Photograph: Noel Sweeney/PA WireA man who was arrested on suspicion of the murder of Michael Gaine (56) in Co Kerry, before being released without charge on Monday, is free to leave the country. The individual, who was known to Mr Gaine, was detained on Sunday and released on Monday night, after being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. Co Kerry farmer Michael Gaine was captured on cameral buying phone credit in Centra, Kenmare, Co Kerry, on Thursday, March 20th. Gardaí were aware of his whereabouts as they had previously spoken to him about Mr Gaine’s disappearance and taken a witness statement from him. He was detained on Sunday afternoon, about 48 hours after partial human remains, believed to be those of Mr Gaine, were discovered.

The European Commission was wrong to refuse to release EU President Ursula von der Leyen’s messages with Pfizer chief Albert Bourla, an EU court has ruled. EU boss von der Leyen has faced scrutiny over claims that she kept secret and deleted text messages with Bourla over Covid vaccine purchases. In 2023, the European Commission was sued by the New York Times over its refusal to release text messages between von der Leyen and the Pfizer boss. Von der Leyen and Bourla had exchanged a number of personal messages, which the commission suggested may have been deleted during the Covid pandemic. Reporters had asked to see the secret messages between von der Leyen and Bourla, which were sent just before a multibillion euro Covid vaccine deal between Pfizer and the EU was reached.

American cardinal Robert Prevost was elected pope by the world's cardinals on the second day of the conclave. He is the first American pontiff.

Since March 18th, when Israel broke a two-month ceasefire by resuming bombardment of the enclave, at least 2,600 more Gazans have perished. Prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu this week called up tens of thousands of Israeli reservists for an “intensive” escalation of the war. Israel’s use of collective punishment, including starvation, and its declared objective of the mass expulsion of Palestinians constitute war crimes. On February 25th, Trump posted an AI-generated video of “Trump Gaza” resort, complete with a gold statue of Trump. In a just world, Putin, Netanyahu and Trump, their enabler, would stand trial for war crimes and complicity in war crimes.

On the Starmer, Merz, Macron, and Tusk quietly forming an alliance:I wonder how much is the people and how vulnerable to change this is. He seems to have held of on Taurus missiles, something he was seemingly guaranteeing he'd send during the election. But I don't think there has been a seismic shift in the German population, things could turn around at the next election. They were hand in hand with Hungary until the Russians invaded Ukraine. Then Macron doesn't always seem serious about working with the UK.

Cityjet has not flown any routes under its own brand since 2018, instead leasing aircraft and crew to other airlinesIf companies were like cats then Cityjet might have just barrelled through the third of its nine lives. The High Court has just appointed Kieran Wallace and Andrew O’Leary of Interpath Advisory Ireland as interim examiners to the airline, once Ireland’s third carrier after Aer Lingus and Ryanair. Now, Cityjet – which joined up with Spain’s Air Nostrum to create a new regional airline group in 2023 – is in trouble once again. Of particular issue are amounts owed to Canadian aircraft lessor EDC, which Cityjet is unable to pay. On Thursday, Mr Justice Michael Quinn appointed the examiners on an interim basis, pending a full hearing of the petition on May 26th, to which any particularly peeved creditors can object.

Photograph: Daragh Mac SweeneyA man who was arrested as part of an international investigation into cybercrime has been jailed for two years for cyber fraud, which included the money laundering of €80,000 in cryptocurrency. READ MOREDet Sgt Wesley Kenny of the Garda National Cyber Crime Unit said that the €80,000 in cryptocurrency money laundered by Mazhar is now worth €200,000. Det Sgt Kenny indicated that Mazhar was questioned by gardaí. Mazhar pleaded guilty to two charges – money laundering and using a computer to commit theft. Det Sgt Kenny agreed that there was no evidence of anyone else being involved in the criminality.

American cardinal Robert Prevost was elected pope by the world's cardinals on the second day of the conclave. He is the first American pontiff.

American cardinal Robert Prevost was elected pope by the world's cardinals on the second day of the conclave. He is the first American pontiff.

American cardinal Robert Prevost was elected pope by the world's cardinals on the second day of the conclave. He is the first American pontiff.

Photograph: Sajjad Qayyum/GettyIndian missiles have struck targets in Pakistan on Tuesday night, the militaries of both countries confirmed in statements. Earlier a Pakistani military spokesman said three died in the attacks and 12 people were wounded. [ Timeline: India-Pakistan clashes are worst between two neighbours in decadesOpens in new window ]Altogether, nine sites were targeted, the Indian military said. It said its actions had been “focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature” and that no Pakistani military facilities were targeted. Multiple loud explosions were heard in the Pakistani Kashmir area close to the mountains around the city of Muzaffarabad after midnight on Tuesday.

The salary for the new head of the Government’s housing activation office will not be “anywhere near” the €430,000 that had been mooted for the position prior to a process to fill it collapsing this week, Fianna Fáil has said. The party’s housing spokesman, Cork South Central TD Seamus McGrath, said the figure of €430,000 was “excessive”. He said State agencies which the new office would interact with did have such powers. She said the new office set up by the Government has no powers sufficient to address the scale of the challenge. Mr Browne, it is understood, has been presented with a paper of options about what to do next drafted by the Housing Agency.

Every other major city in the world has families living in apartments. [ Is the answer to Ireland’s housing crisis more apartments?Opens in new window ]She also loves the sense of privacy that comes with apartment living. “It took me four months to find this place.”Neil Harrington and his daughter Aedín in the playground at their apartment development. He brought a rocking chair with him from the family apartment to “create a sense of consistency” for his daughter when reading bedtime stories to her. “In Ireland, growing up living in a house was a measure of success and we remain predisposed to that idea.

A more combative Dáil, a glacial pace of delivery and a more abrasive politics have marked the first 100 days of Micheál Martin‘s second term as Taoiseach. Political Editor of The Irish Times, Pat Leahy, reviews the beginning of Micheál Martin‘s second term as Taoiseach. Taoiseach Micheál Martin meets US president Donald Trump in the White House on March 12. Micheál Martin is applauded by colleagues in the Dáil after his election as Taoiseach on January 23rd. Ten key events in first 100 days of the Government:January 23rd: Micheál Martin elected Taoiseach and Government formedJanuary 24th: Storm Éowyn leaves hundreds of thousands without power.

Photograph:EPAChay Bowes, an Irishman working for Russian state media, was detained and then deported from Romania on Thursday night. Mr Bowes, who was one of the founders of The Ditch news website before parting ways with the publication, is a correspondent for RT. In a video posted online on Thursday night, Mr Bowes said he had travelled to Romania to cover the country’s presidential election. Mr Bowes claimed he was presented with a document by Romanian authorities which said he was “a threat to the security of the state”. The Irish website featured stories about Mr Bowes and his praise for Russia, along with other material on Ukraine and immigration.