Ireland will assume the EU presidency from July until the end of the year. Attitudes towards Big Tech in other European states are hardening. Irish officials dread the prospect of having to manage a Greenland crisis, or something similar, during their period in the EU hot seat. Striking a deal to revise the union’s strict data-protection rules, new AI regulations and other digital laws may fall to the Irish presidency. The internal document states that Ireland believed the EU should position itself as “a confident, outward-looking economic actor in a volatile global environment”.

Affordable Ireland Campaign announced details of a national protest to demand an emergency winter disability payment later this month. Photograph: Alan BetsonViews on the value of cost-of-disability payments are being sought from the public in a consultation beginning on Friday. A 2021 Indecon report estimated additional annual costs for disabled people ranged from roughly €8,700 to over €12,300. The programme for Government commits to introducing a permanent cost of disability support payment. The consultation comes almost two years after Calleary’s predecessor Heather Humphreys withdrew a green paper on a proposed tiered disability payment following intense pushback by disabled people.

Their observations detected two bright auroral bands near Uranus's magnetic poles, which are lopsided and tilted by nearly 60 degrees. 'This is the first time we've been able to see Uranus's upper atmosphere in three dimensions,' Ms Tiranti said. A collage showing Uranus's auroras captured during a full rotation. According to researchers, this feature may be tied to the way Uranus's magnetic field directs charged particles, similar to observations made at Jupiter. Understanding why Uranus is cooling could provide crucial insights into how ice giant planets regulate their atmospheric temperature.

Jessie Buckley won Lead Actress for her performance in Hamnet at the 2026 IFTA Awards. Éanna Hardwicke won Best Actor in a Leading Role for his role in Saipan. Best Film of the night went to Christy. Cillian Murphy pictured at the IFTA Awards 2026 at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre. Ciaran Hinds pictured at the IFTA Awards 2026 at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre.

Buildings reduced to rubble in a recent Israeli strike on the southern Lebanese village of Qannarit. File photograph: Joseph Eid/AFP via Getty ImagesAt least six ‌people were killed and 25 wounded in Israeli strikes in Lebanon’s Bekaa ‌Valley on Friday, the Lebanese state news agency reported, after the Israeli ​military said it had targeted Hizbullah sites in the Baalbek area. The ‌Israeli ‌military ​said in a statement that it struck Hizbullah command centres in the Baalbek ⁠area, part of ​eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. Israel and Hizbullah agreed to ‌a US-brokered ceasefire in 2024 ​intended to end more than a year of cross-border ⁠fire that culminated in ⁠Israeli strikes ​that weakened the Iran-aligned group. US and Israeli officials have pressed Lebanese authorities to curb Hizbullah’s arsenal, while Lebanese leaders have warned that broader Israeli strikes could further destabilise the country, which is already ‌battered by political ⁠and economic crises.

Arne Slot has hit back at Wayne Rooney’s claim he does not have the right 'aura' to be Liverpool boss. Rooney suggested Slot lacks the charisma of his predecessor Jurgen Klopp, who also led Liverpool to the league title, as well as the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup. 'I just don't think, for Liverpool, he has that aura,' said Rooney. It's difficult for anyone to do that, but I just don't think there is that aura about him.' ‘Burnley felt really, really tough the 1-1.

Hungary has blocked an agreed €90 billion European Union loan for Ukraine aimed at stabilising the war-torn country’s finances, just days before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The loan was agreed in December by EU leaders as a lifeline for Kyiv, which has a budget gap looming in April. An IMF programme worth €8 billion currently under negotiations is also conditional on Kyiv receiving the EU loan and could be endangered by the Hungarian veto. This week, he blamed Kyiv for halting flows via the Druzhba pipeline, which delivers oil from Russia to Hungary via Ukraine. Without the loan, Ukraine risks running into financial collapse in the second quarter.

Devastated Everton youngster determined to fight back after season-ending injuryTyler Onyango will require an operation on the hamstring injury he suffered with loan club Stockport County this weekView Image Tyler Onyango during the second half of the Premier League Summer Series match between Everton and Bournemouth at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey. Photo by Jordan Bank - Premier League/Premier League via Getty ImagesTyler Onyango said he is determined to fight his way back to fitness after the versatile Everton player suffered a season-ending injury. The 22-year-old will require surgery to a serious hamstring issue suffered with his loan club, Stockport County, in their defeat to Bradford City on Tuesday. We thank him for his efforts during his time as a Stockport County player.”FOLLOW OUR EVERTON FC FACEBOOK PAGE! Article continues belowPosting on social media, he vowed to come back from his latest setback, writing: “Incredibly hard to accept.

