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EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you the stories you need to know as you kick off your day.
1. #IMBALANCE The European Commission warned that Ireland is among 16 member states facing “macroeconomic imbalances”. RTE reports that it says high public and private debt levels require policy action and monitoring here.
2. #IN THE BLACK Ulster Bank made €752m in profit last year, which marks its first year in profit since 2008. Its chief executive said the strong performance was due to debt management and rising asset prices.
3. #ISLAMIC STATE Three men were arrested in the US for plotting to help the Islamic State group. One of them spoke of shooting President Barack Obama, authorities said.
4. #EGYPT Bombs exploded outside the offices of mobile phone companies Vodafone and Etisalat, and a restaurant in Cairo today, wounding two people. A fourth bomb wounded two restaurant staff.
5. #SLEEP IN People who sleep for over eight hours a day could be at a greater risk of a stroke, a new study from the University of Cambridge says. The risk doubles for older people who persistently sleep longer than average.
6. #ROGUE TRADER It’s 20 years since Nick Leeson brought down Barings Bank. He lives in Galway and writes for us exclusively about what the incident taught him.
7. #AFFAIRS Adultery has been legalised in South Korea after a controversial adultery law which criminalised extra-marital sex was removed. Nearly 5,500 people have been arraigned on adultery charges in the past six years.
8. #OUCH Madonna fell over while performing at the Brits last night – she said her cape was supposed to be pulled off by a dancer, but was too tight. “Nothing can stop me,” she said afterwards.
9. #BOOBY TRAP A man was injured when a suspected booby trap bomb exploded outside his house in Crossmaglen. The Irish News reports he could lose an eye as a result of the blast.
No one will do anything. Until they actually launch an armed ICBM.
@John Shea Hen: they’ll do nuttin
Well if that isn’t giving you the middle finger, Mr President, I don’t know what is.
The neighbours will be fairly miffed again at President Trump coming back to Mar-a-Lago so soon…
It’s a pity that the US doesn’t have more to say about Syria after the recent sarin attack on civilians and children. The Assad regime has crossed the red lines and has to be stopped.
@Chris Kirk: and you’re certain the assad regime carried out this alleged chemical attack?
And the next lesson for the Trump admin.
You’ll do fu(kin nuttin
Hey AFP. Susan Rice Susan Rice Susan Rice Susan Rice..
Hey raymond grehan: LOL LOL LOL LOL
After months of eschewing confidential security briefs Trump has been landed in the midst of an escalating crisis. His recent response to the gas attack in Syria by blaming Obama shows how unfit he is to be leading the USA. Undoubtedly he is ready to lash out at North Korea and my guess is it will be an attempt to wipe out from the air the whole military infrastructure of that country. Great if it works amd spares the lifes of an already suffering population. Bad news if it only does partial damage. A wounded wild animal is a very dangerous thing.
@gowfc@yahoo.com W: What about China? That’s the end game I’m sure.
Trump is gearing up for a war, but I don’t think the rewards here outweigh the risks…. It’ll probably be Iran in a few years, possibly his second term.
So which would be better? “Unpredictable consequences” of regime collapse in a) a scenario where NoKo does not have the capability to hit US and Western targets or b) a scenario where it does?
Answers scribbled on the margins of a copy of Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road” perhaps. …
Just wait until the North Korean People’s Liberation Front and the North Korean Liberation Front of The People hear about this!
Trump needs a war or two so he can pretend to be a strong president- he won’t get that by using his brains
have your say