Yes.

This afternoon.

Just ‘dropped.

The trailer for a new FREE documentary released ahead of Daniel Craig’s final performance as James Bond in the much-delayed No Time To Die. Includes never-before-seen archival footage from Craig’s first 007 outing, Casino Royale (2006).

The 45-minute retrospective is on the Apple TV app from September 7-October 7 (see what they did there?).

Bring Back Dalton!

Being James Bond (Apple TV)

This evening.

Simon Coveney is addressing the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs about the appointment of Katherine Zappone.

Watch live here.

Earlier…

From left: Katherine Zappone, Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney celebrate after Ireland secured a seat on the UN Security Council last year

This afternoon.

Ahead of an appearance later by Simon Coveney at an Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence meeting to explain his role in the appointment of Katherine Zappone as a UN envoy for free speech.

Via Independent.ie:

In his opening statement to the committee the Fine Gael minister will say that Ms Zappone had reached out to him last summer to mention that she would be available “to help in any way she could in our work at the UN”.

His statement notes that when she served in Government the former independent TD worked as a special envoy for Ireland’s successful bid to be on the UN Security Council before she “stepped down and left politics last summer”.

“In February of this year we spoke and Katherine Zappone told me of work she was doing in the UN system. At no point in that conversation did I consider that she was lobbying me for a job.

“Following on from that conversation however, I reflected on the fact that Katherine Zappone was a former Irish Minister, had been heavily involved in our Security Council campaign, had campaigned all her life on issues of equality and was now living in New York.”

Mr Coveney said that late in February he met with his secretary general to review Ireland’s first months on the UN Security Council and at the end of the meeting asked for his view on whether Ms Zappone “could be of any use to our team in New York. He told me he would reflect on that”….

…Mr Coveney states that that in light of the “increasingly polarised debate on human rights internationally” including with the EU, his department officials recommended a role with a broad mandate focussing on freedom of expression…..

“I approached Katherine Zappone and asked if she’d be interested in taking this role in principle. She said she would and I handed the process back to my Secretary General.”

Good times.

Coveney sought UN role for Zappone before controversial special envoy appointment (Independent.ie)

RollingNews

Small nut.

This afternoon.

Dublin Castle, Dublin 2.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly contemplates a sand sculpture depicting ‘cogs in the machine’ in the courtyard of Dublin Castle ahead of a cabinet meeting.

Meanwhile…

Um.

Meanwhile…

This afternoon.

Dublin Castle, Dublin 2.

Arriving for cabinet were from top; Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Attorney general Paul Gallagher and Minister for Education Norma Foley with Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan (in flasher’s mac) possibly giving out about petrol consumption.

Name those jammers, anyone?

Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

Behold: rare and eye-candiful prismatic refractions through ice crystals in a distant cirrus cloud formation. To wit:

Known informally as a fire rainbow for its flame-like appearance, a circumhorizon arc appears parallel to the horizon. For a circumhorizontal arc to be visible, the Sun must be at least 58 degrees high in a sky where cirrus clouds present below — in this case cirrus fibrates. The numerous, flat, hexagonal ice-crystals that compose the cirrus cloud must be aligned horizontally to properly refract sunlight in a collectively similar manner. Therefore, circumhorizontal arcs are somewhat unusual to see. The featured fire rainbow was photographed earlier this month near North Fork Mountain in West Virginia, USA.

(Image: Christa Harbig)

apod

This morning.

Via Birmingham Mail:

ITV This Morning has come under fire over an “irresponsible” debate between two guests today.

Beverly Turner and Dr Nighat Arif were on the show, which was hosted by Rochelle Humes and Eamonn Holmes.

The pair were debating getting children vaccinated against Covid when tempers flared.

One tweeted: “Why do you keep inviting on Beverley Turner regarding COVID vaccinations? I absolutely think you need to represent both sides in a debate however she is always SO angry when she talks about her side of the debate, in contrast to the doctor who was very calm.”

“#ThisMorning Why is it the people who bang on about the dangerous side effects of the vaccine seem perfectly happy with the dangerous side effects of the virus?” asked another.

Another chipped in with: “Why does Beverly Turner have to express her views in such an angry and patronising manner?”

A fourth branded the interview “irresponsible”.

ITV This Morning in hot water over ‘irresponsible’ row between Beverley Turner and doctor (Birmingham Mail)

Meanwhile…

FIGHT!

Far Caspian featuring BOYO – Pretend

Together in indie dreams.

The new video by Leeds-based, Northern Irish bedroom pop savant Joel Johnston (top) aka Far Caspian is a walk in the park.

With such an effortlessly melodic groove, Johnston is priming us for the release of his new album Ways To Get Out.

And let’s not forget his collaborator here BOYO aka cult Los Angeles lo-fi star Robert Tilden.

Great work all round.

Nick says: So Far so good.

Far Caspian

Saturday.

Palmerstown Estate, Johnstown, Naas, county Kildare

Scenes from Move at the Manor – a new wellness festival lead by some of Ireland’s top athletes fitness experts and ‘influencers’.

Lia Stokes writes:

Organised by top Irish health and wellness brands, Cali Cali Foods, New Dimensions Active and Kinetica, the inaugural wellness event was a sell-out success and a huge hit with guests.

Attendees were invited to move, nourish and be inspired by the jam-packed line-up that included a series of main stage workouts and panel discussions led by , multiple smaller group classes, workshops and talks with some of the biggest names in fitness, as well as pop up shops, chill out zones and food trucks to enjoy on the day.

Spin 103.8FM’s Marty Guilfoyle was live on the decks all day to keep the crowd going, with appearances from Olympian Greg O’Shea. Rob Lipsett, Emma Kehoe, David Gillick, Rebecca O’Rourke, Jamie Goonery and many more.

Move At The Manor

This morning.

Rangers football club have vowed to work with the police to identify any fans that participated in a sectarian march through Glasgow city centre on Sunday.

Via The National:

A video on social media showed a large group being escorted by police while chanting an anti-Irish song referencing the famine on the day of their side’s 1-0 win over Celtic.

The statement, released on the club’s website on Monday night, reads: “Following an incident on Sunday, we repeat that Rangers FC condemns all forms of racism, sectarianism and discrimination.

“We are working with the police to identify any season ticket holders.”

Rangers v Celtic: Ibrox club to help identify fans in sectarian march (The National)

Thanks Eunan

Broadsheet.ie