Kharg Island, located in the Gulf off the coast of Iran. Photograph: Orbital Horizon/Gallo Images via Getty ImagesWhere is Kharg Island – and why it is significant? “Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t. “It would also mean we had to be there [in Kharg Island] for a while.”Kharg is deep inside the Gulf, well past the Strait of Hormuz, adding logistical difficulty and vulnerability for US soldiers. Is Kharg Island well protected by Iran?
Israel has launched a ground invasion of Lebanon while targeting the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah. On Sunday, an Indonesian peacekeeper was killed and three others wounded when a projectile exploded near a village in south Lebanon. The Taoiseach said all Irish personnel were safe and accounted for. He said: “I strongly condemn the killing of an Indonesian Unifil peacekeeper and the shocking escalation of violence that has injured a number of peacekeepers in recent days. “I have been briefed by our Defence Forces and all Irish personnel serving in Lebanon continue to be well and accounted for.”There are more than 360 Irish peacekeepers on a six-month deployment to a United Nations interim force (Unifil) base in southern Lebanon.
Three siblings who chopped down their neighbour's line of Leylandii trees amid dramatic 'fence wars' face a £250,000 bill after being successfully sued. Taking matters into their own hands the three siblings pulled out their back fence and had tree surgeons remove the line of 33-foot Leylandiis. They claimed the foliage had been 'overshadowing' their garden, but the McCarthys sued for costs and damages - and a judge sided with them. Having heard expert evidence, he said the original fence line was the 'true boundary,' placing the Leylandii trees in the McCarthys' garden. 'It follows that Mr and Mrs McCarthy's claims for trespass... are established on the balance of probabilities.'
Fionnán Sheahan: Remind me what Big Jim O’Callaghan has done to justify becoming FF leader? He is straight-talking, pragmatic and has a firm grasp of his brief. But O’Callaghan has never fully implemented a major policy, managed a significant crisis or had to fend off a damaging scandal in his departmentJim O'Callaghan. Photo: PA/via GettyFionnán Sheahan Today at 06:30Micheál Martin was getting plenty of backslapping on his triumphant tussle in the Oval Office from the Fianna Fáil backbenchers last week.
The UK's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) has fined a Cork-based subsidiary of Apple £390,000 (€449,000) over a breach of Britain's Russia sanctions over payments to an app developer. The penalty was issued to Apple Distribution International Limited (ADI), a subsidiary of the US-based technology giant. OFSI said the Apple subsidiary had voluntarily disclosed the payments. In response, Apple said it followed the laws in countries where the company operates, and takes sanctions compliance "extremely seriously". JSC New Opportunities was not designated under UK sanctions at the time they acquired Okko from Sberbank.
The Queen was rumoured to be deeply fond of her Master of Horse, Robert Dudley. However, his wife Amy Robsart was very ill with breast cancer, and rumours began to swirl that upon her death, he would marry the Queen. The podcast explores how Robsart's shocking and unsolved murder would destroy that potential Royal marriage, dooming Elizabeth to die childless and ushering in the end of the legendary Tudor dynasty. Philip of Spain would have had plenty of reasons to get rid of Amy Robsart. 'Regardless, it meant that Dudley could never marry Elizabeth.
Despite missing out on a first win of the 2026 season at the Japanese Grand Prix, Aussie F1 star Oscar Piastri is ecstatic with his second-place finish at Suzuka. It's still a major step forward for the Melburnian, who crashed out of his home grand prix before it even began, then failed to start the main race in China due to mechanical problems. Piastri was off the race track for about 23 seconds, with McLaren producing a quick 2.4-second pit stop. The Victorian was the toast of his team, with McLaren team boss Andrea Stella praising Piastri's attitude over the weekend. I think we are seeing the best version of Oscar ... since he's been in Formula 1,' said the Italian.
Toto Wolff says Christian Horner may find Formula One return hard to come byBy Philip Duncan, Press Association F1 CorrespondentToto Wolff has cast doubt over Christian Horner’s return to Formula One by claiming his rival could be dealing with the “repercussions” of having “broken a lot of glass” in the sport. Toto Wolff has questioned whether Christian Horner will return to Formula One. The Enstone team confirmed in January that Horner was among a group of investors interested in acquiring the same stake. And the idea that there is a rivalry between Christian and me around who buys an Alpine stake is made up. We want to know whether it makes sense.”Both Horner and Wolff are exploring a 24 per cent stake in Alpine.
