7 is the magic number. Catch up on all of today’s top news every night at 7pm on TheLiberal.ie
#1 Scotland referendum: Large turnout reported in Scotland as citizens turn up in their droves to cast their vote to determine the country’s future as an independent nation or continuing as part of the United Kingdom. Polling stations opened just after 7am this morning and they will remain open until 10pm tonight. The vote’s results are expected to be known early tomorrow morning.
#2 Economy: Finance Minister Michael Noonan claims that the economy will grow by 4.5pc this year. He also confirmed that there will be no need for any additional tax hikes or spending cuts in October’s Budget to meet any of the government’s set targets.
#3 Job hub: The former Andersen Ireland plant in Rathkeale, Co. Limerick, is set to become a job creation hub after the building was acquired by Limerick City and County Council. The site is to be used as an enterprise centre for local companies seeking to create jobs in the town, in a similar fashion to other existing enterprise centres already in existence elsewhere in the country.
#4 Foiled plot: Australian counter-terrorism units have foiled an Islamic State plot to behead a random citizen in downtown Sydney. Up to 800 officers raided premises across several addresses in Sydney and Brisbane, where suspected militants were thought to be residing. At least one person was arrested and one gun seized This action comes in the wake of Australia’s heightened level of terror alert, set to “high” for the first time in over a decade, after concerns regarding islamic militants re-entering the country after fighting in Iraq and Syria.
#5 Stabbing: PSNI officers in Belfast are hunting two men in connection with this morning’s stabbing incident in the Brookhill Avenue area of north Belfast. A man in his 30s receive stab injuries to his thigh and arm and had his wallet taken during the assault.
#6 Ice bucket challenge: Survey reports that one third of Irish adults took part in the ice bucket challenge, which means that about 1.1 million people partook in the recent ice craze.
#7 Lotto win: 13-strong lotto syndicate celebrate jackpot win today. A 13-member syndicate from Malin Head are toasting to their luck after scooping up a whooping almost 5m prize at last night’s draw. Each member will receive about €375,000. Nice boost in the run-up to Christmas.