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Reader Colum Lawlor sent in this snap from a little pond in Co Meath - we think it's an albino frog... Colum Lawlor

The Daily Fix: Saturday

Your evening round-up of the day’s biggest news stories, as well as the bits and pieces you may have missed.

EVERY EVENING, TheJournal.ie brings you a round-up of the day’s biggest news stories, as well as the bits and pieces you may have missed.

  • Chinese vice-president Xi Jinping has arrived in Ireland to begin a three-day visit. This evening he’s dining at a banquet at Bunratty Castle being hosted by his Irish counterpart, Tánaiste and foreign affairs minister Eamon Gilmore.
  • It’s emerged that 34 hospital consultants on the public payroll were disciplined by the HSE last year after it turned out that they were treating more private patients than public ones. Consultants’ contracts state they can only spend 30 per cent, at most, of their time dealing with private clients.
  • Eight staff at the country’s NCT centres have been sacked as part of investigations into alleged bribery and corruption. The probes were prompted by a Prime Time Investigations documentary last year which showed how unroadworthy cars could pass the test.
  • Hundreds of single parents marched in Dublin today to protest at what they believe are Budget measures which specifically discriminate against them. The S.P.A.R.K. Campaign says cuts to lone parents’ allowances and a series of other grants and allowances make it harder to get by as a single parent.
  • The group of men which will get to choose the Catholic Church’s next Pope gained 18 new members today. Pope Benedict XVI has appointed 22 new Cardinals, with most of them under the age of 80 and entitled to vote for the next Pope.
  • Some of the biggest names in the world of entertainment have been gathering in Newark, New Jersey to say goodbye to Whitney Houston at the star’s funeral. The lengthy service has seen performances from Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys among others. If it’s not too late, our live stream might still be carrying proceedings.
  • The next person appointed Comptroller & Auditor General – to the role which is meant to ensure public cash is not wasted – can be assured that one bill has already been cut: their own. Michael Noonan has ordered a €41,414 pay cut for whoever replaces John Buckley.

Zane Lace, living in Enfield, Co Meath, poses outside the Latvian embassy on St Stephen’s Green in Dublin. The embassy is open until midnight tonight as Latvian citizens vote on a constitutional referendum which would make Russian the country’s official second language. Embassy officials expect 2,000 Irish-based Latvians to vote in the referendum, which is set to be defeated. Photo: Nigel McArdle

  • Diplomats have told the Associated Press that Iran is preparing a major new underground site to expand its nuclear programme. The secret site is ready for “thousands of new-generation centrifuges”.
  • The news came after the US and EU expressed some cautious optimism that Iran was willing to return to talks over ending its programme.
  • Ever wondered how countries, terrorists and other organisations manage to carry out a covert killing? Wonder no more: Susan Ryan has spoken to an intelligence expert to figure out how it’s done.
  • Barack Obama’s election campaign team have been changing direction a bit – looking at new ways to attack Rick Santorum, as the former Senator shoots up the opinion polls.
  • Just over two months after they were launched, there are already 57,000 Leap cards being used to make 35,000 journeys each day on Dublin’s public transport systems.
  • Is Arsene Wenger’s time at Arsenal about to come to an end? His charges have lost 2-0 in the FA Cup at Sunderland – and Miguel Delaney’s been explaining why he’s gone without a trophy for seven years. Chelsea counterpart Andre Villas-Boas is under the kosh too: his side only drew 1-1 at home against Birmingham.
  • Travel agency Go4Less has acknowledged a data breach on its website which allowed the passport numbers of a small number of customers to be publicly visible through Google.
  • How much did Gay Mitchell spend on cable ties? How many copies might The Irish Sun on Sunday expect to sell? And how much is the average domestic mortgage in arrears by? Answers to all of those, and more, in this week’s Prime Numbers – the week in statistics.
  • What’s that, we hear you say? You’d love to hear someone play that White Stripes song on a load of laboratory equipment? Well, you’re in luck. Presenting: Science Nation Army.

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5 Comments
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    Mute Seamus MacIonnrachtaigh
    Favourite Seamus MacIonnrachtaigh
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    Dec 16th 2013, 11:36 AM

    In Ireland there are almost 100 empty houses for every homeless person.

    Funny, I don’t think Enda mentioned that last night.

    Threshold do excellent work but they really shouldn’t have to.

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    Mute John
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    Dec 16th 2013, 12:08 PM

    I think its disgusting to use the picture of a homeless child in the 3rd world to contrast against housing problems in this country. The child you have depicted doesn’t have access to social services or the care we take for granted in this country.

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    Mute Alfalfa T Boggins
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    Dec 16th 2013, 12:29 PM

    Send your child out to sleep on the street tonight and then tell us about the difference it is being homeless in Ireland tonight and being homeless in a third world country. At least in a 3rd world country they dont set their homeless on fire

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    Mute John
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    Dec 16th 2013, 12:31 PM

    Alfalfa. Go to India or Bangladesh and see how the people in the slums live, they’re treated like vermin, they exist on nothing. the rats in this country have a better quality of life.

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    Mute Alfalfa T Boggins
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    Dec 16th 2013, 12:37 PM

    Sorry John to me a homeless Child here in December is at risk as much any anyone anywhere. Most 12 year old’s are not aware of the services you speak about. Plus obviously no one would print a picture of a homeless child in Ireland, its too small a country.

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    Mute micheal285
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    Dec 16th 2013, 12:23 PM

    Maybe it’s the shape of things to come John ??

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    Mute John
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    Dec 16th 2013, 12:35 PM

    more than eight million Bangladeshis live on less than USD 2 a day. Its disgusting how people in our sheltered first world bubble compare their ‘hardships’ to the people of the 3rd world. We don’t know real hardship in this country. Open your eyes!

    http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/article.cfm?id=4794

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    Mute Aunty Simmonite
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    Dec 16th 2013, 12:28 PM

    Contrast the few comments on this issue with the outpourings of the do-gooders on the earlier ‘racist’ item.

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    Mute Sinead Hanley
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    Dec 16th 2013, 1:04 PM

    John… Charity BEGINS at home.. I dont know what kind of a mind would think its ok for an Irish child to suffer a little bit.. Its ok to be cold and hungry and wet.. At least she isnt suffering like those in the third world..

    A child should be subjected to NO suffering.. no matter what part of the world you live in..

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    Mute Mitch Connor
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    Dec 18th 2013, 3:32 PM

    Gg

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    Mute Arpy O'hEigceartaigh
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    Dec 16th 2013, 4:34 PM

    “Suffer little children to come unto me”
    I say no more; think about it.

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    Mute John Allen
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    Dec 17th 2013, 1:49 PM

    fantastic work is being done in cork in regard to homeesess and your journal is doing a great job in high lightind the matter my em address is danielgreydog@yahoo.co.uk used to do a lot of hunting in glanmire woods happy christmas an the new year too god bless

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