Author Archives: Bodger

Former EU Commissioner Phil Hogan in this morning’s French daily Libération

This morning.

Further to former EU Commissioner Phil Hogan’s golfgate resignation…

Vie RTÉ News:

In an interview with French newspaper, Libération, Mr Hogan is understood to have suggested taking action against the Commission.

The paper’s long time Europe Correspondent, Jean Quatremer, writes that he met Mr Hogan for an exclusive interview and that Mr Hogan “did not rule out the idea of demanding compensation for the damage suffered“.

Mr Hogan had previously apologised for attending the Oireachtas Golf Society dinner in Clifden, Co Galway, but denied that he breached Covid-19 quarantine rules.

In the interview, Mr Hogan said that during the golf dinner, he had been sitting next to the former minister for agriculture Dara Calleary, who, he said “participated in the Government meeting which decided on the new restrictions“.

The paper says that Mr Hogan met the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen four times in three days following the controversy, which erupted on 17 August.

Meanwhile…

On Monday, 24 August, according to Mr Quatremer, Ms von der Leyen asked Mr Hogan to write a precise chronology of his movements.

However, Mr Hogan is quoted as saying that at this meeting he felt “that she wants to end this affair as quickly as possible and that she wants me to leave. She immediately believed in the interpretation given by the Irish Government, which claimed that I had undermined its pandemic strategy by my actions.”

The paper states that the following day, Ms von der Leyen “demanded” that Mr Hogan give an interview to RTÉ “to explain himself”.

Mr Quatremer writes: “A commission president who manages the media agenda of a commissioner is undoubtedly a first.”

UE: comment Ursula von der Leyen a viré son commissaire au Commerce pour rien (Liberation)

This morning.

Via Reuters:

Credit Suisse handled billions of dollars in dirty money for decades, an international media investigation based on a massive data leak claimed in the latest setback for Switzerland’s second-largest bank.

The bank held more than $8 billion (seven billion euros) in accounts of criminals, dictators and human rights abusers, among others, according to the investigation by a group comprising dozens of media organisations.

It was the largest leak ever from a major Swiss bank, OCCRP said.

The leak included information on more than 18,000 bank accounts, many of which “remained open well into the 2010s”, said the OCCRP.

Giant client data leak puts fresh pressure on Credit Suisse (Reuters)

Getty

Thank Flor it’s Friday.

As Storm Eunice abates and the nation crawls out from behind the sofa, dusts itself down and straightens its tie, it’s time to celebrate with more voucherless music argy-bargy.

This week the theme comes courtesy of regular reader Liam Deliverance who asks: What’s your favourite moment of musical psychedelia?

Here’s mine.

Please include video links if possible.

Lines close on Saturday at Midnight.

*sips ‘shroom soup*

Meanwhile….

Last week I asked you for your favourite karaoke song, after a suggestion by Millie.

Millie herself and Janet both won my esteem with their choices:

Maria McKee – Show Me Heaven

Millie wrote:

“This song comes attached to a very emotionally difficult moment from my childhood, so much so that for a long time I would cry uncontrollably when I heard it. So to deal with this, I learned the words and taught myself to sing it. To this day, it remains my karaoke song and I only sometimes shed a tear. Never underestimate how grief can affect you, even after 20 years have passed.”

Meanwhile…

Alain Baschung – La nuit je mens

So mucky it’s age restricted!

Janet, dreams of an alternate universe wrote:

“One for that nostalgic rose-tinted glasses time of the night….you know the time, my rendition of La Nuit Je Mens fills me with delightful agony; others just agony probably ;) the best part is it’s that talky singing the French do best!”

Nick says: Well done, Millie and Janet and thanks all.

Last week: Win Nick’s Esteem

Pic Steamboat Vinyl, Limerick

Meanwhile…

This evening.

Pere Lachaise cemetery, Paris, France.

Ultan Mashup writes:

Coincidence. Just returned from my run in Paris today and saw [Janet’s] Alain reference…

This afternoon.

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

A strategic withdrawal from tricolour-clad, freedom-loving Paddy as police move in to dismantle the truck blockade.

Some drive home.

Earlier: They Always get Their Man

Thanks Fearganim

Tonight.

Earlier…

Tonight.

Earlier…

Ontario provincial police and federal Royal Canadian Mounted Police have joined forces to dismantle the ‘Freedom Convoy’

This afternoon.

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Via Al Jazeera:

Ottawa police have asked protesters to “remain peaceful and lawful” as they moved in to clear an occupation that has blockaded the centre of the Canadian capital for three weeks.

Dozens of police vehicles, including a large black armoured car, and about 100 police officers arrived near the Ottawa Art Gallery at about 8am (13:00 GMT) on Friday, where about 20 vehicles have been parked since late January, blocking the roadway.

“If you do not leave now, you will be arrested,” police said, banging on windows of vehicles, Al Jazeera’s Roger Lemoyne reported. At least four people were arrested.

Ottawa police have increased their presence in the downtown core of Ottawa over the past several days, as they coordinated with Ontario provincial police and federal Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to clear out participants in the so-called “Freedom Convoy”.

Ottawa police arrest protesters to end Canadian trucker blockade (Al Jazeera)

Canada protests: Police begin to make arrests at Ottawa protest (BBC)

Roger Lemoyne/Al Jazeera

Meanwhile…

Oh.

Holy crow.

The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2.

Scalpel!

‘sup?

Via MailOnline:

This is the heartwarming moment a dog was rescued from a five-foot sinkhole – after another dog alerted its owner that she was trapped.

Macy (top), an 11-year-old golden retriever, had been stuck inside the hole in Streator, Illinois [USA] for nearly 24 hours after falling in last Friday, February 11.

But she wasn’t found until a chocolate labrador, named Wrigley, located her the next day in Marilla Park and alerted his owner by barking.

G’wan the Wrigley.

Arf.

Moment golden retriever Macy is rescued after 24 hours trapped in a 5ft sinkhole after another dog found her and alerted rescuers (MailOnline)