Akinola, English and O’Neill advance to semi-finals in Torun
Bori Akinola, Mark English and Maeve O’Neill got the Irish off to a strong start at the World Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland this morning, the trio advancing to their respective semi-finals with English particularly impressive when winning his 800m heat in 1:46.62. Elsewhere, there were mixed fortunes for Ireland’s two athletes in the women’s 800m, Maeve O’Neill and Emma Moore. O’Neill, the Irish indoor record holder, came home third in her heat in 2:03.20, having required a top-two finish to advance automatically. I wanted a better position and I couldn’t get it, but that’s experience, which I don’t have a lot of. Irish in action, Friday (all times Irish)James Gormley: men’s 1500m heats, 6.04pmBori Akinola: men’s 60m semi-final, 7.30pm*Bori Akinola, men’s 60m final, 8:22pm*Pending qualification
Source:Irish Examiner
March 20, 2026 15:10 UTC
Ex-West Brom and Chelsea defender is identified as former Premier League footballer arrested for 'buying drugs' in Costa del Sol raid
The former West Bromwich Albion footballer arrested on the Costa del Sol following a drugs raid has been identified as Neil Clement, a new report has claimed. The 47-year-old ex-Premier League star was detained by Spanish police in a shopping centre in Riviera del Sol, between Marbella and Fuengirola. However, according to The Sun, the man arrested can be identified as Clement, who enjoyed a 10-year stint at The Hawthorns from 2000 until 2010. Cops then seized more drugs and cash from inside the premises before Clement was later seen being led from the building in handcuffs. As well as identifying the arrested man as a former West Brom footballer, Sur reported the premises he was allegedly running didn't have an opening and activity licence.
Source:Daily Mail
March 20, 2026 15:08 UTC
What is the manosphere and why is everyone talking about it?
Photograph: Harriet Langford Studio/Dish/Waitrose/Cold Glass Productions/PA WireWhy is everyone talking about ‘the manosphere’? Perhaps because UK documentarian Louis Theroux just made a feature-length documentary for Netflix called Inside the Manosphere. Louis Theroux ... who’s he again? Well, Myron Gaines from the Fresh and Fit podcast likes to assemble vulnerable young women on a panel to humiliate and insult them. [ Louis Theroux – Inside the Manosphere: A tentative dip into the world of toxic masculinityOpens in new window ][ Louis Theroux on masculinity, marriage and more: ‘Would you like me to cry now?’Opens in new window ]But do they really believe this stuff?
Source:The Irish Times
March 20, 2026 15:00 UTC
The Other Bennet Sister on BBC One: A love letter to outsiders, introverts and people who don’t fit in
The Other Bennet Sister: Dónal Finn and Ella Bruccoleri as Mr Hayward and Mary Bennet in the upcoming BBC adaptation of Janice Hadlow’s novel. Photograph: Bad Wolf/BBCFans of frocks, shocks and raffish 19th‑century jocks will flock to The Other Bennet Sister (BBC One, Sundays from 8pm) – a very unofficial Pride and Prejudice spin‑off that relays the story of the overlooked character of Mary Bennet. It is a love letter to outsiders, introverts and people who don’t much fit in, while also adding to the bonfire of Jane Austen ephemera by retelling the key events in Pride and Prejudice from the vantage point of Mary. Cork actor Dónal Finn turns up later in the series as a barrister and potential love interest to Mary, while Richard E Grant has fun as her quietly supportive father. Hooray for weirdos who live inside their heads – and for this sly, pointed deconstruction of the costume drama industrial complex.
Source:The Irish Times
March 20, 2026 15:00 UTC
Denmark was ready to blow up Greenland runways if US invaded
Danish troops dispatched to Greenland at the start of the year took enough explosives to destroy the island’s main runways near the capital Nuuk, according to local reports. “We were very worried this was going to go really wrong,” said one European official about Trump’s repeated threats over Greenland in January. “I hope for an agreement, but as I have said, Trump’s desire to take over Greenland remains intact,” she said. “The French were incredibly helpful,” a second European official said. Let’s take this thing, and this country,” said a third European official.
Source:The Irish Times
March 20, 2026 14:50 UTC
Do Cork have to get promoted to continue 2026 momentum?
By any metric, Cork have enjoyed their most promising league since reaching the Division 1 final in 2015. It’s been a league full of positives, which has piqued the interest of the casual Cork GAA fan. Picture: James Lawlor/InphoOutside of cruising to a Division 3 league title in 2020, Cork haven’t been able to lay spring groundwork like the best teams do. The success of the season could hinge on securing promotion because a potential Munster final with Kerry is in Killarney, where Cork haven’t won in 31 years and they’re not yet realistic All-Ireland contenders. Cork could rebound from a defeat at the weekend by surging towards the business end of the championship.
Source:Irish Examiner
March 20, 2026 14:47 UTC
Mo Salah ruled out of Liverpool's trip to Brighton, Mikel Arteta rallies Arsenal... as Eddie Howe blasts 'nonsense' talk about Bruno Guimaraes: PREMIER LEAGUE MANAGERS LIVE
Since then, Pep Guardiola has led Man City to four league titles, one FA Cup, one Carabao Cup and a Champions League trophy. The Toffees were without the pair for their late defeat at Arsenal last Saturday but both have trained this week. Lewis SteeleHowe responds to Bruno reportsEddie Howe has shot down suggestions that Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes is set for a move to Manchester United. 'Bruno's our captain, he's fully committed, he's injured at the moment, his only focus is coming back to fitness. 'To say our captain is in discussions with another club is totally disrespectful to Bruno more than anything else.
