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Articles by Dorcha Lee
Una Catalunya independent hauria de recuperar el servei militar: El tarannà de les forces de defensa irlandeses
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Is Hegseth's future at the Pentagon uncertain?
What a Friday night on Sky News, some weeks ago. The cameras rolled nonstop for one hour and twenty minutes as Donald Trump entertained twenty of the biggest oil barons in the world. The only oil man missing was the man from South Fork, J. R. Ewing, though Homeland Security still thinks he was shot at a Texan barbecue all those years ago. This article is the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the UK Defence Journal.
Can Europe build a credible nuclear deterrent without the US?
On the 8th May last, 92-year-old Greek singer, Nana Mouskouri, sang Je chante avec toi, Liberté (I sing with you, Freedom). It was inspired by, and set to, the air of Va Pensiero from Verdi’s Nabucco, also known as the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves. Backed by the Orchestra of the Gendarmerie’s Garde Républicaine, and staged under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, it was her contribution to a concert for peace. The lyrics are powerful and emotional.
Europe may yet need to have its own nuclear deterrent
This is an opinion article by an external contributor. The views belong to the writer. French President Emmanuel Macron attends the official launch ceremony of the French nuclear submarine "Suffren" in Cherbourg, north-western France on July 12, 2019. Credit: Belga Nato chiefs will gather next week at the Hague with European security on top of the agenda.
Read, Share and Shape the News
Poll: Will you be tuning in to watch the Friends Reunion tonight? ENDLESS RERUNS AND nostalgia for the 90s has seen interest in much-loved ’90s sitcom Friends continue. Now you can get the chance to relive some of that nostalgia as a special will be broadcast tonight. The episode will be available on Sky and streaming service NOW. It will air on demand from 8am and on Sky One at 8pm this evening.
Retired Colonel Dorcha Lee: Is there a role for international peacekeepers in Gaza?
INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCES could have a role to play in the resolution of the current situation in Gaza. In over 73 years of the Arab-Israeli conflict, UN peacekeepers have frequently helped to sustain ceasefires, facilitated humanitarian operations and gained time for the emergence of political solutions. As UN forces and military observers played a large role in stabilising the situation on the Golan Heights and in Lebanon, why not also in Gaza?
Retired Colonel Dorcha Lee: Is joining NATO the price for Irish reunification?
LAST SUNDAY WAS Census Day in Northern Ireland. It is expected to show the current feeling of national identity in the NI population and could well confirm the reported demographic shift away from a unionist majority. In the last Census (2011), 40% declared themselves to be British, 25% Irish and 21% Northern Irish. In the meantime, we have had Brexit and the rise of the pro-independence movement in Scotland. This 2021 Census could well be the last Census ever in NI as part of the UK.
Countering fake news and conspiracy theorists in a time of pandemic
Monday, 18 January 2021 This is an opinion article by an external contributor. The views belong to the writer. There is a remote, isolated tribe, somewhere in Africa, which gathers once a month to vent its anger at the full Moon. The women shake their fists and the men fire volleys of arrows at the great silver disc with a human face. The purpose is to warn off the Moon, which they regard as a sentient and threatening being, from coming down to Earth.
Brexit fog in channel, Europe cut off
Sunday, 11 October 2020 This is an opinion article by an external contributor. The views belong to the writer. As autumn leaves begin to fall, the UK continues to slip-slide away from the EU. Cruising silently through Transition Year, the UK, like the space probe, Voyager1, is rapidly approaching the edge of our Solar System. On the 31st December, the UK will enter the heliosphere and continue for all time on its lonely journey to the distant stars. There will be no last minute reprieve.
Data shows Ireland's 14-day incidence rate now 46.8, Dublin double that at 89.1
Source: HPSC IRELAND’S 14-DAY incidence rate of Covid-19 is currently 46.8, with Dublin’s rate almost double that at 89.1 per 100,000. The latest data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) shows a county-by-county breakdown of Ireland’s 14-day incidence rate. Dublin – which has seen a spike in cases since late August – is highest at 89.1 while Sligo is the lowest at 3.1 per 100,000. Limerick has the second highest 14-day incidence rate (65.7) and Leitrim is third (65.5).
