The 8 at 8: Tuesday

LAST UPDATE
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26 mins ago

GOOD MORNING.

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

Violence against women

1. Brexit has damaged efforts to combat violence against women on both sides of the border, a first-of-its kind report has found.

The North South Co-operation to Tackle Violence Against Women study reveals how cross-border complexities have further endangered domestic abuse victims, leaving them in “precarious” situations without support, Patricia Devlin writes in today’s lead story.

General election

2. Fine Gael’s Simon Harris, Fianna Fáil’s Micheál Martin and Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald will battle it out in the final leaders’ debate of the election tonight.

There’s only 72 hours left until polls open – here’s what’s happening today.

Fire at asylum centre

3. An investigation has been launched after a fire broke out yesterday evening in a Co Wicklow army camp being used to house asylum seekers.

The fire broke out in the canteen of the Emergency Accommodation and Reception Centre in Kilbride Military Camp. All International Protection applicants and Defence Forces personnel are safe and accounted for.

Middle East

4. Israel’s Security Council is preparing to decide whether to accept a proposed ceasefire in its war with Hezbollah, an official said, as the White House announced it believed a deal to end the fighting in Lebanon is near.

The US, EU and United Nations have all pushed in recent days for a truce in hostilities.

Mother and baby homes

5. More than €44 million has been paid in financial compensation to people under the mother and baby institution redress scheme to date.

Over 3,150 offers have been accepted by applicants so far. The average payment is just under €15,500, with a minimum of €5,000 and a maximum of €65,000 being paid out.

United States

6. US president-elect Donald Trump is threatening to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China as soon as he takes office as part of his efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs.

The tariffs, if implemented, could dramatically raise prices on everything from gas to cars.

Red Sea

7. An Irish citizen was on board a tourist yacht that capsized on the Red Sea in Egypt yesterday.

A total of 16 people have now been reported missing by Egyptian rescue authorities, 12 foreigners and four Egyptians. The boat, Sea Story, is owned locally and left from Port Ghalib near Marsa Alam on Sunday.

Misinformation

8. Online conspiracy theories claiming that the local and European elections in Ireland were being rigged peaked just as citizens cast their votes in June.

A new report by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, a counter-extremism think-tank, has warned that this week’s election offers far-right activists a similar opportunity to use social media to foment doubts and distrust in Ireland’s democratic processes.

Weather forecast

9. And finally, the weather.

Met Éireann says it will be largely dry and sunny in most areas today apart from some well scattered showers.

Cloud will build in the south and southeast later this evening with heavy showers or longer spells of rain developing. Highest temperatures will range from five to nine degrees.