https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/fromalpha2omega

https://www.boomplay.com/podcasts/7315

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD63zXEPxFpl9Y0Vh8abp4A/

https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/from-alpha-to-omega/1852490

Their website (with a book forthcoming): https://theclasslesssocietyinmotion.com/

https://cathalosandair.com

A cafe and a supermarket in south Belfast have been badly damaged by fire after attacks which followed anti-immigration protests in the city.

Supermarket manager Bashir’s store was extensively damaged by fire. He said that the Islamic community was being targeted. “People attacked this place, racism against Islam and Muslims, especially the Muslim community,” Mr Bashir said. “All of that happened and the police did nothing, I am telling you the truth. What kind of police are letting the people burn everything down?”

“To see far right thugs – many of whom had no connection to the area – rampage through Botanic Avenue and the Holyland, areas proud of their diversity, was appalling,” SDLP MLA Matthew O’Toole said at an antiracism rally in Belfast city centre. “There was nothing legitimate about their actions. They had no cause other than hate and no agenda other than destruction. As I said at city hall yesterday, these thugs will not win. Our city, particularly the south of the city, is proud of its diversity and will defend it against hate. There was nothing legitimate about their actions. They had no cause other than hate and no agenda other than destruction. As I said at city hall yesterday, these thugs will not win. Our city, particularly the south of the city, is proud of its diversity and will defend it against hate.”

DUP MLA Edwin Poots said many of those involved were not from south Belfast. He said: “The violence witnessed in south Belfast is totally wrong and unacceptable. Many of those engaged in the violence are not local and many in the local community are expressing their unhappiness at the rioting.”

This is now officially our most successful Olympics ever:

• We have three gold and two bronze already on necks

• Our previous most medals was six in 2012, and that included only one gold

• Our previous most golds was three (in 1996 (all to Michelle)) and we've equaled that now

So whether Kellie wins gold or silver it's six medals and shinier than 2012.

The final is on Tuesday.

County Down have two gold medals, produced the best pommelhorser in the world, and the fastest 800m freestyle swimmer.

Ireland have 3 gold medals now, equalling Atlanta 1996. And Kelly Harrington still to come and might make it 4

He's spinning 4th, the 1st is just starting.

It would be County Down's second gold at this games.

O

Households earning up to €90,000 a year would be eligible to buy affordable homes starting at €300,000 under a new Sinn Féin affordable housing plan – but the State would retain ownership of the land the homes are built on with ongoing conditions on the sale and rent of the home.

The plan, unveiled by the party in Dublin today, also promises rents at or below €1,000 a month, with renters and purchasers who earn too much to qualify for council housing but who cannot purchase a home being targeted.

EU standard VAT is 23%, but we usually charge a lower rate on energy: 13.5%. It'll is likely to go back to that at the end of October, having been temporarily 9% since May 2022. If they extend the 9% thing, it'll cost the government €319 million. A further complication of State policy is that the planned increase in carbon tax – which operates like an excise duty on fuel – will add to prices of most fuels in 2025 and raise a hefty €160 million for the exchequer (much of it ring-fenced for environmental and social spending).

Advice to cut VAT on bikes and e-bikes from the standard 23% to 13.5%

An interesting proposal understood to be in the mix for budget day is a cut in VAT on internet connections from 23 per cent to 13.5 per cent. This would cost around €60 million and would benefit households (by about €40 a year on average) and businesses.

Is 9% VAT returning for hospitality? The lower rate on hospitality applied from November 2020 – in the wake of the Covid-19 downturnbusiness – until August 2023, when it reverted to 13.5%. The sector is calling for a return of the low rate, but that'd cost €764 million a year

New homes could also be taxed at the lower 9%. The civil servants don’t like this either, arguing that there is no guarantee it would be passed on to buyers. If applied to all new houses it would cost €721 million a year, which makes it look unlikely.

Heat pumps might also see their VAT cut.

Experts believe that Irish tax revenues will have to increase in the medium term to meet the cost of ageing and climate change. Revenues based on fossil fuel cars will drop off sharply assuming the switch to electric cars is successful and the exchequer will have to look at a way to replace these. The Fiscal Advisory Council estimatedhttps://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/2024/02/28/switch-to-electric-motoring-will-cost-exchequer-25bn-in-lost-tax-revenue-by-2030/#:~:text=The%20switch%20to%20electric%20motoring) the annual losses would climb to €2.5 billion by 2030. The council – and previous Tax Strategy papers – have looked at ways to do this, via measures such as taxing cars on their weight, or congestion charges. None of this will feature in Budget 2025. Also, the EU Commission, the OECD and the Commission on Tax and Welfare have all argued for measures to get more revenue from VAT and broaden the base over time.

Counting my chickens before they've hatched I know

Related to: https://lemmy.ml/post/9176011

Wiffen came first in the heats, the final is starting shortly....

Ok maybe silver.... at least.... come on Ireland

(Sez you: didn't you make this post a week ago? Sez I: different sport)

Galway v Armagh at 3:30, so about 75 minutes after this post.

This is going to be incredible. The most evenly-matched final in ages. My prediction: a draw.

Watch

Here's an old comment about watching GAA online

It's on RTÉ2 (which is on daddylive, though I'm not promising the stream will work smoothly), on BBC Sport NI, and on GAAGO Abroad (with DRM)