LAST UPDATE | 11 Oct 2024

GOOD MORNING.

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

Grand Canal

1. The cost of fencing along the Grand Canal in Dublin, erected to stop homeless people seeking asylum from pitching tents along the banks, cost over three times more in the first month than what Waterways Ireland told politicians, Muiris O’Cearbhaill writes in this morning’s lead story.

Lebanon

2. At least 22 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on central Beirut, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. 

The health ministry also said that 117 people have been injured in the strikes on the capital this evening. 

Middle East

3. Taoiseach Simon Harris has said the attack on UNIFIL peacekeeping troops in Lebanon must be a turning point in the escalating violence in the Middle East.

Harris confirmed that “various contingency planning for all possible eventualities” to keep Irish peacekeepers safe have been considered. 

Elevator malfunction

4. Twelve people were rescued last night after being trapped for about six hours at the bottom of a former Colorado gold mine when an elevator malfunctioned at the tourist site, leaving one person dead.

Historical abuse

5. The government is pursuing legislation to make sure religious orders do not “get off the hook” in terms of redress owed for historical abuse, the Taoiseach has said.

A report published last month into sexual abuse in schools run by religious orders has identified 308 schools where the alleged abuse took place.

Raw sewage 

6. Raw sewage from the equivalent of 40,000 people in 16 towns and villages across Ireland is still being emitted into seas and rivers every day, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

Mary Ward

7. A man arrested as part of a murder investigation into the death of Mary Ward has been charged, gardaí have said. 

The man, aged in his 20s, was arrested in Dublin on Wednesday.

He is expected to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin at 10:30 this morning.

Northern Lights

8. The Northern Lights brightened up the sky over parts of Ireland last night.

People took to social media to share photos of the dancing pink and green display across various corners of the country. 

US Election

9. Former US President Barack Obama lashed out at “crazy” Donald Trump yesterday and urged voters to back Kamala Harris as he brought his star power to the 2024 election campaign trail for the first time.

As he hit the stump in the must-win state of Pennsylvania, Obama also chided Black male voters for what he called hesitancy in supporting Democrat Harris because they “just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president.”