Bethany Bell and Gillian Hazell BBC News, in Rome BBC Arianna, a student from Piacenza in Italy, said she had been “really concerned” about the Pope’s health Catholics around the world are marking the 12th anniversary of Pope Francis’s election as pontiff by praying for his recovery. Francis, who was elected on 13 March 2013, … Read more
Chris Maddaloni Seán Ronayne has recorded upwards of 12,000 bird noises With more than half of Ireland’s birds at risk of extinction, an Irish ornithologist is utilising recordings he has made to advocate for their preservation. Originally from Cobh in County Cork, Seán Ronayne has approximately 12,000 recordings of Irish birds and other wildlife in … Read more
A SpaceX mission that aimed to clear the way for two stranded astronauts to get back to earth has been postponed. The launch from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station was put back due to a hydraulic ground issue. There is another possible launch opportunity on Thursday. The rocket aimed to fly four new crew … Read more
Ireland is ready to work with the United States to bring “just, lasting and sustainable peace” to Ukraine and the Middle East, the taoiseach (Irish PM) has said. The comments come as Micheál Martin presented US President Donald Trump with a bowl of shamrocks in the White House as part of St Patrick’s Day celebrations. … Read more
Daniel Thomas Business reporter, BBC News Getty Images Almost 80% of smartphones sold in the US are made in China Deena Ghazarian had only been in business for a year when the trade policies of President Donald Trump’s first term of office sent her company into a tailspin. It was 2019 and her California-based firm, … Read more
In a barrage of pronouncements on Wednesday the Trump administration said it would repeal dozens of the nation’s most significant environmental regulations, including limits on pollution from tailpipes and smokestacks, protections for wetlands, and the legal basis that allows it to regulate the greenhouse gases that are heating the planet. But beyond that, Lee Zeldin, … Read more
Explorers have released footage of wreckage from the Western Reserve cargo ship in Lake Superior. The shipwreck was found in June 2024 using Marine Sonic Technology side-scan sonar. Subsequent remotely operated vehicle deployments confirmed the identity of the shipwreck, revealing the ship broke into two on 30 August 1892. The Western Reserve was one of … Read more
Two men have been arrested following seizures of €1.9m (£1.6m) worth of cocaine and cannabis in the Republic of Ireland. Gardaí (Irish police) intercepted a vehicle in Drogheda, County Louth, at about 09:00 local time on Wednesday. Searches were then undertook at a business premises in Drogheda and two residential properties in Drogheda and north … Read more
Canada’s Prime Minister-designate Mark Carney has said he is ready to negotiate a renewed trade deal with President Donald Trump, as long as there is “respect for Canadian sovereignty”. Carney made these comments during a visit to a steel plant in Hamilton, Ontario, as Canada unveiled C$29.8 billion ($20.7 billion) in reciprocal tariffs on US … Read more
Natalie Sherman Business reporter, BBC News Getty Images US President Donald Trump has pledged to impose more tariffs after his latest move to introduce import taxes on steel and aluminium entering the US prompted retaliation from the European Union (EU) and Canada. Trump said “of course” he would respond to the countermeasures, repeating his warning … Read more