The hunt for a new chair of the RTÉ board, warnings over drugs, and an alleged LOI bribery attempt are some of the stories on the front pages of Saturday's national newspapers.
The Irish Times leads with 'Ministers in heated row over data centres', while another article claims former HSE chief executive Paul Reid is 'one of a number of candidates' being considered to fill the role on the RTÉ board vacated last week by Siún Ní Raghallaigh.
The Irish Examiner's main headline reads: ''Inevitable' drugs hits Ireland', while the Echo carries comments from Cork TD Thomas Gould over the 'shameful' lack of staff in Children's Disability Network Teams.
The Irish Independent reports a League of Ireland player 'was offered €30,000 to get sent off', and the Irish Daily Mail leads with a story from the US, reporting the 'wrong body was created' after a 'mix-up of two Irish friends'.
The Irish Independent on Saturday pic.twitter.com/qImZEW7LY0
— Irish Independent (@Independent_ie) March 2, 2024
Saturday's Mail leads with a shocking story that is the stuff of nightmares for any family grieving a loved one pic.twitter.com/vwBgWX6krd
— The Irish Daily Mail (@irishdailymail) March 2, 2024
Finally, the Irish Daily Star and Irish Daily Mirror both carry images of Red Bull F1 boss Christian Horner and his wife, former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, amid the continuing fallout of allegations made against him by a colleague.
Our weekend big read includes two great sports pullouts and @starchicmag pic.twitter.com/Hlb40zric9
— Irish Daily Star (@isfearranstar) March 2, 2024
In Britain, UK prime minister Rishi Sunak’s Downing Street speech warning about the threat of extremists dominates the front pages of Saturday’s newspapers.
The Daily Telegraph and The Times opt for the same picture of Mr Sunak delivering the speech as he said “democracy itself is a target” of the rising “poison” of extremists, also labelling George Galloway’s victory at the Rochdale by-election as “alarming”.
The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:
'Democracy under threat'#TomorrowsPapersToday
Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/pvmUnRMhN7— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) March 1, 2024
THE TIMES: Banish this hatred from our streets, implores PM #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/383WnN4p2v
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) March 1, 2024
Democracy under threat is the theme of The Independent and The Guardian, which both also carry pictures from the Moscow funeral of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
GUARDIAN: Democracy is at threat from ‘extremists’, claims Sunak #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/4WGjNe79Ie
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) March 1, 2024
The Daily Express labels Mr Sunak’s remarks a “landmark speech” and echoes his words with the headline “We’ll beat this poison”.
EXPRESS: ‘We’ll beat this poison’ #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/DDM24g6Wby
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) March 1, 2024
The Daily Mail opts to lead on a comment article which applauds the “speech Britain needed to hear”.
MAIL: Rishi delivers speech Britain needed to hear #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/BTo7khqdKl
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) March 1, 2024
Mr Sunak’s speech also features on the front of the iweekend, alongside a picture of Mr Galloway and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s apology to the people of Rochdale for opening the door for his victory.
I WEEKEND: Starmer tells UK: I’m sorry about Galloway #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/fKrGPTtyGF
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) March 1, 2024
The ongoing text message scandal surrounding Red Bill Formula One boss Christian Horner occupies the front of The Sun and Daily Mirror, which focuses on the “turmoil” of his wife, former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell.
On tomorrow's front page: Geri Halliwell was mid-air on a private jet when hundreds of messages sent by her husband Christian Horner to a female employee were leaked online https://t.co/gNyM2h8YJ4 pic.twitter.com/kK5bGSywJa
— The Sun (@TheSun) March 1, 2024
Saturday's front page: Geri's texts turmoil https://t.co/1NSF16rGmp #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/EIl9PYLyTF
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) March 1, 2024
The FT Weekend says Elon Musk has sued OpenAI for breach of contract.
Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Saturday 2 March https://t.co/y70g16xALI pic.twitter.com/ZmVcahxmzO
— Financial Times (@FT) March 1, 2024
And the Daily Star says a giant police horse is being used to keep the streets of Greater Manchester quiet.
Smell ya later, criminals!
Read more: https://t.co/PV4XQB4AJm#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/LZbjtOPQwj— Daily Star (@dailystar) March 1, 2024
