News | Latest News Analysis and Comment

Ireland hopes for a discount for missing EU climate goals

Ireland will miss its EU climate targets on agriculture, transport and buildings and likely face financial penalties, but can it secure concessions?

Analysis and Comment • 10 hrs

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his speech at the 20th anniversary celebration of the Russian state TV-station Russia Today at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow on October 17, 2025. (Photo by Pavel Bednyakov / POOL / AFP)

What does Russia mean by 'root causes' of Ukraine war?

Russia ruled out a ceasefire in its war with Ukraine if what it described as the "root causes" of the conflict are not resolved.

Analysis and Comment • 5 hrs

Netflix now owns the rights to Roald Dahl's work - and has been making the most of that in recent years

Estate of Play: Authors' families are cashing in

As big studios hunt for the next big franchise - or even film and TV universe - the estates of long-dead authors have started to gain renewed interest, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 8 hrs

Martin's leadership could be in greater peril than ever

Fianna Fáil is not having a relaxing weekend. In fact, agitation is rapidly growing across the party in the aftermath of the Presidential Election.

Analysis and Comment • 9 hrs

Independent presidential candidate Catherine Connolly with supporters, including Mary Lou McDonald

Opposition hoping Connolly win paves way for Govt change

It is clear though that the Government parties exited the count result in Dublin Castle last night weakened, as an emboldened left-wing alliance believe their time in power is edging ever closer, writes Mícheál Lehane.

Analysis and Comment • 26 Oct

Fresh AI concerns after quality of election deepfake

There are fresh concerns over the threat to democracy that technology now poses by AI-generated deepfakes, writes Brian O'Donovan.

Analysis and Comment • 9 hrs

Are people paying more for electricity than they should?

The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show wholesale electricity prices have fallen, leaving the question are customers paying more for electricity than they should?

Analysis and Comment • 9 hrs

Independent candidate Catherine Connolly arriving at Dublin Castle for the count at Dublin Caste in Ireland's presidential election to replace Michael D Higgins, who has served the maximum two seven-year terms. Picture date: Saturday October 25, 2025.

Will the left-wing political collective stick together?

Politicians from the left-wing parties gathered to mark Catherine Connolly's elevation to Áras an Uachtaráin after her election win, but can the collective replicate the cohesion in a General Election and put both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael out of office?

Analysis and Comment • 25 Oct

Women line up outside a hybrid distribution site to collect food, cash handouts, and high-energy bars for children in Maban

'Pain, suffering': the tragedy of Sudan's 'forgotten war'

Reports from the Sudanese city of Al-Fashir detail apocalyptic scenes, with starving civilians forced to survive on animal feed, as aid convoys remain blocked, writes Kate Varley.

World • 26 Oct

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte are pictured speaking to the media after a meeting with the Coalition of the Willing allies

Coalition of the Willing aims to force Putin to negotiate

London Correspondent Tommy Meskill looks back at a meeting of the "Coalition of the Willing" which saw British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urge countries to provide Ukraine with long range missiles.

Analysis and Comment • 25 Oct

(COMBO) This combination of pictures created on March 30, 2017 shows China's President Xi Jinping (L) delivering a speech on the opening day of the World Economic Forum, on January 17, 2017 in Davos, and US President Donald Trump (R) announcing the final

Trade, Taiwan and TikTok to dominate Trump-Xi meeting

Tensions between the world's two most powerful countries, the US and China, are rising over trade and national security. A meeting of China's elites revealed plans to press ahead with tech innovation and manufacturing self-reliance as the US and Europe rail against China's supply chain dominance.

Analysis and Comment • 25 Oct

Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly (centre) with Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns (left) and Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald (right) as she launches her presidential election campaign at The Complex, Smithfield in Dublin. Picture date: Monda

Victory for Connolly will raise many political questions

Catherine Connolly has been elected the country's tenth president this evening, writes Micheál Lehane.

Analysis and Comment • 25 Oct

Composite image showing Ireland’s three presidential candidates (catherine connolly, jim gavin and heather humphreys) in front of a stock image of Áras an Uachtaráin

Count guide: Loose horse, miraculous medals and turnout

There are two certainties in Irish elections - firstly, pundits will predict that "transfers will be crucial"; secondly, somebody will put a miraculous medal into a ballot box along with their vote.

Analysis and Comment • 25 Oct

DUBLIN, IRELAND - OCTOBER 25: Counting takes place at the Dublin Count centre on October 25, 2025 in Dublin, Ireland. Friday's election to replace Voters are choosing between the leftwing independent candidate Catherine Connolly and Fine Gael's Heather Hu

Trends and talking points from the count

At a glance - talking points from Presidential Election results day.

