West Lothian 'armed' gang of masked ram-raiders smash car into shopping centre
West Lothian 'armed' gang of masked ram-raiders smash car into shopping centre'It is vital that we trace the men responsible'Inquiries are ongoing (Image: CannaeReach / TikTok)West Lothian police are investigating after a ram raid incident at a shopping centre on Tuesday, March 17. Around 12.15am, officers and fire crews raced to the Almondvale Shopping Centre in Livingston. Police have since confirmed a black Nissan Juke car and white Audi S5 vehicle approached the east side of the shopping centre. Police and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service attended and the Nissan vehicle fire was extinguished but completely burnt out. The Audi vehicle has since been recovered nearby on the outskirts of Dechmont and a quantity of stolen property was found within the vehicle.
Source:Daily Mirror
March 17, 2026 14:44 UTC
Inside Man United's grand plans to make their academy the envy of world football once more - following Sir Jim Ratcliffe's criticism of the setup
Torpey, the man tasked with putting United back on top after prominent academy roles at Manchester City and Brentford, had his own interpretation. But what is not disputed is that Torpey has arrived as head of academy to help transform United into the best footballing academy in world football. 'The fact that the boys who play now in the Under-18s have never known a life without social media. 'We don't always want to be the oldest team,' Torpey said. The foundations are still being laid by Torpey and his staff but there has been a noticeable shift at Carrington around the academy.
Source:Daily Mail
March 17, 2026 14:40 UTC
Central Bank issues €500k tender to print cheques for savings lost with failed banks and credit unions
The Central Bank is to spend up to €500,000 on printing and personalising cheques for people who may lose their bank savings as part of the deposit guarantee scheme. The bank, which operates as Ireland’s financial regulator, has invited applications to tender for the contract to produce and distribute the cheques in question. That payout served to cover roughly 95% of the deposits held in the credit union at the time of its failure. The largest payout prior to that event was €39.2m to the 11,000 members of the Charleville Credit Union from October 2017. That institution failed as a result of being unable to meet its statutorily required cash reserve levels after a series of failed merger attempts.
Source:Irish Examiner
March 17, 2026 14:39 UTC
US vice president dons shamrock socks to meet Taoiseach ahead of White House visit; St Patrick’s Day parades kick off around Ireland
US vice president JD Vance dons shamrock socks as he meets Taoiseach ahead of White House visitUS Vice President JD Vance has again donned shamrock socks in honour of the St Patrick's Day celebrations in Washington DC. The Vice President said last year his friend Colin had encouraged him to wear socks that would honour Mr Martin. The vice president was wearing a pair of socks with shamrocks for St Patrick's Day. Mr Martin also gifted Mr Vance a special edition of Ulysses. Mr Martin said it was a "distinct honour" to celebrate St Patrick's Day as the US celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Source:Irish Independent
March 17, 2026 14:33 UTC
‘Gigi has flown to Paris and Amsterdam’ – just how much does it cost to fly with your dog?
‘Gigi has flown to Paris and Amsterdam’ – just how much does it cost to fly with your dog? Feel bad leaving pooch at home while you jet off on holiday? You’ll be pleased to learn you don’t have toIt’s possible to take your dog on many flights from Dublin Airport. Photo: GettyGabrielle Monaghan Today at 06:30Coming from Ireland, which has a reputation as being one of the least dog-friendly countries in Europe, Judy Gilroy was pleasantly surprised when she met an Irish woman in Spain who regularly brought her dog on holidays.
Source:Irish Independent
March 17, 2026 14:33 UTC
It's Neymar vs Ancelotti: Brazil's 'sad and upset' £198m superstar 'can't stay silent' after ex-Real Madrid boss put his World Cup dream in doubt
Neymar and Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti are at loggerheads after the former Barcelona and PSG star was omitted from the latest Brazil squad. The 34-year-old, whose £198million move in 2017 remains the most expensive transfer of all time, said he is 'sad and upset'. 'We will achieve our goal,' he went on to add, in reference to making Ancelotti's final squad for the World Cup this summer. But Neymar remains Brazil's top scorer, with 79 goals in 128 games and there have been flashes of brilliance for his boyhood club. 'The final squad list will be another story; he has to keep working and getting playing time to arrive in optimal physical condition.'
Source:Daily Mail
March 17, 2026 14:18 UTC
Trump says he will ‘take Cuba’ amid power blackout
Photograph: Yamil Lage/AFP/Getty ImagesUS president Donald Trump has raised the possibility of the United States “taking” Cuba, telling reporters at the White House: “I do believe I will be having the honour of taking Cuba.”“Taking Cuba. Power was restored to parts of Cuba on Tuesday as some power plants reconnected to the grid. Cuban officials, meanwhile, have announced that the country’s communist government will open itself to foreign investment, including from the United States. The Trump administration has warned that if Cuba does not co-operate, it could face a fate similar to that of Venezuela. Last week, Díaz-Canel acknowledged in a televised appearance that his government was engaged in talks to Trump administration officials to resolve the standoff.
Source:The Irish Times
March 17, 2026 14:11 UTC
Communities may block main Cork-Limerick road in protest at state of roads
A number of communities along the main Cork-Limerick road are “seriously considering” blocking the N20 in protest at Transport Infrastructure Ireland's (TII) refusals to do anything about several dangerous junctions. Councillors have expressed anger after TII initially agreed to meet them on the issues but later withdrew the invitation. The junctions are a constant risk to local communities. “There are local roads in better condition than national secondary roads,” he said. I will be telling communities absolutely nothing is being done [by TII] and they’re not going to stand for it much longer."
