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The Journal
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Presumed leader of Hamas killed by Israeli military in Gaza
HAMAS' PRESUMED LEADER in Gaza, Mohammad Sinwar, the brother of Yahya, has been killed by the Israeli military, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told parliament. Speaking in the Israeli parliament, Netanyahu announced the death of the militant group's leader. His brother Yahya, Hamas' former leader and believed to be the person who planned the 7 October 2023 attack, was killed last year. Netanyahu's announcement comes as the UN and other aid groups condemn a US and Israeli-backed aid system, which requires people in Gaza, where food was not allowed in for nearly three months, to travel to hubs in the south of the region. One person died, and 48 people were injured after Israeli military personnel opened fire on people at the Gaza Humanitarian Fund site . The military has rejected claims it fired into crowds, claiming it had fired into the air. UN envoy for the Middle East Sigrid Kaag told the Security Council Wednesday Palestinians living in Gaza 'deserve more than survival'. Advertisement 'Since the resumption of hostilities in Gaza, the already horrific existence of civilians has only sunk further into the abyss,' she said. 'This is manmade… Death is their companion. It's not life, it's not hope. The people of Gaza deserve more than survival. They deserve a future.' Reporting from AFP Need more information on what is happening in Israel and Palestine? Check out our FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to navigating the news online. Visit Knowledge Bank
The Journal
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Minister to bring forward plans to purchase Dublin's Citywest Hotel
JUSTICE MINISTER JIM O'Callaghan is to bring forward proposals to purchase the Citywest Hotel in Dublin for asylum-seeker accommodation. The minister got Cabinet approval today to extend the use of the hotel for international protection and Ukrainian applicants for another three months, until the start of September. This will cost an estimated €17 million to cover lease of the facilities and the provision of services. Along with the proposal to purchase the 764-bedroom hotel, a detailed value for money appraisal will be brought to government shortly. Advertisement There is ongoing engagement between the minister's Department and the Department of Public Expenditure on the details of the planned purchase of the facility. The move to purchase the hotel comes as the Department of Justice stepped back from contentious plans to convert the site of the former Crown Paints in Coolock to Ipas accommodation. The site had been at the centre of many protests – some of which turned violent. The Citywest Transit Hub is used to provide emergency stay-over facilities for approximately 400-450 IP applicants and separately accommodation for 1,350 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. Need more clarity and context on how migration is being discussed in Ireland? Check out our new FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to finding good information online. Visit Knowledge Bank Related Reads Gary Gannon: Fear is what drives immigration protests in neglected communities, not hatred Anti-immigration picket over refugee accommodation sparks tensions in Dublin's Liberties Opinion: Irish people being against immigration is like Brazilian people being against football Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Russia accuses Ukraine of escalating air attacks to thwart peace talks
RUSSIA HAS ACCUSED Ukraine of increasing air barrages with the aim of disrupting peace talks and said that its own massive assaults on Ukraine were a 'response' to Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia. US-led efforts to force peace negotiations between the neighbours have failed to reach a breakthrough, and left president Donald Trump frustrated with both sides. Yesterday, Moscow launched the biggest air attack on Ukraine since the start of its 2022 full-scale offensive. 'Kyiv, with the support of some European countries, has taken a series of provocative steps to thwart negotiations initiated by Russia,' Moscow's defence ministry said, adding that the Russian army was striking Ukraine 'in response to mass Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian regions'. Russia claimed it was hitting 'only military targets' in Ukraine – but it launched an attack on Sunday that killed 13 civilians, including three children from the same family, in Ukraine's central city of Zhytomyr. Advertisement The rubble of a destroyed house in Zhytomyr, Ukraine. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Russian officials said they had launched the attacks after Ukraine sent 1,465 drones into Russia since 20 May. It said Russian civilians, 'including women and children', were wounded in the Ukrainian attacks, and warned that it would continue strikes 'in response to any terrorist attacks or provocations by Kyiv'. After the massive attacks on Ukraine, Trump said that Russian leader Vladimir Putin had gone 'crazy', in rare criticism of the Kremlin chief. Want to know more about what's happening in Ukraine and why? Check out our FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to finding good information online. Visit Knowledge Bank
The Journal
07-05-2025
- The Journal
Woman accused of causing almost €500,000 damage to a bus during the Dublin riots
