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.

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.

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.

‌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."

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?

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.

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.

Gabriel Jesus LAUGHED AT by Arsenal teammates for title ambitionsArsenal are in pole position to secure the Premier League title this season with former Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus potentially set to add to his medal collectionView 2 Images Gabriel Jesus won four Premier League titles during his time with Mancnester City (Image: Getty Images)Gabriel Jesus has revealed that he was laughed at by some of his Arsenal teammates for his ambitions of lifting the Premier League title. The Brazilian joined the North London side from Manchester City in 2022 in a £45m deal. The Arsenal fans were probably going to say the Premier League because it’s been more than 20 years. ‌View 2 Images Gabriel Jesus has fired a warning to hsi Arsenal teammates (Image: Getty Images)“But they also never won the Champions League, so obviously for them it’s a dream to win both. Arsenal’s Premier League title push will be paused this weekend but they could still claim silverware.

Three victims of Provisional IRA bombings in England will discontinue their damages claim against former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, their lawyers have told the High Court. Mr Adams was being sued for £1 in damages by three men injured in the blasts in the 1970s and 1990s. Mr Adams was not in court on Friday. She continued that the men believed that Mr Adams was “as involved as the people who planted and detonated those bombs”. Edward Craven KC, for Mr Adams, told the court in London that evidence that Mr Adams was involved in the bombings was “extremely limited and we say bordering on non-existent”.

Irenosen Okojie MBE, chair of judges, said: “This is a marvellous, galvanising shortlist. He is the author of two poetry collections, Tongues of Fire and Rapture’s Road, and a memoir, All Down Darkness Wide. He has received the Laurel Prize and the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature and been shortlisted for the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award. The prize, set up in memory of the statesman and author Alfred Duff Cooper, celebrates the best non-fiction published in the United Kingdom. The National Library of Ireland, the National Library of Scotland, the National Library of Wales and the British Library safeguard the printed and recorded heritage of our nations.

Like many young republicans, Behan would emerge from internment more deeply read and fluent in his native tongue. A Gael Linn bursary allowed Behan spend time in the Aran Islands in the early 1950s and he also visited the Corca Dhuibhne Gaeltacht several times. Sadly, Behan took this advice too seriously which undoubtedly led to his early death. Although dying far too young, Behan left a wealth of bilingual writing to the nation. Imagine the body of work this literary prince might have produced had he not had such a “preab san ól”.

Luke Littler applies to trademark his face in bid to combat AI fakesBy Jonathan Veal and David Charlesworth, Press AssociationLuke Littler has made an application with the Intellectual Property Office to trademark his face. The application will prevent fake products powered by AI using his picture without permission and breaking copyright laws, the Press Association understands. The 19-year-old’s star continues to rise as he won the night seven of the Premier League in Dublin on Thursday. But asked what was going through his mind when trailing 5-0 to Price, Littler said: “I’m out the game, I’m gone. “Hopefully Josh can get a grip off the format and the Premier League very soon.”

Three victims of Provisional IRA bombings in England have withdrawn their damages claim against former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, their legal team has told the High Court. Adams was being sued for £1 in damages by three men injured in the blasts in the 1970s and 1990s. Adams denied the allegations and was defending the claim, telling the court earlier this week that he had 'no involvement whatsoever' in the bombings and was never a member of the Provisional IRA. In his evidence, Adams said that opponents of Sinn Fein, of which he was president from 1983 to 2018, 'have repeatedly sought to conflate' the party with the Provisional IRA, and stressed that they are 'separate organisations.' Edward Craven KC, for Adams, told the court in his closing submissions that evidence that Adams was involved in the bombings was 'extremely limited and we say bordering on non-existent.'

As he spoke the boy’s father, who was present and legally represented in court, shook his head. On February 18th, Judge Conor Fottrell directed Tusla to provide the boy with a registered placement, but his order has not yet been compiled with. On Monday, the High Court ordered that the boy be detained in special care, though no bed is available. It was “of grave concern” that Fottrell’s direction that a registered placement be provided was still not complied with, said Campbell. “This court expresses its anger and dismay [that their actions could] jeopardise the health, welfare and indeed the life of this child.

Gloucestershire town named among the best places to live in the UKIt has been recognised for its countryside views and its beloved farmers' marketView Image Stroud Farmers' Market is one of the main attractions in the town (Image: Mike Kemp/Getty Images)The best places to live in the UK for 2026 have been revealed - and one town in Gloucestershire has made the list. ‌The Sunday Times has unveiled the top 72 most sought-after locations to live around the UK, in its annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide. ‌And it is not the first time Stroud has appeared on the Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide, having topped the overall list five years ago in 2021. This year Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, said: "This guide is a great opportunity to highlight the best places in Britain. "Our partnership with The Sunday Times Best Places to Live aims to give trusted insight into communities across the UK, helping homebuyers to make confident, informed decisions about their future home."