August 02: Today’s top stories in 60 seconds

Monaghan tragedy: Investigation ongoing into cause of crash as guard of honour held in Clones
Investigations are continuing into the cause of a crash in Co Monaghan in which two teenage girls died. Kiea McCann, 17, and Dlava Mohammed, 16, were fatally injured when the car in which they were travelling crashed on the N54 at Legnakelly on Monday as they were being driven to a Debs ball. Three other people were in the vehicle at the time and were hospitalised with their injuries. The driver of the vehicle, a 60-year-old man, remains in a critical condition in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
The Journal 

Sinn Féin Bill would make it an offence to seek sex for rent
Sinn Féin TD Eoin Ó Broin has published legislation that would make it an offence to seek sex for rent or to advertise such arrangements. The Dublin Mid-West TD said that rising rents combined with a limited supply of rental properties has led to some landlords preying on desperate and vulnerable tenants. The move comes a week after RTÉ Investigates broadcast an undercover report highlighting the practice.
RTÉ

TV licence revenue drops €2.7m in July
TV licence sales are down by €2.7 million, fresh figures for the entire month of July reveal. The new statistics show that revenue for the TV licence continues to decline following the controversy around misreported payments to RTÉ presenter Ryan Tubridy. In response to a query from The Irish Times, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media said TV licence sales for the fourth week in July were 10,661, comprising 1,173 first-time licences and 9,488 renewals. “The comparable figure for the same period in 2022 was 14,151 – 1,796 first-time licences and 12,355 renewals.” That is a drop of 3,490. In total, this is a loss of revenue of €2,767,520 year on year.
The Irish Times

Pipe bomb that exploded in Belfast ‘could have killed’ people – PSNI
A pipe bomb that exploded in an east Belfast alleyway on Tuesday night “could have killed”, the PSNI have said. Police are appealing for information following the discovery of the pipe bomb, which exploded in a residential area of east Belfast. It was reported around 8.20pm that there was a loud bang heard from an alley in the Hyndford Street area off the Beersbridge Road. Residents were evacuated and cordons put in place. Ammunition Technical Officers were tasked and a crude pipe bomb-type device was discovered next to a household bin. Further forensic examination will be carried out on the remnants of the device. Minor damage was caused to bin and there were no reports of injuries.
Independent.ie

Parents ‘lying awake at night’ worrying about back-to-school costs
Parents are lying awake at night worrying about how they will afford to send their children back to school this year, with the cost for a first year entering secondary school rising to just under €1,000, a new survey has found. The results of the annual back-to-school survey by children’s charity Barnardos found that one in four (24%) parents of secondary school children are borrowing from financial institutions or from friends to meet back-to-school costs. And, while the introduction of free schoolbooks for primary school children has reduced the cost of sending younger children to school, more than half (51%) of parents say that back-to-school costs this year are not manageable.
The Irish Examiner

Lizzo accused of sexual harassment and fat-shaming
Pop star Lizzo is being sued by three of her former dancers over claims including sexual harassment and a hostile work environment. The legal action includes accusations of sexual, religious and racial harassment, discrimination, assault, false imprisonment and fat shaming. Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez are the former dancers bringing the case. Lizzo and others who are accused have been approached for comment. The singer has not yet responded publicly to the allegations made in the case, which remain to be tested in court.
BBC News

Donald Trump: New charges against ex-president attempt to tie him to January 6 Capitol riot
Donald Trump is facing four criminal charges relating to attempts to overturn the 2020 election result as prosecutors try to tie him to the January 6 storming of the US Capitol building by his supporters. The 45-page court document focuses on alleged schemes by the former Republican president and his allies to subvert the transfer of power and keep him in the White House despite his loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump has maintained the result of the November 2020 election was incorrect, with many of his supporters and confidants also expressing doubts about the vote.
Sky News

AI use in breast cancer screening as good as two radiologists, study finds
The use of artificial intelligence in breast cancer screening is safe and can almost halve the workload of radiologists, according to the world’s most comprehensive trial of its kind. Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer globally, according to the World Health Organization, with more than 2.3 million women developing the disease every year. Screening can improve prognosis and reduce mortality by spotting breast cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage. Preliminary results from a large study suggest AI screening is as good as two radiologists working together, does not increase false positives and almost halves the workload.
The Guardian

Today’s forecast
Dull, damp and cloudy this morning with outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Brightening up in the west and north with scattered showers as light winds turn to a moderate to fresh northerly this afternoon. Remaining mostly cloudy in the east and southeast, however, with spells of rain or showers. Highest temperatures of 17 to 20 degrees. Showers will become isolated tonight and largely confined to western and northwestern coastal counties. Clear spells for a time early on, but becoming mostly cloudy again overnight. A moderate to fresh northerly breeze will persist with lowest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees.
Met Éireann