After the deluge, the questions: The Irish Times has a piece looking at why the flooding damage is so bad in Cork and Waterford

And it's not over yet: Met Éireann has today issued a Status Yellow rain warning for counties Dublin, Louth, Meath, Wicklow and Kerry. The warning is valid from 9am on Friday until 9pm on Friday. 

Joe Biden made his second ever national address from the Oval Office last night pledging US support to Israel and Ukraine, arguing it will make the world a safer place. He plans to send an urgent funding request to Congress, which is expected to be roughly $100 billion over the next year.

Closer to home, the Financial Services Union (FSU) has urged the main retail banks to agree inflation proofed pay increases to rectify the erosion in the purchasing power of workers' pay.

The European Central Bank took a further step towards launching a digital version of the euro that would allow people in the eurozone make electronic payments free of charge and securely.

Finally, in relation to the recruitment pause dispute that will see escalation of industrial action on 27th of October by Fórsa clerical admin and managerial members in the HSE,  the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has warned that it will take "all necessary action" to protect the rights of non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs), formerly known as junior doctors.

ZEN

To wish Mark well on his way, a Bruxellois classic this morning: