The attack hit airports in Germany, France, Spain, and several other countries, officials confirmed.
While no flight safety systems were compromised, the disruption caused long lines and confusion at departure halls.
Investigators across Europe are working together to trace its origin. Officials said it was too early to determine whether the attack was state-sponsored or carried out by criminal groups.
Meanwhile, airlines scrambled to revert to manual procedures, with staff checking passports and boarding passes by hand.
Cybersecurity experts noted that airports are increasingly attractive targets for hackers because of their reliance on interconnected IT systems. The attack, they said, highlights vulnerabilities in Europe’s critical infrastructure.
Authorities have urged passengers to allow extra time for check-in and said contingency measures remain in place until systems are fully restored.
“We can confirm that the commission has adopted a new package of sanctions against Russia, the 19th package,” European Commission Chief Spokesperson Paula Pinho said at a press conference in Brussels.
The new package will target “Russian banks, crypto assets, and energy imports,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on social media platform X on Tuesday, after she held a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump.
With about 19 percent of Europe’s gas supply still coming from Russia via the TurkStream pipeline and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments, the EU is also discussing accelerating a ban on Russian LNG as part of the new sanctions, according to media reports.
Over the past weekend, Trump has called on European allies to halt remaining purchases of Russian oil, and even suggested that members of the Group of Seven and NATO impose duties on countries facilitating Russia’s energy exports, claiming such steps are needed to weaken Russia’s economy.
The commission “will also propose speeding up the phase-out of Russian fossil imports,” said Ursula von der Leyen in her X post. The phase-out of Russian fossil fuels is currently planned for completion by Jan. 1, 2028.
The new EU sanctions package had originally been expected to be presented to member states last Friday. However, a high-level EU team trip to Washington and efforts for coordination delayed it a week. EU officials said sanctions will be phased carefully to avoid energy price shocks or supply shortages within the bloc.
Former Munich Security Conference Chairman Christoph Heusgen has urged the EU to increase pressure on Hungary and Slovakia to reduce their reliance on Russian energy, noting that Hungary still imports about 60 percent of its oil from Russia, while Slovakia depends on Russia for roughly 75 percent of its energy needs.
Ukraine has urged a swift adoption of the 19th sanctions package. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in posts on X earlier this week that “coordinated steps across the Atlantic” are essential to deprive Russia of resources for the conflict. “Now the focus must be on making the 19th package even tougher,” he said.
Meanwhile, Russia has downplayed the impact of the pending sanctions. Threats from Washington and Brussels, voiced regularly, “have no effect and will not change anything,” Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a news briefing Friday. She also criticized the EU’s push to abandon Russian energy, calling it “suicidal sabotage” and warning that Brussels is exhausting itself.
The EU has adopted 18 sanctions packages against Russia since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, targeting finance, technology and energy. The 19th package will test the bloc’s ability to maintain internal unity while responding to mounting U.S. pressure for faster and broader action, analysts say.
The Foreign Ministry condemned a “heinous terrorist aggression” against the Al-Daraja neighbourhood mosque, saying the strike wounded several worshippers and partially destroyed the building. It said the attack was a “flagrant violation of religious norms and international conventions” protecting civilians and places of worship.
The ministry blamed the RSF for systematic abuses against civilians and infrastructure, and urged the international communities to act against “terrorism targeting unarmed civilians.”
Volunteer groups in El Fasher said earlier on Friday that more than 75 people were killed, including 20 displaced residents of Abu Shouk camp. They said a drone operated by the RSF hit the mosque during dawn prayers.
The RSF has not commented.
Clashes between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and their allies have raged in El Fasher since May. Nationwide, the war between the SAF and RSF has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions since it erupted in April 2023, deepening Sudan’s humanitarian crisis.
The House narrowly approved the Republican-drafted plan to keep the government funded until late November, but the Senate blocked it hours later with 44 in favor to 48 opposed, failing to reach the required 60 votes. A Democratic alternative, which included provisions on healthcare programs, also failed.
With both chambers now at an impasse and the deadline to renew federal funding expiring at midnight on Sept. 30, the risk of a government shutdown is rising.
A shutdown would halt many federal services, delay paychecks for hundreds of thousands of workers, and disrupt operations from national parks to visa processing, though mandatory programs such as Social Security and Medicare would continue.
The standoff underscores deep partisan divisions in Washington, with Democrats criticizing the House plan for omitting healthcare priorities and Republicans arguing that a stopgap is necessary to buy more time for negotiations.
At the center of their discussions was Rwanda’s confirmed role as host of the FIFA Series 2026, scheduled for the end of March 2026.
