Last 11 years have been hottest on record as ‘alarming’ weather streak continues
Photograph: Jae C Hong/APThe world’s weather experts have warned that Earth is experiencing an “alarming streak of exceptional temperatures” with climate change driving ever more difficult conditions. The State of the Global Climate Report from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) shows 2025 is set to become the second or third warmest year in human history. Glaciers in all parts of the world lost record volumes of ice, measured at 450 billion tonnes. Glaciers in all parts of the world lost record volumes of ice. “Each year above 1.5 degrees will hammer economies, deepen inequalities and inflict irreversible damage,” he said.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 16:32 UTC
Luxembourg or La-la land? Patrick O’Donovan chooses Hollywood over EU huddle
During the six-month presidency, Irish Ministers will take centre stage in European affairs, chairing council meetings where all 27 member states negotiate and forge common positions on key issues. There has been a noticeable increase in Ministers attending EU council meetings, in Brussels and elsewhere, rather than relying on senior Irish diplomats to represent them. Inside the department, officials said they wanted to arrange some bilateral sit-downs for O’Donovan on the margins of the Luxembourg trip. Out of the four EU meetings O’Donovan has been invited to so far this year, he has only made it to one. The Limerick TD was all set to travel to an EU council last month, but his flight was cancelled before take-off, due to a technical issue.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 16:31 UTC
I worry I might be doing things only to capture them on my phone – The Irish Times
This thought experiment is centuries old, loosely linked to 18th century writings by Irish philosopher George Berkeley. There are two big gripes about modern-day concert going, phone use and talking. Phone use at shows is something I’m much more easy-going about, and I view it as audience and artist dependent. Earlier this month I went to a gig that explicitly asked for no phone use. I sometimes worry that I might only be doing things so I can capture the sight or event or moment with my phone.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 16:31 UTC
Caelan Doris returns to lead much-changed Ireland team for visit of Japan
In what is an uplifting and inspiring story, the late developing Munster centre Tom Farrell will become the oldest back to make his debut for Ireland in the professional era after being named at outside centre. Craig Casey is promoted at scrumhalf and will start alongside his Munster halfback partner Jack Crowley, who is retained at outhalf. Gus McCarthy, Cian Prendergast and Jimmy O’Brien are all promoted to the bench, where Paddy McCarthy, Finlay Bealham and Cian Prendergast are retained. Looking ahead to Saturday’s game, Andy Farrell said: “I have been pleased with the application and diligence of the squad this week. “Tom (Farrell) becomes our latest debutant and his is a real Roy of the Rovers story when you look at his journey in the game to this point.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 16:23 UTC
Caelan Doris set to return as Ireland captain for Japan match
Caelan Doris is set to return as Ireland captain when the side to face Japan at the Aviva Stadium next Saturday (kick-off 12.40pm) is announced at noon on Thursday. Andy Farrell is expected to delve into his squad with several changes from the side which lost 26-13 against New Zealand in Chicago while retaining an experienced core. If ever there was a game to look at alternatives to Josh van der Flier at openside, then this would seem the game to start Nick Timoney. The 30-year-old Ulster player earned his fourth cap, and first since the Fijian game in November 2022, against Georgia in June. Ireland (possible) v Japan: Osborne; T O’Brien, Ringrose, Aki/Henshaw, Stockdale; Crowley, Casey; Porter, Kelleher, Clarkson; Ryan, Beirne; Baird, Timoney, Doris (capt).
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 15:04 UTC
Japan’s death penalty in the spotlight after inmate freed from decades on death row
Death row inmate Iwao Hakamada (L), flanked by his sister Hideko, was released from Tokyo Detention House after serving more than 30 years. Hakamada is one of only five prisoners released from Japan’s death row since 1945. “The trend toward abolition worldwide is irreversible,” says Raphael Chenuil-Hazan, who leads Together Against the Death Penalty, a French lobby group. Once the justice minister signs an execution order, condemned inmates have minutes to get their affairs in order before dying. “It is meant to show the public the importance of the death penalty in Japan.”
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 14:54 UTC
Two arrested in connection with suspected arson attack at Drogheda Ipas centre
The scene of the arson attack on a centre housing asylum seekers on George’s Street in Drogheda, Co Louth. Photograph: Bryan O’BrienGardaí investigating a suspected arson attack on a centre for international protection applicants in Co Louth last week have made the first arrests in the case. CCTV footage has since emerged, however, which shows a man deliberately setting the blaze on the staircase. The man who set the fire had an accelerant, wore gloves and concealed his identity with a hood and face covering. Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan described the arson attack as “attempted murder” while speaking on Wednesday during a Dáil debate about international protection.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 14:46 UTC
Central Bank fines crypto firm €21.5m for anti-money laundering rule breaches
US crypto giant Coinbase's Coinbase Europe has been fined €21.3 million by the Central Bank of Ireland. It marks the fourth-biggest financial penalty ever imposed by the Irish financial regulator and comes less than three years after Coinbase Europe was authorised by the authority. It is the first sanction levelled against a player in the crypto sector by the Central Bank. The value of these transactions amounted to over €176 billion, and accounted for approximately 31 per cent of all Coinbase Europe transactions conducted in the period when the faults existed. The Central Bank said it cannot say if any of the suspicious transactions were a criminal offence.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 14:35 UTC
Champions Tipperary lead the way with seven hurling All Stars for 2025
All-Ireland champions Tipperary lead the way with seven players selected on the PwC 2025 All Stars hurling team. This is the first year since 2017 that there is no Limerick inclusion on the All Star team. It is also another milestone for the Maher family, bringing to nine the total number of All Stars won as Ronan’s older brother Padraic claimed six during his Tipp career. The three nominees for Young Hurler of the Year are: Adam English (Limerick), Darragh McCarthy (Tipperary), Robert Doyle (Tipperary). All Star hurling team: Rhys Shelly (Tipperary); Robert Doyle (Tipperary), Huw Lawlor (Kilkenny), Seán O’Donoghue (Cork); Eoghan Connolly (Tipperary), Ronan Maher (Tipperary), Ciarán Joyce (Cork); Darragh Fitzgibbon (Cork), Cathal Mannion (Galway), Jake Morris (Tipperary), Andrew Ormond (Tipperary), Cian O’Sullivan (Dublin), Martin Keoghan (Kilkenny), John McGrath (Tipperary), Brian Hayes (Cork).
