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US national Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun (accused of a failed coup attempt, attends a trial hearing at Ndolo prison in Kinshasa on 13 September 2024. Photo: HARDY BOPE / AFP Three US citizens are among 37 defendants sentenced to death by a military court for their role in a May failed coup in Democratic Republic of Congo. Armed men briefly occupied an office of the presidency in capital Kinshasa on 19 May before their leader, US-based Congolese politician Christian Malanga, was killed by security forces. His son, Marcel Malanga, was among the Americans on trial, along with Marcel's friend, Tyler Thompson, who played high school football with him in Utah. Both are in their 20s. The third American, Benjamin Zalman-Polun, was a business associate of Christian Malanga. All three were found ...

Chris White of Dire Straits Experience, left. Photo: Supplied When Chris White was part of Dire Straits in the mid-1980s they were the biggest band on the planet. Things took off during the Brothers in Arms tour in 1985, the Dire Straits' sax player and percussionist told RNZ's Music 101. "It started out like other tours, really. We were playing venues of a certain size they were good size. "And what happened was, as we as we got going, the album [Brothers in Arms] really took off. Suddenly we were playing much bigger venues. And instead of sitting in economy on the plane, we started sitting in business." This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions. The tour was aptly named, White said. "It was a really happy band, which is not that usual. Often, there are some di...

Laura Loomer shows her support for former President Donald Trump outside a campaign event for Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at The Vault on 5 October 2023 in Tampa, Florida. Photo: JOE RAEDLE / AFP By Alexandra Ulmer for Reuters Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump today sought to distance himself from far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer, whose presence on the campaign trail drew rebukes from both Trump's allies and the White House, but he did not disavow her. In a statement released on Friday, Trump said he did not agree with Loomer's past statements, but he still welcomed her support. Trump made clear that she does not work for his campaign, even though Loomer traveled on his plane for much of the week. Loomer, who commands a following on...

By Joshua McElwee for Reuters The pontiff has expressed doubt that either Israel or Hamas are seeking to end the conflict. Photo: AFP/Tiziana Fabi Pope Francis has decried the deaths of Palestinian children in Israeli military strikes in Gaza, calling bombings of schools, on the "presumption" of striking Hamas militants, "ugly". On the flight back to Rome from Singapore on Friday, the pontiff expressed doubt that either Israel or Hamas, now at war for 11 months, were seeking to end the conflict. "I am sorry to have to say this," the pope said. "But I do not think that they are taking steps to make peace." Francis was speaking in a press conference with journalists after a demanding 12-day tour across South-east Asia and Oceania. He said he speaks on the phone with members of a Cathol...

Justin Timberlake was arrested in June when police spotted him failing to obey a stop sign and veering off lane. Photo: Sag Harbor Police Department Pop star Justin Timberlake has pleaded guilty in a New York State court to a lesser traffic charge than drunk driving after he was arrested over the summer when police spotted him failing to obey a stop sign and veering off lane. Timberlake, 43, agreed to plead guilty to driving while ability impaired, a lesser traffic violation than driving while impaired, multiple media reports say. He was fined $500 and ordered to perform community service, Variety reported. Timberlake's attorney Edward Burke said he was pleased with the reduced charge, and disputed any reports that Timberlake was drunk when he was arrested, CBS News reported. Timberlake...