Europe rearms: files reveal extent of plans for a new ‘defence union’
Documents show capitals encouraged moves towards common ‘European defence culture’ and closer Nato cooperation
EU
Europe wants to get tough on China. The risks could be enormous
With tensions rising, next week’s talks will test whether the EU can curb Chinese imports without harming its own economy
EU plan to share doctors’ professional history in crackdown on struck-off medics overseas
Investigation found 11 seriously sanctioned UK doctors still registered in Ireland
Just €109,000 of €3.9m overpaid to car dealers for EV scheme has been recovered
Scheme to encourage sales of electric vehicles relied on self-declaration to avoid breaches of state-aid rules
Medicines watchdog receives 24 reports of weight-loss jab side effects related to vision
GLP-1s linked in studies to ‘NAION’, a condition reducing blood flow to optic nerve
Right to asylum under threat as Europe turns rightward
European leaders look set to seek fresh justification for suspending the right to claim legal protection
The Brexit debate is back. Could Britain rejoin the EU?
Ten years after leaving the bloc, shifting public opinion is reopening a question once thought settled
Online shoppers buying from outside EU face fresh charge of €2 per item from November
New €2 levy is on top of €3 fee per item imposed in summer
EU budget: ‘Frugal’ states demand hundreds of billions be cut from spending
Germany and five other countries say the bloc’s proposed €1.9 trillion budget must be reduced to secure their backing
Shein drops to record low after profit plunge in debut earnings
Online retailer faces growing pressure after EU eliminated customs exemption on low-value parcels in July
Google fights EU attempt to open Android to rival AI
EU move would force Google to give search data to competing providers
Pope Leo praises multiculturalism as far right gains strength across Europe
Pontiff urges Europeans to recall EU’s founding values including the rule of law and the equality of all
Phil Hogan’s UN job race: Decision on EU candidate unlikely during Irish presidency
Officials fear failure to unite behind one candidate could cost Europe chance in UN food agency election
Should Ireland share its corporation tax bonanza with the EU?
Inside Business podcast with Ciarán Hancock
US-sanctioned international court judge urges Ireland to take a stand
Nicolas Guillou said the European project was in grave danger if tariff fears outweighed the importance of fighting crimes against humanity
EU budget ambitions in doubt as member states resist paying more
Fresh concern German chancellor’s domestic struggles will spill into tense EU budget negotiations
Artificial intelligence data ‘land grab’ looms amid proposed digital changes, privacy activist Max Schrems warns
Campaigners warn new EU proposals put interests of private AI firms above citizens’ rights
Nobody else is going to turn your child’s phone off. But you can’t do it alone
A social media ban for under-13s or even under-16s is not pointless just because many will get around it
EU cannot fall behind US again in latest tech revolution, commissioner warns
Finance Minister Simon Harris talked up possibility of increased educational link-ups between Ireland and Canada
AI acceleration
Large language models are machines, not some sort of disobedient animal that might go rogue
‘Children are constantly doom scrolling’: Teenagers on the EU’s social media age limits
Social media companies will face fast-track enforcement with investigations of rule breaches undertaken in 90 days
What is driving the abuse and intimidation of politicians here?
Inside Politics podcast with Hugh Linehan
‘I fell in love with Ireland’: Joy at citizenship ceremony despite looming new rules
The first of six citizenship ceremonies began in Dublin on Thursday
Reduced Cap payments to farmers would be ‘devastating for Irish agriculture’ - Minister
More EU money for farmers unlikely, says commissioner, as member states want to cut bill
Europe and Canada ‘not fair weather allies’, Carney tells European Parliament
Mark Carney puts meat on the bone for envisaged closer EU alliance to withstand ‘ferocious’ times
Revised EU directive could protect against some AI risks
We cannot guarantee correctness of artificial intelligence systems or fully test them beforehand
Dazzling headlights a worrying feature of night-time driving
Modern LED systems can produce extremely high luminance from small light sources
I never considered leaving Ireland for Poland but three years there changed my perception
Poland still has a post-communist stigma that it struggles to shake. However I now realise how outdated that perception is.
