With war being waged on two fronts — by pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine and Islamic extremists in Iraq and Syria where Irish troops are in the eye of the storm — today it all comes down to the wire for Nato allies and US president Barak Obama. 

The conditions faced by asylum seekers living in direct provision centres have been a cause for concern for a long time.

In the 1930s and 1940s bright, often educated and cultured young Europeans, many of whom loved Bach or Beethoven, were inspired by an evil but charismatic leader.

Bantry House has been owned by the same family since the mid-1700s but it has been a cherished part of this country’s heritage for many, many decades.

Every comment on Israel’s recent behaviour must recognise that the country was under attack by Hamas. Every comment must recognise that any country under attack is obliged to defend itself. Every comment must acknowledge Israel’s right to exist and its citizens’ right to live free from persecution or discrimination.

The welcome intervention from former US president Jimmy Carter, in which he encouraged legislators to take the advice offered last year by a Dáil committee on laws around prostitution, highlights again our tardiness in introducing legislation designed to protect the exploited and vulnerable. Even if we know it is good advice and it is supported by all political parties. $90.

It should come as no surprise that Jan O’Sullivan, the education minister, had to concede yesterday that plans to divest primary schools from the Catholic Church to other patrons are not progressing as quickly as had been hoped.

We are very quick to condemn the public gang rapes, sometimes followed by the victim’s murder, that seem routine in India.

Talks between Irish rail management and unions aimed at averting further strike action resume at midday today.

In the spring of 1860, America’s Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History tells us, a flock of passenger pigeons estimated at more than 3.7 billion — yes, billion — flew over Ontario.