Quarterly operating profit for Disney’s parks business unit fell 3 per cent compared with a year ago, to $2.2 billion (€2 billion). READ MORE“The lower income consumer is feeling a bit of stress, the higher income consumer is travelling internationally a bit more,” Disney chief executive Bob Iger told investors on a call. Mr Iger praised the progress in the entertainment businesses, which had been suffering from a dearth of box office hits and losses at its streaming services. After a scarcity of breakout hits at the box office in 2022 and 2023 – including by Pixar and Marvel – Mr Iger last year called for a focus on quality over quantity. Marvel’s Deadpool and Wolverine, released on July 26th, has been a breakout hit with nearly $900 million in box office revenues ahead of its third weekend.

Government approves Bill to allow judge-recommended minimum jail termsBy Gráinne Ní Aodha, PAThe Government has approved proposals to give judges the discretion to recommend minimum jail terms for those sentenced to life imprisonment. Treason and murder are subject to mandatory life sentences in Ireland. Minister for Justice Helen McEntee published the general scheme of the draft laws, called the Life Sentences Bill 2024 on Wednesday. “Judges will be able to recommend minimum terms of 25, 30 years or even longer where that is warranted,” she said. But at the moment, the only people eligible for parole are those on life sentences.

Radisson RED Galway will be the first ever Radisson RED in Ireland, bringing this upscale brand that presents a playful twist on the conventional to its new home in Crown Square. Radisson RED Galway is an eight-storey building with stunning views from the rooftop bar and terrace, and a lavish ground floor restaurant and bar. Minutes from the motorways to Dublin and Limerick, Radisson RED Galway has 177 rooms in the signature and vibrant Radisson RED style, and over 560 square metres of meeting and event space. Radisson RED hotels are to be found in major cities throughout the world, from Vienna, Brussels and Madrid to Dubai and Capetown, with properties in the UK including the multi award-winning Radisson RED Glasgow, and the flagship Radisson RED Liverpool. * Radisson RED Galway is located at Crown Square, Joyce’s Road, Galway H91 H5PX, Info.galway@radissonred.com Instagram: @radissonredgalway, Facebook, Radisson RED Galway https://www.radissonhotels.com/redgalway

Poland's world-record holder Aleksandra Miroslaw won the women's speed climbing on Wednesday to claim her country's first gold medal at the Paris Games in the sport's Olympic debut as a stand-alone event. At the Le Bourget venue on Wednesday, she did the vertical run in 6.10 seconds, beating China's Deng Lijuan in a photo finish. "It's the first time for speed climbing and ... Her compatriot Aleksandra Kalucka won the bronze medal with a time of 6.53s. Earlier, the men's lead semi-finals determined the final eight athletes to vie for gold in the combined boulder and lead competition on Friday.

Competitors during the Women's 10km marathon swim in the Seine river at Pont Alexandre III on Day 13 of the Paris Olympics. Photo: David Davies/PA WireIreland's Kate O'Connor (second from left) in action against (left to right) Tori West of Australia, GB's Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Xenia Krizsan of Hungary in heat 1 of the women's heptathlon 100m hurdles. Ireland’s Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow look to make up for disappointing opening rounds at Le Golf National this morning, with both at six over par. The order of heptathlon competition today is 100m hurdles (9.05am), high jump (10.05am), shot (6.35pm), 200m (7.55pm). She will return to action tomorrow in the long jump, javelin and 800m.

The chief of the Operation Kenova probe said it appeared the files contain “significant new material which appears to point to new investigative leads not previously known”. In a statement, PSNI chief constable Jon Boutcher said: “It is unacceptable that MI5 continue to provide material to the Operation Kenova Team so long after they undertook to have given full access to Kenova of all the material they held about the agent Stakeknife. The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) in Northern Ireland found there was insufficient evidence to pursue any cases. Mr Boutcher said that he is concerned about an “unhelpful protectionist approach to disclosure” in relation to Northern Ireland legacy issues from intelligence authorities. “Importantly the material does not indicate further murders of individuals that involved the agent Stakeknife and as such no further deaths would fall into the Operation Kenova Terms of Reference based on the now disclosed material,” he said.

The Skoda Kodiaq exudes comfort and quality, but the selection plus represents a more realistic price point than more expensive Kodiaq models.