Analysis and Comment • 25 Oct

Composite image showing Irish presidential candidates Heather Humphreys and Catherine Connolly

Key differences emerge during presidential campaign

After weeks of intense debate between the two candidates, voting is just one day away in the Presidential Election.

Presidential Election • 23 Oct

Volodymyr Zelensky participates in the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome, Italy

EU faces rethink on frozen Russian assets for Ukraine

Ukraine's survival depends hugely on Volodymyr Zelensky finding favour with US President Donald Trump, but such favour is an on-again, off-again mystery. However, EU leaders continue to rally behind the Ukrainian President.

Analysis and Comment • 25 Oct

Families of the victims of Bloody Sunday at Belfast Crown Court for the Solider F verdict

Soldier F verdicts 'nightmare' for Bloody Sunday families

This is a nightmare outcome for the Bloody Sunday families. After more than half a century of campaigning for justice for their loved ones, the only former British soldier to be charged in connection with the killings has been acquitted.

Analysis and Comment • 23 Oct

Not much fiction left in current 'rise of the machines'

It was a case of "drones with everything" at the recent Association of the US Army exhibition in Washington: unmanned aerial vehicles were everywhere to be found, reflecting the revolution in warfare that has happened over the past three-and-a-half years in Ukraine.

World • 24 Oct

7 key takeaways from final presidential debate

The two candidates in the Presidential Election made pitches to undecided voters in the final TV debate of the campaign.

Analysis and Comment • 22 Oct

Debate topics reflect campaign as election draws closer

The issues raised in last night's Prime Time 70-minute debate are in many ways the themes of the entire Presidential Election campaign, as Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys were quizzed on a number of topics.

Presidential Election • 22 Oct

People participate in a "No Kings" national day of protest in Boston, Massachusetts

'No Kings' protest driven by profoundly American impulse

It's clear the 'No Kings' protests in the US at the weekend were cumulatively very large, and likely bigger than the original 'No Kings' protest in June, so the indications are that the movement is growing, writes Sean Whelan.

Analysis and Comment • 21 Oct

Visual with the words RTE News Behind The Story and images of Fran McNulty Katie Hannon David McCullagh

Analysis and reaction to final TV debate

Watch a special live Behind the Story podcast. The bonus episode, hosted by David McCullagh, Katie Hannon and Fran McNulty, will offer in-depth analysis and reaction to the night's key moments.

Podcast • 21 Oct

A photo of Aras an Uachtarain, with the Irish flag above and blue skies

Nothing taken for granted in final push towards the Áras

It's been yet another Presidential Election campaign with both shocks and surprises and while the opinion polls may suggest a clear result, campaigners are taking nothing for granted, writes Paul Cunningham.

Presidential Election • 20 Oct

Composite image showing Irish presidential candidates Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys

Presidential race heats up in final days before vote

The past 24 hours have seen the heat turn up dramatically in the presidential race ahead of polling day on Friday, writes Fiachra Ó Cionnaith.

Analysis and Comment • 20 Oct

Close up image of Tom Niland, who is wearing glasses and smiling

Tom Niland 'can now rest in peace' following convictions

Three men have been sentenced for the brutal attack and robbery that led to the death of 75-year-old Sligo bachelor Tom Niland. Following the sentencing, his cousin Michael Walsh said Tom 'can now rest in peace'.

Analysis and Comment • 19 Oct

analysis-and-comment

Ireland hopes for a discount for missing EU climate goals

What does Russia mean by 'root causes' of Ukraine war?

Estate of Play: Authors' families are cashing in

Martin's leadership could be in greater peril than ever

Opposition hoping Connolly win paves way for Govt change

Fresh AI concerns after quality of election deepfake

Are people paying more for electricity than they should?

Will the left-wing political collective stick together?

'Pain, suffering': the tragedy of Sudan's 'forgotten war'

Coalition of the Willing aims to force Putin to negotiate

Trade, Taiwan and TikTok to dominate Trump-Xi meeting

Victory for Connolly will raise many political questions

Count guide: Loose horse, miraculous medals and turnout

Trends and talking points from the count

Key differences emerge during presidential campaign

EU faces rethink on frozen Russian assets for Ukraine

Soldier F verdicts 'nightmare' for Bloody Sunday families

Not much fiction left in current 'rise of the machines'

7 key takeaways from final presidential debate

Debate topics reflect campaign as election draws closer

'No Kings' protest driven by profoundly American impulse

Analysis and reaction to final TV debate

Nothing taken for granted in final push towards the Áras

Presidential race heats up in final days before vote

Tom Niland 'can now rest in peace' following convictions