Photograph: Sally HaydenCars destroyed by an overnight Israeli air attack in central Beirut. The Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium was built in 1957. The Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium was converted into a shelter centre for people displaced due to Israeli attacks in Beirut. Photograph: Houssam Shbaro/Anadolu via Getty ImagesA tent in the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium, Beirut. That’s what they want.”Displaced boys play football inside the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium in Beirut.

About 5,900 housing units were started in the last three months of the year, which represented a year-on-year drop of 65.5%. The latest housing market monitor from Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI), which covers the final quarter of 2025, shows there were just over 16,000 housing commencements during the year, down from more than 69,300 in 2024. Commencements fell sharply in key local authorities, particularly Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council and South Dublin County Council, with activity declining by almost 84 per cent in Fingal and South Dublin. About 5,900 housing units were started in the last three months of the year, a year-on-year drop of 65.5 per cent. On a more positive note, almost 12,000 new dwellings were completed in the last quarter of 2025.

Photo: Brian Lawless/PAMet Éireann has issued a snow-ice weather warning for 11 counties, which comes into effect on Thursday night. The Status Yellow warning will apply to counties Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo and Wicklow. A Status Yellow rain warning is currently in place for counties Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Clare, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wicklow and Connacht. Please review your details and accept them to load the contentThere will be both dry, sunny spells and rain in the mix for the days ahead. Sunday will be a cool and breezy day with sunny spells and blustery showers, some turning wintry in places with sleet or hail possible.

Met Éireann has warned that strong and gusty southwesterly winds will cause difficult travelling conditions across Ireland on Thursday. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA WireSnow and ice may fall across the south and west coasts on Thursday night, Met Éireann has warned. Met Éireann issued a status yellow alert, warning that sleet and snow may fall on Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Wicklow. Highest afternoon temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees in moderate southerly winds. Highest afternoon temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees in fresh to strong westerly winds.

John Mulligan: So much for the ‘Middle East’ of renewables, energy security in Ireland is still a jokeAt global unrest increases, our inability to stick to a plan is costing usNot one new offshore windfarm has been built since the 2030 target was unveiled by former environment minister Eamon Ryan in 2020. Photo: GettyJohn Mulligan Today at 06:30For the second time in less than five years, Ireland’s Achilles’ heel has been starkly exposed.

Reform accused of fighting like 'rats in sack' over charging for the NHSWelsh leader Dan Thomas went against Nigel Farage by ruling out changing the NHS to an insurance-based healthcare system, despite the Reform UK leader failing to do so just one week earlierView 2 Images Nigel Farage has refused to rule out an insurance-based model for the NHS (Image: PA)Reform has been accused of “fighting like rats in a sack” after a row emerged over charging Brits for healthcare. ‌Welsh leader Dan Thomas went against Nigel Farage by ruling out changing the NHS to an insurance-based healthcare system, despite the Reform UK leader failing to do so just one week earlier. He has previously flirted with the idea - but has issued conflicting messages, including the NHS remaining free at the point of use. Whether it be in England or in Nye Bevan's Wales, we can't afford to let Reform get within an inch of our NHS. Mr Farage has repeatedly called for a new healthcare system where “If you can afford it, you pay; if you can’t, you don’t”.

People who get certain healthcare services from pharmacists will now be able to claim tax relief on the expenses. More than 94% of community pharmacies across Ireland have signed up to deliver the service by the end of the month. Existing schemes allowed people to claim tax relief for health expenses including GP visits and medications prescribed by GPs. On Thursday, Tánaiste Simon Harris and Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill announced the relief is being expanded to the pharmacy CCS. He added: “This will ensure that these individuals will be able to claim the same tax relief as they are currently able to avail of when visiting their GP.

Revenue’s Analysis of High-Income Individuals’ Restriction 2023 reports that 127 taxpayers were subject to the restriction in 2023, generating an additional €13.58 million for the exchequer. Revenue’s Analysis of High-Income Individuals’ Restriction 2023 reports that 127 taxpayers were subject to the restriction in 2023, generating an additional €13.58 million for the exchequer. The €13.58 million raised in 2023 represents a decline from the €17.27 million collected from 153 high-income taxpayers in 2022. Over the five-year period from 2019 to 2023, the restriction has generated €90.87 million in extra income tax. After the limit on reliefs was imposed, their collective liability rose to €8.5 million, or an effective rate of 29.7 per cent.

