Westmeath’s Kevin Maguire and Armagh’s Rory Grugan have their eyes on the ball during last weekend's game at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds. Some loyal Westmeath servants possibly facing ‘last hurrah’ on home soilBy Gerry Buckley“It’s déjà vu all over again” is a comical sentence attributed to the late and hugely-respected New York Yankees baseball player, Yogi Berra. Subs used: Tomo Culhane for Finnerty (inj., 7 mins), John Maher for Culhane (46), Damien Comer for Burke (55), Paul Kelly for Walsh (inj., 69), Seán Fitzgerald for Hernon (70+3). Westmeath: Jason Daly; Jack Smith, Kevin Maguire, James Dolan; Jamie Gonoud, Ronan Wallace, Andy McCormack; Sam Duncan, Ray Connellan; Sam McCartan, Ronan O’Toole, David Lynch; Luke Loughlin, John Heslin, Stephen Smith. Subs used: Jonathan Lynam for Duncan (inj., 20 mins), David Giles for J Smith (inj., 47), Senan Baker for S Smith (48), Eoin Mulvihill for Gonoud (55), Conor Dillon for McCormack (64).

By Bret Stephens / The New York Times CompanyLast week’s announcements by the governments of Ireland, Norway and Spain that they will recognize a Palestinian state are drawing predictable reactions from predictable quarters. For now, it’s enough to note the Spanish government’s sheer nerve. Although Spanish public opinion overwhelmingly supports swift recognition of Palestinian statehood, it’s another story when it comes to Spain’s own independence movements. In 2017, the regional government of Catalonia held a referendum, declared illegal by Spain’s Constitutional Court, on the question of Catalan independence. There are many other independence movements throughout Europe, from Scotland to Flanders to Corsica and the Balkans.

Robbie Henshaw will be in Tullamore on June 19 to launch a major Croke Park abseil fundraiser for the Dochas Offaly Cancer Support Group. Rugby star Robbie Henshaw to launch Offaly cancer charity's fundraiserLeinster and Ireland rugby star Robbie Henshaw will be coming to Tullamore next month to launch a major fundraiser for the Dochas Offaly Cancer Support Group. Robbie Henshaw will formally launch the initiative on Wednesday, June 19, at 8pm in The Old Warehouse Tullamore. A total of 100 fundraising participants will have the opportunity to support the Dochas Offaly Cancer Support Group by abseiling from the roof of the Hogan Stand in Croke Park on October 19. You can hear from Robbie Henshaw about the challenge, and there will be opportunity on the night to sign up for the event.

Tech giants working closely on AI compliance, says Data Protection CommissionThe world's leading internet firms are engaging extensively with regulators in the European Union to ensure their artificial-intelligence products do not fall foul of data protection rules, Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) has said. AI operators also need to explain that they can ensure individuals' data rights, including the right to erase their data. "There has been extensive engagement" from leading US tech firms including Google, Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn and OpenAI, Dale Sunderland, one of the DPC's two commissioners, said. From next months, AI model operators will have to comply with the EU's landmark new AI Act, but they will also have to comply with the EU's key data protection law, the General Data Protection Regulation, which can impose fines of up to 4 per cent of a firm's total global turnover. "The power of national regulators, including us, is quite broad," the DPC's chair and commissioner Des Hogan said.

SSE Airtricity announces price decrease for electricity and gas customersMuireann DuffySSE Airtricity has announced it is to cut its standard household energy prices. A 10 per cent price decrease will be applied to both domestic electricity and gas rates from the beginning of July. The announcement will affect around 250,000 electricity and 90,000 gas customers nationwide. According to comparison website Bonkers.ie, the reductions will see the average electricity customer save around €150 per year, while gas customers will save in the region of just over €100. "We are happy to be able to announce a price decrease today, following our most recent price decrease in February," SSE Airtricity's managing director Klair Neenan said.

The bid cliff-edge coincides with today’s South African elections so an extension may be a wise course. A number of radical ideas seem to be on the table although political uncertainty, in South Africa and now in Britain, are key factors. Takeover tussle: Anglo American's Kumba iron ore operations in South Africa. It argues that its divestment plan for quoted South African offshoots avoids the execution risk of BHP ownership. City panjandrum Chambers and Anglo chief executive Duncan Wanblad deserve credit for keeping BHP at arms length.

Labour has refused to commit to the NatWest share sale, saying it will ‘review the details’ if the party wins the General Election. In a blow to the bank and ordinary investors, the sale that was planned for later this summer has been put on ice until after the vote on July 4. It would have been the largest sell-off to the public since Royal Mail listed on the stock exchange in 2013. Abandoning the sale is ‘a missed opportunity to encourage more people to develop a long-term saving and investment habit,’ he added. ‘Indeed, it would be symbolic for a new Labour government to sell the shares, given NatWest was effectively put under government control by the previous Labour administration,’ he said.

