Latest
This week
3rd November 2024 - 9th November 2024
preparing for a shockSimon Harris says Ireland will work with Trump, but must prepare for impact on economy and Ukraine
Last week
27th October 2024 - 9th November 2024
Swing States
What exactly are swing states, and how could they decide the outcome of 'knife-edge' US race?
Ultimately, seven states will determine if Donald Trump or Kamala Harris are elected next week.
Next week's vote could be one of the closest presidential elections in US history
Some states have undecided voters who could end up backing either candidate on 5 November.
"You can't toss out any type of prediction, other than the fact this will be a knife-edge race," Professor Scott Lucas said
the morning lead
'I cannot do it, I would rather go to jail,' Former IDF soldier on why he refuses to serve in Gaza
Michael Ofer-Ziv said he could not continue to serve because of the “dehumanisation” of Palestinians he witnessed in Gaza.
He is one of 130 IDF members refusing to serve unless the Israeli government works to obtain a hostage and ceasefire deal
One colleague told him: "The kids that we spared in 2014 grew up to be the terrorists of October the seventh."
Last month
October 2024
the morning lead
An Irish American family on life and politics in one of the key swing states in the US election
“People here hold their political views so dear to them, they have stickers on their car. Have you ever seen a Fianna Fáil sticker on the back of someone’s car?”
"It's fascinating to see how people can be so divided," Delia O'Malley said of Georgia
She loves her job, but one of the most difficult aspects of it is the fact she has to take part in monthly active shooter drills
Mental Health
'I can sleep now, I don't cry': Ukrainians in Ireland turn to therapy after fleeing the war
Many people displaced by the war have experienced post-traumatic stress disorder.
the morning lead
'We're living week to week': One restaurant owner on why he'll be protesting at the Dáil today
Business owners from the hospitality and tourism sectors are set to hold a protest outside Leinster House this afternoon.
High Court
State faces lawsuit calling for 'ludicrous' Mother and Baby Home redress scheme to be extended
Over €27.4 million has been paid to survivors to date, but thousands of people remain excluded.
Camp Shamrock
Irish peacekeepers in Lebanon are 'safe and well' despite 'extremely challenging' conditions
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today called on the UN to move peacekeepers deployed in southern Lebanon out of “harm’s way”.
Scotland
Alex Salmond, former First Minister of Scotland, has died aged 69
He was First Minister of Scotland between 2007 and 2014.
Middle EastUN peacekeeper undergoes surgery after shooting in Lebanon, as Irish soldiers remain unharmed
Florida
'It was like 100 banshees screaming': Irish woman describes surviving Hurricane Milton
Aisling Kane, who lives in Florida with her family, said it was the “longest night of my life”.
UNIFIL
Ex-Trump administration advisor said Israel should 'drop napalm' over Irish peacekeepers in Lebanon
the morning lead
'This is the first time I've evacuated in 60 years': Irish-Americans among those fleeing Florida
Milton could be the worst storm to hit Florida in over a century, US President Joe Biden said.
Near-record winds of up to 165 miles per hour (270 km/h) are expected
"When you get something historical like this, you don't want to be on the wrong side of fate," one resident told us
a year of war
'Are we going to keep killing one another until there's no one left?'
Roni Keidar, who survived the 7 October attack a year ago, says Jewish people “should understand the Palestinians more than anyone else in the world”.
mother-and-baby homesState 'should help find these children's bodies', but Govt won't commit to excavating Bessborough
Michael McMonagleTaoiseach raises SF press office controversy during heated Dáil exchange with Pearse Doherty
September
September 2024
the peach state
'The fabric of the country is fraying': How swing states like Georgia will decide the US election
Gun control, reproductive rights and Gaza are all on people’s minds in Atlanta.
Atlanta is quite liberal, but the wider Georgia state typically votes Republican
Nationwide polls place Kamala Harris and Donald Trump neck-and-neck
the morning lead
UHL staff under 'huge pressure' to deal with FOI requests after death of Aoife Johnston
One employee said staff are under “huge pressure” as they are “inundated” with requests amid staffing issues.
They said the team is missing deadlines for FOI and GDPR requests, despite their best efforts
Some people are seeking their records so they can transfer their care to another hospital
the morning lead
'It's a mess': Concerns raised that children won't get treatment amid physio shortage in Dublin
Staff said it was “a body blow” to find out that certain vacant roles no longer existed after the HSE lifted a recruitment embargo in July.
The physio department in Temple Street hospital is currently only providing an emergency service
There are also a number of unfilled physio vacancies at Crumlin children's hospital and in community settings
Falling Through The Cracks
'People with schizophrenia are not dangerous, but untreated psychosis is'
A psychiatrist and a patient explain what Ireland can learn from Denmark’s approach to psychosis services.
next steps
How will the Commission into child abuse in schools work, and which schools will it cover?
And have lessons been learned from how previous inquiries were carried out?
personal testimony
Abuse survivors told scoping inquiry they believed paedophile rings operated at some schools
“The principal would open the door, see the abuse taking place, even rape in progress, and just close the door again.”
August
August 2024
Heart HealthLives 'at risk' as GPs told they can't refer cardiology patients to Cavan and Monaghan Hospital
CorkNinety-one-year-old man offered redress from Mother and Baby Home scheme after months of delays
the morning lead
Manager says HSE recruitment is 'like the Hunger Games' with jobs disappearing and panels bypassed
Roles that were vacant at the end of 2023 “don’t exist anymore” despite never being filled, the manager said.
Workers on panels were ignored while managers were 'encouraged to recruit internationally instead' during recent freeze
