A warning has been issued by the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland (BPFI) regarding a new telephone scam that’s swindling Irish customers out of between €6,000 and €8,000. The warning was part of an awareness campaign started by the FraudSmart, designed to improve understanding of fraudulent behaviours within the banking industry. The initiative is supported by banks such as AIB, Bank of Ireland, Permanent TSB, Ulster Bank, Avant Money, An Post Money, Citi Bank, Revolut, Irish League of Credit Unions and Barclays.
Other Irish news includes a significant number of students receiving home education due to the lack of available places in mainstream schools since the beginning of the academic year, according to recent surveys. Meanwhile, data from IrishJobs indicates that there has been a decline in the number of remote job vacancies in the third quarter.
The popular RTÉ show, ‘Ireland’s Fittest Family’, has been delayed due to the unfortunate demise of a young participant believed to hail from Dublin. Moreover, the direct portal between Dublin and New York has been permanently closed; but connectivity is maintained via a new portal that was launched in Philadelphia on Tuesday afternoon.
As per the weather update, it’s expected to be mostly dry but slightly overcast this morning. Sunshine will be sparse as cloud cover increases throughout the day. A mild southerly wind is anticipated to rise in force by the afternoon, with maximum temperatures between 12 to 15 degrees. Tonight’s weather will be both temperate and cloudy, but dry overall, with minimum temperatures ranging from 10 to 13 degrees.
In the column ‘The Big Read’, a reader shared their struggle to find purpose and the disappointment their life has provided, questioning their role in people’s aversion towards them in a letter to psychotherapist Trish Murphy.
The single and childless are unfairly penalised by inheritance laws, suggests Joanne Hunt. She questions the fairness of tax rules that allow some individuals to bequeath their wealth without tax implications, while others aren’t afforded the same liberty.
In other news, Johnny Sexton has been propositioned by the Irish sports authorities to adopt a mentorship role within the squad of Ireland’s international rugby union players, specifically with the outhalves. There’s a strong expectation that, although the agreement hasn’t been settled yet, the ex-captain will have a moderate contribution in the upcoming Six Nations tournament.
Meanwhile, Keith Duggan reports on the mixed sentiments in Wisconsin as former president, Barack Obama, returns to the political campaign trail. Obama is visiting key midwestern states, aiming to support Kamala Harris’s campaign while also re-establishing his own achievements that have been undermined by Donald Trump.
In our podcast section, we delve into why notorious criminal, Liam Byrne from the Kinahan gang, seems content with a five-year prison sentence.
For a mental workout, why not indulge in one of our captivating crosswords or puzzles?