November 17: Today’s top stories in 60 seconds

Killer Jozef Puska to be sentenced to life in prison today for murder of Ashling Murphy
Jozef Puska will today be sentenced for the murder of Ashling Murphy after last week’s guilty verdict. Puska (33) is facing a life in prison for the murder of the school teacher (23), who was out on a jog at the Grand Canal in Tullamore, Co Offaly on January 12, 2022. Last week Mr Justice Hunt Tony Hunt read out the unanimous guilty verdict at Court No 13 in the Central Criminal Court on Thursday, November 9 shortly after 2pm, concluding a near four-week trial.
Independent.ie

Health officials say cervical cancer can be eliminated by 2040
Babies born today will not have to worry about contracting cervical cancer, according to health officials who are aiming to eliminate it as a public health risk by 2040. Cervical cancer kills 90 women a year in Ireland but health figures say it can be eliminated within two decades through a series of targeted policies.
The Irish Examiner

Paid sick leave to increase to 5 days from January
The Government has announced that the entitlement to paid sick leave will increase from three to five days on 1 January 2024. It is the second stage of a four-year plan which will see employer-paid sick leave gradually rise to ten days in 2026. The move is designed to ensure that all employees get a minimum level of financial compensation if they are unable to work due to illness or injury. From next year, workers will be entitled to up to five days of sick leave in a year, paid at 70% of gross earning, up to a cap of €110.
RTÉ

Tánaiste visits Kibbutz attacked by Hamas, warns Israeli minister Gaza war is bringing ‘misery’
This morning, Tánaiste Micheál Martin stepped over broken glass and through burnt-out homes in Kibbutz Be’eri, a once bucolic community in southern Israel that is now a visceral reminder of the devastation wrought by the Islamist militant group Hamas on 7th October, a date now known among Israelis as “the Black Sabbath.” “We all witnessed what were horrendous scenes of an idyllic neighbourhood being destroyed,” said Mr Martin speaking to Irish press in Jerusalem after the visit. “Tremendous, terrible brutality in evidence: the burning of homes, the destruction of a community.
The Journal

Peter McVerry Trust raises doubts over plans to deliver housing
The Peter McVerry Trust is reviewing plans it had to provide 500 homes to move people out of homelessness over the next three years, due to the financial crisis facing the charity. Several local authorities are in talks with other housing bodies to take over projects councils had been planning to develop with the trust. The homelessness charity has confirmed it is conducting a review of housing developments it had in the pipeline, to determine which ones it can proceed with given its current financial challenges.
The Irish Times

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs: Singer Cassie accuses rap mogul of rape and abuse
Rap artist Sean “Diddy” Combs has been accused of rape and sex trafficking by a female singer. In a lawsuit seen by the BBC, ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura said she was trapped for a decade in a cycle of abuse and violence. Mr Combs – who has also gone by the stage name Puff Daddy – denies the allegations, accusing the singer of trying to extort him. His lawyer said the claims were “offensive and outrageous”. Ms Ventura – an R&B singer and dancer who performs under the stage name Cassie – alleges that the rap producer raped and beat her over 10 years starting when she was 19 and he was 37. “After years in silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story,” she said in a statement on Thursday. The lawsuit includes multiple graphic descriptions of the violent abuse that she says occurred beginning after she met the rapper in 2005.
BBC News

Philippines hit by undersea earthquake of up to 7.2 magnitude
A powerful undersea earthquake of up to 7.2 magnitude has struck the Philippines. The tremor occurred around 16 miles (26km) off Burias at the southern tip of the archipelago, he US Geological Survey said. Scientists said no tsunami was expected, with a low likelihood of casualties and damage. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The power of the quake was put at between 6.7 and 7.2 magnitude.
Sky News

Today’s forecast
This morning will be largely dry across Munster. Some bright intervals at first, but it will become increasingly cloudy. Rain will develop in the southwest by midday and spread northeastwards to all areas this afternoon and will continue this evening. Highest temperatures of 9 to 11 degrees with light south to southeast winds strengthening. Rain in all areas early tonight. It will clear eastwards later in the night with scattered showers following into western counties. Fresh to strong south to southeast winds will becoming south to southwesterly and ease as rain clears. Lowest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees. A Yellow Rain Warning has also been issued for county Down.
Met Éireann