The Briefing - Your Friday morning news catch up

Welcome to your Friday morning briefing. Let us ensure you're up to speed on what's happening and are prepared for the day ahead.

Fri, 11 Apr, 2014 - 01:00

Denise O’Donoghue

BRIEFING TOP STORY

FAMILY HELD HOSTAGE BY GANG WERE WRONG TARGET

Gardaí believe that the Co Limerick family held hostage by an armed gang on Wednesday night were targeted mistakenly.

IRISH NEWS

CALL FOR EX-REHAB CHIEFS TO 'EXPLAIN THEMSELVES'

There will be “no moving on” from the crisis engulfing the charity sector unless two former bosses of Rehab come forward and “explain themselves”, according to the chairman of the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) John McGuinness.

WEEKLY RATES OF 5,000 DOLE CLAIMANTS SLASHED

Almost 5,000 dole claimants have had their weekly rates slashed or cut off after refusing to take up work or training opportunities.

WORLD NEWS

PUTIN ISSUES WARNING TO EUROPE ABOUT UKRAINE GAS DEBT

Dragging much of Europe into his fight with Ukraine, Russian president Vladimir Putin urged European leaders to quickly help Ukraine settle its gas debt to Russia to prevent an imminent shutdown of Russian natural gas supplies to the continent.

BERLUSCONI WANTS TO SERVE SENTENCE HELPING DISABLED

Silvio Berlusconi has asked to serve his one-year sentence for tax fraud helping disabled people, according to judicial sources.

SPORT

RORY'S GRAND MASTERS PLAN

Rory McIlroy intends to treat the next 54 holes at Augusta National like a game of chess as he patiently tries to become a grand Masters champion.

MURPHY BLOTS OUT TOULON TORMENT AS LEINSTER EYE PRO12 TITLE

Five days on from their crushing Heineken Cup exit to reigning champions Toulon, Leinster will aim to kick-start a memorable end to the season when they face the Ospreys this evening.

BUSINESS

GDP GROWTH FIGURES ‘MISLEADING’

GDP is no longer an accurate gauge of economic activity in the economy, according to the ESRI.

VIEWPOINTS

IMF’S TOUGH LOVE GETS EVEN TOUGHER

Jesse Griffiths and Nessa Ní Chasaide examine IMF conditionality and ask what can be done about its undue influence on policy.

SHOWBIZ

PEACHES' 11-MONTH-OLD SON 'WITH HER WHEN SHE DIED'

Peaches Geldof's youngest son was with her when she died, and was still playing nearby when her body was found.

TOP FEATURES

PREGNANCY & BABY FAIR PLAN WAS CHILD'S PLAY

The Pregnancy and Baby Fair is the hugely successful brainchild of two women who were confident enough to brave the Dragons’ Den, says Jonathan deBurca Butler