September 19: Today’s top stories in 60 seconds

Irish student dies following kayaking incident in US
A young Irish student has died following a kayaking incident in the United States. Ella Mills, from Dublin, died following an incident on the Potomac River near Washington DC while on a trip with the Columbia University Whitewater Kayaking Club. Trinity College, where she was an English Studies student, confirmed the death this morning.
RTÉ

Temple Street consultant continued surgery for months after concerns emerged
The consultant whose work at Temple Street children’s hospital is to be externally reviewed continued to carry out operations for months after concerns about their work first emerged. The Health Service Executive has commissioned a UK expert to review surgeries carried out by the consultant after an internal review identified “serious spinal surgical incidents” in the service, it said on Monday. One child died following multiple procedures and others suffered serious postoperative complications.
The Irish Times

Central Bank expects a ‘gradual and uneven’ decline to inflation over next two years
The Central Bank has published its third quarterly bulletin in which it expects that the current inflation rate will see a “gradual and uneven” decline over the next two years. The bulletin, which estimates and evaluates domestic economic activity each quarter, says that along with a slow decrease, the bank also anticipates “an upward pressure” on wages if the employment rate remains strong. Under the current observations, the bank expects interests rates to fall to 3.2% and 2.3% in 2024 and 2025, respectively. The estimate comes with the expectation that the price of energy, food and industrial goods will slow down, “offsetting more persistent upward pressure on inflation from services”.
The Journal

Fair City photographer accuses Fine Gael senator of ‘derogatory’ and ‘highly insulting’ remarks during RTÉ hearing
A Fine Gael Senator has been accused of making “derogatory” and “highly insulting” remarks towards those working in the creative industry by the photographer of Fair City. Fine Gael Senator Micheal Carrigy, who spoke at the hearing into RTÉ’s finances last week, compared the professional photography to mobile phone photos and said his assistant can take photos at no cost. It emerged last week during an Oireachtas committee meeting that the photographer would earn a maximum of €60,000 per annum, or €240,000 over four years, to photograph stills on the set of Fair City. Following the hearing RTÉ’s director general Kevin Bakhurst said the broadcaster was suspending the tender for a photographer, and “stopping all discretionary spending”.
Independent.ie

Ploughing Championships visitors advised to bring wellies amid weather warnings
It can only be hoped that all 300,000 expected attendees to the National Ploughing Championships remember their wellies. Weather warnings will be in place across much of the country in the coming days, but crowds will still be drawn to Europe’s largest outdoor event in Ratheniska, Co Laois, from Tuesday until Thursday.
The Irish Examiner

Russell Brand: YouTube suspends star’s channels from making money from adverts
YouTube has suspended Russell Brand’s channels from making money from adverts for “violating” its “creator responsibility policy”. The video platform said it was taking action “to protect” its users. It comes after the Metropolitan Police received a report of an alleged sexual assault in 2003, in the wake of further allegations about the star. Over the weekend the comedian and actor was accused of rape and sexual assaults between 2006 and 2013, which he denies.
BBC News

Boris Johnson called his allies ‘The Munsters’, new book alleges
Boris Johnson described his political allies as “The Munsters” and regularly hummed the Addams Family theme tune while discussing them after he quit as foreign secretary over Theresa May’s proposed Brexit deal, it has been claimed. The former prime minister, who had returned to the Conservative back benches in July 2018, also joked that he had “cornered the market in sex pests” among his supporters, according to a book by the Telegraph’s political editor, Ben Riley-Smith.
The Guardian

Hardeep Singh Nijjar: India expels Canadian diplomat amid escalating row over the killing of Sikh leader
India has expelled a Canadian diplomat amid an escalating row over the killing of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The Indian government also criticised Ottawa for expelling one of its diplomats, and dismissed allegations that it was linked to the killing of the activist in Canada earlier this year as “absurd”.
Sky News

Today’s forecast
Today will be wet and breezy or windy, with fresh to strong and gusty southwesterly winds extending to all areas, becoming very strong in western coastal areas this evening. Generally dull with rain and drizzle, turning heavy at times, and patches of mist. There will be occasional drier and brighter periods in the afternoon, the best of these in the south. Highest temperatures of 15 to 19 degrees. It will be wet and breezy or windy tonight with fresh to strong and gusty southwesterly winds, very strong in the west, south and southeast. Rain will persist in most areas through the night and will be heavy at times, with thunder possible too. This may cause localised flooding. The rain will clear to scattered showers in the west towards morning. Lowest temperatures of 10 to 14 degrees. A Status Yellow Rain warning is in place for counties Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Donegal and all of  Connacht with Met Éireann warning that spells of rain will be heavy and persistent, at times giving accumulative totals of 30 to 60mm – locally higher on hills. The rain will ease off for a time in many parts on Tuesday daytime, before heavy spells of rain return Tuesday evening and night. A Status Yellow Wind warning has also been issued for West Galway and Kerry.
Met Éireann