Obamas invited to take up Freedom of Dublin duties
Former US president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle have been invited to accept their Freedom of the City of Dublin when they visit the capital in September. Lord Mayor of Dublin
Flatley to make bid for Irish presidency, court told
Riverdance star Michael Flatley is to seek a nomination to become Ireland’s next president, a court has heard. The choreographer’s barrister made the announcement during a High Court case he has taken
’50-50 chance’ of reaching trade deal with EU – Trump
US President Donald Trump said there was a “50-50 chance” that the United States would reach a trade agreement with the European Union. He was speaking before he left the White House
Lavrov seeks Hungarian support to challenge Ukraine over minority rights
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has called on Hungary to jointly oppose what he described as “racist and discriminatory” policies against ethnic minorities in Ukraine, in a move widely seen as part
Russia becomes first to recognize Taliban regime as migration crisis deepens on Afghan-Iranian border
Moscow backs Islamic Emirate as Afghan exodus grows, raising strategic risks for Europe Russia has officially recognized the Taliban-led Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), becoming the first country to formally legitimize the regime, just
Orban steps up soft power push in Transylvania, draws scrutiny over revisionist rhetoric
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban signaled a renewed push to expand Budapest’s influence in Romania’s Transylvania region, pledging deeper support for ethnic Hungarians abroad and reviving rhetoric about Hungary’s historical grievances. In
Russia seeks strategic leverage at BRICS 2025 as bloc challenges Western global order
RIO DE JANEIRO, July 7, 2025 — The BRICS summit in Brazil has spotlighted growing geopolitical fault lines as Russia pushes to turn the forum into a launchpad for its confrontation with the
High Court hears challenge over ‘super junior’ ministers
A three judge division of the High Court is hearing a challenge by Sinn Féin TD, Pa Daly, to the attendance of so called super junior ministers at Cabinet meetings. Mr Daly
BRICS nations voice ‘serious concerns’ over Trump tariffs
BRICS leaders meeting in Rio de Janeiro are expected to decry US President Donald Trump’s “indiscriminate” trade tariffs, saying they are illegal and risk hurting the global economy. Emerging nations, which represent
Armenia delivers protest note to Russian ambassador over hostile media coverage
On July 4, 2025, the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally handed a protest note to Sergey Kopyrkin, Russia’s ambassador in Yerevan, condemning what it described as “unfriendly and hostile propaganda” by
Six European states withdraw from Ottawa landmine treaty, citing defence needs amid rising threats
Six European countries, including Finland, Poland, the Baltic states and Ukraine, have formally decided to withdraw from the 1997 Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines, citing escalating security threats on NATO’s eastern flank.
Putin tells Trump Russia won’t retreat in Ukraine as US pauses arms shipments
In a high-stakes phone call on 3 July, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Donald Trump that Moscow would not back down from its strategic objectives in Ukraine, despite a temporary pause in
Moldova pushes to open EU talks before elections as Kyiv risks falling behind
Chisinau urges swift progress ahead of pivotal vote Moldova has called on the European Union to officially launch membership negotiations before its parliamentary elections on 28 September, warning that delays could fuel
