The wildfire outside Bordeaux showed the risks of highly flammable pine plantations - the native tree growth was much more fire resistant

A playbook repeated from Turkey to Norway to Belarus. Rather than recognising it Europe’s right took an opportunity to pile on to a centre-left leader they resent: domestic troubles aside, Sanchez has outperformed them on economic growth while seeing a green energy switch pay off

I joined a night watch patrol with some of the army of volunteers working to keep the Gironde wildfire outside Bordeaux from reigniting.

A Government investigation into Aughinish Alumina was unable to get hold of "confidential" documents from Sweden relating to the plant's alleged ownership by sanctioned oligarch Oleg Deripaska It turns out the documents are available publicly for a €25 admin fee www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...

Aughinish investigators did not obtain Swedish document available for €25 fee

Authorities said they were unable to obtain specific information – but judgment is publicly accessible

irishtimes.com

Is this a good time to mention that in college my History of Translation lecturer (Michael Cronin) told us that one of the first vernacular translations of The Illiad was into Irish, and the translator had to give the main characters dogs because in Gaelic society a free man had a dog

I wonder if this error was introduced by an AI transcription software. They always interpret Irish words in creatively bizarre ways. In any case, just knowing that this kind of thing happens is almost enough to give me a panic attack and quit journalism

Tony - Pod Guy - Groves@tonygroves.bsky.social · last wk.

So Irish Examiner journalist Alison O’Reilly hears a solicitor, Gavin Booth say that the suspect in the car bomb case ‘spent time in Saoradh.’ She, being kind, misheard him and reports it as time in Syria. The misreporting (still up, btw) goes around the world and media shrugs. Bizarre

“Today, the financial sector operates by mafia rules; it is not that the mafia has become financialised, but that the financial sector has become mafia-like.”

Naomi O'Leary@naomiohreally.bsky.social · last wk.

“The Mafia would not exist without the concept of family, of unbreakable bonds… Ireland and Italy are very similar in this respect and therefore recognise each other in criminal terms.” My interview with @robertosaviano.bsky.social www.irishtimes.com/life-style/p...

Another Epstein associate takes his secrets to the grave. My piece on what the Epstein files have to say about Daniel Siad, the procurer of women who was found dead this week www.irishtimes.com/world/europe...

Another key Epstein associate takes crucial answers to the grave

As investigators closed in, records shed light on Daniel Siad’s activities within the Epstein network. What evidence died with him?

irishtimes.com

“The Mafia would not exist without the concept of family, of unbreakable bonds… Ireland and Italy are very similar in this respect and therefore recognise each other in criminal terms.” My interview with @robertosaviano.bsky.social www.irishtimes.com/life-style/p...

Roberto Saviano on the Kinahans, living under threat from the Mafia and similarities between Ireland and Italy

Discovery of alliance between Naples Camorra and Kinahan cartel ‘one of the most significant chapters in recent global drug trafficking’

irishtimes.com

Interesting piece on the Epstein files and one of his associates by @naomiohreally.bsky.social so many questions remain about who else is responsible for what happened to those women & girls Another key Epstein associate takes crucial answers to the grave www.irishtimes.com/world/europe...

Another key Epstein associate takes crucial answers to the grave

As investigators closed in, records shed light on Daniel Siad’s activities within the Epstein network. What evidence died with him?

irishtimes.com

On Friday the Government published a terse 450 word summary of its long awaited report into Aughinish Alumina. It was light on both detail and definitive conclusions We obtained the full 51 page report. Read what's being kept hidden in Saturday's Irish Times

Thanks to @naomiohreally.bsky.social for this article Resistance fighter to national hero: the long journey of historian Marc Bloch to the Panthéon History is 'science in motion', every trace of the past is a possible source (& for me, gives context to today) www.irishtimes.com/world/europe...

From Resistance fighter to national hero: the long journey of Marc Bloch to the Panthéon

France honours Jewish scholar who transformed study of history before taking up second struggle against Nazi rule

irishtimes.com

DESERVED piss off prison theatrical society

Only one side is playing football, the other is the am dram society

I would warn against tracking any data related to babies while sleep deprived as it starts to make you go insane unfortunately

Giles Wilkes@gilesyb.bsky.social · 3w ago

By far the most terrifying opening paragraph I've read in an FT piece giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... omg @soumayakeynes.ft.com

Time is ticking on Macron’s final months in power. He used his final Bastille Day to make a statement about his vision of French military power within coalitions and European cooperation- something Marine Le Pen wants to dismantle if she is elected in his place www.irishtimes.com/world/europe...

