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

IRELAND

President Catherine Connolly takes part in Strike A Light game at RDS, while attending the ESB Science Blast 2026, delivered by the RDS. photocall Ireland photocall Ireland

• Tenants of 36 rental properties in Bridgetown, Co Wexford were told that their landlord was delivering eviction notices because of the government’s new rental rules, according to a leaked video.
• There has been an an “avalanche” of “outrageous” fuel price rises across Ireland amid the Middle East conflict, the Dáil has heard.
• A stalker was spared jail after leaving a social media influencer fearing for her life when he followed her into her Dublin hotel, leaving her wondering if she “would even still be here” afterwards.
• A man found critically injured lying on a roadway after a hit and run in County Kerry has died.
• All train services are currently suspended in Dublin between Pearse and Dún Laoghaire due to “significant damage” to the overhead line equipment.
• The sudden closure of a primary school in Celbridge has left parents scrambling for childcare and searching for answers from the board of management, with uncertainty over how long pupils could be out of the classroom.
• A major dairy plant in Co Cork is ceasing operations and entering talks about the future of jobs for around 100 staff.
• The case taken by Trinity Hospitality, the owner of the property leased by the Hoxton Hotel, against Yamamori Izakaya over noise complaints was adjourned for three weeks.
• Gardaí opened an investigation following a formal complaint by a Thai massage therapist in Connemara, who had to stop accepting male clients after being bombarded with enquiries seeking sexual services and ‘happy endings’.
• Snow showers broke out across eastern counties as six counties along the coast are under a Status Yellow weather warning. 

INTERNATIONAL

Tens of thousands of Lebanese on the streets in huge traffic jams after evacuation order given by Israeli Army on southern suburb where hundreds of thousands live Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#MIDDLE EAST: Israeli issued an unprecedented evacuation warning for the entirety of Beirut’s southern suburbs, sending residents in the district of hundreds of thousands of people fleeing in a panic.

#SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP: Keir Starmer said the UK is sending four more fighter jets to the Gulf region and a naval destroyer to the Mediterranean.

#ANTI-WAR PROTEST: A Republican US Senator helped Capitol Police forcibly remove a Marine veteran from a Senate hearing after he began a protest inside the building against the war on Iran, in an incident that left several people injured.

#YOU’RE FIRED: Donald Trump announced he is replacing Kristi Noem as Department of Homeland Security secretary.

#CALIFORNIA: Britney Spears was arrested for driving under the influence, which her representatives said could spark a “long overdue” change in the singer’s life.

#PLANT-BASED: EU member states and lawmakers agreed to ban using meat-related terms such as “steak” and “bacon” to market plant-based foods – but spared veggie “burgers” and “sausage”.

PARTING SHOT

Paul Mescal pictured with Jessie Buckley on 'Happy Sad Confused' podcast Happy Sad Confused Happy Sad Confused

Social media feeds across the globe were hopping with mentions of renowned Kerry-based cat-hater Jessie Buckley this morning. 

We use that description with tongue firmly in cheek, obviously.

But people have been saying far, far worse about the award-winning actor in any number of online platforms, apparently entirely in earnest. 

So where did this all come from? 

It’s all down to a clip from an old podcast resurfacing in the last couple of days. 

You can read more about why is everyone suddenly talking about Jessie Buckley’s views on cats here.