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Voters in Ireland went to the polls Friday to elect a new president, with two women, Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys, competing for the largely ceremonial seven-year post. Connolly, a left-wing independent lawmaker supported by Sinn Féin, Labour, and the Social Democrats, is widely seen as the front-runner, holding around 40% in recent polls. Known for her outspoken stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict, Connolly has pledged to be “an independent president with an independent mind” and a voice for equality and justice. Her rival, Heather Humphreys of the center-right Fine Gael party, secured 20–25% support in surveys. A former cabinet minister with extensive government experience, Humphreys emphasizes a pro-business, pro-EU platform and aims to “build bridges” with communities in Northern Ireland. The two candidates are the only contenders after Jim Gavin of Fianna Fáil withdrew earlier this month over a past financial dispute. Other potential candidates, including musician Bob Geldof and former MMA champion Conor McGregor, failed to secure sufficient backing for nomination. Ireland’s current president, Michael D. Higgins, has served two consecutive seven-year terms since 2011. The winner will become the country’s 10th president and the third woman to hold the office. The president’s role is largely ceremonial but includes constitutional powers such as appointing the prime minister, signing legislation into law, and representing Ireland internationally. Past presidents, including Higgins, have occasionally spoken on key issues like international conflicts and NATO spending. Polling stations closed at 10 p.m. (2100 GMT) Friday, with counting set to begin Saturday. Provisional results are expected later that day, followed by the inauguration ceremony at Dublin Castle the next day.  

At least four people were killed and 16 others injured as Russian missile and drone strikes targeted Ukraine overnight into Saturday, officials said, prompting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to appeal anew for Western air defense systems. In Kyiv, two people died and nine were injured when a ballistic missile hit the capital early Saturday, Timur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s city military administration, told reporters. The State Emergency Service said a fire broke out in a non-residential building at one location, while debris from intercepted missiles fell in another, damaging nearby windows. “Explosions in the capital. The city is under ballistic attack,” Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram amid the strikes. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, two people were killed and seven wounded, acting regional Governor Vladyslav Haivanenko said, noting that apartment buildings and private homes were damaged. Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched nine missiles and 62 drones, of which four missiles and 50 drones were intercepted. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses shot down 121 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory overnight. President Zelenskyy stressed that such attacks highlight the urgent need for Patriot missile defense systems. “It is precisely because of such attacks that we pay special attention to Patriot systems — to be able to protect our cities from this horror. It is critical that partners who possess relevant capability implement what we have discussed in recent days,” he wrote in English on X. He added that the United States, Europe, and G7 countries can help prevent such attacks from threatening lives. Ukraine is seeking to purchase 25 Patriot systems from the U.S. to strengthen its urban air defenses. Zelenskyy also urged the U.S. to expand sanctions on Russian oil to cover the entire sector and called for long-range missiles to retaliate against Russian strikes. The Ukrainian president was in London for talks with over two dozen European leaders, hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, aimed at bolstering military aid for Ukraine and pressuring Russian President Vladimir Putin. Discussions focused on protecting Ukraine’s power grid from near-daily attacks, enhancing air defenses, and supplying long-range missiles to strike deeper into Russian territory. Zelenskyy has requested U.S. Tomahawk missiles, a proposal reportedly under consideration by President Donald Trump.  

Overnight Russian missile and drone strikes across Ukraine killed at least four people and injured 16 others, Ukrainian officials said Saturday. In Kyiv, two people were killed and nine wounded in a ballistic missile attack early Saturday, according to Timur Tkachenko, head of the city’s military administration. A fire broke out in a non-residential building, while debris from intercepted missiles damaged nearby structures, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that the capital came under a “ballistic attack.” In the Dnipropetrovsk region, two people were killed and seven others injured, acting regional governor Vladyslav Haivanenko said. Apartment blocks, private houses, a store, and vehicles were damaged in the strikes. Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched nine missiles and 62 drones overnight, of which four missiles and 50 drones were intercepted. Meanwhile, Russia’s defense ministry claimed to have shot down 121 Ukrainian drones over its territory. The attacks followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s appeal to the United States on Friday to expand sanctions on Russia’s oil industry and provide long-range missiles for counterstrikes. Zelenskyy made the appeal while in London for talks with European leaders, hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The meeting sought to reinforce Western support for Ukraine, tighten sanctions on Russia, and enhance defenses against Moscow’s persistent aerial assaults as winter nears. Leaders also discussed strengthening Ukraine’s power grid and providing Kyiv with longer-range weapons capable of striking deep inside Russia. Zelenskyy has urged Washington to supply Tomahawk missiles, an option U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering.

