The Irish Press - News from Dublin, Kilkenny, Waterford, Drogheda, Galyway, Ireland and the world

Several thousand demonstrators rallied in Berlin on Saturday calling for an end to Iran's clerical-led government and its bloody repression of protests.

Thousands of people marched through Milan on Saturday in protest against the Winter Olympics, with a small number setting off fireworks and clashing with police in riot shields.

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend admitted that there will be more pressure on him after his side's disappointing performance in losing 18-15 to Italy in their opening Six Nations match in Rome on Saturday.

BMW’s iX3 heralds the Neue Klasse era. Revealed at CES 2026, the pre‑production SUV features a dual‑motor powertrain delivering 345 kW/469 hp and 645 Nm of torque, launching from 0–100 km/h in 4.9 seconds with a 210 km/h top speed. Sixth‑generation BMW eDrive technology introduces cylindrical cells and an 800‑volt battery with 108.7 kWh usable capacity, enabling up to 805 km of WLTP range.Ultra‑fast charging adds 372 km in 10 minutes at 400 kW DC stations. Charging from 10 to 80 % takes just 21 minutes, and the NACS port provides access to the Tesla Supercharger network with an optional 22 kW AC charger. Bidirectional charging (V2L, V2H and V2G) turns the iX3 into a mobile power bank or home energy store.Inside, the Panoramic iDrive spans the windscreen with a 43‑inch projection display and a 17.9‑inch infotainment screen. The AI‑powered Intelligent Personal Assistant, enhanced with Amazon Alexa+, allows natural voice interaction and controls vehicle functions. Sustainable materials contribute to a greener footprint, with recycled plastics and aluminium used in components. A flat floor improves space; the iX3 offers a 510‑litre boot plus a 58‑litre front trunk.

A sparkling unbeaten 84 from India captain Suryakumar Yadav and three wickets from late call-up Mohammed Siraj in Mumbai on Saturday helped India to avoid a shock defeat to the United States as they opened their defence of the T20 World Cup.

Speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida won an emotional first gold medal for host nation Italy at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on Saturday.

Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal scored as Barcelona eased to a comfortable 3-0 win over Mallorca on Saturday to move four points clear at the top of La Liga.

Arsenal moved nine points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 3-0 victory against Sunderland, while Tottenham boss Thomas Frank faced renewed calls for his sacking after a 2-0 defeat at Manchester United on Saturday.

A late Serhou Guirassy winner settled a tense contest in Wolfsburg as Borussia Dortmund prevailed 2-1 on Saturday to provisionally cut Bayern Munich's lead at the top of the Bundesliga to three points.

Thousands of people marched through Milan on Saturday in protest against the Winter Olympics, the day after the opening ceremony in the northern Italian city.

Arsenal moved ever closer to a first Premier League title for 22 years as a 3-0 win over Sunderland took the Gunners nine points clear at the top of the table.

Skoda’s Epiq is the first series‑production vehicle to fully adopt the brand’s new Modern Solid design language. Previewed as a show car in September 2025, the compact city SUV rides on Volkswagen’s MEB Entry platform and measures around 4.1 metres in length. Despite its small footprint, it seats five and provides a generous 475‑litre boot. Skoda aims to offer an affordable electric alternative to its conventional Kamiq with a targeted starting price of about €25,000. Production is slated to begin in Navarra, Spain, with sales expected in late 2026.Different battery sizes (around 38 kWh to 56 kWh) will deliver a WLTP range of up to 425 km. The platform is shared with the upcoming VW ID.Polo and Cupra Raval, ensuring competitive efficiency and low running costs. Externally, the Epiq is defined by its Tech‑Deck face with T‑shaped LED daytime running lights and a pronounced tornado line along the flanks. Cashmere matte paintwork combines with black accents to convey robustness.

Italy heaped the pressure on Scotland coach Gregor Townsend on Saturday, running out deserved 18-15 winners in their Six Nations opener played in atrocious wet conditions in Rome.

