Capital and largest city of Ireland, situated on Dublin Bay.
The National Economic Council meets in Glasgow as UK PM pushes a regional empowerment agenda. Leaders from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are exploring deeper devolution and joint approaches to growth and reindustrialisation, with Scotland and Wales seeking more powers to empower regions while Westminster coordinates the effort.
Ukraine reports persistent disruptions to SpaceX’s Starshield operations along the front and in occupied territories, citing systematic speed restrictions that cap drone interception capabilities. Zelenskyy says these limits hinder Ukraine’s defenses and will fuel Russian strikes. US envoys and Russia discuss the matter as peace talks continue.
U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have mediated two days of Russia‑Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi focused on a post‑war European security framework and prisoner swaps. Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on territory, Europe has pushed to join negotiations, and Kushner and Witkoff plan to brief President Putin in Moscow and President Zelensky in Ireland.
Since early November multiple European passenger flights have received bomb threats by phone or email, forcing searches, diversions and military escorts. Authorities have inspected dozens of aircraft across at least 16 countries; no explosives or injuries have been reported. Officials and analysts say the incidents look coordinated and are treating them as malicious hoaxes.
The Kremlin-hosted talks are continuing alongside trilateral discussions in Abu Dhabi. Washington says differences remain on land and security guarantees, while a high-stakes prisoner exchange is planned. Putin’s envoys and Western mediators are pressing for multilateral engagement, with European participation urged by Kyiv but resisted by Moscow.
Media organisations in Ireland and UK also affected as apparently coordinated effort to cause chaos continues
The government has backed amendments to the Troubles legacy bill, moving it to the Lords for further scrutiny. The bill aims to address the legacy of the Troubles, with a legacy commission, an information recovery body, and a role for an Irish police unit. Provisions require attorney general consent for serious prosecutions, drawing mixed reactions from victims, veterans, and politicians.
A US judge has allowed a Libyan claim of a forced confession in the Lockerbie bombing case to be used as evidence. Abu Agila Mas’ud Al-Marimi, extradited from Libya in 2022, faces trial in Washington for the 1988 Pan Am Flight 103 attack. Defence alleging the confession was coerced has been rejected; the trial remains scheduled for January after multiple delays.
Austrian Airlines flight OS82 from Tel Aviv to Vienna has landed in Sofia after the crew received a bomb threat. Bulgarian authorities have evacuated 51 passengers and six crew, and a MiG-29 has escorted the Airbus A320 while police search the aircraft. Authorities have opened an investigation and passengers will be rebooked once searches finish.
The Guardian and BBC report that Jack Ross, then-CEO of Turning Point UK, has been suspended as police review undercover footage to determine potential criminality. Al Jazeera’s investigation alleges Ross offered to broker services of killers and discussed connections to a Glasgow contact and a Zimbabwe-related operation.
Fontaines DC has released a new album, Dopamine Chamber, marking a shift from post-punk to expansive, synth-driven sounds. The band’s ascent continues with a major 2027 tour and headline ambitions, while peers like The Temperance Movement release new material, signalling a vibrant UK rock scene.
Ireland’s We-Consent campaign has been withdrawn after officials deemed a 25‑second video—featuring a grandchild and grandparents—‘inappropriate and demeaning to grandparents.’ The ad, funded by government bodies, aimed to teach consent but drew sharp criticism and international coverage.
BBC and The Guardian report on Sam Fender’s 2027 Proper Massive Stadium Tour. Fender has criticised high ticket prices and the splitting of standing sections, saying prices have inflated beyond the cost of putting on the shows. Presales begin soon, with general sale scheduled for Friday.
The Independent reports a six-book Booker shortlist chaired by Mary Beard, spanning romance, history, and sci‑fi, with praise for prose and world‑changing ideas. The Guardian reflects on whether historical novels endure, highlighting Yiyun Li’s Music Against the Night and a Jamaica‑set exploration of identity in The Disappearers. Hadley’s Alone With a Book surveys the art of reading and memory.
Macklemore has launched his Free Palestine Tour in Dublin after Ed Sheeran dropped him for pro-Palestinian comments. The Dublin show sold out amid chants of “Free Palestine,” with fans praising the rapper’s stance and vowing support for Palestinian causes. Other artists on tour have pulled out in solidarity, and Sheeran has said the decision was promoter-driven.
Portadown’s Drumcree dispute has intensified as legal actions intersect with police decisions. A judge has ruled on the legality of government intervention to stop a contentious Orange Order parade, with security concerns cited as the decisive factor.
Amanda Serrano will defend her unified featherweight titles in San Juan on January 9, aiming to break the all-time women’s knockout record. The seven-division undisputed former champion has said this will be her final fight, a night she describes as a celebration of her career and a milestone for women’s boxing.
Keir Starmer argues Europe needs a stronger, more integrated security framework with the UK at its core, saying the US will no longer bankroll European defence. He calls for pan-European co-operation beyond defence and warns Europe’s periphery is central to its security.
Power cuts persist in parts of Britain after two named storms, Boelo and Austen, caused widespread disruption. Authorities warn of ongoing travel disruption and potential flooding as a new low-pressure system is forecast to bring more heavy rain and strong winds in the coming days.
European 1500m champion Ciara Mageean has died at 34 after a battle with stage four bowel cancer. She had announced her diagnosis in 2025 and married weeks before her death. Tributes pour in from across Ireland and sports bodies.
A 200-page draft sanitary and phytosanitary agreement has been circulated to EU nations as part of a Brexit reset. The text would remove export health certificates and reduce port and inspection costs for UK exporters, potentially boosting the economy by about £5.1 billion annually. Implementation is expected to be phased, with dynamic alignment to EU rules.
Since Tuesday, at least seven passenger flights across Europe have reported bomb threats. Authorities have searched aircraft in Poland, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria and elsewhere; fighter jets have escorted at least one flight and a Warsaw airport briefly closed. All planes have landed safely and searches have found no explosives.
European airlines and Irish media outlets have faced a fresh wave of hoax bomb threats this week, prompting evacuations and fighter-jet escorts for several flights. While no explosives have been found, authorities say the threats appear coordinated across airlines and media organisations, with Ireland warning of a serious disruption as EU meetings approach.
Macklemore has launched a Free Palestine fundraising tour after Ed Sheeran dropped him; nine major U.S. arenas have refused dates through year’s end, including Madison Square Garden and the Kia Forum. The venues say scheduling is limited, while Macklemore accuses a few billionaires of censoring voices and causes.
European leaders confront a potential reset in Ukraine talks as Trump pushes a broader deal that could reshape security guarantees; divisions over how to handle Moscow risk a split between Washington and Brussels as talks in Abu Dhabi unfold.