Gay rights advocate Vin Testa waves a rainbow flag in front of the Supreme Court at sun up in Washington. In two separate and significant victories for gay rights, the Supreme Court struck down a provision of a federal law denying federal benefits to married gay couples and cleared the way for the resumption of same-sex marriage in California. Pic: AP Photo/J Scott Applewhite
HERE ARE THE things we learned, loved and shared today as we round off the day in three easy steps.
THINGS WE LEARNED
#MAGDALENE The government announced details of the redress scheme for former Magdalene laundries residents today, saying that the women will receive payments of up to €100,000, depending on their length of stay at the institutions. However, members of the group Magdalene Survivors Together have said they are not happy with the package, and have demanded the religious orders which operated the laundries be held responsible for the abuse that went on inside them.
#LABOUR PAINS Colm Keaveney resigned as chairman and member of the Labour Party today, saying: “Unfortunately I can no longer go along with what is increasingly like a political charade”. In a statement issued this afternoon, he confirmed he was to resign six months after voting against the Budget. This makes him the second Labour TD to quit the party in less than a week.
#MURDER A woman in her mid-30s has been arrested in connection with the murder of gangland figure Eamon Kelly, who was shot dead on a street in Killester last December. The woman is being questioned at Clontarf Garda Station.
#PROTEST Asylum seekers have protested in Millstreet, Co Cork, over their direct provision accommodation. They said that they have been served expired food and that there are rats and cockroaches there. The Irish Refugee Council has called on the Minister for Justice to investigate the Direct Provision system.
#USA The US Supreme Court has struck down a law which defines marriage as between a man and a woman and restricts the payment of federal benefits to couples of opposite sex. The landmark ruling found that the Defence of Marriage Act is unconstitutional. Also in the US, a lengthy filibuster by Texan Senator Wendy Davis meant that a bill on tough abortion measures in the state was not passed.
#WINNER The winner of the €93+m EuroMillions ticket has come forward, Lotto authorities say. The ticket was bought in Dublin – not Kildare, as initial reports said – and if not held by a syndicate, the winner will become the second-biggest lottery winner in Irish history, after Dolores McNamara’s €115m win in 2005.
An umpire watches the ball as a match unfolds on Court 18, as seen through wooden slats, at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London. Pic: AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus
THINGS WE LOVED
- Heading to Glastonbury today or tomorrow? Here’s a look at what might happen when you’re there, courtesy of Buzzfeed.
- Writer Viv Groskop wanted to try her hand at stand-up comedy – so she decided to do 100 gigs in 100 nights. Here’s what happened next.
- Have you ever read The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson? This haunting story became extremely controversial after it was first published on 26 June 1948 in the New Yorker. A piece from the magazine this month looks at the reaction to the story.
- Didn’t win the EuroMillions? It’s OK – neither did we. And here are some reasons why it’s a good thing you weren’t a winner (seriously).
THINGS WE SHARED
- This is a rather hilarious take on what happens when you take movie stills from famous films and replace guns with thumbs up…
- Would you let Starbucks customers choose the name of your baby? This couple did…
- Julia Guillard was ousted as Prime Minister of Australia by her predecessor Kevin Rudd earlier today. In this Telegraph column, one writer argues that the problem wasn’t her ability – it was the fact she was female.
- The Game of Thrones cast attempt to sing the theme tune for the show… Nice try, folks. (Via Reddit)
(Taras Voloshyn/YouTube)
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