LAST UPDATE | 18 Oct
GOOD MORNING.
Here’s all the news that you need to know as you start your day.
1. After a career in the shadows from Israeli prisons to the internal security apparatus of Hamas, Yahya Sinwar emerged as the leader of the Palestinian group after igniting a war that has engulfed the region.
In a chance encounter yesterday, Israeli soldiers killed Sinwar – who was the suspected mastermind behind the 7 October attacks on southern Israel over a year ago.
So what does Sinwar’s death mean for the region of Gaza whose population has faced the full extent of the Israeli military since the attacks by Hamas last year?
2. In this morning’s lead story, our US political writer Larry Donnelly takes a look at the polls between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump – and provides some context that might explain why they are just so close?
It may surprise some that the two are still tied, but Harris will find it difficult to stop Trump’s momentum, writes Donnelly.
3. In a statement last night, Liam Payne’s One Direction bandmates have said they are “completely devastated” by the news of his death, adding: “The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever.”
The 31-year-old died on Wednesday after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The local prosecution office is leading an investigation into his death.
Yesterday, a statement signed by Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan said they want to take time to grieve and process the loss of their “brother”.
4. Brittany Ferries apologised to hundreds of passengers last night who were stuck on a ferry in the Port of Bilbao due to a “technical problem”.
The Galicia ferry, which travels from Rosslare to Bilbao and is operated by Brittany Ferries, was due to sail at 4pm Irish time.
However, the journey was abandoned because of a technical problem, which is understood to have affected one of the vessel’s engines. There are thought to be approximately 400 passengers onboard.
5. Gardaí are appealing for witnesses following a collision in which a male pedestrian in his 70s was struck by an SUV in south Dublin.
Gardaí and emergency services responded to the collision, which happened on the Old Dublin Road in Stillorgan shortly after 4.20pm yesterday afternoon.
6. Kamala Harris wooed supporters in the swing state of Wisconsin last night while Donald Trump stirred controversy with criticism of embattled ally Ukraine.
The rivals are vying for the remaining undecided voters in key-battleground states in a deadlocked race as Election Day on 5 November quickly approaches.
The Democratic vice president is narrowly leading her Republican rival nationally and in several crucial swing states, although most polls are within the margin of error.
7. A quarter of 8-14-year-olds struggle to spend time away from gaming and social media as new research suggests it may be difficult for the cohort to put them down.
Over 7,000 children were surveyed by CybersSafeKids, Ireland’s child online safety charity, as part of the new study into the attitudes and feelings towards screen time.
The charity is recommending a ‘Cyberbreak’ from 5pm this evening until 5pm tomorrow.
8. The final report by the Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying will go before the Dáil next week. People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny has called on all parties to grant their TDs a free vote when it is put before the Dáil.
TDs will cast a vote on the report on Wednesday, which was published in March, that recommended that assisted dying should be made legal under strict criteria.
9. A status Orange wind warning has been put in place by Met Éireann for counties Galway and Mayo while a status Yellow warning will be in place every other county in Ireland on Sunday.
Both warnings are in place from midday on Sunday until 9pm. Thunderstorms are possible, Met Éireann said, and strong to gale force winds will being the potential for disruptions all over the country.
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