Culture Night: 'People are waking up to the idea that diversity makes for really interesting art'
COVID-19 HAS decimated the arts but the virus has presented opportunities for often overlooked actors to diversify and try new things. That’s according to Mark Smith, who has Down syndrome, and who was forced to cancel his show Making a Mark due to Covid-19. But with Culture Night around the corner, Smith was able to look at other forms of artistic expression and diversify his portfolio.
Read, Share and Shape the News
Poll: Do you plan on doing Christmas shopping earlier this year? INDUSTRY GROUP RETAIL Excellence has urged people to consider doing their Christmas shopping earlier than usual this year. In an article in today’s Irish Times, the group’s chief executive said this is to spread out the shopping period to encourage social distancing among shoppers. Duncan Graham also said that supply chain issues as a result of Covid-19 could lead to some shortages, but will you be taking up the advice?
Man to go on trial over murder of homeless man in Dublin in 2017
A 32-YEAR-OLD man will go on trial today accused of murdering a homeless man in north county Dublin over three years ago. Sebastian Barczuk, with an address at Briarwood Lawn, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, is charged with the murder of Michal Kurek (33) at an unknown place within the State between 3 and 4 August 2017. Barczuk pleaded not guilty when arraigned before the Central Criminal Court yesterday.
Have you seen Andrew? Gardaí issue appeal to find missing Dublin man
GARDAÍ IN DUBLIN are seeking the public’s help in tracing the whereabouts of a 21-year-old man who has been missing since this afternoon. Andrew Fogarty was reported missing from the Belgard Square area of Tallaght at approximately 2pm today. Andrew is described as being approximately 6 foot in height with a broad build, shaved head and a ginger beard. He also has a tattoo on his neck and was last seen wearing a lilac top. Gardaí and Andrew’s family are concerned for his welfare.
Facebook seeks to quash Data Protection Commissioner's decision over transfer of user data
FACEBOOK HAS SIGNIFICANT concerns about its ability to deliver its services to its 400 million European users over the Data Protection Commissioner’s decision regarding the transfer of data to the social media giant’s US parent, the High Court has heard. Late last month the Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) informed Facebook Ireland, which is the EU HQ of Facebook and Instagram platforms.
Gardaí arrest three men in romance and investment fraud investigation
GARDAÍ HAVE ARRESTED three men as part of their investigations into suspected online romance and investment fraud. The arrests were made by gardaí from the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) during search operations in West Dublin and in Navan. Victims of romance fraud scams usually meet fraudsters through dating websites.
Screen watch: Your guide to the best TV movies this week
WE’VE BEEN SIFTING through the TV movie options available this week. Your New Release Pick The Devil All The Time Netflix Source: Netflix/YouTube Based on the novel by Donald Ray Pollock, this stars Tom Holland as a young Arvin Russell, who’s raised by his family in postwar America. We watch as he grapples with growing up in a troubling and troubled world.
Coronavirus: 208 new cases and no further deaths confirmed in Ireland
HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE this evening confirmed there are 208 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. No further patients diagnosed with the disease have died. There have been 1,784 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland to date. Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 31,192 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. The government is due to publish its medium term plan for living with Covid-19 tomorrow.
Planning permission granted for North-South electricity interconnector
PLANS FOR A North-South interconnector have been given the green light. It is set to create a 400kv overhead electricity line connecting with the Republic of Ireland, and has been described as “crucial” for handling growing demand across the island. Applications were previously approved by Northern Ireland’s Department for Infrastructure in 2018, however a legal challenge saw the two applications quashed and remitted back to the department for determination.
Boris Johnson claims the EU put a 'revolver' on the table during trade talks
BRITISH PRIME MINISTER Boris Johnson has claimed the EU hasn’t taken the “revolver”‘ off the table, hindering talks around a post-Brexit free-trade deal. Johson said Brussels was threatening Britain with blocking British exports to Northern Ireland as he introduced the controversial Internal Market Bill in the House of Commons.