Source:Irish Examiner
March 17, 2026 14:08 UTC
Fifa will not allow Iran move World Cup games to Mexico
Iran have been drawn with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand in Group G for this summer's World Cup. Photo: Hector Vivas - Fifa via Getty ImagesFifa is unwilling to switch Iran’s World Cup matches to Mexico despite the country’s football federation claiming it is in discussions with the world governing body about moving their games outside the United States. There were reports in the Wall Street Journal last weekend that Iran had approached Fifa about such a move, and the president of the IFF, Mehdi Taj, appeared to confirm the talks by posting on the X account of the Iranian embassy in Mexico: “We are negotiating with Fifa to hold Iran’s World Cup matches in Mexico.”Fifa said in response: “Fifa is in regular contact with all participating member associations, including IR Iran, to discuss planning for the Fifa World Cup 2026. Fifa is unlikely to make a final decision on Iran until its congress in Vancouver on April 30th, with its official position remaining that it wants them to take part. Fifa has the sole power to decide which country would replace Iran if they do not take part, in what would be the first occurrence of a World Cup withdrawal post-draw since 1950.
Source:The Irish Times
March 17, 2026 14:00 UTC
Government extended mortgage tax break against expert advice
The Government extended a mortgage tax break despite officials advising it had no clear policy rationale and it risked pushing up house prices. A pre-budget submission warned continuing the scheme could discourage banks from lowering interest rates and simply boost their profitability. Despite the advice, then-minister for finance Paschal Donohoe approved a two-year extension of mortgage interest tax relief in last year’s budget. The submission detailed how the tax break was introduced at a “unique time” of rising mortgage rates and widespread inflation. It concluded the relief, which applied to the tax years 2023 and 2024, should not be extended any further.
Source:Irish Examiner
March 17, 2026 13:54 UTC
Israel says it has killed Iranian leader Ali Larijani who taunted Trump on streets of Tehran last week: Live updates
Israel has said it has assassinated Iran's security chief Ali Larijani who taunted Donald Trump on the streets of Tehran last Friday. The Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani, the commander of Iran's Basij forces, have joined the late Ayatollah Khamenei in the 'depths of hell' following targeted overnight airstrikes. The attack on Larijani comes four days after he marched alongside thousands of Iranians at a Quds Day rally in Tehran where he criticised Trump during a live interview. Meanwhile details have emerged of a tanker attacked near Fujairah port yesterday. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said an unknown projectile caused minor structural damage with no injuries reported.
Source:Daily Mail
March 17, 2026 13:44 UTC
Jamison Gibson-Park one of four Ireland players to agree new contracts
Jamison Gibson-Park has put pen to paper on a two-year deal up until the end of the 2027/28 season. Hooker Sheehan has committed his future to Ireland and Leinster for a further three years until the end of the 2028/29 campaign. Sheehan scored his 15th Six Nations try for Ireland in the final match of this year’s championship against Scotland. “You cannot underestimate the outstanding contributions of these four players to Irish rugby over many years,” added Farrell. “That they see their futures here is a significant boost, which I have no doubt will delight Ireland supporters around the world.
Source:The Irish Times
March 17, 2026 13:44 UTC
Is it time to axe the Oscars? Calls grow to scrap the ceremony as it battles ageism and sexism claims, viewing figures dwindle and stars don't even bother showing up
Yet there are growing calls to axe the Academy Awards after viewers were left bored by Sunday night's 'predictable' ceremony. Who cares';'Please cancel the oscars #Oscars'; 'Is it only me or #oscars this year is extremely boring'; 'Such a boring beginning. #Oscars'; 'The Oscars are sooooo predictable it’s just what wins at BAFTA or sag'; 'they're calling it the most predictable oscars ever'. In contrast, women are more likely to win Best Actress if they're under the age of 40. However, it remains to be seen if any of the Academy's latest shakeups will help the future and the reputation of the awards ceremony in the long term.
Source:Daily Mail
March 17, 2026 13:42 UTC
Will a home-made last will with untraceable witnesses leave executor open to challenge?
Will this bequest attract inheritance tax? If a challenge were taken and the witnesses could not be traced, it would certainly increase the risk of a successful challenge. In terms of inheritance tax, I can put your mind at ease. Anything left in a will to a registered charity should not be subject to inheritance tax, so that is one less headache. In this case, as she was your sister, the relevant tax-free threshold is that applying to close blood relatives outside one’s parents – Group B.
Source:The Irish Times
March 17, 2026 13:32 UTC
Iran rejects de-escalation offers; Israel says it kills Iranian security chief
Israel claimed on Tuesday to have killed Iran's security chief, while a senior Iranian official said the new supreme leader had rejected de-escalation offers conveyed by intermediaries, demanding Israel and the US first be "brought to their knees". The US-Israeli war on Iran is now in its third week, with at least 2,000 people killed and no end in sight. Israel also reported two incoming salvos before dawn from Iran aimed at Tel Aviv and elsewhere, and said Hezbollah targeted Israel’s north. He also served as the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, its top security body. The Basij and other internal security forces have been a target of attack by both the Americans and the Israelis so far.
Source:Irish Examiner
March 17, 2026 13:16 UTC