Transport workers and activists protesting in the Philippines this week against the rise in fuel costs since the start of the US/Israeli war against Iran. With the continuing war in the Gulf sending prices skyward, it feels very much like we are standing on the threshold of another shock. And the pervasiveness of shocks has an effect on the structure of Irish politics: how do you do politics – particularly budget-making – in a world where emergency responses are the new normal? At a global level, this could trigger ugly moments as markets get increasingly nervous about how governments finance themselves. Consideration is being given in the Department of Finance to using what are being termed “corridors” – pre-agreed policy responses to an external trigger.

Sir, – As every day brings more torment for Palestinians, we are horrified to observe that the Israeli Knesset is on the verge of passing a discriminatory law expanding the death penalty this week. The law stipulates that the death penalty will, in practice, apply only to Palestinians and that it is to be the mandatory sentence for judges – even if the prosecution does not seek it. The law also stipulates that the death penalty must be carried out within 90 days of the verdict being handed down. Military courts can impose the death penalty with a simple majority of judges. With the passage of the discriminatory law expanding the death penalty, Israel has once again crossed a “red line” with regard to the rule of law and humanity.

Last year, 93% of applications used the online service, when close to a million new passports were issued. For those planning travel, the department’s security advice continues a red warning alert for countries in the Middle East region because of the US-Israel-led war on Iran. Raising the issue in the Dáil, Fianna Fáil TD Ryan O’Meara said so many issues raised by constituents with public representatives concerned about paper applications. He called for Garda stations to be alerted to ensure that if somebody arrived with a paper passport application for Garda verification, they could be guided towards an online application. Last year, 93 per cent of applications used the online service, when close to a million new passports were issued.

The revelations in The Irish Times about Aughinish Alumina in Limerick came a day after Russia launched a wave of missile and drone attacks across Ukraine that killed four people and injured dozens more. While the Government has refused to arm Ukraine’s military, a plant in Ireland has exported vast amounts of alumina via its Russian parent company United Company Rusal to Russian smelters. The Government has ruled out the provision of “lethal aid” – such as weapons and ammunition – as that would violate Irish neutrality. Government pronouncements on the need for wide-ranging sanctions in response to the war in Ukraine have been unambiguous. The alternative, their governments concluded, was to feed the Russian war economy.

Let me talk to you about Newton’s law of inertia. Newton tells us that, “A moving object [eg, a rugby ball – my example, not Newton’s.] As spring blooms, every club team in the north is fighting to harness the centre piece of Newton’s law of inertia. No defensive system works if players miss tackles and recently the Munster players seem to think that tackle is what you take fishing. Unlike Newton’s law of inertia, in rugby, momentum works both ways.

“I think the first sign that people actually care is the obvious disappointment in the room when you come off a game,” McMillan said. “All I can say is that there's been a good edge around the group this week. Replacements: M van Staden, J-H Wessels, K Mchunu, C Wiese, C Hanekom, Z Burger, C Jooste, D Kriel. MUNSTER: B O’Connor; C Nash, D Kelly, A Nankivell, S O’Brien; J Crowley, C Casey - captain; M Milne, D Barron, M Ala’alatoa; J Kleyn, F Wycherley; T Ahern; A Kendellen, B Gleeson. Replacements: N Scannell, J Loughman, J Ryan, E Edogbo, G Coombes, P Patterson, JJ Hanrahan, J Hodnett.

Steven Gerrard showed true colours to Arne Slot after Liverpool job offerThe former Liverpool captain has watched on from the sidelines as his ex-club continues to struggle for domestic success this seasonView 2 Images Steven Gerrard has shown his true colours to Arne Slot (Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)Arne Slot has the backing of Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard at Anfield as he pledged to "help in anything" that he could. ‌Despite this domestic stumble, Gerrard is still keen on Slot finding success at Anfield. ‌Gerrard said: "I’ll be brutally, brutally honest with you: I’d help Liverpool in any department at any minute of every day. I don’t want the Liverpool manager to lose his job, I want Arne Slot to fix this and turn it around and make Liverpool great. I’m not searching for a job, I’m not down the Job Centre for what’s available.

