Ireland is “enthusiastic” about a second interconnector with France, as Tánaiste Simon Harris said Europe needs to become more energy independent. Speaking to reporters in Paris, Mr Harris said the €1.6bn Celtic Interconnector — which will be the first connection from Ireland into the European electricity grid — is due to open in 2028. This includes issues around oil supply which were discussed by the G7 on Monday, the presidency of which is currently held by France. Mr Harris’s visit also comes ahead of Ireland assuming the presidency of the Council of the European Union later this year, for which it anticipates France will be a key partner. Mr Harris will also be engaging with the tourism sector at a St Patrick’s Day event hosted by Tourism Ireland.

Major emergency services response to North Staffordshire 'incident'Police, firefighters and paramedics were dispatched to the sceneView Image Paramedics were called (stock image) (Image: Manchester Evening News)Emergency services descended on a North Staffordshire street. ‌StokeonTrentLive is still awaiting statements from Staffordshire Police and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service. But West Midlands Ambulance Service has confirmed it sent an ambulance, two paramedic officers, a hazardous area response team, and the Midlands Air Ambulance critical care car to the scene. ‌An ambulance service spokesman said: "We were called to reports of an incident on Washdale Lane. Get even more North Staffordshire exclusives - and it is free

Tánaiste Simon Harris has vowed the Government will continue to keep fuel and oil prices under review despite a recent fall in costs. The price of oil recently surged past the key $100-a-barrel mark, with the conflict triggering a sharp rise in the price of home heating oil across Ireland. However, oil prices fell by around 7% on Tuesday morning following Mr Trump’s suggestions that the conflict is “pretty much” over. Speaking in Brussels, Mr Harris welcomed the drop in prices but said the Government continues to keep the situation under review. “We've seen oil prices, at least [on Tuesday morning], fall back on where they were [on Monday],” he said.

Newcastle host Barcelona in the first leg of their tie on Tuesday night in a repeat of a group-stage encounter in September. That encounter saw Barcelona prevail as 2-1 winners with Marcus Rashford scoring a brace for the visitors. While the on-loan winger took the plaudits that night, Barca were missing their talisman in Lamine Yamal who was absent due to a groin injury. 'For me, it's a shame he's not playing,' Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said during his pre-match conference ahead of that match. That came last year when he scored 18 in 55 games, he has 19 in 19 matches fewer.

13 UK cities facing 471-mile blizzard and -7C freeze - including Stoke-on-TrentHere's the listView Image A snow-hit Stoke-on-Trent earlier this week. Hamil Road looking towards Burslem Town Hall (Image: Pete Stonier / Stoke Sentinel)At least 13 cities across the UK are set to experience snow amid a 471-mile blizzard this week, forecasters say. The Mirror has listed these locations in full as new information suggests most of the UK will be cold enough for the white stuff from Friday. Several parts of Scotland such as Wick, Inverness, Fort William, Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow, are likely to witness snow showers, the maps have suggested. ‌However, the cold weather will begin to spread over the country leaving several areas in England shivering in the cold.

Kenneth FoxThe Irish economy is facing an energy affordability crisis as households and businesses face soaring fuel bills due to the war in Iran. As the Irish Examiner reports, the price of oil soared past the key $100 (€85) a barrel mark on Monday. The conflict has already seen a sharp rise in the price of home heating oil across Ireland. Ibec warned the Government that it needs to take “urgent steps to mitigate an emerging energy affordability crisis”. Ibec executive director Fergal O’Brien said the recent and rapid surge in global oil prices has again exposed the vulnerability of the Irish economy.

In the early hours of Tuesday, the crew had to make an unscheduled stop in the fishing village of Portavogie, in Co Down, to take shelter from an incoming storm. The crew setting off from Dale in Pembrokeshire (ROW4MND/Athena Agency)They successfully berthed at 3am, having been at sea since 9am on Saturday. They had expected it to take 10 days to reach the Western Isles; the unscheduled stop will now delay their journey. Co-founder of ROW4MND Mr Bates said: “When you’re in a five-metre rowing boat in the pitch black, with a storm incoming, there is zero margin for error. For anyone who is in any doubt how tough this challenge is, it is beyond tough.”His fellow co-founder Mr Parker added: “When we signed up for this, we knew it’d be tough.

Launching its five-year capital development plan on Tuesday, Mr O'Driscoll said UCC will instead be investing €60m on its main campus for Cork University Business School (CUBS). It would have seen around 4,000 students and 180 staff relocating to the city centre site from UCC main campus. The issue was not the business school itself; it was a cost issue that the university could not afford. In January, it obtained the “triple crown” of international business school accreditation, placing the school amongst the global elite in the top 1% of business schools worldwide. Mr O'Driscoll said the feasibility study for the €60m new business school is currently underway, with several locations on main campus currently being looked at.

