Saturday 24 October 2026Lunchtime (Europe/Dublin)
DailyBotThe lunchtime paper
Lunchtime edition
19 stories
Europe live: protests have begun in France as Italian police raided homes in Milan ahead of demonstrations; France will deploy 70,000 officers, with protests also expected in Spain, Austria, Portugal, Albania and Ireland.
France is to deploy 70,000 police on Saturday to prevent civil unrest; the security forces will include elite units usually used for counter-terrorism after the worst street violence in years.
Macron has condemned racism after one person was killed in a 'terrorist' shooting near Paris; a gunman opened fire from a car in Trappes and Verriere, killing one and injuring five, including a 12-year-old girl.
Milan is bracing for more unrest as debate intensifies over Italy's 'lost generation'; protests and fringe violence expose a sharp divide between marginalised and immigrant youth and those with greater prospects.
'How can France stop Marine Le Pen?' Guardian Europe columnists Rokhaya Diallo and Alexander Hurst answered reader questions on the protests, the French police, foreign influence and the presidential election.
'We can't let the far right take power again': Lula voters are making a final push before Brazil's runoff, striving in bellwether Minas Gerais to win over those who abstained or backed Flavio Bolsonaro.
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a local ceasefire in Oleshky amid a deepening humanitarian crisis; people in the Russian-occupied city face severe shortages of food, water and electricity, some reportedly surviving on weeds.
Ukraine war briefing: Russian diesel tankers are headed for North America, Moscow says, as the US tries to revive a fuel deal that could see 500,000 metric tonnes supplied to the world market this month. What we know on day 1,704.
'Texas is not for sale': Democrat James Talarico targeted Elon Musk at a rally, denouncing Senate opponent Ken Paxton over corruption allegations and his support from Musk.
Surging turnout, with Democrats voting more: key takeaways from the early voting data, with 11 days until the US midterms and Democrats needing a net gain of four seats to reclaim Congress.
Trump has dropped some Canada tariffs in a bid to boost the embattled Susan Collins in Maine; the Republican senator faces a critical re-election battle in a state where his trade war has outraged voters.
A suspect has been arrested over the fire at Hitler's former 'Eagle's Nest' retreat in Bavaria; about 200 firefighters tackled the blaze at the remote mountain site in southern Germany.
Israel has launched what is described as a collective punishment campaign in Hebron after two soldiers were killed; Netanyahu and ministers promise demolitions and forced displacement after the deadly gunfight.
The US and Israel are being warned against launching fresh strikes on Iran; a multinational 'anti-war bloc' used an Istanbul summit to call for a diplomatic solution to the Middle East crisis.
A verse from the Qu'ran inspired a US man to leap onto a runaway school bus and halt it; Ebro Ahmed, who acted after the driver's medical emergency, hopes the incident shows Eritreans 'in a good way'.
The ICC prosecutor says the court is making 'significant progress' despite US sanctions; Nazhat Shameem Khan says some staff face 'banking difficulties' but their work is unaffected.
Kim Jong-un has crossed the newly opened bridge into China; the visit by train over the New Yalu River bridge marks the North Korean leader's first known trip abroad in more than a year.
Analysis: North Korea has opened up bridges to Russia and China - but in which direction will it go? Kim Jong-un has opened the borders to both key allies, but for different reasons.
The Saturday read: as a divided Israel prepares to go to the polls, can Netanyahu pull off his greatest political trick yet? He has dominated the country's politics for three decades and has his rivals on the defensive.
20 stories
A man's body has been found at a waste-recycling facility in Clondalkin, Dublin; gardai say the State Pathologist has been notified and a postmortem will take place.
Gardai have released three people after questioning over the fatal arson attack in Waterford city; Philip and Kim English and their children Callum (12) and Jayden (9) were killed in the fire at their Birchwood home on October 13th.
Health staff face sweeping promotion restrictions under spending controls; the HSE staffing rules were introduced to tackle a potential EUR 1bn overrun as doctors and nurses warn of significant patient risk.
