EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you the nine things you need to know at 9am.
1. #DEALS: RTÉ’s The Week in Politics is to broadcast details it has uncovered about deals agreed between the previous government and Independent TDs Michael Lowry and Jackie Healy-Rae. The agreements were made as Bertie Ahern worked to form a government in 2007 and primarily focused on health pledges.
2. #MUAMBA: Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba, 23, remains critically ill in hospital this morning following his sudden collapse on-pitch during an FA Cup match yesterday afternoon.
3. #DEBT: In an opinion piece for the Sunday Times, economist Colm McCarthy has criticised the ECB for taking a tougher stance on Ireland’s debt than it has with other eurozone members. He also warns that “not all debts are created equal” and that Ireland simply cannot sustain its bank debt burden.
4. #REFERENDUM: Meanwhile, Minister for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton has written in the Sunday Business Post to warn against voter complacency when it comes to the fiscal treaty referendum. Creighton also says that concerns over the household charge and septic tanks should have no bearing when it comes to deciding the referendum.
5. #OCCUPY: Dozens of police officers broke up an event marking the six-month anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street movement in New York’s Zuccotti Park. Police forced protesters out of the park and arrested several people.
6. #BODY: PSNI officers in Co Down are investigating the discovery of a body at Spelga Dam yesterday. The area has been sealed off, according to the BBC.
7. #COLOMBIA: The Colombian army says that 11 soldiers have been killed in an ambush by FARC rebel fighters close to the Venezuelan border. The BBC reports that the attack came as the militants announced the pending release of ten soldiers and police it has been holding hostage.
8. #SYRIA: As the Syrian government continues its violent crackdown on political dissent, we’ve been asking Middle East experts why the world has not intervened.
9. #MOTHER’S DAY: It’s Mother’s Day today, but that’s no reason to buy your mother any of these gifts. (Note: some of these gifts are very cute if you are aged 5 or under.)
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