Self-isolation period for Covid-19 cases reduced to 10 days from 14
THE PERIOD OF self-isolation for Covid-19 cases in Ireland has been reduced from 14 days to 10 days. The new clinical guidance was issued to GPs by the HSE and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) today. Patients must be fever-free for the last five days of their self-isolation, under these changes. People must still restrict their movements for 14 days if they are a close contact. The changes from 14 to 10 days apply to positive cases in the community.
The 5 at 5: Monday
EVERY WEEKDAY EVENING, TheJournal.ie brings you the five biggest stories of the day. 1. #COVID-19: Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said the “worrying” rise in Covid-19 cases in Dublin will need additional restrictions compared with the rest of the country 2. #KILMAINHAM: Gardaí have launched an investigation after a man’s body was discovered in a lane in south inner city Dublin early this morning. 3.
Detection of phosphine in Venus’ clouds ‘indicates potential for life’
THE DISCOVERY OF phosphine gas in the clouds of Venus could possibly indicate signs of life on the planet, scientists have said. The gas has been detected in the atmosphere of Venus, suggesting the planet could host unknown photochemical or geochemical processes. On Earth, phosphine – a colourless gas that has the smell of garlic or decaying fish – is produced predominantly by anaerobic biological sources. Small amounts of the gas occur naturally from the breakdown of organic matter.
Varadkar warns of restrictions in Dublin over ‘worrying’ rise in Covid-19 cases
THE ‘WORRYING’ RISE in Covid-19 cases in Dublin will need additional restrictions compared with the rest of the country, the Tánaiste has said. Leo Varadkar said there has been a 20-fold increase in the incidence rate of the virus in Dublin over the last few weeks. The government is to unveil its medium-term plan for living with Covid-19 tomorrow, which includes different levels of restrictions ranging from one to five.
'What I am asking is to be given a choice': Vicky Phelan urges politicians to support Dying with Dignity Bill
CERVICALCHECK CAMPAIGNER Vicky Phelan has appealed to all TDs in the Dáil to support a Bill seeking to allow terminally ill people to end their own lives. Solidarity People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny called for support for the Dying with Dignity Bill which will be introduced in the Dáil tomorrow. Kenny was joined by Phelan outside the gates of Leinster House today, where they called on a free vote to be given to politicians on the issue.
Three men accused of involvement in attempted murder of Christy Keane served with books of evidence
THREE MEN APPEARING before the Special Criminal Court charged with involvement in the attempted murder of Christy Keane by the Limerick-based McCarthy-Dundon crime gang have been served with books of evidence this morning. Keane was shot a number of times as he parked his car on the grounds of the University of Limerick at around 6.35am on 29 June 2015.
Ryanair says its winter presence in Cork depends on UK being on Europe-wide green list
RYANAIR HAS SAID it would be able to keep its Cork Airport operation open this winter if the government relaxed travel restrictions into the country. The airline’s CEO Eddie Wilson said today that Ireland “missed the boat” by not joining an EU-wide approach to travel and that the government should rectify this by adopting the same rules that exist elsewhere in Europe.
Parents of missing teen in England charged with her murder
THE MOTHER AND father of a missing teenage girl in England have been charged with her murder. Bernadette Walker, 17, of Peterborough, was reported missing by her parents on 21 July after she had not been seen for three days, Cambridgeshire Police said. The Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit has been carrying out searches to try to find her and launched a ‘no-body’ murder investigation on Friday. Her parents were charged with her murder today.
Residents on US Gulf Coast prepare for latest onslaught as Tropical Storm Sally approaches
STORM-WEARY RESIDENTS are preparing for a new weather onslaught as Tropical Storm Sally heads towards the US Gulf Coast. Forecasters from the National Hurricane Centre in Miami said Sally is expected to become a hurricane today and reach shore by early tomorrow. It is expected to bring dangerous weather conditions including risk of flooding to a region stretching from the western Florida Panhandle to south-east Louisiana.
Cycling and HGV traffic are both up on last year as public transport still lags behind
LORRY TRAFFIC IS now higher on Irish roads than it was at the same time last year, according to Central Statistics Office. In its latest Transport Bulletin, the CSO has noted that heavy goods vehicle (HGV) traffic has been above last year in Dublin since June, but that it has now overtaken 2019 figures in other locations too. The analysis notes the continuing trend whereby road traffic is recovering from a Covid-19 slump faster than public transport.
