In a new report, the UN says there has been a sharp increase in the deaths of women and children in Afghanistan. The Taliban is seeking to expand its territory, with devastating consequences for civilians.

In less than 20 years, SpaceX has gone from upstart to leader in commercial spaceflight. It's hoping for its first civilian orbital flight this September.

Guinea's opposition leaders say they support the military's ousting of President Alpha Condé earlier this month, as four days of talks about the return to democratic rule begin in Conakry. Also, France says that Mali striking a deal with Russian paramilitary group Wagner would be a red line in relations between Paris and Bamako. And we look at how Tanzanian fashion artist Makeke is using traditional artifacts to recreate pre-colonial costumes.

Pro-military protesters in Sudan want the civilian government gone and military leaders to take over. But critics of the rallies say they are far from organic and have been orchestrated by security forces and backers of the former regime. Meanwhile in Ethiopia, state media confirms that the military launched air strikes on Tigray's capital Mekele after almost a year of deadly conflict.

Sudan's top general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said on Tuesday (October 26) that the military agreed to a number of initiatives suggested by prime minister Abdalla Hamdok but civilian forces refused to engage in any dialogue. Speaking at his first news conference since he announced Monday's takeover, Burhan defended the army's seizure of power, saying he had ousted the government of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok to avoid civil war. Soldiers arrested the prime minister and other members of his cabinet on Monday (October 25), and hours later Burhan appeared on TV to announce the dissolution of the Sovereign Council, a body set up to share power between the military and civilians.

Russian President Vladimir Putin oversaw military exercises involving Russian "strategic forces." The drills included ballistic and cruise missile launches.

At least nine people have been killed and 37 injured after Russian forces launched multiple rocket strikes on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv in what appeared to mark a change in tactics by Moscow towards bombing civilian areas.

A new report says at least 750 civilians have been killed or executed in Ethiopia's Afar and Amhara regions since July. Both are part of a larger conflict that broke out in northern Tigray region in late 2020.

At least 53 people died after an unidentified armed group attacked a civilian convoy. The previously unreported attack occurred in March. A video appearing to show men in military uniform burning victims alive prompted the government to say it would find those responsible.

Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, is bracing for an all-out attack as Russian forces close in. Shelling has already reached the outskirts of Kyiv, while others cities are also suffering heavy bombardment.

For the very first time, Russian missile attacks have killed civilians in Ukraine's port city of Odesa. Russian officials have not, however, acknowledged any civilian deaths.

Mamady Doumbouya says it will take 39 months to shift back to civilian rule. The junta leader seized power in a coup in September.