Irish Fine Gael politician and senior minister
Irish Oscar-winning actress Brenda Fricker has died after a period of ill health in Dublin. She won Best Supporting Actress for My Left Foot (1990) and appeared in Home Alone 2 and Casualty. Tributes describe her as a legend and a generous, versatile performer.
The new Labour government is taking office as Northern Ireland faces a looming Stormont budget shortfall and ongoing talks with local parties. Benn says the onus is on the executive to seal a budget, while Sinn Féin and other parties call for early engagement and reform. Public services are operating under contingency measures as the budget stalemate continues.
Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary has defended previously controversial remarks that compared rival airlines to rapists, saying he has not trivialised rape and will not apologise. The comments have drawn condemnation from victims’ groups and politicians in Ireland and the UK, ahead of Ryanair’s AGM.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has met Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Manhattan on Sunday to prepare for President Trump and Xi Jinping's Sept. 24 summit. Talks have covered tariffs, the expiring trade truce, flows of rare-earth and critical minerals, and possible AI guard rails ahead of this week’s White House meeting.