The Briefing - Your Monday morning news catch up

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

Mon, 25 Aug, 2014 - 01:00

Denise O’Donoghue

BRIEFING TOP STORY

68% OF BABIES IN BESSBOROUGH HOME DIED

Infant death rates at the Bessborough mother-and-baby home in Cork soared to almost 70% in the early 1940s.

IRISH NEWS

ROSE OF TRALEE MARIA WALSH: 'BEING GAY IS NORMAL TO ME'

Rose of Tralee organisers were unaware during the judging process that the 56th Rose, Maria Walsh, was gay, it emerged yesterday.

IRAQIS FLEEING JIHADISTS TO BE RESETTLED IN IRELAND

Dozens of Iraqi families fleeing Islamic State jihadists could be resettled in Ireland within weeks, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan.

WORLD NEWS

LEGENDARY ACTOR RICHARD ATTENBOROUGH DIES AGE 90

Legendary British actor and film director Richard Attenborough died yesterday at the age of 90.

UK IS 'VERY' CLOSE TO IDENTIFYING JIHADI JOHN

British intelligence agencies are "very close" to identifying the apparently English jihadist who beheaded American journalist James Foley, the UK’s ambassador to the US has said.

SPORT

BOTH SIDES DRAW COMFORT FROM CROKER CLASSIC

Brilliant. Bizarre.

MAGNANIMOUS MCDOWELL WISHES GALLACHER WELL IN RYDER CUP BATTLE

With Graeme McDowell hoping to enjoy the excitement later today of becoming a new father, he’s shown enormous sportsmanship in wishing Stephen Gallacher well in qualifying for the European Ryder Cup team.

BUSINESS

GDP GROWTH IS REVISED UPWARDS

The Irish economy is making a broad-based recovery with increased investment and domestic consumption combing with robust exports to accelerate growth, according to Ulster Bank.

VIEWPOINTS

MY TOWER HOUSE IS READY TO PLAY ITS PART IN CELEBRATING OUR HERITAGE

IF the neighbours weren’t used to it, they’d demand the destruction of my house. It is one of the ugliest buildings in the neighbourhood. In fact, it wins the prize for being ugly, leaky, and disfunctional.

EXAMVIRAL

MILEY CYRUS CHOOSES HOMELESS MAN JESSE TO COLLECT HER MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARD

Twerking was out and tears were in at the MTV VMAs 2014.

SHOWBIZ

BEYONCE RULES AT MTV AWARDS

Bow down: Beyonce was the reigning queen of the MTV Video Music Awards.

TOP FEATURES

COSMO BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS WITH SEX GUIDE FOR LESBIANS

Cosmopolitan now has a guide to sex positions for lesbians. Have celebrities like Michelle Rodriguez helped a new generation to ‘come out’? Paula Burns reports.