Power Restored in Kyiv After Overnight Strikes
Electricity has been reinstated for 270,000 homes and businesses in Kyiv following overnight attacks by Russian forces that disrupted supply, Ukraine’s energy minister, Svitlana Hrynchuk, stated on social media on Friday.
Residents in the capital reported hearing explosions through the night, with many awakening to find their power cut after a large-scale airstrike aimed at Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, according to reports.
Hrynchuk did not specify the total number of affected consumers.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched more than 450 drones and 30 missiles in a nationwide assault on energy facilities.
He confirmed blackouts in nine regions and emphasized the importance of international support for air defense systems and stronger sanctions.
---
Conflict in DRC and EU Policy Under Scrutiny
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has criticized the European Union for what it calls a "clear double standard" in maintaining a mineral trade agreement with Rwanda while imposing far stricter sanctions over the conflict in Ukraine.
Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, the DRC’s foreign minister, called for stronger EU sanctions against Rwanda, which has been accused of fueling unrest in eastern Congo. She described the bloc’s response to territorial violations as "extremely limited."
Comparing the EU’s approach to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, she expressed concerns over the discrepancy in action.
A peace deal was brokered in June between the DRC and Rwanda, but violence has persisted, with missed deadlines for further agreements. A UN report last year suggested Rwandan forces were directly involved in supporting the M23 rebel group, an allegation Rwanda denies.
Read next
Over 1 million people gather in Madrid for outdoor mass with Pope Leo
Over one million people gathered in Madrid for an open-air mass led by Pope Leo. During the service, the American pontiff highlighted the contradiction between Christian principles and far-right ideology, stating, “No one can kneel before the Lord and despise their brother.”
Crowds began forming hours before dawn on Sunday
Xi Jinping visits Pyongyang to strengthen China-North Korea relations
Xi Jinping has begun a two-day visit to North Korea, marking his first trip to the country in nearly seven years as he seeks to strengthen relations with the ally.
Footage from the Xinhua state news agency showed the Chinese leader and his wife, Peng Liyuan, arriving at Sunan international
Denmark's mullet championship celebrates the 'beautifully ugly' and divisive hairstyle
Copenhagen recently hosted the 2026 Mullet Championship, where more than 1,000 spectators gathered on an outdoor stage to celebrate the enduring hairstyle characterized by short hair in the front and length in the back.
Twelve participants competed in the event, which was organized by 37-year-old electrician Steffen Stiw Weber.