jiliko ko

On a damp dull Saturday morning in late January 1987, Charles Haughey stepped out from the passenger seat of his detective-driven Mercedes into a dense fog outside Langtons Hotel in Kilkenny. He glanced around and waved to the large crowd of spectators who had waited for hours to get a glimpse of the Boss, and then engaged in some flesh-pressing. As he was about to board the campaign bus, he apologised for his late arrival. “It’ll take more than fog to stop Fianna Fáil this time round,” he shouted to the roars of the crowd. The country was in tatters, buckling under the harshest tax rates in Europe, with a quarter of a million of its workers unemployed. Garret FitzGerald’s coalition government had imploded only days before as a result of the withdrawal of the Labour Party — caused by a disagreement over budget proposals for massive cuts in social spending. Haughey’s genius was his charm, mixed with a large helping of obscurity. Despite promising little of interest in the hope of swaying the public vote, he simply reminded voters that coalition governments were unreliable. He urged the country to give him a strong majority, but the population back then had more to worry about than an election. Fianna Fáil received 44.1% of the overall vote, and went on to form a minority single-party government which had the qualified support of Fine Gael, the main opposition party; but typically Haughey was far from comfortable governing by consensus. Concessions and compromises didn’t come easily to him unless they were exclusively his. What resulted was a cobbled-together government. You would be forgiven for thinking that history has repeated itself in recent times, especially if you replace Haughey’s and FitzGerald’s names with Martin and Harris. Ireland is a very different country from what it was in 1987, but the game of politics with its vague snakes-and-ladders effect has remained the same. Perhaps the only change is an absence of trust on the part of voters The days of the Soldiers of Destiny, the wartime name ascribed to Fianna Fáil, are long gone, as are the pedestals that voters once placed their politicians on. Gone also are the days when a crowd of hundreds would wait for hours on a cold foggy Saturday to see any Charles Haughey-type. November is the month of early darkness and cooler temperatures. Leaves are falling as we reach for the winter clothes. This month is all about change. It’s as though there’s a routine we follow that’s strict and checked — same as last year and every year in memory. Its heralding of winter is a reminder of the importance of looking after our health, both mental and physical. It’s a month for being excessively gentle as we remember those who won’t be here this Christmas. It’s both sad and sentimental in equal measure. What November doesn’t need is an election — the second in six months. The fog that Haughey encountered on the campaign trail in 1987 has descended again; except this time it’s a different type of fog. In fact, there are two fogs swirling around. One is the fog of indifference, felt by those who’ve had enough of political elitism; the second is the fog of entitlement that many politicians are cluelessly lost in — detached from a reality of life lived by almost 700,000 people whose incomes are below the poverty line I believe we have reached a point where many people are no longer wondering who they will vote for next Friday; now they’re wondering will they bother voting at all. I fell asleep 15 minutes into the leaders' first televised debate on RTÉ last Monday. I thanked my wife the following morning for not waking me. She then confessed she had also missed it because she was watching I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! Wise choice if you ask me. Law and order It’s a year since the Dublin riots shocked the country and beyond when a major part of the capital’s north city was plunged into a blazing hellscape of violence, destruction and looting following multiple stabbings at a nearby school earlier that day. It’s nothing short of a miracle that no lives were lost. Responsibility for restoring law and order fell to the gardaí, 60 of whom were assaulted, while three were seriously injured. Could it happen again? Of course, it could. Would the gardaí be better equipped if it did? Unlikely. One young garda, a member of the Public Order Unit, told me confidentially that he received a call shortly after 5pm that Thursday evening to prepare for duty with one of the units. He had to drive home in heavy rush-hour traffic to collect his body armour, helmet, and riot shield because there was nowhere to store them at the garda station. He agreed that many of his colleagues took huge risks that evening because they were left with no choice. He laughed when I asked him if the resources they had at their disposal were adequate for what they were faced with. “Absolutely not,” he replied. A record 459 gardaí were injured while on duty last year. None of this was mentioned on Monday’s debate. Micheál Martin last weekend revealed that Fianna Fáil wants the Justice portfolio in the next government, as if his party is better equipped to protect the country. He was only short of embracing Martin Luther King Jr’s famous words “I have a dream” as he discussed plans for his new Department of Domestic Affairs, which would incorporate justice, immigration, integration, and children’s rights — somewhat like moving chairs around on Titanic. Daft stuff. At one point he was starting to sound like Paul Mescal’s character Lucius Verus in Gladiator II . And just for good measure, as though Justice should be more crime-friendly, he plans to legalise drugs, while also pledging to recruit 5,000 gardaí over the next five years, a thousand less than Fine Gael’s pledge A son of a friend of mine quit the gardaí last year and emigrated to Perth. He is now a member of the WA Police Force. His father sent him a link to each of the party’s justice manifestos. His son sent him back a photo of the BMW X5 SUV highway police vehicle he drives, with all its eye-catching decals and flashing lights. Below the photo were the words “Loving it here Dad. Living the dream.” And what about all those would-be parents if Fine Gael is re-elected? Simon Harris will put €1,000 into a trust fund for every newborn baby in the next five years, payable on their 18th birthday, at a snippety-snap cost to the taxpayer of half a billion. So even if you can’t afford childcare — that’s if you can find a creche that’s not full — at least the 18th birthday party is paid for. Not a single mention of the 4,170 children who are homeless. What's your view on this issue? You can tell us here Dense fog sums up this election campaign, with its harebrained manifestos full of cobbled-together bluff. I think the biggest shock next week will be the number of politicians who lose their seats, including some who give the impression that retaining the old seat is an on-the-nose certainty. Nor would it surprise me if the turnout was the lowest ever. No doubt many of them are sniggering at Gerry Hutch’s political ambitions, and his chances of getting elected in Dublin. Hutch could have the last laugh, even if he doesn’t get in. Haughey’s charm, with its blatant sense of entitlement, might have been what got him elected in 1987, but those days are long gone. Sometimes it’s better to promise nothing. History might remember you more favourably.jiliko ko 。

