LAST UPDATE | 19 Jun 2024

GOOD MORNING.

Here’s all the news that you need to know as you start your day.

Green Party Leadership

1. Green Party leadership candidates are expected to start putting their names forward today, after party leader Eamon Ryan announced he would be stepping down yesterday. 

Two leading Green Party members have backed Senator Pippa Hackett to become the new leader of the party this morning.

Deputy leader Catherine Martin ruled herself out of the leadership race yesterday, and confirmed that she will be stepping back as deputy leader of the party.

Transport

2. DART and Commuter services between Raheny and Dublin Connolly have been “cleared to resume”, but knock on delays are expected. 

Iarnród Éireann had advised that the disruption was expected to continue throughout the morning peak following what has been described as a “tragic incident”.

Bus transfers are in place for Belfast services from Drogheda station, while Dublin Bus is accepting valid rail tickets.

Aer Lingus 

3. Aer Lingus pilots have confirmed that that they will begin a work-to-rule action from Wednesday 26 June. The Irish Airline Pilots’ Association has issued seven days’ notice to the airline’s management.

Ulster Canal restoration

4. Taoiseach Simon Harris will mark the completion of the second phase of €20 million cross-border Ulster Canal restoration project this afternoon. 

Pyongyang

5. Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in North Korea for his first visit in 24 years yesterday. 

Putin was given a red-carpet welcome, a military ceremony and an embrace from North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.

The two controversial leaders pledged to forge closer ties during Putin’s state visit. 

Noam Chomsky

6. Noam Chomsky is alive and well, his wife has confirmed, after reports emerged yesterday that the American intellectual, linguist, and activist, had died. 

Aged 95, Chomsky was discharged from a hospital in Sao Paolo on Tuesday, the facility said. 

His wife, Valeria Wasserman, dismissed the claims, stating: “It’s false. He is well.”

Eamon Ryan

7. Our reporter Lauren Boland looks back at how the Green Party leader Eamon Ryan will be remembered, after he formally announced that he would be standing down as leader yesterday. 

His announcement comes amidst a disappointing local election for the party, and the loss of its two MEP seats in the European elections.

Justin Timberlake

8. Pop star Justin Timberlake’s mug shot has been released by police after he was arrested for ‘driving while intoxicated’ in New York State.

He was arrested in the early hours of yesterday morning in Sag Harbour, a wealthy area in the Hamptons on eastern Long Island and a popular spot for celebrities.

The Sag Harbour Police Department conformed his arrest on a driving while intoxicated charge.

Euro 2024

9. Finally, Francisco Conceicao was Portugal’s super sub as his 92nd-minute strike ensured their European Championship challenge got off to a winning start against Czechia last night.

The final score was 2-1 to the Portuguese.