Belgium technical fault hits Irish flights
Flights to-and-from Ireland have been affected after air traffic controllers in Belgium were hit by a technical fault earlier.
More than 200 flights in-and-out of Belgium were cancelled or diverted today after a power surge disabled the operations of Belgo control, the domestic air traffic controller.
A Ryanair and Aer Lingus flight from Brussels to Dublin were cancelled this evening.
A number of other flights to and from several destinations are experiencing minor delays tonight.
Blair to step down as Middle East envoy
Tony Blair is to step down as Middle East envoy for the Quartet of powers after eight years in the role.
The former prime minister will quit the role - which he took up immediately after leaving Downing Street in 2007 - next month.
Sources said that, although Mr Blair will no longer represent the group of the UN, the US, the EU and Russia, he plans to remain "active on the issues".
Spanish air traffic controllers to strike
Spanish air traffic controllers are to strike over four days in June in a dispute over penalties given by airport operator AENA to controllers for a 2010 strike.
They will strike on 8, 10, 12 and 14 June for two hours each morning and two hours each afternoon in industrial action across the country, she said.
Eurosceptic named as Finland's foreign minister
Finland's incoming government has named Timo Soini, the leader of the eurosceptic and anti-immigrant The Finns party, as its new foreign and Europe minister.
Alexander Stubb, prime minister in the previous coalition, will be the new finance minister.
Mr Soini, whose anti-bailout policy line spooked financial markets in the midst of the eurozone crisis, earlier this month said it would make sense for Greece to leave the euro bloc.
The coalition government, including prime minister Juha Sipila's Centre Party, The Finns Party and Mr Stubb's centre-right National Coalition Party, struck a deal after weeks of negotiations and is expected to be nominated on Friday.
US court rejects Obama appeal on immigration
A court in the United States has backed a temporary hold on President Barack Obama's plans to shield almost five million illegal immigrants from deportation.
The hold was imposed after 26 states launched a legal challenge against the executive action, alleging it was unconstitutional.
An appeals court has now denied a government request to overturn it.
The White House said the action was essential to fix a 'broken immigration system'.
Book of Condolence opens for Bill O'Herlihy
A Book of Condolence for Bill O'Herlihy opened today at Cork City Hall.
The former RTÉ broadcaster and PR executive died unexpectedly at his Dublin home early on Monday, aged 76.
Mourners will bid a final farewell to the broadcasting legend at his funeral mass and burial service in Dublin on Friday.
