Joe Biden

In Russia’s Vladimir Putin, US president Joe Biden faces a foe far less rational than Nikita Khrushchev

For 60 years, the Cuban Missile Crisis has been shorthand for staring down the barrel of nuclear oblivion. For much of the postwar period, it seemed to be as close as the world would ever get to annihilation.

Editorial Opinion Nobel Prize purveyors of peace are needed more than ever as the darkness of Ukraine war hangs over Europe

President Joe Biden warns us the potential for Armageddon is closer than it has been for 60 years. Just hours later, the Nobel Peace Prize is announced. It went, of course, to an imprisoned Belarusian human rights advocate Ales Bialiatski and two human rights organisations – one Russian and the other Ukrainian.

US president Joe Biden gives pardon to thousands over marijuana offences

President Joe Biden took steps to overhaul US policy on marijuana yesterday by pardoning thousands of people with federal offences for simple marijuana possession and initiating a review of how the drug is classified.

US and South Korea respond to North Korea’s missile over Japan with precision bombing drills

American and South Korean fighter jets conducted precision bombing drills yesterday in a sharp rebuke to North Korea after it fired a ballistic missile over Japan.

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Sebastian Mallaby Opinion The inflation vacation is ending and it’s going to be painful despite Liz Truss and Joe Biden’s efforts

For several days of Britain’s financial meltdown, Prime Minister Liz Truss offered no comment. The Independent newspaper led Thursday with her picture under a snarky headline: “MISSING: HAVE YOU SEEN THIS PM?” Then Truss did comment, choosing local radio stations as an unthreatening venue.

Florida still devastated by force of Hurricane Ian four days later

Rescuers evacuated stunned survivors on a large island cut off by Hurricane Ian and Florida’s death toll climbed sharply, as hundreds of thousands of people were still sweltering without power days after the monster storm rampaged up the coast.

Irish pensions are sitting out the pivot into climate proofing investments and are missing out as a result, expert claims

Irish pension managers have been slower than peers to shift to environmentally focused investment, and losing out as a result, according to a senior industry figure.

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Elizabeth Strout’s triumphant Lucy by the Sea relives Covid pandemic at a safe distance

Towards the end of Lucy by the Sea, Elizabeth Strout’s latest novel, the eponymous Lucy observes: “We are all in lockdown, all the time. We just don’t know it, that’s all”.

We must not take Ireland and America’s ‘unique’ relationship for granted, says influential US politician

A leading Irish-American politician has warned the “unique relationship” between Ireland and the US should not be taken for granted.

Hurricane Ian: Florida’s beach towns ripped up by destructive power

It was the sight of a grey Ford Mustang floating past Gage Long’s second-floor window, which made him step out on to the balcony for a better look at the damage Hurricane Ian was inflicting.

Florida suffers ‘historic’ damage from Hurricane Ian

Emergency crews took to helicopters and boats yesterday to rescue residents of Florida’s Gulf Coast stranded by floodwaters, downed power lines and piles of debris left behind by Hurricane Ian’s destructive march.

Saudi prince names himself PM in apparent bid to dodge lawsuit

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been appointed prime minister of Saudi Arabia, in an apparent bid to shield him from a US lawsuit over the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.

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Truth or bluff? Why Vladimir Putin’s nuclear warnings have the West more worried than we might believe

President Vladimir Putin's latest warning that he is ready to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia amid the war in Ukraine has made a troubling question much more urgent: Is the former KGB spy bluffing?

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Joseph Cirincione Opinion Vladimir Putin says his nuclear threat is no bluff – we should believe him

Russian president Vladimir Putin is losing his war. If the Ukrainians continue to liberate areas of their country from his invading army, would he use nuclear weapons as he has threatened? If so, how? And what would be the US response?

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Brendan O'Connor Opinion Isn’t it funny how things turn out, all the same?

I bumped into me from 10 years ago yesterday. He was as surprised to see me as I was to see him.

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Luke O'Neill Opinion Covid, flu and respiratory viruses: Is a perfect storm heading our way this winter?

We are about to enter a third winter with Covid-19. It might be difficult to remember, it certainly is for me, but this time three years ago there was no such thing as Covid-19. The Sars-CoV-2 virus was still in a bat in China somewhere and from what we currently know had yet to jump into a human and kick-start the worst pandemic in 100 years, causing at least six million deaths — although a recent estimate puts the death toll at over 22 million.

White House suspends use of term ‘special relationship’ with Britain

It was a phrase coined by Winston Churchill, and has been used by successive British prime ministers over the intervening decades to describe the UK’s strong bond with America.

Covid hospital admissions on the rise but it’s unclear if new wave is on way

Hospital admissions of patients with Covid-19 have risen slightly over the last week, but it is unclear if this signal the start of another wave.

Simon Coveney invites US President Joe Biden to visit Ireland ‘soon’

Foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney has invited US President Joe Biden to visit Ireland “soon”.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin doesn’t expect to meet Joe Biden during US trip

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he doesn’t expect to meet US President Joe Biden during his two day trip to the US.

Biden denounces Putin over ‘brutal, needless war’and urges nations to stand firm in backing Ukraine

US president Joe Biden declared at the United Nations on Wednesday that Russia has “shamelessly violated the core tenets” of the international body with its war in Ukraine as he summoned nations around the globe to stand firm in backing the Ukrainian resistance.

Lettes to the Editor Opinion In the clear light of day, UK prime minister Liz Truss has a difficult job ahead

While many people were engrossed in the pageantry and military precision that marked the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth, I wondered what the total cost to the UK taxpayer for all of this will be?

Editorial Opinion Putin’s threat to press the nuclear button cannot be dismissed

An embattled Vladimir Putin suddenly looks like an increasingly dangerous man who could wreak havoc in our daily lives. He has raised the stakes in his illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine, a move that suggests Russia is losing and therefore prepared to resort to more extreme methods – including the use of nuclear weapons in war for the first time since 1945.

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Mary McCarthy Opinion It feels like the Covid pandemic is over, but we should all move forward with a booster in our arms

It’s understandable that some people eligible for their second booster may not have bothered . It feels like the pandemic is over – US president Joe Biden said this week it was – and most of us are well over the fear.

US president Joe Biden pledges to send troops if China ever invades Taiwan

US president Joe Biden has said the United States would send soldiers to defend Taiwan if it was invaded by China.

Well-wishers camp overnight to get a front-row view of farewell to Queen Elizabeth

QUEEN Elizabeth will today be laid to rest with her husband, the late Prince Philip, as the world gathers to hear tributes to her dignity, courage, and “long life of selfless service”.

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Joe Biden biography highlights complex path from family tragedy to the White House

The Bidens Ben Schreckinger Twelve, €18.99

Joe Biden enjoys big popularity boost but worries over economy persist

President Joe Biden’s popularity improved substantially from his lowest point this summer, but concerns about his handling of the economy persist, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Centre for Public Affairs Research.

Republicans ‘using migrants as pawns’ by transporting them across US to Martha’s Vineyard and Washington, DC

Ron DeSantis, the Republican governor of Florida, sent two planeloads of illegal immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard, the affluent Massachusetts island that is home to Barack Obama and a host of other public figures.

Emotional Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky visits newly liberated towns and vows victory

Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday vowed he would lead Ukraine to victory in its war against Russia as he visited recently recaptured towns – while pro-Russian officials claimed to have halted Kyiv’s forces for now.