A NATION’s strength lies not in its armed forces but in the capacity of its citizens to overcome the horror of barbaric acts through togetherness, compassion and even humour.

THE most dangerous occupation in Ireland is not a pilot, steel worker or industrial roofer but a farmer — yet too many doing this essential job either ignore or remain blissfully unaware of the dangers.

IT IS a fundamental rule of law that everyone — from prince to pauper — is entitled to the presumption of innocence and to a fair trial, no matter what criminal charges they face. 

ANYONE on this island who reacted with outrage, frustration, incomprehension, or something pretty close to a numbing sadness to the murder of 22 young people at a concert in Manchester must temper that reaction.

THE officer class in the Tory election headquarters could probably do with a lie-in this morning but they will not get one anytime soon. The unexpected news that, in Wales, Labour has overtaken the Tories — Labour 44%, up 9%; Tories 34%, down 7% — might be dismissed as the political exception that vindicates the polls but the dishevelled, imploding Tory campaign will cut into their sleep time too.

THE British actor Roger Moore, who died yesterday aged 89, is recognised as one of the best, if not the best, actor to take on Ian Fleming’s iconic but impossibly superior character James Bond. 

IT is possible to argue that Facebook is more influential and has a greater reach than history’s most successful empires. 

THE Australian Svengali Lynton Crosby, who has led right-of-centre election campaigns around the world and is credited with David Cameron’s unexpected Commons majority two years ago, has contrived to reduce the British general election battle to one simple but excluding question: “Who do you want to lead Britain, Theresa May or Jeremy Corbyn? Personality rather than policy is the battleground.

THE call from health watchdog, Hiqa, that social care services be regulated, rather than “buildings and centres”, seems a rational proposal. 

THE Trump presidency is imploding.