LAST UPDATE | 4 Mar 2025

GOOD MORNING.

Here’s all the news that you need to know as you start your day.

US suspends Ukraine aid

1. The United States has suspended military aid for Ukraine, as the reverberations from last week’s disastrous White House meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy continue.

Dáil committees delayed

2. As a result of the row about speaking rights for the Regional Independent TDs, committees like PAC will not be able to scrutinise the work of public bodies until late April/early May. 

Climate crisis 

3. Ireland could face up to €26 billion in extra payments within the EU if it doesn’t act swiftly to avoid missing legally binding climate targets, a new report has warned the government.

Trade wars 

4. Donald Trump’s long-threatened tariffs against Canada and Mexico finally have come into effect today, putting global markets on edge and setting up costly retaliations by the United States’ neighbours.  

Ukraine-US row

5. US Vice President JD Vance has accused Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of “needling” Donald Trump and having a “certain sense of entitlement” as the US President paused aid to Ukraine.

Northern Ireland missiles 

6. Northern Ireland’s First Minister has said she is “incredulous” at a large order for a Belfast plant to supply missiles for Ukraine.

Gas reserve 

7. Energy Minister Darragh O’Brien is expected to seek Government approval to create a State-led “strategic gas emergency reserve”.

Lock boxes

8. Dublin City Council has agreed to back a measure that will see lock boxes removed from public realm spaces.

‘ReArm Europe’

9. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced plans to “massively boost” member states’ defence spending, declaring “we are in an era of rearmament”.