We mentioned last week the uproar in Hong Kong over Lionel Messi’s non-appearance for Inter Miami in a recent friendly there, the organisers of the game having to offer decidedly peeved ticket holders a 50 per cent refund and a local newspaper alleging that “a mysterious behind-the-scenes mastermind” was responsible for Messi’s no-show in what was “a blatant attempt at humiliating Hong Kong”. All his Ballon d’Or awards were stolen”; “I used to support the Argentinian claim to the Malvinas. Today, I solemnly declare that from now on, I will no longer accept that the Malvinas Islands belong to Argentina.”Hopefully Lionel’s tweaked hamstring recovers more quickly than his relationship with Hong Kong and Chinese football fans. My wish in life is not that Eintracht Frankfurt should be champions, my wish in life is for this Nazi shit to disappear, to explode in the air, wherever it is. “Like a Brunello di Montalcino or a Sassicaia, he has returned fresh in mind and legs after five months of injury.

Six NationsLatest | Hugo Keenan part of Ireland squad to take on Wales in Six Nations showdown

Texas Hold'Em event in Edenderry to benefit local schoolEdenderry Lions Club is holding a Texas Hold'Em poker event on March 1 next in Edenderry Golf Club at 8pm. All proceeds from The Jimmy O’Grady tournament will go to the SET Department at St Mary's Primary School, Edenderry. Tickets are €40 and there will a 50% payout. Rebuy and refreshments also available on the night. Contact Brendan McAuliffe 086 851 1058 or any Edenderry Lions Club Member for tickets.

EU flag and TikTok logo are seen in this illustration taken, June 2, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File PhotoThe European Union will investigate whether ByteDance's TikTok breached online content rules aimed at protecting children and ensuring transparent advertising, an official said on Monday, putting the social media platform at risk of a hefty fine. TikTok's owner, China-based ByteDance, could face fines of up to 6pc of its global turnover if TikTok is found guilty of breaching DSA rules. "TikTok has pioneered features and settings to protect teens and keep under 13s off the platform, issues the whole industry is grappling with," a TikTok spokesperson said. This marks the second DSA investigation after Elon Musk's social media platform X found itself in the EU's crosshairs in December last year.

Formula One wants Christian Horner matter ‘clarified at earliest opportunity’Philip Duncan, PA F1 CorrespondentFormula One has called for Christian Horner’s Red Bull future to be “clarified at the earliest opportunity”. Horner’s role as Red Bull team principal remains in the balance following a claim of “inappropriate behaviour” by a female colleague. An F1 spokesperson said on Sunday evening: “We have noted that Red Bull has instigated an independent investigation into internal allegations at Red Bull Racing. It is understood both Red Bull and Horner are also keen for a swift resolution, and sources have indicated to the PA news agency that there could yet be a conclusion by the end of the week. Last season, Red Bull won all but one of the 22 races, with Max Verstappen taking his third world championship in as many years.

Robert Downey Jr scores supporting actor prize at the BaftasBy Laura Harding, PA Deputy Entertainment EditorRobert Downey Jr and Da’Vine Joy Randolph have continued their march to Oscar glory as they were named early winners at the Bafta film awards. Downey Jr won the best supporting actor prize for his role as Lewis Strauss, head of the Atomic Energy Commission, in Christopher Nolan’s epic biopic about J Robert Oppenheimer, Oppenheimer. Both Downey Jr and Randolph are heavily tipped to win the same prizes at the Oscars next month. Da’Vine Joy Randolph (Ian West/PA) Photo by Ian WestCourtroom drama Anatomy Of A Fall won the first award of the night when it scored the prize for original screenplay. Holocaust drama The Zone Of Interest was named best film not in the English language, while The Boy And The Heron was named best animated film – while 20 Days In Mariupol was named best documentary.

There had previously been calls to cut the corporation tax rate in Northern Ireland in the hope of becoming more competitive as a place to invest. As part of the Government’s recent Safeguarding the Union command paper, there is a commitment to work urgently to devolve corporation tax powers to Stormont. File pic of People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll (PA)People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll questioned Mr Murphy on his view on cutting corporation tax at the Assembly on Monday. Mr Murphy responded telling MLAs that it is “not something we’re rushing into”. Many workers and their families are denied a decent standard of living,” Mr Murphy told MLAs.

