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President Michael D. Higgins has appealed to countries that have withdrawn funding from a relief agency in Gaza to “think again” and provide support to help avoid a “catastrophe”. Several countries have frozen funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) while a review of Israeli allegations that some of its staff took part in the Hamas attack on 7 October is under way. UNRWA has 13,000 staff in Gaza and helps to educate 30,000 children. In a statement released today, Mr. Higgins urged the countries, including the UK and Germany, to revoke their decision. Mr....

Financial news publisher Forbes says it’s apologizing to Ireland’s president for inaccurately describing him as gay in an online article. The New York-based media company pulled the offending piece from its website Wednesday and replaced it with an apology to readers and, indirectly, to President Michael D. Higgins. … The article, posted Tuesday by Ireland-based blogger David Monagan, called Higgins an “acknowledged homosexual.” Higgins, a poet and intellectual who supports gay rights, was elected as Ireland’s ceremonial head of state in 2011. …

Irish President Michael Higgins is under fire following an interview with the Financial Times in which he said that the EU was “hegemonic” and faces a “moral crisis” as much as an economic one. He also urged the European Central Bank to reform or risk social upheaval and a loss of popular legitimacy. He has attracted the ire of critics who say he has overstepped the constitutional limits of his office. …