No 1 – It’s been announced that almost 500 new jobs are being created here by three US multinationals.
Tech giant – HP – is creating 280 new positions in at its Galway and Kildare operations.
Sligo will get 175 new roles at Abbott Pharmaceutical.
And in Cork, Big Fish Games its bringing 30 new jobs on stream.
The 130 million euro investment is backed by the IDA.
The jobs announcements were made in New York where the Taoiseach and Tanaiste are leading a delegation to secure further investment in Ireland from US multinationals.
No 2 – The Garda Commissioner says he’s pleased with the progress that’s being made over the shooting dead of Melanie McCarthy McNamara.
16 year old Melanie was shot while sitting in the back seat of a car parked in a residential area of Tallaght on Tuesday night.
She died a few hours later in hospital.
Gardai have found what they believe is the shotgun used in the crime -as well as a car driven by the gunman, a balaclava and gloves.
Commissioner Martin Callinan appealed for calm in the community.
No 3 – Greek leaders have agreed a last minute deal on austerity cuts, clearing the way for the eurozone to decide on a bailout package worth 130 billion, averting a default.
Eurozone Finance Ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss what happens next.
However, unions have called a new 48-hour general strike on Friday and Saturday against the austerity terms – calling them ‘barbaric’.
No 4 – An Post is facing legal action over the standard and quality of its postal delivery service.
The Communications Regulator has initiated the action claiming An Post has fallen short of its service targets.
An Post says its “puzzled” by ComReg’s decision, and says its figures for service levels don’t rally with the Regulators.
No 5 – A man has drowned in the US trying to rescue his girlfriend – not realising she was already safe.
Authorities in Alabama say the man – believed to be 25 – dove into the Tennessee River, after seeing his girlfriend’s car sinking.
But they say he may not have realized that she’d already escaped from the car – and was helped to shore by a fisherman.
Reports say the woman was taken to hospital where she was treated for bruises and hypothermia.