Spain and Portugal on Saturday faced fresh storms and torrential rain just days after floods caused by Storm Leonardo proved fatal in both countries and caused significant damage.

A jury has been confirmed in a landmark social media addiction trial in the US state of California, a process dominated by references to tech giant Meta's divisive founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Iraq has so far received 2,225 Islamic State group detainees, whom the US military began transferring from Syria last month, an Iraqi official told AFP on Saturday.

World champion Birk Ruud topped qualifying in the Olympic men's freeski slopestyle competition on Saturday, edging out Norwegian compatriot Tormod Frostad in a strong field.

Young Czech qualifier Sara Bejlek won the first WTA title of her career on Saturday as she beat Russian second seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 in the final of the Abu Dhabi Open.

Two French adventurers reached the end of an epic walk from their hometown to Shanghai on Saturday, after nearly a year and a half crossing 16 countries almost entirely on foot.

Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen scorched to victory in the men's Olympic downhill in Bormio on Saturday, winning the first gold medal of the Milan-Cortina Winter Games.

Australian snowboard veteran Scotty James is hoping to go one better at his fifth Olympics as he targets an elusive gold at the Milan-Cortina Games.

Czech snowboarder Eva Adamczykova is chasing a second Olympic gold 12 years on from her Sochi triumph -- after swapping her board and goggles for sequins and stilettos.

Lindsey Vonn's dream of Olympic medal glory is alive after the American ski star again defied a serious knee injury to successfully complete her second training run for the Milan-Cortina women's downhill on Saturday.

Pace bowler Romario Shepherd took the first hat-trick of the 2026 T20 World Cup on Saturday to help the West Indies blow away Scotland's tail and win by 35 runs in their Group C opener in Kolkata.

Newly-crowned Olympic downhill champion Franjo von Allmen is a thrill-seeking adrenaline junkie whose previous success has seen his local butcher name a sausage after him.

Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen claimed the first gold medal of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics as he dominated the men's downhill on Saturday hours after the Games officially opened.

Eileen Gu said her mum fed her snacks and told her to "wake up and get it together" after a shocking first run from China's freeski superstar in the slopestyle qualifiers put her Olympic dream in jeopardy.

Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen scorched to victory in the men's Olympic downhill in Bormio on Saturday, winning the first gold medal of the Milan-Cortina Winter Games.

Men's downhill skiing tops the bill at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on Saturday, with the first medals to be handed out hours after the Games officially opened.

Afghanistan's Rashid Khan said Saturday he dreams of playing an international match at home in Kabul, which for him would be "bigger than the World Cup".

Lindsey Vonn's dream of Olympic medal glory is alive after the American ski star again defied a serious knee injury to complete her second training run for the Milan-Cortina women's downhill on Saturday.

China's freeski superstar Eileen Gu survived a huge scare on Saturday to progress to the final of the women's slopestyle as defending Olympic champion Mathilde Gremaud topped the list of qualifiers.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday he hoped talks with the United States would resume soon, while reiterating Tehran's red lines and warning against any American attack.

Shimron Hetmyer hit 64 off 36 balls to help West Indies to 182-5 in the second match of the T20 World Cup against Scotland in Kolkata on Saturday.

The International Olympic Committee said on Saturday it hoped for "fair play" after US Vice President JD Vance was booed at the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

Thousands gathered on Saturday for the funerals of victims of a suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque that killed 31 people and wounded 169 others in Pakistan's capital.

Lindsey Vonn's dream of Olympic medal glory is alive after the American ski star again defied a serious knee injury to complete her second training run for the Milan-Cortina women's downhill on Saturday.

The United States wants Ukraine and Russia to end their nearly four-year war by June, and has offered to host talks between the two sides in Florida next week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Faheem Ashraf smashed an unbeaten 29 off 11 balls as Pakistan scrambled past the Netherlands by three wickets to avoid a massive shock in the curtain-raiser of the T20 World Cup in Colombo on Saturday.