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.

IRELAND

A sister of the teenager who is fighting for his life after taking a  suspected designer drug  has backed public health warnings to avoid so-called party pills.

Seventeen backroom political personnel in Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s department are earning almost €1.4m  a year, with a number handed pay rises since entering office.

Gardaí have appealed for the public’s help in tracing a woman and her one-week-old baby  who have not been seen since two days after the child’s birth and who are believed to be with the woman’s boyfriend.

Gardaí are investigating whether the motive for the murder of Kenneth O'Brien  may have been of a personal nature.

Groups representing publicans have said they are extremely disappointed with the decision  not to permit licensed premises  to serve alcohol on Good Friday.

A garda inspector described the scene of an altercation between  two Traveller groups  at a pub in Co Westmeath on St Patrick’s Day as mayhem.

WORLD

President Vladimir Putin “probably” approved the assassination of Russian dissident  Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006,  a public inquiry has found.

Two men have been arrested in Belgium over possible links to suspects in the November terror attacks  in Paris in which 130 people were killed, authorities said.

SPORT

GPA secretary Paul Flynn hit back at Colm O’Rourke for comments about the  players body’s  mental health campaign.

Victor Valdes has sent a farewell message to his supporters as the Spanish goalkeeper edges towards an exit from Manchester United.  The 34-year-old is expected to join Belgian side Standard Liege after a hugely frustrating spell at United, where he has not made a single appearance or even been given a shirt number this season.

BUSINESS

British pub operator JD Wetherspoon said its Irish bars are continuing to trade well and it remains “100%”   committed to continually expanding its presence here.

Rent certainty measures introduced by the Government in a compromise move to ease the pressure on tenants  could dissuade much-needed construction in the housing market, according to the IMF.

ANALYSIS

The hospitalisation of six people after allegedly taking 2C-B is a prime example of the potential dangers  of consuming a so-called designer drug.

LIFESTYLE

We handed Aisling O’Donovan a copy of Lorna Sixsmith’s How to be a Perfect Farm Wife  and she came back shocked that such expectations, even tongue in cheek, could exist today.

VIDEO

Three weeks away from moving the first 270 Tyco staff of 700 proposed in the multinational giant’s global HQ into the €50 million-plus  Cork office development One Albert Quay,  the John Cleary Developments 170,000 sq ft landmark building “will act as a talent magnet for Tyco, and for Cork.”

VIRAL

A man being hailed as Cork's nicest bus driver has been identified, and he's completely bemused  by the huge reaction to his small act of kindness towards an elderly lady.

Let us transport you back to primary school geography when knowing the most capitals in the class was a much sought after accolade. How well do you remember your capitals now?  Take our quiz and find out if you're still king or queen of the capitals.

TECHNOW

GAMING: Shenmue III is a game that we never expected to see but the long awaited sequel  is actually in the works and looks like this

MOVIES: Our Brand is Crisis lands in Irish cinemas this week. It's the story of an American campaign strategist  who is coaxed out of retirement to help out the presidential race in Bolivia. And it's all true.

TECH: Drones are everywhere today, and soon they'll be coming for you when you drive. This new video gives us a glimpse of the future when robotic drones will hunt us for sport.

SHOWBIZ

Nadine Coyle has revealed she’s embarked on an entirely new career path aside from music.  Re-evaluating her options, the former Girls Aloud star has announced she’s studying to be a psychiatrist, yes you heard that right.

MOST READ RIGHT NOW

A man being hailed as Cork's nicest bus driver has been identified, and he's completely bemused  by the huge reaction to his small act of kindness towards an elderly lady.