July 19: Today’s top stories in 60 seconds

‘Like opening an oven’: Irish people in European heatwave recount ‘unrelenting’ heat
“You want to have your nice sun holiday but after a certain point, it’s just too extreme.” European countries have been hit over the last week by the Cerberus heatwave, which has brought oppressively high temperatures in the 30s and 40s. The heatwave follows a record-hot start to July as the World Meteorological Organisation confirmed that the beginning of the month was the hottest week globally in modern records.
The Journal

Community reeling from second tragedy as dad and son killed on moped trip during holiday in Turkey
A community is reeling from a second motorbike tragedy following the deaths of a father and son on holiday in Turkey just months after the death of a teenager. Eoin Fitzpatrick (36) and his son Dylan (10), of Portlaoise, died when the moped they were on collided with a bus in Alanya on Monday afternoon just hours before they were due to fly home. Dylan’s older brother was also on the family holiday but was not involved in the accident. Family members in Ireland were yesterday trying to make travel arrangements to Turkey.
Independent.ie

Higher taxes for larger cars under review as €1.5bn in revenue lost in electric-vehicle switch
The Republic may need to introduce higher taxes for larger, heavier cars to help make up for about €1.5 billion in lost revenue per year as motorists switch to electric vehicles, Government officials have said. While such a move would have the biggest impact on SUV drivers, congestion charges are also an option to be considered by officials as they grapple with how to replace the tax stream from cars that run on fossil fuels. Newly published Tax Strategy Group papers also highlight EU proposals for the gradual extension of electricity tax to residential customers as part of possible options for replacing fossil fuel tax revenues.
The Irish Times

Nearly 83,000 referrals to Tusla last year – up 13% from 2021
There was an increase of almost 10,000 referrals to the Child and Family Agency between 2021 and 2022. According to Tusla’s latest annual report, there were 82,855 referrals to child protection and welfare services in 2022 – a 13% rise on the previous year. The report – the first to be published under its new CEO Kate Duggan – comes days after the State agency acknowledged that it was in a crisis. That acknowledgement followed the publication of a letter by a District Court Judge who expressed his concern to Government ministers about children in care.
RTÉ

Farmers hit by new residential land tax say their businesses are under threat
One of the last early cauliflower farmers in Rush, north Co Dublin, has said he will face an “impossible” €50,000 annual tax bill from the Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) due to come into effect in 2024. Alan Harford of Fairy Hill Farm is among seven farmers to have lost An Bórd Pleanála appeals against inclusion in the RZLT to date, with a further 569 decisions set to be published by the board in the coming months.
The Irish Examiner

Russia-Ukraine war live: Moscow attacks Odesa for second night; fire at Crimea military base sparks evacuations
Russia launched strikes on Ukraine‘s southern Odesa region, the local governor said early Wednesday, the second consecutive night of attacks on the area since Moscow pulled out of a grain export deal. AFP: Oleg Kiper said there had been a “massive attack”, without providing details. He asked residents to stay in shelters.
The Guardian

Inflation falls to 7.9% in bigger than expected drop
The rate of price rises has dropped to 7.9% in the year up to June, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The consumer price index (CPI) measure of inflation shows prices are still rising, just at a slower pace than before, as the rate fell from 8.7% in the year to May.
Sky News

Tupac Shakur: Police search house over 1996 killing
Police in Nevada have confirmed they served a search warrant this week in connection with the unsolved killing of rapper Tupac Shakur. Detectives carried out the search at a home in Henderson, a suburb of Las Vegas where Shakur was gunned down in September 1996. Las Vegas Metropolitan police did not provide further details of the search, citing the ongoing investigation into his murder. Shakur was 25 when he was killed. No arrests have been made and no suspects are currently in custody.
BBC News

Today’s forecast
Today there will be sunny spells and passing showers. The odd heavy shower is possible in the north and east of the country. Maximum temperatures of 16 to 19 degrees in moderate northwest breezes. Becoming mostly dry overnight with just a few showers, mainly affecting northwestern coastal areas. A rather cool night for July with lowest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees in light northwest or variable winds.
Met Éireann