January 5: Today’s top stories in 60 seconds

Oscar Pistorius released from prison
South African former Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius has been released on parole, nearly 11 years after murdering his girlfriend. Dubbed “Blade Runner” for his carbon-fibre prosthetic legs, Pistorius shot 29-year-old model Reeva Steenkamp dead through a locked bathroom door on Valentine’s Day in 2013. He has repeatedly said he mistook Ms Steenkamp for an intruder when he fired four shots into the bathroom at his Pretoria home, and he launched multiple appeals against his conviction on that basis. “The Department of Correctional Services (is) able to confirm that Oscar Pistorius is a parolee, effectively from 5 January 2024. He was admitted into the system of Community Corrections and is now at home,” the country’s prisons department said in a statement.
RTÉ

New York subway train collision
Two New York subway trains have collided, injuring 24 people and causing commuter chaos just ahead of the megacity’s rush hour. Dozens of police and fire vehicles swarmed the area to help hundreds of affected passengers evacuate, while commuters sought alternative routes as three subway lines were heavily disrupted. Department commander Mike Meyers said, “There is a major disruption to… service while emergency teams assist passengers and conduct an investigation after a train derailed near 96th Street.”
thejournal.ie

Tristan Sherry murder investigation
A third person is now facing charges in connection with the Christmas Eve murder of 26-year-old Tristan Sherry at Browne’s Steakhouse in Blanchardstown. Gardaí said two people are now due in court this morning, after being arrested in recent days. One person was brought before the courts and charged with murder last weekend. The man who was shot that night – Jason Hennessey Snr – died in hospital yesterday, sparking a second murder inquiry.
Breaking News

Over 800 complaints about influencer ads
The advertising standards authority received over 800 submissions about influencers in just five weeks relating to potential failures to disclose brand deals, sponsorships or other partnerships. A new online form allows social media users to notify the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASAI) if they believe content may be non-compliant with new guidance on influencer advertising and marketing. The informal reporting tool was launched on November 17 to help the ASAI make contact with influencers and brands to ensure compliance. There were 845 anonymous submissions through the new form in the five weeks since November 17 to the week before Christmas.
Independent.ie

The weather
The first weekend of the year is set to bring cold and frosty weather. Met Éireann is forecasting a chilly but mostly dry weekend as a high-pressure system stays close to Ireland. The weather today will be mainly dry and sunny, with isolated showers along the west coast. The temperature will reach up to 6 to 8 degrees in the afternoon, with lowest temperatures of minus 2 this evening. Tomorrow is set to be mainly dry and sunny after any lingering mist clears, according to Met Éireann, with highest temperatures 5 to 8 degrees. Saturday night will be cold and frosty with lowest temperatures minus 3 to zero degrees and dense fog in some areas. Sunday will continue the spell of cold and frosty conditions. Fog is expected to linger inland but it should be sunny otherwise.
thejournal.ie