Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

On Thursday, US president Barack Obama announced the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats working out of the Russian embassy in Washington. They were declared ‘persona non grata’ and given 72 hours to leave the US with their families.

US president Barack Obama has joined European leaders to discuss security and economic challenges as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office.

A racist post about US First Lady Michelle Obama has prompted calls for the director of a West Virginia development group and a mayor to be sacked.

For the first time in nine months a national poll in the US has Donald Trump in front of Hillary Clinton in the race to become President ot the United States.

Sovereignty and immigration were the headline issues of Britain’s EU exit vote. David Kernek looks at possible gains and losses in jobs and trade.

The US president has been condemned for not intervening early and removing the Assad regime, but such military action was disastrous in Iraq and Libya, says Christopher R Hill     

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

A gunman who murdered three Louisiana police officers in an ambush "was seeking out police", investigators have confirmed.

Latest: It has now been confirmed that 20 hostages have been killed during a siege in a cafe in the Bangladesh capital Dhaka.

US President Barack Obama and the woman who wants to succeed him will make their first campaign appearance together next week.

Rock stars U2 have waded into the European Union referendum debate by declaring: “Don’t go — we’d miss you.”

Too many other Nato countries rely on the US to defend them without making a full contribution of their own to the alliance’s budget, writes Josh Cohen

Omar Mateen’s alcohol use and conflicted sexuality are at odds with the terrorists’ religious credo, but losing in Iraq and Syria, it is desperate for a win, say Lori Hinnant and Sarah El Deeb

A gunman who pledged his allegiance to Islamic State before he massacred 49 people at a gay nightclub in the US had “strong indications of radicalisation”, the FBI said.

It’s unlikely that Omar Mateen, who killed 50 people in a nightclub at the weekend, was directly linked to IS. Lack of gun control and mental illness may be factors, says Peter Apps

Hillary Clinton has vowed to make stopping "lone wolf" terrorists a top priority if elected president.

US President Barack Obama lifted a decades-old arms export embargo for Vietnam during his first visit to the communist country today, looking to bolster a government seen as a crucial, though flawed partner even as he pushes for better human rights from the one-party state.

Iraqi forces have launched an operation to retake the Islamic State-held city of Fallujah.

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

Cork Chamber issued a rallying call to people last night to back the proposed Cork-Boston flights as US labour unions staged a protest rally at the White House.

Fashionistas and celebrities from around the world flocked to a grand Havana colonial avenue which was transformed into a private runway for French fashion house Chanel.

Volkswagen chief executive Matthias Mueller has apologised in person to US president Barack Obama for the car-maker's emissions scandal.

Britain would not be able to strike a free trade deal with the US “any time soon” if it leaves the EU, as Washington’s focus would be on reaching agreement with the European Union, said US President Barack Obama.

A professional ballroom dancer who lost her left leg in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings has said conquering the course on a carbon-fibre blade was a giant leap forward towards reclaiming her life.

US Secretary of State John Kerry called his visit to a memorial to victims of the 1945 US nuclear attack on Hiroshima “gut-wrenching” and said it was a reminder of the need to pursue a world free of nuclear weapons.

Pfizer will need to reduce the cost of producing some of its core products by up to 20% and stay extremely focused on competitiveness in the coming years, according to the head of its Cork operations.

The senator is a cause rather than just a candidate and thus has a real chance to beat Clinton, writes Robert L Borosage

The Pentagon is moving to increase the number of American troops in Iraq in the wake of new strikes that killed the Islamic State's finance minister and other top leaders of the terror group.