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Irish Times

In the current issue · 47

Trump announces partial ceasefire in Ukraine war, but Zelenskiy says deal is ‘news to me’

Donald Trumppresident
Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine,
Volodymyr Zelenskyypresident
If President Trump negotiated it with Putin — please tell us when the ceasefire begins. We are ready and we will accept it,
Oleksandr Merezhkoukrainian lawyer and jurist
Putin’s plan is to decapitate Zelenskiy and remove him as a wartime leader. Trump is siding with Putin,
Oleksandr Merezhkoukrainian lawyer and jurist
We are moving to a new Molotov-Ribbentrop pact and to a world of strongmen and spheres of influence.”
Russia should agree to an immediate energy ceasefire, ending its brutal strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and its attacks on shipping in the Black Sea,
It felt like a trap,
It is possible to stop strikes on energy infrastructure as early as today, but (Russian President Vladimir) Putin does not want to do so,
This would be an act of complicity with Putin’s genocide. It would mean more dead civilians and dead children,

Pope Leo says he will undergo surgery for small growth on lung

During some check-ups, doctors discovered a localized nodule on my lung,
I would like to express to the Holy Father my personal support, and that of the Italian government, as he faces this challenge in the coming days.”
The serenity and composure with which he spoke about it [today] …are reassuring,

Twelve killed and more than 300 injured in attack at Riyadh airport in Saudi Arabia

Donald Trumppresident
We may. We’re going to look at it,
I was on gate 403,
Mohammed Saeed Al-Jabersaudi diplomat and politician
Blessed Friday and victory for every Yemeni and Arab. Bab al-Mandab has been cleared of the remnants of the Houthi terrorist militia.”

Man dies after entering tiger enclosure at Yorkshire wildlife park

Videos circulating online appear to show a man being pawed at and grappled by a tiger in an enclosure at the park

Ireland may not have the death penalty, but we have no reason for complacency

Born to an alcoholic mother, Pike has foetal alcohol syndrome, was neglected and brutally beaten in childhood, sexually abused from the age of two and subjected separately to at least three rapes by the age of 17

Christa Pike, who survived US execution attempt, is discharged from hospital

What's been described to me is that physically there's quite a bit going on, that her arms are very injured and she's not able to use them very much,
I think it’s kind of good and bad. Good that she is fairly with it, but she’s also somewhat foggy. She can lose her train of thought really easily and forgets where she’s going.”

US president Donald Trump says it is time for Ukraine to get rid of Zelenskiy

Volodymyr Zelenskyypresident
I believe our team is simply being used as a smoke screen. And that is certainly not fair. It is certainly not how partners should treat each other,
It plays into Russia's hands — allowing it to kill more, wage war for longer, have even less respect for America, and inflict even greater losses and damage on the world,

Nine people, including children, dead after mass shooting in Pennsylvania

Police discovered the killings at about 5pm when officers were called to a residence following reports of gunfire

Rick Loraherie Police Chief
The loss of life is devastating, and the circumstances we are working through are deeply disturbing,
Our hearts are with the victims, their families and everyone affected by this tragedy. There are no words that can adequately express the magnitude of the loss of life here.”
We understand that the news brings deep shock and sorrow to our residents, and we want to assure the public that the situation has been contained,

Liverpool v Manchester City is no longer simply a football match

This club with two league titles — 1937 and 1968 — in their 104 years before being acquired by Abu Dhabi, won eight more between 2012 and 2024

Meath’s Nichola Sheridan finishes third in Melbourne Marathon

Her breakthrough came in winning the Dublin City Half Marathon in March 2025, representing Bohermeen AC

Government to propose EU budget compromise as conservative states push for more cuts

The State, in its dealmaker role holding the rotating Council of the EU presidency, has taken soundings from all national capitals and the union’s institutions to propose a fresh draft of the European budget package

Ireland in line for a kicking from all sides after publishing EU budget

Jessica Rosencrantzeurope minister
The numbers that have been put on the table still present a widely unaffordable increase and we are therefore nowhere near an agreement,
We firmly reject the Irish presidency’s negotiating box... It cuts defence as threats multiply, reduces investment in competitiveness as Europe loses ground, and leaves farmers and regions underfunded,
Thomas Byrne (Meath politician)european Affairs
We protected to the extent the member states wished, the traditional policies of the union, which are very, very important,

Taiwan fears for US support as Trump and Xi prepare for fresh talks

In brilliant sunshine and scorching heat, Taiwan on Saturday celebrated its annual October 10 holiday with an event outside the presidential palace in Taipei featuring lion dances and other traditional arts as well as a military parade

The US attitude towards Taiwan has always been US does not support Taiwan independence and China wanted to push for the US to oppose Taiwan’s independence. I think probably for Donald Trump, there’s no big difference but in the diplomatic world, there’s a huge difference,
Fang-Yu Chentaiwanese political scientist
The most difficult part is that we don’t have a choice. We have to rely on the US,
If the KMT does well in these elections, that will be momentum for their 2028 presidential ticket. And that will probably also determine who will be on the ticket,
I’m not looking to have somebody go independent. And, you know, we’re supposed to travel 9,500 miles to fight a war. I’m not looking for that. I want them to cool down. I want China to cool down,
We have to offer a unification formula which sounds really nice, but Beijing cannot accept,
We always talk about Taiwan being a value ally of the US: democracy, freedom, human rights — about which Donald Trump doesn’t give a s**t,
I think in Taiwan, we have to come up with something to avoid a military confrontation. And then somehow saving some money for defence, that would benefit us, right?”
I think US arms sales always carries two senses for us. One is symbolically. It is a symbol of whether the US supports Taiwan or especially Taiwan’s defence. So I think no matter the amount of the sales, we really want the US to continue to sell arms to Taiwan,

‘Let them live in peace’: Protestants and Catholics alike express relief in Drumcree

We work with people from the other side and we don’t want any tension,
Let them live in peace. Give it up. There was no need for a march,
My family wanted the parade at the start but then they got sick of the circus around it. They felt it was dragging on for too long and causing too much tension,
A lot of people from my background aren’t happy and have a different opinion to me,
In this town now, the amount of hardline loyalists is basically nil. All the old hands are gone,
I don’t trust Irish newspapers,
My wee lad’s school is beside a Protestant school. There’s probably only one person that owns that unionist [Facebook] page but that’s the level of hatred,

DUP accuses Bryant of ‘disgraceful appeasement’ on Garvaghy Road march

What we saw on Friday disgracefully was the appeasement to threats of violence and disorder, appeasement in the face of threats of terror,
I think it was the right thing to do.... I stood with the people of the Garvaghy Road. I will continue to stand with the people of Garvaghy Road because it was the right thing to do, and it was in defence of the Good Friday Agreement and the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement.”
There were over 1,000 members of the Protestant community signed a letter urging the Orange men not to march down the road,

Sing for joy: ‘One of the best things you can do for your mental health is join a choir’

Karen O’Sheadubliner
I love being able to turn up unprepared,
There’s huge comfort in being part of a big group,
One song, one session. No audition, no sheet music, no commitment”.
We take on outside beliefs so easily,
Members anchor their week around Tuesday evenings,
When we sing, we release oxytocin, the human love hormone,
As Irish people, we’re comfortable with sing-songs, but not necessarily with the idea of a choir,
The science of how singing creates and strengthens bonds between individuals is especially interesting,
People are so inhibited about their voices these days,
Everybody who’s now a regular, or considers themselves part of the group, walked into the room for the first time feeling nervous and worried that they couldn’t sing,