Karen Hauer speaks out after 'stressful and emotional' Strictly departure and details her coping mechanisms over heartbreaking axe
Strictly Come Dancing's longest-serving professional Karen Hauer has branded her axing from the show 'stressful and emotional'. Speaking at the event about her heartbreaking career overhaul, she said: 'It's been a terribly stressful and emotional time and my four dogs have really helped me get through it. Karen spoke about how her emotions impact the pups, saying: 'My dogs really feel it when I'm stressed and they have really helped me get through this.' As the longest-serving female dancer, Karen found out last week that her time on Strictly is over.' Karen was previously married to former Strictly pro Kevin Clifton, but their marriage ended after three years.
Source:Daily Mail
March 23, 2026 20:04 UTC
How a seemingly perfect alibi was dismantled by cyber crime experts
How a seemingly perfect alibi was dismantled by cyber crime expertsBy Rebecca Black, Press AssociationIt was conceived to be the perfect alibi placing Stephen McCullagh almost 20 miles away at his home in Lisburn while his pregnant partner Natalie McNally was murdered at her home in Lurgan just a week before Christmas in 2022. The 32-year-old died after being violently attacked between 8.50 pm and 9.30 pm on Sunday, December 18th at her house in Silverwood Green. The trial of McCullagh, 36, of Woodland Gardens, was shown sections of the six-hour livestream during the trial at Belfast Crown Court. He also said he “realised I’m a very angry drunk”, but added: “In real life, I’m an absolute sweetheart. After he was re-arrested in January, McCullagh went on to admit to police in a pre-prepared statement that he had pre-recorded the footage.
Source:Irish Independent
March 23, 2026 19:55 UTC
St Mary’s end Blackrock’s three-in-a-row hopes to win first Senior Cup in 24 years
Photograph: Ben Brady/InphoLeinster Schools Senior Cup Final replay: St Mary’s College 25 Blackrock College 22It was joy unconfined for St Mary’s College at Energia Park in Donnybrook on Monday afternoon with captain Andrew McGouran lifting the Leinster Schools Senior Cup final trophy for the Rathmines school for the first time in 24 years. Only three points separated the sides after 140 minutes of cup final rugby – it was enough for St Mary’s, who claimed only their sixth-ever success in the competition. Neary’s conversion attempt was off-target but St Mary’s were swiftly on the offensive again, with Christle feeding Seán Thornton. Photograph: Ben Brady/InphoThe first-half action wasn’t quite done, however, with St Mary’s camping themselves on their opponents’ line. SCORING SEQUENCE – 3 mins: Neary pen, 3-0; 6: White try, Coffey con, 3-7; 13: Christle try, 8-7; 21: Aschenbrenner try, Coffey con, 8-14; Christle try, Neary con 15-14; 32: McCloskey try 15-19; 35: McGauran try, Neary con 22-19 (half-time: 22-19); 51: Coffey pen 22-22; 62: Neary pen 25-22.
Source:The Irish Times
March 23, 2026 19:55 UTC
Roberto De Zerbi willing to take Tottenham job after private talks
Roberto De Zerbi willing to take Tottenham job after private talks - on one conditionTottenham will appoint a new head coach at the end of a disastrous season and have already held talks with one of their top targets for the vacancy in Roberto De ZerbiView 3 Images Tottenham Hotspur have held talks with former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi (Image: Getty Images)Roberto De Zerbi is said to be open to taking over at Tottenham Hotspur as their new head coach this summer - if the beleaguered north London outfit retain their Premier League status. Spurs have endured a calamitous campaign and parted company with Thomas Frank last month after finding themselves flirting with the relegation zone. And De Zerbi is viewed as a top contender for the role after holding private talks with the club hierarchy. Crucially, it's said that De Zerbi is open to taking charge at Tottenham. De Zerbi won plenty of admirers in the Premier League for the sterling job he did at Brighton, where he was in charge for just shy of two years.
Source:Daily Mirror
March 23, 2026 19:47 UTC
Man Utd star Jadon Sancho's future takes fresh twist as club announce exit
Sancho, 25, made his name in Germany with Dortmund over four years, earning a blockbuster £73million switch to Old Trafford back in the summer of 2021. But unfortunately for the fleet-footed winger, he has been unable to replicate his dazzling Dortmund form in a Manchester United shirt. Despite falling out of favour, Sancho remains on United's books after failing to agree a permanent transfer in recent transfer windows. However, a deal would be reliant on Sancho taking a significant pay cut given his old club would be unable to match the reported £300,000-a-week he is currently earning at Manchester United. Sancho is currently on loan at Aston Villa for the season, with Manchester United not expected to extend his contract.
