In a severe escalation of tension on Lebanon, Israeli military jets hammered various Hizbullah sites yesterday, leading to the deaths of nearly 492 individuals and injuries to over 1,645 people. Israel is shifting its militaristic attention northwards following almost a year of conflict with Hamas in Gaza on its southern edge. Hizbullah, backed by Iran, has been launching rockets into Israeli territory in a show of solidarity with Hamas.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) reported that their fighter jets have targeted more than 1,300 Hizbullah facilities, including missile storage locations, launching stations, drones, and buildings where the IDF claims rockets were concealed by the Iranian-supported group.
The EU’s senior foreign policy official, Josep Borrell, implied the situation was verging on all-out war. Drawing attention to the surging civilian death toll and the intensity of the military attacks, Borrell questioned what else this situation could be, if not war.
Meanwhile, news in Ireland includes the report that facial recognition technology aided in detecting fraudulent passports used by critical members of the Kinahan cartel. This technology was implemented in Ireland and detected the fraudulently obtained passports, leading to valuable intelligence about the cartel members’ movements, particularly those based in Dubai.
In other news, an airline reputedly involved in the unlawful transit of military goods bound for Israel via Irish airspace has begun to divert its flights in light of the news. Furthermore, the remains of a male victim of an unresolved violent crime in Co Clare in 1984 are to be exhumed as part of a fresh investigation by Garda. In a distressing incident in Dublin, a vehicle was hijacked with a five-month-old girl inside; she’s since been found safe within the city. Lastly, the Irishman killed while battling for Ukraine, Robert Deegan, has been posthumously honoured for his bravery exhibited during conflict with Russia.
The outlook for today’s weather is a combination of cloud and occasional sun. There will be a few scattered rain showers, with more frequent ones appearing in the northern and northwestern regions. Expect maximum temperatures to reach between 12 and 16 degrees. This evening, cold and mainly dry conditions will prevail, with clear intervals and sporadic showers, particularly along the northern coasts. Late into the evening, clouds will accumulate over much of Munster and south Leinster. The lowest temperatures will range from 2 to 7 degrees with isolated areas of mist and fog.
Have a look at today’s most frequently read stories.
Financial News:
– Escalating prices of mobile broadband: A reader named Neil has expressed dissatisfaction with the policy employed by a growing list of Irish telecom providers, such as Vodafone, eir and Three. These companies are tying the costs of their mobile and broadband packages to inflation.
Lifestyle Stories:
– Journey from Australia to Inishbofin: Bronwyn Ferguson relocated from a vast island-continent in the southern hemisphere to a tiny island, 5.5km by 3km, off Ireland’s western coast. Despite the distance, she manages her Sydney-based textile print design firm, Karolina York, from her residence on Inishbofin, just off the Connemara shore.
Economic News:
– ‘Gifts or Inheritances’ helping one in eight home buyers: According to the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland’s research, one out of eight purchasers in the Republic used a gift or inheritance to assist them in buying a house.
Sports:
– Leinster and Leo Cullen’s outhalf quandary expected to persist: Leo Cullen was recently asked to express his views on Leinster’s current outhalf choices.
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