after a number of minutes we were informed that it was clear and we could proceed," he said.
That train then safely arrived at Poland's border station in Dorohusk.
Some reports have suggested Bildt was on the same train as Johnson, but the former UK prime minister has not confirmed any details.
Johnson wrote on X: "I don't know what warped logic drove Putin to blow up a stationary Ukrainian locomotive on the Polish border this morning.
He said this was "the kind of random and senseless attack Ukrainians are enduring every day - even on civilian railways" and urged Kyiv's allies to urgently provide Ukrainians "the air defences they need".
Ukraine has made repeated pleas to its allies - particularly the US - to provide more interceptors to defend against daily Russian attacks that increasingly use fast-moving ballistic missiles and jet-propelled drones.
At least 26 students killed in fire and stampede at school in eastern DRC
BUKAVU, DR Congo
A fire and stampede at a school in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo killed at least 26 children, the UN children's agency said on Friday, with some pupils leaping from windows on high floors to escape the carnage.
The blaze in the city of Bukavu on Thursday began around 9:00 am while the children were in lessons, forcing some to try to escape by jumping from higher floors, a teacher told reporters.
"In the middle of class, I suddenly heard students screaming, some were jumping from the upper floors, and others were running away through the doors," Simon Kasamira, a teacher at Ujamaa primary school, said at a clinic where he had been admitted.
"Parents came from all over looking for their children. That's when I saw a huge fire engulfing our school built of wooden planks," he said.
The fire sparked a stampede as the children struggled to escape, with students "trampled" after falling down, inspectors from the Congolese education ministry said in a report on Friday.
Those trapped inside suffered from "asphyxiation," it said.
"Fires broke out simultaneously at three different locations about 500 metres apart," the report added.
UNICEF said the disaster injured 25 children.
Bukavu, a major city and the capital of South Kivu province, has been controlled since February 2025 by the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group after it stepped up a campaign to seize swathes of mineral-rich eastern DRC.
M23 declared three days of mourning on Friday.
Funerals for the victims -- 20 girls and six boys, according to M23 -- were held on Saturday.
Bukavu, on the shores of Lake Kivu, is known for its wooden houses built on hillsides, where deadly fires often break out.
Authorities in Kinshasa and M23 have called for an investigation to determine the cause of the blaze.
The disaster sparked a wave of grief in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a region mired in conflict for more than three decades with myriad armed groups fighting over its territory.
The education ministry expressed "profound sadness" in a statement on Thursday, noting that the tragedy "followed a particularly concerning series of fires in Bukavu."
In October, a blaze in the city killed 14 people, mainly children.
Blazes are common in Congolese cities, which largely lack firefighting equipment, and are often caused by a lack of spacing between buildings and illegal connections to the power grid, specialists say.
Other week, a fire at a wedding in the capital Kinshasa killed 12 people.
The education ministry's report and a local official said Thursday's fire destroyed hundreds of homes.
Congolese Nobel Peace Prize laureate Denis Mukwege called for "urgent measures" to "provide humanitarian aid" to those affected.
"A tragedy of such magnitude, which has shattered the dreams and futures of so many children, cannot become just another news story," he wrote on X
United enraged as Manchester derby rocked by red card, VAR apology
By James Robson, MANCHESTER England
Manchester United were understandably enraged after Erling Haaland’s wrongly awarded goal settled the 199th Manchester derby.
The Norwegian struck in the 60th minute to seal a 1-0 win for 10-man Manchester City at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Monday (AEST).
At first, the goal was ruled out for offside, but after VAR review the onfield decision was overturned, sparking a roar of celebration from the away fans, including Oasis' Noel Gallagher.
United’s players were incensed because Enzo Fernández was in an offside position during the buildup.
The Premier League initially said the goal was allowed because, despite diving to head the ball, the Argentine did not get a touch before it reached Haaland at the far post.
However, football rules state a player is interfering with play when “clearly attempting to play a ball” or “challenging an opponent for the ball.”
