Your top stories on Thursday: Ex-Irish special forces resume training in Libya despite warnings; visa-free travel from South Africa could be halted

Former Irish special forces soldiers resume training for rogue Libyan general despite warnings

Former soldiers of the elite Army Ranger Wing have resumed military training operations in Libya in apparent breach of international sanctions, despite warnings from the Irish Government.

Irish Training Solutions (ITS), which was founded by former members of Ireland’s elite special forces unit, now has 16 instructors training the troops of Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar under a contract worth more than €10 million. The deal is due to run into 2025.

Earlier this month, The Irish Times published an investigation detailing a contract between ITS and the Russian-backed general Haftar to train a special forces unit for his Libyan National Army in an apparent contravention of EU and UN arms embargoes on the country.

News

• End of visa-free travel from South Africa to be discussed by Ministers: The expected move comes less than three years after the need for visas for travel from South Africa was abolished and results from officials’ warnings that people from Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo are travelling on South African passports.
• Brazilian Deliveroo rider who intervened in Parnell Square attack says he ‘could be a voice’ for immigrants: The Brazilian former Deliveroo rider who intervened in the knife attack outside a school on Parnell Square helping to rescue a five-year-old child said he “could be a voice” representing the immigrant community as he will be standing as a Fianna Fáil candidate in the local elections.
• Aoife Johnston’s death could have been prevented by timely antibiotics, consultant says: The administration of antibiotics in a timely and appropriate manner would likely have prevented the death of 16-year-old Aoife Johnston, an inquest has heard.
• Family of George Nkencho to appeal decision not to prosecute gardaí involved in fatal shooting: The family of George Nkencho intends to appeal a decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions not to prosecute gardaí involved in the fatal shooting of the 27-year-old outside his Dublin home in 2020.
• Miriam Lord: Simon Harris hares around the Dáil like the Duracell bunny - but then the battery goes flat: There is a certain woolliness around the balaclava these days, and the Taoiseach isn’t wearing it.
• Check out today’s Most Read stories
• Join The Irish Times WhatsApp channel for breaking news straight to your phone.

World

• Donald Trump’s claim to immunity from prosecution to be heard by US supreme court today: Donald Trump will on Thursday urge the US supreme court to adopt an expansive view of presidential immunity that would confer near-absolute protection for actions taken while in the White House.

The Big Read

• A home of your own: What is in the housing plan for under-40s?: Many young people feel getting on the property ladder is a distant dream. But on Wednesday morning, Government Ministers insisted that schemes are in place to help younger buyers.

Opinion

• Finn McRedmond: Snobbery about snobs is misplaced. Just ask foodie Eoin Ó Broin
• Adi Roche: Thirty-eight years after Chernobyl, we are again on a nuclear knife-edge

Business

• Canadian firm buys Irish aviation company in €57m deal: Irish company Aerospace Software Developments (ASD) has been bought by Canadian firm Descartes Systems Group in a deal worth €57 million.

Sports

• The least famous best player the NBA has ever had: ‘I really wish nobody knows me’: Nikola Jokic is a preternatural basketball talent smashing records set by LeBron James - all while trying hard to not be a celebrity, writes Dave Hannigan.

Picture of the Day

Life & Style

• Sister 7 review: This is Dublin’s coolest new place – delicious, creative food in a great room: This is an absolute first for me, walking into a restaurant and being so seduced by the atmosphere that for a minute, the thought of food goes right out of my mind, writes Corinna Hardgrave.

Podcast Highlights

• In the News: Are the lessons of the Rwandan genocide being ignored 30 years on?

Are the lessons of the Rwandan genocide being ignored 30 years on?

Listen | 24:15

Why not try one of our Crosswords & Puzzles?

• Simplex Crossword
• Crosaire Crossword
• Sudoku Puzzle

Like this?

Get the best content direct to your inbox by signing up to one of our newsletters