Justice Minister Confirms Continued Support for Ireland’s EU Opt-In Rights Under Protocol 21

Dublin, 27 May 2025 – Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan has announced the Government’s formal approval of the findings from a comprehensive review of Protocol 21, a unique legal mechanism that allows Ireland to opt into European Union measures in the area of freedom, security, and justice (FSJ) on a case-by-case basis. The Review of […]

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UK and EU sign new trade, fishing and defence deal – what do economists think?

The UK and EU have announced a range of historic and wide-ranging new agreements touching on trade, defence and borders. Since the 2016 Brexit vote, COVID and conflict have changed the global economic landscape dramatically – with consumers feeling the effects every day. So the time could be ripe for a “reset” of relations between […]

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Gazans’ suffering goes on amid intensifying Israeli strikes

In occupied East Jerusalem, meanwhile, Israeli protesters illegally entered a compound of the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA. The development comes after the Israeli military coordination unit COGAT said on Saturday that 388 trucks had entered Gaza since last Monday – the first aid to arrive in well over two months of blockade that […]

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RedBird Capital Acquires The Telegraph Newspapers in £500 Million Deal, Signaling New Era for UK Media

RedBird Capital Partners, a U.S.-based private equity firm, has finalized a £500 million ($676 million) acquisition of the Telegraph Media Group, which publishes the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph. This move concludes over two years of ownership uncertainty and positions the Telegraph for significant digital expansion and international growth.(AP News) A Transformative Acquisition Under the […]

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House Narrowly Passes Trump’s Sweeping ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’: Here’s What’s Inside

Early Thursday, House Republicans narrowly passed a sweeping legislative package — the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — that advances several of former President Donald Trump’s top policy priorities. The bill passed 215–214 after months of internal GOP negotiations and last-minute changes to win over both centrists and fiscal conservatives. At over 1,000 pages, the […]

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Slaying Outside Jewish Museum Was Targeted Terrorism, FBI Says

Washington, D.C., May 25, 2025 The fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy employees near the Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., late Wednesday evening has been officially designated an act of terrorism by the FBI. Authorities say the suspect, who is currently in custody, had a documented history of pro-Palestinian activism and appears to have carefully […]

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Ireland: Statement by Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Proposed US Tariffs

President Trump’s announcement today proposing a 50% tariff on EU imports from June 1st is deeply disappointing. I had welcomed the decision to pause the imposition of new tariffs until early July, providing a window for continued dialogue between the European Union and the United States in the hope of reaching a negotiated settlement. I […]

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Innovating for an Inclusive Financial Ecosystem: Empowering SMEs and Financially Excluded Demographics

Financial inclusion is a critical aspect of economic development, enabling individuals and businesses to access essential financial services and participate in the economy. However, many Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and financially excluded demographics face significant barriers to accessing financial services. In this article, we’ll explore the challenges, opportunities, and innovations driving financial inclusion for […]

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Thousands flee homes in Mozambique as conflict and disasters fuel worsening crisis

The latest displacement brings the total number of people uprooted by violence, cyclones and social unrest in Mozambique to nearly 1.3 million, according to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR. The situation is particularly dire in Cabo Delgado province, where attacks by non-state armed groups continue to drive displacement, destroy infrastructure and disrupt recovery efforts. “Thousands […]

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Simon Harris Urges U.S. to Avoid Tariffs on Pharmaceuticals and Microchips

Tánaiste warns U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick that new trade barriers would harm shared economic interests Tánaiste Simon Harris has written to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, cautioning against the imposition of tariffs on pharmaceuticals and semiconductors imported into the United States—two sectors that are critical to Ireland’s economy and central to its bilateral […]

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