I am a baguette
An Irishman is going viral following his performance in Qatar this week — although it's down to his language skills, rather than talent on the pitch.
The yet-unidentified Irishman crashed a live French television broadcast from outside a Qatari stadium to make an announcement.
"Je suis une baguette," he said. "I am a baguette."
Hawaii volcano
The first eruption in 38 years of the world’s largest active volcano is attracting onlookers to a Hawaiian national park keen for “spectacular” views of the event.
However, the eruption of Mauna Loa is also dredging up bad memories among some Hawaii residents who have been through harrowing experiences.
Officials were initially concerned that lava flowing down the side of the volcano would head toward South Kona, but scientists later assured the public that the eruption migrated to a rift zone on Mauna Loa’s north-east flank and was not threatening any communities.
However, the uncertainty is somewhat unnerving for many people.
Wexford dog attack
Gardaí are continuing to question a man after a 9-year-old boy was attacked by a dog in Co Wexford.
The man in his 20s was arrested yesterday and is being detained in Enniscorthy Garda Station.
Alejandro Mizsan was seriously injured by a pitbull cross near his home in Enniscorthy on Sunday.
Speaking to Newstalk, local senator Malcolm Byrne says certain dog breeds may need to be banned.
Hospital overcrowding
Irish hospitals have recorded their worst November ever in terms of overcrowding, according to new figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).
Over 12,624 people have been without beds in Irish hospitals this month, with over 563 children on trolleys in November.
The most overcrowded hospitals include:
- University Hospital Limerick (1596 patients)
- Cork University Hospital (1334 patients)
- Letterkenny University Hospital (1108 patients)
- Sligo University Hospital (783 patients)
- Galway University Hospital (703 patients)
Murdered taxi driver
A fresh appeal for information about the 1997 murder of a taxi driver has been made on the 25th anniversary of her death, in the hope that it will prompt people to come forward.
An Garda Siochana is renewing its appeal for several unidentified people who were in the area on the night Eileen Costello O’Shaughnessy was killed after taking a fare.
At 8pm on November 30, 1997, the Galway City taxi driver informed her base that she was taking a fare to Claregalway.
Around 20 minutes later, the base tried to contact her but received no answer.
Ukraine refugee
Clare TD Cathal Crowe has called for the intake of people fleeing the war in Ukraine into Ireland to match the capacity to provide services.
Capacity has been reached and exceeded he told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland.
All supports in his constituency were at "bursting point" with some people sleeping in stairwells in hotels and in tents and many cut off from services. It was not just a matter of ticking a box and putting a roof over someone’s head, other supports such as healthcare, education and transport had to be considered, he said.
Worker tips
Workers shouldn't have to pay tax on their tips, according to a leading Irish recruitment agency.
Excel Recruitment has called on the government to introduce a tax-free allowance on tips as new legislation on tipping comes into force from Thursday.
The Payment of Wages (Amendment) (Tips and Gratuities) Act 2022 introduces new rules protecting worker's tips, including making it illegal for employers to use tips or gratuities to make up basic wages.
Russian war crimes
The European Union has proposed to set up a UN-backed specialised court to investigate possible war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine, and to use frozen Russian assets to rebuild the war-torn country.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the EU will work with international partners to get “the broadest international support possible” for the tribunal, while continuing to back the work of the International Criminal Court.
Since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, his military forces have been accused of abuses ranging from killings in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha to deadly attacks on civilian facilities, including the March 16 bombing of a theatre in Mariupol that an Associated Press investigation established was likely to have killed close to 600 people.
