An Focal Five – News you need to know

Published on June 27, 2012 at 10:08 am by Darragh Roche, Editor

Wednesday, 27 June

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

 

1. Taoiseach calls for shared Euro debts

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny has called on Eurozone countries to pool their debts in a move likely to annoy German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Mutualisation of debt would make it cheaper for troubled economies like Ireland and Greece to borrow and is seen by some as a key step in saving the Euro. The idea has been discussed for several weeks, with Dr Merkel dismissing it several times. The Taoiseach ‘s endorsement of debt sharing may have only a small impact on a European level, but it is part of wider trend toward deeper political and economic integration.

 

2. Queen to meet McGuinnesss today

BRITAIN’S Queen Elizabeth II is due to meet Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness later today in an event that has been rife with speculation and the subject of intense discussion. Despite being Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister, Mr McGuinness has never met the Queen. Sinn Féin was strongly against the Queen’s visit to Ireland last year and many now believe that the party misjudged the public mood, since the British monarch was warmly received by the Irish people. Just how historic and important this meeting will be remains to be seen.

 

3. Huge wildfire ravages Colorado

WILDFIRES in the US state of Colorado have driven 32,000 people from their homes. The 6,200 acre fire has already destroyed many homes and is being aided by 65 mph winds. Several other wildfires are also burning in the state with experts blaming dry conditions and thunderstorms, which do not bring much rainfall.

 

4. Samsung’s answer to iPad hit with patent law suit

SAMSUNG’S Galaxy Tab tablet device has been accused of patent infringement. A US court has granted Apple an injunction to prevent Samsung from selling the tablet, which was widely billed as a competitor for Apple’s iPad. The court said that there were grounds to believe Samsung’s device had been designed to look similar to Apple’s, which is a potential infringement of Apple’s patent.

 

5. German court rules infant circumcision amounts to assault

A GERMAN court has ruled that parents do not have the right to circumcise male children in a decision that may have wide reaching ramifications. Infant circumcision is an important part of the Jewish and Muslim faiths and is practiced by those communities in Germany. The court ruled, however, that circumcision amounted to actual bodily harm and the bodily integrity of the child was more important than the religious requirements of his parents. The ruling has been met with outrage by Germany’s Jewish community.

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