Olympics Stephen Nedoroscik Got Drug Tested After His Iconic Pommel Horse RoutineTom Weller/VOIGT/GettyImagesNedoroscik noted that he had a "really long day" waiting prior to his performance. Days later, Nedoroscik earned bronze again in the men's pommel horse final, finishing behind Ireland's Rhys McClenaghan and Kazakhstan's Nariman Kurbanov. While reflecting back on his achievements, Nedoroscik noted that he was "surprised" by how he managed the nerves during the Olympics. "I totally thought that the pressure was going to be so much more intense," Nedoroscik told Teen Vogue on Tuesday, August 6. "But somehow when I went up to that pommel horse [on Saturday], I literally just enjoyed the moment and performed."

Wiffen looking forward to swimming beside Eiffel Tower in his final race on FridayDouble Olympic medallist Daniel Wiffen has said he is committed to becoming “the best distance ­athlete ever” after his success in Paris. Speaking to Radio Nova’s ­Morning Glory with PJ and Jim, he said he has looked at his gold medal “every day” since it was put around his neck. He told hosts PJ Gallagher and Jim McCabe he shed a tear when he received the gold medal on the Olympic podium as it was an “unreal experience”. “I just want to swim next to the Eiffel Tower, I think that would be pretty cool,” Wiffen said. Obviously, I’ve never done one before, but we’ll see what happens.”On his gold medal, he said: “You pick it up, you sleep with it.

Photo: Reuters/Isabel InfantesIreland's Stephanie Meadow of Team Ireland tees off on the first hole during day one of the women's individual stroke play at Le Golf National in Paris today. Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty ImagesIreland's Sarah Lavin after finishing second in her heat of the women's 100m hurdles heats at the Stade de France today. REUTERS/Phil Noble ​Ireland's Jack Woolley (right) and Azerbaijan's Gashim Magomedov during the men's Taekwondo -58kg Round of 16 bout at the Grand Palais today. Photo: John Walton/PA WireJack Woolley, right, in action against Adrian Vincente Yunta during the men's -58kg Repechage at the Grand Palais during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France. However, he was beaten by Spain’s Adrian Vincente Yunta over two rounds.

Nichola Fryday and her fiance Stuart TownsendOffaly native former rugby captain Nichola Fryday announces engagementBy Rebekah O'ReillyOffaly native former rugby captain Nichola Fryday has announced her engagement to fellow player Stuart Townsend. It appears the couple got engaged in Nichola's native Offaly, with the pair posing for a picture outside Dan and Molly's thatched pub in Kilcormac. Taking to Instagram to share the news, she wrote: "The boy I’d like to couple up with is… 02.08.2024"Many Irish rugby players, including Aoibheann Reilly and Aoife Wafer, sent their congratulations to the happy couple in the comments. The couple have been together for several years and both currently play for Exeter Chiefs in the UK. Nichola, who is from Offaly, retired from international rugby in July 2023 after earning 34 caps for Ireland since her 2016 debut.

The National Cyber Security Centre’s report and the Assistant Garda Commissioner Michael McElgunn’s remarks on the security risks facing the State should be wake-up calls for the public and private sectors. Cybersecurity is everybody’s business. The old adage “a chain is only as strong as its weakest link” is even more pertinent in today’s interconnected digital world. Europe’s and Ireland’s digital infrastructures are dangerously exposed to Russian attacks. An order from the Kremlin could unleash attacks that would instantly wreak damage and social suffering.

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Persistently sticking to explicit “rules”, even ones that are inherently arbitrary, can play an important role in changing behaviour and perceptions. Visible adherence to rules by governments and central banks can also help restore credibility, regain influence and increase the probability of their preferred outcomes. Yet, there are also situations in which the configuration of some rules can get in the way of good decision-making. READ MORE[ Banks’ profit surge on higher rates may mask challenges, Central Bank warnsOpens in new window ]Such rules have been effective. The US and Europe also find themselves stuck with rules that, while well-meaning, need some reform.

Minister for Finance Jack Chambers has acknowledged that a sharp fall in corporation tax followed strong returns up to this point last year. This indicates “ongoing strong consumer spending” according to Peter Vale, tax partner at accountants Grant Thornton. The Department of Finance noted that “July is not a key month for corporation tax”. Mr Vale warned that corporation tax was vulnerable to a US recession or broader economic downturn, particularly as the Republic relies heavily on a small number of multinationals for much of it. Mr Chambers acknowledged that a sharp fall in corporation tax followed strong returns up to this point last year.