held

Irish citizen with dual Russian nationality detained in Russia over phone messages, wife says An Irish citizen with dual Russian nationality has been detained in Russia since August after authorities found messages on his phone that expressed anti-Russian sentiment, according to his Ukrainian wife, who is appealing to the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs for help. Daria Petrenko, who fled Ukraine at the start of the war and now lives in Claregalway, Co Galway, said her husband, 49-year-old Dmitri Simbaev, was stopped…

Premier League title race tilts Arsenal’s way as Manchester City, Liverpool held in goalless draws Arsenal moved four points clear at the halfway mark of the Premier League after Manchester City and Liverpool were both blunted in 0-0 draws on a low-scoring Thursday night that underscored the league’s depth and defensive resilience. City were frustrated at Sunderland and Liverpool couldn’t break down promoted Leeds at Anfield, results that — coupled with Tottenham’s stalemate at Brentford and a late equalizer in Crystal…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A Kenyan doctor who says he was working on a United Nations medical evacuation team in Somalia has appeared in a video appealing to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Kenyan President William Ruto, saying he and colleagues have been held by al-Shabab for more than a year and a half following a helicopter crash. The man, identifying himself as Dr. Ambrose Kimiti, says the aircraft carrying the medical team crash-landed on Jan. 10, 2024, in territory controlled by al-Shabab while on an official…

Australian police say two suspects in the Bondi Beach shooting trained with firearms in the countryside before allegedly targeting a Hanukkah event that left 15 people dead, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged tougher laws against hate speech and extremism and New South Wales moved on sweeping gun reforms. Father and son Sajid Akram, 50, and Naveed Akram, 24, are accused of carrying out the nation’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades. Court documents released Monday allege the pair conducted “firearms…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Al-Shabaab insurgents have released a new video showing Oleynik Aleksandr, a Ukrainian national and helicopter pilot held by the group since early 2024, appealing to the Ukrainian government and the United Nations to launch talks for his release and that of fellow crew members. The footage features Aleksandr identifying himself as the captain of a United Nations–contracted helicopter that made an emergency landing in militant-held territory in January 2024 while en route to Wisil, near Ceelbuur, in…

Premier League title race blown open as Buendia’s stoppage-time strike sinks Arsenal; Man City close in Aston Villa detonated the Premier League title race with a 2-1 win over Arsenal sealed in the fifth minute of stoppage time, trimming the leaders’ advantage to two points after Manchester City’s clinical 3-0 dispatch of Sunderland. Villa sit a point further back in third after a raucous late twist at Villa Park that revived Unai Emery’s resurgent side and rattled Mikel Arteta’s unbeaten machine. Emiliano Buendia,…

Flotilla Bound for Gaza Intercepted at Sea; African Leaders Demand Release of Detainees Israeli forces intercepted a flotilla of roughly 40 vessels on Wednesday that had been sailing for weeks toward the besieged Gaza Strip, detaining scores of activists and prompting urgent diplomatic protests from African leaders whose citizens were aboard. Among those taken into custody was Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, the grandson of former South African president Nelson Mandela, an emblematic figure whose presence underscored the…

The recent funeral of Liam Payne drew together loved ones and colleagues to honor his memory, including notable figures like Cheryl Tweedy and his One Direction bandmates. In attendance at the intimate ceremony held at St Mary's Church in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, were singers Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson. They came together, amidst a somber atmosphere, to remember their dear friend and fellow artist. Liam tragically passed away at the young age of 31 on October 16, following a devastating fall…

American Drone Takes a Nosedive in Somali Turf MOGADISHU, Somalia - Earlier this week, a U.S. military drone crashed in southern Somalia, as confirmed by the U.S. Africa Command. This disclosure ended swirling rumors about the machine’s ownership, pivotal in battling the Al-Shabaab insurgency. Initial chatter in the area sparked curiosity, with speculation floating around a possible Turkish drone crash in the Al-Shabaab-occupied town of Farsoley, in Lower Shabelle. This town sits about 130 km southwest of Somalia's…

Kenya: Farewell to Eastleigh Women Following Tragic Loss NAIROBI, Kenya - In a scene heavy with grief, Lang'ata Cemetery in Nairobi saw the final farewell of three women who met a tragic fate after being kidnapped and later murdered. The burial took place on Friday with an urgent call from community leaders for swift justice and clarity regarding their abrupt passing. The departed souls, Waris Daud, Nuseiba Dahir, and Amina Abdirashid, were interred amidst the presence of sorrowful relatives, close friends, Islamic…