Significant reforms to the country’s unemployed benefit scheme have been granted Cabinet approval, paving the way for the creation of a sliding scale system designed to “soften” the financial loss that workers face when they suddenly lose their job. Responding to the Cabinet approval for a new pay-related unemployment payment, Irish Congress of Trade Unions said it “strongly supports moving from flat-rate to pay-related social welfare benefits for PAYE workers.”

Meanwhile, SIPTU has said plans to introduce tiered social welfare payments from next year do not go far enough. Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys brought proposals to Cabinet on Tuesday for a new benefit system which will see tiered payments kick in when people lose their jobs. Workers will have to have at least five years PRSI contributions to qualify for the enhanced payments.

The government will this morning table a countermotion to People Before Profit’s motion on Israel, which calls for sanctions on Israel and for Shannon Airport to be closed to the US military. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the government is countering the motion because it omits reference to Hamas and the human rights abuses committed against Israeli citizens. 

The Israeli bombardment of south Lebanon yesterday killed eight people, official media said, including two journalists from Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen television in ongoing violence at the Lebanon-Israel border.

Back here, a consumer caution warning has been issued as Black Friday approaches and offers galore are touted on social media feeds, in broadcasting and newspapers in the run up to 24th November.

And finally, astronomers have observed a "fluffy" planet around 200 light-years from Earth where it rains sand droplets from silicate clouds. Data gathered using the James Webb Space Telescope has revealed that WASP-107b - which orbits a star in the constellation of Virgo - has a dynamic atmosphere made up of water vapour, sulphur dioxide, and sand clouds.