Leo Varadkar is set to be elected Irish prime minister for the second time on Saturday, taking over from Micheál Martin under a novel rotation agreement struck between their two parties - once sworn rivals - in a 2020 coalition deal.
Martin resigned on Saturday ahead of a vote in parliament to elect Varadkar, who was prime minister from 2017 to 2020. Martin will become deputy prime minister until a scheduled 2025 election and is also expected to be appointed foreign minister.
The 2020 coalition deal - which also included the smaller Green Party - for the first time united Martin's Fianna Fail and Varadkar's Fine Gael, Ireland's dominant centre-right parties and have led every government since independence a century ago.
"This morning, I visited the president and, pursuant to the relevant provisions of Bunreacht na hÉireann (Constitution of Ireland), I have tendered my resignation from the office of Taoiseach (prime minister)," Martin told parliament.
"It is both a privilege and a responsibility to serve as head of government in a free and democratic republic. I have been deeply conscious of this every day I have held the office of Taoiseach."
Varadkar will again face a years-long housing crisis that cost him a full second term in office and has made the left-wing Sinn Fein clear favourite to come out on top at the next election with a consistently wide lead in opinion polls.
The ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump between Iran and Israel appeared to be holding on Wednesday a day after both countries signalled that their air war had ended, at least for now.
The Ministerial Council of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has denounced the Iranian missile attacks on the Al Udeid air base in Qatar, describing it as a "blatant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty", during an "extraordinary meeting" in Doha.
Astronauts from India, Poland and Hungary have embarked on a two-week science research mission early Wednesday, marking a return to human spaceflight after more than 40 years and the first mission to the International Space Station.
Kenyans are expected to take to the streets in large numbers on Wednesday to mark the one-year anniversary of anti-government protests that culminated in the storming of parliament and several deaths as police opened fire on demonstrators.
A preliminary US intelligence assessment has determined that US strikes over the weekend on Iranian nuclear facilities have only set back Tehran’s programme by a matter of months, three sources told Reuters.
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has expressed solidarity with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani following the Iranian missile strike on Al Udeid air base in Doha.
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has expressed hope that the Iran-Israel ceasefire would serve as a step towards renewed regional security during a call with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker.
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received a phone call on Tuesday from Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, during which he welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel.