The UK government recently rejected calls for a blanket ban on social media – and the ancient Cnut’s real lesson is awfully relevant now. There is a lot of noise in the debate right now, mostly focused on the issues around cyberbullying, mental health impacts and the addictive nature of social media platforms. With Australia banning social media for under-16s in recent months, there are now calls for similar moves in the UK and, of course, across Ireland and the EU. Blanket bans haven’t worked on drugs – prescription or prohibited – or alcohol, so why on earth do we think they’ll offer any real help with social media? The problems we face right now with social media are scary, especially due to the risks for young people.

In a bizarre end to a first-round match at the Miami Open, Czech tennis player Katerina Siniakova stormed off the court after losing in straight sets. The incident involving 13th seed Siniakova followed her first-round defeat to unseeded Colombian Camila Osorio, which she lost 6-1, 6-4. On the final point, Siniakova tumbled to the floor, and Osorio headed over to her side of the court to check she was OK. The rollercoaster set concluded with Andreeva losing a tie-break after misfiring a forehand long. Tennis legend Venus Williams was among the players affected, with her match against Francesca Jones repeatedly shifted on the schedule.

Sheep shearer visa extended for one 'final' year after industry pressureThe industry has been warned it must rely on a UK-based workforce in the futureView Image A flock of sheep in close quarters (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)The Home Office has agreed to extend a visa concession for sheep shearers from Australia and New Zealand for one “final” year. The concession has been in place for a number of years, allowing highly skilled shearers to work in the UK during the sheep shearing season. ‌Shearers from New Zealand have been coming to stay in the Coquet Valley in Northumberland for more than 30 years. Following criticism, the Home Office has confirmed the concession would be extended for one more year. However, the industry has been told it will need to create a “fully sustained” UK workforce in the future.

It was a position that Ruben Amorim wanted to strengthen and, even with the Portuguese coach sacked, their plans haven't changed. ‌Senior figures at Old Trafford are reportedly in advanced talks to sign Newcastle captain Guimaraes for £69million. ‌United have also been linked with his Newcastle team-mate, Sandro Tonali, although a double swoop would be unlikely. The Magpies will be loathed to lose either of their midfield lieutenants, but both men continue to attract interest from elsewhere. That role didn't exist in the Amorim era but the Portuguese star has enjoyed one of his best seasons to date.

Oil prices surged and stock markets slumped yesterday as Iran vowed to retaliate for an attack on its huge Pars gas field. Brent crude leapt to around $110 a barrel and the FTSE 100 slumped by nearly 100 points as traders reacted to the fresh escalation in the conflict. The surge in oil prices since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran has already sent motorists' fuel bills surging and with gas prices shooting higher too, inflation is expected to climb. The attack on the Iranian installation – part of the world's largest natural gas field, shared with Qatar – was reportedly carried out by Israel with US consent. It is the first reported strike on Iranian energy infrastructure since the war began at the end of last month.

Dianne Buswell and Joe Sugg welcome first child as couple share adorable pics and announce nameDianne Buswell and Joe Sugg have announced they have welcomed their first child – a baby boy – as they shared the first pictures of their newborn and shared his sweet nameView 7 Images Strictly Come Dancing's Dianne Buswell and YouTube star Joe Sugg have welcomed their first child together (Image: WireImage)Strictly Come Dancing star Dianne Buswell and YouTuber Joe Sugg have welcomed their first child together. The couple announced the arrival of their baby boy in a joint post on Instagram on Wednesday evening, saying: "Never felt a love like it." ‌Alongside the sweet first pictures of their son, Dianne, 36, and Joe, 34, revealed they have named him Bowden Mark Richard Sugg and that he was born on 16 March. Love love love. ‌Strictly professional Dianne and YouTuber Joe announced in September that she was pregnant with their first child, after they met and fell in love on the 16th series of the BBC show in 2018.

Jack MacKenzie proving his worth to play-off hopefuls Plymouth ArgyleMacKenzie missed much of this season due to injuries after signing for Argyle from Aberdeen last summerView Image Argyle left-back Jack MacKenzie arrives at Home Park before the League One game against Stevenage on 17 March 2026 - Photo: Dave Rowntree/PPAUKTom Cleverley has praised the consistency of Jack MacKenzie since the former Aberdeen left-back finally got the opportunity to start playing for Plymouth Argyle. We are trying to protect him as much as we can, but it's all hands to the pump at the minute. MacKenzie has yet to complete a full 90 minutes in a match, and against Stevenage he was replaced at left-back by Brendan Galloway in the 79th minute. Galloway was playing for the first time since he was injured against Stockport at the end of Stockport and MacKenzie took over from him for the rest of that match. You can read more of our Argyle stories from Plymouth Live by clicking HERE

It was only eight years ago when the mayor of New York declared St Patrick’s Day “Gerry Adams Day” – it seems we forgot about that rather quickly. On the day before St Patrick’s Day, Zohran Mamdani – Democrat mayor of New York, a figurehead for the new generation of the American left – was asked if he supported a united Ireland. I think when it comes to the future of Ireland, the best people to listen to are the Irish,” he said. Never had I thought a staunchly left mayor of New York would sound so much like a British diplomat. The Irish left too has long been at the forefront of this transition.

