Thursday’s Top Stories: First Irish citizens escape Gaza conflict, Irish firm accused of being part of network bringing sensitive microchip tech to Russia

First Irish citizens to escape from Gaza conflict cross into Egypt

The first Irish citizens to escape from Gaza since war erupted there a month ago crossed into Egypt on Wednesday amid hopes that more will be able to follow in the coming days.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin, who travelled to Egypt as part of intense diplomatic efforts and will visit Israel and Palestine on Thursday, confirmed that 23 Irish citizens and their dependents exited Gaza on Wednesday and were received at the Rafah crossing by a team from the embassy in Cairo.

With transfers from Palestinian territory into Egypt said to be taking as long as 10 hours, the Irish nationals included family groups with children, though some on the list to exit Gaza on Wednesday could not do so.

Top News Stories

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• Roman Abramovich trust bought Gulfstream jet from Dublin company using web of companies: The Russian oligarch and former owner of Chelsea Football Club, Roman Abramovich, bought a Gulfstream jet from a company in Dublin in 2015 using a complex web of companies and financing transactions, leaked documents show.
• Health officials ‘ignoring’ breaches of hospital chief executive salary caps: The Department of Health is “ignoring” situations where voluntary hospital chief executives are being paid salaries in excess of set scales for the sector due to difficulties finding suitable candidates for the roles, correspondence claims.
• Sandymount flood protections delayed until 2032: Flood defences, recommended 20 years ago to protect more than 1,000 homes in Sandymount, Dublin, are unlikely be in place before 2032, according to a new assessment from Dublin City Council.
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News from around the World

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Today's Business

• Russia now wielding AI tools in online disinformation wars: Despite government and corporate attempts to bring in bans and restrictions, Russian online disinformation campaigns continue to reach the eyes and ears of North Americans and Europeans – largely because containment efforts are too lax, according to a US expert on Russian affairs.

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