Donald Trump’s spats with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un about the size of their nuclear buttons are reckless, while his desire to expand his nuclear arsenal is a departure from his predecessors and a contravention of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, says Jason Douglas

Bryce Dessner tells Ed Power why his band are so happy to be involved in the Sounds From A Safe Harbour festival in Cork

David Lyttle’s US journey was more of a jazz-playing road-trip than a conventional music tour. Along the way he played at Art Blakey’s house and used an assault rifle as a percussion instrument, writes Alan O’Riordan

I am mostly aware of John McEnroe as a meme, says Eimear Ryan. I don’t remember watching him play in his heyday; by the time I was conscious of Wimbledon it was Graf, Agassi, Sampras and Navratilova who ruled the courts. 

John McEnroe's belief that Serena Williams would be ranked as low as 700 in the world if she played on the men's tour has drawn short shrift from the 23-time women's singles grand slam champion.

Donald Trump has tweeted to say he will not be attending the annual White House Correspondent's Dinner this spring.

Charlotte's police chief has said he plans to show video of an officer shooting a black man to the slain man's family, but the video will not be immediately released to the public.

US president Barack Obama formally endorsed fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton for president yesterday, describing himself as eager to get out and campaign for her, days after she gained the delegates needed to secure the party’s White House nomination.

John Francis Daley and Jonathan M Goldstein will write the new Spider-Man film, and they're promising some laughs

James Horner sadly passed away last month but he managed to leave behind a gift - a full score for a movie which hasn't shot yet!

ELLA McSWEENEY refuses to let a high-profile career dictate her size. 

Irish politicians are the most incompetent in the world, according to journalists from America’s National Public Radio (NPR).

Three ministers separately cancelled interviews today at the last minute.

Two journalists from America’s National Public Radio were left less than impressed after three government ministers cancelled three separate interviews.

Hillary Clinton defended her initial opposition to gay marriage, denying in a radio interview that political reasons were behind her shift last year to supporting same-sex marriage.

Hillary Clinton has defended her initial opposition to gay marriage, denying in a radio interview that political reasons were behind her shift last year to supporting same-sex unions.

Landon Donovan needed a bit of head space at the end of 2012 and came back refreshed in March of the following year.

An Irishwoman - one of opera's rising stars - has found herself at the centre a debate on body image in the arts world after opera reviewers dismissed her latest performance based on her weight.

THE decision of Pope Francis to suspend Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst has brought worldwide attention to his lavish spending. But it’s also drawn attention to the special relationship that the Catholic Church has with the German state.

NOW in its 11th year, the Masters of Tradition Festival in Bantry, Co Cork (August 14-18) has turned out to be exactly the kind of festival that its artistic director, Martin Hayes, envisaged.

Brian Womack reports on the fallout from AP’s feed being hacked, sending markets briefly tumbling.

So you don’t trust the banks with your money. What are you supposed to do – put it under your mattress? Well, sort of …

Greek and French votes have chosen a change in their leaders but the markets still seem in total control, writes Paddy Woodworth

A US news analyst has been fired by National Public Radio after saying that he gets nervous when he sees people in Islamic clothes on a plane.

AL-QAIDA chief Osama bin Laden is involved in an unfolding plot to launch attacks on European cities and may have also targeted the United States, a radio report said.

ONE of Osama bin Laden’s sons was probably killed by a US missile strike in Pakistan earlier this year, US National Public Radio reported, citing US intelligence sources.

AN Iranian-American journalist detained in Tehran has been charged with espionage, her lawyer said yesterday.

Fresh airstrikes in a volatile southern Afghan region killed up to 10 Taliban fighters close to where villagers say about 40 civilians died during a battle earlier this week, and the US-led coalition said local Afghans feared more militant attacks.

US Vice President Dick Cheney said that the Bush administration has not given up on the so far fruitless search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The “jury is still out”, he said.

PRELIMINARY tests on substances found at a military training camp in central Iraq suggest they may contain a cocktail of banned chemical weapons, including deadly nerve agents, US officers said last night.

This weekend's Guinness Jazz Festival in Cork is set to provide a major boost for Irish tourism.