An Indian Catholic Christian woman holds a rosary and prays on Ash Wednesday at Saint Mary’s Basilica in Hyderabad, India, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, the season of fasting, reflection, repentance and spiritual discipline observed by Catholics. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

THINGS WE LEARNED:

#SAVITA: The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has told the Dáil that Savita Halappanavar’s husband, Praveen, should be the first person to be briefed on the content of a report into her death following miscarriage in a Galway hospital last October. Kenny was responding to a question concerning the apparent leaking of a draft copy of the HSE’s clinical review into her death, published in today’s Evening Herald, which appear to indicate that Savita should have been given the option of terminating the pregnancy before her husband requested one for her.

#MONEY: The average disposable income in Ireland has dropped for the fourth year in a row, according to the CSO’s 2011 Survey on Income and Living Conditions – which found the average amount of disposable income after taxes, social insurance contributions and inter-household cash payments have been paid was €21, 440.

#ABORTION: Micheál Martin has said Fianna Fáil has an issue with including the risk of suicide in any legislation for the X Case on abortion saying he and the party will wait to see legislation before deciding whether or not to vote for it. In an exclusive video interview with TheJournal.ie, Martin said he  ould not favour widening legislation or changing the Constitution to include cases where a woman has become pregnant as a result of rape.

#IDF: In an historic first, the Irish Defence Forces may team up with the British army for a training mission in Mali, the Defence Minister revealed this afternoon. The proposed mission will be responsible for providing the Malian Armed Forces with military training and advice with the aim of improving their capacity to maintain security and restore authority to the Malian government following the recent occupation by Islamist militants in the north.

#CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL: The Minister for Health James Reilly has said a new board is to be set up to oversee the development of the new national children’s hospital, to be chaired by Dr James Browne of NUIG and including representatives of the existing children’s hospitals in Dublin. The hospital is due to be finished by late 2017 or early 2018 and will cost at least €400 million.

Varutton Rangsitwong, left, and Prasit Rangsitwong jump into the water during a part of an adventure-themed wedding ceremony in Prachinburi province, Thailand, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013, on the eve of Valentine’s Day. Three couples participated in the ceremony. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)

THIS WE LOVED:

• What is the flavour of love? Apparently it’s Buckfast… (yeeeeah, we don’t know if we’d call that “love”.)
• Speaking of love, we can proudly say that an office romance has blossomed on TheJournal.ie today… not in the site’s HQ itself, but in the comments section between two readers. Just in time for Valentine’s Day. You guys!
• Speed painting. Watch to the end, it’s worth it.

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THINGS WE SHARED:

• The folks who produce Sweethearts confectionery (that’s ‘Love Hearts’ to us here in Ireland) have revealed a full list of their most notable retired phrases – will include “OH YOU KID”, “HEP CAT” and “YOU ARE GAY”.
• Your heart might melt when you see a Bichon Brisé or French Bulldog (seriously) but what are the ethical concerns the raising of purebred dogs? Does pedigree-breeding create genetic problems that a loveable mutt avoids?

The sun goes down over the Mekong river in the outskirt of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 13 February 2013. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

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