Analysis of mobile devices used by former Stormont ministers and special advisers during the coronavirus pandemic over the deletion of messages is ongoing, Michelle O’Neill has said. It emerged at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry in London in December that some WhatsApp messages during the pandemic appear to be lost after government-issued electronic devices were wiped. Asked about the matter during her first First Minister’s questions at Stormont, Ms O’Neill said an investigation into the matter is ongoing. “The group head of NICS internal audit service was commissioned to undertake a fact-finding investigation into how some mobile devices returned by ministers and spads came to be reset. “The analysis of devices is ongoing and the Covid inquiry will be advised of the final outcome of that exercise.”

The only shares I ever bought were Eircom and we all know what happened there. After that, I decided I should probably stay away from things I know nothing about. My dad and most of his family follow racing, and he always cautioned against throwing money at something you know nothing about. I think online betting has changed everything and made gambling far more dangerous. It’s never been my main motivating force, and I know that I’m fortunate to have two jobs that I love – broadcasting and writing.

Green energy industrialist Dale Vince was “seriously defamed” by a Daily Mail article which he claims falsely suggested he was the subject of sexual harassment allegations. Mr Vince is suing the paper’s publisher, Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), after the article headlined “Labour repays £100,000 to ‘sex harassment’ donor” was printed in June last year. The story reported that the Labour Party was handing back money to donor Davide Serra, who has been accused of sexual harassment, while also referencing fellow donor Mr Vince. Future Of Media USA Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. The online version was amended 74 minutes after publication to change the picture of Mr Vince to one of Mr Serra, and the headline was then changed the next day to match the printed version.

Pictured at TUS Moylish Campus Limerick celebrating the news of the QS* 5 Star University rating were, President of TUS Professor Vincent Cunnane with TUS Students, Shashank Chopra, Weronika Urbanik, Lucy Smyth, Oluwadamilola Dorcas Akinsola and Justin Dillon-McKnight. Picture: Alan PlaceTUS on top of the world as it achieves five-star ratingTechnological University of the Shannon (TUS) is now a QS 5 Star university, having achieved the highest possible number of stars to become one of the top-rated universities in the world. Today’s announcement revealed TUS has received maximum stars in all categories assessed, and is also Ireland’s first-ever university to receive 5 Stars in the Arts and Culture category. The performance of such institutions is considered as “Excellent” in the QS Stars rating system”. The QS university rating system is considered one of the most influential and credible ratings for universities internationally, as ratings are entirely based upon an institution’s performance.

REGARI (Roscommon East Galway Advancing Recovery in Ireland) is a HSE based initiative. Some examples of workshops include ‘Developing our Self-Compassion’, ‘Strategies for Managing Anxiety’, ‘Managing Setbacks’ and ‘Trauma and Healing’. All modules developed at REGARI Recovery College are co- produced by people who use the mental health services, their supporters, health professionals and by anyone with an interest in mental health and wellbeing. One person who attended workshops in the past said “REGARI Recovery College has helped me to develop an awareness of mental health difficulties. Peer educator Amanda Hunt from the recovery college said “REGARI is a lovely space to meet up and connect with others in a warm and friendly environment.

Damage to bilingual signs in Tyrone village probed as sectarian hate crimeBy Rebecca Black, PAPolice are investigating after a number of bilingual signs in a Co Tyrone village have been damaged in recent weeks. It is being investigated as sectarian hate crime. In the latest incident, police received a report of criminal damage to a street sign in the Radergan Road in Beragh last Thursday. A police spokesperson said this is “just one of a number of reports” that dual language signs in the Moylagh and Radergan road areas have been damaged in the last fortnight. “We are investigating this as a sectarian hate crime and are appealing to anyone who may have any information or anyone with CCTV or other footage that could assist with inquiries to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 795 15/02/24,” they said.

The Free Legal Advice Centres has expressed concern the likely legal consequences and benefits to diverse families of the proposed amendment 'have not been explained adequately to date'. Photograph: Dara Mac DónaillA legal analysis carried out by the Free Legal Advice Centres (Flac) concerning next month’s referendum proposals has led to it supporting the proposed “family” amendment to the Constitution but not the “ineffective” and “implicitly sexist” amendment on carers. The care amendment is unlikely to provide carers, people with disabilities or older people with new enforceable rights or improved services from the State, Flac said. The proposed care amendment involves replacing language in article 41 around “duties” of women in the home with language providing the State will “strive to” support care within families. In relation to the “care” amendment, Flac said it was “highly regrettable” voters did not have the choice to simply delete the so-called “women in the home” provision “which is ineffective, sexist and offensive”.

Sports Quiz: A move for Mbappé? Michael BoltonThe Airtricity League of Ireland got underway on Friday night, while the Champions League has entered the last 16 as the chase for silverware heats up. Take our quiz to see how closely you are following the top sporting action at home and further afield...