The tournament will feature both men’s and women’s national teams, reinforcing Rwanda’s growing reputation as a global hub for major sporting events.
Another highlight was the inauguration of FERWAFA’s new accommodation facility, expected to be transformed into a FIFA Academy Concept center.
This facility is set to become a cornerstone for nurturing young football talent in Rwanda and across Africa.
Shema also briefed Infantino on the progress of four key pitch construction projects in Kigali, Gicumbi, Rutsiro, and Rusizi, all of which are expected to be completed by December 2025.
In addition, the ambitious FIFA Arena project—comprising 10 mini pitches—is underway, with the Government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Sports already contributing funds for the subbase works.
Professionalization of football clubs and management programs in Rwanda also featured prominently in the discussions, with FIFA pledging support to strengthen the organizational and operational standards of local clubs.
On the medical front, Shema updated the FIFA President on the CPR/AED education program taking place from September 18 to 19, 2025.
Organized in collaboration with the FIFA Medical Team and the Africa Heart Rhythm Association (AFHRA), the initiative aims to enhance player, staff, and fan safety by equipping participants with lifesaving emergency response skills.
The two leaders further explored the feasibility of introducing a new VAR platform, the Football Video Support (FVS) system, to bolster refereeing standards in the Rwandan league.
Among others, FERWAFA expressed its readiness to host FIFA regional courses for referee instructors, positioning Rwanda as a hub for capacity-building in African refereeing.
Speaking after the meeting, President Fabrice Shema reaffirmed FERWAFA’s commitment to working closely with FIFA and the Government of Rwanda to elevate football development.
“These projects and programs not only build infrastructure but also strengthen professionalism, safety, and knowledge within our game. Rwanda is proud to be at the heart of football’s growth story in Africa,” he said.
The meeting underscored the strong partnership between Rwanda and FIFA, setting the stage for transformative initiatives that will impact the sport at both national and continental levels.
Minister Nduhungirehe highlighted Burundi’s role in the ongoing war in Eastern DRC during an interview with journalist Scovia Mutesi.
Burundians were part of the East African Community Regional Force deployed to DRC late 2022.
DRC President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi later decided to expel these troops, accusing them of failing to attack the M23 rebel group but some of Burundi’s troops remained, agreeing to fight alongside the DRC army.
Since then, the number of Burundian troops in DRC has increased, and have been seen fighting alongside the Congolese army forces allied with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and Wazalendo groups.
Minister Nduhungirehe stated that to date, Burundian forces have been involved in ongoing violence targeting Congolese Tutsi and Banyamulenge communities.
“As we know, Burundian troops in Eastern DRC are collaborating with the Congolese government in the ongoing war, which includes ongoing targeting of Banyamulenge and Congolese Tutsi communities,” he noted.
He further expressed concern over Burundi’s actions, likening them to adding fuel to a fire.
“These actions are concerning, and the Burundian government should understand that it must not add fuel to the fire. If it seeks peace in the region, it must stop this war against the Congolese people. The Burundian government needs to understand this and contribute to regional peace efforts,” said Minister Nduhungirehe.
He also condemned Burundi’s decision to use Bujumbura airport for the conflict, as a hub for transporting weapons and launching drone strikes aimed at Congolese civilians.
At different times, Burundi has accused Rwanda of harboring ill intentions towards it, even suggesting that Rwanda plans to attack. Nduhungirehe dismissed these claims as baseless.
“They’ve made these claims, and as you know, they are untrue. They have been repeating this. Rwanda has no plans to attack Burundi,” he stated.
In January 2024, the Burundian government closed all land borders with Rwanda.
This followed remarks made by President Ndayishimiye in his end-of-year speech for 2023, in which he hinted at closing the borders with Rwanda after accusing it of supporting the RED Tabara rebel group fighting his government.
The relationship between Rwanda and Burundi further deteriorated when Burundi’s troops began working with the FDLR terrorist group in Eastern DRC.
At that time, it was also reported that senior FDLR leaders would hold meetings in Burundi.
Previously, RDB regulations required bars and clubs to close at 1 a.m. from Monday to Friday, and at 2 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
The temporary changes are aimed at supporting the championship and managing the anticipated irregular traffic flow during the event.
Kigali will host the UCI Road World Championships from 21 to 28 September 2025, marking the first time in the event’s 103-year history that cycling’s crown jewel is held on African soil.
“Rwanda is proud to welcome athletes, fans, and visitors from around the world for the 2025 UCI Road World Championships,” the statement reads in part.
Meanwhile, RDB has said that existing measures, such as noise pollution restrictions and the prohibition on serving or consuming alcohol to persons under the age of 18, remain in effect.
