Eight people, including Irish missionary Gena Heraty and a three-year-old child, have been released after nearly a month in captivity following a kidnapping at the Saint-Helene Orphanage in Kenscoff, near Haiti’s capital.
Heraty, originally from Westport, County Mayo, is the director of an orphanage run by the humanitarian organization Nos Petits Frères et Soeurs, which cares for more than 240 children. She was released along with seven other captives, including a three-year-old child, ending nearly a month in captivity.
Heraty’s family expressed relief and gratitude, thanking Irish officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris and Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason, for their support. Harris confirmed all captives are “safe and well” and praised their resilience, describing Heraty as a “respected humanitarian and deeply courageous person.”
The kidnapping occurred on August 3, when attackers reportedly broke into the orphanage through a wall. No group has claimed responsibility, though gang activity is widespread in Port-au-Prince, where armed groups control much of the city.
Heraty’s family emphasized the priority of her health, protection, and privacy, requesting that the media respect her recovery.
The release coincides with UN Security Council discussions on strengthening the international police force in Haiti, which has faced staffing shortages. Proposals aim to expand the mission and establish a UN office in Port-au-Prince to provide operational and logistical support.
UN reports indicate at least 3,141 deaths in Haiti in the first half of 2025, with roughly half of gang participants being children. Despite past challenges in UN missions, Haitian authorities continue to seek international assistance amid rising insecurity.
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The final text of a peace agrement has been agreed by the U.S. and Iran, with the signing of the deal expected to take place electronically within 24 hours, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said.
As the 2026 World Cup kicked off on 11 June across North America, U.S. visa restrictions and travel policies have made it impossible for supporters, football officials and even a FIFA-appointed referee to attend. It's raised a lot of questions about access to such a high-profile global event.
Every June, roughly 13 million young people in China sit down at the same time to take the same test. They have been preparing for it, in many cases, since primary school. Their families have rearranged their lives around it.
Uzbekistan will launch a new digital financial platform from 1 July aimed at simplifying access to finance for entrepreneurs, as part of broader efforts to support small businesses, encourage innovation and accelerate private sector development.
SpaceX has made history with the largest initial public offering ever in the United States, pricing its shares at $135 each and achieving a market valuation of $1.77 trillion.
SpaceX made a historic entrance into the Nasdaq on Friday, surging over 20% in its first day of trading and lifting its valuation to more than $2 trillion. Investors flocked to the world’s largest IPO, betting on Elon Musk’s sprawling empire spanning rockets, AI and beyond.
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Pakistan has warned that any attempt by India to block or significantly reduce river flows under the Indus Waters Treaty could have “far-reaching consequences”, after India's water minister said New Delhi was working to ensure that “not a single drop” of water reaches Pakistan in the coming years.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk have criticised Britain, France and Germany for leaving them out of talks with Russia about a potential future peace deal for Ukraine.
Every June, roughly 13 million young people in China sit down at the same time to take the same test. They have been preparing for it, in many cases, since primary school. Their families have rearranged their lives around it.
European museums are increasingly returning cultural artefacts to countries in Africa and the Middle East, as pressure grows to address the legacy of colonialism and disputed ownership.
Uganda’s health ministry has raised concerns over what it described as unfair travel restrictions imposed during the current Ebola outbreak, warning that such measures risk undermining transparent reporting. .
Georgia is overhauling its migration laws in one of the most significant legal reforms in years, introducing criminal penalties for fake marriages, tighter controls on foreign students and expanded investigative powers for the migration authorities.
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