As wildfires rage through the Brazilian Amazon, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has said Dublin will vote against a trade deal between the European Union and South American trade bloc Mercosur unless Brazil takes action to protect the rainforest.
Varadkar said in a statement he was very concerned at the record levels of rainforest destruction and said the Irish government would closely monitor Brazil’s environmental actions in the two years until the Mercosur deal is ratified.
Vast tracts of the Amazon are currently ablaze in what is known as the burning season. Environmentalists have blamed deforestation for an increase in fires and accuse Brazil’s right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro on cutting protection of an area deemed crucial in combating climate change.
Varadkar said Bolsonaro’s effort to blame non-government environmental organisations for the fires was “Orwellian”.
Via Reuters / Irish Times
31st October 2026
For governments facing rising demands on public services and constrained resources, artificial intelligence is moving from technological promise to practical tool.
Malta is putting th...
30th October 2026
The world’s leading cruise operators are reporting strong earnings despite rising fuel prices, but Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line are taking different approaches to ...
30th October 2026
Updated 1120
Malta’s economy shows mixed signals as property market slows
Malta’s economy is showing mixed signs, with strong tourism spending and consumer confidence contrasting w...
29th October 2026
Updated 1140
Malta Marks 105 Years of Parliamentary History with Commemorative Plaque: Malta’s Parliament has commemorated 105 years of parliamentary history with the unveiling of a p...
25th June 2026
The European Commission has unveiled an ambitious package of tax reforms aimed at simplifying tax rules across the European Union, reducing compliance burdens for businesses and strength...
10th June 2026
The European Union's new Migration and Asylum Pact enters into force on 12 June, ushering in the most significant reform of the bloc's migration framework in years and placing renewed em...
31st October 2026
For governments facing rising demands on public services and constrained resources, artificial intelligence is moving from technological promise to practical tool.
Malta is putting th...
30th October 2026
The world’s leading cruise operators are reporting strong earnings despite rising fuel prices, but Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line are taking different approaches to ...
11th October 2026
What began last year as a blood donation initiative involving six companies is expanding into a broader corporate effort, with three additional companies joining this...
10th October 2026
Artificial intelligence is rapidly moving up the boardroom agenda, raising an important question for non-executive directors: are boards equipped to oversee the transformation AI is brin...
31st October 2026
For governments facing rising demands on public services and constrained resources, artificial intelligence is moving from technological promise to practical tool.
Malta is putting th...
30th October 2026
Malta will host a high-level gathering of European healthcare leaders on 26 November, as the inaugural HekaTech Health 2026 conference brings together policymakers, regulators, industry ...
3rd September 2026
Fears of renewed escalation gripped the Middle East on Wednesday after the United States and Iran exchanged their biggest barrage since July, with Washington striking Iran's southern co...
4th August 2026
President Donald Trump announced late Saturday that he had called off planned U.S. strikes on Iran, saying renewed negotiations had raised hopes of easing the conflict and reopening ship...
25th June 2026
At least 32 people have been killed and more than 700 injured after two powerful earthquakes — measuring 7.2 and 7.5 — struck central Venezuela seconds apart, causing widespread destruct...
25th February 2026
Thousands of Cuban security personnel have begun leaving Caracas after nearly two decades in Venezuela, as Washington ramps up efforts to dismantle the long standing alliance between the...
15th October 2026
Ukraine said Thursday it struck a Russian oil refinery and damaged six Russian warplanes at an airfield, resuming attacks on Russian energy infrastructure after President Volodymyr Zelen...
14th October 2026
Ukrainian drones hit Russia's biggest data centre, owned by the country's largest bank and technology company, Sberbank, but did not disrupt its operations, a senior company executive ...