Shinrone NS pupils pictured last week at the ESB Science Blast in Limerick. Young science stars from Offaly light up ESB Science Blast in LimerickShinrone NS in Offaly was among a group of 106 primary schools around the country which recently took part in the sixth annual ESB Science Blast in Limerick. The Science Blast event is the RDS Foundation’s flagship Science and Technology Programme. "In developing ESB Science Blast we wanted an event that would be informative, inclusive and, above all, a really fun and engaging learning experience. Following the Limerick dates, ESB Science Blast will also take place in Belfast on June 4 next.

Ireland’s 13-year-olds have fewer friends and more problems interacting with peers, according to new research. A study by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) shows, however, that they are also getting on better with their parents. It draws on data from the Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) study, comparing 13-year-olds in 2011/12 and 2021/22. Young people reported having smaller friendship groups than previously, with 53% having three or fewer close friends compared with 41% some 10 years previously. In addition, mothers are more likely to report that 13-year-olds have problems interacting with peers.

Toyota has not been as quick as other carmakers to move towards electric vehicles but does offer some options in the category for customers. Emboldened by robust hybrid car sales, Toyota and its partners say fuel-burning engines have a role to play even as the industry shifts to battery electric cars in a global push to decarbonize. Last year, Mr Sato vowed Toyota would sell 1.5 million battery electric cars annually by 2026, and 3.5 million by 2030. Despite the detailed plans to develop new engines, Toyota said it remains committed to EVs. “It’s more about business feasibility, whether it makes economic sense,” Tetsuo Fujiniki, Subaru’s chief technology officer, said.

Humphreys ‘not thinking of introducing national service’Gráinne Ní Aodha, PAMinister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said she is not considering implementing a form of compulsory national service as has been promised by the Tories in the UK. The unemployment rate is around 4.4 per cent, but rises to around 8 per cent for young people. “The youth unemployment rate is at 8.8 per cent, which is down from 12 per cent pre-Covid,” she said on Tuesday. We’ll either help you upskill, we’ll retrain you, we’ll introduce you to apprenticeship schemes, we’ll give you the back to work help extra pay when you engage. Employers across multiple sectors and representatives of Ibec attended the launch of the charter in Accenture’s Dublin office.

He will then transition back to the under-21s for friendlies against Croatia and England. Andrew Moran, Bosun Lawal & Josh Keeley will all train with the Men’s Senior Team before linking up with Jim Crawford’s Ireland U21 squad ahead of their upcoming fixtures 🙌🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/wKB75SGnlk — Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) May 28, 2024The midfielder spent the 2023/34 campaign on-loan at Fleetwood Town which seen him prosper by playing 46 times in all competitions despite the Cod Army being relegated down to English League Two. READ MORE: James Forrest eager to emulate Celtic form with Scotland after call-upHere is the Ireland squad in full:Goalkeepers - Kelleher, Travers, O'Leary, HarringtonDefenders - Coleman, Doherty, Duffy, O'Shea, O'Brien, Omobamidele, Scales, Brady, StevensMidfielders - Cullen, Azaz, Knight, McGrath, O'Dowda, Smallbone, Sykes, JohnstonForwards - Szmodics, Idah, Parrott, Obafemi, Cannon

Diamonds have been the core of Anglo American since the modern company was created by Ernest Oppenheimer nearly a century ago. The allure of diamonds has been surpassed by the work-a-place copper – a metal less regarded than more decorative rivals such as platinum, silver and gold. Copper mania has left De Beers and diamonds as an orphan asset in a mining world where metals are the real stars. The challenge for De Beers is how to preserve the rarity and cache of mined diamonds. In contrast to the struggles of diamonds the allure of copper, amid surging global demand, has never been greater.

Minister defends Government’s policies despite emissions targets projectionsBy Cate McCurry, PAMinister for the Environment, Eamon Ryan has defended the Government’s climate policies, saying it can meet its emission targets despite a report stating that Ireland will not reduce greenhouse gases emissions as set out under law. Minister for Transport, Climate, Environment and Communications Eamon Ryan said that while it is a “real challenge” to meet the targets, he is “absolutely convinced” Ireland will reduce carbon emissions. Under Ireland’s 2021 Climate Act, it has set a target for a 51 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030 when compared with 2018. We know the European Commission and others are the saying we need to meet a 90 per cent reduction by 2040. “It’s not going to meet the climate targets required under the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) and it’s not going to meet the climate targets necessary under the (2021 Climate) Act either.

Cllr John Clendennen, European election candidate Nina Carberry, Taoiseach Simon Harris, local election candidate Hughie Egan and Cllr Neil Feighery. Taoiseach visits Cloghan and Ferbane to canvass for local election candidateAn Taoiseach Simon Harris and European election candidate Nina Carberry visited both Cloghan and Ferbane on Friday last, in order to put their political weight behind Fine Gael's local election candidate Hughie Egan. He assured those present that if they supported Hughie their votes would not be lost as they were supporting a dedicated and approachable candidate. From Cloghan, Mr Harris did a canvass of the Main Street in Ferbane accompanied by Hughie starting from Gleeson's public house. The Taoiseach also responded to issues in rural Ireland and the now regulatory environment affecting agriculture.