Your Thursday morning catch-up

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

TOP STORIES

We have not taken lightly the decision to publish today this deeply disturbing photograph of a Syrian boy washed up on a beach in Turkey, drowned when the boat he was travelling in capsized in the watery graveyard that the Mediterranean has become for over two and a half thousand refugees, writes Irish Examiner Editor Tim Vaughan.

in Irish news, government ministers have closed ranks to defend Taoiseach Enda Kenny from growing opposition calls for his resignation, backing the Fine Gael leader’s claim the Fennelly report has cleared him of any wrongdoing.

The grading and CAO points system in the Leaving Certificate is getting ready for its first overhaul in more than 20 years.