The 9 at 9: Friday

The 9 at 9 Drug drops in Irish waters, Israel approves Gaza takeover and Leaving Cert results revealed

LAST UPDATE | 22 Aug 2025

GOOD MORNING.

Here’s all the news that you need to know as you start your day.

A total of 437,710 individual results are being issued to some 65,444 students.

2. Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will give final approval for a takeover of Gaza City while also restarting negotiations with Hamas aimed at returning all of Israel’s remaining hostages and ending the war on Israel’s terms.

3. Corrupt crew members on legitimate cargo ships are being paid up to €200,000 to drop cocaine shipments in the waters off Ireland, the garda who leads the investigations into organised crime has told The Journal.

4. Erik Menendez was denied parole yesterday evening, more than three decades after he and his brother Lyle killed their parents in the family’s luxury Beverly Hills home.

5. Drinks Ireland and the Irish Whiskey Association have said they are disappointed that Irish drinks manufacturers have been left out of yesterday’s trade deal between the EU and US.

6. Gardaí are investigating after a man was shot and a car rammed in Co Limerick yesterday evening.

7. Amending the inheritance tax system in the next Budget is understood to be something a number of both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael backbenchers will be pushing for.

In particular, the estates of people with no children is understood to have been raised by a number of TDs.

8. US President Donald Trump yesterday visited police and troops he sent to Washington, touting his crime crackdown and saying they would “stay here for a while.”

9. Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers both had reason to celebrate last night, as the two Irish teams won their respective first legs of the Conference League play-offs yesterday.

Shelbourne beat Northern Ireland side Linfield 3-1 in Tolka Park, while Shamrock Rovers beat Portuguese side Santa Clara during their away fixture.