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.

PLOUGHING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Simon Coveney is the preferred candidate to be the next Fine Gael leader  among farmers but the party is losing support, writes Political Reporter Elaine Loughlin.

Tens of thousands of people have descended on Tullamore County Offaly for day two of the Ploughing Championships.  Farm incomes have been a big concern among those attending the event.

IRELAND

Sean FitzPatrick has pleaded not guilty  to making misleading, false or deceptive statements to auditors Ernst & Young between 2002 and 2008.

The Citizens Assembly will begin its deliberations on whether to liberalise the country's abortion laws  on October 15, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has revealed.

Gardaí are investigating an alleged assault of a GAA player  during a juvenille match in Co Meath on Saturday.

The late Detective Adrian Donohoe is to be posthumously honoured by Gardaí.  He was gunned down outside the Lordship Credit Union in County Louth on January 25, 2013.

Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin has called on Gerry Adams to admit that he was a member of the IRA,  claiming there is "not a child in Ireland" who doesn't believe this,  writes Elaine Loughlin

WORLD 

The United States has blamed Russia for an overnight attack on an aid convoy that killed 20 civilians,  as the United Nations announced it was suspending overland deliveries in Syria, jeopardising food and medical security for millions of besieged and hard-to-reach civilians.

An air strike on a medical facility in northern Syria  has left at least four staff dead, the medical relief organisation that runs the facility said.

SPORT

Floyd Mayweather Jnr says he almost came out of retirement  to fight UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor.

Clare County Board were last night in talks with Davy Fitzgerald  as he prepared to step down as manager after five years. It is understood a number of phone-calls took place between chairman Joe Cooney and Fitzgerald, who is currently holidaying in South Carolina.

BUSINESS

A leading economic think-tank has said next month’s budget should contain no tax cuts  and only focus on expenditure measures that can “improve the potential growth of the economy”.

US pharma firm Aerie has earmarked proceeds from the $125m it has raised in stock market sales for the construction of an Irish manufacturing facility. The plant is expected to serve the $1bn company's international and US markets, the Irish Independent reports.

LIFESTYLE

An event at the RDS will gather speakers to address a range of issues relevant to young people,  writesClodagh Finn

ANALYSIS

IF YOU live in Cork, Limerick, or Galway and think the Dublin Bus strike doesn’t affect you; fear not, it will,   writes Gerard Howlin.

VIDEO

Watch the crowds of people arriving  on day two of the National Ploughing Championships at Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly.

VIRAL

Here's another scientifically designed quiz (Disclaimer: Quiz is probably not...actually most definitely not scientific in anyway shape or form, but it is quite fun!) to brighten up your morning.

CCCahoots production company just keep putting out all kinds of funny videos.  Their latest introduces the wonderfully odd animated couple from Ballycotton, Teddy and Martina.

TECHNOW

GAMING: For Honor had a closed alpha test this past weekend and it managed to draw in the largest numbers of users ever for Ubisoft.

MOVIES/TV: Those Marvel shows on Netflix just keep getting better, with Jessica Jones upping the ante started with Daredevil. Now Luke Cage  is bringing things to the next level.

TECH: Sony Mobile prides itself on having some of the best smartphone cameras around,  and they've decided to put that claim to the test. By having a fellow fall through the air on a bungee cord while trying to take blur free photos.

SHOWBIZ

As the world slowly comes to terms with the shock news that #Brangelina is no more, we hang on to anything that might may suggest that it’s all one big prank. Ask Brad’s bestie George Clooney, he’ll know.  Turns out, he didn’t.

MOST READ RIGHT NOW

Here's another scientifically designed quiz (Disclaimer: Quiz is probably not...actually most definitely not scientific in anyway shape or form, but it is quite fun!) to brighten up your morning.