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

IRELAND

Becky Hynes of Rathard Holsteins Champion Breeders preparing for the Cork Summer Show 2024, pictured on their farm near Aherla Co. Cork. Clare Keogh Clare Keogh

• A man and a woman in their 40s have been arrested in connection with the fatal explosion in Creeslough, Co Donegal, in October 2022.
• Two men have been arrested following a fatal alleged assault in Co Kerry.
• Tánaiste Micheál Martin said EU foreign ministers have for the first time discussed sanctions on Israel if it ignores the rulings of the International Court of Justice.
• Israel’s ambassador to Ireland said tech companies and investors could be discouraged from investing in the country due to the Government’s decision to formally recognise the State of Palestine.
• An 18-year-old man charged over a petrol bomb attack at a building in Tallaght, Dublin, which was earmarked for asylum seekers, has been refused bail.
• Taoiseach Simon Harris indicated that tents belonging to asylum seekers who are sleeping rough along Dublin’s Grand Canal will be cleared again this week.
• Over 100 suspicious social media accounts posing as Irish users are actively targeting politicians, journalists and news outlets with negative responses in a potential ‘influence operation’ ahead of the European and local elections in June.
• Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys vigorously opposed making Covid-19 an occupational illness, saying it would be impossible to figure out whether somebody had contracted the disease in work or not.
• Further cuts to interest rates and energy prices are on the cards, according to Finance Minister Michael McGrath. 
• High-powered EV chargers every 60km on the motorway, home and apartment charging, and local residential charging are some of the measures contained in a new charging network plan published today. 

INTERNATIONAL

Palestinians look at the destruction after an Israeli strike where displaced people were staying in Rafah Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#GAZA: Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there had been a “tragic mistake” after at least 45 people were killed and dozens injured following Israeli airstrikes on a displaced people’s camp near Rafah.

#SPAIN: In a second major diplomatic move in as many weeks, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez signed a bilateral security deal with Ukraine worth a total of €6 billion over four years. 

#GLASS CEILING: Mexico is on course to elect its first woman president this weekend, with two front-runners competing to break the highest political glass ceiling in a country with a history of gender violence and inequality.

PARTING SHOT

Nadal said he does not know if this will be his last match at Roland Garros. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Rafael Nadal’s record-breaking French Open career could well have come to an end today when the 14-time champion slumped to a demoralising first round defeat against Alexander Zverev.

Nadal, who turns 38 on 3 June, went down 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 to world number four Zverev, suffering only his fourth loss in 116 matches at Roland Garros since his 2005 title-winning debut.

It was the first time he had been defeated in Paris in the opening round and will again lead to questions over his long-term future in the sport.

Both players were emotional after the match, and you can watch the scenes here: