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, 21 Aug, 2014 - 01:00

Greg Murphy

BRIEFING TOP STORY

ALBERT REYNOLDS DIES AGED 81

Former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds has died at the age of 81.

IRISH NEWS

NO COOLING THE RISE OF ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE

Sharon Ní Bheoláin did it and it made the Nine O’Clock News.

SUICIDE TOURISM DOUBLES IN FOUR YEARS

‘Suicide tourism’ is on the rise, with the number of people travelling to Switzerland to take their own lives doubling in four years.

WORLD NEWS

OBAMA VOWS TO FIGHT FOLEY KILLERS

US President Barack Obama has pledged to continue attacking the group responsible for the death of journalist James Foley, despite its threats to kill another American hostage.

WIFE AND DON OF HAMAS LEADER DIES IN ATTACK

An Israeli air strike in Gaza killed the wife and infant son of Hamas’s military leader, Mohammed Deif, the group said, calling it an attempt to assassinate him after a ceasefire collapsed.

SPORT

DUBLIN BOARD RAILS AGAINST GAA GRANT CUT PROPOSALS

In the wake of Donegal manager Jim McGuinness’s comparison of Dublin GAA with Chelsea under Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich, it has emerged that the GAA is considering a reduction in the funding made available to the Dublin County Board for coaching in the capital.

MCKILLOP CLAIMS ANOTHER GOLD FOR IRELAND

Michael McKillop added Ireland’s second gold medal at the IPC European Championships in Swansea yesterday with a front-running victory in the T38 800m in 1:58.16.

BUSINESS

DOUBLE BLOW FOR MINCON PROFITS

Irish engineering company Mincon yesterday blamed a weakening of the global exploration and mining market and the devaluation of key currencies for a poor first half of the year during which revenues and profit fell significantly.

VIEWPOINTS

ABORTION CASE ANALYSIS: LEFT WITHOUT A VOICE

It is no longer sustainable to maintain laws that visit cruelty on the most vulnerable on the basis of one particular religion, writes Special Correspondent Michael Clifford

SHOWBIZ

PHOTOGRAPHER SUES BIEBER FOR ASSAULT

A photographer sued Justin Bieber and one of his bodyguards for assault and infliction of emotional distress over an altercation on a Hawaiian beach last year.

TOP FEATURES