Ukraine War at Sea: Russia’s drone campaign hit three civilian ships approaching Odesa—one Guinea-Bissau-flagged vessel, one Marshall Islands-flagged Chinese-owned bulk carrier (KSL Deyang), and a Panama-flagged cargo ship—sparking small fires that crews put out, with no reported casualties. Putin–Xi Shadow: The strikes come as Vladimir Putin heads to Beijing for talks with Xi, with Ukrainian officials saying even ships tied to close partners are now at risk. AFCON Qualifiers Draw: Seedings for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers were released for Tuesday’s Cairo draw, with Ghana and Cape Verde—both World Cup qualifiers—missing out on top seeds. Local Development: In The Gambia, President Adama Barrow launched an 85km road project in the Upper River Region to connect 22 remote communities—an example of how infrastructure pushes are being used to reach underserved areas. Sports Note: The Gambia’s U-20 women beat Guinea-Bissau 2–0, with Sarah Jarju scoring twice.