April 19: Today’s top stories in 60 seconds

Two sustain suspected titanium burns in ‘explosion’ at Stryker
Two men suffered suspected titanium burns in what has been described as a mini-explosion while working on the roof of a medical devices plant in East Cork. One of the men was in a serious condition in hospital overnight after suffering extensive burn injuries in the incident at Stryker’s Anngrove plant at the IDA Business Park in Carrigtwohill on Tuesday afternoon. His condition was described as very serious by a number of sources following the incident. The condition of the second person is understood to not be serious. The plant was in shutdown following the incident as an investigation by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) got underway.
The Irish Examiner

Facemasks no longer mandatory in healthcare settings
The wearing of face masks in hospitals and other healthcare settings is no longer required from today. The mandatory use of personal protective equipment in healthcare settings was introduced during the pandemic as part of measures to stop the spread of Covid-19. The decision to remove the requirement was announced in public health guidance from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre earlier this month. However, it specified that the use of masks would still be recommended in certain circumstances.
RTÉ

A ‘legend’ who was ‘doing what he loved’ – tributes to Irish climber Noel Hanna who died in Nepal
A renowned Northern Ireland climber who died while descending from one of the world’s highest peaks was “a legend” who “lived for the mountains”, his sister has said. Noel Hanna (56) from Dromara, Co Down, passed away on Monday night after climbing the 8,091 metre-high Annapurna peak in western Nepal – the 10th highest mountain in the world.
Independent.ie

Indian nurses recruited by HSE wait months in Ireland without their children before starting work
Twenty-nine migrant nurses who were recruited to one Dublin hospital were promised six weeks of paid accommodation and then told they would have to leave after a week on arrival.
The Irish Examiner

Fox and Dominion settle for US$787.5m in defamation lawsuit over election lies
Fox and the voting equipment company Dominion reached a US$787.5m settlement in a closely watched defamation lawsuit, ending a dispute over whether the network and its parent company knowingly broadcast false and outlandish allegations that Dominion was involved in a plot to steal the 2020 election. The settlement came before scheduled opening statements and after an unexpected lengthy delay Tuesday afternoon just after the jury was sworn in.
The Guardian

Aaron Carter accidentally drowned after taking drugs
US pop star Aaron Carter accidentally drowned in his bathtub because of drugs he had taken, a coroner’s report says. Carter, 34, the younger brother of the Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter, was found dead at his home in Lancaster, California, on 5 November. The autopsy has now revealed that his death was caused by drowning due to the effects of sedatives he had taken and gas he had inhaled.
BBC News

Inflation eases but still remains above 10% as food costs at 45-year high
The rate of inflation has eased slightly but still remains above 10%, according to official figures showing food and drink costs at a 45-year high. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the consumer prices index (CPI) measure slowed to 10.1% in March from 10.4% the previous month. Economists had largely expected a figure of 9.8%. The data represents a slight improvement in the energy-driven cost of living crisis as fuel prices fell back to levels seen a year ago when Russia’s war in Ukraine prompted a spike in oil costs. However, upwards pressure remained from household gas and electricity and food, including essentials such as bread, milk and eggs.
Sky News

Today’s forecast
Today will be rather cloudy with sunny spells improving later in the day. Mainly dry with the chance of an isolated shower. Highest temperatures of 11 to 13 degrees in mostly moderate easterly winds, fresh at times near the east and south coast. There’ll be a few showers tonight affecting southern and southwestern counties, it will stay dry elsewhere as skies clear. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 5 degrees in mostly moderate easterly winds, fresh at times.
Met Éireann