Newcastle blown away by Barcelona's stunning second-half
Barcelona 7 Newcastle 2 (Barcelona win 8-3 on aggregate)Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha killed off Newcastle's Champions League dream as Barcelona survived a first-half fright to book a quarter-final place in style. Anthony Elanga's first-half brace had cancelled out Raphinha's early opener and Marc Bernal's free-header, but Lamine Yamal's stoppage-time penalty opened the floodgates with Fermin Lopez, Lewandowski and Raphinha again doing the damage. Newcastle United's Lewis Hall (right) is tackled by Barcelona's Xavi Espart. The Magpies levelled again five minutes later when Yamal's ill-judged back-heel was picked off by Hall, who fed Barnes to cross for Elanga to slide home. The Pole doubled his tally with an emphatic 61st-minute finish after Yamal had bamboozled both Burn and Thiaw, and Raphinha rounded off the scoring after intercepting Ramsey's woeful pass across his own goal.
Source:Irish Examiner
March 18, 2026 20:14 UTC
Man United boss Michael Carrick backs England trio for recalls, insisting recent form should earn them places in pre-World Cup squad
They have yet to play under Tuchel who has hinted they are in his thoughts after insisting in August that there was no anti-United bias. ‘Every decision is an individual decision,’ said the England boss. Asked if he has spoken to Tuchel about a possible call-up, he said: ‘No, I haven't been in touch. For the boys, I'd love to see them picked for this one and obviously picked for the summer. ‘I think he's obviously trying to work towards getting back but just the back issue really, that's proving difficult.
Source:Daily Mail
March 18, 2026 19:55 UTC
Premier League club target flies to England for medical as he closes in on £35m transfer from PSV Eindhoven - with striker set to sign a five-year deal
Ricardo Pepi is heading to London on Wednesday night ahead of having his Fulham medical. PSV Eindhoven have granted the striker permission to travel after agreeing on a fee around £30.5million with bonuses and sell-on to follow. Pepi was photographed at the airport en route to London on Wednesday afternoon with his agent Jaime García, from Starting XI Player Management. He will agree a five-year contract pending a successful medical. The clubs have been continuing negotiations since January after the Dutch side rejected Fulham's offers for the USA international.
Source:Daily Mail
March 18, 2026 19:55 UTC
Liverpool handed perfect £60m transfer opportunity as price tag drops
Liverpool handed perfect £60m transfer opportunity as price tag dropsPlans are already underway for the summer transfer window with Liverpool linked with potential incomingsView 2 Images Inter are said to have cut their asking price for defender Alessandro Bastoni. (Image: Marco Canoniero, LightRocket via Getty Images)Liverpool transfer target Alessandro Bastoni might be available for approximately £40million this summer rather than the previously stated £60million price tag. Liverpool are among the numerous clubs linked with an interest in Bastoni, with Barcelona reported to have expressed their interest to the player's representative, Tullio Tinti, in recent weeks. Several English clubs could reportedly also emerge as potential buyers if he is keen to move to the Premier League. View 2 Images Liverpool are one of the teams to be linked with a transfer interest in Alessandro Bastoni.
Source:Daily Mirror
March 18, 2026 19:52 UTC
Two students die in ‘explosive’ outbreak of meningitis in UK
Students queuing for antibiotics outside a building at the University of Kent in Canterbury. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA WireUK heath authorities are dealing with an “explosive” outbreak of meningitis in the Kent area where a total of 20 cases among young adults are being investigated. Two students have died during the outbreak, including 18-year-old Juliette Kenny, who was studying for her A-levels. The UK health security agency (UKHSA) said that, as of 5pm on Tuesday, some 20 cases of meningitis had been reported to it, up from 15 previously. On Tuesday, UK health secretary Wes Streeting said most students would not already be vaccinated against menB.
Source:The Irish Times
March 18, 2026 19:50 UTC
‘Sexual predator’: Former Dublin school principal jailed for four years
This fourth set of prosecutions against Patrick Harte brings to 89 his number of convictions for sexual or indecent assaults of young boys. Photograph: Collins CourtsA former school principal described by a judge as “a sexual predator” who abused young boys in their “formative years” has been jailed for four years. Patrick Harte (84) was employed a teacher at Sancta Maria Christian Brothers school on Synge Street, Dublin, from 1967 to 2007, latterly as a principal. This fourth set of prosecutions brings to 89 his number of convictions for sexual or indecent assaults of young boys. During the trial, Harte gave sworn evidence that none of the matters alleged had ever taken place, the court heard.
Source:The Irish Times
March 18, 2026 19:48 UTC
Government plans 'appropriate intervention' on rising fuel prices
The Government will finalise “an appropriate intervention” to rising fuel and energy prices next week, the Tánaiste has said. Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny said it “seemed a little bit rich” that the Government “could do nothing, only monitor it until” his party brought the motion. The party called on the Government to scrap plans to increase carbon tax on home heating oil on May 1, and to reduce the cost of fuels through emergency legislation on mineral oil taxes. “It means nothing to somebody who’s out of home heating oil today. The matter was also raised during Leaders’ Questions between Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald and justice minister Jim O’Callaghan.
Source:Irish Examiner
March 18, 2026 19:47 UTC
Ireland needs to grow up and get serious about its interests – The Irish Times
Ireland has a responsibility to itself to consider what more we can do to address these mounting international challenges. The question of how we should work to guarantee our own national security is one obvious and urgent example. Between the cow and the bull, we – extraordinarily – have never had a serious public discussion about our own security. A serious national reflection about global developments would leave us better positioned to contribute significantly to wider international debate. The obvious starting point for Ireland to get more serious about understanding and asserting our international interests is by deepening our engagement with, and contribution to, shaping the EU’s prosperity, security and influence.
