Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has come under fire for comments he made about teachers during a Fine Gael party gathering, stirring debate on the opening weekend of Ireland’s general election campaign. O’Leary suggested that teachers were not ideally suited for leadership roles in the Dáil (the lower house of parliament), sparking criticism from teaching unions and politicians. He remarked, “The Dáil is full of teachers. Nothing wrong with teachers, I love teachers, but I wouldn’t generally employ a lot of teachers to go out and get things done.”

Irish politicians quickly responded, with Fine Gael leader and outgoing Taoiseach Simon Harris distancing himself from O’Leary’s remarks. He praised teachers as “the backbone of Irish society” and suggested that many would find classroom work challenging. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and Social Democrats condemned O’Leary’s remarks as inappropriate, with McDonald emphasizing the essential work teachers perform daily for children.

O’Leary defended his stance, arguing that the Dáil needed more private-sector representatives to address pressing issues such as housing and infrastructure. He criticized former teacher and outgoing Tourism and Culture Minister Catherine Martin, citing her handling of tourism caps at Dublin Airport and difficulties managing issues at RTÉ as examples of ineffective leadership from former educators.

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The King of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander, expressed deep concern following violent attacks targeting Israeli football fans in Amsterdam, insisting that Jewish people must feel safe throughout the Netherlands. Speaking after the assaults on Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters, the king stressed that “antisemitic behaviour” could not be ignored, recalling the lessons of history. Amsterdam’s Mayor, Femke Halsema, voiced her sympathy for the victims and their families, describing the attacks as deeply shameful for the city.

The attacks occurred after a Europa League match, with groups of young men on scooters reportedly executing “hit-and-run” assaults on Maccabi fans, resulting in multiple injuries and at least 62 arrests. Disturbing videos surfaced on social media showing fans being attacked, some involving pro-Palestinian slogans, while police cordoned Israeli fans’ buses for protection. The Netherlands’ national anti-Semitism co-ordinator condemned the readiness to commit such violence, while Prime Minister Dick Schoof vowed that perpetrators would be apprehended.

Responses to the violence came from global leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who described the incident as a “pogrom.” The attack drew particular horror due to its timing, coinciding with Kristallnacht commemorations, a dark anniversary of Nazi-era anti-Jewish violence.

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Heavy rains triggered severe flash flooding in Cadaqués, a town in the Girona region of northeastern Spain, early Friday. Torrential waters swept around 30 cars down streets and under a bridge, according to local reports. Emergency responders confirmed no casualties, and no one was reported trapped or injured in the incident.

Videos shared by local journalists captured dramatic scenes as powerful torrents surged through streets, piling vehicles atop one another. The flooding follows last week’s devastating storms in Valencia, which claimed over 200 lives, sparking public outrage over the lack of timely emergency alerts from authorities.

The Catalonian meteorological agency has warned of more intense rainfall overnight, with forecasts predicting rain rates of over 20 mm within half an hour in Alt Emporda, where Cadaqués is situated. Spain’s weather agency, Aemet, reported that rainfall in early November was 72% above average, with climate change cited as a factor intensifying the recent deluges across the country.

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The UK government has imposed sanctions on six Russian agencies and individuals accused of being part of a disinformation network known as the Doppelganger group. This network is alleged to have spread false rumors about the Princess of Wales, particularly during her health-related absence from public life earlier this year. The Foreign Office described the group as operating a “vast malign online network” aimed at sowing discord among countries supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, warning that their actions threaten to undermine democratic processes.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned the group’s tactics, stating, “Putin is so desperate to undermine European support for Ukraine he is now resorting to clumsy, ineffective efforts to try and stoke unrest.” The sanctions target multiple entities, including the Social Design Agency and Structura National Technologies, alongside individuals such as Ilya Andreevich Gambashidze. The UK Foreign Office emphasized that the disinformation campaign exploits social media, creating fake news sites to mislead users and promote divisive narratives.

The sanctions received support from the US State Department, which highlighted the need to combat Kremlin-produced disinformation. Experts from Cardiff University noted that the Doppelganger group uses numerous disposable social media accounts to flood information channels, amplifying narratives that seem less overtly political. This approach has been particularly effective in generating public discourse around sensitive topics, allowing the group to disseminate anti-Ukrainian messages while attacking key British institutions like the Royal Family.

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