Catch-up with what you've missed so far today with our lunchtime briefing
IRELAND
Bernie Mullins, 29, a graduate nurse in Limerick Regional Hospital, earned nearly the same amount of money stacking mascara as she now does nursing.
Finance Minister Michael Noonan has said it will be hard to avoid higher income earners benefiting more from USC cuts than lower income earners.
The annual report for the Ombudsman for Children’s Office has revealed that they dealt with 1,639 complaints in 2015, arise of 8%. The Ombudsman for Children, Dr Niall Muldoon, published the report for 2015 outlining the range of complaints made by, or on behalf of children, across education, health, justice, housing and more.
Irish man Ibrahim Halawa, who has been imprisoned in Egypt for more than three years, is now refusing visits. The Dubliner feels the more visits he receives behind bars, the longer he will remain there.
An investigation is underway after 20 bags of undelivered post which is almost two years old was found in Co. Louth.
WORLD
A Dutch-led probe has found that the missile that downed a Malaysian jet, killing 298, was fired from an area controlled by Ukraine rebels, according to relatives of the victims.
A new treatment is helping people with stroke-induced blindness achieve major improvements in their vision.
SPORT
Former England manager Sam Allardyce has told reporters he made "an error of judgment", adding: "I have paid the consequences."
Connacht and Ireland Prop Nathan White has been forced to retire. The 35-year-old New Zeland born forward suffered a concussion injury last season and has retired on medical advice.
BUSINESS
A huge year-on-year surge in mortgage approvals in the three months to the end of August will have little effect on many borrowers’ situations and fail to sufficiently lift actual lending, according to the Professional Insurance Brokers Association (PIBA).
Salesforce.com and other companies eyeing Twitter Inc may pay more than $16 billion to get their hands on the social-media company’s valuable data.
LIFESTYLE
Medieval fight club isn’t for the faint of heart but other than a few cuts and bruises, it is safer than other sports and ends with contestants exchanging hugs and smiles, says Caroline Delaney
ANALYSIS
The Issue of Eighth Amendment Is not as black and white as the slogan.
VIDEO
The latest video from CCCahoots productions is the most awkward audition you'll ever see at their team's homecoming.
VIRAL
What does your job say about you as a person? Based on a series of questions, can we guess what it is?
Each year, Munich hosts Oktoberfest, welcoming the vast folk festival with its food, beer and games. But the Bavarian city is much more than a boozy once-a-year carnival. Here are some other very good reasons to spend some time in the German city.
TECHNOW
: Firewatch is a game about walking and talking set in the wilderness of a great American park in the 1980s. The developers at Campo Santo have formed a deal with movie production company Good Universe, who have worked on the likes of Last Vegas, Oldboy (the remake), The Night Before, Bad Neighbours and recent horror hit Don't Breathe.
: As October approaches folks might be getting their brains in gear for Halloween, but we really just care about Horrorthon. The annual festival held at the IFI in Dublin is essential for genre fans and it's a real endurance test with dozens of films screening over an intense long weekend from the 27th to the 31st of October.
: Elon Musk said a lot of things about turning the human race into a multi-planetary species last night in a very inspiring and elequont speech, but really it boils down to this: Get your ass to Mars!
SHOWBIZ
Shane Long and his wife Kayleah are “buzzing” to meet their first baby boy. The pair are already parents to daughters Tiegan, 6, and Erin, 2 -but will be welcoming baby number three this winter, who will be their first boy.
MOST READ RIGHT NOW
Daniel and Majella O’Donnell have been married for nearly 14 years so we imagine they know each other quite well. Well, the relationship tests of all relationship tests crossed their path this week when they were on the front line of the famous Loose Woman. The duo were guests on the ITV show talking all things music, family life and their relationship.
