A US judge yesterday temporarily blocked part of president Donald Trump&s sweeping directive to pause federal grants, loans and other financial aid, giving a win to advocacy groups that said it would disrupt programmes that serve tens of millions of Americans.

Welcoming the ceasefire in Gaza and a hostage release deal does not put the safety Jewish people in Ireland at risk, a spokesperson for President Michael D Higgins has said.

Prosecutors in Rome have opened an investigation against prime minister Giorgia Meloni and two government ministers for repatriating a Libyan warlord wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague.

Caroline Kennedy has urged the US Senate to reject the nomination of her cousin, Robert F Kennedy Jr, to be health secretary, calling him a &predator& who is addicted to power.