Source:Daily Mirror
March 23, 2026 19:46 UTC
Undertaker was crushed to death in funeral parlour by 'equipment used to move bodies', inquest hears
An undertaker was found crushed to death by a piece of equipment used to move bodies from the back room of a funeral parlour, an inquest heard. Dawn Salisbury, who had made arrangements to see a deceased relative, became concerned when there were no staff at the funeral parlour for her 11am appointment. Mr Kemp, a funeral manager at the Dereham branch of East of England Co-op Funeral Services, said he asked security to remotely check CCTV cameras at the Swaffham branch. The inquest heard there are no CCTV cameras in sensitive areas of the funeral parlour where bodies are kept. Records indicate Mrs Blundell was in date for various training courses, including health and safety, the report said.
Source:Daily Mail
March 23, 2026 19:46 UTC
Don’t expect cheaper petrol everywhere on Wednesday morning, industry warns
Irish motorists should not expect cheaper petrol and diesel immediately after the Government cuts excise duty, the industry has warned. While big petrol stations with a high throughput could pass on a price change “within hours”, smaller stations that receive deliveries less frequently could take several days to do so. He said that a cut in excise duty should be passed on quickly, and pointed out that the Government would be aware of how much stock is out in the market. Kevin McPartlan, of Fuels for Ireland, said it was important to note that excise duty is applied at the last point before it comes into the supply chain. “We are urging motorists who are preparing to fill up on Wednesday morning, to be conscious that these changes may not be reflected immediately.
Source:Irish Independent
March 23, 2026 19:45 UTC
Deadly LaGuardia Crash Could/Should Have Been Prevented
AI Programs, Now Being Tested, Can Supplement Air Traffic ControllersContactGWU Law***@gmail.com GWU LawEnd-- The deadly crash at LaGuardia Airport, which killed 2 people and seriously injured more than 40 in addition, could and should have been prevented by using AI programs to supplement and issue warnings to air traffic controllers, argues Professor John Banzhaf, a computer expert who has written extensively about transportation safety.He says such deadly collisions and other potentially-deadly near misses could have been prevented by using computers equipped with AI programs to monitor radio communications as well as radar, and then provide air traffic controllers in control towers with instantaneous real-time alerts before there is a potential collision between aircraft and/or ground vehicles.Using AI to reduce actual airplane collisions, as well as the escalating number of potentially-fatal near misses (most of which, says theare never reported), was never even evaluated, much less tested, while the FAA under the prior administrationspent some $80 billion promoting diversity rather than air traffic safety.Fortunately, the industry is moving ahead anyway.Banzhaf notes that computers running AI programs can already do many things air traffic controllers can't possibly do, and do it in milliseconds, including:■ monitoring the dozens of different relevant radio frequencies, including commercial, helicopter, small craft civilian, military, Homeland Security, ground vehicles, and radios from other nearby airports, etc.■ calculate various flight paths, and trajectories of planes taking off or taxiing as well as ground vehicles, and thereby foresee possible crashes in fractions of a second■ never become tired, flustered, distracted, or panicked, or distracted by concerns about a missed paycheckand then alert an air traffic controller if there seems to be a problem such as a potential collision.For more details, as well as links to what the industry is already doing, see:Professor,George Washington UniversityFAMRI Dr. William Cahan Distinguished ProfessorFellow, World Technology NetworkCreator of the "Banzhaf Index"(703) 527-8418http://banzhaf.net/jbanzhaf3ATgmail.com @profbanzhaf
Source:Daily Mail
March 23, 2026 19:40 UTC
All the options for giving millions of homes emergency help with energy bills
And while Ofgem’s energy price cap is falling next month, all bets are off on the possible size of a July increase. It already stands at roughly £5.5billion, and has grown rapidly as households have battled with sky high energy bills despite the last lot of support and the price cap. And even if you’re not in debt yourself, you still pay for the cost of it through £50 added to everyone’s bill via the price cap mechanism. And while an energy price spike in the summer isn't great, it's when most people have their heating off so lower bills. The real fear is what could happen to Ofgem's price cap in October, when temperatures start to plunge, but that is still seven months away.
Source:Daily Mirror
March 23, 2026 19:36 UTC
Rise in landlords selling their properties- Survey
Rise in landlords selling their properties- SurveyNewly released figures from a house price survey have revealed a national rise in landlords selling up, which is leading to a severe shortage of family homes to rent. The survey also found that in 10 counties, 40% of their sales were attributed to the new rules, which is double what they were three months ago. They also found that Limerick City saw a 60% increase in all sales, which was a direct result of landlords leaving the housing market. “Typically, this involves small landlords with one property who have formed a good relationship with a tenant over the years, but want to exit the market. The biggest quarterly rise in prices was in Cavan, which saw prices increase by 5.6%, according to James Spring of REA Donohoe Spring.