Status Orange warnings are in place for Galway and Kerry as Storm Boelo makes its presence felt, with a yellow rain warning for Clare, Cork, Donegal, Leitrim, Limerick, Mayo, Sligo and Galway on Saturday.
The Defence Forces are to seek more than 550 armoured vehicles from France; the vehicles would transform the Army from a mostly peacekeeping force into a military capable of limited conventional war fighting.
Simon Harris is staying silent on the Patrick O'Donovan phone call that preceded his hospitalisation; events in the build-up to the Minister falling ill remain the subject of much speculation in Fine Gael.
Donal Lunny obituary: an innovative musician who leaves an indelible mark on Irish folk and traditional music; he never tired of seeking out new collaborations, novel sounds and fresh perspectives.
David McWilliams: France is likely heading towards ECB support and a Marine Le Pen presidency; the country is being pushed closer to the once-unthinkable possibility of bankruptcy.
Dating in your 50s: Sharon Horgan is wrong - it's not all freaks and weirdos. I admire Horgan but strongly disagree with her depiction of dating in your 50s as scary.
'Economically it probably would make sense to close': Clifden businesses prepare for a barren winter - as the tourist throngs disappear, loyalty to staff is the only thing keeping some going.
'There were ones I didn't save': the father who killed the Oregon school shooter has described his anguish; Kaylub Giamanco (36) shot a former student who killed a teacher and three children at a Bend school.
Ireland's military is moving into the 21st century - and some fear it is not ready; purchasing gaffes, malfunctioning machine guns and planes too big for hangars show the Defence Forces has a lot to learn.
Ukraine says restrictions on Starlink speed have now been lifted; the restrictions had undermined its ability to intercept Russian attack drones and disrupted frontline communications.
The well-known Co Limerick private school Glenstal Abbey is set to close; an internal assessment found 'the kind of school we have here at Glenstal is not sustainable into the future'.
'Nail in the coffin of Irish neutrality' or global reality check? The triple lock war rages on - a war of words over the legal measure requiring Government, Dail and UN approval to deploy troops abroad.
'I'll probably cry a lot': six people tell us why they're running the Dublin Marathon, sharing their reasons for signing up and what kept them going through hundreds of kilometres of preparation.
John Wilson: I tasted 21 affordable malbecs and the results were surprising - I just don't think this grape was meant to be turned into lower-alcohol wine.
Roisin Ingle: I used to hate hospitals, but becoming ill made me fall in love with them - under-appreciated staff deserve better pay for essential, vocational work.
Parents fear dying before their disabled children: 'Our family will be thrown into a crisis'; some have transformed their lifestyles in the hope of outliving offspring who cannot live independently.
Ross O'Carroll-Kelly: 'Oh my God,' Sorcha goes. 'Did you lock Brian in the attic?' - I'm doing it for his rugby career. He can thank me when he wins his first cap for Ireland.
11 stories
'It's about principle': Carla Lockhart has defended quitting as a DUP party officer; the Upper Bann MP wants leader Gavin Robinson to pull deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly out of the powersharing executive.
A new Northern Ireland weather warning has been issued as Storm Boelo arrives, with a further alert for next week and a yellow warning in place for Tuesday.
At least 30 Northern Ireland healthcare staff are being investigated for snooping on patient files; Encompass promised a strict 'need to know' basis, but staff face probes for inappropriate access.
Unionists are angry over the Drumcree fallout but must think 'long-term', Gavin Robinson says; the DUP leader said collapsing Stormont is only likely to strengthen Sinn Fein electorally.
'I never even got a birthday drink': Philomena Begley, 84, reveals the Spain accident that left her with a fractured knee - but with a Lifetime Achievement Award on the horizon, the Co Tyrone singer is laughing through it.
Review: the Co Down restaurant that served up one of the best meals of the year so far - Alex Greene and Bronagh McCormick bring exceptional food and warm hospitality to The Bucks Head in Dundrum.
Newton Emerson: Sinn Fein is betting on a 'Bryson bounce' for the Assembly election - his inimitable take on the stories making the news this week.
When do the clocks go back this weekend, and why does it happen? The clocks will change as British Summer Time comes to an end.
