Lunchtime briefing: Man hospitalised after car set alight while he was inside. Catch up on the headlines

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

IRELAND

Gardaí are investigating after a car was set alight while a man slept inside.

Irish Ferries has cancelled a number of crossings between Dublin and Holyhead this Friday because of 'adverse weather conditions for the Irish Sea'.

Comedian Brendan O'Carroll and his family have donated 2,800 Christmas dinners to St Vincent de Paul.

Communications Minister Denis Naughten and the Government Chief Whip, Regina Doherty, have clashed over controversial ads for Eircode. The latter has described the broadcasts as “stupid”.

WORLD 

Russia’s military is now stronger that any possible foe, Vladimir Putin has said.

The hunt continues for the main suspect in the Berlin lorry massacre which killed 12 people and injured 48, including 12 seriously. Here’s what we know on Thursday, three days after the attack.

China's foreign minister has warned that ties with the US will likely see new complications, and that the only way to maintain a stable relationship is by respecting each other's "core interests".

A drug to treat multiple sclerosis has undergone successful trials showing its ability to slow damage to the brain, scientists have said.

SPORT

The 2016 Olympics provided highs, lows and more than a little controversy for Team Ireland. Four months later and there’s plenty of reflections — plus excitement about what 2017 holds. Cliona Foley got some Rio reflections.

Misplacing passes isn’t something you necessarily expect from Thiago, so if he does it you can be sure there’s a good reason.

Two returning managers are among the sideline changes on the Cork club hurling scene for 2017.

The clock may be ticking but there is still no definite news on whether South African centre Jaco Taute will be available to Munster in 2017.

OPINION

Ian Baliey has blamed his ‘dry humour’ for informal admissions in the murder of French socialite, Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

BUSINESS

Ryanair and Aer Lingus are facing an estimated €16m tax bill after the European Court of Justice ruled that Ireland must recoup the proceeds of an illegal tax from the airlines.

The owner of two of Ireland’s biggest hotel brands, the Dalata Hotel Group, has said trading in the last four months performed marginally above expectations as it lodged its planning application for a hotel in Cork’s South Mall yesterday.

LIFESTYLE

Benedict Cumberbatch and co return for a new series of adventures that promise to be darker than ever, writes Jeananne Craig

SHOWBIZ

Nothing says Christmas in Ireland like an impromptu pub session with the locals and those who've made it home from afar. This always includes a few famous faces getting together to sing a song or two.

VIRAL

One of the hardest things about going on holiday can be leaving your pet behind. One Canadian woman thought she’d found a cunning way around that particular dilemma by carrying her cat Bella in her handbag for the entire 7,000-mile flight from Vancouver to New Zealand.

The lads at Foil Arms and Hog have crammed an impressive number of real Christmas moments into their latest video.

VIDEO - OUR CHOICE

A shopping centre in Cork city has posted a lovely video bringing out the true meaning of the festive season.

TECHNOW

GAMING: Gravity Rush 2 is getting a demo, and it will be available at 6pm on the 22nd of December.

MOVIES/TV: Two people are left lost in space in the middle of a 100 year voyage to the stars.

TECH: The folks at Western University in London are getting into the Christmas spirit by creating their own little tiny snowman - and this one is seriously small!

MOST READ RIGHT NOW

Ian Baliey has blamed his ‘dry humour’ for informal admissions in the murder of French socialite, Sophie Toscan du Plantier.