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 14:31 UTC
Ireland ranks near bottom in global workforce quality ranking
Young adults are a 'global generation' exposed to a wider world through technology and social media. Photograph: iStockIreland has been placed near the bottom of a global ranking of workforce quality compiled by recruitment firm Hays, with high costs and pressure on the availability of skilled workers impacting its position. Developed by advisory firm Oxford Economics, the Hays Global Talent Tracker ranks the Republic 33rd out of 35 of the world’s leading economies, behind European competitors like Sweden, the Netherlands and the UK. Hays Ireland said that while the Republic ranked well in some pillars of the study – including talent innovation and participation – the ranking was dragged down by poor performances elsewhere. The economy’s ranking fell sharply within the pillars of talent value and talent market flexibility, the firm said.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 14:29 UTC
The Irish Times view on the unemployment figures: youth jobless figure needs to be watched
The latest unemployment figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that the Irish jobs market remains generally strong. Youth unemployment is traditionally higher and the EU average is just under 15 per cent. Nonetheless, the rise in youth unemployment here is a trend which needs to be watched. The increase in youth unemployment may also indicate general softness in areas of the market, despite labour shortages in others. The indications are that the jobs market remains broadly healthy, but this trend of rising youth unemployment does require careful monitoring.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 14:24 UTC
Daily Telegraph’s agony aunt faces a conundrum – a mother worried that her son is turning ‘Irish’
Photograph: Getty ImagesThere was an interesting problem on the Daily Telegraph’s agony aunt page the other day, in which a concerned mother in London worried that her teenage son was turning “Irish”. The mother herself was half Irish, on her father’s side, so the teenager was in a high-risk group for developing symptoms. I might also add in passing that “Polly Amory” would be an excellent name for an agony aunt. The Normans started it, becoming famously “more Irish than the Irish themselves” and launching the Eight Hundred Years of Impressionism. It can only have been to acknowledge overseas competition from the offspring of our emigrating monks and scholars that, for clarity, he had to be known as “Irish Irish John”, or “John, the Irishman from Ireland”.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 14:19 UTC
Dublin drainage project will not be operational before 2032 ‘at best’, says Uisce Éireann
Photograph: Eric LukePlanning delays affecting the Greater Dublin Drainage Project, including a second legal challenge, mean it will now be “at best” six years before it becomes operational, Uisce Éireann has forecast. In a written statement to the committee Niall Gleeson, chief executive of Uisce Éireann, said that, having secured permission for the Dublin drainage project in July, it is “disappointing the decision is being challenged for a second time”. The drainage project, which is to include a new treatment plant in Clonshaugh that will serve up to 500,000 people, was identified as necessary more than a decade ago. “As a result of the planning delays experienced, at best, the project may be delivered and operational by 2032. Meanwhile, Uisce Éireann said it intends to submit a planning application before the end of the year for its controversial “once-in-a-generation” Water Supply Project Eastern and Midlands Region (WSP).
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 14:08 UTC
Bank of Ireland failure to disclose loan sale in legal case ‘bizarre’, Supreme Court judge says
Bank of Ireland agreed the sale to Pepper Finance on December 4th, 2024, and the Supreme Court heard the case the following day. Bank of Ireland agreed the sale to Pepper Finance on December 4th, 2024, and the Supreme Court heard the case the following day. Bank of Ireland's conduct in case was 'unsatisfactory', says Supreme Court judge Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne. Ms Justice Dunne noted that nobody had told the Supreme Court of the deal at any point. He challenged these findings in both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 13:30 UTC
Google’s Pixel Watch 4 review: best option for Android users not with Samsung
The latest addition to the range is the Pixel Watch 4. All you need is the Pixel Watch app, which is widely compatible with Android devices – Android Go aside – and it should all work smoothly. Although the Pixel Watch 4 keeps many of the same design features as the previous generation, there are some differences. The Pixel Watch 4 throws one curve ball though: it uses a different charger. Everything elseThe Pixel Watch 4 comes in two case sizes: 41mm and 45mm, and there is an option for an LTE version too.
Source:The Irish Times
November 06, 2025 12:00 UTC