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, 06 Nov, 2014 - 00:00

Robert McNamara

BRIEFING TOP STORY

CONFUSION OVER CHARGES AND SPLIT ON REFERENDUM

The escalating row over water charges threatens to split the Coalition amid continuing confusion over what households will be asked to pay for the controversial levy.

IRISH NEWS

PARTNER WANTED BAILEY CHARGED WITH MURDER

Ian Bailey’s partner, Jules Thomas, wrote to the DPP requesting he be charged with Sophie Tuscan du Plantier’s murder and they could receive a "fair trial in Ireland" and be put out of the "mental torture" being inflicted on the couple.

LIMERICK IS CRITICAL FOR DELL, SAYS MANAGER

Technology titan Dell considers Limerick critical to its success, despite cutting almost 2,000 jobs there six years ago, according to the head of its Irish operations.

WORLD NEWS

UK TO RULE ON LEGAILITY OF DRINKING IN PREGNANCY

The Court of Appeal in the UK has reserved its judgment on whether a pregnant woman committed "a crime of violence" against her child when she drank a "grossly excessive" amount of alcohol while pregnant.

I GET THE MESSAGE, SAYS OBAMA AFTER MID-TERM DRUBBING

President Barack Obama said he has heard the message from voters who put Republicans in power in the US Senate and extended their majority in the House of Representatives in a mid-term election that was a clear repudiation of his leadership.

SPORT

LAST RITES FOR CITY AS MUST-WIN GAME WITH BAYERN LOOMS

Manuel Pellegrini claimed Manchester City’s clash with CSKA Moscow was a not "death game" for their Champions League campaign, but after this defeat to the Russians they are being read the last rites.

CUSACK: I'M GLAD I WASN'T PROFESSIONAL

Gaelic Players Association chairman Dónal Óg Cusack says his views on professionalism in the GAA have changed, from wanting it as a teenager to believing now that amateurism is ‘more wholesome’.

BUSINESS

'NO PLANS' FOR BOI TO FOLLOW AIB IN CUTTING RATE

There are currently no plans to reduce Bank of Ireland’s standard variable mortgage rate following AIB’s 0.25% cut, although the situation is under review, according to chief executive Richie Boucher.

VIEWPOINTS

ANTI-WATER CAMPAIGNERS PROTEST TOO MUCH. THEIR REAL GOAL IS POWER

THEY don’t care about the water. It’s just a tool to destabilise the Government and accumulate power. It’s what they do. It’s what they’ve always done — find an issue with which they can mobilise people, then go and do it.

EXAMVIRAL

THIS MISSED CONNECTION AT THE WEB SUMMIT IS NOT AS IT SEEMS

A desperate search for a mysterious missed connection was actually a clever promotion for a new app at the Web Summit.

SHOWBIZ

DOWNEY JUNIOR WELCOMES BABY GIRL WITH FACEBOOK POST

Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr has welcomed a second child with his wife Susan, a baby girl named Avri.

TOP FEATURES

SENSE OF HOME WILL BE LOST WITH LONGWAVE

IT’S the GAA matches in the car they’ll miss. Or Joe Duffy while out for a walk. Or the Angelus. Or the company of Irish voices from a portable radio propped up on a bedside locker when sleep won’t come.