A holiday in Thailand ended in tragedy when a young Irish man and a Czech woman were killed in a road crash. The Irish victim has been identified locally as Max Hendrickson, from Cabra in Dublin. Mr Hendrickson, 20, was named Ireland's Young Filmmaker of the Year 2023 at the Fresh International Film Festival and was widely known in his local community. He was in his second year as a student at Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology. Labour TD Marie Sherlock said the news has left neighbours and friends…

Saturday May 2, 2026 The Kenya African National Union (KANU) has appealed for calm and restraint after a surge of insecurity along the Mwingi–Garissa Road corridor in Kitui County. KANU chairman Gideon Moi said the recent violence was a matter of serious national concern and sent condolences to the families who have lost relatives. “Resource-based disputes must never be allowed to descend into violence, senseless killings, or wanton looting,” Moi said. “The loss of life and destruction of property only deepen divisions and…

In a significant legislative move, the House of Representatives has granted approval for President Bola Tinubu's proposal to secure an external loan of $516.3 million aimed at constructing key segments of the Sokoto-Badagry superhighway. This ambitious project, spanning approximately 1,000 kilometers, is set to connect the states of Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos, commencing in Illela, Sokoto, and culminating in Badagry, Lagos. This green light comes on the heels of robust recommendations from various…

A devastating highway bombing in Colombia has killed 20 people and injured 36 others, marking one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in the region in years, according to a statement posted on X by the local department’s governor. The blast - which local and national authorities have blamed on armed groups - struck just one month before Colombians are due to elect a new president on 31 May. Cauca Department Governor Octavio Guzman called it the area’s "most brutal and ruthless attack against the civilian population in…

Sunday April 5, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — Somali National Army commander on Friday rewarded soldiers who took part in the operation that reopened the key Mogadishu–Baidoa road, calling the campaign a serious setback for al-Shabab and a breakthrough for the movement of civilians. Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Mohamed Mahmoud praised the troops for helping secure the corridor, which militants affiliated with al-Qaida have intermittently blocked since 2009. “I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart,” the commander said. “As far as I am…

Sunday March 29, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Saturday cut the ribbon on a newly rebuilt stretch of road connecting Mogadishu’s Dabka and Bakaara intersections, a flagship project carried out by the Benadir Regional Administration. Speaking at the ceremony, Mohamud cast the project as a visible sign of the capital’s recovery and of broader gains in security, governance, and economic life. “The reconstruction of this road reflects the revival and visible progress of the capital,…

Gulf flight disruption is rippling across global travel, forcing families to reroute long-haul journeys and pushing up fares as airlines cut capacity and fuel costs surge. The uncertainty is especially acute for Irish passengers trying to reach Australia and New Zealand, routes that have long relied on the Middle East’s mega-hubs and are now being squeezed by war-related constraints and shifting safety perceptions. Dublin native Brian Sullivan was due to fly home with his wife and three children from Melbourne via Abu Dhabi…

Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia upends Horn of Africa politics — and tests Somalia’s path forward HARGEISA and MOGADISHU — The split screen was stark. In late December, flags rose over Hargeisa and crowds flooded the streets after Israel announced it would formally recognize North Western State of Somalia as an independent state. In Mogadishu, tens of thousands rallied beneath Somali and Palestinian flags, denouncing the move as a violation of sovereignty and a dangerous precedent for the region.…

BOSASO, Somalia — A roadside explosion struck a mine-sweeping vehicle on the new road linking Bosaso and Dhaadaar on Sunday morning, killing at least three members of Puntland State’s security forces and wounding more than five others, officials said. The blast occurred as security units were conducting a clearance operation along the route, according to security sources. The vehicle was working to detect and neutralize suspected explosives when the device detonated. Those killed include Jama Mohamed Caduur, known as…

Anthony Joshua was discharged from a hospital in southwestern Nigeria after being injured in a car crash that killed two of his close friends, state officials said. The former world heavyweight boxing champion had been traveling Monday along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway when the SUV he was in struck a stationary truck in Ogun state. Joshua was accompanied by friends identified as Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, who both died in the crash, according to the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE). The agency said…