Monday lunchtime briefing: Tanaiste hopes for talks to avoid Garda strikes. Catch up on all the headlines

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

IRELAND

The Tánaiste and Justice Minister says she will invite the Garda Representative Association to talks this week to try and avert next month's strike.

Dublin South West TD Paul Murphy is to stand trial over the alleged false imprisonment of former Tánaiste Joan Burton on April 24 next year.

The "slaughter of the innocents" needs to be stopped, according to a group who are picketing Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Mick Barry's Cork office this morning due to his pro-choice stance

Thousands of bus passengers all over Cork were hit by delays Thousands of bus passengers all over Cork were hit by delays as protesters blockaded the Capwell Bus Depot this morning as protesters blockaded the Capwell Bus Depot this morning.

WORLD 

Theresa May has put Britain on track for a “hard Brexit” by the spring of 2019, as she insisted she will not accept any limits on the UK’s ability to control its own borders.

Polish women boycotted their jobs and classes, donned black and waved placards as they took to the streets for a nationwide strike organised as part of protests against a proposed complete ban on abortion.

At least 600 refugee children have died this year trying to cross the Mediterranean according to Save the Children.

Sitting very much at the cute end of the animal kingdom, koalas don’t need any help looking adorable. But Willow, a koala at the Symbio Wildlife Park near Sydney, got a cuteness boost as she found herself well and truly photobombed by a butterfly.

SPORT

Rory McIlroy feels the PGA of America were probably making use of their home advantage at Hazeltine National after Europe were beaten by the United States in the Ryder Cup.

Aston Villa have sacked manager Roberto Di Matteo after just 123 days, the club have announced.

Alastair Campbell has said he is "very glad" Paul O'Connell opted not to knock him out during a Lions tour in New Zealand.

Juan Mata left a disabled Manchester United fan "absolutely made up" after greeting him at Old Trafford and arranging a match ticket for him, the boy's father has said.

OPINION

Michael Clifford examines the case of a Tipperary family who claim both the health service and the gardaí failed their sister when she needed their help — a failure which, they say, ultimately led to the loss of her life

The blueprint established in Chechnya is informing Vladimir Putin’s actions in Syria, writes John Lloyd, so don’t expect a letup in the onslaught any time soon

BUSINESS

1,750 new jobs are to be created in the Midlands region in one of the largest private tourism investments in the history of the State.

Output in Britain's manufacturing sector reached its highest level for more than two years as the industry continued to bounce back from a post-Brexit vote slump.

LIFESTYLE

Jonathan deBurca Butler meets the author of a book on Irish women who have inspired poetry and song.

SHOWBIZ

Kim Kardashian was showing some mad love for her German bodyguard Pascal Duvier just hours before her Paris robbery ordeal.

VIRAL

Maybe don’t watch this video if you’re getting on a plane anytime soon. Youtuber ’flugsnug’ filmed this clip at Birmingham International Airport showing an Airbus A321 coming in to land. Thanks to strong gusts on the runway buffeting it around, it’s unsuccessful and has to come in for a second attempt.

VIDEO

This is probably the best rant about drying clothes in Ireland that you’ll ever hear.

TECHNOW

GAMING: FIFA is back, and there are some pretty major changes in the mix for fans.

MOVIES/TV: Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Men Tell No Tales is coming out next year, and it's starting to come together with the first teaser trailer.

TECH: The Google Pixel phones are due to be unveiled officially tomorrow but before all that pretty much every bean has been spilled online.

MOST READ RIGHT NOW

As the Catholic Church reaffirms its teaching that contraception is immoral, and preparations begin for the Citizens Assembly to review of the legal ban on abortion, Caroline O’Doherty meets the couple who won a landmark legal case for women’s sexual and reproductive rights in the Irish Supreme Court and who now wonder how much has really changed in the 40 years since.