Every morning, TheJournal.ie brings you nine things you really need to know.
1. #BUDGET 2011: Government backbenchers last night claimed that Brian Cowen faces an angry backlash from older voters if the government pushes ahead with proposals to cut the state pension. The Sunday Tribune reports that the cabinet has now backed down from those plans. Government ministers are to meet again today to discuss where €6bn can be cut from the budget.
2. #WEATHER: The defence forces are on standby for emergency relief operations ahead of high-risk weather conditions later today and tomorrow. Flood alerts have been issued for Dublin, Waterford, Cork, Clare and Galway as the storm heading our way continues to develop over the north Atlantic.
3. #KIDNAPPING: Gardaí say the victim of the latest tiger raid was lucky to escape with her life. The woman was abducted, tied and gagged by a gang who left her at a derelict property and stole €170,000 in cash from her husband’s business.
4. #NAMA: The state agency NAMA is to force developers to reveal their worldwide assets, according to the Sunday Times. Developers must also agree to allow NAMA to go back through five years of cash movements in their bank accounts to make sure money hasn’t been hidden to avoid repaying debts.
5. #BURMA: Burma is holding its first national election for 20 years, with ruling authorities saying the election will mark the country’s transition to democratic civilian rule. However, critics say the election is a sham and main opposition party leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who won in the last election but was prevented from taking power, is boycotting it.
6. #TAX: A new Sunday Times poll shows that people would prefer to pay higher income tax instead of water charges or property tax. The poll shows 75% are opposed to property tax and some 66% are against water charges.
7. #HAITI: The number of people who have died from cholera in Haiti’s recent outbreak has risen above 500, according to the country’s health ministry. Over 7,300 people have been hospitalised as a result of the treatable illness, and authorities fear an escalation of cases as it could be spread by floods from Hurricane Tomas.
8. #FRANCE: Residents at Europe’s largest nudist colony are outraged at visitors to their village who engage in sex acts in public. One local councillor says the conflict is the result of increasing tension between traditional naturists and a new generation of sexed-up nudists.
9. #CARJACK: F1 driver Jenson Button was the victim of an armed attack on his car in Brazil after yesterday’s qualifying session. A police driver was driving Button, his manager, trainer and father in an armoured vehicle when the incident occurred.
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