Morning briefing: Rent cap plan could be scrapped. Catch up on all the headlines

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

IRELAND

Plans for a cap on rent increases could be scrapped this afternoon - just two days after being published.  Fine Gael is set to abandon the idea unless Fianna Fáil agrees to set the cap at 4%.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has warned that its  €14bn budget for next year  may not be enough because of a series of “risks”.

The Samaritans answered 639,652 calls for help over the last 12 months  via telephone, text message, email and through face-to-face visits to branches nationwide.

The Tánaiste and Garda commissioner appeared to  contradict each other yesterday  as to why the new Armed Support Unit for Dublin does not have a dedicated boss.

The professor of paediatrics and child health at UCC has criticised another leading paediatrician, accusing him of making “misleading statements”  when arguing against the choice of the St James’s Hospital site for the location of the new national children’s hospital.

WORLD

Overnight talks have reinforced a ceasefire deal  to allow Syrian rebels and tens of thousands of civilians to leave the war-torn eastern city of Aleppo, the media arm of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group has said.

Yahoo has said it believes hackers stole personal data from more than  one billion user accounts  as part of a cyber attack that occurred in 2013.

US President-elect Donald Trump's choice for energy secretary has close ties to the  Texas oil industry  and corporate roles in two petroleum companies pushing for government approval of the proposed 1,200-mile crude oil pipeline that has sparked mass protests in North Dakota.

SPORT

Zlatan Ibrahimovic struck a late winner as Manchester United  secured victory at Crystal Palace after once again threatening to drop points from a winning position.

Chelsea’s 10th successive win  was predictable in a game against the Premier League’s bottom club, but few anticipated that Antonio Conte’s team would experience such a nervous 90 minutes before retaining the leadership.

Dessie Farrell has ruled out vever becoming Dublin football manager  and insists his decision to quit as Gaelic Players Association (GPA) chief has nothing to do with inter-county management ambitions.

OPINION

Arts funding should never be given the agenda of projecting a positive image of its country of origin,  writes Victoria White.

Housing Minister Simon Coveney looked set for a victory of sorts last night  over his rent cap proposals after an embarrassing climbdown by Fianna Fáil, writes Juno McEnroe.

BUSINESS

The son of incoming US president Donald Trump has said that next year will be a banner one  for the Doonbeg resort in Co Clare after it had its strongest year to date in 2016.

The Economic and Social Research Institute is not “particularly enthusiastic”  about the Government’s proposed rent controls.

LIFESTYLE

The annual missives are a minefield of social politics,  explains Nuala Woulfe

SHOWBIZ

Bridget Jones author Helen Fielding had to explain to people that she had not murdered Colin Firth  after her book Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy was released.

EXAMVIRAL

The most senior transgender woman serving in the British Army has said the  fantastic support  she received while transitioning made the her job “business as normal”.

VIDEO - OUR CHOICE

Karen O'Mahony, founder of the Masquerade Ball Rainbow Club for Autism, has been named December ‘Cork Person of the Month’.  Her name will go forward for possible selection as ‘Cork Person of the Year’ at a Gala Awards Lunch on January 20, 2017, at the Rochestown Park Hotel.

TECHNOW

GAMING: GTA V online is some of the most fun you can have on the internet and the makers of the game are always endeavoring to give you a better experience.

MOVIES/TV: Yes Robin Hood is getting an origins film, with star of  Kingsman Tarron Egerton to play the eponymous Robin Hood.

TECH: It was announced earlier in the week that the first episode of the grand tour was the most pirated episode of television ever.

MOST READ RIGHT NOW

Gardaí in Limerick have seized a rare and extremely valuable Chinese libation cup they believe to be made from rhinoceros horn, in a major investigation into the  notorious Rathkeale Rovers criminal Traveller gang,   writes David Raleigh and Jimmy Woulfe.