Efforts to repatriate so-called Isis brides could be fast-tracked, including former Defence Forces recruit Lisa Smith.

It seems humanly impossible not to have some sympathy for the Islamic State “brides” and their unfortunate children, many of whom are dying in refugee camps.

Des O'Driscoll shares the latest from the entertainment world.

 

No state can always protect its people from acts of evil mania. But the US chooses to put the means of perpetration within easy reach, writes Gerard Howlin

A Muslim high school student has been mistakenly identified in her Southern California yearbook as "Isis Phillips".

Raqia Hassan risked her life by openly criticising ISIS on Facebook. Her friends, family, and fellow activists remember her determination to tell the world the grim truth about life in Syria. 

An Irish man living in London discovered just how convincing he can be when ordering personalised jars of Nutella in Selfridges.

Safe havens for Christian and other minorities in the Middle East should be a foreign policy priority for the EU and Ireland, writes Rónán Mullen

It is not clear yet who was responsible for yesterday’s bombing in Bangkok but it would not be surprising if Islamic extremists admitted it or were identified as the culprits in the outrage which left at least 27 people dead and many more injured. At least three foreigners died.

THE Irish Language Commissioner Rónán Ó Domhnaill’s disappointment with Government efforts to promote Irish across the public service may be justified, but it is unlikely his concern is shared by too many people. 

THE Irish Language Commissioner Rónán Ó Domhnaill’s disappointment with Government efforts to promote Irish across the public service may be justified, but it is unlikely his concern is shared by too many people. 

Imagine if a barely literate Ned Flanders climbed through your window and got his hands on your books. Your literature, your novels, your classics, your memoirs, your contemporary fiction, your cult titles.

UN HEAD MEANS AUSTRIA, THANKS AUSTRALIA

The website of Rugby League team the Keighley Cougars has been hacked and replaced with a page featuring the message: “I love you Isis”.

It is an extraordinary, curious and life-affirming juxtaposition that in a world where Isis have made public crucifixion an almost everyday expression of humanity’s capacity for barbarism; in a world where Scotland may cede from the United Kingdom; in a world where an 82,300 capacity Croke Park might be filled twice over for a football final that does not involve Dublin, that we can still find the time and enthusiasm to organise 900 arts events to mark Culture Night.

THE FLIGHT from Dublin to Bilbao in Spain’s Basque region was surprisingly full for a Tuesday morning in April and it was buzzing with anticipation and goodwill.

Rihanna got a tattoo in support of Chris Brown.

Rihanna believes her tattoos show how spiritual she is.

The US Secret Service sex scandal has spawned X-rated jokes, inspired a spicy song set to a local Caribbean beat, and made an unlikely celebrity of a 42-year-old taxi driver who lives with his mother and now seems to be in hiding.

Richard Collins on the translator whose persistence solved a mystery.

Bookies’ favourite Oxford battled strong winds today to win the 154th Boat Race.