October 2: Today’s top stories in 60 seconds

Trial of man accused of murdering Ashling Murphy due to begin today
The trial of Josef Puska, the man accused of the murder of Ashling Murphy in Tullamore, Co Offaly in January 2022 is due to get under way at the Central Criminal Court today.
Independent.ie

Tánaiste arrives in Kyiv for EU foreign affairs meeting
Tánaiste Micheál Martin is to attend an extraordinary meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Ukraine later today. Mr Martin arrived in Kyiv overnight by train from Poland with other delegations amid tight security. Foreign ministers are expected to discuss continued financial and military support for Ukraine. The visit by 27 EU foreign ministers to the city has been a carefully guarded secret.
RTÉ

Budget 2024: USC cuts and up to three new household energy credits under consideration
Cuts to universal social charge (USC) for workers, a new round of up to three household energy credits, and a scrapping of the planned excise increase on petrol and diesel are being considered as preparations for the budget enter the final week. Ministers will be meeting with Paschal Donohoe, the Minister for Public Expenditure, in the coming days as they make final pitches for their departments’ spending plans. Minister for Finance Michael McGrath meanwhile is working to finalise a tax package in the order of €1.15 billion.
The Irish Times

Bus Éireann services not running in Limerick this morning due to ‘unofficial’ industrial action
Bus Éireann services are not operating in Limerick this morning due to “ongoing unofficial industrial action”, according to the company. The strike action began yesterday and there were reports of people having to take taxis in order to get to work on time. Bus Éireann confirmed the strike action is continuing today and that services will not run this morning.
The Journal

Government considering rise in PRSI rate as part of budget
The Government is exploring whether to increase PRSI for workers and employers as early as January 2024, the Irish Examiner understands. Coalition leaders will meet on Wednesday with Finance Minister Michael McGrath and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe to hammer out the final details for the budget next week. The entry point for the higher rate of income tax, tax credits, and changes to USC are all under consideration, but a Government source indicated the entry point for the higher tax band rate would not increase as high as €45,000.
The Irish Examiner

Mexico church: Ten dead after Tamaulipas roof collapse
At least 10 people have been killed after a church roof collapsed in northern Mexico, local officials say. Forty-nine people were taken to hospital after the collapse at Santa Cruz church in the coastal city of Ciudad Madero in Tamaulipas state. At least two children are reported to be among those killed. Around 100 people were attending Mass at the time, police said. Some reports suggested a baptism ceremony was being held there. Dozens of people were left trapped inside the church following the incident.
BBC News

Donald Trump set to appear at start of fraud trial as he argues his rivals are ‘out to get him’
Donald Trump is set to make a surprise appearance on the first day of his trial for “astounding” fraud which begins in New York today. The former president, who is the favourite to be the Republican presidential candidate next year, is the central defendant in the civil trial which begins today at a courtroom in southern Manhattan.
Sky News

Rescuers continue search for bodies at Spanish nightclubs after deadly blaze
The death toll from a fire that tore through three adjoining night clubs in Spain is expected to rise as rescuers search the wreckage for a further five people reported missing after the blaze that has killed at least 13 people. The blaze in the south-eastern town of Murcia broke out at around 6am on Sunday morning in the La Fonda club, before spreading to the neighbouring Teatre and Golden clubs, officials said. Reports on the number of people unaccounted for varied. The local newspaper, La Verdad de Murcia, cited the town’s mayor, José Ballesta, as saying 18 people had been reported missing. That number could include some of those already found. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The Guardian

Today’s forecast
Much of the country will have a mostly dry day today with just a few passing showers and spells of hazy sunshine breaking through the cloud. Duller conditions with patchy rain and drizzle in the south and southeast will gradually clear eastwards later this afternoon. In the west and northwest, showers will merge to rain for a time this evening. Highs of 13 to 16 degrees in light to moderate southwest breezes. Scattered showers, some heavy, will spread eastwards over the country tonight. There’ll be clear spells too though, and a few mist and fog patches. Lows of 8 to 11 degrees in mostly light to moderate west to southwest breezes, fresh to strong near coasts.
Met Éireann