Source:Irish Independent
March 23, 2026 19:22 UTC
First generation diaspora shrinks as fewer young Irish people feel the need to emigrate
Census returns over the last century and a half, across a range of countries, paint the changing picture of Irish emigration, both in terms of scale and the destinations chosen. The shares of younger Irish emigrants living in the rest of the EU, and in Australia or New Zealand, both now exceed the share in the US. [ Irish emigration has changed. Of the 100,000 Irish people aged 20-34 living abroad, almost 10 per cent returned to Ireland in the census year. Over time, with the ending of mass permanent emigration, the number of elderly Irish-born people living abroad will continue to fall.
Source:The Irish Times
March 23, 2026 19:14 UTC
Thomas Tuchel reveals why England stars picked Kansas as their World Cup base - as Three Lions prepare to jet back and forth to be there 'as often as possible'
Thomas Tuchel has revealed how senior England players were involved in the decision to base the national team in Kansas City during the World Cup. Because England don't kick off their tournament until the back end of the group stage, their schedule is more condensed than other nations. But Tuchel said: 'We're trying to have Kansas the whole way. England manager Thomas Tuchel has revealed why his side chose Kansas as their base for the World CupCharming hotel The Inn at Meadowbrook has been selected for its intimate feel Stateside'So we chose a hotel where you can open the window. 'These are some decisions that had to be made and maybe the headline is: "We try to be as often in Kansas as possible".'
Source:Daily Mail
March 23, 2026 19:13 UTC
9 key things Keir Starmer announced in Iran grilling
9 key things Keir Starmer announced in Iran grilling - from energy support to Trump jibesKeir Starmer faced questions on the Government's response to the Iran war as fears mount over the impact on the cost of living in Britain from the spiralling conflictView 4 Images Keir Starmer said he wouldn't be dragged into the Iran war (Image: Getty Images)Keir Starmer has been grilled by senior MPs over the Iran war after Donald Trump dramatically stepped back from threats to strike Tehran's energy infrastructure. View 4 Images Keir Starmer was grilled by MPs on the Commons Liaison Committee about the Iran war (Image: parliamentlive.tv)Keir Starmer watch LIVE: PM gives verdict on fuel supplies as stockpile fears grow READ MORE :1. Mr Starmer said: "To that end, I welcome the talks reported between the US and Iran. Asked how long the crisis would last, Mr Starmer said: "It's hard to answer that question, if I'm honest about it. UK Defence Secretary gives major update on Iran attack on Diego Garcia base READ MORE :Trump shares SNL comedy sketch mocking Keir Starmer - Labour respond READ MORE :7.
Source:Daily Mirror
March 23, 2026 19:08 UTC
Seven in 10 migrant workers exploited in Ireland under employment permit system, report finds
The report ‘Tied to Exploitation: The Experience of Migrant Workers in Ireland’, illustrates the conditions many migrant workers face regarding general employment permits. More than seven in 10 migrant workers in Ireland are exploited under the employment permit system, a new survey has revealed. The Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) has launched a landmark survey of over 1,000 employment permit holders. This is not a problem affecting a small number of rogue employers – it’s a systemic failure of the employment permit system. The research showed 71pc of general employment permit holders experienced exploitation in employment, 61pc experienced severe exploitation – meaning repeated or multiple serious employment rights breaches.
Source:Irish Independent
March 23, 2026 19:05 UTC
PROPERTY: Superb three-bedroom residence in central Athlone town location
PROPERTY: Superb three-bedroom residence in central Athlone town locationProperty Partners Moore Larkin, together with joint selling agent Property Partners Richard Cleary are delighted to offer for sale this superb three-bedroom residence at Cnoc Mhuire, Dublin Road, Athlone, N37 RX63. Centrally located on the Old Dublin Road, Cnoc Mhuire is just a ten-minute walk from Athlone town centre and also a ten-minute walk in the opposite direction to TUS Campus Athlone. The property consists of a three-bedroom, detached bungalow with a detached domestic garage adjacent. Previous Next Image 1 of 3 Image 2 of 3 Image 3 of 3This property is ideally suited to prospective buyers seeking a bungalow-style home close to Athlone town centre and it will also appeal to investors given its prime central location and not having been previously rented. For further information, contactOllie Moore at 086 8595186, Property Partners Moore Larkin, Email: moorelarkin@propertypartners.ieScan QR code for website and further information.
Source:Irish Independent
March 23, 2026 19:02 UTC