Difficult travelling conditions will impact the entire country on Thursday and Friday, with Met Éireann issuing three separate status yellow warnings. A nationwide status yellow wind warning has been in place since midnight, and it will remain in place until 6pm on Thursday. The forecaster said the wind warning could lead to difficult travelling conditions, debris or loose objects displaced, as well as some fallen branches or trees. A status yellow rain warning is also in place for Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Clare, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wicklow, and Connacht. The rain warning will be in place until 3pm on Thursday.

Partnership delivers simpler procurement, faster deployment and predictable private 5G performanceREADING, UNITED KINGDOM, March 12, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Antevia Networks™, the telecoms equipment vendor changing the economics of 5G private networks, today announced the signing of a strategic partnership with Benetel, an Irish manufacturer of O-RAN compliant radio units. The combined solution brings together Benetel’s carrier-grade outdoor radio expertise with Antevia’s end-to-end private network platform and deployment approach designed to make private 5G predictable and repeatable across complex environments. “To date private 5G adoption has been held back by integration complexity, unclear responsibilities across multi-vendor stacks, and inconsistent real-world coverage outcomes,” said Simon Cosgrove, CEO of Antevia Networks. About Antevia NetworksAntevia Networks™ delivers Open RAN-based private 5G networks designed to be easy to procure, fast to deploy and simple to operate. The company’s 5G SHIFT™ platform combines key network functions and deployment tooling to help enterprises and system integrators deliver predictable, repeatable coverage for business-critical and mission-critical connectivity.

Elton John's husband David Furnish has given a health update on the singer, saying he is 'battling on'. He's battling on. He's happy being at home as a family with our sons. Elton John's husband David Furnish has given a health update on the singer, saying he is 'battling on'Speaking to the same publication, he said: 'It's been devastating. He's battling on.

This time last year, Taoiseach Micheál Martin was grasping an American-flag emblazoned short straw, playing second fiddle to Conor McGregor as our disgraced UFC representative took the St Patrick’s Day podium. This time around, Mr Martin has been restored to March 17 parity, and there is no shortage of hot-button items on the agenda. The question, as always when an audience with Donald Trump is on the table, is will he even get a word in? How should he approach the big day? And, for that matter, should Ireland even be embracing the White House invitation at all?

Former Death In Paradise star Ralf Little fought back tears while recounting his sister's death - saying his parents' lives 'crumbled right in front of their eyes.' The latest episode of Will and Ralf Should Know Better featured Ralf, 46, and co-star Will Mellor, 49, confronting their biggest fears. Will told Ralf: 'I think I've actually done something that you would find more frightening than any of that. 'But their relationship broke down really in a really difficult way and that was very difficult for us. Will and Ralf Should Know Better is available to watch on Channel 4 and 4oD, as well as U.

The Premier League's hopes of securing a fifth Champions League spot for next season received a blow on Wednesday night. As part of the new format for Europe's elite club competition, the two nations which perform best across the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League are handed European Performance Spots (EPS) by UEFA. There are also bonus points for progressing through the knockout rounds - 1.5 in the Champions League, 1 in the Europa League and 0.5 in the Conference League. This follows bonus points that were awarded for finishing positions in various league phases, with the Champions League again having a stronger weighting. Those teams chasing a Champions League spot this season may now find themselves cheering on Villa, Forest and Palace on Thursday night.

Contracts have been signed for a new fire station in Co Waterford. The single-storey station will be located in the townland of Graigueshoneen, approximately one kilometre from Kilmacthomas. The contract for the new building is valued at €2.75m and Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr Seamus Ryan, recently signed contracts with Conor Phelan Construction. “This new state-of-the-art fire station will serve the local population and is a valuable addition to the community," Mr Ryan said. "Waterford Fire Service performs vital and often life-saving work on a daily basis.