A previously high-ranking member of the Ku Klux Klan and convicted terrorist, known as Frank L Silva or Frank DeSilva, has been remotely counselling Irish extremists from the far right. This advice is aimed at coordinating anti-immigration demonstrations. Silva played a significant role in the white supremacy movement in America during the 1980s. Apart from leading the Ku Klux Klan chapter in Los Angeles and holding the title of ‘grand dragon’, he was a key initiator of ‘The Order’. This neo-Nazi terror organisation was responsible for a spree of violent acts across the US before it was taken down by the FBI.
Additional News updates from Ireland:
– A preliminary report on historical mistreatment at religious institutions’ boarding and day schools suggests setting up a legal investigation for possibly thousands of child sex abuse cases.
– The Department of Finance advises the government to contemplate congestion charges because they see it as a more effective and fair approach to achieving environmental objectives than a levy on car parking, as suggested in their recent document aimed at guiding budget policy.
– The count of people seeking help for ‘hazardous’ and ‘harmful’ alcohol consumption reached its highest point in over a decade, increasing by 10 per cent from 2022, as per the current data from the Health Research Board.
– The new immigration policy by Sinn Féin, introduced after a disappointing local election effort, abolishes any objections to asylum centres.
– The weather forecast by Met Éireann suggests a mostly cloudy and humid climate for today with sporadic rain and drizzle, along with mist and fog on the hills and some coastlines. Short periods of sunshine might appear, mainly in the midlands and east, with temperatures ranging from 16 to 21 degrees. In the west and south’s coastal regions, an increase in moderate southerly winds is anticipated.
Here’s a recap of recent headlines:
In Sports, Ireland’s Rugby Sevens captain Harry McNulty has reached his second Olympics, an achievement he probably never dreamt of when he first received his call up nine years ago. McNulty is now leading a squad that stands a good chance of clinching a medal at the grand event. Interestingly, this is happening at the jam-packed Stade de France in Paris, according to Ian O’Riordan.
In our Opinions section, Daniel Geary suggests Kamala Harris should have been granted an opportunity to demonstrate her abilities. At the same time, Liz Carolan notes that even without threats of violence directed at politicians, the destructive impact of social media on democracy is evident.
Turning to Business, any hopes for a comeback to the 9% VAT rate for the hospitality sector have been quashed by the Department of Finance. They argue that such a change would be financially burdensome and “unjustified”.
Switching back to Sports, Darragh Ó Sé observed the incredibly engaging hurling final while on a short vacation in Spain. Despite the excitement, he finds it hard to believe the conversation has shifted back to football this week.
In international news, Trump’s campaign team has lodged a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). The gripe is that Kamala Harris supposedly has no legal right to inherit President Joe Biden’s campaign funds.
Finally, we have a heart-wrenching account of a 60-year-old divorcee who covets her ex-partner’s new life and is grappling with the pain of solitude. She laments about the lack of social visits and fear of dying unnoticed.