Catch-up with what you've missed with our morning briefing

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

IRELAND

Storm Frank is due to make landfall this lunchtime today - with efforts underway throughout the country to protect as many homes as possible. Four weather warnings are in place.

The Government failed to pay over a third of compensation claims sought by local authorities after the last storms. Fianna Fáil's Environment Spokesperson Barry Cowen has said the coalition's track record proves it cannot be trusted to respond to flood damage.

A woman who nearly lost her arm after being mauled by a ‘restricted breed’ dog has said people must not take any chances with them. Olivia Donnelly faces another eight operations on her left arm which was ripped wide open and needed veins from her leg to help reattach blood flow to her limb.

Women's Aid is extending the hours of its free-phone helpline from the New Year. The charity which supports victims of domestic violence has said its helpline will be open 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week, from the 4th of January.

WORLD 

A grand jury has declined to indict a white rookie police officer in the killing of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, a black youngster shot to death while playing with what turned out to be a pellet gun.

Guinea has been declared free of Ebola by the World Health Organisation. It means there have been no new infections for 42 days.

SPORT

Louis Van Gaal's position came under increased scrutiny after his men went on their worst run in 26 years, but his players came out fighting at Old Trafford on Monday.

It would be tempting to say Munster could do with a week or two off to sort out the numerous issues that have them, in CJ Stander’s words, heading towards the waterfall, but that is not an option for the men in red.

BUSINESS

Amid the plunge in oil prices, Saudi Arabia expects to post a budget deficit of 367 billion riyals (€89.1bn) and Russia’s economy teeters on the brink of a deeper recession, while Iran wants to swiftly boost its oil exports, it emerged yesterday.

Happening almost unnoticed, as well it might at this time of the year, is three separate pieces of new tax law are in preparation. One is to give legal effect to the budget, one is to defer changes to Local Property Tax, and the last will change the way taxpayers can appeal a decision of the Revenue Commissioners.

ANALYSIS

Fergus Finlay shares his predictions for 2016. I could just wish you a happy new year. It’s what you deserve after all these years of austerity. But there’s a hell of a rollercoaster year in store.

LIFESTYLE

From Wolf Hall and Catastrophe to Haughey and Poldark, there were plenty of super shows that sparked discussion in 2015, writes Des O’Driscoll

VIDEO

An animal charity has released a shocking video and photographs of a woman, violently kicking a dog to highlight the aftermath of cruelty they deal with, all too frequently.

VIRAL

If ever you were going to run the risk of enraging your parents for a few laughs, then take a leaf out of this girl’s book and wait until Christmas Day. Because it was over the festive holiday that a girl named Brooke decided it’d be great to troll her dad into believing she was pregnant – and we kinda have to commend her for her bravery.

Have you been paying attention to the headlines in the last 12 months? Put your political and celebrity knowledge to the test and see if you can guess which news story we’re trying to tell through the medium of emoji.

TECHNOW

GAMING: Those counting down the days to Uncharted 4's release will have to wait a little longer. Uncharted 4 has been delayed until April 29th.

MOVIES: Members of the Dublin Film Critics Circle (DFCC) have voted Pixar's Inside Out the best film of 2015.

TECH: Competitive skiers work and train incredibly hard knowing that just one mistake could spell the end of their race. Now they have to account for drones falling from the sky too!

SHOWBIZ

Lemmy Kilmister, the lead singer of Motorhead and a pioneer of heavy metal, has died. He was 70, and had developed an aggressive cancer which was only diagnosed on Sunday.

MOST READ RIGHT NOW

If Arsenal’s title chances are to be built on consistency, then two players in particular — Mesut Ozil and Petr Cech — are showing the way after a victory over Bournemouth that puts Arsene Wenger’s men top of the Premier League and back on course for a first championship in 12 years.