A WOMAN HAS been accused of setting fire to a Dublin Bus, which was 'completely destroyed' at a cost of almost half a million euros during the November 2023 riots in the capital. Violence broke out after a girl, aged five, was severely wounded, and two other children and a woman were injured in a knife attack at Parnell Square in Dublin city centre earlier that day. Leanne Kelly, 34, who is of no fixed abode, appeared before Judge Michele Finan at Dublin District Court today, accused of torching the bus on O'Connell Bridge. Detective Garda Barry Brennan told the court that the accused woman was arrested shortly before the court hearing and 'made no reply' to the charge. She was accused of criminal damage on 23 November, 2023, and was remanded in custody until 14 May following a part-heard bail hearing. The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed that she face 'trial on indictment' for the alleged arson, meaning the case will go forward to the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers. The detective objected to bail due to the seriousness of the case. He alleged the incident occurred during the 'Dublin riots' and he claimed that at about 7.30pm, the accused picked up a piece of rubbish and ran to a garda car that had been set on fire. The detective said the woman 'extracted flames from the garda car onto the piece of rubbish and she ran to the Dublin Bus.' The court heard it had already been abandoned after being surrounded by rioters. It was claimed that the accused ran onto the bus, threw the burning rubbish on the ground, 'setting it alight'. He added that the bus was 'completely destroyed', causing €477,851 worth of damage. Advertisement He agreed with defence solicitor Niall O'Connor that his client now presented as a 'different person' from the one on the CCTV evidence. The detective said at the time of the incident, the accused was 'sleeping rough in the north inner city'. The detective also voiced concerns that she would not turn up to court if granted bail. The solicitor proposed that his client, who has yet to indicate a plea, could reside with family in Co Wicklow. The judge deferred the application for bail to allow gardaí time to inquire about the address furnished. The charge under Section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act carries a possible 10-year sentence and a €10,000 fine. Legal aid was granted. To date, 85 people have been arrested in connection with the Dublin riots, with 66 charged. Riad Bouchaker, 51, who has no fixed abode, was charged on December 21 with the attempted murders of two girls and a boy, as well as assault and production of the 36-centimetre knife. He remains in custody on remand pending trial. Need more clarity and context on how migration is being discussed in Ireland? Check out our FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to finding good information online. Visit Knowledge Bank
The Journal
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Germany's far-right AfD party classified as extremist group by domestic intelligence agency
THE FAR-RIGHT ALTERNATIVE for Germany party has been labelled a right-wing extremist group by the country's domestic intelligence agency, a designation that has once again raised questions about whether the party should be banned. The agency, Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), said in a statement today that the decision had been made due to 'the extremist nature of the entire party, which disregards human dignity'. Some regional branches of the AfD had already been classified as extremist groups but until today the party as a whole had only been considered a suspected extremist entity. The AfD's co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla have said in a statement that their party is 'being publicly discredited and criminalised', and that the decision was 'clearly politically motivated'. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser insisted there had been 'no political influence' on the investigations undertaken by the independent BfV. In its statement, the BfV said the classification had been made following an extensive three-year investigation into conduct and speech of prominent party members, which included efforts 'to undermine the free democratic basic order'. It cited in particular the 'xenophobic, anti-minority, Islamophobic and anti-Muslim statements made by leading party officials'. The statement added: 'The party's prevailing understanding of the people based on ethnicity and descent is incompatible with the free democratic basic order.' Advertisement The BfV said the AfD aims 'to exclude certain population groups from equal participation in society, subject them to unconstitutional discrimination, and thus assign them a legally devalued status'. Specifically, the agency said the AfD 'does not consider German citizens with a migration history from predominantly Muslim countries to be equal members of the German people, as defined ethnically by the party'. Ahead of federal elections earlier this year, in which the party came second with just over 20% of the vote, Weidel endorsed an extremist policy called 'remigration', which is popular among far-right extremist groups across Europe. 'Remigration' is a plan to ethnically cleanse Europe of non-white people – including citizens and legal residents – through mass deportation and expulsion. Such a policy would violate the German constitution. Following Correctiv's exposure of a secret meeting in January where right-wing extremists discussed plans to implement the policy in Germany, which was attended by high-profile AfD members, France's far-right National Rally party led by Marine Le Pen cut ties with the AfD in the EU Parliament. With reporting from AFP Need more clarity and context on how migration is being discussed in Ireland? Check out our FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to finding good information online. Visit Knowledge Bank Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