British perfume brand apologises to actor John Boyega for cutting him out of Chinese version of advert
BRITISH PERFUME BRAND Jo Malone has apologised to black actor John Boyega after cutting him out of the Chinese version of an aftershave advert he helped create. Jo Malone London said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter that the ad, which was designed for Chinese audiences, was a misstep and has been removed. The recreated ad – which originally featured Boyega walking around the Peckham area of London he grew up in – replaced the Star Wars actor with Chinese star Liu Haoran.
Labs in three countries have now confirmed Novichok poisoning of Putin opponent
THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT has said specialist laboratories in France and Sweden have confirmed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok. A German military laboratory previously confirmed the substance was present in his samples. German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has also received samples and is taking steps to have those tested at its reference laboratories.
TikTok owner chooses Oracle to acquire video-sharing app in US after Trump ordered it to sell up
TIKTOK’S OWNER HAS chosen Oracle over Microsoft as its preferred suitor to buy the popular video-sharing app, according to a source familiar with the deal. Microsoft announced yesterday its bid for TikTok had been rejected, removing the tech giant from the running a week before President Donald Trump promises to follow through with a plan to ban the Chinese-owned app in the US over spying concerns. TikTok and the White House declined to comment yesterday.
Former Defence Forces member Lisa Smith trial to begin in January 2022
FORMER IRISH DEFENCE Forces member Lisa Smith, who is charged with membership of the Islamic State terrorist group and with financing terrorism, has appeared before a sitting of the Special Criminal Court. Her trial is set to begin on Tuesday, 11 January 2022, at 11 am.
Teenager charged over robbery at a shop in Dublin city last night
A MAN IN his late teens has been arrested and charged by gardaí following a robbery at a shop in Dublin city last night. At around 9pm, two men entered a convenience store on Dorset Street Lower. Armed with a broken glass bottle, they threatened staff before leaving the scene with items from the shop. No one was injured in the robbery. In a follow up search, gardaí arrested a juvenile and a man in his late teens.
Poll: Do you plan on doing Christmas shopping earlier this year?
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Leaving Cert students to see what grades their teachers gave as appeals process opens today
STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED Leaving Cert results under the calculated grades system will be able to discover what mark their teachers gave them, as the appeals process opened up this morning. However, the appeals process is very different to the usual system and will be based on re-checking the data transfer of a student’s results from their school through the various stages of the process.
WHO warns Europe could see rise in daily Covid-19 deaths next month as global cases near 29 million
ISRAEL HAS SAID it will reimpose a national lockdown to battle a coronavirus surge, as the number of daily infections around the world reached a record high. Britain, France, Austria and the Czech Republic also reported spikes, as global cases rapidly approached 29 million with more than 921,000 Covid-19 deaths, according to an AFP tally. The Israel lockdown will last three weeks starting Friday, keeping people to within 500 metres of their homes.
Publicans in Dublin urge government to 'stick with its decision' on 21 September re-opening date
THE GOVERNMENT IS being urged by publicans to “stick with its decision” and allow the ‘wet’ pubs to re-open next Monday 21 September. Last week, pubs were given a fourth date for when they could welcome customers back again but this date has now been put into doubt in Dublin amid a surge of cases of Covid-19 in the capital. Cabinet is due to discuss the matter tomorrow as it agrees its framework for living with Covid-19 over the medium term.
The 8 at 8: Monday
EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you all the news you need to know as you start the day. 1. #KILMAINHAM: A male teenager has been arrested after a man’s body was discovered in a lane in south inner city Dublin early this morning. 2. #BREXIT: Boris Johnson’s former attorney general Geoffrey Cox has said it would be “unconscionable” to override the Brexit divorce deal, as MPs are set to debate a controversial bill today. 3.