The Austrian-born star received the honorary doctorate from Ulster University in recognition of his contributions to public service, environmental advocacy, and the arts. Arnold Schwarzenegger stands with vice-chancellor of Ulster University Professor Paul Bartholomew (Liam McBurney/PA)Students cheered and held signs reading “Ulster he’s back” and “Hasta La Vista Ulster”, while some brought copies of his movie Terminator 2. Schwarzenegger told those on the red carpet rolled out for his arrival: “Ulster University is a very important university, and it’s always a great honour to be honoured like that. Arnold Schwarzenegger watches dancers dressed as his ‘terminator’ character (Liam McBurney/PA)“So I came here, I was invited by Ivan Dunbar, this Irish man, I think his family is here… he passed away I’m sad to say, but that’s where my beginning was, in Ireland, in Belfast. “And it’s wonderful to be back in Northern Ireland and to kind of get to see, this is not something that I dreamt of when I was 19-years-old, when I was here 60 years ago, that one day I will be coming here to get an honorary doctorate degree, it’s unbelievable.”Following a ceremony to present the honorary degree, Schwarzenegger answered questions from broadcaster Holly Hamilton.
Steve Borthwick then decided not to use Steward in the two remaining games against Italy and France. It was a tough call on the fullback who had been the England head coach’s first-choice man at 15, having started in eight of the previous 10 England internationals. Steward now heads back to Mattioli Woods Welford Road to rejoin Geoff Parling’s charges who are poised in fourth in the Gallagher PREM Rugby table and buoyant after winning the PREM Rugby Cup on home soil last week. And for Steward, Tigers’ aim should be to involve themselves in such games every year. “Schools rugby is comfortably the most fun I’ve ever had playing rugby in my career.
The National Student Accommodation Strategy for 2026-2035 aims to deliver 42,000 new beds over the next nine years. Photograph: iStock/Getty ImagesWork is to start on a new €300 million 1,400-bed student accommodation scheme in Limerick within months. The project from Whitebox Developments is said to be the largest student accommodation programme ever undertaken outside the capital and the company expects to begin work on it before the end of June. Lawless last week launched the National Student Accommodation Strategy for 2026-2035, which aims to deliver 42,000 new beds over the next nine years by encouraging private development in on-campus units. In addition to the accommodation, the development will include a library, canteens, laundry facilities, a student union office and bicycle storage.
Crisis is also gripping the Social Democrats (SPD), with polls showing support has slumped to a record low of 12 per cent. On Wednesday CDU leader chancellor Friedrich Merz, praised the Klingbeil speech for “at least not saying what isn’t possible”. The final challenge for Klingbeil will be selling reforms to his party, wearing his third hat as SPD co-leader. Many demanded Berlin party leaders, if they want to keep their jobs, focus on real bread-and-butter issues. The Bild tabloid warned that, without drastic action, Germany was on well its way to becoming a graveyard for ambition.
A rise in the cost of energy has pushed the rate of inflation in Ireland to 3.6%, according to figures published on Monday. The EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) for Ireland rose by 3.6% in the 12 months to March. Energy prices are estimated to have risen by 11.1% in March and were up by 12.3% over the 12 months. Food prices are estimated to have decreased by 0.3% in the last month and gone up by 2.3% in the last 12 months. Excluding energy and unprocessed food, the HICP is estimated to have grown by 2.6% since March 2025.
Energy prices rose by 11.1 per cent last month and are up by 12.3 per cent over the 12 months to March. Photograph: Martin Divisek / EPAHeadline inflation in the Irish economy accelerated sharply in March as war in Iran sent energy prices spiralling. The latest Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) indicated that prices rose at an annualised rate of 3.6 per cent in March, up from a rate of 2.5 per cent in February. The jump was driven by energy prices, which rose by 11.1 per cent in the month and were up by 12.3 per cent over the 12 months to March. The head of the European Central Bank (ECB) warned last week the bank stood ready to increase interest rates even if an expected jump in euro zone inflation proves temporary.
Japan, who are in 19th place in the current FIFA World Rankings, are preparing for their seventh consecutive World Cup finals. The national team are far better when something is at stake. The make-up of his midfield is something which the national team manager should think long and hard about in the weeks and months ahead. Clarke promised there would be “significant changes” in the match against the Ivory Coast at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool. You have to play to that standard.”Another defeat on Merseyside, though, will sting for Scotland with the World Cup finals just eight weeks away.
