A weekend in Oakenfest's alternative music village
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The Star
a few seconds ago
- The Star
Two Haitian police killed when drone accidentally explodes
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) -Two Haitian police officers were killed and two others seriously wounded when an explosive drone accidentally detonated at a SWAT base near Haiti's capital, authorities in the Caribbean nation said on Wednesday. Directed by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime, a task force has since March been operating explosive-laden "kamikaze" drones to help police fight powerful armed gangs that have taken control of most of the capital. A private military company run by Blackwater founder Erik Prince is also taking part in the drone operations. The prime minister's office said in a statement the accident took place on Tuesday night in the hillside town of Kenscoff - a flashpoint in the conflict due to its strategic location overlooking the diplomatic hub of Petion-Ville. "A kamikaze drone, transported by residents in good faith, exploded on the site, killing two police officers and seriously injuring two others," his office said in a statement. Citing several unnamed sources, the Miami Herald reported that six officers were hurt in the blast. The prime minister's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Local residents found the drone after its operators lost contact with the device due to poor weather, it reported, and brought it to nearby police. Shortly after, it exploded. Haiti's national police said an investigation had been opened. "We are taking all measures to ensure a thorough investigation into this tragedy," Fritz Alphonse Jean, a member of Haiti's transitional presidential council, said on social media. Armed groups began attacking Kenscoff at the start of this year. Rights groups report mass killings, rapes, arson and kidnappings, and thousands have fled their homes. Earlier this month, a three-year-old boy and seven staff were kidnapped from a local orphanage, including Irish missionary Gena Heraty. Over 3,100 have been killed in the conflict in the first half of this year, according to U.N. reports. (Reporting by Harold Isaac and Sarah Morland; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Irish Times
a few seconds ago
- Irish Times
Hurricane Erin remnants expected to bring wetter and breezier conditions next week
Remnants of Hurricane Erin are forecast to bring 'unsettled weather' to Ireland, Met Éireann has said. Forecaster Aoife Kealy said the hurricane was creating 'some uncertainty' for conditions from Tuesday. Hurricane Erin, which is expected to pound the US east coast, is forecast to track slowly eastward across the North Atlantic afterwards, causing some 'wet and breezier weather' in Ireland after what is predicted to be largely dry and settled weekend here. 'We don't know exactly where it's going to track,' Ms Kealy said. The storm's force is expected to weaken as it crosses the Atlantic. 'There's no severe weather coming.' READ MORE Along the eastern seaboard of the US, Hurricane Erin is expected to result in very strong winds, which will be dangerous along coasts. Residents of The Outer Banks, a string of barrier islands off North Carolina, have been bracing for high winds, with several beaches off-limits due to life-threatening rip currents. Ms Kealy said that by the time Erin reaches Ireland, the ex-hurricane would likely cause 'more in the way of rainfall' and bring slightly windier conditions. This will see a break in the high pressure that is expected to dominate the country over the coming days. It is predicted to remain mostly dry, with a few light showers at the weekend. She said temperatures would be mostly in the high teens to low 20s until Monday. Thursday is expected to be mainly dry with a mix of sunny spells and a few showers, with highest temperatures of 17 to 22 degrees. Mist and foggy patches are set to develop in the west on Thursday night. This is expected to clear on Friday morning to make way for another mainly dry day with spells of sunshine. Some isolated showers are possible towards Atlantic coasts. Going into the weekend, a mix of sun and scattered showers is forecast. Sunday is expected to be cloudier with more showers and rain arriving into the southwest of the country.
Irish Times
a few seconds ago
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on the presidential race: contortions and expediency
Less than a week after Mairead McGuinness's shock withdrawal from the presidential election, Fine Gael appears already well on its way to settling on a replacement. Heather Humphreys has established such a commanding lead over Seán Kelly in pledged parliamentary support that the race may effectively be over before a single vote is cast. Kelly, however, may be less inclined to bow out gracefully this time. After all, had he stayed in the contest earlier in the summer, rather than stepping aside for McGuinness, he would by now be the party's standard-bearer. What has followed since McGuinness's announcement has been a study in political flexibility, not to say expediency. Both contenders have been obliged to explain why they now covet a role they had so recently declined. In June, Kelly reflected aloud that he was content in Brussels, invoking John B Keane as he wondered whether he truly wanted to trade Kerry for seven years in the Áras. His conclusion was no. Humphreys, for her part, told RTÉ in May that she had no interest in returning to public life, having retired from frontline politics to spend time with her family. All, it seems, has now changed utterly. READ MORE Fine Gael, which carefully stage-managed McGuinness's uncontested nomination, now benefits once again from having a bench of plausible successors to choose from. The same cannot be said for its rivals. Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin continue to deliberate, with little sign of consensus around a credible nominee. Their reluctance reflects a more basic problem: neither party has a clear candidate who could avoid the fate of the also-ran. Sinn Féin is reported this week to be edging towards endorsing Catherine Connolly. Should that materialise, and with the route for an Independent nominee narrowing by the day, attention will turn squarely to Fianna Fáil. It has been more than 50 years since the presidency was last contested in a straight two-way contest. It may fall to Micheál Martin to avoid such a narrow choice being presented to the electorate. There are strong arguments for Fianna Fáil to enter the fray. First, it would signal confidence from the State's largest party, which has not contested a presidential election this century. Second, neither Connolly nor Humphreys (assuming she is the Fine Gael nominee) are unbeatable. Neither has been tested in the uniquely unforgiving environment of a presidential campaign. Each is perfectly capable of the sort of verbal slips or missteps that have derailed hopefuls before. If, as some in Leinster House suspect, Martin already has a name in his pocket, the only question now is when he chooses to reveal it.
