Sunday 19 May 2013
It is not normally the job of a statesman, but President Obama showed promise as a funny man when he had them rolling in the aisles at the recent White House Correspondents’ dinner.
THE economics commentariat and no small part of the political debate in recent weeks has been consumed with the controversy surrounding the work of my Harvard colleagues (and friends) Carmen Reinhart and Ken Rogoff (RR).
THE economic debate of the recent weeks has centred around arguments that “austerity isn’t working” or claims that “austerity is over”.
Another new technology comes along and as sure as night follows day we have a moral panic about what it is doing to our children.
The Munster siege of Montpellier is underway with red army supporters invading from all possible routes.
DUBLIN is today the setting for a decisive round in the fight to clean up Europe’s energy system.
I was walking along with my younger granddaughter, Eleanor, and trying to teach her about city traffic.
He may have been the narrow loser in the Masters play-off, but we should all raise a glass to Angel Cabrera.
AFTER seeing the science fiction film that brought Tom Cruise face to face with the Tánaiste and Tubridy last week, you may be left wondering one thing – just how oblivious do the makers of Oblivion think that their audience actually is?
She broke many moulds – not only in being the first woman Prime Minister – and might well have been better remembered had she had the grace to step down after two terms rather than having to be pushed in a Cabinet coup half-way through the third.
Ashoka Mody, former IMF chief of Mission to Ireland, has admitted that austerity alone as a way of solving the country’s economic crisis was a mistake and is counter-productive.
One of the more instructive aspects of the late Margaret Thatcher's career – as a politician and a public figure – involved the changes and development of her voice.
THE Demilitarised Zone, which separates North and South Korea, was an intimidating place back in 2004, but it must be tense as hell at the moment.
Working mothers versus stay-at-home mothers: that's a line of debate frequently aired in the public realm.
THERE’S no going back now. The latest report from the Troika on Ireland’s progress under the EU/IMF/ECB bailout programme says stick with it – and that’s just what we will have to do.
In these cold late Spring days there is no doubt that the Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin has warmed the cockles with her concerns about threesomes.
RECENT economic data from the Central Statistics Office show that Ireland was one of the best performing countries in the Eurozone last year, continuing a gradual recovery from its financial crisis, though activity tailed off in the second half of 2012 as merchandise exports stalled.
IMAGINE over 80,000 fans in Croke Park cheering on Ireland at home in the Rugby World Cup in 2027 or even sooner in 2023.
WITH every day Pope Francis reigns, his style reveals more contrasts with his predecessor Benedict in ways that amount to an unspoken criticism of how the retired pontiff conducted his papacy.
IN THE shade of the home of Irish rugby, the Aviva Stadium, there is a billboard encouraging passers by to “Visit Wales” with the tagline “Wales – love our coast”.
When it comes to pop star excess One Direction are something of a disappointment with their request for tea bags, milk and a kettle before their Irish concerts.
IT has endured a fiscal squeeze of 16pc of GDP. It has stabilised the colossal debts left from taking on the gambling losses of Anglo Irish Bank at EU behest, that is to say from shielding German, British, Dutch and Belgian lenders from systemic contagion at a critical moment.
It should be called the Breaking Bad levy. Pat Rabbitte wants to put a broadcast charge on every household in the country even if they don’t have a TV set.
IN Syria these days, we are resorting to our racist little maps. The Alawite mountains and the town of Qardaha, home of the Assad family – colour it dark red.
In a year that has stirred the now expected controversy, with omissions and inclusions that have turned heads, there’s some certainty heading into this Sunday’s 85th Academy Awards’ ceremony – Daniel Day Lewis, Anne Hathaway and Argo.
THE fan’s face was ashen. He looked thoroughly shaken as he muttered, “I didn’t see that coming.”
To call Daniel Day-Lewis a “method actor” is to understate the case. Day-Lewis, who has just won his third Best Actor Oscar for Lincoln, uses very mystical language to describe his craft.
SILVIO Berlusconi’s remarkable fightback ahead of Italy's election has revived a recurring nightmare for the country's centre-left - that they can throw away a commanding lead in the final days before the weekend vote.
President gets a rapturous reception for speech at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris today.
WHEN it comes to working out how much we should pay in property tax there is no end to the Revenue’s snooping capabilities.
A jockey and a Gaelic football player. If fate had played out differently both starting fullbacks in Ireland’s encounter against Scotland this weekend could have had different sporting careers.
So what do the critics say on the movie?
The highs and lows of living in Australia
Tips on making the most of your garden, whatever the weather
Bressie on revisiting his sporting past
Hi °C | Lo °C 