Catch-up with what you've missed so far today with our lunchtime briefing
IRELAND
Residents in parts of Athlone say Christmas is on hold as they try to keep rising waters from flooding their homes.
A mother of three broke down in tears yesterday as she was forced to leave her flooded home to accompany one of her sons in an ambulance after he collapsed from exhaustion after working all week to protect their home.
The Tánaiste Joan Burton says the Labour Party is on a high alert for a General Election.
A long-serving county councillor angrily departed the chamber at a municipal district meeting, seemingly exasperated by the operation of local government, in the context of the 2014 reforms.
Subsidised bars that sell cheap alcohol to Irish Defence Forces personnel have received Government subvention of more than €865,000 in the past three years.
College graduates could face loan repayments of around €25 a week over 15 years as part of major reforms to the third-level funding system.
WORLD
Syrian government helicopter gunships have attacked a suburb of the capital, Damascus, a day after air strikes on nearby areaskilled at least 45 people, opposition activists said.
A teacher has been attacked in Paris by a man citing Islamic State, according to police.
SPORT
Arsenal will take on holders Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League while Chelsea face a rematch with Paris St Germain. See all the news from the Champions League Draw here.
Cork coaching officer, Kevin O’Donovan, told county delegates yesterday that “sacrifices” would have to be made, and structures would have to be examined, to stop young players “burning out and being finished at 20.”
BUSINESS
During the past year, right-wing populist politicians have been on the march, in France, the US and even in Germany, where chancellor Angela Merkel’s generous response to the migration crisis has left her exposed, politically, as never before.
The Government is being warned of increased pressure on infrastructure and public services as a result of improved economic conditions.
ANALYSIS
Women still get asked when will they hear the patter of tiny feet, or when are they going to get on with it, writes Terry Prone
With panto season in full swing, Colette Sheridan rounds up the best of children’s entertainment on offer around the country
VIDEO
The Christmas Tractors of Carrick on Suir event is the brainchild of Stewart Downey, in its second year running.
VIRAL
Nothing like a foul-mouthed rant to start off your Monday. This video posted by Anne Harding shows a guy stuck behind a tractor and truck full of turf on some backroad in Roscommon.
There’s one thing a stuffed toy should never do if it lives with a cat – NEVER EVER take the feline’s favourite spot.
TECHNOW
: The next Battlefield game is currently in development at DICE, according to development director Dan Vaderlind.
Star Wars fans are counting down the minutes until the opening of The Force Awakens. But now you can catch a snippet of the opening score and with John Williams conducting it.
Windows users are all-too-familiar with malware and virus attacks, but iOS and Mac users may have to brace themselves for an onslaught in 2016.
SHOWBIZ
Despite denying there is a romance blooming between the pair, Selena Gomez jetted to London for Niall Horan’s performance on The X Factor and was happy to share a photo hanging out with Niall’s best mates from Mullingar.
MOST READ RIGHT NOW
A mother of three broke down in tears yesterday as she was forced to leave her flooded home to accompany one of her sons in an ambulance after he collapsed from exhaustion after working all week to protect their home.
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