November 07: Today’s top stories in 60 seconds

World population to reach 8 billion on 15 November 2022
The global population is projected to reach 8 billion on 15 November 2022, and India is projected to surpass China as the world’s most populous country in 2023, according to World Population Prospects 2022. The global population is growing at its slowest rate since 1950, having fallen under 1 per cent in 2020. The latest projections by the United Nations suggest that the world’s population could grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030 and 9.7 billion in 2050. It is projected to reach a peak of around 10.4 billion people during the 2080s and to remain at that level until 2100.
UN.org

John Hume: Portrait of Nobel laureate to be unveiled at Westminster
An official portrait of the late Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume is to be unveiled in Westminster on Monday. The portrait was commissioned by the Speaker’s advisory committee on works of art. It was painted by Northern Ireland artist Colin Davidson and was based on sketches he made of the founding member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) in 2016. The portrait will hang in Portcullis House.
BBC

Fire at Kildare facility at centre of proposal to house Ukrainian refugees is extinguisheD
Garda enquiries are ongoing into a fire at a premises in Co Kildare that is at the centre of plans to be used as an accommodation centre for Ukrainian refugees. Gardaí and local fire services were alerted to a fire in a shed at the rear of the Kill Equestrian Centre shortly after 8pm last night. No injuries have been reported and gardaí say the fire was quickly brought under control by fire service personnel. The scene is currently preserved for examination.
The Journal

Spiritans paid over €5m in clerical abuse settlements, support services
It has emerged that the Spiritans in Ireland – also known as the Holy Ghost Order – has paid over €5 million in settlement claims and towards abuse and support services since 2004. The order confirmed the settlement figure to RTÉ Radio 1’s Documentary on One programme, after two siblings spoke about abuse they suffered at Blackrock College during the 1970s and early 1980s. Their story will be broadcast at 6pm this evening on RTÉ Radio 1, when the documentary titled ‘Blackrock Boys’ will be aired during the final hour of Drivetime. Responding to questions from the Documentary on One team, the current Provincial of the Spiritans, Fr Martin Kelly, stated that the order had made “multiple monetary contributions” to people who alleged abuse at the hands of Spiritan community members – and since 2004 the total amount paid by the Spiritans, in settlement of claims of abuse, and towards support services, amounted to over €5m.
RTÉ

Ryanair swings back to €1.4bn profit despite soaring costs
Ryanair has managed to swing back into the black despite a massive hike in costs over recent months. The airline said that it carried more than twice the number of passengers compared to a year ago, helping to push up revenue. This fed further down the balance sheet as pre-tax profit reached €1.4bn in the first six months of the year, compared to a loss of €100m just a year earlier. The company carried a record number of passengers in the second quarter and average ticket prices were around 14% higher than before the pandemic, bosses said. It was enough to offset the drop in fare prices in the first three months of the year as Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine pushed down ticket prices in Europe.
The Irish Examiner

Met Police launch major operation to arrest suspected climate change protesters
A “significant” operation to identify and arrest climate change protesters suspected of planning “reckless and serious” motorway disruption has begun in London as COP27 gets underway. Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said three people were arrested on Sunday evening who were suspected of planning public disruption. Police were expecting to make more arrests overnight.
ITV News

Facebook’s parent Meta prepares to slash thousands of jobs – reports
Facebook’s parent company, Meta, is reportedly preparing to cut thousands of jobs after $80bn (£69bn) was wiped off its market value last month amid the global economic downturn. On Sunday the Wall Street Journal reported that the cuts, to be announced on Wednesday, were expected to affect thousands of Meta’s 87,000 employees globally.
The Guardian

Today’s forecast
This morning will be cloudy and blustery with outbreaks of rain, heavy at times. Turning more persistent and widespread through the middle of the day, with an ongoing risk of flooding. It will become windy also with strong and gusty southerly winds, strongest in the south and southeast. Through the late afternoon rain will begin to clear to showers from the southwest while winds will veer southwesterly and gradually ease somewhat. Highest temperatures of 12°C to 15°C. Clear spells and scattered showers tonight, some turning heavy or thundery. While winds will ease mostly moderate to fresh with lowest temperatures of 5°C to 9°C.
Met Éireann