RDB has also reminded all consumers to drink responsibly and not to drive under the influence of alcohol, warning businesses against serving alcohol to anyone who appears intoxicated.
“RDB, in collaboration with other relevant Government institutions, will ensure the proper implementation of these guidelines. Entities that violate these directives will be held accountable,” the statement concluded.
M23 and FARDC accuse each other of violating the ceasefire, while at the same time vowing to respond with force if provoked.
These statements are accompanied by military preparations through drills, increasing the number of soldiers or fighters, and mobilizing more weapons.
All this is happening amid ongoing mediation by the State of Qatar and the United States of America to bring both parties to the negotiating table.
However, the agreed timeline has already lapsed, as the peace accord was expected to be signed no later than August 18, 2025 something that still appears far off.
On the battlefield, it is officially said that no clashes are taking place, yet M23 and militias under the Wazalendo coalition supported by the Congolese government continue engaging in daily skirmishes.
The coalition of government forces has also continued to launch attacks against civilians, including members of the Banyamulenge community in South Kivu Province.
The tense situation in eastern DRC signals that four possible scenarios may unfold in the near future.
{{Tshisekedi’s withdrawal from the talks}}
As a Rwandan proverb says, “Ibitinze birabora”—literally, “what delays will eventually rot.” This adage warns of the setbacks and risks that often accompany unnecessary delays.
The stalled outcome of the Doha process is not a good sign; rather, it shows that efforts to reconcile the two sides have consistently failed, especially after the Declaration of Principles signed on July 19 were not respected.
These principles were supposed to be observed by July 29, followed by peace talks not later than August 8, and finally the signing of a peace accord. However, that entire timeline collapsed.
M23 accuses the Congolese government of continuing to attack civilians and its positions, while also refusing to release 700 of its prisoners despite earlier commitments to do so before peace talks could begin. The group argues that there is no reason to enter negotiations if those principles are not upheld.
The conduct of the Congolese government should serve as a reminder: whenever it has delayed in implementing resolutions from peace talks, it has eventually withdrawn altogether. This was the case at the end of 2022, when it pulled out of the Nairobi talks.
In a meeting held on August 30 with members of the Union Sacrée ruling coalition, President Tshisekedi stated that Congolese people do not need a mediator to hold dialogue, and that those who take up arms should not be included in negotiations. This signaled a different agenda in the Doha process.
“Congolese people do not need a mediator in order to talk. They should not have to take up arms before entering discussions. Congolese people have already demonstrated that they follow democracy, and they engage through democracy and respect for the rule of law in their own country,” he said.
On September 4, M23 spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, speaking in South Africa, said that Tshisekedi was seeking war.
“He declared that he has closed the door on all negotiations — he wants war. This is what he has been saying from the very beginning,” he stated.
{{M23 could seize more major cities}}
By June 2025, M23 controlled 34,000 square kilometers of territory in eastern DRC, including key cities such as Goma in North Kivu Province and Bukavu in South Kivu Province.
It appears that if the Congolese army, along with Burundian forces, FDLR, Wazalendo militias, and mercenaries, launched offensives against M23 positions, the conflict could escalate further.
This could push the group’s fighters to capture additional areas, including the city of Uvira, which serves as one of the government’s major strongholds.
On September 2, the commander of M23 Maj Gen Sultani Makenga, told new recruits who had just completed two months of training that he hoped future training sessions would be held in other major cities such as Kisangani in Tshopo Province, Kalemie in Tanganyika, and Kindu in Maniema.
“This country has collapsed; it needs to be liberated, and liberating it requires strength. As a movement, we are happy today, but we will be even happier when next time we begin such training in Kisangani, Kindu, and Kalemie,” he said.
Although M23 declares that it has no intention of provoking hostilities, the group maintains that it will continue fighting—even advancing to Kinshasa with the aim of toppling President Tshisekedi’s government, if attacked or if the security of Congolese citizens remains under threat.
{{A dilemma for Burundian troops}}
Burundian forces have been involved in the fight against M23 since 2023, when the country and Kinshasa signed a military cooperation agreement. However, this partnership has achieved little, as soldiers from both countries have been defeated together and forced to retreat toward Uvira and nearby areas.
If the fighting was to intensify in areas such as Uvira, the situation would become extremely difficult. Each side would deploy maximum force to defend its strongholds and capture new territory, leading to an unprecedented increase in the number of fighters and the use of heavy weaponry.
On September 17, lawmaker Justin Bitakwira, a supporter of President Tshisekedi’s government, told reporters in Kinshasa that if Uvira were to fall, M23 rebels could seize Kolwezi city in Lualaba Province within 24 hours.
