Mark Cassidy, director of financial stability at the Central Bank, noted that the 10 largest US companies have accounted for 45 per cent of gains of the wider S&P 500 since April. Most of the tech groups have major operations and are significant employers in Ireland. And he gives Ciarán his perspective on the current state of the Irish economy, and what we could be doing better. The Central Bank report also warned that market interest rates attached to corporate bonds are also at multiyear lows, relative to low-risk sovereign bonds, and “appear disconnected from the uncertain macroeconomic and geopolitical environment”. When asked about the potential impact on the European economy from US tariffs, Central Bank governor Gabriel Makhlouf indicated that he was more concerned about tariffs and trade barriers on the EU single market.

This is the “Yellow Zone”, as one former Israeli intelligence officer described it, named after the colour of the line that has since the ceasefire split Gaza in two. In Syria, the Israeli military has helped the Druze minority create a de facto buffer zone along the border. This was fertile recruitment territory for Israeli military intelligence’s Unit 504, which has long been tasked with recruiting Arab informants, according to two people familiar with the situation. Since then, he has been building up a small area of control within a kilometre of an Israeli military position, according to Israeli officials. A screengrab showing Hamas members dragging seven men into a circle of people in Gaza City, shortly before executing them.

Here, three Leinster rugby players – Eimear Corri Fallon, Vicky Elmes Kinlan and Hannah Wilson – show their flair dressing up and share their style secrets. “I am very basic when it comes to style and know what suits my body type, so I stick to what I know. I don’t like showing my bruised legs all the way up when I don’t have to wear training outfits. “What I love about rugby is the feeling of success and having a purpose to get up in the morning. Footwear tends to be low block heels.”Cropped jacket, Maje, €295; trousers, Maje, €195; heels, Dune, €85All clothes and accessories from Kildare Village, a partner of Leinster Rugby, shot on location in Drew Studios in Dublin.

Donald Trump said on Sunday that House Republicans should vote to require the justice department to release its files on Jeffrey Epstein. Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Sunday: “House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide. Although Mr Trump and Epstein were photographed together decades ago, the president has said the two men fell out before Epstein’s convictions. Mr Trump, who has recently dismissed the Epstein files as a Democratic smear campaign, has since instructed the justice department to investigate prominent Democrats’ ties to Epstein. Speaking on ABC’s This Week, Mr Massie criticised Mr Trump for ordering attorney general Pam Bondi on Friday to examine Democrats with ties to Epstein.

In May of 1966, Bob Dylan stands on an Irish stage for the first time, giving the audience songs they may not want to hear. “You’re a liar ...”Bob Dylan pictured performing at BBC TV Centre, in 1965. And just like in 1966, he’ll be giving the audience songs they may not want to hear. 'Bob Dylan didn’t really go to see anyone. [ Joan Baez: Do I ever hear from Bob Dylan?

For those too young to have seen Fawlty Towers, no explanation is possible. Basil’s playing to stereotypes is a reason why Fawlty Towers has recently attracted the wrath of a more recent, humourless, “righteous” generation. “I understand it was a really, really, really long time ago, but as a woke 27-year-old it’s hard not to call it out. “A really, really long time ago ...” Really! Then, when you’re 27 anything beyond 30 years probably qualifies as “a really, really long time ago.” (I was 27 once ... a really, really long time ago!).

They never gave up on their World Cup dream, even if many of us did weeks ago. In Caoim h ín Kelle h er we trustIreland goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher saves a shot from Hungary's Roland Sallai during Sunday's World Cup qualifier in Budapest. Troy P arrott h as finally got h is wingsIreland's Troy Parrott and Séamus Coleman celebrate after Sunday's 3-2 victory against Hungary in Budapest. Photograph: Stephen Gormley/InphoOf all the great headlines and puns around Troy Parrott over the last week, perhaps Troy of the Rovers was the most fitting. Lack of midfield goals remains a concernFinn Azaz puts Troy Parrott through for Ireland's second goal against Hungary during Sunday's World Cup qualifier at Puskás Arena, Budapest.