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Shoppers have been left scratching their heads after spotting Easter eggs on supermarket shelves before New Year’s Eve. With Easter Sunday not until April 20 next year, customers took to social media to express their confusion after finding chocolate eggs and hot cross buns already for sale in shops including Morrisons, Tesco and Asda. One user, @Jingle1991, shared a snap of Malteser Bunnies in Sainsbury’s on Christmas Eve, quipping: "Jesus hasn’t even been born yet." Meanwhile, Gary Evans posted a picture of Creme Eggs on display in Morrisons in Margate on Boxing Day. The 66-year-old told the PA news agency, "I just think it's crazy that everything is so superficial and meaninglessly commercial... (there’s) something quite frantic about it." On Friday evening, Joseph Robinson spotted Easter confectionery, including Cadbury Mini Eggs and themed Kit-Kat and Kinder Surprise products, at his local Morrisons. The 35-year-old admin support worker told PA: "It’s funny, as they’ve not even managed to shift the Christmas chocolates off the shelves yet and they’re already stocking for Easter." Read more: Essex couple 'frustrated' after being forced to prolong Christmas trip due to fog Read more: Car smashes through level crossing causing train delays during Essex police chase He added: "I wish that Supermarkets weren’t so blatantly consumerist-driven and would actually allow customers and staff a time to decompress during the Christmas period." When asked if he was tempted to make a purchase, Mr Robinson said: "As a vegan it holds no appeal to me!" Mike Chalmers, a committed Christian, expressed some contentment upon encountering an Easter promotion titled "Celebrate this Easter with Cadbury." The 44-year-old remarked, "Christmas and Easter are the two centre points of the Christian good news story, so it’s no bad thing to see the connections," and added, "It’s about more than shapes of chocolate, though! " On the other hand, marketing expert Andrew Wallis was taken aback to find Easter eggs on sale at the Co-op. Yet, he acknowledged this as indicative of corporate proactivity, saying: "It made me reflect on how big brands are always thinking ahead and planning early," the 54-year-old told PA: "My message to retailers would be: while planning ahead is important, it’s also essential to be mindful of consumer sentiment. " He further suggested: "Some might feel it’s too early for seasonal products like this but others might see it as a sign of forward-thinking. Striking the right balance is key to keeping customers happy."

