Following the detention of a UNIFIL Peacekeeper earlier today, Óglaigh na hÉireann can confirm that all Irish personnel deployed in Southern Lebanon are well and accounted for. All necessary force protection measures continue be to observed. We condemn any interference of UNIFIL personnel carrying out their mandated taskings and remind all parties of their responsibility to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers. Read UNIFIL's statement at the link below.  t.me/UNIFIL_Lebanon

Just had a short call with POTUS: He declined to say how he is feeling about negotiations: “I can't tell you, because right now we're in heated negotiations.” He declined to weigh in on Pakistan’s 2 week deadline extension request – saying he’s about to be briefed fully on it - but said: “I can say this - that I know him very well. He's a highly respected man, all over” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says, "The President has been made been aware of the proposal, and a response will come."

UNIFIL says that IDF detained one of its peacekeepers “after blocking a logistics convoy”

Vice President JD Vance shows of his note muted St Patrick’s Day socks as he welcomes the Taoiseach for traditional breakfast at his residence @rtenews

Handover time at RTÉ Washington 🤝 @seanwhelanRTE

Indian PM thanking European leaders as Gaeilge following India-EU free trade agreement

Dublin traffic is chaotic this morning due to the rain/flooding. Below is the R825 to Clonskeagh - impassable. Don’t use a Maps app!

Clearly running: — Beshear — Buttigieg — Emanuel — Newsom — Shapiro Seems likely: — Booker — Harris — Kelly — Khanna — Murphy — Pritzker Wouldn’t be surprised: — Gallego — Moore — AOC — Van Hollen Unlikely: — Whitmer Depends on 2026: — Ossoff — Warnock Wildcard: — Stewart

Some professional and personal news… 🕵🏻‍♀️ It is such a privilege to take up the role of RTÉ’s Washington Correspondent, especially during such a pivotal moment in American history. I cannot wait to get started.

California Governor Gavin Newsom tells Europeans "they’ve been played" by Trump. Heading into the opening of the World Economic Forum in Davos he says Europeans "need to stand tall, stand firm, stand united!" "This is not diplomacy, it‘s stupidity!" Trump to speak at WEF tomorrow.

In two predawn operations today, the Coast Guard conducted back-to-back meticulously coordinated boarding of two “ghost fleet”  tanker ships— one in the North Atlantic Sea and one in international waters near the Caribbean.  Both vessels —the Motor Tanker Bella I and the Motor Taker Sophia—were either last docked in Venezuela or en route to it. Under President Trump’s bold and visionary leadership, US Coast Guard tactical teams worked closely with its counterparts at the Departments of War, Department of Justice and State and used their specialized expertise to conduct these operations and conduct two safe, effective boardings within hours of each other. One of these tankers, Motor Tanker Bella I, has been trying to evade the Coast Guard for weeks, even changing its flag and painting a new name on the hull while being pursued, in a desperate and failed attempt to escape justice. The heroic crew of the USCGC Munro pursued this vessel across the high seas and through treacherous storms— keeping diligent watch, and protecting our country with the determination and patriotism that make Americans proud.  These brave men and women deserve our nation’s thanks for their selfless devotion to duty. The world’s criminals are on notice. You can run, but you can’t hide. We will never relent in our mission to protect the American people and disrupt the funding of narco terrorism wherever we find it, period. This is our country’s greatest fighting force at their best. This is America first at sea.

Also worth noting that the US intercepted another Venezuela-linked tanker this morning. USSOUTHCOM released footage of the sanctioned Panama-flagged vessel being seized 👇

US European Command says seizure of the vessel supports the US President's "proclamation targeting sanctioned vessels that threaten the security and stability of the Western Hemisphere".

Russian state-owned media is reporting that U.S. Special Forces are currently trying to board and seize the Russian-flagged Iranian-linked sanctioned crude oil tanker, Marinera, in the Northern Atlantic.

RT @NatashaBertrand: The US is making plans to try to intercept a fleeing oil tanker that Russia has claimed ownership of, according to fou…

Trump says United States has 'captured' Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife following a large scale strike. Extraordinary.

Discussing the changing face of Irish America with @rtenews' @jackiefox_ is: Ruairí Barnwell (@RuairiBarnwell) Larry Donnelly (@LarryPDonnelly) Senator Mark Daly (@SenatorMarkDaly) Linda Dorcena Forry (@ldforry) #KennedySummerSchool #JFKSS

Spoke with @jackiefox_ about how NATO allies have learned to navigate the delicate diplomacy with Trump #natosummit2025 rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22…

President Trump on Israel and Iran: "We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the fuck they’re doing."