Irish government coordinating with U.S. Homeland Security in Culleton case, McEntee confirms

DUBLIN — Ireland’s government has raised the case of Kilkenny native Seamus Culleton with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security after the Boston-based construction worker was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and transferred nearly 4,000 kilometers to a facility in El Paso, Texas. Foreign Minister Helen McEntee said officials have been engaging U.S. counterparts and offering consular support to Culleton, who was arrested by ICE on Sept. 9, 2025. Culleton, originally from Glenmore, Co Kilkenny, told RTÉ’s…

Heineken to slash up to 6,000 jobs as beer sales slump

Heineken will cut up to 6,000 jobs worldwide and temper its outlook for profit growth in 2026, the brewer said, as beer makers grapple with weak demand, cost-conscious consumers and unsettled global conditions. The world’s No. 2 brewer by market value said the reductions, to be carried out over the next two years, represent nearly 7% of its 87,000-person workforce. The productivity drive is expected to unlock savings and narrow the company’s focus on markets and categories with stronger growth prospects. A spokesman told…

Somalia, Egypt cement defense ties as African Union mission deployment nears

Strategic Alliance: Somalia and Egypt solidify military ties ahead of AU mission deployment CAIRO — Somalia and Egypt deepened their military partnership Tuesday as Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Egypt’s defense minister reviewed Egyptian troops ahead of their deployment to a new African Union-led peacekeeping mission in Somalia, according to Cairo’s military spokesperson. The inspection by Mohamud and Gen. Abdel Mageed Saqr, Egypt’s commander in chief and minister of defense, signals a significant step in the…

French court to issue July 7 ruling in Marine Le Pen appeal case

Paris appeals court to rule July 7 in Marine Le Pen fraud case that could reshape 2027 race A Paris appeals court will deliver its ruling on July 7 in a fraud case against far-right leader Marine Le Pen, a decision poised to set the course of France’s next presidential contest. The lower court last year imposed a five-year ban from public office on Le Pen, 57, over a fake jobs scheme at the European Parliament. If the appeals court upholds that verdict, the three-time presidential candidate would be barred from running in…

Somalia hosts Turkish naval ships as offshore oil exploration nears launch

Somalia welcomes Turkish naval vessels as offshore oil exploration nears start MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s deputy defense minister, Omar Abdi Ali, alongside the Somali National Army chief, on Tuesday formally welcomed Turkish naval vessels to Mogadishu, officials said, marking a visible step in the country’s effort to strengthen maritime security as offshore oil exploration moves closer to execution. Port officials said one of the ships is an oil exploration and drilling vessel, accompanied by a security support ship. The…

After winning bronze, Olympic star admits affair during live TV interview

Norway’s Laegreid wins Olympic biathlon bronze, then stuns Games by admitting he cheated on partner Fresh off the podium with a Winter Olympics bronze medal, Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid stunned the biathlon world by publicly admitting he cheated on his girlfriend and pleading for forgiveness in an emotional interview that quickly eclipsed his result. The 28-year-old biathlete made the revelation to Norway’s state broadcaster shortly after finishing third in a race won by compatriot Johan-Olav Botn, with Eric Perrot of…

Qatar’s Emir, Trump Discuss Steps to Ease Middle East Tensions

DOHA, Qatar — Qatar’s emir spoke by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss de-escalation and regional security as tensions between Washington and Tehran sharpen, the royal court said Wednesday. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Trump reviewed “the current situation in the region and international efforts aimed at de-escalation and strengthening regional security and peace,” according to a statement from the emir’s office. The two leaders also discussed “supporting diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving crises…

Somalia’s federal government schedules April 2026 state elections amid electoral talks

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission on Wednesday set April 2026 for state-level local council elections, a timetable that places the vote about a month before President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s current term ends and intensifies pressure on leaders to settle the country’s electoral rules. Elections slated for April 2026, weeks before President Mohamud’s term expires Voter registration to resume in Baidoa, Jowhar and Dhusamareb; 12 new districts added, bringing total to 35 Talks…

South Africa Braces for Pre-emptive Debunking of Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation

Every year since 2013, Africa Check has fact-checked South Africa's State of the Nation Address (SONA) — the speech President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers to mark the start of the political calendar, officially open Parliament, recap the year gone by and outline the government's aims for the year ahead. After more than a decade of scrutiny, the organisation's researchers say they can often guess what the president is going to say before he opens his mouth. That observation, simple on its face, raises deeper questions about…

Former ambassador Dan Mulhall urges Taoiseach to press Donald Trump on Seamus Culleton case

Former Irish ambassador to the United States Dan Mulhall has urged the Taoiseach to raise the case of Irish detainee Seamus Culleton directly with U.S. President Donald Trump on St. Patrick’s Day if Culleton has not been released by then, saying the episode underscores how “uncompromising” immigration enforcement has become. Mulhall told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland he remains hopeful Culleton will be freed sooner, but said the length of his detention is “surprising” and that the Irish embassy is “doing all it can” on his behalf.…