Ireland Mourns Sr Stanislaus Kennedy: Visionary Founder of Focus Ireland and Tireless Advocate for Social Justice

đŸŒč A Life of Service Born Treasa Kennedy on June 19, 1939, in Lispole, Co Kerry, Sr Stanislaus Kennedy—affectionately known as Sr Stan—entered the Sisters of Charity at 18. From her earliest years in religious life, she dedicated herself to social justice and community service, earning degrees in social sciences and social policy from University […]

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US election results suggest Trump’s coalition of voters is collapsing

Americans voted in elections on November 4 in the first major test of whether Republicans can hold together the coalition of voters that propelled Donald Trump to the White House in November 2024. The result was a Democratic party triumph. Trump was not directly on the ballot in any of these elections, the most high-profile […]

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World News in Brief: Russian rights abuses in Ukraine, US a no-show for rights review, Orlando Blooms highlights Rohingya plight

During their mission from 2 to 6 November, the three members of the Human Rights Council-mandated Commission of Inquiry met survivors, families of victims and human rights groups in Kyiv. “People spoke of unimaginable suffering – homes destroyed, loved ones killed, and lives upended,” said chairperson Erik MĂžse. The investigators – who are not UN […]

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Ireland Prepares for Potential Visit by Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in December

Diplomatic planning underway as Ireland reaffirms support for Ukraine amid ongoing war and EU integration efforts. Dublin, Ireland – November 8, 2025 — The Irish government is actively preparing for a possible visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with diplomatic sources indicating the trip could take place as early as December TheJournal.ie. While no official […]

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The United States Strengthens Commercial Ties with the Kyrgyz Republic

STRENGTHENING U.S. PARTNERSHIP WITH THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC: President Donald J. Trump welcomed President Sadyr Japarov of the Kyrgyz Republic to the White House on November 6, 2025, to discuss ways to enhance and strengthen the relationship between the United States and the Kyrgyz Republic. WINS FOR AMERICAN WORKERS AND BUSINESSES: This week, the United States celebrated commercial […]

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DR Congo hunger crisis worsening amid fighting and lack of aid funding

UN aid agencies are struggling to access provinces overrun by Rwanda-backed M23 rebel fighters at the start of the year, although dramatic funding shortfalls for humanitarian work have also contributed to the dire situation. Kigali has consistently denied providing military backing to the group. Help could be provided more easily if air access were re-established, […]

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The Grapefruit Protest That Shook Apartheid: Ireland’s Dunnes Stores Strike Revisited

How 11 retail workers defied apartheid through a fruit boycott—and won Mandela’s gratitude. 🍊 Comedy Meets History In a moment of unexpected resonance, comedian David Nihill’s skit “Fruit for Thought” spotlighted a little-known but powerful chapter in Irish history: the 1984 Dunnes Stores anti-apartheid strike, where a group of grocery workers refused to sell South […]

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Ukraine Joins UK-Led Joint Expeditionary Force in Strategic Move Toward NATO Integration

New partnership strengthens Northern European defense and signals deeper Western alignment amid Russia tensions. Norway – November 7, 2025 — Ukraine has officially become a formal partner of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a UK-led military coalition of ten Northern European nations, in a move widely seen as a strategic step toward NATO membership. The […]

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European nations have no choice but to raise retirement ages – our case study shows why

In early October 2025, with his political future hanging by a thread, France’s resigned-and-reappointed prime minister SĂ©bastien Lecornu pledged to suspend unpopular pension reforms until 2027, when presidential elections will be held. Socialist MPs declared victory. The French business community groaned. The S&P downgraded France’s credit rating, citing budget concerns. With France kicking inevitable reforms […]

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🌍 African Continental Brief: Business, Tech, Geopolitics, Security and Human Rights – November 7, 2025

📈 Business & Macro 🇿🇩 South Africa – TFG Profit Slumps Amid Weak Consumer DemandThe Foschini Group (TFG), one of South Africa’s largest fashion retailers, reported a 21.3% drop in headline earnings per share and a 9.9% decline in operating profit to R2.3 billion for the six months ending September 2025. Despite a 12.2% rise […]

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