The Briefing - Your Friday morning news catch up

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

Fri, 24 Oct, 2014 - 01:00

Greg Murphy

BRIEFING TOP STORY

POLICING HASS LITTLE IMPACT ON DRUGS MARKET

Drug availability is "largely unaffected" by Garda and Customs’ operations and drug markets are more "integrated" than ever in communities, according to a landmark piece of research.

IRISH NEWS

"WHY DID THEY HAVE TO FIGHT US ALL THE WAY?" LINDA MCCARTHY

James McCarthy will be 13 next month. The day he was born is a day his family will never forget — for all the wrong reasons.

CHARITIES HIT OUT AT REPORT ON RENTED HOUSING

Two charities have rejected the findings of a report on the rented housing sector that claims rent control regulations would not address rising costs for tenants.

WORLD NEWS

'LIKE A VIRGIN' COVER LANDS NUN IN HOT WATER

Italy’s Catholic establishment has expressed outrage after a nun who won the Italian edition of The Voice last June this week released her first album featuring a cover of Madonna’s ‘Like a Virgin’.

RUSSIAN ARTIST CUTS OFF EAR LOVE IN PROTEST

An artist who previously hammered his scrotum to the cobblestones of Red Square has now cut off his ear lobe to protest against his country putting political prisoners in psychiatric wards.

SPORT

NO PLACE TO HIDE IN TITLE SHOWDOWN

Lights, camera, action — the stage is set for a blockbuster finale to the SSE Airtricity League season at Oriel Park.

TIME FOR MUNSTER TO PUT THEIR BEST FOOT FORWARD

Now comes the hard part.

For all the celebrations of last-ditch escapology that Munster’s Champions Cup victory at Sale Sharks last Saturday inspired, the cold reality remained that Anthony Foley’s team are still in must-win territory as far as this fledgling European campaign is concerned.

BUSINESS

CHAIRMAN TO LEAVE AS TESCO PROFITS PLUMMET

Compounding an already miserable year for supermarket giant Tesco, the company yesterday announced a 92% fall in pre-tax profits in the six months to the end of August.

VIEWPOINTS

ADAMS MUST BE HELD TO ACCOUNT JUST LIKE ANY OTHER POLITICIAN

WHY is Gerry Adams still the leader of Sinn Fein?

EXAMVIRAL

MOVEMBER IS OFF TO A FLYING START WITH AER LINGUS 'MO' PLANE

Aer Lingus is getting into the spirit of Movember a little early this year.

SHOWBIZ

KATIE PRICE PLANNING TO SELL HER USED BREAST IMPLANTS

Katie Price is planning to sell her breast implants for charity

TOP FEATURES

NYLONS NAIL IT FOR PEAK PINS - 75 YEARS OF STOCKINGS

The ultimate in erotica, still at the cutting edge of fashion and a staple of every woman’s underwear drawer, Jonathan de Burca Butler pays homage to the nylon stocking on its 75th anniversary.