The Front Pages
Scanning the front pages this morning’s papers there’s not a great deal to shout about apart from Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern’s idea to have banks increase ATM fees. Madness. Here’s how the headlines read:
‘Ahern accused of using kidnap to float ATM charges’ – the Irish Examiner.
‘Ahern urges fee increase at ATMs’ – the Irish Times.
Ahern’s calling for banks to largely increase the fees to use ATMs has come in the wake of the latest tiger kidnapping involving an AIB official and his wife.
Both were subjected to a nightmare ordeal by an armed gang who eventually failed to get away with €280,000. Minister Ahern said the Government may have to consider making banks charge for ATM withdrawals to reduce the amount of cash in circulation and discourage robberies.
In other news, the Irish Independent reports that more than 400,000 homeowners with tracker mortgages will benefit from record low interest rates for up to two more years.
Tales from the Tabs
A toddler succeeds in quitting smoking cigarettes is not something you see in print everyday but that’s exactly what’s happened in Sekayu, Indonesia.
Toddler Aldi Rizal has kicked his 40-a-day habit after three months of intensive treatment, the Sun reveals.
The 2-year-old has developed heart problems as a result of heavy smoking and his problem is not yet completely cured.
The Sun told in May how the child started smoking at 11 months when his fishmonger dad Mohammed gave him a ciggie to ease a headache.
The Sports Pages
In football, it’s the beginning of the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign this weekend and Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni doesn’t care if they must win ugly against Armenia this evening.
“We have to play for the result. I don’t know whether this game will be good or not, but it is the result that is important,†the Italian said.
“Would I take 1-0 right now? Sure. Brazil and Argentina played beautiful football at the World Cup. They went home.â€
His comments are published in the Daily Star amongst other tabloids.
