21 May 2024| 05:13am ISTLetter to the editor (21 May 2024)Ban sale of liquor to minorsTwo persons were reportedly killed when the speeding luxury car driven by a minor, hit their motorcycle in Pune city on Sunday. However in some states including Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Sikkim, among others, the permissible age is 18. The Parents-Teachers Association could play a role by nudging the schools to upload the students’ marks before commencement of the Board exams. Now after many years, the Goa government thought of renovating the Kala Academy auditoriums and the renovation job was given to someone without tender for Rs 75 crores. The renovation of kala Academy is a total failure which is a waste of Rs 75 crores.

Photo: David ConachyAnthony O'Reilly and wife Chryss O'Reilly at the Ireland Funds Gala evening at the Four Season's Hotel, Dublin, in 2007. Photo: CollinsFormer media magnate Tony O’Reilly has been remembered as a “trailblazer” and a giant of industry by figures across Irish business, sport and political life. His peer and businessman Michael Smurfit paid tribute to Mr O’Reilly as a contemporary and competitor. “Nobody loved life like Tony and nobody lived life like Tony. Mr O’Reilly was “a man of great personal charm” who used that gift for significant philanthropy during his lifetime, Mr Higgins said.

This year’s festival, coordinated by Calmast at South East Technological University (SETU), promises over 20 free events to celebrate biodiversity and natural heritage. Immerse yourself in nature and celebrate the beauty of biodiversity in the south east during the 20th annual Bealtaine Living Earth Festival, taking place until May 26This year’s festival, coordinated by Calmast at South East Technological University (SETU), promises over 20 free events to celebrate biodiversity and natural heritage. Speaking about Bealtaine Living Earth Festival, Eoin Gill, director of Calmast STEM Engagement Centre at SETU, said, “Our festival, founded and coordinated by SETU’s Calmast, is a testament to our deep connection to the living earth and our responsibility to safeguard it. “Supported by Waterford City and County Council’s festivals fund, the Bealtaine Living Earth Festival has been a pioneering force in celebrating biodiversity and participating in International Day for Biodiversity longer than any other Irish initiative. We look forward to celebrating biodiversity and natural heritage during the 20th annual festival.”The full list of events can be found at Bealtaine Living Earth Festival’s website www.livingearth.ie.

The continued rise in rents across Cork City and Cork County has been blamed on ‘disastrous’ housing policies from the coalition government. The latest Daft.ie rent report shows rents in Cork City increased by 8.1%, while rent has increased by 4.1% across the county. Sinn Féin Senator Paul Gavan said housing policies from the coalition government have locked ordinary workers and families out of affordable housing. Senator Gavan who is seeking election to the European Parliament in the Ireland South constituency criticised Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher for standing over government housing policies that see rents continue to soar in Cork city and county. That's a direct result of the government housing policies that Billy has supported.”“Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin says the government has turned a corner on housing,” said Senator Gavan.

Rebecca Black, PAPolice are treating an attack on two men in south Belfast as a racially motivated hate crime. The pair were attacked in the Ebor Street area by three unknown males on Sunday evening. A police spokesperson said the two men had been walking in the area when they were approached by three males dressed in dark-coloured clothing who shouted racial abuse at them. “One of the victims sustained an injury to his arm whilst putting his arms up to protect himself. Both victims then managed to run away from the scene.”“An investigation to establish the circumstances of this incident, which we are treating as a racially motivated hate crime, is ongoing, and we are appealing for witnesses to contact us.

Xander Schauffele admits first major win has got rid of the chip on his shoulderPhil Casey, PA Golf Correspondent, LouisvilleWhen Xander Schauffele carded a record-equalling 62 in the opening round of the 106th US PGA Championship, the jokes soon followed. Three days later it was Schauffele who had the last laugh as he secured his first major title with a wire-to-wire victory at Valhalla in a record total of 21 under par. “All those close calls for me, even last week, that sort of feeling, it gets to you at some point,” Schauffele admitted. Xander Schauffele hugs his caddie Austin Kaiser after winning the US PGA Championship (Sue Ogrocki/AP) Photo by Sue Ogrocki“You guys are asking the questions, probing, and I have to sit here and answer it. That’s a whole different ball game, winning that one, but I’ll definitely be able to pull some confidence from this thing.”

Keywords Studios provides services from game art to marketing and testing. The latest proposal is a “significant increase” from the initial bid and the board of Keywords Studios “would be minded to recommend” it to shareholders if a firm bid is made, the company said. Keywords Studios, which is listed on London’s junior AIM market, was established in 1998 and has more than 13,000 employees in 26 countries. [ Concerns arise over jobs at Dublin-based Keywords Studios ]The company reported record revenues of €780 million in 2023 – up 13 per cent year-on-year – while its pretax profit fell 49 per cent to €35 million. Under UK takeover rules, EQT has until June 15th to either make a firm offer or walk away.