Photograph: Lynsey Addario/New York TimesThe number of young Ukrainian men arriving in Ireland has increased by 42 per cent as growing numbers seek to avoid conscription to the front lines of the country’s war against Russia. Almost four years on from Russia’s invasion, officials in Kyiv have warned they are facing a severe troop shortage due to young men leaving the country in an attempt to avoid mandatory military service. The surge in arrivals of young men stands in contrast to refugee patterns in the earlier stages of the war. Young men made up a much smaller proportion of the total. Regardless of the action he takes, the rate of young men arriving in Ireland is expected to increase further by the end of the year.

As a child, afraid of the dark, or more exactly afraid of what I sensed and imagined in the dark, I used to love staying with my grandparents in rural Yorkshire, until bedtime. Traffic continued nearly all night, a comforting assurance that there were people still out there, minding the place. As I grew older, I knew I was supposed to be afraid of being out at night. Darkness sheltered me as much as it sheltered them, hid me from aggressors as well as aggressors from me. Each to their own: give me street lights and passersby and the bustle of my kind of morning, noon and night.

Our problems do not stem from a lack of capital as such but from the regulatory environment we have created, which has driven away international capital. By 2031 we will need about €16 billion of international capital every year. To deploy €15 billion of international capital in one year, we would require 75 firms that could invest and manage €200 million in that year, which is the equivalent of building and completing about 400 units. At present, the average yield for Irish residential investment assets is 5 per cent versus a European average of 4 per cent. We have a proven ability to attract major international investment already and we can do it in housing.

But still, when Troy Parrott scored that winner, there was a Mexican wave of hollers from number one to number 40. But underpinning is a small price to pay for observing Troy Parrott sling us several miles over the moon. “Troy Parrott. There was pandemonium on the pitch, pandemonium in the stands, and pandemonium in the commentary box. Back in the studio, Kev, no more than the players, sounded utterly drained too, Heimir Hallgrímsson pushing him over the edge by congratulating Ireland on producing lads like the ones who produced the miracle of Budapest.

Troy Parrott celebrates his match-winning goal for Ireland against Hungary in Sunday's World Cup qualifier at Puskás Arena in Budapest, Hungary. The Miracle of Budapest, where were you when Troy Parrott completed his three glorious mysteries? Ireland don’t win games like this. Wicklow’s Liam Scales nods it down to Dublin’s Troy Parrott. “I’m really, really emotional right now,” he said afterwards, pausing to try regain his composure.

The Presbyterian Church’s acting clerk, Rev Dr David Allen, said: 'We have betrayed the trust that people placed in us and I am deeply sorry for the hurt and grief that this has caused.' “If you don’t want to speak to PCI [Presbyterian Church in Ireland] then please get in touch with the police or Victim Support,” it said. Ian Elliott, who played a key role in reforming child-protection structures in the Catholic Church told The Irish Times that he had “previously offered advice to the [Presbyterian] Church, but this was refused”. He said he was asked in 2023 to participate in an expert safeguarding panel for the Presbyterian Church. It was also announced at Presbyterian Church services across Ireland on Sunday that former moderator Rev Dr Richard Murray will become moderator on December 1st.

Some 60 per cent of people who have previously made an unplanned sales purchase have regretted it, the research found. Photograph: Chris MaddaloniIrish shoppers look set to spend significantly less during this year’s Black Friday sales than they did last year, with new research showing almost two thirds of consumers have regretted their purchases in previous years. The power of social media continues to grow, with 28 per cent of those likely to make a Black Friday/Cyber Monday purchases saying they are led by influencer recommendations. Some 60 per cent of people who have previously made an unplanned sales purchase have regretted it, the research found, with 63 per cent saying do not believe the advertised discounts are legitimate. Some 93 per cent said they had been convinced to buy by the actual price of a product during a sale period, with 83 per cent saying the size of the discount was the deciding factor.

He found that ongoing overcrowding and poor healthcare had contributed to a 50 per cent increase in prison deaths last year. He described conditions – which require many prisoners to sleep on mattresses – as unacceptable, inhumane and degrading. The prison system is currently at 120 per of capacity and around 500 of the 5,628 inmates are sleeping on floors. The blame cannot be put on the Irish Prison Service (IPS) , according to Kelly. The two minsters no doubt highlighted the commitments made in the budget to address prison overcrowding when they met the CPT.