Paraic O'Brien , Correspondent

One of the writers of Sesame Street has claimed he based two of them, the flatmates Bert and Ernie, on himself and his boyfriend.

There was evidence in Strasbourg today that Brexit isn’t the EU’s only problem. A defiant Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, turned up in person at the European Parliament to defend his government from accusations it is undermining democracy.

The fate of Idlib, Syria’s last rebel-held area, is in the balance after the leaders of Iran and Russia backed an offensive to recapture it.

India’s top court has handed down a landmark victory for gay rights in the world’s largest democracy. A law dating back to British colonial rule – which made gay sex a criminal offence punishable by up to ten years in prison – has been struck down.

Irish survivors of Catholic abuse who held a private meeting with the Pope yesterday have said he appeared to have no knowledge of the notorious Magdalene Laundries, where women who had children outside marriage were locked up and their babies taken from them.

Pope Francis may have a global reputation for humility and integrity. Even so, he has his work cut out in an Ireland that has stepped over the shadow of deference. Irish society has changed fundamentally and abuse scandals have shredded the church’s moral authority. Pope Francis did address that in today’s visit – speaking of…

The last time a Pope visited Ireland, it was John Paul II in 1979. Almost half the population turned out to see him. Back then around nine out of ten Irish Catholics would attend weekly mass. Contraception, divorce and abortion were illegal. It will be a very different Ireland Pope Francis will visit this time. While there…

At the Detroit church where she first played the piano, at Harlem’s Apollo Theatre, on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, and at her childhood home in Memphis, fans have gathered to remember Aretha Franklin, laying flowers and tributes in her honour. In Detroit, where the singer spent most of her life, she had become their favourite daughter. Few people,…

It is a city in the shadow of gun violence: a city where 345 people have been murdered so far this year – the majority of them, killed by guns.

They had planned to march on Washington DC … white nationalists displaying a show of force, to mark one year since their violent rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.They had planned to march on Washington DC. White nationalists displaying a show of force, to mark one year since their violent rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. But just a handful turned up for last night’s ‘Unite The Right’ demonstration – overwhelmed by thousands of counter-protesters.

The former White House staffer Omarosa Manigault Newman has claimed the Trump administration is “one where everybody lies” – and released a secret tape she recorded of Chief of Staff John Kelly as he fired her from her job inside the Situation Room. Earlier, President Trump described Ms Newman as “lowlife” – after she described…

The administration has imposed fresh sanctions on Russia in retaliation for the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury in March.

Rick Gates, a high-ranking former member of Trump’s campaign team, has admitted in federal court that he committed financial crimes with his former boss, Paul Manafort.  

President Trump is facing an investigation into Russian involvement in the election two years ago by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. He’s been talking about it on Twitter – and one tweet in particular seems to be causing more trouble that most.

In Italy, two months after the formation of a populist coalition government in which they share power with the Five Star Movement, the Lega party have been staging their annual convention.