Catch-up with what you've missed so far today with our lunchtime briefing

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

Fri, 15 Jan, 2016 - 00:00

TOP STORY - PJ MARA (1941 - 2016)

PJ Mara has passed away in hospital in Dublin overnight following a long illness.

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has led tributes to the former Fianna Fáil spin-doctor turned businessman. Mr Mara, who was most famous for his central role in former Taoiseach Charles J Haughey’s controversial time as leader of the country, went on be Ahern’s Director of Elections in 1997, 2002 and 2007.

IRELAND

Facebook is to investigate how pictures posted to the social media network by Irish teenagers ended up on a pornographic website without their consent.

The CEO of the Irish Cancer Society has confirmed that he will take a €10,000 pay cut. John McCormack's salary will be reduced to €135,000 a year.

A member of the Banking Inquiry has denied that they had to water down the final report because of legal challenges. Developers Johnny Ronan and Michael O'Flynn had threatened legal action that could have collapsed the inquiry if changes were not made.

Temperatures are due to plummet as far as minus four tonight as the freezing conditions continue.

It’s the pink football that has been causing quite the sexism row on social media — but many are calling out the ‘Ladyball’ as a clever hoax.

Wonderful Life singer Black (real name Colin Vearncombe) is in a medically-induced coma in hospital after a car accident in Co Cork.

WORLD

In Somalia several people are reported to have died in an attack by Al Shebab militants on an African Union base. The group linked to Al-Qaeda terrorists struck this morning in the southwest of the country.

Prime Minister David Cameron has wished British astronaut Tim Peake good luck ahead of his historic spacewalk. Peake, 43, will become the first Briton to walk in space when he ventures out of the International Space Station (ISS) to help repair a broken power unit from 12.55 GMT on Friday.

SPORT

Head coach Anthony Foley has named his side for Munster’s Champions Cup return encounter with Stade Francais at Thomond Park and makes three changes to the starting XV. Ronan O'Gara writes in his column ahead of the game that he has to see anger this week. "I have to. Otherwise what we know and love, what we have identified with, what Munster almost trademarked, is no more."

European captain Darren Clarke was delighted with his side’s performance as they claimed a three-point lead over Asia after the opening day of the second EurAsia Cup in Kuala Lumpur.

Dubliner James McGee has won his second match in the qualifying stages of the Australian Open and is now just one victory away from a place in the tournament proper.

BUSINESS

Motorists and private tenants paying rents saw the largest increases for years, as costs of insurance and rents rose steeply again in December.

Cutting prices of Christmas puddings, turkeys, sprouts, and mince pies helped Tesco pull a better-than-expected performance out of its shopping bag over the holiday period.

ANALYSIS

Fantasies involving rape, paedophilia, and misogynistic violence — the website hosting photographs stolen from the Facebook profiles of young Irish women is not just a porn site, but a forum where anonymous users share pictures and swap fictitious descriptions of the vile acts they would carry out on the women depicted.

LIFESTYLE

From starring in an ensemble cast to standing out in his own series, American actor Aziz Ansari has become a master of comedy, writes Ed Power.

VIDEO

Should Anthony Foley stay as head coach at Munster or will the arrival of Andy Farrell help steady the ship? Balltalk's Peter McNamara (@PeterMcNamara_ ), Steve Neville (@SteveNeville_) and Neville O'Donoghue (@bewarmers) discuss.

VIRAL

A new video captures some truly spectacular views from above and below some of Ireland's national treasures and tourist havens and will make you fall in love with our fair island.

If you’ve ever stayed in a decent hotel you’ll know that steak is one of the most expensive things on the room service menu. Not wanting to shell out for steak YouTubers Brothers Green Eats have come out with a unique (or bonkers depending on your point of view) method of preparing a steak dinner - using only what you have available in your hotel room.

TECHNOW

GAMING: Videogame Kickstarter campaigns made a whopping $46 million in 2015.

MOVIES: Right so this actually happened - a teaser trailer appeared overnight for what looks like a proper sequel to Cloverfield.

TECH: Samsung is reportedly working on a feature called Vivid Photos, which will bring animated photos to the Galaxy S7.

SHOWBIZ

The Friends reunion is a man down as Matthew Perry will not be joining his former cast mates. Matthew, who played Chandler Bing in the hit comedy series about a group of six pals, said it is “not the reunion everyone is hoping for”, adding that he is unable to be there in person.