A Cork student has won the Soroptimist International Republic of Ireland (SIROI) national public speaking competition which was held in the Mansion House in Dublin. Milly Seaman, from Coláiste na Toirbhirte in Bandon, impressed both the judges and the audience with her confidence and powerful delivery to take first place in the national final over the weekend.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia, over the last few years, have soared to popularity among British expats seeking a life in the sun - free from the burden of taxes. Security, safety and a high standard of living – plus the lack of income tax or capital gains tax. Bermuda has high customs duties as well as a high cost of living. CyprusCyprus is a popular destination for tourists - as well as expats seeking sunshineFrom this year, Cyprus offers a €22,000 (£19,061) annual tax-free income threshold for individuals - making it highly appealing to British expats. Downsides include a high cost of food, accommodation, and goods - and traffic and congestion can be severe.
Saudi Arabia warned Iran it would be “the biggest loser” if it continued to attack Arab states, hours after Iran had named its new supreme leader. US President Donald Trump said the announcement of Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of the late supreme leader, as the Islamic Republic’s next ruler, was “unacceptable”. Saudi Arabia’s statement came after a new drone attack apparently targeted its massive Shaybah oil field and followed comments by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday which said Iran had halted its attacks on Gulf Arab states. “The kingdom affirms that the Iranian side has not implemented this statement in practice, neither during the Iranian president’s speech nor afterward,” Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The US State Department issued an order for non-emergency staff and families to leave Saudi Arabia after it announced a US service member had died of injuries sustained during an Iranian attack on the kingdom.
A civil trial between three men injured in Provisional IRA bombings and Gerry Adams is set to begin at the High Court in London on Monday. Mr Adams denies that he had any role in the Provisional IRA and is opposing the claim. The trial before Mr Justice Swift, due to begin at 10.30am on Monday at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, is expected to last seven days. The men also wanted to sue the Provisional IRA, but Mr Justice Soole said that the claim must be struck out because it is “not a legal entity”. Two of the witnesses due to give evidence against Mr Adams will be anonymous and will speak at the trial from behind a screen.
Oil prices surged overnight to the highest levels in four years. Oil prices surged overnight to the highest levels in four years. As energy prices surged stock markets fell. In London, the FTSE 100 Index fell nearly 2pc soon after opening. On the flip side higher crude prices pushed energy 0.1pc higher, while defense firm Leonardo added 1.4pc.
Around 70 people have taken part in the UK's annual Wife Carrying Race in Dorking. Ian Giles, the UK race director, said it was 'certainly chaotic' and added there were a few familiar faces each year. For the 2026 race, Mr Giles said there were 35 couples set to compete with 15 on a waiting list. Race organisers believe wife carrying began more than twelve centuries ago in 793AD when Viking raiders ransacked the island of Lindisfarne off the north-east coast of England. Wife carrying continued intermittently for around 300 years before the UK Wife Carrying Race began in 2008.
Photo: GettyThe three main banks are launching Revolut-style instant payments from this week. Zippay is an in-app service offered through the banks’ existing mobile banking systems. The instant payments offering from the banks comes after they were forced to pull the plug on previous plans to launch their own bespoke instant payments app at the end of 2023. Now the three mains banks have bought an instant payments technological solution that will allow them to finally roll out a rival to Revolut and N26 years after these digital banks have hoovered up customers. European banks linked into the Single Euro Payments Area (Sepa) instant payments system early last year.
Several broadband, TV and phone price rises kicking in for consumers of leading providersSome packages to go up by €100 a year for customersRaft of broadband, TV and phone price rises kicking in for consumers of leading providersCharlie Weston Today at 06:30Several price rises for broadband, TV and phone services are being imposed on consumers by Eir, Sky, Three and Vodafone.
Photo: Barry CroninA “towering” elk sculpture made from electrical items has been unveiled for this year’s St Patrick’s Festival in Dublin. The sculpture, standing 4m tall and featuring 3.5m antlers, has been constructed to highlight “Ireland’s hidden electrical waste”. Dubbed the ‘Trash EEE-lk’, it is made up of more than 1,000 electrical items and components, including 80 circuit boards, 24 iPads and 28 plugs. The art installation aims to encourage people to dispose of electrical items properly by recycling them. “‘Trash EEE-lk’ is a striking symbol with a simple message: small actions can change Ireland’s waste story.”The “Trash EEE-lk” will be on display in St Patrick’s Park in Dublin 8 from Saturday, March 14, to Monday, March 16.
Pet owners in Dubai are abandoning their animals to flee the missiles raining down on the Middle East. Vets have reported an influx in inquiries about euthanising pets as thousands of Brits trapped in the region scramble to get home. Animal groups are trying their best to find shelters - but hundreds of posts about deserted pets have been spotted online. And some vets have had to euthanise even healthy pets because their owners don't want to face the relocation costs or paperwork. She said: 'Some pet owners are stressed and panicking.
The clerical body that will choose Iran's next supreme leader, succeeding the slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has more or less reached a majority consensus, Assembly of Experts member Ayatollah Mohammadmehdi Mirbaqeri said on Sunday. On Saturday, a senior cleric in the Assembly of Experts said its members would meet "within one day" to choose the leader. Two members of the panel, Ayatollah Mohsen Heidari Alekasir and Ahmad Alamolhoda, said the assembly had chosen a successor. Since the war began on February 28, Israeli and US strikes have killed dozens of officials and commanders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Ali Khamenei ruled Iran from 1989 as supreme leader after serving as president for nearly eight years.
An Independent Ireland TD has called for a number of clarifications in relation to the possible merger between Dale Farms and Aurivo. It's understood that a series of Shareholder meetings will take place across the region outlining details of the merger this week. AdvertisementDeputy Michael Fitzmaurice says it's vital that Aurio shareholders receive assurances on a number of issues. He says jobs at the different Aurivo operations must be safeguarded while the representation on a possible new board in the event of the merger being successful is also crucial.
The Cheltenham Festival begins on Tuesday March 10 and runs until Friday March 13. Where can I watch the Cheltenham Festival? ITV Racing’s Ed Chamberlin at the Cheltenham Festival (Mike Egerton/PA)The Cheltenham Festival is covered extensively on ITV, with Racing TV also broadcasting from the meeting with coverage of every race. The Cheltenham Gold Cup trophy (Mike Egerton/PA)On each day there is a feature race, which is the most prestigious on its respective racecard. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the most coveted race of the meeting and indeed of the jumps season.
At a time of global crisis, with accepted diplomatic and political norms having been cast aside in favour of blunderbuss bullying and incoherent messaging coming from the White House, it has never been more important for Europe to show unity and cohesion. He said the overriding responsibility of any government was to protect and improve the lives of its citizens and not to manipulate global conflicts into profit. Electronic tagging We have long known that the Irish prison system is in turmoil, wracked by overcrowding and Dickensian conditions. It now appears that the second half of this year will be the earliest we will see electronic tagging introduced. However, a pilot plan to be trialled in the waters off Cork and Kerry may just succeed where others have failed.
“I don't know,” said Tom O’Toole with a laugh after his first start for Ireland at loosehead last Friday. O’Toole, an Ulster tighthead, has now featured four times on that side for Ireland. Add in his clubmate Nick Timoney and captain Caelan Doris and O’Toole had a solid and strong support network. “The Fiji game was a really good learning for me. O’Toole might be fifth in the depth chart at loose now, but a versatile player’s value multiplies when it comes to the global gatherings.
