LAST UPDATE | 23 Apr 2025

GOOD MORNING.

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

1. Pope’s funeral preparations

The body of Pope Francis will be laid out for public view today as mourners flock to the Vatican ahead of his funeral.

Irish-born cardinal Kevin Farrell will oversee this morning’s ceremony to carry the body of Pope Francis to St Peter’s Basilica. 

2. HSE vacant properties

The HSE has 234 vacant properties under its control, an increase on the amount it held this time last year.

Of the 234 vacant properties in the control of the HSE as of 28 February 2025, 93 are deemed “surplus to requirement” and in various stages of disposal.

3. Ukraine talks

The British government is hosting a new round of talks involving the United States, Ukraine, and European nations amid a new US effort to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.

US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff is to visit Moscow this week, the White House has confirmed, in what would be his fourth trip to Russia since Trump took office.

4. Church abuse

An Irish woman who resigned from a Vatican Commission on protecting minors due to lack of cooperation from Church officials has described Pope Francis as a pontiff who “didn’t brush over things” when meeting with abuse victims.

Marie Collins was a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors but resigned in 2017 over what she described as a “shameful” lack of cooperation.

Collins met with Francis on several occasions in the Vatican and also met with him in Dublin in 2018 with a group of abuse survivors during the World Meeting of Families. “He was very straightforward and answered straight questions with straight answers, he didn’t brush over things,” she said.  

5. Leaving Cert reforms

Teachers are considering industrial action in a bid to push the government to act on their concerns about proposed reforms to the Leaving Certificate.

The government wants to introduce reforms to the Leaving Cert starting from this September but secondary school teachers are concerned about how proposed changes will affect the way students are assessed and marked.

6. Slowed growth

The International Monetary Fund has slashed its forecast for global growth this year, citing the effect of US President Donald Trump’s new tariff policies on the world economy. 

7. Houthi missile

Israel’s military reported a missile “launched from Yemen”, where the Houthi rebel group has attacked Israel during its war on Gaza.

Shortly after 4am am local time (1am GMT), the Israeli army announced that the missile triggered air raid sirens in Haifa and other parts of northern Israel.

Since Israel’s war in Gaza began in October 2023, the Houthis have repeatedly fired missiles and drones at Israel in what they say is a show of solidarity with Palestine.

8. Intel firings

Intel is set to announce plans this week to cut more than 20% of its staff globally.

Among the 108,900 global Intel staff are 4,900 people employed at their chip manufacturing plant in Leixlip, Co Kildare.

It is not yet clear if the move by Intel to cut 20% of its staff will affect its workers in Ireland.

9. Shakespeare folios

A historic collection of William Shakespeare’s plays from more than 300 years ago are set to go up for auction in the UK — and they’re expected to be sold for between £3.5 million and £4.5 million.