Proceedings centred on a 2024 service agreement between Michael Flatley and Switzer Consulting Ltd. Photograph: GettyMichael Flatley appears set for victory in his legal battle to regain control of the Lord of the Dance show, it was claimed on Friday. Those shares are expected to be transferred to Flatley, providing a route to intellectual property rights in the stage show he created. The development could bring an end to a wider litigation over the running of Lord of the Dance. In a counter move, he terminated the service agreement, claiming to own the company and rights to Lord of the Dance.

Mo Salah 'leaves £20million on the table' after deciding to quit LiverpoolMohamed Salah is set to leave Liverpool at the end of the season, despite still having a year remaining on his contract with the Reds and is making a huge sacrifice to leave the clubView 2 Images Mohamed Salah will leave Liverpool at the end of the season (Image: Getty Images)Mohamed Salah has reportedly sacrificed a £20million bonus to leave Liverpool this summer. And as part of the agreement, Liverpool had promised to pay Salah a huge amount should he see out that deal. Liverpool will also make a huge saving on the forward’s huge wages, with Salah banking around £400,000-a-week at Anfield as it stands. ‌View 2 Images Salah only signed a new Liverpool deal last summer (Image: Getty Images)"We celebrated victory. Salah has made 34 appearances for Liverpool this season but has scored just ten goals in all competitions.

Government holds firm on dropping Vat rate for hospitality as it plans further energy supports for winterSiptu leader calls for planned cut to be scrapped and instead investing in targeted electricity creditsTánaiste Simon Harris said Ireland is not immune to the impact of the war on the global economy. Photo: PAAisling Moloney Today at 06:30The Government is set on a planned Vat cut for hospitality, which will cost €680m, and is considering further energy supports for next winter.

‌Club captain Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot are away with Portugal, while Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo have joined up with on-loan Marcus Rashford in the England squad. Other international stars include Senne Lammens, Casemiro, Matheus Cunha and Manuel Ugarte. ‌Carrick will continue important work at Carrington as United gear up for the visit of Leeds United on Monday April 13. FOLLOW OUR MAN UTD FB PAGE! Bruno Fernandes gives move green lightClub captain Fernandes has reportedly backed the signing of Sandro Tonali from Newcastle as United close in on midfield reinforcements.

Home economics: ‘If one of the two tenants renting my house since before March 1 leaves and is replaced by another, is the new tenant treated under the new or old rental rules?’

Knock flying high at 40: ‘It’s the best airport in the world. It’s a different kind of vibe’Journalist Eavan Murray was just a child when she and her family attended the opening of Knock Airport in May 1986. Almost four decades later, she spent a day there talking to long-serving staff and frequent flyers – including one Hollywood star – about Monsignor James Horan’s Mayo ‘miracle’Knock Airport turns 40Eavan Murray Today at 06:30There is a gentle but unmistakable tone of incredulity to the question posed by RTÉ’s Jim Fahy. It is an overcast day on an isolated, barren hilltop in rural east Mayo. Heavy-duty machinery carrying tonnes of rubble whirrs past, as Fahy asks: “Monsignor Horan, what exactly is going on here?”

A cricket fan was dramatically turned away from the Sheffield Shield final after officials ruled his clothing crossed the line into political territory. The situation escalated rapidly as criticism mounted, prompting Cricket Australia to reconsider its position. !A cricket fan has been banned from the #SheffieldShield final for wearing a “Free Imran Khan” T-shirt in support of the jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister and captain! 'Given the widespread concern in the cricket community for Imran Khan's welfare, we believe this is a humanitarian issue and we will act accordingly,' a Cricket Australia spokesperson said. The controversy unfolded alongside a disrupted start to the Sheffield Shield final itself, with rain heavily impacting play across the opening days.

George Russell was knocked off his expected pole position by his Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli in qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix. Championship-leader Russell suffered a difficult afternoon, sending a sequence of distressed messages to the pit wall, telling them to ‘look at everything’ to rectify his problems. So Antonelli took a second successive pole after his career first in Shanghai last weekend at 19 years 202 days, converting his sure-footed afternoon’s work here into a pole lap by a yawning 0.298sec from Russell. Antonelli is four points behind Russell heading into Sunday’s race owing to the British driver’s sprint win. The four-time world champion, a major critic of this season’s technical changes, complained: ‘There is something wrong with the car.