Bernard-Henri Lévy finds extreme danger in a ‘fifth column’ of Western supporters who slavishly endorse every move by the Russian president.

Holland striker Robin van Persie admitted to feeling terrible after yesterday’s 3-0 Group A defeat to Turkey, but vowed to ensure victory in their final two games.

St Patrick’s Athletic winger Conan Byrne is hoping for an early 30th birthday present with a start and victory against Skonto Riga in tonight’s Europa League second-leg clash (7.45pm kick-off).

Chris Coleman believes Wales are on the brink of “something special” and beating Belgium tonight (7.45pm, Live on Sky Sports 5) would prove it as victory would put them among the top seeds for next month’s 2018 World Cup draw.

European leaders yesterday told Greece to return to the negotiating table for “intensive work” to wrap up a reform agreement before cash runs out, sidestepping Athens’ demand for a comprehensive, long-term solution to its troubles.

British Prime Minister David Cameron has insisted he is “confident” of securing reforms in Brussels and indicated he remains open to staging a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union next year.

THE opening salvo in Britain’s attempt to realign its relationship with the European Union was fired on the fringes of a two-day Eastern Partnership summit which began last evening in Riga.

Greece cannot make an upcoming payment to the IMF on June 5 unless foreign lenders disburse more aid, a senior ruling party politician said yesterday, the latest warning from Athens that it is on the verge of default.

Greece repaid €750m to the IMF a day early, just as eurozone finance ministers sounded upbeat on negotiations to complete changes to the country’s bailout programme.

Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras has reshuffled his team handling talks with European and IMF lenders, a move widely seen as an effort to relegate embattled finance minister Yanis Varoufakis to a less active role in negotiations.

Ireland found itself surrounded by supporters, for the first time, on the issue of corporate tax rates, during an informal meeting of EU finance ministers.

Frustrated finance ministers for the first time broke the taboo of talking about a “Plan B” for Greece at a fraught meeting in Riga.

Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras has called for a speeding-up of work to conclude a reform-for-cash deal with eurozone creditors to keep his country afloat after talks with German chancellor Angela Merkel, yesterday.

Greece has won access to more emergency funding for its banks as euro-area governments prepared for another round of talks on the country’s financial crisis.

AS our economic recovery continues apace, as we fret over changing our Constitution to allow same-sex marriage and allowing last summer’s minor hurlers challenge for the presidency the crisis around Greek debt and the country’s position in Europe approaches something like an endgame — an endgame that casts an ever-darkening shadow right across Europe.

Syriza wants to break the rules of a political association that it cannot afford to leave, writes Gerard Howlin

Eurozone finance ministers will not set any deadline for Greece to come up with reforms to get more funding because such time limits lead to brinkmanship in negotiations, a senior eurozone official said yesterday.

Get a taste of some of the interesting and quirky happenings in Europe from our Europe correspondent, Ann Cahill.

Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras yesterday said he was “firmly optimistic” his government would reach a deal with foreign creditors by the end of April despite friction over issues such as pension and labour reform.

The eurozone is doubtful that a deal will be struck with Greece next week on economic reforms for bailout funds, potentially leaving the country perilously short of money.

Greece has made another plea to the eurozone for cash to avert bankruptcy but has been told to present an improved list of economic reforms within six working days for finance ministers to pave the way for any more lending, EU officials said yesterday.

French president Francois Hollande has said he is taking a new peace initiative to Ukraine alongside German chancellor Angela Merkel.

The European Union has introduced new measures to help member nations seize the travel documents of people suspected of trying to join terrorist organisations outside the EU.

IT is natural to hope that most people we meet on our journey through this ever-changing world are decent and humane and that they do not represent a threat of any kind. 

The deadly attack on a satirical newspaper in Paris underscores the need for an airline data-sharing proposal that has been blocked by EU lawmakers, says EU president Donald Tusk said.

The European Commission said it plans to relook at a raft of security measures, including retaining information on persons who take flights into or out of the EU.

New security measures, including retaining information on everyone who takes a flight into or out of the EU, are back on the agenda following the brutal murders in Paris.

Ryanair is to open its fifth German base at Cologne in October 2014, the airline announced today.

Despite a devastating recession and the travails of the euro, Latvia becomes the 19th member of the euro club today.

A massive third section of the roof at a Latvian supermarket where at least 54 people were killed has fallen as emergency workers searched rubble nearby for more victims.

Police in Latvia say the death toll from the collapse of a crowded supermarket roof has risen to 52 and that the rescue operation has temporarily been halted.

The number of dead from a supermarket roof collapse in Latvia has risen to 45.

At least 32 people have died, including three firefighters, after an enormous section of roof collapsed at a Latvian supermarket in the country’s capital.

At least 17 people have died, including three firefighters, after large sections of roof collapsed at a Latvian supermarket during the evening rush-hour shopping.

Four people were killed and at least 30 others injured when large sections of the roof collapsed at a grocery store in Latvia’s capital, rescue officials said.

A young Irishman who died after taking legal highs is being featured on posters across Latvia in a bid to prevent others from suffering the same fate.

The founders of controversial social networking site Ask.fm have rather hastily changed their public approach to cyberbullying after a major backlash has seen advertisers withdraw from the site.

The European Union’s executive arm has given tiny Latvia the go-ahead to become the 18th country to join the troubled euro currency union next year.

Hundreds of Latvians commemorated Second World War veterans who fought in Waffen SS divisions in an annual event that stokes ethnic animosity between Latvians and minority Russians.

He’s still only 36, but basketball’s Women’s Superleague coach of the year James Weldon has already been coaching for half his life. The trick? Continually pushing himself outside his comfort zone in the search for new methods and insights, even if that’s an obscure tournament in eastern Europe. The UL Huskies coach doesn’t do down time.

Whether popularised by the ancient Egyptians, St Boniface, or Dickens, it’s not festive until the tree’s up, says John Daly

The founder of a website implicated in the suicides of two young Irish girls has insisted he is in no way responsible for what happened.

Six years ago Sanita Puspure was working as a shop assistant in Dublin.

The days of chauffeur-driven cars and Ferrero Rocher chocolate delights are over for Ireland’s ambassadors.