NEED TO CATCH up? The Journal brings you a round-up of today’s news.

IRELAND

A rainbow in the sky above Ireland's newest railway station, Pelletstown in Dublin Sasko Lazarov Sasko Lazarov

• All workers have been safely evacuated following a “serious fire” at a dairy plant production facility in Killeigh, Offaly. 
• Several people were asked to leave a Donegal church during the funeral of a man who died from Covid because they were not wearing facemasks.
• Gardaí are appealing for witnesses following the discovery of the body of a man in the Grand Canal at Dolphins Barn, Dublin yesterday afternoon. 
• An additional bank holiday is expected to form part of the Government’s pandemic bonus but an exact date has not yet been confirmed.
• House prices in Ireland have risen by 9% in the past 12 months as the supply of homes remains severely restricted.
• Health officials have confirmed a further 1,049 cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.
• Pop-up Covid-19 vaccination clinics began at several colleges campuses today as thousands of first year students enter higher education for the first time.
• A 21-year-old man has been arrested in Derry over the attempted murder of a PSNI officer.

INTERNATIONAL

The ESSO petrol station on the A35 at Bridport in Dorset, England is out of fuel due to panic buying by motorists Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#PETROL: The British government is said to be considering whether to call in soldiers to deliver fuel to petrol stations as pumps ran dry after days of panic buying.

#GERMANY: Buoyant from its best election result in 10 years, Germany’s liberal FDP party looks set to play a role in coalition negotiations to form the next government.

#GREECE: A man has died and nearly a dozen others have been injured after a strong earthquake struck the Greek island of Crete this morning. 

PARTING SHOT

There has been a lot of discussion about energy issues in recent weeks – to the point that the government has had to reassure people that blackouts aren’t to be expected this winter.

So on this week’s episode of The Explainer podcast, we take a look at the potential issues around energy in Ireland and the UK. 

https://soundcloud.com/the-explainer-podcast/why-are-there-fears-about-ireland-facing-power-shortages-this-winter