An Focal Five – News you need to know

Published on June 26, 2012 at 11:34 am by Darragh Roche, Editor

Tuesday, 26 June

An Focal brings you the five news stories you need to know today.

 

1. Queen visits Northern Ireland

BRITAIN’S Queen Elizabeth II is visiting Northern Ireland today as part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations. She is attending events in Enniskillen where she will meet with members of the Catholic community. Tomorrow she is due to meet Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, in what some are calling an historic move towards reconciliation. Following reports yesterday that the event would be photographed, there has been more confusion today, with British officials saying plans have not been finalised.

 

2. Ruling on Obamacare due on Thursday

THE US Supreme Court is due to rule on whether President Barack Obama‘s healthcare reforms are constitutional this Thursday. The so-called ‘Obamacare’ is a key piece of the president’s agenda and losing the SCOTUS case would be hugely damaging in this crucial election year. Meanwhile, the court’s decision to strike down Arizona’s controversial immigration law is causing problems for the Republicans and their candidate, Mitt Romney.

 

3. Syria: Turkish PM threatens military action

TURKEY’S Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened Syria with military retaliation if Syrian forces violate Turkey’s borders. This follows the shooting down of a Turkish reconnaissance plane by the Syrians. NATO is meeting today to discuss the issue.

 

4. News Corp to split?

RUPERT Murdoch‘s troubled media conglomerate News Corp is considering splitting into two, separating its publishing sector from its entertainment business. This follows months of problems for the company in Britain amid allegations of phone hacking and the continuing investigations of the Leveson Inquiry.

 

5. Australian politicians face off over carbon tax

POLITICAL leaders in Australia are strenuously arguing over the Labor government’s new carbon tax. The issue is proving hugely controversial, with Prime Minister Julia Gillard ordering her party members to go out and campaign in favour of it. Opposition leader Tony Abbot has claimed the tax will do untold harm to businesses and jobs. The tax issue could be crucial to the government’s electoral fortunes and Ms Gillard’s career.


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