Great news for Irish football! 🇮🇪 We are delighted to announce that Republic of Ireland Head Coach Heimir Hallgrímsson has committed his future to the FAI by signing a new contract. “I said again, ‘I don’t want to be where I’m not wanted’ and I really felt I was wanted. So we decided to extend the contract until after the Euros.”The Football Association of Ireland responded on X, posting: “Great news for Irish football! It was Parrott’s hat-trick against Hungary which ensured Ireland would feature in the play-off mix and he will once again be critical.

England's largest rhododendron has bloomed spectacularly after surviving an incredibly dry summer - and is now as long as 10 double decker buses. The red and pink flowers of the huge plant - dubbed 'shrubzilla' - have bloomed in the sunshine particularly early this year. There's been 'thick growth' all the way around the bush, which sits in the grounds of South Lodge Hotel in Horsham, West Sussex. Rhododendrons love moisture, so a warm, wet winter has been good for it. Last year we had frost quite late on, but this year has been really warm and wet, which is basically very good for the rhododendron.

Masked gang break into Lincolnshire Sainsbury's and try to steal cash machineLincolnshire Police is investigating the incidentView Image Four masked individuals attempted to steal the ATM from the Sainsbury's store in the town (Image: Lincolnshire Police)Police are appealing for information after an attempted burglary at a Woodhall Spa supermarket. ‌Four masked people tried to steal the cash machine from the Sainsbury's store at around 1.20am on Sunday, March 15. ‌The thieves forced their way into the building to access the cash point from behind, but were unsuccessful, and no money was stolen. Officers are appealing to the public for help and believe a black AUDI RS4 was involved in the incident. Anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage relating to the incident should contact kate.woods@lincs.police.uk quoting incident number 25 of March 15, 2026.

Sinking Cheltenham street fears spark calls to fix collapsed pipes'There is absolutely no point in repairing the road surface until the pipes have been mended because the road will continue to sink'View 2 Images Councillor Julian Tooke is calling on Severn Trent to repair the collapsed pipes under the road in Malden Road, Cheltenham. (Image: Submitted )Concerns over the disgraceful state of a Cheltenham road have sparked calls for action from Severn Trent Water. ‌Malden Road in Pittville is in a poor state of repair but Gloucestershire County Council is reluctant to resurface it until the collapsed pipes underneath it are fixed. "The road surface on parts of Malden Road is a disgrace,” he said. View 2 Images Malden Road, Cheltenham.

But despite not being with his colleagues he sprang into action and saved the man’s life. He started ventilation but the man had no pulseThe man had no pulse so Graham started CPR and asked a bystander to dial 911. A Southampton town police officer arrived on the scene but Graham stayed in control of the situation and asked him to bring his medical bag. Hampton Bay paramedics arrived and transported the man to Southampton Hospital, where he made a full recovery. Firefighting runs in the Fynes family because his own father Damian was a district officer with Dublin Fire Brigade in Phibsboro.

Mark Henry: Ireland is one of the happiest countries in the world, but failing to clamp down on social media risks our future well-beingWe know that platforms driven by algorithmically curated content are affecting young people, so the time to act is nowChildren have to get off the screens and out into the real world. Stock imageMark Henry Today at 06:30Some good news first: Ireland is one of the happiest countries in the world. The latest edition of the World Happiness Report ranks us the 13th happiest of nearly 150 nations.

Munster have travelled to South Africa for their two-match URC tour with a number of Ireland Six Nations squad members included. While Jack Crowley, Craig Casey and Jeremy Loughman are set to join Clayton McMillan’s playing group for games against the Sharks and the Bulls. The province’s arrival in Durban for the first of those game against the Sharks this Saturday was delayed by 24 hours until Wednesday due to a cancelled flight from London, but 28 players including Edwin Edogbo, Tom Farrell, Brian Gleeson and Michael Milne are in the mix for selection with head coach McMillan set to name his matchday squad at 12:30pm Irish time on Thursday. Academy players Sean Edogbo and Ben O’Connor are also in the travelling party.