Your Friday morning catch-up

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

IRELAND

The exceptional bravery of a 10-year-old boy who clung to the window of a moving 4x4 to rescue his sister has been commended.

Kathleen Lynch has reignited the war of words within the Coalition over rent control, as a solution to the crisis has yet to be found.

An independent city councillor says college authorities in Cork should fund special Garda units to police residential areas plagued by drunken students.

Opel has not ruled out a recall of thousands of its Zafira family cars after one of the vehicles burst into flames in Passage West, Co Cork.

WORLD

China’s ruling Communist Party has decided to allow all couples to have two children, abolishing a policy that limited many urban couples to only one child for more than three decades.

A German man arrested over the disappearance of a four-year-old Bosnian migrant has confessed to killing the boy.

SPORT

Rory McIlroy insists he will not be begging big name US stars to tee it up in the Irish Open at The K Club next May.

Not many people would claim to feel lucky after being stabbed multiple times and yet Dublin’s Jonny Cooper has no doubt he was fortunate not to have suffered a worse fate when he was attacked in a late-night incident just over a year ago.

RUGBY WORLD CUP CENTRE

As the Rugby World Cup comes to a close, here are 60 things we learned from the latest chase for the Webb Ellis Cup.

For more latest news, views and banter visit our Rugby World Cup Centre HERE

BUSINESS

Ireland’s tax regime may again face the international spotlight, at an uncomfortable time for the country, after two of the world’s pharmaceutical giants yesterday confirmed they are in talks over a mega billion dollar merger that appears to be driven by Irish tax considerations.

Allied Irish Banks plans to return to the subordinated bond market for the first time since the financial crisis. It is preparing to start repaying its €21bn bailout by the year’s end.

ANALYSIS

China has feigned outrage at the US sailing a warship within 20km of one of its islands. It’s all about it wanting to protect military power, writes Bill Emmott

LIFESTYLE

Sick of the commercialism of Hallowe’en nowadays? Want to return to Samhain’s roots? Well maybe it’s time to take a trip to the Aran Islands, says Ken Phelan, and check out the vibrant local traditions of All-Hallow’s Eve

VIDEO

Amid the crackle of gunfire, billowing smoke, and explosions from grenades, Irish troops launched a seaborne attack on an enemy stronghold, eventually subduing its defenders.

VIRAL

A woman who went into labour on board a flight gave birth to a baby girl four minutes after arriving at hospital in Dublin.

Stroke is one of the largest causes of death with one in eight people dying within 30 days of suffering a stroke. Here are a few things you need to know about stroke.

TECHNOW

GAMING: Agent 47 is back in March 2016, with a new Hitman game that’s already looking like it has plenty to like for fans.

MOVIES: Jessica Jones is following in the footsteps of Daredevil with her own Netflix TV show. And it’s looking good.

TECH: The Huawei Snapys Instagram award winners have been announced, with some amazing prizes on offer including a trip to China

SHOWBIZ

Priscilla Presley opened up about her final conversation with Elvis, days before his untimely death, when he reassured her he was fine.

MOST READ RIGHT NOW

The exceptional bravery of a 10-year-old boy who clung to the window of a moving 4x4 to rescue his sister has been commended.