A German-built freight lift has become an unexpected star on social media after thieves used it in a rapid daylight robbery at the Louvre Museum in Paris. Photos of the lift, manufactured by Böcker Maschinenwerke GmbH, went viral this week as details emerged of how the criminals staged their brazen heist. The burglars spent less than four minutes inside the museum on Sunday, climbing the Louvre’s façade in the lift, breaking into a window, smashing display cases and escaping with Napoleonic jewels before fleeing on motorbikes. Alexander Böcker, managing director and third-generation owner of the Herdecke-based company, said he and his wife were initially “shocked that our lift had been misused for this robbery.” Writing in an email, he added that “once the initial shock had subsided, black humour took over.” The company lost no time seizing the marketing moment. By Monday, Böcker posted a promotional image of the freight lift, normally used in construction and furniture moves, with a slogan translating to “when something needs to be done quickly.” The post also highlighted the “Böcker Agilo’s” ability to carry up to 400 kilograms at 42 meters per minute, describing the device as “whisper quiet” thanks to its 230 Volt electric motor. “We had hoped for a bit of attention and some good humour, but the feedback was overwhelming,” Böcker said Thursday. “I can understand that not everyone shares this sense of humour, but the vast majority laughed heartily.” The company stressed that its lifts are not meant to carry people. Crown jewels may be one thing, Böcker suggested. Thieves are not.  

A surge in mysterious drone flights across NATO airspace in recent weeks has raised security concerns in Europe, with several governments blaming Russia for testing the alliance’s response capabilities amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. European officials said the incursions reached an unprecedented scale last month. On Sept. 10, a swarm of Russian drones entered Polish airspace, prompting NATO fighter jets to scramble and shoot down some of the devices. It marked the first direct confrontation between the alliance and Moscow since the war began in 2022. Days later, NATO jets escorted three Russian military aircraft out of Estonian airspace. Drone sightings have since been reported near airports, military installations and critical infrastructure across the continent. European defense ministers have agreed to build a “drone wall” along borders to detect and intercept potential threats. Russia has denied deliberately sending drones into NATO territory and said any incidents were accidental. In several countries, authorities have struggled to verify reported sightings, with some initially believed to be drones later identified as stars or other objects. On Thursday, Lithuania reported a brief violation of its airspace by Russian military aircraft. The country’s president described the intrusion as a serious breach of sovereignty and a threat to wider European security. NATO aircraft conducting air policing duties were scrambled in response. Russia rejected the claim and insisted its planes followed international rules. Disruptions have spilled into the civilian aviation sector. Munich Airport was shut down twice earlier this month due to drone sightings. At Copenhagen Airport, flights were severely disrupted on Sept. 22. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Russian involvement could not be ruled out, calling the episode possibly the most serious attack to date on Danish infrastructure. A similar sighting that evening at Norway’s Oslo Airport forced departures and landings onto a single runway while authorities investigated a possible link between incidents. Danish officials said drones also flew over four smaller airports between Sept. 24 and Sept. 25, including two used by the military. Reports in Danish media noted sightings near Karup Air Base, the country’s largest military site, though the Defense Ministry declined to confirm specific locations, citing operational security. Germany has launched investigations into drones spotted over key facilities in Schleswig-Holstein. Regional officials confirmed sightings over a power plant, a shipyard, a university hospital and the Heide oil refinery. A reported formation of drones also appeared over Kiel facilities linked to maritime defense technology. Another suspicious flight was recorded above a military base in the neighboring state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Estonia and Lithuania have issued diplomatic protests over recent Russian aircraft intrusions. Estonia summoned a Russian envoy after three fighter jets entered its airspace last month and remained for 12 minutes. Governments across Europe have been weighing rules on whether to authorize the use of force against drones in real time. Security analysts say the incidents highlight NATO’s vulnerabilities on its northern and eastern flanks as Russia appears to probe for weaknesses while also denying any wrongdoing. The heightened alert has contributed to wider concerns about escalating tensions between Moscow and the Western alliance, with officials warning that even brief or accidental airspace breaches risk triggering a more serious confrontation.  

