It’s that time of year again when consumers all over the world descend into a shopping frenzy.

Ireland’s economy appears to be in a relatively strong position for now, as is made clear in the Central Bank’s latest quarterly report. However, the east coast — and greater Dublin in particular — continue to outpace the rest of the country, while rural areas and small towns largely miss out on the recovery.

Around 100 million people shivered In the United States as temperatures plummeted - with a wind chill close to minus 100F (minus 73.3C) on New Hampshire's Mount Washington meaning it vied for the world's coldest place.

A brutal winter storm has dumped snow, sleet and freezing rain up the south-east seaboard of the United States, delivering snowy conditions some cities had not seen in decades.

Ray Ryan recounts the inspiring tale of Rebel Chilli, a food company enjoying international success with its unique range of spicy sauces.

US stocks climbed on Wednesday as investors cheered a report of stronger economic growth. Technology companies, retailers and travel providers all made solid gains.

As Heidi Klum’s new collection lands in Lidl, have we reached peak celebrity/fashion collaboration? Annmarie O’Connor reports.

Considering the rich history of yachts and racing, it might seem odd that classic would be applied to boats constructed from modern materials.

In one of his final interviews as Finance Minister, Michael Noonan has spoken of his political legacy and offered advice to whoever replaces him in charge of the nation’s finances.

It was one of the largest mass demonstrations in American history. Ahead of International Women’s Day, Amanda Hess reflects on the Women’s March and what it means for feminism.

With the current high winds, the Irish Coastguard is warning people along the East Coast to use common sense and not to try to take photographs of waves.

The annual awards of Cork Business Association — which is celebrating its 60th birthday in 2017— has heard rousing calls for Cork people to embrace what they have in their city if it is to thrive to its full potential.

A train driver was forced to dive to the ground to avoid being hit by another train travelling at 105mph in England, according to an official report.

Connecticut native Chantell Alford is looking forward to the start of this season’s basketball league with Team Montenotte Hotel Glanmire.

Weather system Hermine has weakened to a tropical storm as it moves inland after making landfall in Florida's Big Bend area as a hurricane.

Hurricane Hermine gained strength as it roared towards Florida's Gulf Coast, as residents were warned to flee inland if necessary amid a "life-threatening situation".

A blizzard with hurricane-force winds brought much of the US East Coast to a standstill today, dumping as much as three feet of snow, stranding tens of thousands of travellers and shutting down Washington and New York City.

Remember the romantic elderly man who was filmed reuniting with a lady in an airport? The loving couple have been tracked down, and their story is more romantic than we thought.

It’s an escape route as old and worn as prizefighting itself. Over 300 years of identical journeys to the one Carl Frampton has taken, seeking a new life in the New World.

US oil prices were steady yesterday, ahead of the first big snowstorm this year in the country’s north-east, while benchmark Brent crude fell after pledges of no policy change by the top oil exporter Saudi Arabia after King Abdullah’s death.

Jordan Axani was looking for the right woman to take on a round-the-world air trip. But there was a catch. She had to be named Elizabeth Gallagher and have a Canadian passport.

The eye of Hurricane Gonzalo crossed over part of Bermuda, battering the tiny British territory with fierce wind and heavy and heavy surf.

The couple have had over $4,000 in cash stolen from the bedroom

Hail, rain, or snow climate change is on the way, so says a RTÉ series covering our fascinating relationship with the weather, says Jonathan deBurca Butler.

Hurricane Arthur has weakened to a Category 1 storm in the Atlantic after bringing flooding and power outages to North Carolina’s Outer Banks overnight.

Police in Canada are focusing on two streets in a massive manhunt for a gunman who shot dead three officers and wounded two others.

Kim Kardashian plans to join her sisters in The Hamptons after her honeymoon.

Can you get through a thousand words on sleep without using the phrase, ‘perchance to dream’? We’ll do our best, but no promises.

US wildlife experts cut away more than 280ft of commercial fishing line being dragged by an endangered right whale off the Georgia coast, though some of the heavy rope had to be left tangled in the whale’s mouth.

Wildlife experts cut away more than 280ft of commercial fishing line being dragged by an endangered right whale off the Georgia coast, though some of the heavy rope had to be left tangled in the whale’s mouth.

Investigators are looking into whether embattled New Jersey Governor Chris Christie misused about $2m (€1.5m) in Superstorm Sandy relief funds for an ad campaign that put him in the spotlight in an election year, a politician has said.

The threat of space rocks smashing into Earth is bigger than previously thought, say scientists studying the terrifying meteor that exploded without warning over a Russian city last winter.

Australia’s ruling Labour Party appeared poised for defeat in a national election today, as opinion polls, analysts and an early exit poll suggested the conservative opposition party was on its way to a sweeping victory.

NASA’s newest robotic explorer rocketed into space in an unprecedented moonshot from Virginia.

Drawing obvious comparisons with ‘Little Miss Sunshine’, ‘The Way Way Back’ is a bittersweet coming-of-age story that strikes perfect balance between laughter and tears.

Vodafone says it is in advanced talks to sell its 45% stake of Verizon Wireless back to the US mobile phone service provider for $130bn in cash and stock.

Seán Kelly, the Cork South MEP, has warned that ending round-the-clock landing services at Cork Airport will threaten the terminal’s international status and lead to a decline in passengers.

Exhausted pigeon in deep-sea rescue

Justin Theroux and Jennifer Aniston will tie the knot in California.

Lindsay Lohan will complete her 90 days of court-ordered treatment at Cliffside Malibu.

An EU plan to label crude from the Alberta oil sands as dirty is unfair and could damage Canada’s bid to find new export markets, the Canadian resources minister said at the start of a mission to lobby against the idea.