Masked youths have attacked police and damaged two vehicles during disorder in Derry.
Could Lake Windermere's GBP 3.7bn sewage tunnel be a solution for Lough Neagh's algae problems? The 12-mile tunnel proposal in England would also ask the public to pay higher bills.
A female pedestrian has died in a road traffic incident in Co Antrim; the accident happened just outside the village of Aghagallon near Lurgan on Friday afternoon.
27 stories
Storm Boelo has swept into NI as a new weather alert is issued for 'damaging gusts' next week.
Rhinos, Provos and loyalist terror bosses: Northern Ireland has become the land of the absurd where words fail - a society pretending all is well while deeply abnormal behaviour is not only accepted but encouraged.
Victims of clerical sex abuse are calling for an independent parliamentary inquiry into Jeffrey Donaldson.
The Met Police did not share the Thomas Markle Sr claims 'with other law enforcement'.
An ex-boxing champion walked free as a judge slammed an inheritance feud between siblings: 'This is not what your late mother would have wanted', the judge told the pair as the dispute over the family home reached court.
The founder of a gossip forum is accused of using a fake identity to 'escape' a Co Antrim couple's GBP 300k libel claim; counsel for Neil and Donna Sands claimed Sebastian Bond knew of their action while using the pseudonym Helen McDougal.
Five sisters, a survivor and their search for justice after an IRA murder: 'We were too angry to be afraid'.
A new film inspired by a north Belfast house is set for its premiere: 'I wanted to bring that old legend of the banshee...' - filmmaker Nathan Hughes's horror short pits ancient folklore against scepticism, greed and materialism.
Invest NI has picked a prime location for its 'brand new' north west office amid calls for a stronger regional presence.
Presbyterian men cloak sexism in theology, calling women equal while denying them power.
A UTV favourite on retirement, grandchildren and the future: 'I don't think my work is quite done yet' - after three decades exploring Ulster's people and places, Joe Mahon is bringing Mahon's Way to a close.
If you were wondering what Sinn Fein's so-called 'shrine to terrorism' would have looked like, check this out.
'We're hoping to be a wee bit different': a lottery winner has submitted plans for a new Belfast Christmas market.
The full list of winners from the first Belfast Telegraph Accountancy Awards.
'We're bringing it back to life': telling the story of the Bronte family's Co Down heritage.
'This is a prouder moment than my medals': an Olympian hails the 'immense' support as she opens a new NI kids' pool, Swim!, at Newtownabbey's Longwood Retail Park.
An expert is scathing at 'rushed' NI education reform plans as the minister is urged to 'go back to the drawing board'.
Sinn Fein MLAs Gerry Kelly and Deirdre Hargey arrived at a Belfast police station for interview over the Garvaghy Road dispute, with live coverage of the Drumcree fallout continuing.
Stormont has descended into chaos as Michelle O'Neill walked out and Emma Little-Pengelly was left unable to continue; shouting MLAs and a First Minister leaving early expose divisions now impossible to conceal.
Events at Drumcree have seriously undermined unionist confidence in policing, a loyalist focus group says, setting out its concerns in a letter to the PSNI chief constable.
An unexplained aspect of police intelligence over dissidents at Drumcree may help bring understanding; more on the policing of Drumcree is expected on day two of the Orange Order case.
Inside the almost 200-year-old former home of a Co Down linen dynasty, up for sale at GBP 3.25m.
Living history interpreter Aoife Cleland says Georgian Day in Armagh is the 'highlight' of her year.
Bangor Chamber of Commerce has slammed BID proposals and warned of GBP 80k of wasted public cash; if approved, Bangor would become the ninth Business Improvement District in Northern Ireland.
TV review: Rob, Romesh and their peloton pals channel their inner Supreme and prove there ain't no mountain high enough - comedy's funnymen get on their bikes in Paris to compete on the most iconic stage of the Tour de France.
A well-known couple have died just hours apart after almost 60 years of marriage, as their heroics during an IRA bombing are remembered.
A man charged with the murder of an NI mum-of-two has been refused prison leave to attend his father's memorial.