November 22: Today’s top stories in 60 seconds

Ballyfermot assault: Two men charged in connection with attack that left garda with ‘horrifying’ injuries
Two men have been charged in connection with an “horrifying” assault on two gardaí in Ballyfermot on Sunday night. The men, one in his 50s and the other in his 30s, are due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin this morning charged in relation to the assaults that saw the gardaí require hospital treatment. Four people have been arrested in relation to the incident, with a woman in her 50s charged by Gardaí on Monday and released from custody, while a fourth man in his 50s is still in Garda custody in relation to the assaults. Footage of the incident shows a male garda being punched and kicked, while a female garda who attempts to intervene is also struck and pulled by the hair. The assault comes just weeks after the high-profile ramming of a garda car in Ballyfermot after which more resources were promised to support officers in the area.
Independent.ie

Proposals to ban vapes for under 18s before Cabinet
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly will this morning bring proposals to Cabinet to ban the sale of nicotine-inhaling products to those aged under 18. This initiative will curb the advertising of nicotine-inhaling products near schools. The ban on advertisements will also include public transport and cinemas in an effort to limit children’s exposure to commercial messages normalising e-cigarettes.
RTÉ

‘Extraordinary collapse’ in supply leads to record spike in rents
An “extraordinary collapse” in supply of rental homes has driven rents to record highs, up 14.1% compared to the same time last year. The Daft.ie Rental Report for Quarter 3 of this year shows 75% fewer rental homes available than in 2019, and almost 60% fewer compared to last year. Severely constricted supply has driven up rents by 14.1% between July and September compared to the same three-month period last year. That is the highest rise recorded in the Daft.ie report since its launch in 2005, with the most recent 4.3% quarter-on-quarter increase also a new series high. Average market rents were €1,688 per month between July and September. That is 120% above the low of €765 per month in late 2011.
The Irish Examiner

Fines totaling €164,000 handed to 13 motorists who didn’t pay M50 tolls
Thirteen motorists have been hit with fines totalling €164,000 after they failed to appear in court and ignored reams of warning letters for repeatedly dodging M50 tolls. Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), the State agency dealing with road and public transport infrastructure, prosecuted them at Dublin District Court yesterday. However, despite being summonsed, they did not attend the hearings, which went ahead in their absence. Judge Anthony Halpin handed down fines ranging from €5,000 to €25,000, to be paid within six months. He also ordered them to pay €350 in prosecution costs.
The Journal

Suspect faces 5 counts of murder, hate crimes in Colorado Springs nightclub massacre
The man suspected of fatally shooting five people and injuring more than a dozen others at an LGBTQ nightclub is facing murder and hate crime charges, court records show. Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, is being held without bond and may be charged with five counts of murder and five counts of committing a bias-motivated crime causing bodily injury, though those charges are preliminary and haven’t been filed yet. Authorities on Monday were searching for a motive after the deadly rampage left the community in mourning. The Colorado Springs Police Department updated Monday the number of people injured in the attack, confirming the five fatalities and saying 17 others sustained gunshot wounds, another person was hurt but not by a gunshot, and another person “was a victim with no visible injuries.”
USA Today

Greece rescues up to 500 migrants adrift on fishing boat
A fishing boat with up to 500 migrants on board was rescued in stormy seas south-west of Crete on Tuesday. The coastguard received a distress call shortly before midnight. “The call said there are 400-500 people on board,” a spokeswoman said, adding the rescue operation had been hampered by near gale-force winds. “They can see the boat, it’s adrift, there is a large number of people on board,” she added. Two nearby cargo ships, a tanker and two Italian fishing boats were lending assistance.
The National

Ukraine braces for harsh winter as Russian strikes cripple power facilities
Ukrainians are bracing for a winter with little or no power in several areas including the capital where temperatures have already dropped below freezing as relentless Russian strikes cripple the country’s energy capacity.
Reuters

Today’s forecast
Patchy fog will be slow to clear in places this morning. The day will bring some good sunny spells but it will stay cloudy in parts with a little patchy rain or drizzle. Winds will be mostly light or moderate, though it will stay very blustery for a while near the south coast. Highest temperatures of 6°C to 10°C. During the evening, wet and breezy weather will develop in the southwest. The wet and breezy weather will track up over the country tonight with a clearance to scattered showers following to all but the northeast by morning. Some heavy or thundery downpours may occur with the rain. Lowest temperatures of 3°C to 6°C in fresh blustery southerly winds, easing and veering southwest as the rain clears.
Met Éireann