MOGADISHU, Somalia — The families of crew members aboard the hijacked commercial vessel “MT Eureka” say Somali pirates have raised their ransom demand to $10 million, deepening fears for the sailors being held off the Somali coast. Amiira Mohamed, the wife of Egyptian engineer Mohamed Radi, who is among eight Egyptian sailors on the ship, said her husband was briefly allowed to call her by phone. “He told me the situation is very difficult and pleaded for anyone who can help to intervene for their release,” she said.…

Nigeria Denies Ransom Payments to Boko Haram for School Abductions The Nigerian government has categorically rejected claims that it paid a significant ransom to the Islamist group Boko Haram in connection to the abduction of more than 200 pupils and staff from St. Mary's School in Papiri in November 2024. Information Minister Mohammed Idris described the allegations, which emerged from a report by AFP citing unnamed intelligence sources, as "false and baseless reporting," asserting that such claims undermine the…

Savannah Guthrie pleads for mother’s return as Arizona kidnapping probe widens U.S. television news host Savannah Guthrie said in a social media video that her family is willing to pay to secure the return of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, after authorities concluded the 84-year-old was kidnapped in Arizona. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said investigators have determined that Nancy Guthrie was taken against her will but have not identified any suspects or persons of interest. The FBI and the Sheriff’s Department said…