Your Wednesday lunchtime news catch-up

Former Taoiseach Brian Cowen has defended the decision to go with the bank guarantee in September 2008; mother of student who has been missing since he was swept into the sea at Baltimore last week has made an emotional appeal for more divers to help find her son; Harry Shearer, voice of Mr Burns in The Simpsons will be back in the role of the evil nuclear power plant boss. Just some of the latest and most read stories on irishexaminer.com.

Wed, 08 Jul, 2015 - 01:00

TOP STORY

Cowen claims bank guarantee was 'least worst option'; FF spending led to quicker recovery

The former Taoiseach Brian Cowen has defended the decision to go with the bank guarantee in September 2008 saying he had to pick the "least worst option".

Cowen denies 'overruling' Lenihan on bank guarantee

Brian Cowen has effectively denied "overruling" his minister for finance, Brian Lenihan, on the night of the guarantee.

IRELAND

Baltimore drownings: ‘Please help find my son and bring him back’

The mother of a student who has been missing since he was swept into the sea at Baltimore, Co Cork, last week has made an emotional appeal for more divers to help find her son and “bring him back”.

Association claims LÉ Eithne personnel not getting proper allowance

Irish Naval personnel who have rescued over 3,400 migrants in the Mediterranean are not getting proper pay allowances.

MOST READ: Trump uses a little mussel to block windfarm at Doonbeg

US billionaire Donald Trump has finally won his battle against plans for a windfarm near Doonbeg golf course — which he owns — thanks to a little-known freshwater pearl mussel.

SPORT

VIDEO: Ref vindicated as footage shows Limerick ‘goal’ call correct

The referee at the heart of the disputed goal in Limerick’s All-Ireland SHC qualifier win over Westmeath in Mullingar last Sunday said he never doubted he and his umpire had made the right call in awarding the score.

MOST READ: Frozen-out Billy Dennehy still ‘loves’ City

Billy Dennehy claimed last night that he is still a Cork City player and loves playing for the club.

WORLD

Greece submits request for bailout deal

Greece has submitted its request for a rescue deal from Europe’s bailout fund.

Most wanted criminal on display in Spanish Costas

A digital screen displaying the faces of some of Britain’s most wanted fugitives is being driven around popular expat areas in Spain.

ANALYSIS

Greece’s no vote is no victory for democracy

Alexis Tsipras’s decision to resort to democracy by referendum saw him leaning to the ‘laos’ of the mob and promoting the worst version of Greek politics, writes Bernard-Henri Lévy.

EXAMVIRAL

Woman’s selfie in clothing store goes viral for unexpected reason

Rachel Taylor’s selfie, taken in the dressing room of an Old Navy clothing store, has been getting her a lot of unexpected attention after she posted it to their Facebook page.

MOST READ: VIDEO: Viral video gives this homeless man a second chance in life

A homeless man in Florida has been given another chance at his life after a video of him playing piano on the street has gone viral.

TECHNOW

#VIDEO See the first ever footage from the new #XFiles series http://t.co/O8X2dtom3Q (PSR) pic.twitter.com/DfZsLh8AFN
— Irish Examiner Lifestyle (@IELifestyle_) July 8, 2015

See the first ever footage from the new X-Files series

The X-Files is back, with a new event series airing in January 2016. And Fox is celebrating the return of the show with a pretty amazing run of the entire series from now until the new year.

MOST READ: Facebook makes subtle tweak to friends icon

The ‘Friends’ icon on Facebook is undergoing a subtle, but significant change. The new icon sees the female figure moved to the front and on the same level as the male figure.

BUSINESS

Ryanair to celebrate 30th birthday with a party

Ryanair is throwing a party for its 30th birthday. The airline's first flight took off in 1985 from Waterford Airport to London Gatwick. It now services more than 1,600 routes in 30 countries, with 72 airport bases.

Eurozone leaders make plans to pull back from the brink

Short term financing and a longer term programme with widespread changes to the Greek economy were on the table last night but EU leaders gave Greece a final deadline of Sunday to submit detailed plans.

LIFESTYLE

How couples can stop arguing about money

Couples should be upfront about spending habits once their relationship gets serious. That doesn’t mean that they have to forsake their independence.

SHOWBIZ

#StarWars news - Han Solo is back and Darth Vader will be in Rogue One | http://t.co/9Cu7HBPddw (BG) pic.twitter.com/t2yX0mCCjT
— Irish Examiner Arts & Culture (@IEArtsCulture) July 8, 2015

Star Wars news - Han Solo is back and Darth Vader will be in Rogue One

There's a new Star Wars film on the way. It's already an exciting prospect but for long-time fans it's what happens next that's set to be really interesting.