Covid guidelines ignored as Trump addresses large indoor rally in Nevada
US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump has hosted his first indoor rally in three months in front of a packed, mostly mask-less crowd in Nevada, in open defiance of state regulations and his own administration’s pandemic health guidelines. Eager to project a sense of normality, Trump soaked up the raucous cheers inside a warehouse in Henderson, on the outskirts of Las Vegas.
Garda investigation after man's body found in south Dublin city lane
GARDAÍ HAVE LAUNCHED an investigation after a man’s body was discovered in a lane in south inner city Dublin early this morning. A male teenager has been arrested in connection with the incident and is currently being held in Kevin Street Garda Station. Gardaí say they were alerted to the to the incident at approximately 1.30 am this morning and that the man’s body was found in the lane off Madison Road in Kilmainham, Dublin 8.
We're set to have a mild week with top temperatures reaching as high as 23 degrees
A WARM AND humid today is forecast around the country, setting the tone for what’s set to be a mild week for many. Met Éireann said that it’ll been largely dry over the eastern half of the country but scattered showers or longer spells of rain will affect western parts today. It’ll be mostly cloudy overall but spells of hazy sunshine will occur at times too. Maximum temperatures will range between 18 to 22 degrees.
Opinion: Foster care is in trouble in Ireland and its privatisation is not the answer
AS THIS GOVERNMENT’S term began a broad alliance of civil society groups came together to campaign to save the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The campaign worked, the department kept its seat at the Cabinet table, a positive first step by the new government given the challenges the department faces. The new program for government states that this administration will “support the ongoing development of fostering services across the country”.
Brexit rebellion: More Tories come out against Boris Johnson's plan as MPs set to debate controversial bill
BORIS JOHNSON’S FORMER attorney general, Geoffrey Cox, has said it would be “unconscionable” to override the Brexit divorce deal, as the Tory rebellion against the controversial legislation grew. The Tory MP said there is “no doubt” the “unpalatable” implications of the Withdrawal Agreement were known when the Prime Minister signed it, a time when Cox was the chief law officer.
HSE targets graduates and students to boost contact tracing capacity
THE HSE IS directly targeting public health-trained students and recent graduates in a bid to quickly ramp up contact tracing capacity. The decision comes following HSE CEO Paul Reid’s call for the public to apply for a range of testing, swabbing and contact tracing positions over the coming weeks.
No fall in student rent prices over the past year, report says
THE PRICE OF student housing and accommodation has stayed mostly the same over the past year, a new report from property website Daft.ie has found. The Student Housing Report released today shows the average cost of a room in a shared property in Dublin is up 0.3% on last year. Elsewhere in the country, it is up 2.8% on average. Author of the report and Trinity College Dublin (TCD) economist, Ronan Lyons, said a year with largely unchanged rents is “perhaps not the worst outcome for students”.
Quiz: Can you finish the titles of these obscure action films?
Fancy your chances at tonight’s quiz? Share Tweet Email THERE’S NO ESCAPISM quite like a good (or even a laughably terrible) action movie. For every classic Schwarzenegger or Stallone film, there were a dozen more made in Hollywood trying to capitalise on their success. This quiz is on some of the more obscure action films that have hit our screens in recent decades. Best of luck. Carl Weathers is the star of a 1988 movie called _____ Jackson.
Pubs in Dublin will not be allowed to reopen on Monday due to rising Covid-19 cases in the county
PUBS IN DUBLIN which were expected to reopen on 21 September will remain closed following the continued increase in cases in the county, Government sources have said. The Government last week confirmed that so-called ‘wet’ pubs would be allowed to reopen following more than six months of closure. Sources have this evening told TheJournal.ie that pubs in Dublin will remain closed as public health officials try to regain control over the spread of the virus in the city and surrounding areas.
Here's What Happened Today: Monday
Catch up on all that made the headlines today. Share Tweet Email NEED TO CATCH up? TheJournal.ie brings you a round-up of today’s news. IRELAND Sunny weather is due to last for much of the week. Pictured above visitors to St Stephen's Green. Source: LEAH FARRELL; RollingNews.ie Health officials have this evening confirmed there are 208 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. Gardaí have arrested three men as part of their investigations into suspected online romance and investment fraud.
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