NEED TO CATCH up? The Journal brings you a round-up of today’s news.

IRELAND

Irish peacekeepers conducting a route clearance operation in Lebanon. Defence Forces Defence Forces

• Over 53,000 homes and businesses face power outages with ‘significant numbers’ likely to be without supply overnight, as Storm Ashley sweeps across the country.
• Justice Minister Helen McEntee has been announced as the Fine Gael’s new Deputy Leader following the shock departure of Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys last night.
• A number of flights into Dublin Airport have been cancelled or diverted as a result Storm Ashley, with gusts of 130kmph hitting the country.
• Taoiseach Simon Harris has said that he expects the general election will take place in 2024, following months of insistence that the government will run full term.
• Gardaí are investigating after a male pedestrian (20s) was seriously injured in a hit and run in Clondalkin, Co Dublin today.
• Mary Lou McDonald has come under increased pressure over the resignation of former Sinn Féin senator Niall Ó Donnghaile and the handling of inappropriate text messages he sent to a teenager.
• Irish peacekeepers have facilitated the successful resupply of Polish manned outpost UNP 6-50 and Irish camp UNP 6-52, due to the successful route clearance operation from Irish Camp Shamrock (UNP 2-45) to both locations.

INTERNATIONAL

Cars in Bologna, Italy, as the country battles flooding that has left one person dead. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#BEIT LAHIYA: At least 87 people are dead or missing after an Israeli airstrike attack on the north Gazan city of Beit Lahiya, according to the Gaza health ministry. 

#RUSSIA: The UK is “waging” war against Russia by supplying Ukraine with weapons, Moscow’s ambassador has said.

#LEBANON: Two Israeli airstrikes targeted south Beirut today after the Israeli army warned civilians to evacuate the area where Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement is based, state media said.

#ITALY: Italy’s northeastern Emilia-Romagna region is again partially under water today after heavy overnight rain and flooding that killed one person.

PARTING SHOT

Emma Fogarty and Colin Farrell pictured on the Late Late Show on Friday night. Andres Poveda Andres Poveda

ACTOR COLIN FARRELL and his longtime friend, Emma Fogarty, who is Ireland’s longest-surviving person battling epidermolysis bullosa (EB), have thanked viewers of Friday night’s Late Late Show that saw €415,000 fundraised on the night for charity Debra.

The fundraiser has now raised over €570,000 for the national EB charity, helping the 300 people living in Ireland with the condition.