Appalling news from Gaza continues, where an Israeli bombardment of the Jabaliya refugee camp had a reported initial death toll of more than 50 dead and 150 wounded, with Israel’s army confirming it had targeted a Hamas commander involved in the 7 October attacks. The strike came after a day of fierce battles between Israeli ground troops and militants in northern Gaza.

As Autumn turns to winter floods look set to be a recurring challenge this year, both meteorologically and politically.

Parts of Newry have been compared to a “lake”, while businesses and homes in Carlingford, Co Louth, also reported damage to premises following flooding, and a bridge collapsed amid rising water on the Cooley peninsula.

Speaking from Korea, Minister Simon Coveney announced an enhanced funding package for businesses in the east of the country devastated by flooding to be signed off by an incorporeal Cabinet meeting this week. 

Met Éireann has said that further flooding may occur during Storm Ciarán due to already saturated ground conditions and high river levels in a number of counties. Counties Cork, Waterford, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford and Wicklow are under a Status Yellow rain warning for today. 

ZEN

In a new interview Billy Bragg has said there are no longer many musicians singing about the issues of working people but there is no excuse for him not to stay relevant.

The singer has said he is moved when he sees young people passionately singing along to his 1986 anthem There Is Power In A Union, which has become an anthem of the trade union movement and is frequently sung on picket lines.