标签： Europe

Sister Stanislaus Kennedy, a revered campaigner and advocate for the marginalized, has passed away at the age of 86. Known affectionately as Sr Stan, she died on Monday morning at St Francis Hospice in Blanchardstown, Dublin. Born Treasa Kennedy on 19 June 1939 near Lispole on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, she left home at 18 to join the Sisters of Charity, adopting the name Sr Stanislaus Kennedy. In 1985, she founded Focus Point, now known as Focus Ireland, after conducting research into the needs of homeless women in Dublin during the 1980s. Throughout her life, Sr Stan established numerous voluntary organizations and was appointed the first chair of the Combat Poverty Agency. In 2001, she expanded her advocacy to include immigrants, founding the Immigrant Council of Ireland to assist those from migrant backgrounds. The Religious Sisters of Charity praised her tireless efforts to support the homeless, immigrants, and disadvantaged communities across Ireland and beyond. Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan remarked, ‘Her vision will continue to guide us, we will not see her like again, that is for sure.’ Taoiseach Micheál Martin described her as a ‘true Christian’ who dedicated her life to helping those ‘on the margins.’

TBILISI, Georgia — Bella May Culley, a 19-year-old British teenager who was arrested in Georgia earlier this year on drug smuggling charges, was released from prison on Monday following a plea deal. Culley, who is pregnant, was detained in May at Tbilisi Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle 12 kilograms of marijuana and 2 kilograms of hashish into the country. On Monday, a Georgian court found her guilty and sentenced her to five months and 25 days in prison, equivalent to the time she had already served in custody. As part of the plea agreement, her family paid a fine of 500,000 lari (approximately $184,000).

Culley and her mother, Lyanne Kennedy, were visibly emotional during the court proceedings, embracing each other after the verdict was announced. Georgian prosecutors had initially considered a two-year prison sentence but opted to account for the time Culley had already served. Case prosecutor Vakhtang Tsalughelashvili stated that the decision was influenced by Culley’s confession, her age, and her pregnancy.

Culley’s lawyer, Malkhaz Salakhaia, confirmed that she would be allowed to leave the country and regain her passport. Salakhaia praised the court’s decision, emphasizing that Culley had been sincere throughout the investigation. The teenager had initially faced a potential sentence of up to 15 years or life imprisonment under Georgian law. However, the country’s legal system permits financial plea agreements in certain cases, particularly those involving drug-related offenses.

Prior to her arrest in Georgia on May 10, Culley had been reported missing in Thailand. She claimed she was tortured in Thailand and coerced into carrying the drugs. Salakhaia noted that Culley displayed visible signs of physical abuse upon her arrival in Georgia. The case has drawn significant attention due to its international implications and the unusual circumstances surrounding Culley’s involvement.

In a shocking incident that has rattled the United Kingdom, a 32-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder following a mass stabbing attack on a train that left 11 people injured. Anthony Williams, a British citizen from Peterborough, faces 10 counts of attempted murder, one count of actual bodily harm, and one count of possession of a bladed article in connection with the attack that occurred on Saturday evening. Additionally, Williams is charged with attempted murder in a separate incident at Pontoon Dock light rail station in London earlier the same day. Authorities are investigating potential links to other offenses. The British Transport Police have confirmed that the stabbings are not being treated as an act of terrorism, and no other suspects are being sought. A second man, initially arrested, was released without charge after it was determined he was not involved. The attack, which lasted several minutes, caused widespread panic among passengers on a train traveling from Doncaster to London. The most seriously injured victim, a railway staff member who attempted to intervene, is in critical but stable condition and has been hailed as a hero by police. Williams was arrested when the train made an emergency stop in Huntingdon, with authorities detaining him within eight minutes of receiving the first emergency calls. While the attack is considered an isolated incident, security on the railway has been heightened, with armed police officers patrolling major train stations on Monday.

The Netherlands has announced its decision to repatriate a 3,500-year-old stone head of an Egyptian official, which was illegally exported from Egypt during the Arab Spring. The artifact, dating back to the era of Pharaoh Thutmose III, resurfaced at the European Fine Art Foundation fair in Maastricht in 2022. Following an anonymous tip, Dutch authorities confirmed its illicit origins, prompting the dealer to voluntarily surrender the sculpture. Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof pledged to return the artifact during his visit to the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza. The Dutch government emphasized the sculpture’s profound cultural significance to Egypt’s heritage and plans to transfer it to the Egyptian ambassador by the end of 2023. This move aligns with the Netherlands’ commitment to repatriating cultural heritage to its rightful owners. The Grand Egyptian Museum, a $1.2 billion project housing 100,000 artifacts, including Tutankhamun’s tomb and gold mask, is expected to bolster Egypt’s efforts to reclaim other key antiquities, such as the Rosetta Stone, currently held by the British Museum.

A tragic incident unfolded in Tyrrelstown, Dublin, on Saturday night, resulting in the death of a man in his 20s. The events began when Irish police, known as An Garda Síochána, responded to reports of a disturbance involving multiple individuals at Curragh Hall Crescent around 22:30 local time. By the time officers arrived, the group had already dispersed. Shortly thereafter, a young man with severe injuries was brought to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown. Despite medical efforts, he was pronounced dead. Authorities have since arrested another man in his 20s, who is currently in police custody. Gardaí are urging anyone with information to come forward and have promised to provide further updates as the investigation progresses.

A devastating avalanche struck Cima Vertana in the Ortler Alps, Italy, on Saturday afternoon, resulting in the deaths of five German climbers, including a 17-year-old girl and her father. The incident occurred around 16:00 local time when the climbers, divided into separate groups, were ascending the 3,545-meter peak. According to Italy’s Alpine rescue service, Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico, a group of three individuals was completely engulfed by the avalanche and perished. The father and daughter were also swept away, and their bodies were recovered on Sunday. Two other climbers from a separate group survived and raised the alarm, initiating the rescue operation. Olaf Reinstadler, a spokesperson for the Sulden Mountain Rescue Service, suggested that recent snow drifts that failed to bond with the underlying ice might have triggered the avalanche. He noted that while climbing tours are popular and the weather conditions were favorable, the climbers’ late afternoon ascent raised concerns, as the descent would have extended into nightfall. Rescue efforts were initially hampered by fog and low visibility, preventing helicopters from taking off at dawn. However, once conditions improved, rescuers and avalanche dog units were airlifted to 2,600 meters before proceeding on foot. By late morning, the bodies of the missing father and daughter were located. The incident underscores the inherent risks of mountaineering, even under seemingly favorable conditions.