IRELAND

Ireland urges citizens to avoid nonessential travel to Cuba as fuel shortages, rolling blackouts and shrinking access to food and medical care deepen one of the island’s worst humanitarian crises in decades. In updated guidance issued in recent days, Ireland joined the United Kingdom and Canada in advising against travel to the Caribbean nation “unless absolutely necessary.” The Department of Foreign Affairs said Cuba is now under its second-highest advisory level, warning that travel is likely to present “a clear and…

Ireland to vote against EU-Mercosur trade deal as France also vows no amid farmer backlash Ireland will vote against the proposed EU-Mercosur trade agreement at a meeting of European Union ambassadors tomorrow, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris said, aligning Dublin with France’s declared opposition as farmer protests intensify. Martin said progress had been made on safeguards around imported beef from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, but the Government lacked sufficient confidence that Irish and EU…

Ireland’s prime minister, or Taoiseach, Micheál Martin said his government never accepted “the legitimacy of the Maduro regime” in Venezuela but has sought a peaceful, democratic transition — remarks that came as deposed Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro was set to appear in a U.S. court following his weekend capture by U.S. forces. Maduro was detained during a military raid Saturday in Caracas that has plunged the country into uncertainty. U.S. officials have not publicly detailed the legal proceedings ahead, but…

Venezuelans in Ireland welcome Maduro’s removal but question U.S. role and path ahead as Dublin protest targets raid DUBLIN — Venezuelans living in Ireland have greeted the removal of Nicolas Maduro with relief and unease, celebrating the end of a regime they say crushed civic life while warning that a U.S.-led transition risks paternalism and confusion. Maduro, described by U.S. officials as Venezuela’s toppled leader, is in a New York detention center awaiting drug charges after President Donald Trump ordered an audacious…

In a quiet housing estate in Navan, Co Meath, a Palestinian orthopedic surgeon scrolls through family photos that have become a catalogue of loss. Dr. Mahmoud Abumarzouq’s younger brother, four nieces and nephews, and countless friends are gone — killed in Gaza since the war erupted after the Oct. 7 attacks — and he is pleading for the world to deliver more aid to those who remain. “This genocide, or you call war or ethnic cleansing — bombardment, all day and night,” he said, searching for the words to contain his grief. “My…

Ireland is weighing whether to bar children and young people from social media — a so-called "digital age of majority" — as governments worldwide watch Australia’s landmark under-16 ban for lessons on enforcement, rights and technical feasibility. Officials in Dublin told reporters the country prefers a coordinated European Union approach, noting the issue should be considered “by the EU and EU member states together” and that any move must respect the rights of children and young people. The European Commission has…

Summit on African soil, diplomacy in disarray The G20 meeting in Johannesburg marks the first time the leaders’ summit is held in Africa, a symbolic milestone intended to center the continent’s priorities on the global stage. Instead, the event has been overshadowed by a high-profile boycott from the United States, raising questions about the summit’s ability to produce consensus and meaningful outcomes. The US decision to skip the leaders’ session — announced by President Donald Trump after public accusations against…

According to a fresh analysis unveiled during the COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, the international standing of Ireland in terms of climate performance has seen a marked improvement over the last year. This comprehensive study evaluated 63 nations, representing a staggering 90% of global greenhouse gas emissions. With a hefty leap of 14 spots, Ireland now sits in 29th place, marking its highest ranking to date. This achievement indicates that, for the first time, the Republic has now reached the status of a…

Soccer Showdown - Nations League - Group Stage – England vs. Republic of Ireland - Wembley Stadium, London, UK – November 17, 2024: England’s Harry Kane aims for the net REUTERS/Dylan Martinez Purchase Licensing Rights In an enthralling display at Wembley, England blazed their way back to the Nations League top tier, thrashing a 10-member Irish squad 5-0. This served as a fitting finale for the interim manager, Lee Carsley, as he bids his squad adieu on a high note. The match began sluggishly, but once the second half…

Perched on St Andrew’s Street in Dublin, The Cedar Tree restaurant might be nearly 4,000 kilometers away from Lebanon, yet for its dedicated staff and the broader Lebanese community living in Ireland, thoughts of their homeland linger daily. In recent weeks, the coastal nation of Lebanon has faced a barrage of airstrikes from Israel, resulting in tragic losses exceeding 1,000 lives and displacing around 600,000 individuals, as reported by the UN. The staggering toll weighs heavily on all who have ties to the region.…