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‘Ambulances are a target’: Irish volunteers detail peril and resolve in Ukraine’s east As the war in Ukraine enters its fifth year, two volunteers from County Clare describe a battlefield transformed by drones, a frontline that stretches for hundreds of miles and a civilian life that continues in uneasy parallel with nightly air raids. For Oran McInerney of Doonbeg, the job is speed and nerve. An emergency medical technician who has traveled to Ukraine repeatedly over the past four years, he worked with a U.S.-based…

Somalia has unveiled a revised Labour Code designed to modernize employment relations, strengthen social dialogue and protect workers’ rights, marking a significant step in the country’s labour governance. The Federal Government formally launched the Somali Labour Code (Law No. 36, 2024) at a national ceremony in Mogadishu, positioning the law as a framework for decent work and clear responsibilities for both workers and employers. The launch at Hotel Afrik brought together a wide coalition of stakeholders, including Members…

Trump seeks $1 billion for permanent seats on new “Board of Peace,” a Gaza-born plan with global reach and sweeping chair powers U.S. President Donald Trump is asking countries to pay $1 billion (€853 million) for a permanent place on a new “Board of Peace” intended to resolve conflicts worldwide, according to a charter seen by AFP. Conceived initially to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction, the body’s mandate is not limited to the Palestinian territory and would allow the chairman—Trump—to steer its agenda and operations. The…

Türkiye begins building Somalia spaceport after completing feasibility, design work Türkiye has completed feasibility and design studies for a new spaceport in Somalia and begun the first phase of construction, Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir said Tuesday, marking a strategic push to secure independent access to space and a foothold in the global launch market. The announcement followed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s remarks at a joint news conference in Istanbul with Somali President Hassan Sheikh…

Australia’s world-first ban on social media use by under-16s has taken effect, forcing platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook to block underage users or face fines of up to €28 million. From Dublin to Brussels, policymakers are watching closely. The question in Ireland is not only whether such a ban could work here, but whether it should—legally, practically and politically—within the European framework. In Ireland, the immediate answer from government is cautious distance. Communications Minister…

Negotiations on the Brink: Nigeria's Academic Crisis Deepens In the heart of Nigeria, a looming confrontation between the government and its academic staff is stirring discontent. As tensions rise over the impending strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the government has escalated its rhetoric, asserting a stringent 'No Work, No Pay' policy. This warning, directed at faculty members set to initiate protests on October 13, highlights a complicated saga of negotiation, trust, and the future of…

Two years on, ceasefire talks shadowed by airstrikes and the weight of memory On the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks that plunged Israel and Gaza into an ever-expanding war, negotiators gathered in Sharm el‑Sheikh for what many describe as the most serious attempt yet to halt the fighting. Yet beneath the diplomatic fanfare, tanks rolled, jets and naval vessels struck and families on both sides marked the day with grief that a single negotiated text has so far failed to touch. The talks — cautious hope,…

MSF Suspends Medical Services in Northern Mozambique as Violence Surges Mozambique’s conflict-scarred Cabo Delgado province has seen a sharp escalation in violence that has forced Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to suspend operations at a key district hospital, the international medical charity said Friday. The halt in services comes after weeks of armed incursions that have killed civilians, driven thousands from their homes and severed access to lifesaving health care in an already fragile region. Immediate disruptions…

For the first time in its history, the Pritzker Prize, the highest award in the world of architecture, has been awarded to an African. Burkinabè Diébédo Francis Kéré has always been committed to his homeland, Burkina, with sustainable architecture that respects…

The Gorée Memorial is a memorial to the slave trade, but also to the "future", which will be used to "know how to forgive" and unite. The idea for this project goes back more than thirty years but it is finally starting to be realized. The final version was presented to Senegalese President Macky Sall on August 18 during a meeting with the structures involved.…