Quentin Griffiths, who co-founded British fast-fashion retailer ASOS, has died after a fall from a balcony in Thailand, Thai police said on Friday. The police went to the scene and found the body of a British national, whom they identified as Quentin John Griffiths, on the ground directly below the balcony. File image of Quentin Griffiths from 2008. The case did not initially attract media attention in Pattaya, which has a large contingent of foreign residents. Griffiths was a co-founder of ASOS in 2000 and remained a large shareholder after leaving the company.

Man tells Edinburgh mum 'I'm going to kill you and your dog' over a can of juice'This made me feel so unsafe in my own home'Edinburgh mum threatened 'over can of juice' through living room windowAn Edinburgh mum says she was threatened "over a can of juice" by a total stranger while sitting in her living room. ‌The 27-year-old was stunned when a man suddenly knocked on her window in Dalry, bizarrely asking for the can of Vimto she was drinking. ‌The ambassador for a youth work charity told Edinburgh Live: "The guy approached my window tapping on it asking for my juice. As her dog starts barking, he says: "I'm going to kill you." Article continues belowA Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 2.30pm on Tuesday, 17 February, 2026, we received a report of concern for a man on Caledonian Crescent, Edinburgh.

WATERFORD have their sights set on a first Lidl National League Division 1 final appearance since 2002 as they get ready for Sunday’s home tie with Meath. This has been a dream League season to date for Waterford. There’s still work to be done, however, and they face a Meath team smarting from defeat to Kerry. The visitors would rekindle their own final hopes with a victory and the Royals do need the win here. After defeating Dublin, there’s one change to the Waterford starting team, with Clare Walsh replacing Ruby Browne.

A man with autism and severe anxiety, which renders him with the emotional age of a child, was imprisoned in Cork Prison for nearly a month over Christmas, the Irish Examiner has learned. The man was arrested at his home on December 20 by armed gardaí because he sent emails which were allegedly threatening violence. We are now effectively under house arrest to look after our son and keep him away from the internet. “They wanted to protect the public from him. I have wanted to protect him from the public, to protect him from getting into trouble and I have failed because we never got support from anybody in this struggle.”

Car upside down in field after M6 North Staffordshire crashPolice, firefighters and paramedics have been sent to the motorwayView Image A car has ended up in a field after a smash on the M6Police have revealed how a car has ended up upside down in a field following a collision on the M6. And motorists are being warned of ongoing delays on the southbound stretch in North Staffordshire. ‌StokeonTrentLive reported how three fire engines, police and paramedics had all been seen on the motorway between Junction 15 and 14. Traffic monitoring system Inrix was reporting the smash involved a bus and two cars with a lane being shut off. ‌Now Staffordshire Police's road crime team have shared an image of a flipped car in a field off the motorway.

Doonbeg could be surrounded by a ring of steel for September’s Amgen Irish Open, given the “likely” presence of US President Donald Trump at his Co Clare resort. Mr Russell was speaking at a public meeting held in Doonbeg’s Community Hall on Monday, where DP World Tour and Doonbeg resort representatives outlined plans for the $6 million championship. The Clare Champion reported that Mr Russell was bullish about President Trump being at his west Clare resort at some stage during the week of the tournament. “It is likely at the moment, President Trump will attend,” Mr Russell told the meeting. Considerable work has been carried out on the links in recent months, and the DP World Tour’s Paul Gillmon, Championship Director for the Amgen Irish Open, has high hopes for a successful week.

Igor Tudor has acknowledged Tottenham are in an “emergency situation” but believes the quality of the squad can steer them clear of Premier League relegation worries. Of course when you have the style, very concrete, but now this is an emergency,” Tudor pointed out after he declared to be “100 per cent” confident of survival. “An emergency situation when you need to find fast what suits the 10 (outfield) plus three players and it’s totally different. “Good if you are not in a good moment, of course. We have good players, they have good players, so let’s see what will happen.