Source:Daily Mail
March 20, 2026 14:40 UTC
Arsenal news: Sandro Tonali path clears as target's agent makes transfer stance clear
As we approach the business end of the season, Mikel Arteta and his squad are still in contention for four trophies. Concerns over PSR could force Arsenal to be creative in the summer transfer window, but that doesn't mean they won't sign any new senior players. Latest Gunners news and more on our dedicated Facebook pageMan City star Jeremy Doku fires Arsenal two-word warning ahead of Carabao Cup final READ MORE :Tonali path opens upArsenal-linked midfielder Sandro Tonali has also been mentioned in connection with Manchester United. Juventus have also been monitoring Tonali but are believed to feel they can't compete with English clubs financially. Inter Milan star Pio Esposito is one player whose name has come up after an impressive season for club and country.
Source:Daily Mirror
March 20, 2026 14:37 UTC
In Beijing, a ballet from Mao’s era still brings the house to tears
Taking no chances this time, we had come to see the National Ballet of China perform its signature piece, The Red Detachment of Women, complete with a full orchestra and choir. She escapes and joins an all-women detachment of the Red Army, which is training in the countryside. The Red Army storm the landlord’s hideout in the end and releases those he has imprisoned, but not before Hong dies a martyr’s death. Members of the National Ballet of China perform the The Red Detachment of Women. When I told a friend in her 40s that I was going to see The Red Detachment of Women, she told me it was her father’s favourite work.
Source:The Irish Times
March 20, 2026 14:36 UTC
Sick of seagulls stealing your chips? Stick googly EYES on your takeaway to keep swooping birds away, wacky study claims
In their study, the team stuck googly eyes on takeaway food boxes to test whether it would affect their appeal to hungry gulls. However, the University of Exeter team were inspired to look at the impact of googly eyes, after finding that making eye contact with birds stops them swooping. Surprisingly, the googly eyes proved effective. Next, the team set out to understand whether the gulls would, over time, work out that the googly eyes weren't really threatening. The news comes shortly after research revealed that simply shouting at birds can also stop them from stealing your food.
Source:Daily Mail
March 20, 2026 14:33 UTC
Meningitis deaths in England are concerning, but vaccinations work
Read More HSE monitoring meningitis outbreak in England with help of UK health authoritiesInvasive meningococcal disease is a serious but uncommon illness caused by meningococcal bacteria. The bacteria that cause meningococcal disease are common and can live naturally in the back of the nose and throat. The key question on every parent’s lips is why some people develop meningococcal disease and others don’t. Meningococcal disease can be treated — the earlier antibiotics are given the greater chance that a person will make a full recovery. The precipitous decline in recent decades in meningococcal disease is one more example of the massive impact of modern vaccines in reducing deaths and lifelong illness from infectious disease in children.
Source:Irish Examiner
March 20, 2026 14:33 UTC
Arsenal strategy was 'not Mikel Arteta's expectation' as Man City forced plan change
Arsenal have become masters of the set piece, scoring a huge amount of goals from corners and free-kicks into the box. Arteta's learnings under Guardiola meant that fans and pundits expected Arsenal to adopt a possession-based style, similar to the one that had bought City so much success. He wrote in the Telegraph: "This was not the original expectation when Arteta took the reins at the Emirates. The clash between the pair at the Etihad in the Premier League next month could have a huge bearing on where the title ends up. Carragher believes that, had Arsenal tried to take on Guardiola at his own game they would've been "doomed to fail."
Source:Daily Mirror
March 20, 2026 14:29 UTC
Time to rethink Ireland’s energy policy
Sir, – Paul O’Shea’s letter challenging David Traynor’s suggestion for a high-speed rail spine makes great sense (“A high-speed rail line,” Letters, March 18th). He points to the fact other European countries rely on low-carbon generation and nuclear power to support high-speed rail. As Micheál Martin casually told the Dáil recently, the loss of even one undersea energy connection would close down the country. We need to re-evaluate the effectiveness of our climate policy as it has been rolled out to date. Is transport policy working?
Source:The Irish Times
March 20, 2026 14:29 UTC
Hilton to open boutique hotel on South Terrace in Cork City
Hotel chain Hilton has announced plans to open a new location on South Terrace in Cork City Centre under its boutique Tapestry Collection. In December, the Irish Examiner revealed that two new hotels in Cork City were about to get off the ground — one on South Mall and a second to be located on South Terrace which was being developed by JMK hospitality group. However, it was not revealed at the time that Hilton would be involved in the South Terrace location. Between the new Cork and Plymouth locations, Hilton is expecting to add 100 jobs. Hilton’s Cork City location will comprise 103 rooms including a mix of standard rooms and extended‑stay accommodation with kitchenettes.
Source:Irish Examiner
March 20, 2026 14:28 UTC
Gerry Adams welcomes decision by three victims of IRA bombings to drop civil action against him
Former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams at the Royal Courts of Justice, in central London, where a civil claim against him was dropped. Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PASinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has welcomed the decision by three IRA bombing victims to drop their civil action in the high court in London against him. In a statement issued on Friday afternoon, Adams said he welcomed the three men’s decision to drop the case against him and he had “attended the civil case out of respect for them. “This decision brings to an emphatic end a case that should never have been brought,” he said. He thanked “all of those who have expressed their solidarity with me and the Sinn Féin team which worked closely with me” as well as his legal team and his wife Colette and his family.
Source:The Irish Times
March 20, 2026 14:27 UTC