Torches and battery-operated radios: New guidelines for a national emergency are in the post
A three-week nationwide distribution programme will see approximately 2.2 million households ‘Be Emergency Ready’
Social media age limits: Von der Leyen hits on control-shift alternative
Providing proof of age will present big obstacle to EU plan
The Irish Times view on Canada and the EU: an interesting invitation
Offer a strong statement of solidarity that will no doubt annoy Donald Trump
Why is the EU courting Canada? Trump might have something to do with it
Von der Leyen’s proposal reflects how the US president’s trade war and foreign policy have pushed Canada and Europe closer
Europe is entering a new phase. Ireland may lose out
As Ukraine and Canada seek closer EU ties, winners in this latest version of the bloc are clear
Social media exclusion unfair to children, says rapporteur
Special Rapporteur on Child Protection says onus should be on tech companies to behave ethically
Donald Trump may have been Britain-baiting, but his statement on unity still mattered
Backhanded compliment from Trump, when he laughingly described business leaders as ‘vicious bastards’, shows Ireland still carries weight in his worldview
Inside the Brussels struggle over who speaks for Europe
‘Something’s not working’: Inside the European Union’s stalling ambitions to become a proper geopolitical heavyweight
World Trade Center attack 25 years on; and Gerry Hutch’s son charged following extradition
EU foreign policy chief tells The Irish Times stronger action against Israeli settlements could be warranted
EU should treat Israeli settlements like Russian-occupied Crimea, says bloc’s top diplomat
Kaja Kallas tells The Irish Times an EU-wide Occupied Territories trade ban would be ‘principled’ stand
Kaja Kallas: EU ban on Israeli settlement trade would be ‘principled stance’
Bloc’s most senior foreign policy official said move does not require unanimous support of all 27 member states
The Airbnb equation has stopped adding up for Europe
New EU legislation will give governments greater cover to restrict short-term tourist rentals and target vacant homes
We must honour Donogh O’Malley’s legacy by cutting school class sizes
More than 425,000 pupils are in oversized classes, yet we have lost almost 500 teachers
Language tests for new citizens
The fact that Ireland is the only EU country that doesn’t apply some test speaks for itself
Ireland set to join EU-Nigeria ‘migrant returns’ pact
Five EU states plan to send migrants to offshore centres next year
The Irish Times view on hybrid attacks in Europe: a new security order
These developments demand a full and frank public debate rather than decisions arrived at by drift
The EU has a chance to expand. It may not get another soon
With populists on the rise and elections approaching across Europe, Brussels is scrambling to advance enlargement plans
European commissioner ‘optimistic’ of budget deal during Ireland’s EU presidency amid divisions
Division notable among member states on proposed scale of seven-year funding round
‘It will cost billions’: Climate crisis poses ‘immediate’ threat to human life and economies, Dublin forum hears
Dublin conference hears countries and firms face mounting dangers from failure to protect natural world
Russia’s ‘hybrid war’ is assassination squads, blowing up trains, arson, says Poland
‘We are no longer in regular peacetime,’ says Polish minister as EU meeting in Wicklow plots response to Moscow-directed acts in Europe
Iceland says no to EU membership talks
The Nordic country is a very special case. It would be foolish to draw hasty conclusions from this referendum result
Escalating Russian attacks intended to ‘scare’ Europe, says EU foreign affairs chief
Kaja Kallas underlined importance of resolve amid Moscow’s hybrid campaign to chip away at support for Ukraine
The Irish Times view on food labels: Irish bees get their due
Honey is not the only product to have sown confusion over the years
Growing number of doctors in Ireland are women and from outside the EU
Asked to identify the main barriers to patient care from a list of options, doctors most often selected ‘pressure on workloads’
Irish honey, Chinese bees: Labelling law change makes clear true origins of Irish brands
Boyne Valley’s ‘Pure & Natural’ blend is packed in Co Louth but entirely made up of honey from China, Spain and Argentina
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Stardust
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices