Lunchtime briefing: 76 dead after plane crashes in Colombia. Catch up on the headlines

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

IRELAND

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that there is a "special and unbreakable" bond between Ireland and her country.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny discussed Ireland’s abortion laws, gay marriage, as well as his past concern about clerical sex abuse during his formal visit to the Vatican.

Denis O’Brien has claimed remarks made in the Dáil about his personal banking affairs effectively determined a court case he had initiated against RTÉ.

Buskers in Cork City are facing a crackdown next year with new by-laws on the cards. Musicians will have to have a repertoire of at least 20 songs, and drum kits and amplifiers over 15 watts could be banned under new proposals discussed by city councillors last night.

WORLD 

A chartered plane with a Brazilian first division football team has crashed in Colombia while on its way to the finals of a regional tournament, killing 76 people.

A 31-year-old man has been shot and injured by police in Hull in England.

A Donald Trump supporter has been banned from Delta Airlines flights for life after an incident in which he shouted at other passengers over their voting preferences.

A Labour MP fought back tears as she recalled how she contemplated killing herself following the death of her eight-year-old son.

SPORT

Copa Sudamericana finalists Atletico Nacional have requested that organisers CONMEBOL award the title to Chapecoense.

Five-time world darts champion Eric Bristow will no longer be a part of Sky Sports darts coverage after making controversial comments in relation to the developing story in Britain about abuse in football.

Like an anxious parent packing a child off to the Gaeltacht to improve their Irish, it will have been with a heavy heart Joe Schmidt waved his squad off back to their provinces on Sunday lunchtime.

Lewis Hamilton has been forced to abandon his return to track action after he complained of feeling unwell.

Tennis Ireland has defended the process that led to the appointment of new chief executive Richard Fahey, after RTÉ reported that a complaint on the matter has been referred to the Workplace Relations Committee.

OPINION

President Higgins revealed his own prejudices in speaking on behalf of the Irish people, and succumbed to the prefectly crafted image projected by the dictator.

BUSINESS

New CSO figures suggest the Brexit-driven sterling slump is finally affecting the pace of growth in retail sales here, as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) think tank trimmed its outlook for the Irish economy.

LIFESTYLE

As Ryan Tubridy gets ready for his eighth Late Late Toy Show, he’s as enthusiastic as ever about a night that really is all about the children.

SHOWBIZ

Green Day have announced that they will play Dublin in summer 2017. The rockers will play an outdoor gig in Royal Hospital Kilmainham on June 29.

VIRAL

A young girl has written a letter to God asking for her newborn sister to be home in time for the Late Late Toy Show this Friday.

If there was ever a time to want to delete your online presence, 2016 would probably be it. Here's how you can do it.

VIDEO - OUR CHOICE

An apartment block had to be evacuated but there were no injuries following a fire that started in a derelict house in Blackpool last night and threatened to spread to adjoining properties.

TECHNOW

GAMING: The team at Hello Games just released a massive update to space faring title No Man's Sky.

MOVIES/TV: Sully: Miracle on the Hudson is a new film based on the famous crash landing of a passenger jet in 2009 with more than 150 souls on board.

TECH: Huawei's mobile phone division recently became the biggest Android brand on the planet, taking the space from Samsung. That's big news and the company has been making great strides in the mobile arena in recent years.

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Facebook has emerged as the first potential tenant of the redeveloped Capitol cinema site in the centre of Cork City as part of its expansion into virtual-reality technology, gaming, and imaging.