LAST UPDATE | 13 Aug 2024

GOOD MORNING.

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

Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine

1. Russia launched major offensive attack on Ukraine overnight, firing two ballistic missiles and 38 drones towards eight eastern regions of the country according to the Ukrainian air force.

This attack comes as Russia President Vladimir Putin vowed to “dislodge” Ukrainian troops who have entered Russian territory last weekend in the Kursk region. 

Anti-aircraft systems managed to intercept 30 drones overnight, according to a post to the Air Forces’ official Telegram page. 

Landlord tax cuts questionable amid lousy landlord exodus

2. In lead story this morning, Paul O’Donoghue writes that a €160 million tax cut for landlords is questionable after claims that they would leave the market in their droves did not come to pass.

O’Donoghue goes through the data to deliver you the sharp analysis on everything you need to know on the current status of the housing market.

Musk hosts meandering chat with Trump

3. Elon Musk’s interview with former US President Donald Trump got underway after it failed to get off the ground due to technical difficulties on the billionaire’s site, X, formerly Twitter.

Almost an hour after it had been scheduled to begin, the broadcast eventually became accessible to X users. Musk claimed during the interview that the delays were as a result of a ‘denial of service’ cyber attack on X.

During the event, which was billed as a ‘no limits’ conversation, Trump vented about immigration, repeatedly blasted President Joe Biden as “stupid” and mused on developing new missile defence system.

Leicester Square attack

4. A 32-year-old man has been charged following the serious stabbing of an 11-year-old girl in London yesterday.

In a statement this morning Westminster police said that at the early stages of their investigation they don’t believe the suspect and the victims were known to each other.

While work continues to establish the suspect’s motive, at present police believe “there is nothing to indicate the attack was terror-related”.

Tensions in Middle East rise as Iran dismisses West

5. Iran has dismissed called by Western allies to “stand down” its threats of a retaliatory attack on Israel, claiming it shows “lack political logic and contradict principles of international law”.

The United States and other European allies said Iran must “stand down” its threats that it will launch a retaliatory attack on Israel following the assassination of the political leader of Hamas Ismail Haniyeh last month.

EU issue Elon with warning over X

6. The EU’s top digital official wrote to Elon Musk to remind him of his legal duty to stop “harmful content” from spreading on X.

“With great audience comes greater responsibility,” the bloc’s internal market commissioner Thierry Breton posted on X, along with the letter laying out Musk’s obligations to combat illegal content and disinformation under EU law.

A proud nation welcomes Olympians home

7. There was much made of the opening ceremony at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Almost three weeks ago now, as athletes cruised down the River Seine waving their countries’ flags with pride, the torrential rain was said to have put a bit of a dampener on the occasion.

But there was no wet weather in Dublin yesterday afternoon. Rather, a sea of green, white and orange as thousands descended on O’Connell Street to welcome home Team Ireland’s 137 sportsmen and women.

Greece wildfires

8. The EU’s civil protection unit will join firefighters in Greece battling growing wildfires near Athens for a third day.

Fuelled by strong winds, Greece’s worst wildfire this year raced across a parched landscape, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes as it wreaked widespread destruction around the Greek capital.

At least one person has died and at least 66 people have been treated for injuries. Two firefighters have also been hurt.

Search resumes for missing kayaker

9. Searches have resumed off the Waterford coast for a kayaker who has been missing since yesterday. The man aged in his 60s departed from Helvick Head in Dungarvan at 11.40am yesterday but did not return.

The Irish Coast Guard was contacted at 5.25pm yesterday and the Marine Rescue Coordination Centre in Dublin initiated a search.