United defender Lisandro Martínez, who was challenging Fernandez, called it an “injustice” and coach Michael Carrick was also perplexed.
“I just don’t get it, I really don’t get it. It’s worrying, it really is if that’s how the game is seen by those who are officiating,” Carrick said.
The refereeing body that oversees Premier League matches, Pro Ref, said later that the VAR “did not recognise the likely impact” of Fernandez’s position and “should have recommended an onfield review.”
Pro Ref said it had made contact with United to acknowledge an “error of judgment” relating to the winning goal.
City’s fans may have felt justice was done after Phil Foden was sent off in the 23rd minute for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes.
Foden and City's players remonstrated on the field and coach Enzo Maresca said after that Fernandes should also have been shown a red for the altercation.
With an extra man United hit the post either side of halftime - first from Marcus Rashford's long-range free kick and then Kobbie Mainoo's low shot from the edge of the area.
It was Maresca’s first derby since taking over from Pep Guardiola at the end of last season and victory extended City’s 100 per cent start to the season.
City moved level on points with defending champion Arsenal at the top of the standings.
“The red card changed the plan of the game, but credit to the players and their effort, spirit and togetherness was brilliant,” Maresca said.
“It is already an abnormal situation when you are able to win a game with 10 players. It is fantastic. Then this game is a derby so it is even better.”
United is 13th in the standings with just one win from four games.
Carrick’s teams plays Brighton in the English League Cup on Thursday (AEST), having been knocked out of the competition at the earliest stage against fourth division Grimsby last season.
United plays winless Fulham next weekend before the international break.
“We haven’t got as many points as we would have liked at this point, for sure. There’s no getting away from that. But we don’t need a break or a restart. We’ve just got to move on and get winning again,” Carrick said.
Arteta seethes at Sunderland penalty decision despite Arsenal win
NORTH EAST, England
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has labelled the decision to award Sunderland a penalty ‘unacceptable’ after watching his side grind out a 2-0 win to maintain their 100 percent start to the season and move clear at the top of the Premier League.
The defending champions made it 12 points out of 12 on Saturday as David Raya’s penalty save in the 55th minute proved crucial for the visitors, who went ahead two minutes later with Bruno Guimaraes’s first goal for the club.
Bukayo Saka wrapped it up deep in stoppage time from the penalty spot to make it four league wins out of four for the reigning champions.
It could have been different had Enzo Le Fee found the net, but Arteta blasted the decision by referee John Brooks to award a penalty when Ezri Konsa was penalised for pulling down Dan Ballard as a corner was played in.
“It was a huge win , but it could have been something very different,” an angry Arteta said when referring to the penalty award after the match.
“It’s unacceptable at this level; this can change the course of a season and the championship. It’s not acceptable. I’ve seen it 10 times to make sure, and it’s not possible at this level that it can be a penalty. It cannot happen.
“It’s not a penalty in any context, in any league.”
It was far from a vintage Arsenal display against a tenacious Sunderland, who deserved something for their endeavour, but they dug deep and showed the resilience that helped them win a first title for 22 years last season.
They have now kept four clean sheets in their five games since the start of the season, including in the Champions League win at Napoli in midweek.
Summer signing Guimaraes replaced Myles Lewis-Skelly at half-time and made a stunning impact.
After receiving a pass from Declan Rice, he sent a right-footed curler into the top corner.
Arsenal were forced to defend desperately at times as Sunderland’s physicality rattled them, but Saka netted his third goal of the season when he beat Robin Roefs with his spot-kick after being fouled by Reinildo Mandava, who was sent off.
“It’s unbelievable the spirit and the courage we have to go again and again and again,” Arteta said. “So pleased in one sense and so worried in another.
“David Raya was unbelievable. He is a player that decides football matches when we need it.
“Sunderland deserve a lot of credit for the way they make it so hard for you.”
Manchester City, the only other side not to have dropped Premier League points this season, can join Arsenal on 12 points if they beat Manchester United on Sunday.
Saturday, September 12, 2026
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