Morning briefing: No negotiations with UK until after article 50 is triggered. Catch up on all the headlines

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

IRELAND

An Irish mother shared a disturbing message about her future just days before police discovered her body  and that of her young son in their London home.

The country’s nurses have voted  overwhelmingly for industrial action  which they say will lead to beds being closed and services shut down.

Enda Kenny has ruled out looking for a news&utm_mediumbefore the Brexit talks begin.

Former Real IRA leader Aidan O’Driscoll was laid to rest yesterday, with family and friends pledging he would not be forgotten and thanking his heartbroken fiancée for  “turning his life around”.  A huge crowd gathered at Saint Oliver’s Church in Ballyvolane on Cork’s northside to bid farewell to the 37-year-old, who was shot dead in Blackpool on December 7.

A pop up cafe set up to raise awareness about Direct Provision is closing today.  Our Table has been operating out of the Project Arts Centre in Dublin and is seeking a new home.

WORLD

Four Syrian organisations have said Russia bears "a high likelihood"  of responsibility for 304 attacks in Aleppo that violate international humanitarian law and may constitute war crimes.

Barack Obama has said the US  must and will take action  against Russia over hacking during the presidential election.

Dylann Roof has been convicted over the attack on  nine black church members  who were shot to death during a bible study session in South Carolina last year.

SPORT

It may have its knockers but the GAA Interprovincial hurling series served up a decent final in Thurles last night, with 592 spectators present to watch  Anthony Daly’s Munster clinch silverware.

Maybe it’s just as well the League of Ireland top brass have yet to ratify the branding report  unveiled yesterday as the elements contained ranged from the impractical to the ridiculous.

Tommy Bowe is looking forward to Ulster’s Champions Cup game in Clermont  on Sunday with a very particular reason to seek the win which would keep Ulster in contention for the quarter-finals.

OPINION

With everything else that has gone on, it is easy to forget we actually had a general election this year,  writes Alison O’Connor.

There is a long history of the CIA briefing presidents-elect on foreign policy. Donald Trump has rebuffed  the agency’s advice. Tim Weiner asks why

BUSINESS

The introduction of transatlantic flights from Cork Airport may negatively impact Shannon,  the chief operating officer of Aer Lingus has conceded.

Vietnam is expected to be the fastest-growing destination  for Irish exporters in the next decade — closely followed by China, India and Malaysia — as companies continue to look east to boost trade levels, a new survey has found.

LIFESTYLE

Cork Simon relies heavily on fundraising by ordinary people  embracing the extraordinary time that is Christmas, writes John Tynan

SHOWBIZ

Hollywood star Julia Roberts is heading to the small screen.  The Oscar-winner has taken the lead role of a limited series based on Maria Semple’s latest book, Today Will Be Different, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

EXAMVIRAL

Aliida Acheampeng might only be six years old, but her age isn’t stopping her from  getting concerned  about animal welfare.

VIDEO - OUR CHOICE

BallTalk look at the top six teams in the Premier League and discuss how they've performed so far and if the table will have a similar shape come May.

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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: BBC have said that they want to film another season of Planet Earth before the legendary David Attenborough turns 100.

TECH: It looks like live video is really kicking off, with Facebook announcing it’s live video was so successful it’s making its own shows now, and Twitter streaming live NFL games.

MOST READ RIGHT NOW

Former Real IRA leader Aidan O’Driscoll was laid to rest yesterday, with family and friends pledging he would not be forgotten and thanking his heartbroken fiancée for  “turning his life around”.  A huge crowd gathered at Saint Oliver’s Church in Ballyvolane on Cork’s northside to bid farewell to the 37-year-old, who was shot dead in Blackpool on December 7.