EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you nine things to know with your morning cup of coffee.
1. #OPIRELAND: Hactivists from the Anonymous group launched a coordinated attack on the websites of the Department of Justice and Finance last night to protest against the Government’s proposed reform of Ireland’s copyright laws, dubbed Irish SOPA.
2. #SOTU: In the last State of the Union address of this presidential term, Barack Obama declared the American dream was under siege. During the televised speech, used to drum up support for the upcoming election, the incumbent said he intends to restore an economy where “everyone gets a fair shot” and called on millionaires to pay a tax rate of at least 30 per cent.
3. #BONDHOLDERS: The Government is to pay €1.25 billion to senior, unsecured bondholders in Anglo Irish Bank today after Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dáil that “we are not going to have defaulter written across our foreheads”. Despite his insistence that Ireland will pay its way, protests will take place outside Leinster House and the newly-named Irish Bank Resolution Corporation headquarters this afternoon.
4. #CIVIL SERVICE: A top-ranking civil servant is to retire in April with a lump sum and severance payment of €430,000, reports the Irish Times. Secretary General at the Department of Health Michael Scanlan will also be able to claim a pension of more than €107,000 because of his 38 years of service. Meanwhile, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin revealed yesterday that another public servant has taken a voluntary 50 per cent pay cut.
5. #FLIGHT: A British Airways transatlantic flight was diverted to Shannon last night, landing at 8.15pm after smoke was detected on board. The Chicago-bound jet was an hour into its Atlantic crossing when the pilot turned back because of the smell of smoke in the passenger cabin. The plane resumed its journey at 2.15am after an inspection, reports RTÉ.
6. #ARCHIVES: Two men involved in the Belfast Project, a oral history of The Troubles, have had their legal challenge to block the release of interviews with former IRA members thrown out of a Boston court. The federal judge said that journalist Ed Moloney and former IRA member Anthony McIntyre could not stand between a treaty that requires the sharing of information that will aid in criminal investigations, reports the Boston Globe. McIntyre had argued that his family could be endangered if the tapes were handed to British authorities.
7. #APPLE: In the last three months of 2011, Apple sold 37 million iPhones, 15.43 million iPads and 5.2 million Mac computers, raising the company’s quarterly profit to a record $13.1 billion.
8. #PORN: Los Angeles has introduced a new law requiring the use of condoms during the filming of adult movies, according to the BBC. Although welcomed by health officials, the legislation has been criticised by producers who say they will now have to move away from what is currently the capital of the pornography industry.
9. #SLEEPWEAR: Pyjamas are not appropriate attire to collect social welfare payments – that is according to a Dublin 15 community welfare office that has just issued a ban on the sleepwear. The Irish Daily Mail reports that a sign has been installed at the Damastown office to advise claimants of the ban which has been imposed after numerous complaints from other customers.
The yummy, breakfast-themed 9 at 9 image today comes courtesy of reader Ross Whitaker. If you have any great 9 images (or, indeed 5s for TheJournal.ie’s 5 at 5), send them to us at tips@thejournal.ie.
Ross didn’t actually send us the puddings but all food donations are, of course, welcomed.
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