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with European leaders in London on Friday to seek increased military and logistical support as the war with Russia enters its fourth year. The talks, hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, brought together two dozen leaders and focused on enhancing Ukraine’s air defenses, safeguarding its power grid from almost daily Russian drone and missile attacks, and supplying longer-range missiles capable of striking deep inside Russia. Starmer and Zelenskyy also discussed ways to maintain pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, amid recent Western sanctions targeting Russia’s oil and gas exports. Starmer welcomed Zelenskyy at 10 Downing Street, saying, “Time and again we offer Putin the chance to end his needless invasion, to stop the killing and recall his troops, but he repeatedly rejects those proposals and any chance of peace.” The meeting also considered a potential “reassurance force” of air and naval support to help train Ukrainian forces, with its headquarters expected to rotate between Paris and London. About 20 other leaders joined via video link in the group dubbed the Coalition of the Willing. EU leaders eye Gaza role at summit on Ukraine, Russia Meanwhile, the conflict continued on the ground. Russia claimed the capture of 10 Ukrainian villages in Donetsk and reported downing 111 Ukrainian drones, causing property damage near Moscow. Ukraine reported Russian artillery strikes in Kherson, killing two and injuring 22, and multiple glide bomb attacks in Kharkiv and Odesa, the latter described as “a new, serious threat” by local officials. Ukrainian rail services were disrupted due to shelling damaging infrastructure. The London meeting underscores continued Western support for Ukraine while highlighting the ongoing challenges posed by Russian military operations. Source: AP 

Turkey is in discussions with Qatar and Oman to purchase secondhand Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets as part of its plan to strengthen its air force, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday. The country intends to acquire several Eurofighters and other advanced aircraft as a temporary measure to enhance its fleet until its domestically developed fifth-generation KAAN fighter becomes operational. In July, Turkey and the United Kingdom signed a preliminary agreement for Eurofighter Typhoon sales, produced by a consortium including the U.K., Germany, Italy, and Spain. Reports suggest Ankara is also exploring deals with Gulf nations to secure used jets to meet immediate defense needs. “We have discussed ongoing negotiations with the Qatari and Omani sides regarding Eurofighter acquisitions,” Erdogan told reporters Thursday while returning from a Gulf tour. “These technically complex talks are progressing positively,” he added. Turkey lifts flight ban on Iraq’s Sulaymaniyah airport During his three-day visit to Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman, Erdogan oversaw multiple agreements, including in defense, though details were not disclosed. Turkey, a NATO member, is also seeking reentry into the U.S.-led F-35 program, from which it was removed in 2019 over its purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems. Ankara plans a transitional fleet of 120 jets — 40 Eurofighters, 40 F-16s, and 40 F-35s — until the KAAN enters service, expected no earlier than 2028. Source: AP 

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said that the latest U.S. sanctions targeting Russian oil companies are unlikely to have a significant impact on the country’s economy. Describing the measures as “an attempt to put pressure on Russia” and “unfriendly,” Putin added that they do nothing to improve Russia-U.S. relations. Responding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s Wednesday remarks about canceling a planned meeting with him, Putin said Russia has consistently supported ongoing dialogue. He also cautioned that approaching a Russia-U.S. summit without proper preparation would be a mistake. The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil producers, Rosneft and Lukoil, aiming to pressure Moscow into agreeing to an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine.   Source: Xinhua

