Catch-up with what you've missed so far today with our lunchtime briefing
IRELAND
Poor performances at three colleges mean they have been threatened with €1m worth of penalties. The Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dundalk Institute of Technology and the National College of Art and Design have been warned they will be punished for failing to meet targets set out by the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
An investigation into “serious financial impropriety” in Gas Networks Ireland north and south of the border has resulted in a fine of £500,000 (€644,122) in the North and sanctions against four employees of the company in the Republic, the Irish Examiner has learned.
Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have, for the first time, conceded that talks between the parties over government options are likely as fresh efforts get under way to win the support of TDs.
Former Anglo Irish Bank boss David Drumm has been granted bail in Ireland after his parents-in-law stumped up a €150,000 surety. The 49-year-old ex-banker was released from custody after spending his first night back in Dublin on Monday in prison following his extradition from the US charged with 33 fraud-related offences.
The conviction against two former executives at Anglo Irish Bank have been quashed by the Court of Appeal. Tiernan O'Mahony and Bernard Daly were convicted last year for trying to hide accounts from revenue which were connected to a senior figure at the bank.
Two men in their 30s have been arrested by gardaí investigating the murder of Vincent Ryan. He was shot dead on Monday, February 29 in Finglas.
The Taoiseach plans to discuss the stalled Cork transatlantic fights issue with US President Barack Obama in the White House this week.
WORLD
Mother Teresa will be made a saint on September 4. Pope Francis set the canonisation date, paving the way for the nun who cared for the poorest of the poor to become the centrepiece of his year-long focus on the Catholic Church's merciful side.
Anders Behring Breivik, the right-wing extremist who killed who killed 77 people in bomb and gun attacks in 2011, has arrived in court for his human rights case against the Norwegian government. As soon as prison guards removed his handcuffs, the 37-year-old turned to journalists and stretched out his right arm in a Nazi salute.
Some 12.6m people across the globe die every year due to unhealthy environments, according to a new World Health Organisation (WHO) report.
SPORT
Jockey Ruby Walsh has admitted his surprise at the late decision by trainer Willie Mullins and owner Rich Ricci to run Vautour in Thursday’s Ryanair Chase rather than the Gold Cup, on Friday.
Leicester woman Kate Diamond inadvertently drew the ire of internet trolls last night after she made a somewhat embarrassing admission. With it looking increasingly likely that high-flying Leicester City might actually win the Premier League, Kate ‘fessed up to talking her husband out of his ticket for this season.
BUSINESS
Nearly 73% of Irish employees work longer than their contracted hours. New claims from Morgan McKinley also show around one in five work an extra 10 hours per week, with four out of five workers not compensated for working overtime.
Irish consumers’ grocery shopping spend rose by 3.6% over the past 12 weeks — despite rising prices — providing further evidence that household finances are strengthening.
VIEWPOINTS
Getting the old Civil War foes together in a coalition is easier said than done, says
LIFESTYLE
As an Irish person in London, March 17 should be a day to celebrate all things Irish, but for Paddy’s Day is as authentic as green beer
VIDEO
The Cheltenham Festival begins on Tuesday and Peter McNamara is joined by horse racing correspondents Tommy Lyons and Darren Norris to discuss the opening day of the Prestbury Park extravaganza on Irish Examiner's BallTalk TV.
VIRAL
As St. Patrick's Day approaches we're asking; How Irish are you? Okay, so maybe you drink lots of tea, understand the surreal humour of Father Ted and love the smell of cut silage more than anything in the world, but what if we were to put you on the spot and test your knowledge of Irish history?
Forever 21, a well known clothing brand which has an outlet in Dublin, has sparked controversy today with a ’graphic tee’.
TECHNOW
: Star Wars is big business, so it's really no surprise that the franchise will be looking into virtual reality to expand on the galaxy far, far away. nd now we have a first glimpse with this early trailer for Trials on Tatooine.
Sausage Party's red band trailer has been released, and the film is shaping up to be one of the weirdest things you'll see all year.
Six Flags has announced a partnership with Samsung that will see park-goers at nine locations given the chance to experience a roller coaster in virtual reality.
SHOWBIZ
Amanda Brunker has been hotly tipped for a place on the panel on RTÉ’s Loose Women style show, and she’s now admitted that she thinks the role would be “perfect” for her.
MOST READ RIGHT NOW
It’s day one of the Cheltenham Festival, with plenty of Irish interest in today’s races. All eyes will be on Douvan in the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase and it will be interesting to see how Annie Power gets on in the Champion Hurdle after last year’s dramatic fall.
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