World

Thirteen full moons will light the sky in 2026, a rare cadence in the lunar calendar that coincides with NASA’s renewed push to send humans back to the Moon. For astronomers and skywatchers, it is a year that connects ancient names and stories to a very modern ambition: using the Moon as a springboard for deeper exploration of space. The first full moon of any year is traditionally called the Wolf Moon, a name rooted in midwinter soundscapes. Astronomy expert Danielle Murphy explained that the association traces to the…

Driver charged in crash that injured Anthony Joshua, killed two friends in Nigeria Nigerian police have charged a driver in connection with a crash that injured British former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and killed two of his close friends and team members on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Ogun State Police Command said Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, appeared before the Sagamu Magistrate Court and was charged on four counts, including causing death by dangerous driving. The case was adjourned to Jan. 20 while…

Finland seizes cargo ship in probe of undersea cable damage; two crew arrested HELSINKI — Finnish police said they have made progress in a criminal investigation into damage to an undersea telecommunications cable in the Gulf of Finland, seizing a cargo vessel and arresting two crew members in a case that has heightened concern over the security of critical seabed infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. Authorities on Wednesday detained the “Fitburg,” a freighter sailing from Russia to Israel, on suspicion it damaged a…

With less than six months to go before the next World Cup, it is not the draw or tactical intrigue that is dominating football’s conversation but FIFA’s so‑called “Peace Prize.” The episode — more symbolic than sporting — has pushed governance, messaging and power to the fore, putting FIFA president Gianni Infantino and his political approach under the spotlight just as the game should be preparing for its showpiece. The discomfort is not simply about optics. As discussed on RTÉ’s Behind the Story with the Independent’s…

Swiss investigators are working to identify victims following a fire, launching a meticulous forensic process that typically involves DNA analysis, dental records and fingerprint matching. Authorities have not released further details about the incident, but the identification effort signals that officials are now focused on confirming who was caught in the blaze and notifying families. Forensic teams in Switzerland generally coordinate with cantonal police, medical examiners and prosecutors to establish identities and…

CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland — Swiss authorities are working to identify victims after a pre-dawn fire tore through Le Constellation, a popular bar in this Alpine resort town, turning New Year’s celebrations into a national tragedy and leaving more than 100 people injured. The first confirmed victim is 16-year-old Emanuele Galeppini, an Italian international golfer who had been living in Dubai, the Italian Golf Federation said. Galeppini was in Crans-Montana with his family and had gone to the bar with two friends, who escaped…

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump said the United States is “locked and loaded” to respond if Iran kills protesters, issuing a stark warning as cost-of-living demonstrations in the country turned deadly and Iranian authorities cautioned Washington against interference. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that if Iran shoots “and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue.” His message followed reports of fatal clashes between…

Climate change fueled a punishing year of extreme weather in 2025 that fell hardest on poorer communities, even as a cooling La Niña pattern took hold, according to a new assessment by World Weather Attribution, an international group of climate scientists. The annual report found that 2025 ranked among the three hottest years ever recorded, a sign of how far human-caused warming has pushed baseline temperatures. That backdrop turbocharged heatwaves, droughts, storms and wildfires across continents, widening a stark…

President Donald Trump said he is taking a daily aspirin dose larger than his doctors recommend, adding new detail to the public picture of his health and prevention regimen in an interview published by the Wall Street Journal. “They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood pouring through my heart,” Trump told the newspaper. “I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart. Does that make sense?” Sean Barbabella, the president’s physician, told the Journal that Trump takes 325 milligrams…

EU warns of sabotage risk as Finland seizes ship suspected in Baltic cable damage Europe “remains vigilant” as its critical infrastructure faces a high risk of sabotage, EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said, after Finnish authorities seized a cargo vessel suspected of damaging a subsea telecommunications cable between Helsinki and Tallinn. Finnish police detained the Fitburg, a 132-meter cargo ship, and its 14 crew members as part of an investigation into damage to a telecoms cable in the Gulf of Finland. Authorities…