LAST UPDATE | 21 Feb 2025

GOOD MORNING.

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

Hostages

1. Israel said one of the bodies returned from Gaza yesterday is not that of Shiri Bibas, as claimed by Hamas, and accused Palestinian “terrorists” of killing her two boys who have become symbols of the hostages’ ordeal.

West Bank

2. Israel’s defence minister yesterday ordered the military to intensify its operations in the occupied West Bank in Palestine following a series of bomb blasts yesterday evening.

Offshore Wind

3. Just two Irish companies hold a significant stake in the numerous offshore wind projects currently in the pipeline off the Irish coast. Big oil, governments and one of Europe’s largest polluters are among the developers of planned projects off our coast.

RTÉ

4. RTÉ injected more money into its TV licence ads as the number of licences that were issued plunged in the wake of the 2023 payments scandal, new figures show.

Wind and rain warning

5. A Status Yellow warning for rainfall and wind is currently in place across seven counties.

Pope Francis

6. Pope Francis spent another night without incident in hospital, the Vatican said this morning, while a Cardinal said he is on the ‘path to full recovery’.

US Politics

7. Veteran US lawmaker Mitch McConnell, who was instrumental in steering the current US shift to the political right before a tempestuous relationship with President Donald Trump, is retiring.

Shamrock Rovers

8. Molde beat Shamrock Rovers 5-4 on penalties to end the Irish side’s interest in the Uefa Conference League.

Neighbours

9. Australian soap Neighbours has been cancelled for a second time.