Thursday’s top stories: Internet VAT cut in budget may reduce bills; Trump claims on Harris’s race ‘same old show’

Kamala Harris says Trump claims about her race ‘same old show’ of divisiveness and disrespect

US vice president Kamala Harris said on Wednesday that former president Donald Trump’s false assertions about her race were the “same old show” as she emphasised the need for black women to organise for his defeat this November.

Addressing the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority – one of “Divine Nine” historically black fraternities and sororities – in Houston, Texas, Ms Harris told the crowd: “When I look out at everyone here, I see family”.

She drew knowing chuckles from the audience as she mentioned Mr Trump’s comments earlier in the day at the annual meeting of the National Association of Black Journalists.

News in Ireland

Internet VAT rate cut being considered for budget would reduce household bills: Ministers are considering cutting the VAT rate on internet connections as part of Budget 2025, in a move which could save consumers more than €40 on their internet bills.
Miriam Lord: Finally apologetic, Derry O’Rourke’s now a paltry old man who doesn’t deserve to sleep at night: This week, a 78-year-old serial child rapist was in the dock. Derry O’Rourke already has a catalogue of convictions for serious sexual offences against young girls back in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and has served many years in prison.
Irish man killed in helicopter crash is named as married father-of-two: One of the men killed in Tuesday’s helicopter crash in Co Westmeath has been named as Niall Crosby, an IT professional from Co Kildare.
Kellie Harrington makes history as first Irish woman to win medals at two Olympic Games: The ease, the way Kellie Harrington made it look in becoming the first woman in Irish Olympic history to win medals at different Olympic Games was, in terms of confidence and poise, like a rinse and repeat of her first-round fight against Alessia Mesiano.
Weather forecast: It will be a warm and humid day with a mix of cloud, sunny spells and a few showers. Showers are most likely across the west and northwest of the country. It will become breezy and overcast along the Atlantic seaboard by evening with rain developing there later. Highest temperatures of 19 to 24 degrees.
Check out today’s Most Read stories
Join The Irish Times WhatsApp channel for breaking news straight to your phone.

The Big Read

Influencers: Sidemen KSI and Tobi Brown with their crisp sandwiches and pints of guinness at Doyles pub in Dublin

The Canada Goose-wearing young men offer to sell ‘the best crack in Dublin’. You don’t see that in Tourism Ireland ads: IShowSpeed and KSI have been taking their YouTube audiences around Ireland. How have we left our children with these idiots to look up to?

Opinion

Business

Digicel earnings rebound in year bondholders seized control: Digicel, the Caribbean-based telecoms company founded by Denis O’Brien in 2001, posted a rebound in earnings in the financial year to March, a period in which the Irish businessman lost control of the telco to a group of bondholders.

Sports

Ireland now reaping the rewards for essential post-Sydney reforms: The medals won by swimmers Mona McSharry and Daniel Wiffen this week are the most vivid expression of the transformation in Irish sport over the last 20 years, writes Denis Walsh.
Olympics Day 6: Irish in action and best of the rest as boats chase medals in Paris and Marseille: Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry begin their Olympic campaigns at Le Golf National

World

Three accused of involvement in 9/11 attack plead guilty in Guantánamo Bay deal – prosecutors: Three men accused of being involved in the 9/11 terrorist attack – including the self-proclaimed mastermind of the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon – have agreed to plea deals at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, prosecutors said on Wednesday.

Life & Style

READ SOME MORE