EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you the nine things you need to know as you start your day.
1. #TROIKA: Representatives from the European Commission, ECB and IMF start their latest review of Ireland’s progress on its bailout agreement today and the next Budget is expected to be the central focus of this visit. According to the Irish Independent, the government is hoping to push for leniency on certain areas including income tax increases and cuts to social welfare.
2. #DEBT CRISIS: Meanwhile, Taoiseach Enda Kenny is expected to meet with European Commission President Barroso on Thursday to discuss the continuing eurozone debt crisis. The Irish Times reports that Kenny is among a number of EU leaders who will meet with Barroso privately in the coming days.
3. #MEADHBH MCGIVERN: Fourteen-year-old Maedhbh McGivern of Leitrim has returned to Ireland following her recent liver transplant in London and is “doing quite well”, according to her father Joe McGivern. The teenager is now recuperating at Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin.
4. #PORN BAN: Four of the UK’s biggest internet service providers are set to block sexually explicit images in a new move being announced by David Cameron today. The measure means that the services’ subscribers will have to opt-in for online pornography, the Guardian reports.
5. #LIBYA: The National Transitional Council of Libya has released details of its finances since March which show that it spent around $975 million between then and the end of September. The Wall Street Journal reports that little of the NTC’s funds went to the militias who ousted Gaddafi; instead, these fighters were largely funded through anti-Gaddafi organisations and wealthy individuals, as well as sympathetic foreign governments.
6. #RELEASED: A 44-year-old man arrested in connection with the stabbing of five men in Tallaght on Sunday morning has been released without charge.
7. #RACE FOR THE ÁRAS: With just 16 days to go until polling, the presidential election candidates continue their campaigns around the country today. Check out where you can catch them today with TheJournal.ie‘s campaign diary.
8. #NEW ZEALAND: The major oil spill off the coast of New Zealand will require a lengthy “bucket and spades” clean-up, according to the Maritime New Zealand director Catherine Taylor. The New Zealand Herald reports that Taylor has urged people to volunteer with coordinating organisations rather than attempt to clean up the spill by themselves.
9. #HIGH STAKES: Co Offaly teenager Mark Boylan has won a trip to the Breeders’ Cup in Kentucky after he uploaded a video of his song ‘Stateside’ to YouTube and attracted rave reviews for the song. The Breeders’ Cup vice-president for music and entertainment Peter Rotondo said he was “blown away” when he heard the track. Check it out here and get those toes tapping.
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