Source:The Irish Times
March 18, 2026 19:42 UTC
The trends that explain Ireland’s Six Nations turnaround
This year, Ireland topped all Six Nations teams for number of tackles made during the tournament (888). It was also a record for the number of tackles completed by an Irish side in the Six Nations era (from 2000 onwards). [ How Ireland’s set-piece detail returned with a vengeance against ScotlandOpens in new window ]Ireland led the way in a number of defensive stats in the Six Nations. Photograph: Brian LawlessAs Ireland’s defensive workload has increased, and with it the ability to repel sides close to the line, the required attacking efficiency to match has also been there. One efficient Six Nations campaign is a small sample size, but what offers encouragement is Ireland’s direction of travel.
Source:The Irish Times
March 18, 2026 19:38 UTC
OPW 'behind schedule’ in implementing flood action plans
The Office of Public Works (OPW) is currently ‘behind schedule’ in implementing action plans for existing flood-hit areas, despite Ireland already being impacted by climate-change-induced flooding, an Oireachtas committee will hear on Thursday. The OPW — the State’s property manager, which also holds responsibility for flood mitigation schemes across the country — will appear before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday, together with Met Éireann, to discuss the adaptation of ongoing flood management schemes to the impacts of climate change. “Recent attribution studies have shown that climate change is already impacting flood events,” Mr Conlon will tell the committee, adding that Ireland must “be prepared to deal with and manage the increased flood risk arising from climate change”. Despite this, the OPW has informed the PAC that the CCAC’s evaluation of the progress being made in terms of the delivery of the flood risk management sector is “’good’ overall in all of the assessments undertaken”. However, the agency has acknowledged that it is currently “behind schedule” on four of the 67 actions it is required to perform under the Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan, one of which is the instigation of ‘community climate action programmes’ for all 56 existing flood relief schemes.
Source:Irish Examiner
March 18, 2026 19:36 UTC
Opposition TDs say Micheál Martin was not critical enough of Donald Trump’s war in Iran
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has been lambasted by the opposition for not being critical enough of US president Donald Trump’s war in Iran and not correcting him on President Catherine Connolly’s gender. The Taoiseach met with Mr Trump in the Oval Office for over 40 minutes on Tuesday as part of the annual St Patrick’s Day celebrations. During the meeting, Mr Martin said that the US president was “doing his bit” for peace in the Middle East. “I don't think Micheál Martin successfully represented the Irish people's position, who strongly oppose international law being broken and who strongly oppose illegal wars. “But I think it's really important that Micheál Martin said what he said in relation to immigration and also in relation to Europe.”In the Dáil, Fianna Fáil justice minister Jim O’Callaghan also praised Mr Martin.
Source:Irish Examiner
March 18, 2026 19:21 UTC
Iran says Gulf oil facilities are ‘legitimate targets’ following attacks on large gasfield
A large crowd gathers in Tehran on Wednesday for the funeral of Ali Larijani, Iran’s top security official, who was killed in an Israeli strike. The announcement came after attacks on the huge Iranian South Pars gasfield and on a refinery in Asaluyeh, a large energy hub on Iran’s Gulf coast. The South Pars offshore gasfield, which Iran shares with Qatar, is the largest such facility in the world. Global oil and gas prices rose sharply after the attacks, which according to Israeli media reports were carried out by Israel in co-ordination with Washington. Israel confirmed it killed Iran’s intelligence minister, Esmail Khatib, in an overnight air strike on Tehran.
Source:The Irish Times
March 18, 2026 19:20 UTC
Public meeting in Tullamore to help people get to grips with electricity bills
Public meeting in Tullamore to help people get to grips with electricity billsA public meeting will be held in Tullamore Library next week to help residents of Offaly become better acquainted with reading and understanding electricity bills. The meeting will be held by members of Offaly County Council's Climate Action Team at Tullamore Library, O'Connor Square on Monday, March 23 from 10am to 12.45pm. The aim of the meeting is to assist people to understand unit rates, standings charges and meter types, as well as providing information on how to possibly reduce energy usage with practical tips. The meeting will be open to all and people are encouraged to bring along energy bills, while also receiving advice on how best to use their energy provider's mobile application.
Source:Irish Independent
March 18, 2026 19:06 UTC
‘I'm not sure if I ever want to go there’ – Aryna Sabalenka unsure of Dubai return after criticism over withdrawal
World number one Aryna Sabalenka said she is unsure about her return to the Dubai Championships after its tournament director criticised her withdrawal this year, labelling the demand for tougher penalties on late pullouts a "ridiculous" idea. "I think it's ridiculous," Belarusian Sabalenka told reporters at the Miami Open on Tuesday. For me, it's actually so sad to see that the tournament directors and the tournaments not protecting us as players. World number four Coco Gauff urged a more understanding view of Swiatek and Sabalenka pulling out of Dubai. I completely understand why she [Sabalenka] would feel like that because the comments were unnecessary."
Source:Irish Independent
March 18, 2026 19:05 UTC
‘You’ve just got to bide your time’ – Luton’s Josh Keeley on his hopes of making Ireland squad for play-offs
‘You’ve just got to bide your time’ – Luton’s Josh Keeley on his hopes of making Ireland squad for play-offsMeath goalkeeper (22) has no regrets about Spurs exit as he looks to boost his international hopesJosh Keeley at Luton Town's training ground, The Brache. Photo: Seán O'ConnorSeán O'Connor Today at 14:30It’s match day minus one at Luton Town’s training centre and although the weather outside is wet and gloomy, inside the vibes are anything but.
Source:Irish Independent
March 18, 2026 19:02 UTC