GOOD MORNING.
Here’s all the news that you need to know as you start your day.
Israel invades
1. Israeli troops have entered Lebanon for what its military has called ‘targeted ground raids’, backed up by airstrikes and artillery. Despite international calls for de-escalation, Israel has vowed to fight Hezbollah and has declared a military zone in parts of its border with Lebanon.
You can follow our liveblog on the latest here.
It’s Budget Day
2. Minister for Finance Jack Chambers will take to the Dáil chamber in a few hours to deliver his first (and possibly only) Budget.
News of the Budget has been heavily leaked, with a high number of cost-of-living measures expected, coupled with tax cuts. Our political correspondent Jane Matthews has put together this useful guide on how things will play out today, and you’ll be able to follow all the Budget news on The Journal across the day.
What to expect from the Budget
3. So …