Food rationing, panic-buying, planes grounded and an economic hammer blow far worse than Covid: Economists explain nightmare scenario that could be just weeks away due to Iran war
Fears are mounting that the world is heading for an economic blow far worse than the Covid pandemic within weeks as the Iran conflict threatens global oil and gas supplies. Experts warn it could trigger food shortages, grounded flights and panic-buying as countries risk running out of fuel and energy if key shipping routes remain shut. That could trigger a domino effect across the global economy, hitting everything from air travel to food production. Kurt Barrow, vice-president of oil at S&P Global Energy, warned the world could soon face outright shortages and rationing if the disruption continues. She said: 'Even just a few missiles or drones fired into the Bab el-Mandeb Strait would push oil prices several legs higher.'
Source:Daily Mail
March 20, 2026 23:40 UTC
HSE ‘will have blood on their hands’ if highly vulnerable child not alive and safe on Monday
The court heard the boy has been leaving his placement, taking drugs and putting himself and others at risk. File photograph: GettyThe HSE “will have blood on their hands” if a highly vulnerable child in State care and in need of urgent psychiatric treatment “is not alive and safe on Monday”, a Dublin District Court judge has said. The court heard the boy has been leaving his placement, taking drugs and putting himself and others at risk. Fiona McNulty, solicitor for Tusla, told the court there had been a “noted deterioration” in the child’s presentation in recent days. Will he be alive on Monday morning?”All he could do, he said, was list the case for mention on Monday “for an update to ensure the child is still alive”.
Source:The Irish Times
March 20, 2026 23:36 UTC
Natural History Museum becomes UK's top attraction for visits
Video: Natural History Museum becomes UK´s top attraction for visitsUse of archive footageLondon's Natural History Museum (NHM) has set a new record as it becomes the UK's most visited tourist attraction, new figures show. The site welcomed 7.1 million visitors in 2025, which is up 13% from the previous year and represents an all-time high for a UK museum or gallery, trade body the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (Alva) said. The NHM's Fixing Our Broken Planet exhibition on climate change, which opened in April 2025, has seen more than two million visitors. It has become the free museum's second most visited space, after its dinosaur exhibits.
Source:Daily Mail
March 20, 2026 23:20 UTC
Spring has officially sprung! The sun shines directly over the equator as the Vernal Equinox arrives – meaning winter is finally over
At precisely 14:46 GMT today we have the Vernal Equinox, marking the exact moment when the centre of the sun crosses the plane of Earth's equator. From today, observers anywhere on Earth will see the sun's path in the sky continue its movement further north every day. The arrival of the Vernal Equinox means we can finally wave goodbye to winter, and say hello to spring. 'Equinoxes are associated with the changing seasons,' NASA explained. 'In March, Northern Hemisphere observers welcome the longer, warmer days heralded by their vernal, or spring, equinox.
Source:Daily Mail
March 20, 2026 23:01 UTC
S&P upgrades Ireland to within one notch of triple-A for first time since 2009
“This is the first upgrade of Ireland’s rating from S&P since May 2023 and is the first time that S&P has rated Ireland at AA+ since 2009,” the agency said in a statement. “Today’s S&P rating upgrade to AA+ is another positive development for Ireland,” said Dave McEvoy, director of funding and debt management at the NTMA. “It reflects positive international investor sentiment and further improvements in Ireland’s debt metrics, with Irish bonds now trading close to core European sovereign issuers. S&P rated Ireland at as low as BBB+, seven levels below AAA, but three steps above “junk”, during the worst of the downturn. Two of the world’s three main credit ratings agencies – Fitch and Morningstar DBRS – currently have an AA stance on Ireland.
Source:The Irish Times
March 20, 2026 22:56 UTC
Gerry Adams says civil case ‘verged on show trial’ and ‘should never have been brought’
Gerry Adams speaking to the media in Belfast on Friday after the civil case taken against him in London's high court was discontinued. Out of the sunshine stepped Gerry Adams, the former Sinn Féin leader, who hours earlier had seen a civil case taken against him by three men injured in IRA bombings in England “discontinued”. He said he had attended “out of respect” for them but it “verged on a show trial” and “should never have been brought”, he said. It was “clearly ... an unorthodox and strategically important political case taken for that purpose”. Adams told reporters that during his two days of evidence he “categorically rejected all of the claims being made”.
Source:The Irish Times
March 20, 2026 22:47 UTC
League of Ireland – as it happened: Dundalk foil leaders Bohs, wins for St Pat’s and Rovers, as Drogs draw in Derry
Shamrock Rovers go just three points off top as Danny Grant and Aaron Greene sink resilient GalwayLeague title wins are built on efficient and unremarkable wins like this one.
