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, 18 Sep, 2014 - 01:00

Robert McNamara

BRIEFING TOP STORY

SCOTS GO TO THE POLLS AS HISTORIC DAY DAWNS

Scotland is poised to make history today with a momentous vote on independence as No campaigners warned it was on the verge of falling through an economic trap door, while Yes activists insisted it was on the brink of rising to nationhood.

IRISH NEWS

BABY COUSIN'S SUFFERING INSPIRED DARREN TO INVENT FEEDING SYSTEM

A University of Limerick student who designed a feeding system for patients who cannot ingest food normally after witnessing the stress his baby cousin went through, has won the Irish leg of the 2014 James Dyson Award.

ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS LINKED TO DIABETES

Sugar-free sweeteners could increase glucose intolerance and diabetes risk by affecting bacteria in the gut, a study has suggested.

WORLD NEWS

UNITED KINGDOM HOLDS ITS BREATH ON DIVIDED SCOTLAND

On the eve of Scotland’s independence referendum, the fate of the United Kingdom rests on hundreds of thousands of wavering Scottish voters, as opinion polls showed supporters of the 307-year union just a whisker ahead of secessionists.

RIVERS' DOCTOR TOOK SELFIE DURING THROAT PROCEDURE

oan Rivers’ doctor took a selfie while performing an unauthorised procedure on the comedienne’s throat that caused her to stop breathing, according to reports

SPORT

KINGDOM'S KEYS WAITING ON WINGS

Get the ball up the field fast. Shoot accurately from long range. These are the traditional and clichéd answers to the blanket defence. They have had their merits on different days but both are now limited in effectiveness. Donegal’s mass defence system is an evolved one and can deal with both.

BOATENG'S LATE STRIKE GIVES CITY THE BLUES

Bayern Munich 1 Manchester City 0

Manchester City are learning the hard way how slim the margins are in the Champions League.

BUSINESS

YOUTH GUARANTEE INITIATIVE 'WILL NOT CREATE JOBS WITHOUT GROWTH'

The Youth Guarantee initiative, backed with €10bn of EU funding, will not create the jobs needed without a certain minimum economic growth, Employment Commissioner Laszlo Andor has warned.

VIEWPOINTS

SCOTLAND WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN NO MATTER WHAT THE RESULT OF THE POLL

THE UK looks finished, from where I’m sitting. It’s true my view is a little bit obstructed right now, after a “Yes Scotland” rally in Glasgow’s George’s Square. But no matter how the people of Scotland vote today, I believe the joyous euphoria released by the “Yes, Scotland” campaign means the days of the UK are numbered.

EXAM VIRAL

AMAZON JUST OVERHAULED THEIR TABLET AND E-READER LINE-UP IN STYLE

In one swoop, Amazon has announced the imminent arrival of six new devices to their hardware range, updating and expanding their existing tablets and e-readers.

SHOWBIZ

CLOONEY TO TOAST AMAL WITH OWN TEQUILA AT WEDDING BASH

The 53-year-old actor's close friend and rumoured best man Rande Gerber, who is married to supermodel Cindy Crawford, was spotted loading 100 cases of their award-winning Casamigos Tequila onto a private jet from California to Italy, ahead of his wedding to Amal Alamuddin in Venice on September 27.

TOP FEATURES

A HISTORY OF CHILD ABUSE IN IRELAND

The mistreatment of children is not new in Ireland, writes Aileen Lee. In the 18th and 19th centuries they were kidnapped for use as beggars, robbed of their clothes, or sold as servants and transported to British colonies in America