The Taoiseach has spoken by phone with Theresa May this evening to discuss the current situation on Brexit.

Britain’s messy election outcome and a weakening of the housing market have caused a sharp of loss of confidence among UK consumers, leaving the country dependent on exports to avoid a recession, according to a survey.

Latest: The deal to move Holles Street Hospital to St Vincent's in Dublin has been published.

Huawei Technologies earnings have grown at their slowest pace in five years, as China’s biggest maker of telecommunications gear sank money into research and a marketing blitz to gain ground on Apple and Samsung in smartphones.

A court in Turkey has issued a formal warrant for the arrest of US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who the government accuses of being behind the failed coup that left more than 270 people dead.

The number of new homes registered for construction by British builders in 2015 rose to its highest since the financial crisis, despite a slowdown in the second half of the year, an industry group has said.

Barclays has fired its chief executive Antony Jenkins.

A leading consumer watchdog has slammed plans by insurance companies to impose more hikes to premiums this year, claiming the industry and regulators are effectively “softening up” the public to meekly accept increases at a time when most other costs are tumbling across the economy.

Most British companies would vote to stay in the European Union in a referendum because it was “ overwhelmingly” in the UK’s national interest, according to a business leader in the UK.

In a perfect world Ryanair and the Government would both sell their stake in Aer Lingus at the same time so that a majority purchaser could be found, according to Aer Lingus CEO Christoph Mueller.

THE more I read the protestations of the Anglo-French protagonists from Premier Rugby Limited (PRL) and the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR), the more my blood boils.

Loyalist flag protests which are damaging Belfast’s economy on the busiest day of the week should be moved to Saturday mornings, city centre traders have said.

The chairman of easyJet is to step down this summer after guiding the airline to the brink of the FTSE 100 Index.

At least 22 people were killed as insurgents unleashed a string of bomb attacks across Iraq, mainly targeting Shiite Muslim pilgrims, extending a wave of deadly bloodshed into a second day.

Former Barclays deputy chairman Nigel Rudd has slammed MPs for a “completely unacceptable” attack on the bank’s embattled ex-boss Bob Diamond, it was reported today.

The leadership crisis at Barclays showed no signs of easing today after the frontrunner for the role of chairman reportedly withdrew from the race.

The future of the Czech Republic’s government looks uncertain after a number of members of a junior coalition partner walked out on their party following a bribery scandal.

An extremely rare Chinese porcelain bowl fetched nearly HK$208m (€20.3m), smashing pre-sale estimates by about three times, as Sotheby’s wrapped up its season’s sale in Hong Kong.

Royal Bank of Scotland was brought to its knees by “multiple poor decisions” and its £50bn (€59bn)“gamble” on buying Dutch bank ABN Amro, a damning report in Britain confirmed today.

James Murdoch was reappointed as a director of BSkyB at the company’s annual general meeting today.

Luton: EasyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou said he will announce “further steps to protect shareholder value” after deputy chairman David Michels quit.

FIFA’s corruption crisis deepened today after a dramatic announcement that vice-president Jack Warner and presidential candidate Mohamed Bin Hammam have been charged with offering bribes for votes.

Two police officers were slightly injured in an explosion in the centre of Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek, today ahead of a visit by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

THE head of Russia’s deep cover US spying operations has betrayed the network and defected, a Russian paper said, potentially giving the West one of its biggest intelligence coups since the end of the Cold War.

The Afghan peace conference today called on the government to take formal steps toward negotiating with insurgents.

ALISTAIR DARLING turned the screw on the better off yesterday as the battle lines were drawn for the general election.

Alistair Darling drew up the battlelines for the UK general election today with a highly political Budget that squeezed the better off while offering help to new homebuyers, the elderly and the young unemployed.

Marks & Spencer bowed to pressure from investors today after chairman Stuart Rose agreed to a 25% pay cut for his final months with the high street giant.

Derby, Leicester and Hull today missed out on selection as candidate host cities for England’s 2018 World Cup bid.

West African Diamonds (WAD), the Irish-owned, AIM-listed diamond miner has sold its first parcel of diamonds from its 100% owned Bomboko mine in Guinea.

Russia’s Gazprom state gas monopoly today accused Ukraine of blocking Russian gas deliveries to Europe.

A senior Ukrainian official said European consumers will see serious natural gas shortages in only two weeks if Moscow and Kiev don’t solve their dispute over gas supplies.

The Russian gas monopoly Gazprom said Ukraine is boycotting any negotiations over a contract dispute that led to the supply reductions to several European countries.

A US private equity fund is understood to be in talks to take a controlling stake in Waterford Wedgwood for €600 million.

TURKISH authorities have detained at least 24 ultra-nationalists, including two prominent retired generals, in a widening police investigation into a suspected coup plot against the government.

You can’t deny the state — British or Irish — the exclusive right to use legitimate force and, at the same time, hold it to a higher standard than paramilitaries.

Ulster Bank Group today announced the appointment of Sean Dorgan to the Board of Directors as Deputy Chairman.

Dairy Milk maker Cadbury today said higher prices left it on course to beat targets for the first six months of the year.

THE Real IRA was behind a gun attack on a former SDLP councillor’s house in Derry, it emerged today.

LIVESTOCK farmers have been advised to bargain hard following the bank holiday to maximise their prices.

News of a tie-up between miner Rio Tinto and Canadian aluminium firm Alcan put the London market in positive spirits today.

Mike Ashley's Newcastle takeover gathered pace today when the departure of four directors was confirmed.

The guardian of the Boots pension fund attacked the company today for backing a £11.1bn (€16.3bn) takeover before agreement had been reached on funding for future retirement benefits.

Alliance Boots’ shareholders will cast their votes today on the recommended £11.1bn (€16.3bn) takeover of the group by private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and deputy chairman Stefano Pessina.