Kate McDonald

Journalist - current affairs digital unit @rte via @storyful @bbcnews @irishtimes

[Kate McDonald @KateNicDho]

We set up TikTok accounts registered as 13-year-olds and scrolled the For You feed for an hour.

By watching mental health related content, we were quickly shown content related to self-harm and suicide that concerned those working in children's mental health.

Full piece below:

[RTÉ Prime Time @RTE_PrimeTime]

'13 on TikTok: Self-harm and suicide content shown shocks experts'

Following concerns raised by researchers about the design and functionality of TikTok, we set up accounts and registered as 13 years old...

READ @KateNicDho: https://t.co/FJZlU7Qsfe

#rtept | @RTENews

[Mark Coughlan @Mark_Coughlan]

RTÉ News: Russia's refinery? Why Europe's focus has turned to Aughinish https://t.co/8TKxhNhCRJ

[Financial Times @FT]

FT Exclusive: The number of Americans seeking Irish citizenship through ancestry jumped 63% last year, as the Trump administration’s harsh rhetoric and policies fuelled demand for ‘plan B’ passports. https://t.co/e7Y5LU4AQz

[Zeina Khodr @ZeinakhodrAljaz]

Israel army continues with its multi-pronged assault to take the south Lebanon town of Bint Jbeil - air strikes, heavy artillery, and mortar barrages ...armored, and ground forces encircling the town #Lebanon

[UNIFIL @UNIFIL_]

On two occasions today, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers rammed UNIFIL vehicles with a Merkava tank, in one case causing significant damage. The soldiers had blocked a road in Bayada that is used to access UNIFIL positions.

[Ramzi Kaiss / رمزي قيس @kaiss_ramzi]

Israeli attacks across Lebanon yesterday killed over 303 people, according to an updated, but not final, casualty count from Lebanon’s health ministry. Just in one day.

More than 1888 people have been killed & 6000 injured since March 2.

https://t.co/BYkJ99lg2c

[Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus @DrTedros]

The Israeli Defense Forces have issued an evacuation order for Beirut’s Jnah area, which includes two major referral hospitals; the Rafik Hariri University Hospital and Al Zahraa Hospital. At this time, no alternative medical facilities are available to receive approximately 450 patients from the two hospitals (including 40 patients in the ICU), rendering their evacuation operationally unfeasible. Both facilities are operating at full capacity, including treating the injured from the strikes of 8 April. This zone also encompasses the @mophleb complex, and hosts five shelters accommodating more than 5000 people.

I urge Israel to reverse this order and ensure the protection of all health facilities, health workers, patients and civilians.

[Óglaigh na hÉireann @defenceforces]

Following the detention of a UNIFIL Peacekeeper earlier today, Óglaigh na hÉireann can confirm that all Irish personnel deployed in Southern Lebanon are well and accounted for. All necessary force protection measures continue be to observed. We condemn any interference of UNIFIL personnel carrying out their mandated taskings and remind all parties of their responsibility to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers. Read UNIFIL's statement at the link below. 

https://t.co/A46kPAHeNM

[Evan Hill @evanhill]

One of the most important US-based commercial satellite imagery providers on whom most media outlets rely says the government has asked all imagery providers to indefinitely withhold satellite images from the Iran war

[Kandice Ardiel @hikandice]

Since yesterday, Israeli soldiers have destroyed all the cameras facing Minghy Street at @UNIFIL_’s Naqoura headquarters.

[Fran McNulty @franmcnulty]

Tonight on @RTE_PrimeTime we’ve a special report from @KateNicDho on Sextortion & warnings from
Gardai that scams targeting young men are on the rise https://t.co/3S9pHa7GJS

[Miriam O'Callaghan @MiriamOCal]

Sextortion targeting young men on the rise, gardaí warn via @RTENews https://t.co/eQM6sk6A7i

[Alex Crawford @AlexCrawfordSky]

Indonesia demands UN investigation after three of their peacekeepers were killed in two separate incidents in S Lebanon ‘We demand a direct investigation ⁠from the UN not just Israel's excuses,’ the official said. Israel has blamed Hezb https://t.co/U81fpMPgyq

[Christiaan Triebert @trbrtc]

A first look at an apparent tungsten pellet from the U.S. strikes on Lamerd, Feb. 28. PrSM is designed to detonate above target and disperse thousands of these pellets outward. Our analysis shows they killed at least 21 people, including girls who were at volleyball practice.

[UNIFIL @UNIFIL_]

Two UNIFIL peacekeepers were tragically killed in south Lebanon today, when an explosion of unknown origin destroyed their vehicle near Bani Hayyan. A third peacekeeper was severely injured, and a fourth was also hurt.

[UNIFIL @UNIFIL_]

A peacekeeper was tragically killed last night when a projectile exploded in a UNIFIL position near Adchit Al Qusayr. Another was critically injured. No one should ever lose their life serving the cause of peace.

[Óglaigh na hÉireann @defenceforces]

Óglaigh na hÉireann can confirm that a Polish member of IRISHPOLBATT has sustained minor injuries after their patrol was targeted by a roadside device which detonated as their vehicle passed it. Irish personnel of the Quick Reaction Force were launched immediately to secure the scene and the casualty was evacuated to UNP 2-45. The casualty was then brought from UNP 2-45 to a medical facility using the Irish armoured ambulance and medics.

This incident highlights the professionalism, preparedness and training of our Army personnel deployed to UNIFIL, who continue to operate in a volatile region. All Irish personnel are well and accounted for. The Irish Defence Forces remains resolute in its commitment to UNIFIL and acting as the eyes and ears of the international community as the conflict continues.

[BBC News (World) @BBCWorld]

Israeli settlers target Palestinian villages in occupied West Bank, attacking people and properties https://t.co/U6HOHO88TQ

[laurence norman @laurnorman]

There are now two quotes that frame the narrative of this war.

Feb 1: Khamenei -- "The Americans must be aware that if they wage a war this time, it will be a regional war."

Mar 16th. @realDonaldTrump "Nobody expected that. We were shocked."

[MarineTraffic @MarineTraffic]

First non-Iranian cargo transits Strait of Hormuz with AIS on

The Aframax tanker Karachi, carrying Abu Dhabi’s Das crude, has become the first non-Iranian cargo to transit the chokepoint while broadcasting its AIS signal, suggesting that select shipments may be receiving negotiated safe passage.

According to #MarineTraffic data, the 237-metre crude oil tanker entered the Iranian Exclusive Economic Zone on 15 March at 11:33 UTC and crossed the Strait of Hormuz at 14:43 UTC. The vessel is currently sailing in the Gulf of Oman at around 9.6 knots, having successfully passed through the strait with AIS active.

The transit follows weeks of significantly reduced traffic through the strategic waterway, with more than 20 long-range tankers reported to have exited the Gulf.

[Shayan Sardarizadeh @Shayan86]

I hope that if there's one thing that this Iran conflict and the explosion of online misinformation about it has laid bare for most people is the significance of content verification and fact-checking in the digital age.

AI cannot replace human verification, at least not yet.