Off-site power to Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is being restored after a monthlong outage, officials confirmed Thursday — a development hailed as a vital step for nuclear safety. Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk said the 750-kilovolt Dniprovska transmission line, which connects the plant to Ukraine’s power grid, has been repaired. Work is continuing on the 330-kilovolt Ferosplavna backup line, which passes through Russian-held territory. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the repairs were carried out under a local ceasefire, calling the restoration of external power “a key step for nuclear safety.” The agency noted that both Russian and Ukrainian forces cooperated to ensure the repairs could proceed safely. “Both sides engaged constructively with the IAEA to enable the complex repair plan to proceed,” IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said in a statement. Grynchuk said Ukrainian engineers have repaired the plant’s power lines 42 times since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. In that period, the facility lost external power 10 times, forcing reliance on emergency diesel generators. The plant had been running solely on diesel backup since Sept. 23, when its last functioning external line was cut during attacks that Moscow and Kyiv blamed on each other. Although the plant’s reactors have been shut down, a stable power supply remains essential to cool the reactors and spent fuel, preventing potential nuclear disaster. Grossi warned that frequent reliance on diesel generators — meant as a “last line of defense” — underscores ongoing risks. “As long as this devastating conflict goes on, nuclear safety and security remain under severe threat,” he said. “Today we had some rare positive news, but we are far from being out of the woods yet.”

European Union leaders are seeking to assert a stronger diplomatic and political role in Gaza and the occupied West Bank after being left out of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Meeting in Brussels on Thursday, EU heads of state — gathered primarily to discuss Ukraine and Russia — are also addressing the fragile Gaza truce and potential European support for post-war stabilization. The bloc is the largest donor of aid to the Palestinians and Israel’s biggest trading partner. “It is important that Europe not only watches but plays an active role,” said Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden before the summit, warning that “Gaza is not over; peace is not yet permanent.” The war has deeply divided the 27-nation bloc and strained relations with Israel to a historic low. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had announced plans in September to pursue sanctions and a partial trade suspension against Israel to pressure it toward a peace agreement. That momentum eased following the U.S.-mediated ceasefire deal led by President Donald Trump, but several EU leaders — including those from Ireland and the Netherlands — insist sanctions and trade measures should remain options as violence continues in Gaza and the West Bank. They argue such steps give Europe leverage to push Israel toward restraint. Earlier this month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Europe as “irrelevant” and accused it of showing “enormous weakness” in the peace process. The EU had no visible role in the ceasefire negotiations and is now scrambling to join diplomatic efforts shaping Gaza’s future. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc must be directly involved in Gaza, “not just pay to support stability and reconstruction.” The EU has pledged humanitarian aid, continued backing for the Palestinian Authority, and potential security support through its West Bank police program — possibly extending it to Gaza as part of the ceasefire’s 20-point stabilization plan. Brussels has also sought membership in the plan’s proposed “Board of Peace,” a transitional oversight body, according to Dubravka Šuica, European Commissioner for the Mediterranean. Denmark and Germany have joined the new U.S.-led stabilization mission overseeing the truce, with both nations’ flags raised at the Civil-Military Coordination Center in southern Israel. The EU Border Assistance Mission in Rafah, which began in 2005, has already redeployed 20 security officers from Italy, Spain, and France to the Gaza-Egypt border. Earlier this year, during the February-March ceasefire, the mission helped more than 4,000 people — including over 1,600 medical patients — leave Gaza before operations were suspended when fighting resumed. Outside the EU framework, several European nations have taken unilateral actions against Israel. Spain has called the Gaza war a “genocide” and imposed an arms embargo, while Slovenia has enacted its own arms ban. Protests across European capitals have intensified calls to recognize Palestinian statehood, and some broadcasters are even urging Israel’s exclusion from next year’s Eurovision Song Contest.