Dublin's largest illegal landfill dump is cleared
The Israeli military said that it fired near a diplomatic delegation which had "deviated" from an approved route in the occupied West Bank. Video: Reuters
Israeli attacks on Jabalia overnight have resulted in multiple fatalities and numerous injuries, mainly to children, according to reports.
Caoimhe Ní Ghormáin, an expert in medieval Irish manuscripts, and John Gillis, who led the conservation, talk about the Book of Leinster. Video: Ronan McGreevy
Gordon Manning speaks to members of the Dublin Senior Camogie squad ahead of this week's Camogie Association vote on the wearing of shorts. Video: Bryan O'Brien
Conor Gallagher reports on Pravfond, set up by Putin, that intelligence agencies say does more than its stated goal of protecting the rights of Russians abroad
14-year-old Cara Darmody started a 50-hour disability rights protest outside Leinster House to highlight delays in children getting an assessment of needs.
CCTV footage of a tractor being driven by 16 year old completely crushing a car in Graiguenamanagh.
Amateur video footage captures the moment a sailing tallship crashed into New York's Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, killing two people and injuring 17 others.
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The Irish Sun
8 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Trump and Putin ‘plan West Bank-style occupation of Ukraine' to secure truce – as Zelensky & Europe hold emergency talks
RUSSIA and the US are considering a West Bank-style occupation of Ukraine to secure a truce, according to reports. The superpowers have discussed using Israel's occupation of the West Bank as a model for ending the war in Ukraine, sources said. 3 President Vladimir Putin welcomes US envoy Steve Witkoff during a meeting Credit: Reuters 3 Trump and Putin will sit down for what the White House calls a 'listening exercise' Credit: Reuters 3 This would give Russia military and economic control of the occupied parts of Ukraine, which would run its own governing body, reports The Times. Ukraine's official borders wouldn't budge, but the Kremlin would pull the strings in the regions it has swiped. The idea was first raised weeks ago in discussions between US envoy Steve Witkoff and his Russian counterparts, a source close to the US national security council told the paper. Witkoff apparently supported the plan, which the Americans believe offers a solution to the Ukrainian law against giving up land without a national referendum. Meanwhile, European leaders and Zelensky had a "constructive" chat with Trump, according to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Zelensky insisted there must be a meeting between all the three leaders of Ukraine, Russia and the US after he was snubbed from Trump and Putin's head-to-head on Friday. He said hopes a ceasefire will be the main topic of discussion in Alaska - and Merz reassured that Trump will make that his "priority". French president Emmanuel Macron said Trump would "fight" for a meeting with both Putin and Zelensky - which could be hosted in Europe. Zelensky confirmed that Trump will call him after bidding farewell to Putin on Friday. He raged: "Putin is bluffing, he's trying to trying to push all over the front line." And he addressed the idea that Russia could occupy the whole of Ukraine, declaring: "This is not true." Ursula von der Leyden, European Commission President, agreed that that the European leaders a "very good" call with Trump. She said: "Today Europe, the US and NATO have strengthened the common ground for Ukraine. "We will remain in close coordination. Nobody wants peace more than us, a just and lasting peace." More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos. Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun
Irish Times
5 hours ago
- Irish Times
New customers to receive cash instead of energy credits in household benefit scheme
A row has broken out between the Government and the representative body for the electricity industry and gas retail sector over the former's decision to replace energy credits with cash, for new customers, in the Household Benefits Package . From September, new applicants to the scheme will no longer be able to avail of a €35 monthly credit towards their electricity or gas bill, but will instead receive the payment into a nominated bank or post office account. Existing customers can continue to receive the credit unless they seek to change supplier. The Government said the move ensures no provider has 'a perceived advantage over competitors' in the market. However, the Electricity Association of Ireland (EAI) said the credit should be made available to customers of more companies, rather than scrapping it. [ Ending of electricity credits will bite hard this winter Opens in new window ] All people over the age of 70 can apply for the benefits package, while younger people may also be eligible but additional rules apply . Under the scheme, people have the option to put a credit towards their electricity or gas bill, but only if they are customers of Electric Ireland, Bord Gáis Energy or Flogas. READ MORE There are 12 electricity and seven gas suppliers in the domestic market. The Department of Social Protection confirmed all new applicants to the Household Benefits Package will receive a monetary payment towards their energy bill, rather than a credit. 'The decision to remove the credit option for new customers has been taken following an examination of customer behaviour and trends over several years,' said a spokeswoman. 'An increasing number of new customers are opting for the cash option even where the credit option is available. Any existing customers using the credit facility at present can maintain that method of payment.' The spokeswoman said the removal of the credit option for new customers also ensures 'no supplier would have a perceived advantage over competitors in the domestic energy market'. EAI chief executive Dara Lynott has accused the Government of 'going for the easier option' instead of implementing targeted measures that would better help people enduring energy poverty. 'If you're intent on targeting customers who need help with energy, and you want to be guaranteed that it gets to the right people, then credits are the way to go,' said Mr Lynott. He said many people who receive the cash will have 'other pressing bills' and may opt not to put the money towards their energy costs. 'They may need petrol for the car and the house still goes cold – so you still have people in energy poverty, even after you've given cash.' Mr Lynott said targeted, long-term measures need to be implemented to help people, rather than universal payments. Figures released to Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan in late July showed that 301,000 households are now in arrears on their electricity bills. [ Households unlikely to receive energy credits and other once-off payments next winter Opens in new window ] From April 2022 until February 2025, households received nine electricity credits worth €1,500 – costing almost €3 billion. However, the Government has ruled out such credits in the forthcoming budget, instead saying it will implement other measures to support households. A Department of Energy spokesperson said the Government is 'keenly aware that energy has been a big driver of costs across the economy, and that price rises over the past number of years impacted almost all householders and businesses'. The Government has established a National Energy Affordability Taskforce to 'identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses, while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability'.
