The world mourns Pope Francis, who died yesterday at age 88, just hours after delivering his final Easter Sunday message from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. Newspapers across the globe have commemorated his papacy with headlines that highlight his connection to ordinary Catholics and his efforts to reform the Church. “We must use the … Read more
Major pharmaceutical companies have issued a stark warning to the European Commission that they may redirect up to €100 billion in planned European investments to the United States and other regions. According to a report in the Irish Times, a letter signed by several pharmaceutical heavyweights—including Ireland-based operations of Pfizer, Eli Lilly, and MSD (known … Read more
Clean power sources supplied more than 40% of the world’s electricity demand in 2024, marking the first time this threshold has been crossed since the 1940s, according to a new report from energy thinktank Ember. The milestone was primarily driven by remarkable growth in solar power capacity, which has doubled globally in just the past … Read more
World leaders, including Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin, have converged in Paris today for a critical summit aimed at establishing long-term security guarantees for Ukraine and exploring potential pathways to peace in the ongoing conflict with Russia. With representatives from 31 countries, including NATO allies, European Union member states, and non-EU nations like the United Kingdom, … Read more
All flights between Dublin, Shannon, Cork, Knock, and London Heathrow have been cancelled today, impacting thousands of Irish passengers. The disruption follows a fire at a nearby electrical substation, which has led to the closure of Heathrow Airport and affected more than 1,300 flights. A transformer fire at the North Hyde electrical substation in west … Read more
Global sea ice cover has plunged to its lowest level ever recorded, according to the EU’s climate change service Copernicus, as February 2025 marked the third-warmest February in recorded history. This alarming development continues a pattern of extreme climate events that have characterized the past two years. Arctic sea ice reached its lowest monthly extent … Read more
In a concerning development for global climate change, January 2025 has been confirmed as the warmest January ever recorded, according to the latest data from the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. The month’s average global air temperature reached 13.23°C, marking a significant 0.79°C increase above the 1991-2020 January average. This alarming milestone demonstrates the accelerating … Read more
Air India’s purported decision to discontinue its direct flight service on the London-Kochi route from March 31 is set to impact a large number of Malayalis in the United Kingdom. Many fear the move will lead to higher travel costs and inconvenience for those returning home. Currently, Air India operates three flights per week to … Read more
Romania and Bulgaria have officially become full members of the Schengen zone, expanding the borderless area to 29 countries. This milestone, achieved after a 13-year wait, was marked by ceremonies at various border posts at midnight, following the lifting of objections by Austria and other member states. The move ends years of delays for the … Read more
According to The Irish Examiner, a groundbreaking report reveals a stark warning about global liquefied natural gas (LNG) investments potentially derailing critical climate targets. Reclaim Finance has uncovered that $213 billion in planned LNG terminals could generate greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to all current coal power plants worldwide. These 156 planned terminal projects by 2030 … Read more
British and US law enforcement agencies, with critical assistance from Irish gardaí, have successfully disrupted two major Russian money-laundering networks — Smart and TGR — that were extensively used by the Kinahan cartel and other Irish organized crime groups. According to The Irish Examiner, the sprawling multi-billion-dollar criminal networks provided sophisticated money-laundering services that went … Read more
Taoiseach Simon Harris on Wednesday extended congratulations to Donald Trump as he secured victory in the U.S. presidential election. Harris acknowledged the enduring relationship between Ireland and the United States, expressing a commitment to strengthening these historic bonds. In a formal statement, Taoiseach Harris said, “I congratulate President-elect Donald Trump on his victory in the … Read more
A new Covid-19 variant is making waves across the world, with health officials on high alert. The XEC strain, first spotted in Germany, has now spread to 27 countries, including parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reports that this highly contagious variant is behind about one in 10 … Read more
The European Union has hit the pause button on its ambitious anti-deforestation laws, pushing back the implementation by a full year. This move, announced by the European Commission, has raised eyebrows and questions among environmental advocates. The laws, aimed at banning products linked to deforestation from the EU market, were set to take effect soon. … Read more
Last month saw record-breaking heat across the globe, marking July 2024 as the second hottest month ever recorded. The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported that July 22 set a new record for the world’s hottest day, with July 23 coming in a close second. Both days surpassed the previous record set on … Read more