Source:Irish Independent
March 20, 2026 22:32 UTC
‘Colonel’ and ‘major’ of global money-laundering ring jailed
Ogbuefi was also convicted of 32 counts of money laundering and seven of conspiracy to launder money. The jury also convicted Silvester of five counts of money laundering, two of attempted money laundering, four of conspiracy to launder money and one of using a false instrument. During the sentence hearing, Judge Martin Nolan suggested to the investigating garda that the men were a “colonel and a major”, which Det Garda Steven Kelly agreed with. Evidence suggested both men were receiving requests, often from phone numbers in Nigeria, to launder money from different types of frauds. Mr Devally asked the court to view Ogbuefi as being “appointed to a position of local authority in a wider organisation”.
Source:The Irish Times
March 20, 2026 22:31 UTC
Google says former employee trying to ‘sully’ tech giant’s name in race bias claim
Former accounts strategist Eyob Van Haute has brought a complaint against Google under the Employment Equality Act, 1998. “I think my dismissal was not the result of fair and consistent assessment of performance,” Van Haute told the WRC. Van Haute said that in quarter one of 2025 he secured an overall “core score” of 93 per cent. When adjudication officer Orla Jones asked whether that was his evidence on the claim, Van Haute said it was. Mallon added that Van Haute had only given the first name of one alleged comparator and had not identified anyone he claimed had discriminated against him.
Source:The Irish Times
March 20, 2026 22:30 UTC
England release new 2026 World Cup kits as Nike opt for bold away strip
England release new 2026 World Cup kits as Nike opt for bold away stripEngland have officially unveiled their new kit for the World Cup in the summerView 2 Images England have unveiled their home and away kit for the 2026 World Cup. (Image: England)England has revealed their home and away kits for the forthcoming FIFA World Cup. The words 'Happy and Glorious' feature on the collar of Nike's latest kit partnership, while they will wear red in the newly-released away kit. Buy the latest England kits and merch This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Various Prices England Official Store Buy Now on England Official Store Product Description England fans can pick up the latest Three Lions kits and merchandise at the England Official Store.
Source:Daily Mirror
March 20, 2026 22:27 UTC
Munster tie down second row Conor Ryan until 2028
Conor Ryan has signed a two-year contract extension with Munster which will keep him at the province until at least 2028. The 22-year-old second row is the latest Munster player to take the less trodden path to professional rugby. He signed a one-year development contract last summer and featured against an Argentina XV at Thomond Park in November. He impressed to the extent that he secured a one-year development contract this season. “Our clubs are a cornerstone of Munster Rugby and Conor’s elevation is further proof of the importance of our clubs in developing players.”
Source:Irish Examiner
March 20, 2026 22:08 UTC
Concern over legal costs brings Gerry Adams’s eight-day London high court odyssey to end
On a number of occasions during eight days in the high court, Judge Jonathan Swift queried if he should hear from both legal teams as to whether the case itself was an abuse of process. In English and Welsh civil law, a judge is able to stop, stay or strike out a case if they decide the legal process – in this case a civil claim for personal injuries damages – is being used unjustly or improperly. But once the judge raised the issue of abuse of process, it was clear that the costs order would be reviewed if Swift decided to throw it out on those grounds, she said. The claimants had raised £110,000 from a crowdfunding campaign that, to quote Ganesh, received many small donations of “three quid or a fiver”. Throughout the case, the Adams side was confident, if frequently irritated by the nature of the evidence put before the court from a former IRA member, Shane Paul O’Doherty, and ex-soldiers and police.
Source:The Irish Times
March 20, 2026 22:00 UTC
Teenager Murphy the hero as Cork City continue blistering start
SSE Airtricity First Division: UCD 0 Cork City 1Cork City earned a massive three points at the UCD Bowl in an enthralling end-to-end encounter with 16-year-old Cillian Murphy being the hero as his first senior goal proved the difference. And back at the scene of when they last secured the First Division title the visitors, as expected, made a dominant start. Looked dangerous on the counter attack the Students' own flying winger, Stephen Mohan, created havoc himself and forced some bodies-on-the-line defending as the frenetic start showed no signs of slowing. The talented teenager made no mistake and swept the ball home expertly to become one of the youngest goalscorers in Cork City’s history. The longer the second half continued with just the one goal deficit, the potential for a nervy finish grew.
Source:Irish Examiner
March 20, 2026 21:59 UTC
Connacht stun Ulster to boost playoff hopes with fourth-win-in-a-row
Ulster 19 Connacht 26Connacht stunned Ulster in Belfast to fully deserve their bonus point result and make it four victories on the bounce for Stuart Lancaster’s side to boost their play-off hopes. That incident led to a penalty for Ulster which Murphy put deep into Connacht’s 22. Zac Ward got five back for Ulster on 64 minutes when he bamboozled Sean Naughton after being supplied by Stockdale. Ulster: M Lowry, W Kok, J Stockdale, B Carson, Z Ward, J Murphy, Doak; A Bell, T Stewart, S Wilson, I Henderson, J Hopes, D McCann, M Rea, J Augustus. Connacht: S Naughton, S Jennings, C Forde, B Aki, F Treacy, J Carty, C Reilly; B Bohan, D Heffernan, F Bealham, J Joyce, D Murray, J Murphy, C Prendergast, S Jansen.
Source:Irish Examiner
March 20, 2026 21:59 UTC