By Sarah Gill
28th Apr 2023
28th Apr 2023
Your speedy summary of today's must-read stories.
Sudan ceasefire
Despite the army and a rival force agreeing to extend a ceasefire deal, Sudanese fighter jets have pounded paramilitary positions in Khartoum while deadly fighting and looting flares in Darfur. During the three-day ceasefire, the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced a 72-hour extension following pressure from Saudi Arabia and the United States.
TikTok lobbied Government
Just weeks before public servants were advised not to install the app on official devices, TikTok sought to brief Irish Government ministers on privacy and security issues. The company wrote to three different ministers as part of efforts to reassure the Government about “policies and processes to protect [its] users and their data”.
Booster vaccine for healthcare workers
The HSE are encouraging healthcare workers to get their booster vaccine and for anyone eligible to get the spring booster, which will be available from next week. The people that fall into that category of high risk are anybody over the age of 70 years of age. This includes people who are living in residential care settings and people from five years of age upwards who have a weak immune system.
Delivery driver restrained by thieves
On Tuesday, an articulated lorry carrying Covid-19 test kits was stolen in an incident that saw the driver restrained in Slane, Co Meath. The driver had parked the lorry in a layby on the N2 Dublin Road when a number of people retained him and took control of his vehicle. He was threatened and driven from the location but was later released with no injuries. He reported the incident to gardaí, who commenced an investigation.
Niall Collins land sale
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy has said he will make a complaint to the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) over the sale of land to the wife of Minister of State Niall Collins from Limerick Council in 2008. In a statement, Mr Collins said that he was in absolutely no doubt that his actions in relation to the matter were legally correct.