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Crime figures show drop in anti-social behaviour reported in ReadingCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A fight broke out at midfield after Michigan stunned No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 on Saturday as Wolverines players attempted to plant their flag and were met by Buckeyes who confronted them. Police had to use pepper spray to break up the players, who threw punches and shoves in the melee that overshadowed the rivalry game. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, obituaries, sports, and more.And that was that he could not cross just one more number off his card. The head coach was part of a social gathering for non-playing staff as he got to know those around him at Lancing. His assistant Jonas Scheuermann planned a big night which gave employees a great chance to get to know the football boss a little better. And it appears to have gone down well around the club. Hurzeler sees such moments as key to encouraging a togetherness and sense of unity - and not just among the players. So great team building. But he would have loved to have won. Asked whether bingo is big in Germany, he said: "I never played it before so it was really interesting to play it. "I am very competitive. "I was close, I missed one number so I was angry with him (Scheuermann) that he didn't mention the number and someone else won. "We have to play it again and hopefully then I have a chance to win." While the bingo night has been linked to Albion's win over Manchester City which soon followed, it was actually not for players. About 25 staff members from all departments stayed behind after hours to enjoy the evening. Hurzeler said: "For me in general it is very... Brian Owen

Michigan, Ohio State fight broken up with police pepper spray after Wolverines stun Buckeyes 13-10

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has suspended three players who were involved in an altercation between the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns on Friday. Mavericks forward Naji Marshall has been suspended four games without pay and Suns center Jusuf Nurkić has been suspended three games without pay for their “involvement in an on-court altercation,” Joe Dumars, executive vice president, head of basketball operations announced on Saturday. Mavericks forward PJ Washington was also suspended one game without pay for “escalating the on-court altercation.” In the third quarter of Dallas’ 98-89 win over Phoenix at the Footprint Center, Nurkić committed an offensive foul which led to a scuffle between him and Marshall. The 30-year-old Nurkić swung his arm at Marshall which led to Marshall throwing a punch at Nurkić. As officials and players of both teams tried to de-escalate the situation, Washington pushed Nurkić to the floor. Nurkić, Marshall and Washington were all assessed technical fouls and ejected from the game. According to the league, the altercation did not end on the court. Marshall “attempted to further engage Nurkić in a hostile manner in the corridor outside the locker rooms.” Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer criticized Nurkić for his role in the situation. “I think that level of altercation is not good for our team,” Budenholzer said to reporters after the game. “It’s not good for anybody individually, it’s not good for our league. I don’t know all the details of what got it to that point.” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd had a different take on the altercation. “Protecting each other, that’s what that was. Teammates, emotions can get high,” Kidd said. “For our guys to protect one another, we talk about it, it was displayed tonight. It was good to see those guys protect each other. Now we move on, gotta get ready for Portland.” Marshall will begin serving his four-game suspension and Washington will serve his one-game suspension on Saturday when the Mavericks visit the Portland Trail Blazers. Nurkić will also begin serving his suspension Saturday when the Suns visit the Golden State Warriors.NoneRoss Barkley’s 85th-minute goal gave them victory in Germany after goals from John McGinn and Jhon Duran early in each half were cancelled out by Lois Openda and Christoph Baumgartner. That sent them up to third in the new league phase of the competition ahead of Wednesday’s games and with matches against Monaco and Celtic to come, Villa have an excellent chance of finishing in the top eight. Job done... in the end 😅 #RBLAVL #UCL pic.twitter.com/PRD1Hi1Q3A — Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 10, 2024 That would mean they would avoid a play-off round to make it through to the last 16 and Emery says that is the target. “Today was key. Juventus at home, we were thinking more to win but in the end we accepted the draw because it was important for a point to be more or less in the top 24,” he told Amazon Prime. “Today was a match we were thinking at the beginning was key to be a contender to be in the top eight with the last two matches to be played. “It is going to be difficult and we have to get some more points but we now have the possibility to achieve this option. “We are going to enjoy and try to get top eight but we have to be happy because we are in the top 24 and maybe even the top 16. “We weren’t contenders in the beginning to get there but now we have to accept it.” Leipzig, who are flying high near the top of the Bundesliga, are out after losing all six matches. They did pose a threat to Villa, who inflicted some of their own problems on themselves, notably a rare gaffe from goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez for Openda’s equaliser. But Emery was happy with his side’s performance. “I try to enjoy and always we want to improve and sometimes it is hard but today the team were performing well, playing seriously and I was enjoying it,” he added. “We tried to overcome the mistakes we made and we did. More or less we were playing consistently. One mistake and they score but then we played very well. “Champions League is very difficult and we have to expect that every team playing at home are feeling strong. We played with consistency and domination.”

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