Irish Times
6 hours ago
- Irish Times
Student fees: Minister gets barrage of complaints after suggesting €1,000 cut may not happen
More than 120 complaints were sent to Minister for Higher Education James Lawless after he signalled that cuts to third level fees seen in recent budgets may not happen this year. The Fianna Fáil politician suggested in a radio interview that a €1,000 cut to the €3,000 fee might not be repeated in Budget 2026 due to once-off cost of living measures being dropped due to to economic uncertainty. There was a public backlash after his remarks as well as division in the Coalition, with Fine Gael members angry about the controversy the issue generated for the Government. Records released by the Department of Further and Higher Education in response to a Freedom of Information request show some 125 complaints were sent on to Mr Lawless between June 29th and July 9th. READ MORE Of these, 35 were sent to Fine Gael politicians before they were forwarded to Mr Lawless. Thirty-three complaints were sent on to the Minister by the office of Tánaiste Simon Harris , a former minister for higher education. A further 23 complaints were sent on to Mr Lawless after they were received by Fianna Fáil politicians. During an interview on RTÉ radio on June 29th, Mr Lawless was asked about cuts in student fees. He replied: 'All of us in any walk of life play the hands we're dealt. If I don't have a cost of living package, I can't do those kind of measures that were done last year.' He pointed out other supports available and said he did 'absolutely intend to wind down the student contribution fee over the lifetime of the Government'. [ Third level fees row looks set to rumble on for a while Opens in new window ] More than 120 complaints were sent to Minister for Higher Education James Lawless following the comments. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw/ The Irish Times Many of the parents and students who complained wrote directly to Mr Lawless. One parent asked for the fee to be kept at €2,000. 'I do strongly feel that we are the squeezed middle in society, that work hard, pay [our] contributions and get on with things. But we are far from financially secure.' A student working to fund their education wrote that they were 'quite outraged' and that a return to higher fees 'may mean that I will not be able to enter my third year'. Student nurses were among those who sent some co-ordinated complaints. Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha wrote that the 'mooted increase will have a detrimental impact on student nurses and midwives'. One of the complaints sent on to Mr Lawless by Mr Harris's office was from a parent with two children in third level education. 'Dear Mr Harris, I would like to tell you about my home tonight. My 21-year-old daughter started crying and apologised for the cost to us to send her to college,' they wrote. A complaint sent on to Mr Lawless from Taoiseach Micheál Martin's office was from a parent who said fee reductions of recent years had 'helped enormously to reduce the financial burden on our family'. Of the possible return to €3,000 fees, they said: 'I think Fianna Fáil has taken its eye off the ball.' A spokesman for Mr Lawless said the Minister was 'acutely aware of the financial pressures facing students and families' and he was 'currently reviewing pre-budget submissions'. He said Mr Lawless will enter budget negotiations 'seeking the strongest possible package of student supports, with a particular focus on those most in need, while also securing sustainable, permanent reforms rather than one-year interventions'. He also said Mr Lawless would be 'fighting hard for measures that reduce the cost of education'. The spokesman added that the Minister extended thanks to correspondents and he has offered to review 'individual cases to understand why they were not already availing of supports given that the current income threshold is at a historic high of €115,000. This means the majority of families in the State are now eligible for support.' A spokeswoman for the Taoiseach said: 'Government will be examining ways to support those in third level education in the upcoming budget. Matters related to the Budget will be negotiated over the coming weeks.'
