EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you the nine stories you need to know as you start your day.
1. #SNOWDEN: Fugitive US intelligence analyst Edward Snowden has applied for asylum in Ireland – and 19 other countries – in a bid to avoid prosecution in the United States. Wikileaks said its legal advisor had personally submitted the requests on behalf of the NSA whistleblower. Snowden has accused US president Barack Obama of pressuring the leaders of the countries from which he has sought protection.
2. #BOOZE BAN: A group of TDs and Senators are likely to reject a proposal to ban alcohol companies from sponsoring sports events in a report to be published today. The Oireachtas committee will say that a ban would have a negative and detrimental impact on the funding of Irish sport.
3. #ABORTION: TDs will vote on the abortion legislation for the first time today, with Fine Gael poised to lose at least 4 – but as many as 10 – TDs before the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013 is signed into law. The ballot will begin in the Dáil chamber after 5.05pm today.
4. #EGYPT: Egypt’s president Mohammed Morsi has rejected an army ultimatum to stand down within 48 hours and denounced threats to the ‘social peace’, in what has become an increasingly volatile situation. Morsi denounced challenges to his leadership and said Egypt will “absolutely not permit any step backward whatever the circumstances.”
5. #PHOENIX PARK: Dublin City Council has granted permission for a series of concerts to be held in the Phoenix Park, despite objections from local residents following the turmoil which ensued after last summer’s Swedish House Mafia concert. The concerts – including Justin Timberlake, The Killers and Mumford and Sons – will be held later this month.
6. #iWATCH?: Apple has filed a trademark application for an ‘iWatch’ in Japan, fuelling speculation that it is about to come out with a ‘smartwatch’.
7. #LOOSE ENDS: Taoiseach Enda Kenny is to make a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg today, outlining Ireland’s achievements during its presidency of the Council of Europe. The Taoiseach has said he is proud that Ireland “overwhelmingly delivered” on its plans during the six-month presidency which ended on Monday.
8. #TRAGEDY: Pierce Brosnan has said that his heart is “heavy” following the death of his daughter Charlotte from ovarian cancer at the age of 41. Brosnan’s first wife Cassandra Harris also died of the illness in 1991.
9. #EMIGRATION: If you’re feeling a little hemmed in by your job and looking to go further afield, you may want to check out the FÁS website. The state’s employment and training agency is advertising for jobs carrying out excavation work in Iraq, among more than 90 overseas positions. The successful candidate will be paid €35,000 per year and will be expected to move to Iraq.
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