June 06: Today’s top stories in 60 seconds

Overseas nurses who quit jobs to work in Irish hospitals losing offers over permit delays
A large group of overseas nurses who quit their jobs after receiving employment offers from Irish hospitals and nursing homes have been unable to come and work here due to work permit delays and rejections. Some nurses from countries outside of the EEA told The Journal that they have “become depressed”, and “lost hope” that they will be able to come to Ireland to start working in its health system as they have faced multiple Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) rejections from the Department of Justice, resulting in some losing their job offers.
The Journal

Rapid-build houses in Cork ‘on track’ despite no construction
Cork City Council has insisted that one of its first modular rapid-build social housing schemes “is on track” despite no sign of construction on the site 10 months after planning was approved. City councillors voted in August 2022 to approve Part 8 planning for the 43-unit, four-to-five-storey Westside social housing apartment scheme on the Model Farm Road. However, tenders for the project were only published in May of this year, with a closing date of June 30.
The Irish Examiner

Revealed: Crime levels in your local area as one in five garda stations records a five-year peak
Cities outside of Dublin have recorded the highest spike in crime rates compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Independent.ie

Retained firefighters begin industrial action over recruitment, retention
Retained firefighters have begun a campaign of industrial action. Their union SIPTU has accused the Government of failing to address a worsening recruitment and retention crisis in the service. Members of the retained service are part-time firefighters who are paid an annual retainer to be available for call-outs. The industrial action, which begins today, will see members engaging in a campaign of non-cooperation with work outside of responding to emergency calls.
RTÉ

Ukraine war: Kyiv accuses Russia of ‘heinous war crime’ in dam destruction
The Ukrainian government has accused Russia of inflicting a “heinous war crime” on the country by destroying a huge dam, unleashing a torrent of flood water through the country’s war-torn south. Footage on local television showed water surging through the fragmented remains of the Soviet-era Kakhovka dam, which is in Russian-controlled territory and held back a reservoir used in the cooling systems of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. Both Moscow and Kyiv cast blame on each other for the destruction of the dam, which created a reservoir of water equivalent to the Great Salt Lake of Utah and supplies water to the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula.
The Irish Times

Prince Harry set to give evidence against Mirror publishers in landmark court appearance
Prince Harry is expected to give evidence at the High Court today over alleged unlawful information gathering by journalists working for Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) – in what will be a landmark appearance in the witness box from a senior royal. Harry, 38, is suing the publisher, attempting to prove that reporters for the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People titles were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called “blagging” or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators, between 1996 and 2010. MGN is contesting the claims and has either denied or not admitted each of them. The publisher also argues that some of the claimants have brought their legal action too late.
Sky News

Ex-Vice-President Mike Pence joins White House race
Former US Vice-President Mike Pence has officially filed paperwork to join an increasingly crowded field of Republicans running for president. Mr Pence, 63, is set to formally launch his campaign with a video, speech and townhall event in the early voting state of Iowa on Wednesday. The move pits him against Donald Trump, the man he served in the White House for four years from 2017-21. The former president is currently polling well ahead in the race.
BBC News

Global ‘silver tsunami’ of older cancer patients is coming, experts warn
The world must urgently prepare for a global “tsunami” of millions of older cancer patients or risk healthcare systems being unable to cope, leading doctors have warned. With life expectancy increasing and a rapidly soaring population of older people, a looming increase in elderly patients with cancer was now a “serious public health concern”, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) said in a report. Cancer centres must prepare for “the silver oncologic tsunami”, the experts added.
The Guardian

Today’s forecast
Largely dry and sunny today, however some cloud will bubble up in the afternoon and evening with the slight chance of isolated showers in Ulster and north Connacht. Highest temperatures of 19 to 25 degrees generally but a light to moderate easterly breeze means highest temperatures near the east coast will be 16 to 19 degrees. Tonight will be dry with long clear spells. Patches of mist and fog are possible in light east to northeast or variable winds. Lowest temperatures of 7 to 12 degrees.
Met Éireann