Time runs out on resurgent Westmeath as Wexford take the honoursWexford 0-15, Westmeath 1-11Previous Next Image 1 of 6 Rachel Dillon shoots for a score against Wexford. Photos: Denis Byrne Denis Byrne Image 2 of 6 Chloe Kelly turns Amanda Power in Sunday’s final. Denis Byrne Image 4 of 6 Vicky Carr gaining possession for Westmeath as Sarah Harding Kenny gives chase. Denis Byrne Image 6 of 6 Sarah Dillon about to notch a score for Westmeath in Sunday’s final. With both sides already assured of a place in the final, Wexford came away as four-point winners.

Soko Glam is an Asian-owned business based in New York City. It was founded by a wife and husband team, Charlotte and Dave Cho, who curate the products on Soko Glam by traveling regularly to Seoul to scour the Korean skincare market. Promising reviews: "I absolutely love this eye cream! —Makayla"I really wanted an inexpensive eye cream just to moisturize and keep my skin feeling soft and subtle during winter. —MaryGet it from Soko Glam for $27.60 or from Amazon for $18.59.

The portal livestream restarted Sunday at 9 a.m. New York time and 2 p.m. Dublin time, according to a release from the Flatiron NoMad Partnership. Now that the portal has reopened, Flatiron NoMad Partnership said it has taken steps to limit instances of people stepping on the portal and holding phones up to the camera lens. Fencing, more signage and spacing decals have also been added in front of the New York portal to assist with crowd management and to provide optimal spots for visitors. The New York City portal is located in Manhattan's Flatiron District, while Dublin's is located near O'Connell Street, the city's main street. The portals connecting New York City and Dublin were shut down last week and had remained "temporarily closed" before Sunday's reopening.

Muireann DuffyThe average monthly rent on the open market nationally increased by 4.9 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2024. The latest Daft.ie rental price report found the average monthly rent for a property on the open market rose to €1,836 in Q1, rising 0.6 per cent on the previous three-month period. The report noted the availability of units on the open rental market remains low. "Without additional increases in rental supply, any pressure on rents is likely to be upward in nature, further straining affordability for those on regular incomes. "For that reason, policymakers must develop a thorough understanding of rental supply dynamics ahead of a detailed plan on dramatically increasing rental supply over the rest of the decade," Mr Lyons warned.

The report said that the “punitive” nature of the minimum sentences is “understood” in Ireland, and that judges continue to use their discretion to impose the “appropriate sentences”. A number of presumptive minimum sentences are also set out in law for a number of repeat offences, including murder, aggravated burglary, and sex offences. In relation to the drug possession offence, the report said the majority of sentences are “considerably lower” than the minimum. The review said the Law Reform Commission, in a 2013 report, recommended the repeal of all minimum sentences. Despite its analysis, the report said there were gaps in the data and it does not recommend the repeal of enactments providing for presumptive minimum sentences.

Holding firm: Mondelez boss Dirk Van de PutCadbury owner Mondelez will face scrutiny over selling chocolate in Russia at its AGM this week. Senior MPs and campaign groups have lambasted it for selling a number of its brands including Milka chocolate and Oreo biscuits. Investor Wespath Benefits and Investments has proposed an independent review of how the US conglomerate is implementing human rights policy in Russia and Ukraine. Mondelez, which took over beloved British brand Cadbury in 2010, said calls for a review were 'duplicative and unnecessary.' Boss Dirk Van de Put said investors do not 'morally care' whether firms do business in Russia, adding that no shareholders had pressured it to leave.

Residents in Castlebridge “feel very strongly” that their village is being neglected by Wexford County Council (WCC) with a number of projects being placed on the “long finger”.A native of the village, Dave Ryan is running for the Wexford Independent Alliance (WIA in next month’s local elections and says he will be fight for improvements in his homeplace if elected. “Castlebridge seems to be the on the long finger in the Wexford District. A development plan for the village has been presented by Wexford County Council (WCC) but progress is very slow. The village is in dire need of improved lighting, pedestrian safety and amenity improvements. It is five years since the last local elections and Castlebridge has seen no real investment from WCC.”

Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets, Hargreaves Lansdown:‘The defensive nature of the FTSE 100 has come to the fore, with the index rising in early trade amid fresh uncertainty in the Middle East. 'Oil and gold have been rising in tandem, following the confirmation of the death of Iran’s President, and the health of King Salman of Saudi Arabia, being the subject of speculation. Mining stocks and energy giants are on the front foot in early trade, while shares in defence contractors have also edged up. 'Nervousness about the direction of geopolitics has pushed gold to fresh record highs, reaching $2,438 per ounce. 'Demand for the metal has also likely to have been pushed up by renewed speculation that the Federal Reserve will be minded to cut interest rates a couple of times this year.