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US army soldiers seen during an exercise at the US military Hohenfels Training Area in Hohenfels, Germany

Top Republicans concerned at US troop drawdown in Germany

A planned drawdown of 5,000 US troops from Germany should spur Europe to strengthen its own defences, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has said, but two top US Republicans expressed concern, saying the troops should not leave Europe.

World • 40 mins

Image shows the burnt out remains of a vehicle on a road in daylight.

Man charged with attempted murder linked to bomb attack

A 66-year-old has appeared in court charged with attempted murder linked to a bomb attack on a Belfast police station.

Courts • 2 hrs

Motorists ride past an anti-US billboard referring to President Donald Trump and the Strait of Hormuz

Iran says 'ball in US court' - but ready for talks or war

A senior Iranian military officer has said that renewed fighting between the US and Iran was "likely", hours after US President Donald Trump said he was "not satisfied" with a new Iranian negotiating proposal.

Middle East • 13 mins

2 May 2026; Jack Conan of Leinster celebrates his side winning a scrum penalty during the Investec Champions Cup semi-final match between Leinster and RC Toulon at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Lucky Leinster hang on to book Champions Cup final spot

Leinster's quest for a fifth star will go to the final day after scraping past Toulon 29-25 in the Investec Champions Cup semi-final at Aviva Stadium.

Rugby • 21 mins

Badenoch apologises for Bloody Sunday clips in video

British Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has apologised for footage from Bloody Sunday being used in a social media clip to criticise a bill on legacy issues in Northern Ireland.

Ulster • 3 hrs

Central Bank fiasco embroils RTÉ's new finance chief

Regulations introduced by the Central Bank have now been found to be deeply flawed by the courts on two occasions, writes David Murphy

Business • 8 hrs

Gardaí detected more than 5,000 speeding offences over the St Patrick's Day period

Driver at 147km/h in 80km/h zone among 1,200 speeding

A motorist travelling at 147km/h in an 80km/h zone was among 1,200 drivers detected speeding during the first 48 hours of a garda road traffic operation this bank holiday weekend.

Ireland • 3 hrs

Smoke rises from the site of Israeli airstrikes on the southern Lebanese village of Habbouch on 1 May 2026.

Lebanon says 13 killed in Israeli strikes on south

Lebanon's health ministry has said 13 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in the south, including in a town where Israel's army had issued an evacuation order despite a ceasefire.

Middle East • 5 hrs

Helpers pour water on a stranded humpback whale covered with blankets to protect the animal's skin

Humpback whale stranded in Germany released into sea

A humpback whale that had been struggling to survive after beaching near the German coast has been released into the North Sea off Denmark, after being transported in a barge in a last-ditch rescue operation.

Europe • 2 hrs

A teenager holds a mobile phone displaying a message from social media platform Instagram

What social media bans are being considered by countries?

The European Commission this week issued a preliminary finding against Meta, accusing it of failing to prevent children under 13 from using Instagram and Facebook.

Analysis and Comment • 10 hrs

Alex Zanardi attends the Second Edition Of 'The Festival Of Sport' In Trento'Il Festival dello Sport' in Trento, Italy, on 12 October 2019. From 10 to 13 October 2019 the second edition of the Festival of Sport, which will have a national and internationa

Former Formula 1 driver Zanardi dies aged 59

Four-time Paralympic gold-medallist and former Formula One driver Alex Zanardi has died aged 59.

Motorsport • 4 hrs

What can we learn from previous bye-election campaigns?

Voters go to the polls in Dublin Central and Galway West on 22 May - but what do previous bye-election campaigns tell us of what could happen between now and then?

Analysis and Comment • 2 hrs

UK police arrest man after Peter Kay show 'bomb hoax'

British police have said "no items of a suspicious nature were found" after comedian Peter Kay was ushered off stage mid-performance and the audience at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham was evacuated last night.

UK • 5 hrs

The online auction is open to the public and closes at 1pm on Monday. Pic: Wilson's Auctions

Auction of gold bullion seized by gardaí raises €1.8m

A series of online auctions of gold bullion seized by gardaí has raised over €1.8 million on behalf of the State.

Dublin • 4 hrs

Hogan's run: Could Italy, Spain complicate Irish UN bid?

Phil Hogan's bid to become the next head of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is facing some strong headwinds, writes Europe Editor Tony Connelly.

Analysis and Comment • 4 hrs

Is US 'humiliated' over Iran, as German leader claims?

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had unusually strong words for his American ally this week, bluntly saying that the US clearly had no strategy for the Iran war, writes Global Security reporter Yvonne Murray.

Analysis and Comment • 7 hrs

A composite image of Tadhg Farrell and Mary Holt

Man charged with two offences following fatal house fire

A man in his 20s has appeared in court, charged in connection with a fatal house fire in Co Offaly last year.

Ireland • 01 May

Picture of Cathal O'Connor who appeared in court in Sligo

Businessman jailed for imprisoning, assaulting three boys

A 40-year-old Sligo businessman who falsely imprisoned three 13-year-old boys, assaulted them and threatened to kill them has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Courts • 4 hrs

An armed Iranian police officer stands guard on an armored vehicle in Tehran, Iran.

Trump 'not satisfied' with Iran's latest proposal

US President Donald Trump said he was not satisfied with the latest Iranian proposal for talks on ⁠the Iran war, while Iran's foreign minister said Tehran was ready for diplomacy if the United States changes its approach.

Middle East • 22 hrs

PrepayPower electricity prices to rise 8.8%, gas by 10.6%

PrepayPower is to increase its electricity prices by 8.8% and its gas prices by 10.6% for customers from the beginning of next month.

Business • 19 hrs

Margaret Connolly, member of Global Sumud Flotilla

President's sister on flotilla in her 'own right'

The sister of President Catherine Connolly, Dr Margaret Connolly, says that she is on the Global Sumud Flotilla in her own right as her "heart lies with the Palestinian people".

Middle East • 22 hrs

Globally renowned pop group Westlife were presented with an exclusive award in Dublin’s 3Arena today. Kian Egan, Shane Filan and Nicky Byrne had their hands cast in recognition of the band’s record-breaking number of 82 shows at the 3Arena. Westlife’s upc

Westlife honoured for record-breaking 3Arena run of shows

The 3Arena in Dublin have recognised the achievements of Westlife for their record-breaking run of 82 shows at the venue over 25 years.

Music • 19 hrs

Newly attested gardaí Ciara Kearns, Simon O’Driscoll & Katelynn Doran

Former Fair City actor among country's newest gardaí

A former Fair City actor, a law student who played rugby for Leinster, and a long-jump athlete with a background in behavioural science are among the country's newest gardaí.

Ireland • 20 hrs

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 02: In this handout photo provided by The Academy, Oscar statuettes are seen backstage during the 97th Annual Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 02, 2025 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Richard Harbaugh/The Academy via Gett

AI actors and writers not eligible for Oscars - Academy

Actors created with artificial intelligence will not be eligible for an Oscar, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said as it launched a crackdown on the use of AI.

The Oscars • 20 hrs

Trump threatens to raise US tariffs on EU cars to 25%

President Donald Trump said that he will hike US tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union next week, charging that the bloc is not complying with an earlier trade deal.

US tariffs • 20 hrs

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