A US federal judge has blocked three new abortion restrictions from taking effect in Arkansas, including a measure that opponents say would likely force the state's only surgical abortion clinic to close.

An eight-year-old girl who travelled to America for surgery to help her walk has seen her dream come true making her way up the aisle at her First Holy Communion in a much-loved pair of shoes.

HE’S known as Little Jimmy Osmond but there’s nothing small about his career. The youngest of the 1970s chart-topping Osmond family, Jimmy joined his brothers aged three, earning his first of six gold records two years later. And though he has sung and glittered with showbiz royalty through the decades — including Elvis and Andy Williams — he carries his fame lightly.

Kim Kardashian’s younger sister is said by ‘Forbes’ to be worth $900m, writes Joyce Fegan.

Bone-chilling cold has gripped the middle of the US, putting paid to some new year's celebrations and leading to at least two deaths attributed to exposure to the elements.

From surprise comebacks to celebrity spats and unfortunate deaths, pop stars were never far from the headlines in 2017, writes Ed Power.

Our regular contributors select their highlights of the year.

A national treasure, the Donegal crooner has won the hearts of a new generation of millennials thanks to a mix of reality TV shows and quirky boiler ads, writes Caomhan Keane.

Ireland is losing out on billions of euro every year because eight of the 100 most lucrative Irish-based multinationals pay no corporation tax and five more have a tax bill of less than 1%.

Ireland is losing out on billions of euro every year because eight of the 100 most lucrative Irish-based multinationals pay no corporation tax and five more have a tax bill of less than 1%.

US President Donald Trump has once again singled out Ireland in a speech about tax reform.

A judge has thrown out a $417m jury award to a woman who claimed she developed ovarian cancer by using Johnson & Johnson talc-based baby powder for feminine hygiene.

It is a sad day for golf when Tiger Woods is relegated to serving as an assistant captain at the Presidents Cup. Cart driver? Asking players if they like mayo or mustard on their sandwich? Say it ain’t so, Tiger. Say it ain’t so.

American president Donald Trump has promised "historic tax relief to the American people" as he tried to build support for his plan to overhaul the US tax system.

Protesters took to the streets of St Louis again yesterday for a sixth day of demonstrations against a judge's acquittal of a white former police officer who fatally shot a black suspect.

Protesters chanting "free our people" gathered outside a jail in St Louis after more than 100 people were arrested during protests on Sunday.

The flood waters from Tropical Storm Harvey are beginning to drop across much of the Houston area, emergency officials said.

The National Hurricane Centre says Harvey is back on land after coming ashore early today just west of Cameron, Louisiana.

The US president, Donald Trump, will begin a major push, next week, to convince the American public of the need for tax reform, shifting his focus to fiscal policy in an effort to win a big legislative victory by the end of the year, it has been reported.

A US politician who said on Facebook she hoped Donald Trump would be assassinated has apologised publicly to the president and his family, calling the online posting "a mistake".

Big pharma is having a big tobacco moment as litigation over opioids attract star lawyers and a growing list of US states and local governments seeking their own multi-billion payout to deal with costs of a burgeoning US drug epidemic.

United Airlines has denied that its staff told a woman to urinate in a cup rather than leave her seat to use the toilet on a flight.

At least 14 people have been killed in severe storms rolling across the US.

Angel Olsen made many of the media’s ‘best of’ lists last year with her incredible album, Woman. She tells Ed Power why she’s looking forward to playing it in Ireland

Latest: At least 10 people have been killed in severe storms rolling across the US.

Arkansas has executed its fourth inmate in eight days, concluding a schedule of lethal injections that was set to beat the expiration date of one of the drugs.

US President Donald Trump has praised new Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch during a White House swearing-in ceremony as a jurist who will rule "not on his personal preferences but based on a fair and objective reading of the law".

Money is being raised to repair and restore more than 100 headstones that were vandalised at a Jewish cemetery in Philadelphia.

A fun beach-hut in the city; cocktail and tapas bar with tasty food, excellent cocktails, good wines and charming staff.

The world's second-largest credit ratings agency has agreed to pay nearly $864m to settle US government and state claims that it gave inflated assessments to risky mortgage investments in the years leading up to the financial crisis.

Many Muslim Americans cringe at the way they have been portrayed by both candidates during the US presidential campaign - either as potential jihadis or eyes and ears who can help the government's anti-terror efforts.

America’s hot summer of racial tension, violence and politics has spilled on to the basketball court, the track and the Twitter feeds of some of the country’s top sports stars.

The legend of Pokémon never seems to diminish and when you think it’s dead in the water another reincarnation appears. This time in the guise of Pokémon GO, a free app for Android and iOS where you can roam the streets and catch your favourite Pokémon, do battle with other players, and evolve your characters.

Some of the stranger stories from around the world

A police sergeant in Missouri has warned Pokémon Go users and parents about the dangers of the app and its lure feature after a spate of robberies.

Responsibility for the murder of five police officers in Dallas has been claimed by a radical civil rights group called the Black Power Political Organization.

With many in the US agreeing with Donald Trump’s view that ‘Islam hates us’, the Republican US presidential nominee isn’t about to abandon his rhetoric, writes Mohamad Bazzi

This weekend all eyes are on the Ballymaloe Litfest of Food & Wine. Joe McNamee meets the chefs – and discovers their favourite meals

Nine-year-old Tristan Jacobson was abandoned as a child and the family that took him in now want to make it official.

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

Nine-year-old Tristan Jacobson from Missouri was left on the door of a homeless shelter during winter four years ago. Donnie Davis had known Tristan for most of his life so she didn’t hesitate to take him in and he has been part of her family ever since.

Once you see it…