Catch-up with what you've missed so far today with our lunchtime briefing
IRELAND
French President Francois Hollande has bolstered Ireland's position to secure a “special situation” in discussions with European leaders during Brexit negotiations.
Social welfare payments would likely increase on a yearly basis as part of an overhaul proposed by Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar.
Hiqa has said allegations of child abuse made to the Child and Family Agency in the Midlands are not always reported to Gardaí.
The leaders of the Collopy drug gang in Limerick met with a relative of Dublin drug lord George 'Penguin' Mitchell, five days before they were arrested packing heroin in a house.
An international panel of experts tasked with drawing up proposals to overhaul healthcare provision in the North has completed its work.
The head of the Public Accounts Committee has warned that its investigation into the sale of Nama loans could be stifled by a Government delay.
WORLD
France's interior minister has acknowledged there was no national police presence at the entrance to the pedestrianised walkway in Nice where the Bastille Day truck attack that left 84 people dead occurred.
South African prosecutors are to appeal against the six-year prison term handed to Oscar Pistorius for the murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, describing the sentence as "shockingly" lenient.
The man who ambushed and killed three law enforcement officers in Louisiana reportedly called his actions a "necessary evil" in a handwritten manifesto that an Ohio man says was emailed to him by the gunman less than an hour before the shootings.
SPORT
Russia has lost its appeal against the decision to ban its athletics team from the Rio Olympics next month.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp seems to be one of life’s good guys. When a group of young football fans were given the opportunity to sit down with him their views were treated with respect and courtesy.
Sam Allardyce will be appointed as England's next manager at Thursday's Football Association board meeting at Wembley, outgoing chairman Greg Dyke has confirmed.
BUSINESS
HSBC's head of global foreign exchange cash trading has been arrested and charged in the US for allegedly conspiring to commit wire fraud on a £2.7bn transaction.
Ireland needs "relentless efforts" to make us more competitive, according to a new report.
LIFESTYLE
Increased animal suffering means the ISPCA received more than 21,000 calls in a year, writes
ANALYSIS
While the army’s failed power bid reinforced Erdogan’s power, success would have dealt a long-term blow to democracy in Turkey, writes
VIRAL
Spare a thought for the real heroes of the heatwave - the people that supply us with ice cream while we enjoy the sun. Yesterday, on Downhill Beach in Derry, an ice cream van driver was clearly too focused on making sure everyone had enough 99s and lollies to notice the tide was swiftly coming up the beach behind him.
One of the best things about the country getting a bit of a sun is the positive effect on the national mood. And it’s even sparking singalongs on public transport. Twitter user Phil The Barber filmed this clip of an impromptu dance party on the Luas to everyone’s favourite summer jam Maniac 2000.
TECHNOW
: A zoo in Alabama is trying to educate visitors about its animals by using a reference point that many of them may understand, Pokémon Go.
: Jacob Tremblay is the little kid who blew us away with his incredible performance in Lenny Abramson's Room, and now he's got a career to get on with.
: While flicking through Tinder, you may find profiles of people who are new to a city or purely seeking friendship. Tinder is now rolling out Tinder Social to help users create and find groups to hang out with.
SHOWBIZ
Michelle Obama revealed her fun side as she joined James Corden for his popular Carpool Karaoke segment during Wednesday night’s episode of The Late Late Show.
Rugby stars Rob Kearney, Jamie Heaslip and Sean O’Brien have come together to open another bar in Dublin.
MOST READ RIGHT NOW
Davy Fitzgerald is aiming to be on the sideline for Clare’s All-Ireland quarter-final on Sunday having had minor heart surgery yesterday.
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