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

An image of the anti-Allianz protest at Croke Park. Nick Elliott / INPHO Nick Elliott / INPHO / INPHO

IRELAND

• Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that he is “deeply concerned by developments in Iran” as President Connolly warned that “all possible steps must be taken to avoid a further escalation in the region”
• As a result of the ongoing conflict, a number of inbound and outbound flights were cancelled at Dublin airport, with further cancellations expected tomorrow
• GAA President Jarlath Burns condemned a protest which disrupted today’s session of the association’s annual Congress in Croke Park, and said that a security guard was injured in the protest
• Elsewhere, farmers took part in a protest outside Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon’s constituency office in Co Kildare over an ongoing dispute regarding Bord Bia
• Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman told his party’s conference that the “Green tide is rising again” after the success of the UK Green Party yesterday in the Gorton and Denton by-election
• A 63-year-old woman charged with the murder of a man following a stabbing at a house party in Dublin was remanded in custody with a request for psychiatric attention
• The mother of two-year-old James Bulger, who was murdered by two schoolboys in 1993, said she is “devastated” after her son’s grave was vandalised
• Disability rights campaigners staged a protest in Dublin City centre this afternoon, calling for the instatement of an emergency €400 payment for disabled people and carers
• New rent rules are set to come into force for new tenancies from tomorrow

INTERNATIONAL

Rescue workers and residents pictured search through the rubble in the aftermath of the strike on the school in Iran. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#IRAN: Over 200 people have died in Iran as a result of the US and Israeli attacks, Iranian officials have said, as the US, Israel and Iran continue to launch strikes across the region

#KHAMENEI: Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that there are “signs” that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an attack on his compound as part of US-Israeli strikes earlier today

#BRITS: CMAT is nominated in the best international artist category at tonight’s Brit Awards but she faces stiff competition from the likes of Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga

#PREMIER LEAGUE: Liverpool’s transformation from set-piece failures to the top-flight’s in-form side underpinned a 5-2 win over West Ham which maintained their bid for Champions League qualification

PARTING SHOT

US SINGER-SONGWRITER Neil Sedaka, known for hits including Laughter in the Rain, has died at the age of 86.

In a post to the musician’s Facebook, his family wrote that they were “devastated” by his “sudden passing”.

“A true rock and roll legend, an inspiration to millions, but most importantly, at least to those of us who were lucky enough to know him, an incredible human being who will be deeply missed,” they said.

Other notable hit songs from Sedaka are Breaking Up Is Hard to Do, Calendar Girl, and Oh! Carol. Sedaka’s songs sold millions worldwide and have been covered by a range of performers, from Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra to The 5th Dimension and Nickelback.