LAST UPDATE | 9 Aug
GOOD MORNING.
Here’s all the news you need to know as you start the day.
1. In our main story this morning, Niall O’Connor reports that fears are mounting among workers on the Irish Coast Guard helicopter search and rescue service that their jobs may be at risk as the State enters a new contract.
In recent weeks a dispute has arisen as air crew represented by Forsa have become concerned about their employment status.
2. A new report from the Ombudsman for Children’s Office has said that almost half of all secondary school students in Ireland say they have experienced bullying.
The report, published today, says that 47% of students surveyed say they have experienced bullying in school, while 36% report having experienced discrimination and 15% say they have been subject to racism.
3. Israel has agreed to resume Gaza ceasefire talks on 15 August at the demand of US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
It comes as Gaza’s civil defence agency said Israeli bombardment killed more than 18 people in strikes on two schools on Thursday, while Iran accused Israel of wanting to spread war in the Middle East.
4. Gardaí have issued a warning on student accommodation fraud ahead of an expected increase in such scams due to students returning to college.
While there has been an 11% decrease on reports of accommodation fraud to the end of June, gardaí noted that around one third of all accommodation fraud reports occur during August and September each year.
5. Queen’s University in Belfast has closed its campus today ahead of anticipated demonstrations in the city.
The PSNI has said it is aware of “planned protest activity” throughout Northern Ireland today and that there will be a significant policing operation in place after rioting seen in Belfast in recent days.
6. Meanwhile, it’s understood Keir Starmer told police in the UK to remain on high alert at a meeting between Government ministers yesterday.
The British Prime Minister has said swift justice, including sentencing, has been a deterrent to more violent disorder as at least a dozen people were jailed yesterday for their part in the riots of the past 10 days.
7. US broadcaster ABC has said both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have agreed to a 10 September presidential debate, setting up a face-off between the Republican and Democratic nominees.
The announcement came shortly after Trump told a news conference that he had proposed three presidential debates with three television networks, saying he agreed on certain dates in September.
8. Ukraine is pressing forward with its cross-border offensive missions into Russia as local media and politicians reported successful drone attacks made their way into the south-eastern region of the country.
Local Russian outlet RIA Novosti reports this morning that the Russian town of Lipetsk came under a “massive” drone attack and that Kiev is conducting operations at the border down “almost every day”.
9. It has officially been 100 days since Dublin’s portal to New York opened.
Despite some rocky moments, the technological instalment on Dublin’s North Earl Street continues to prove popular with locals and tourists alike.
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