Bitakwira, who hails from South Kivu, stated: “If Uvira were to fall today, what would become of the DRC’s situation? Within less than 24 hours, the rebels would be in Kolwezi. Kolwezi is the economic powerhouse of this country.”
Should M23 manage to enter and seize Uvira, the Burundian troops stationed there would have no option but to retreat to Bujumbura, as they could not sustain themselves in the heart of Congo’s conflict, far from their own territory.
This would not be the first time Burundian forces were forced into retreat. In January, they withdrew from all the positions they controlled in Masisi territory, retreated to Minova only to be ousted again as M23 advanced, then moved to Bukavu, and eventually fell back further to Uvira.
{{Tshisekedi under pressure}}
The international community maintains that the conflict in eastern DRC can only be resolved through political dialogue, while President Tshisekedi insists that military force is the only path to reclaim territories seized by M23.
If Tshisekedi once again rejects peace talks and resumes full-scale fighting, he risks suffering defeat as before with his forces losing even more territory. Should that happen, the international community would likely pile heavy pressure on him to return to the political track.
Faced with the loss of strategic areas, Tshisekedi would have no choice but to accept renewed peace negotiations, even if deep down he still harbors resentment.
This is reminiscent of the period when the cities of Goma and Bukavu fell to M23 fighters. At the time, the international community made it clear to President Tshisekedi that he had no choice but to concede, compelling him to send envoys to negotiations in Washington and Doha.
Back then, Tshisekedi had vowed never to engage in talks with M23, branding it a terrorist movement and declaring that entering into dialogue with the group was a “red line” he would not cross.
“I have a disagreement with the prime minister on that score,” Trump told a joint press conference before ending his second state visit to Britain, when asked about Britain’s recognition plan. “One of our few disagreements, actually.”
Starmer announced in July that Britain would recognize Palestinian statehood in September unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the conflict in Gaza. According to media reports, the recognition is expected to be formalized over the weekend after Trump’s state visit.
Starmer said at the press conference that the timing of this move “has got nothing to do” with the U.S. president’s visit.
Earlier on Thursday, the two sides signed a multi-billion-dollar tech deal to boost cooperation in fast-growing sectors such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing and nuclear energy.
Under the agreement, Microsoft will invest 30 billion U.S. dollars in AI infrastructure in Britain, while Google will open a data center in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire.
Trump concluded his visit to Britain and departed after the press conference. His itinerary included a visit on Wednesday to Windsor Castle, where he was met by King Charles, as well as protesters outside the royal residence.
“The so-called (U.S.-UK) special relationship does not exist. The Americans only care about their national interest. To them, every country is the same, just a business deal,” satirical artist Kaya Mar said outside the Castle.
Thousands of demonstrators also marched through central London on Wednesday to protest against the U.S. president’s visit, with criticism of the U.S. policies toward Israel and the Gaza conflict among the main rallying calls.
From Los Angeles, Amanda had flown in that very morning to join the protests. “We don’t have good leadership, and I’m very worried about the direction that the United States is taking and the world,” she said.
The decision by Nigerian educational authorities to teach Mandarin was a direct outcome of a recent curriculum review, Mandate Secretary for Education in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Danlami Hayyo said on Wednesday at the commissioning of a new “Chinese Corner” at the Government Secondary School in Nyanya, one of the two “Chinese Corners” introduced this week in the local secondary schools.
“In the recent review of our curriculum, the Chinese language was selected as one of the international languages to be taught in our senior secondary schools,” Hayyo said, adding that this demonstrates the FCT’s foresight in introducing the subject.
Mandarin will join Arabic and French as an optional foreign language course in Nigerian public senior secondary schools.
According to Mohammed Sani Ladan, director of the FCT Secondary Education Board, the 15 “Chinese Corners” established since 2013 in Nigerian schools have been far more than just physical spaces. “They are symbols of friendship and cooperation,” he said, noting that they also provide opportunities for students and teachers to learn Mandarin, access scholarships, and prepare for global engagement.
In separate interviews with Xinhua, school officials and students expressed appreciation for the initiative, emphasizing the immense opportunities the “Chinese Corners” would unlock, from teacher training to international scholarships.
Mojisola Akerele, principal of the Government Secondary School in Tudun Wada, told Xinhua that the new learning centers would enable students to acquaint themselves with the Chinese language through donated books and resources.
Speaking at the commissioning events, Yang Jianxing, cultural counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, described the “Chinese Corners” as a “bridge narrowing the hearts of young people from the two countries.” He said that learning the Chinese language offers possibilities for Nigerian youth, from participating in economic and trade exchanges to furthering studies in Chinese universities.