Irish troops take part in huge Bastille Day parade as Macron showcases Europe’s ‘awakening’

Support for Ukraine was a key theme of Paris parade, but that could be tested by 2027 election

irishtimes.com

"May the best team win, and may racism lose," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said after comments from a former conservative prime minister revealed people still struggling to be normal about the French team www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...

Racism row overshadows France-Spain World Cup semi-final

Former Spanish prime minister accused of causing diplomatic incident by suggesting France team not French

irishtimes.com

The forest south of Paris being burned up in wildfire isn’t just any forest. Fontainebleau was crucial to the development of Impressionism, is in masterpieces by Monet and Renoir, and the campaign to protect it inspired one of the earliest environmental manifestos www.irishtimes.com/world/europe...

Fire ravages protected France forest that inspired the artists of Paris

Wildfire burns through nearly a fifth of Forest of Fontainebleau that featured in works of Monet and inspired early environmentalism

irishtimes.com

The movie holds up. As does this great anecdote courtesy of Sam Neill and Jeff Goldblum.

Ronaldo allowed to play despite a three-match ban for a foul against Ireland… the Balogun affair… it all contributes to an impression of a stacked deck that was reflected in the international reaction to Egypt’s defeat to Argentina last night. My piece about it www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...

‘They want Messi to stay in the tournament’: Egypt’s disallowed goal against Argentina leads to claims of injustice

Mostafa Zico had a goal ruled out in Tuesday’s Round of 16 game due to a foul in the lead up

irishtimes.com

These stories about the impact of AI in universities are so depressing. I often work in a public library, and it is heartening to see it always full of young people studying hard.

Dr. Samantha Hancox-Li@sjshancoxli.liberalcurrents.com · 4w ago

absolutely insane story, and yeah, just looking at this chart... with the exception of maybe two people, this entire class was cheating like motherfuckers

Le Pen has declared her French presidential candidacy after an appeals court shortened her sentence for misappropriating funds. She says she won’t need to wear an ankle bracelet on the campaign as the sentence will be pending while she appeals the verdict once more www.irishtimes.com/world/europe...

Le Pen declares French presidential candidacy after court shortens sentence for misappropriating funds

Hard-right politician has said she will be free to campaign without an electronic tag pending a further court appeal

irishtimes.com

A Paris court has shortened Marine Le Pen's ban on holding office, while ordering her to serve a sentence wearing an electronic tag - something she has said would make it impossible to campaign. Everyone now awaits a statement from her to clarify if she will run or not. It is in theory possible.

Frankly terrifying speaking to Irish people today who fled a wildfire on a French campsite - will change how I think about safety. It was just “minutes” from seeing smoke to the fire overcoming the place - they lost everything but the clothes they were wearing www.irishtimes.com/world/europe...

Irish holidaymakers leave belongings and flee French wildfires

More than 10,000 evacuated near Perpignan as blaze threatened villages close to French border with Spain

irishtimes.com

"Members of the group Patriot Front ride the metro as a commuter looks on, during the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 4, 2026. REUTERS/Cheney Orr"

Not a great economy alert! Wall Street Bets users think Palantir spiked today because The Onion story titled “Palantir Acquires Pentagon for $800 Billion” hit their front page. They’re guessing trading bots indexed the top post on the subreddit reddit not understanding source.

I tried to capture the world of Caolan Robertson, who represents an interesting evolution in how people consume news www.irishtimes.com/media/2026/0...

Caolan Robertson: from far-right propagandist to gonzo journalist in Ukraine with 1m followers

Pro-Ukraine journalist from Kilkenny who made waves over Aughinish Alumina reflects vast change in consumption of news

irishtimes.com

Shima Seien - Untitled (1918) A self portrait - and a testimony,

Troubling, powerful testimony from @otoolematthew.bsky.social and deep, level-headed historical parallels perspective in this Half Pint from the ever-excellent @passportirish.bsky.social Thanks for recording and sharing this.

Naomi O'Leary@naomiohreally.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Grim new episode open to all. @otoolematthew.bsky.social describes sheltering families fleeing their burning homes in his constituency office during the horrific riots in Belfast last week. We discuss the broader societal and historical context: www.patreon.com/theirishpass...

Grim new episode open to all. @otoolematthew.bsky.social describes sheltering families fleeing their burning homes in his constituency office during the horrific riots in Belfast last week. We discuss the broader societal and historical context: www.patreon.com/theirishpass...

Halfpint: Racist riots in Belfast | The Irish Passport Podcast

Halfpint: Racist riots in Belfast by The Irish Passport Podcast on Patreon. Join The Irish Passport Podcast's community for exclusive content and updates.

patreon.com