Mark Coughlan

Everything is getting cutting room scrapped, unless the silver screen throws gummy bears back. Journalist, RTÉ Current Affairs (usually seen on @RTE_PrimeTime).

[Drew Harwell @drewharwell]

A police chief in Georgia used Flock's cameras to track his ex-girlfriend and her teen daughter nearly 600 times. “Don’t worry I’m not tracking you or some weird stalker shit," he texted her. After his arrest, he committed suicide.

He's one of 50 cops we found misusing Flock: 🧵

[Erin Banco @ErinBanco]

EXCLUSIVE: The U.S. has used “virtually all” of its precision strike missiles during the war in Iran. Stockpiles on ATACMs and Precision Strike Missiles are almost depleted. And we have used about half of our Tomahawks, per new data circulating inside the admin.

[Ali Al Hussein @AliBinAlHussein]

There is no shortage of issues regarding FIFA. Let me start by clarifying what some of these are from an FA perspective, in particular that of Jordan going into a World Cup for the first time.
We are a small country with a minimal budget for our FA and had to deal with enormous hurdles. First, getting our fans into the USA: not all were granted VISAS, even though they had tickets -which we also know were sold at exorbitant prices. Secondly, we are being taxed by the US govt through FIFA for our participation. Money that should go to players and staff. This was not the case for those who played and set up camp in Canada and Mexico. But we happened to be in the USA so now we face these huge costs in taxes for having participated.
Thirdly we have been waiting for reward money for our players since December for the Arab cup in Qatar, which is a FIFA event. The money our team should receive for having reached the final has not been delivered yet, while at the same time FIFA brags about how many billions they have in reserve.
It is clear the problem really is with leadership. For months, FIFA has been refusing to help us on any of these or other matters- until it was verbally communicated to me during the World Cup that if I endorsed Infantino it would go a long way to helping our FA out.
We pride ourselves in Jordan in upholding ethical values. We did not endorse him before and certainly will not now. But the whole situation amounts to blackmail and we refuse to give in to that.

[Danny (Dennis) Citrinowicz ,داني سيترينوفيتش @citrinowicz]

I'm sorry to sound like Cato the Elder, repeating the same warning over and over again, but the reality remains unchanged: no matter what President Trump says or threatens, Tehran shows no indication that it intends to back down.

As long as the maritime blockade remains in place and Washington continues to enforce it, Iran is likely to continue targeting commercial shipping transiting the southern channel of the Strait of Hormuz, as well as U.S. military facilities in the Gulf and Jordan. This is not a prediction with certainty; it is the baseline assumption that should guide policy based on the Islamic Republic's behavior and strategic logic.

The problem is that threats lose their value when they are not backed by a willingness to act. Every warning that is not enforced weakens American deterrence and raises doubts among U.S. partners about Washington's credibility. If the United States has no intention of following through, it should be far more cautious about issuing ultimatums. If it does intend to act, it must be prepared to accept the costs that come with that decision.

The larger problem is the refusal to acknowledge the strategic reality. The administration faces only difficult options. It does not control the Strait of Hormuz, it is not prepared for a large-scale war with Iran, and it is unwilling to accept an Iranian-dominated security order in the Strait. That strategic deadlock has encouraged the search for a "third way," but there is no magic solution to the Iran challenge.

Washington ultimately faces two broad choices: adapt its policy to the reality on the ground, or embark on a much broader military confrontation with Iran, one that would likely be costly, prolonged, and offer no guarantee of achieving America's political objectives. Trying to preserve the current status quo is not a sustainable strategy. There is little reason to believe Iran will stop attacking shipping or that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen under the current conditions.

The longer Washington avoids making this strategic choice, the greater the damage to American credibility, regional influence, and deterrence. Strategy begins with accepting reality as it is, not as policymakers wish it to be.

#iran

[☀️ Jon Schwarz ☀️ @schwarz]

Last year the NYT reported on how SEAL Team Six stormed into North Korea, accidentally murdered a bunch of fishermen, punctured their lungs so their bodies would sink & then stormed out. Trump is now trying to force one reporter to reveal his sources: https://t.co/d05DAIFnWm

[Sky News @SkyNews]

Sky's @sparkomat reports from the West Bank on the impact of the escalating violence and the challenges of delivering urgent care under an increased Israeli military presence.

🔗https://t.co/COTnQGpoU1

[Fabian Hoffmann @FRHoffmann1]

So, this probably confirms that they put an altimeter into Flamingo and that its guidance suite has been significantly enhanced compared to the baseline version first tested in August last year.

[Nick Harris @sportingintel]

A few yrs before he died, the late, great Andrew Jennings introduced me to some of his most precious FIFA-related contacts, who knew ALL about FIFA corruption. One of them gave me documents (and proof) to remove Blatter's No2 Jerome Valcke as an industrial scale ticket tout 1/2

[Mark Coughlan @Mark_Coughlan]

What a picture.

[Piaras Ó Mídheach 📸 @PiarasPOM]

A train driver takes a peek inside Croke Park during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship final between Kerry and Mayo last weekend.

[Rob Harris @RobHarris]

Full statement Carlos Cordeiro quits as Infantino's senior adviser at FIFA

Full statement

[Mark Coughlan @Mark_Coughlan]

Is that you again, Harry Kane?

[Quay Fitness Ballina @QuayFitness]

I doubt Andy will be doing any interviews for a few days😂😂

#Mayo #Ballina #mayogaa

[Mark Coughlan @Mark_Coughlan]

@jamierkennedy 4?! What?

[Tommy Rooney @TomasORuanaidh]

This kid has so much about him, here is Darragh Beirne speaking in Clones, on May 31st, after the Monaghan game - it was his SFC debut for Mayo.

Look what he's gone on and done now. #GAA

[Maurice Brosnan @m_brosnan]

I've referenced this clip so many times in print/podcasts over the last few weeks. Last November, Mayo organised workshops just for local coaches. Andy Moran took the attacking session. This is him in his essence.

[Liam Horan @HoranLiam]

'We've just met Dad' - son Trevor & Mike Naughton meet minutes after new time began.

Mike (@lahardanegaa native) in Kildare for years; Trevor raised there but with a Mayo heart. Staunchest of the staunch. Video: Aimee Naughton. Speaks for itself. #gaa #mayogaa @trevornaughton

[Seba John Finn Daly @SebaJFDaly]

Ryan O'Donoghue; from scoring goals for Ireland schoolboys, to winning All Ireland's with Mayo.

[Conor Gallagher @ConorGallaghe_r]

A Government investigation into Aughinish was unable to get hold of "confidential" documents from Sweden relating to the plant's alleged ownership by sanctioned oligarch Oleg Deripaska

It turns out the document is available publicly for a €25 admin fee

https://t.co/TYGsgGERb4

[Mark Coughlan @Mark_Coughlan]

@HLTCO So while it is amateur etc it’s mainly about sport as a connector of community.

[Mark Coughlan @Mark_Coughlan]

@HLTCO A lot of people mention the finances etc but what’s overlooked is the localism - you play for the club your were put into as a child, and same with county. Idea of transfers are frowned upon, the players play for their community. The Mayo manager coaches his club’s under-9s team.