The Briefing - Your Wednesday morning news catch up

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

BRIEFING TOP STORY

SPECIAL REPORT: LEAVING CERTIFICATE EXAM RESULTS

Across the country, thousands of students are getting their Leaving Cert results this morning. Here’s a helpful guide of what you need to know.

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IRISH NEWS

RURAL SCHEME 'ORDERS' FAMILIES TO KEEP FAMILIES ALIVE

A rural resettlement scheme has been inundated with requests from villages wishing to "order" families with children in a bid to keep local schools open.

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O'FLYNN SAYS HE HAS €25 MILLION TO PAY LOANS

Cork developer Michael O’Flynn has upped the ante in his battle to retain control of his building empire by revealing he can immediately repay the €16.7m in personal loans as demanded by the company who took over his Nama loans — and also the remaining €8.2m he owes in personal loan

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WORLD NEWS

12FT SNAKE BLAMED AS NEIGHBOURHOOD CATS GO MISSING

The evidence is circumstantial but the case looks strong. Multiple cats missing without a trace, a freshly killed body, and one well-fed, 120lb Burmese python lurking in the Florida underbrush.

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LOTTO WINNER 'SEES WORKMATE RIGHT' AS PAIR QUIT JOBS

A painter and decorator who won more than £7m on the lottery has vowed to share some of his fortune with a workmate, honouring a long-standing agreement between the pair.

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SPORT

RONALDO SERVES NOTICE TO REAL RIVALS

Real Madrid 2 Sevilla 0

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to ensure a successful Wales homecoming for his team-mate Gareth Bale as Real Madrid comfortably won the Uefa Super Cup in Cardiff.

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SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS MASSIVE RESISTANCE TO BLACK CARD IN HURLING

The GAA’s 2020 hurling committee is unlikely to recommend the introduction of the black card after survey results showed overwhelming resistance to the implementation of a third card.

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BUSINESS

REPAYING IMF EARLY COULD SAVE €375

Ireland could make an annual saving of €375m after confirmation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that loans provided as part of the troika package can be repaid early without incurring any additional fees.

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VIEWPOINTS

LET THE ARTISTS PROCLAIM WHAT IT IS TO BE IRISH, AS THEY DID BACK IN 1916

The national conversation about 1916 is starting in earnest. What did it mean then; what does it say about us now?

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SHOWBIZ

THREE WILLIAMS CHILDREN REMEMBER 'GENTLE, GENEROUS DAD' 

The children of actor Robin Williams have paid tribute to their father after his tragic death.

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TOP FEATURES

WHY OUR PERSONALITY RUNS HOT AND COLD

We constantly transform who we are by what we do, veteran psychologist Walter Mischel tells JP O’Malley

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MOST READ RIGHT NOW ...

OBITUARY  ROBIN WILLIAMS: 1951-2014

He was the funniest guy in the room, something that made it all the harder for friends and fans to accept that beneath that reservoir of frenetic energy and seemingly endless good humour resided demons so dark they could push Robin Williams to suicide.

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