Preliminary estimates of the agricultural operating surplus have seen an increase of 29% or €1.2bn in 2025, bringing the total to €5.5 bn. The increase was driven mainly by higher cattle prices, which rose by 43%. Milk also saw a 10% increase in milk value, with the CSO citing the higher volumes, an increase of 7%, as the main driver. Cereal values dropped by €13m as a 10% increase in volumes was counteracted by lower prices of 12%. A 5% increase in fertiliser prices combined with higher volumes, an increase of 16%, resulted in their cost growing by €132m to €733m.

Cillian Murphy's son, Aran Murphy, has joined the cast of the upcoming HBO/Merman series YOUTH. It has now been announced that Murphy will star opposite Sharon Horgan in the upcoming series YOUTH. “Aran is cast alongside Sharon Horgan, Rupert Friend, Sharlene Whyte and Robbie Gee. Aran Murphy, son of Cillian Murphy, will hit the big screen with the movie adaptation of Klara and The Sun. Proud dad Cillian Murphy recently told the Irish Examiner: “He’s just a massive fan of film and television and theatre.

After the New Orleans Saints splashed the cash on a new running back, current star rusher Alvin Kamara is reportedly considering retirement. Kamara has had a long and decorated NFL career after being drafted in the third round by the Saints out of Tennessee. Across his NFL career, he won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2017 and was named twice to the All-Pro second-team. He holds the Saints' franchise record for most career rushing yards attempts and touchdowns as well as their single-season rushing yard mark. It was the fourth time in the last five seasons that Kamara missed at least three games.

Saratoga provided owner JP McManus with the perfect birthday present when striking in the McCoy Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham. One of three horses running in the green and gold silks of McManus, who was celebrating his 75th birthday, the Padraig Roche-trained grey was a 10-1 chance under Mark Walsh. McManus said: “We’ve always had a lot of fun and great days here. “Getting nice horses is half the battle in this game and I’m delighted Frank (Berry, racing manager) and JP decided to buy him. “Today really mattered, but I’m sure we’ll find out down the road if he’s a bit better than a handicapper.”

Liverpool told clear conditions for Yan Diomande summer transferLiverpool have been linked with a move for RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande ahead of this summer’s transfer window and the German side have confirmed what it would take to sellView 2 Images Diomande has scored 11 goals for Leipzig this season (Image: Getty Images)Liverpool have seen their hopes of signing Yan Diomande boosted with current side RB Leipzig needing a big sale heading into the summer. ‌Diomande, 19, has 11 goals and seven assists for Leipzig this season and that form has earned admiring glances from elsewhere including from Liverpool and Bayern Munich. If Leipzig miss out on a spot in the Champions League, then both Lukeba and Diomande could depart. I have a lot of respect for Liverpool, but my dream club right now is Leipzig." ‌View 2 Images Yan Diomande has shone for Leipzig this season (Image: Getty Images)One link to the Reds is of course former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, who remains as Red Bull’s head of global soccer.

John O’Dowd said the powersharing Executive does not have the financial “firepower” to fund any relief scheme. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has acknowledged the ‘unique issues’ around heating oil (Stefan Rousseau/PA)Chancellor Rachel Reeves has already acknowledged the “unique issues” around heating oil, which is used by around two thirds of domestic properties in Northern Ireland. The Consumer Council said the average price of 500 litres of home heating oil in Northern Ireland saw an 81% increase in a week after the start of the conflict. The heating oil market in Northern Ireland is unregulated, unlike gas and electricity. “People right here are facing the consequences, particularly of rising home heating oil costs and that needs to be dealt with.”Mr O’Dowd said similar schemes had been rolled out in the past.

Hansard has suffered a fatal injury in the Arkle Chase at Cheltenham, marking the first death of a horse at this year's Festival. Eight-year-old Hansard, trained by Gary and Josh Moore, was a big outsider in the second race of day one, the Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase. A statement from Cheltenham Racecourse read: 'While running on the flat in the second race of the day, Hansard sustained a fatal injury. Hansard (right) was a big outsider in the second race at Cheltenham and suffered a fatal injuryTheir statement read: 'Ahead of the Cheltenham Festival, we hope that each and every horse taking part comes through safely and well. We met with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) on the eve of the Cheltenham Festival and will maintain daily contact throughout, highlighting the importance of this ongoing relationship'.