EACH DAY, TheJournal.ie brings you nine things you should know with your morning cup of coffee.
1. #35 RESCUED: Thirty-five people were rescued on Lough Derg yesterday evening after bad weather dispersed a number of boats off-course during a rowing race. Fifteen people were treated for hypothermia but no one had to attend hospital.
2. EU FINANCE: EU finance ministers failed to reach an agreement on how to close down failing banks before they can do too much damage to the wider economy. This resolution mechanism would have marked another important step toward a ‘banking union’. “We ran out of time … it is a very complex issue,” said Finance Minister Michael Noonan, who chaired the meeting. Ministers are set to meet again on Wednesday.
3. #JFK 50: Thousands are expected to turn out for celebrations today in New Ross, Co Wexford to mark 50 years since US President John F. Kennedy paid a visit. A number of Kennedy’s relations have rolled into town where the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, will open a new, €1.5 million visitor’s centre at the Kennedy Family Homestead.
4. #NAMA PHONE TAPPING: A government TD has claimed that the state’s banks are undertaking surveillance to monitor the phone calls and emails of people who owe them money. Michelle Mulherin made the claim in a written Dáil question to the finance minister, Michael Noonan, alleging that the state-owned banks, NAMA and the former IBRC were intercepting communications.
5. #BRAZIL PROTESTS: The Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has finally broke her silence over the widespread protests that has taken over the nation in the past week. She admitted in a televised address that Brazil can do better and pledged to do more to fight corruption, a day after more than a million people marched to demand better living conditions.
6. #ENDA’S NEPHEW: The Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s 18-year-old nephew has had his seven-month prison term quashed following an appeal. According to the front page of the Daily Mail this morning, Kevin Hastings had been sentenced to jail after a number of offences including burglary, car theft and driving while intoxicated.
7. #MINISTER INJURED: Stormant Minister, Caral Ní Chuilin, was injured last night during the Tour of the North parade as she tried to help her Sinn Fein colleague Gerry Kelly who said the PSNI carried him on the bonnet of their Land Rover. According to the front page of The Irish News, the incident came after a tense standoff between police and nationalists during the controversial tour.
8. #COST OF LIVING: Irish people pay more for cigarettes and alcohol than everyone else in the European Union. Figures published by the EU’s statistics body, Eurostat, show Ireland’s tobacco prices are almost twice the European average – while only one country, Finland, pays more for its alcoholic drinks.
9. #ESPIONAGE: US authorities have filed espionage charges against rogue intelligence technician Edward Snowden. He is accused of sharing classified documents with individuals who were not cleared to receive them. The US have asked Hong Kong to detain him.
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