World

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris has announced the successful evacuation of 15 Irish citizens from Israel, amid ongoing tensions in the region. Mr. Harris stated in a recent press release that these individuals were evacuated through operations coordinated by Austria, and they are expected to return to Ireland shortly. The situation intensified as the United States joined Israel in military actions against Iran, targeting three critical nuclear facilities overnight. Israel launched these attacks…

On Thursday, President Donald Trump of the United States indicated he would decide on military action against Iran within two weeks. Remarkably, that decision came down in just two days. The U.S. has now directly engaged with Iran, and this raises a critical question for President Trump: how will this conflict reach a conclusion? Will Iran accept this blow and pursue peace by halting its nuclear weapons development and uranium enrichment? Or will it respond aggressively, targeting U.S. interests throughout the Middle East…

In a recent statement, Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, expressed her commitment to addressing the EU’s findings which indicate that Israel is not in compliance with the human rights obligations outlined in the EU-Israel Association Agreement. After what she characterized as a robust dialogue among the 27 EU foreign ministers, Ms. Kallas emphasized that the review of Israel’s adherence to Article 2 is not merely an end point but a starting place for meaningful discussions. The aim is to foster…

A tragic shooting and bombing occurred at a church in Damascus during a crowded service, resulting in the loss of at least 25 lives, according to local authorities. This incident marks a significant escalation in violence within the Syrian capital, being the first of its kind since Islamist-led forces ousted the long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad in December. Notably, it is also the first attack specifically targeting a church in Syria since the onset of the civil war in 2011, according to monitoring agencies. As the…

Power Outages in Iran and Israel Amid Intensifying Strikes Welcome to our live coverage of the evolving situation in the Middle East. As the world watches closely, tensions are rising following the recent US strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. This development has already led to significant power outages in both Iran and Israel, prompting widespread concern and speculation about the future. As noted by one analyst, "In times of crisis, the ripple effects can be felt far beyond the immediate area." With nations on high…

In a firm stance, Iran has communicated its unwillingness to engage in discussions regarding its nuclear program while facing military aggression from Israel. This comes amid efforts from European nations to encourage Tehran to return to negotiations, and as the United States contemplates its involvement in the escalating conflict. Israel, now a week into its military campaign, has reported targeting multiple military sites during an overnight operation. According to statements from the Israel Defense Forces, these strikes…

The Israeli military has announced the recovery of the bodies of three hostages in Gaza, more than 20 months after their abduction by Hamas militants. "In a special operation, the bodies of the hostages Ofra Keidar, Yonatan Samerano, and Staff Sergeant Shay Levinson were recovered from the Gaza Strip yesterday," stated the military in an official release. Earlier on Sunday, Mr. Samerano's father expressed relief, sharing that his son’s body—taken into Gaza after he was tragically murdered in a kibbutz on October 7,…

Approximately 10,000 Russian soldiers are engaged in combat within Russia's Kursk region. Ukraine's top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, confirmed that Ukraine currently holds around 90 square kilometers of territory in the Hlushkov district, stating, "These are our preemptive actions in response to a possible enemy attack." According to the Ukrainian military, this strategic presence in the Kursk region is crucial for inhibiting Russia from deploying significant forces to the eastern Donetsk region, an area…

A recent review conducted by the European Union on Israel's military engagement in Gaza has found the country to be "in breach" of its human rights obligations as stipulated in the EU-Israel Association Agreement. This is according to excerpts from the report obtained by RTÉ News. The review was commissioned by Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, who emphasized the importance of adhering to ethical standards in international relations. As Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement highlights, both parties are…

In a significant development for Belarusian politics, opposition leader Sergei Tikhanovsky has been released from prison following a presidential pardon, as confirmed by the Belarusian human rights organization, Viasna. His wife, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who has been a formidable advocate for opposition since her husband's imprisonment, shared a heartwarming video capturing their reunion. In her post, she expressed her elation with the simple yet powerful caption: "FREE." Mr. Tikhanovsky, now 46, had spent over five years…