October 26: Today’s top stories in 60 seconds

Cost of living crisis linked to surge in young people working as ‘money mules’ for gangs
The cost of living crisis has resulted in a surge in the number of people, most of them young, allowing their bank accounts to be used by criminal gangs as so-called money mules to move and launder money, according to Garda sources. The latest banking intelligence shows the number of accounts in the Republic linked to money mules doubled in the first six months of the year to over 3,000, into which €12 million from frauds was deposited. Most of those accounts were owned, or had been opened specifically for muling, by young people between the ages of 18 and 24. Intelligence from Irish banks also shows the value of an average transaction conducted by a mule in the first half of this year was €4,000, arising from wide range of online, call-based and text-based scams. Some of those identified by the Garda as hiding money for criminals in the first half of this year were as young as 14.
The Irish Times

Rishi Sunak prepares for his first PMQs in top job – as details of call with Joe Biden emerge
Rishi Sunak will make his debut at Prime Minister’s Questions at lunchtime, in what is shaping up to be the first big test of his leadership. The new PM will face Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in the Commons – a day after culling almost a dozen Conservative ministers from the cabinet. Jacob Rees-Mogg has returned to the backbenches after a brief stint as business secretary, alongside others who were loyal to Liz Truss. Questions remain over whether Mr Sunak will go ahead with the economic statement due to be delivered by Jeremy Hunt on 31 October amid the market turmoil caused by Ms Truss’s tax-slashing mini-budget.
Sky News

Committee to be told concrete levy will add €1,200 to cost of the ‘most common house types’
The concrete levy will “undoubtedly challenge the viability of construction projects” and add €1,200 to the cost of the most common house types in Ireland. That’s what the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) will tell a Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform when it meets later today to discuss the proposed Concrete Block Levy. The levy was announced in the Budget as part of a plan to offset the cost of the mica redress scheme. It has been limited to concrete blocks and pouring concrete only, and will no longer apply to pre-cast concrete materials. A 10% levy was initially planned, but this was revised down to 5%. As a result, it is expected to raise €32 million over 12 months, under half the €80 million it was originally expected to raise. The introduction date was also pushed out to September of next year, rather than April.
The Journal

Over 70% of schools received no response to ads for teachers
Many schools are grappling with severe teacher shortages due to issues around recruiting and staff retention, a survey has found. The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) published the findings of almost 100 second-level schools on Wednesday. Almost all (91%) reported experiencing difficulties recruiting teachers over the past six months. A further seven out of 10 (71%) said they advertised positions in the past six months for which no teacher applied. Almost 80% of the schools surveyed reported situations where a teacher accepted a job only to later reject it, often for a position with a higher number of contracted hours elsewhere. Almost two thirds reported experiencing difficulties retaining teachers, and a further 61% said they have unfilled vacancies due to recruitment and retention difficulties. The majority (87%) reported that recruitment and retention difficulties have become more difficult since the onset of the pandemic.
The Irish Examiner

Gardaí investigating ‘unexplained’ death in Westmeath
Gardaí are investigating after a man’s body was discovered in unexplained circumstances in Co Westmeath. The remains of the man in his 60s were found at a house at Rattin, Milltownpass shortly after 6pm yesterday evening. A technical examination of the scene will take place today as gardaí try to establish what led to the man’s death. The Office of the State Pathologist has been notified and a post-mortem examination is expected to take place later.
RTÉ

Harvey Weinstein accuser testifies she wanted to ‘destroy’ herself after assault
A woman who accused Harvey Weinstein of raping her in 2013 testified on Tuesday that the attack left her wanting to “destroy” herself. The woman, a model and actor living and working in Rome who was in Los Angeles at the time for a film festival, is the first of eight Weinstein accusers set to testify in a courtroom in Los Angeles where the 70-year-old movie mogul is on trial on multiple counts of rape and sexual assault. Most of the women said that their assaults began with what were supposed to be business meetings with Weinstein at hotels.
The Guardian

Today’s forecast
Blustery today with scattered showers, some heavy with a chance of thunderstorms. There will be good sunny spells through the day as well. South to southwest winds will be fresh to strong and gusty with wave overtopping possible along exposed coasts. Highest temperatures of 13°C. to 16°C.. The showers will become more isolated in the evening as the winds ease for a time. Tonight will start dry with clear spells but cloudier conditions will extend from the south with showery outbreaks of rain following. Lowest temperatures of 8°C to 12°C.. Southerly winds will increase moderate to fresh and gusty, strong at times along exposed coasts.
Met Éireann