Your Wednesday morning catch-up

BREAKING NEWS FROM PARIS: Two suspects in the Paris attacks have been killed during a raid in a suburb of the French capital, police said. A third person has also been killed. It is not yet certain if it was a passer by or a police officer.

TOP STORY - BREAKING NEWS IN PARIS 

Seven explosions have been heard  in Paris this morning  and it is reported that three arrests have been made and three people are dead.

Police in Paris said they were raiding an apartment in the suburb of Saint Denis where several of suspects linked to the terror attacks were hiding, several officers have been injured.

One of the fatalities is said to be a woman who was wearing a suicide belt, another suspect was shot by police.

PARIS ATTACKS

Ireland’s passport control system is not linked to state-of-the-art EU database  that sends out immediate alerts about suspected terrorists, criminals, or paedophiles who may be are entering the country.

Defence Forces personnel are not properly resourced to meet terrorist threats due to cuts in manpower   http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/irish-defence-forces-not-properly-resourced-to-combat-terrorist-threats-due-to-cuts-365582.html

IRELAND

The Government’s long-promised universal health insurance (UHI) plan would have risked breaking laws   and forced families to pay as much as €5,000 a year if it was introduced.

Cork GAA chiefs insisted last night it was all systems go on the €70m redevelopment of Páirc Uí Chaoimh  they confirmed John Sisk and Son as the main contractor for the project.

The Peter McVerry Trust (PMVT) says it expects to deal with approximately 7,500 clients this year  amid the escalating homeless crisis.

It was meant to be the best day of their lives — but a last-minute legal issue  meant it ended in heartbreak. A couple from Cork were prevented from being among the first gay couples to tie the knot in Ireland yesterday because a 24-hour notice period required under the Civil Registration Act had not elapsed.

WORLD

Former Two and a Half Men star Charlie Sheen admitted he has been blackmailed for up to $10m as he disclosed he has the HIV virus.

A lack of gardaí and a slashing of overtime budgets has limited Ireland’s ability  to maintain a handle on the activities of potential Islamic extremists here.

SPORT

Former All Blacks player Jonah Lomu has died in Auckland at the age of 40,  New Zealand Rugby has confirmed.

Kerry star Colm Cooper believes GAA chiefs should have informed players  that their conversations with All-Ireland final referee David Coldrick were being recorded for a television documentary.

BUSINESS

The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council may step up its warning about potential spending excesses  when it delivers its verdict on the Coalition’s pre-election budget next week.

Paddy Power still expects its full-year operating profits for 2015 to show a mid-to-high single-digit percentage increase  despite “unfavourable” sporting results since the beginning of July.

ANALYSIS

We have values and civic structures which much of the rest of the world wish to emulate,   writes Gerard Howlin

LIFESTYLE

Suzanna Harrington pulls on her wookie boots  and looks at the strangest Star Wars merchandise  in the galaxy.

VIDEO

It was meant to be the best day of their lives — but a last-minute legal issue  meant it ended in heartbreak. A couple from Cork were prevented from being among the first gay couples to tie the knot in Ireland yesterday because a 24-hour notice period required under the Civil Registration Act had not elapsed.

VIRAL

French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo has unveiled its defiant response to the Paris attacks  which left 129 people dead.

A veteran Northern Irish punk band defied safety concerns to perform in  trouble-hit Paris,   telling the crowd: “The world has their hearts with you.”

TECHNOW

GAMING: EA makes a lot of games but there’s one part of the market they’ve yet to tap - the open world action game. Now it seems that’s the plan for the future.

MOVIES: Katniss Everdeen’s journey comes to an end as the final battle moves to the Capitol. Read our review of The Hunger Games: Mockinjay Part 2

TECH: Google Fit is a pretty great free app which tracks your activity on your phone and gives a good amount of feedback, including a very cheery ’ping!’ when you complete your steps for the day.

SHOWBIZ

Charlie Sheen is reportedly set to be sued by up to 10 former sexual partners.A prominent Los Angeles-based lawyer claims  he has been contacted by six women preparing to file lawsuits against the 50-year-old actor, who admitted today (17.11.15) he was diagnosed as HIV-positive four years ago, for intentional infliction of emotional distress, fraud and sexual battery, claiming he allegedly kept the virus a secret from them.

MOST READ RIGHT NOW

The spend by Shell and its partners on the Corrib gas project over 2014 and this year  has totalled €580m as the firm awaits Government approval to allow gas to flow from the field.