The Briefing - Your Thursday morning news catch up

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

Thu, 10 Jul, 2014 - 01:00

Robert McNamara

BRIEFING TOP STORY

GOVERNMENT INTERVENES IN BID TO SALVAGE GIGS

Government intervention last night saw senior figures in Dublin City Council invited to crisis talks to see what can be done to salvage the Garth Brooks concerts.

IRISH NEWS

GPS SEEK MEETING ON FREE CARE FOR OVER-70S

Doctors are to seek an urgent meeting with the new health minister, expected to be appointed today, to discuss plans to roll out free GP care to all over-70s

WAIT GOES ON AS JOAN AND ENDA MULL OVER ISSUES

Talks between Tánaiste and new Labour leader Joan Burton and Taoiseach Enda Kenny will resume this morning, ahead of an expected announcement of a re-focused Government agenda and Cabinet reshuffle.

WORLD NEWS

STORM HEADS TOWARDS CENTRAL JAPAN

A strong storm has swerved towards Japan’s heavily populated main islands after slamming through the southern islands inflicting injuries on 32 people.

'ACCENTISM' IS ANOTHER PREJUDICE SAYS ACADEMIC

People with regional accents should be protected from "accentism" alongside the fight against racism, ageism and sexism, it has been claimed

SPORT

ROMERO THE HERO IN PENALTY JOY FOR ARGENTINA

Argentina are just 90 minutes away from lifting the World Cup in the Maracana after they edged past Netherlands on penalties in Wednesday’s semi-final at the Arena Corinthians.

HANGELAND:MAGATH 'MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY BATTERS PLAYERS'

Former Fulham captain Brede Hangeland has launched a scathing attack on manager Felix Magath.

BUSINESS

FLURRY OF IRISH-LINKED MERGER DEALS

A spate of takeover activity in the pharmaceutical sector pushed Irish-related acquisition values to a 20-year high in the first half of 2014 and saw the country account for nearly 18% of European merger activity, in value terms.

VIEWPOINTS

STRATEGY WILL NEED SPACE TO BREATH

FOLLOWING the Government’s Putting People First reform package, three regional assembly areas are expected to be announced shortly. However, they risk being ineffective without the context of a new National Spatial Strategy (NSS) to guide regional development.

SHOWBIZ

LOVE/HATE STAR POPS THE QUESTION

Love/Hate star Ian Lloyd Anderson - who plays Fran’s accomplice Dean on the hit TV series - is engaged.

TOP FEATURE

GOING, GOING...ONLINE

FINANCIALLY, the internet has been no friend to the music, newspaper or book businesses. But it’s doing wonders for the art world. According to a recent report by art insurers Hiscox, the value of the global online fine art market is set to more than double, from an estimated $1.57 billion in 2013 to $3.76bn by 2018.