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EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you the nine stories you need to know as you kick off your day.
1. #BELFAST The Union flag has been raised for the first time this year at Belfast City Hall, to mark the birthday of the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. Last night saw a sixth night of violence in Belfast, which was quelled by police. The violence centres on the decision to fly the Union flag for 17 days a year.
2. #ABORTION The Oireachtas Health Committee is to meet for a second day today to discuss the proposed legislation and regulations on abortion in Ireland. Today, the legal aspects will be discussed with a number of experts. Here is our run down of 10 interesting moments that occurred during yesterday’s meetings.
3. #HOUSE PRICES Ratings agency Fitch says that house prices could fall another 20 per cent in Ireland - but it is possible that they could stabilise. Since the peak of the boom, house prices have fallen 50 per cent.
4. #AUSTRALIA Cooler weather is helping firefighters tackle fierce blazes across Australia today, as up to 30 rage out of control around the country. Temperatures dropped to 25 degrees in Sydney, down from 42, but they are expected to rise again as the week progresses.
5. #SYRIA The UN’s World Food Program says that 1 million Syrians are going hungry – and it can’t help them because of a lack of security in the war-stricken country. The agency has also temporarily pulled its staff out of some offices due to the rising dangers.
6. #EU PRESIDENCY Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council, is in Ireland today to meet with the Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore to discuss the programme and priorities of the Irish Presidency of the EU. His visit precedes that of the EU college of commissioners, who will visit tomorrow
7. #SOCIAL MEDIA Junior Minister Ciarán Cannon has said there should be no additional regulation of social media – and claimed that some politicians fear the ‘transfer of power’ being created by new technology. Writing for TheJournal.ie today, Cannon says that existing laws and regulation are enough, and that politicians have to be open to fair criticism.
8. #HORSE OUTSIDE A woman pleaded guilty in Athy Court to driving without due care and attention – after being found driving while her husband was in the car boot, leading a horse. Heather Josiah (29), of Andrew Court, Athy, was was fined €600 for this and for driving without her children properly restrained on another occasion.
9. #FOOTBALLS Prisons in Ireland have spent around €40,000 a year on footballs for the past three years – because of razor wire security nets, the Irish Examiner says today. Government documents show that the Department of Justice asked the Irish Prison Service to explain why expenditure on footballs was so high. A Limerick prison said that razor wire destroys footballs.
Over on DailyEdge.ie: Miley Cyrus drops the lámh on Harry Styles in bed, Brian McFadden hangs out with the Ah Here woman, and is Jessie J taking the piss out of Rihanna? It’s The Dredge…
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I’m sure this is how the apocalypse comes about.
These mossies will mutate and humanity will be s c r e w e d..
They’d have to mutate in a specific way, and the range of possible mutations will have been computed and assumed stable and harmless. But still, it’s an assumption and those are the mother of all …
This is mankind displying it’s marvelous control over nature, what could possibly go wrong !
@winston smith: isn’t this the opening sequence of a dozen zombie movies.
Jeebus! Releasing millions of genetically engineered bugs into the wild!! What could possibly go wrong eh!?
Worst case scenario, hey have to release 100 million genetically modified superbugs that will feed on the Mosquitos
I for one will welcome our six-legged flying overlords.
@Harry Whitehead: Sorry, missed Elma Phudd’s comment.
@Harry Whitehead: It’s alright – there’s enough Simpsons references for everyone
@Dub_Right: where does it say genetically engineered? The mossies are infected with a naturally occurring bacterium, that’s not genetic engineering.
@Simon White: Ah yeah, but it’s more fun to say they’re genetically engineered and to start frothing at the mouth in anger and stock up on tinned foods.
I can’t wait til the true life trilogy is released; Planet of the mosquitoes . It will involve a crazy president who is not in tune with the world and some crazy scientists, and one golfer who survives because he avoids an inevitable doom by turning down his chance represent his country at a tournament.
As was said in Jurassic Park – life will always find a way!!! Im sceptical about this..
@Lydia McLoughlin: yes. Mans attempt to manipulate and control nature has had many negative outcomes. The best strategy is biological control if possible. Inhibit their habitats and increase natural predators. Birds, bats, frogs will gobble up many insects.
@Ranty McCrank: This is biological control. Read the article.
Can we do this with humans, experiment with Trump supporters and then FF/FG supporters if it’s a success?
Humans messing with nature…. never goes wrong.
@Dave Thomas: Reminds me of myxomatosis to be honest.
@Dave Thomas: Most of the time humans messing with nature goes pretty well.
Think antibiotics, cancer drugs (any medications really), GM superfoods, prosthetic limbs, vaccines, etc.
Nature isn’t always very nice to us (see: mosquitos causing millions dead) so we often have to fix it in our favour.
Well, I for one welcome..
@Elma Phudd: …..our mosquito overlords
Someone better tell Rory Mc illroy
Erm…What?
Google X… Doesn’t sound dodgy at all, does it.
Pandora’s box opened.I hope they have thought out all the possible permutations.
Not that we in Ireland have anything to be worried about ,we have our own host parasites .
Google are supposed to be killing bugs not releasing them !
@eastsmer #IRExit: soon you’ll have to pay Semantec 50 quid a year to keep you safe from Google bugs.
You didn’t atone after the plague of locusts
Mosquitos will see you all repent
Repent
It’s a matter of time before it is a global problem. Mosquito related diseases have been around for a long time originating in Africa. It’s only in recent years that Zika, for example, has spread like wildfire in such a short span of time. This is because anybody can travel anywhere in the world now.
Nine out of ten people don’t show any symptoms and so become unknowing carriers. The rising heat of the planet caused by global warming is allowing the Mosquito to alter its life cycle; as temperatures rise some can go from the larva stage to adult in as little as two days. This coupled with the fact they can now survive winters in places they never could before, like Washington D.C, means that they are adapting to the cold. It’s plausible they could live in any climate in the future…
Does Caesar know about this?
have your say