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. 

Rory McIlroy has never even seen Fota Island, let alone played it. But if the hard work of organisers is anything to go by, he and his fellow players will be wowed not only by the three championship golf courses set in beautiful parkland, but also by the structures in place to make this week’s Irish Open one of the best ever.

Europe correspondent, Ann Cahill, delivers her weekly briefing on Euro affairs from the European Parliament.

Europe correspondent, Ann Cahill, delivers her weekly briefing on Euro affairs from the European Parliament.

Europe correspondent, Ann Cahill, delivers here weekly briefing on Euro affairs from the European Parliament.

Reports today suggest that a number of Government departments have racked up €4.35m in expenses over the past 19 months.

Viva La Revolution!

More than a billion people worldwide viewed the miraculous rescue of the 33 trapped miners in Chile and US President Barak Obama seized the opportunity to remind the world of the enormous part US technology played in the rescue operation, citing of NASA and various American companies.

David Cameron flew into Afghanistan today for his first visit to the country since taking office.

US banking giant JPMorgan Chase kicked off a bumper results season for Wall Street titans after more than doubling profits in 2009. The figures revealed pay, bonuses and benefits across the bank as a whole rose 18% to $26.9 billion (€18.7bn).

US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke has been unveiled as Time magazine’s person of the year for 2009.

THE continuing punishment of the Palestinian people by Israel will drive moderates into the arms of extremists, Foreign Minister Michéal Martin has warned.

MURPHY’s law seems to prevail in the EU as in many other spheres. Just when the union needs to concentrate very closely on getting its act together on the global economic crisis, a sideshow threatens to take over.

THE EU is to investigate taking prisoners from Guantanamo, the US detention centre in Cuba that President Barak Obama has promised to shut within a year.

HE’S become the poster boy of hope — on the cover of every conceivable publication from Newsweek to Hello.

THE ISEQ index closed up 49.28 points at 2,675.23 yesterday in line with markets throughout Europe.

THE celebrity factor and the phoney ratings war between the networks is forcing Gabriel Byrne to switch off from the American presidential race.

The race for the White House could take a new direction later today, if Hilary Clinton officially suspends her presidential campaign.

Presidential hopeful Barak Obama has made up huge ground over rival Hillary Clinton, but nearly one in six voters still think he is a Muslim, a new poll showed today.

IN THE small hours of yesterday morning a giddy crowd of 250 gathered around televisions at the Lime Cafe Bar in Dún Laoghaire.

Expectations are the great double-edged sword of politics.

The visit of Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness to the United States was a wonderful testament to leadership and courage, Senator Edward Kennedy claimed tonight.

Barbara Streisand will be going head to head with Oprah Winfrey as the campaign to find a new US Democratic presidential candidate heats up - the singer is backing the media mogul's rival.

A state of emergency could be declared in Pakistan because of “external and internal threats” and deteriorating law and order in the volatile north-west near the Afghan border, the government said today.

Rock star Bono met US presidential candidate Barak Obama on Tuesday to discuss foreign assistance to anti-poverty and global health causes.

Australia’s leader defended his verbal attack on US presidential candidate Barak Obama today, after American politicians condemned it as interfering and Australian critics said it could harm the two countries’ ties.