MORNING BULLETIN: Two die after boat capsized off Donegal; Gov publishes plans for hard Brexit

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IRELAND: Two people have died after their boat capsized off Malin Head in Co. Donegal.

IRELAND: The Cabinet is meeting in Co Kerry this morning to discuss Brexit contingency plans. Meanwhile, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has warned that the British government may not be able to get a final Brexit deal through the House of Commons, increasing the likelihood of a hard Brexit.

IRELAND: “I’ll see you when I’m done.” - That was the simple message from brave Irish teenager Aaron McMahon ahead of potentially life-saving surgery in the US today to remove a brain tumour.

WORLD:Donald Trump was left in the dark when the lights went out as he made an address at the White House. The US President has also backed away from his public undermining of American intelligence agencies after he was blistered by bipartisan condemnation in the US.

VIEWS: An on-call consultant paid more than €14,000 for one week’s work at Cork University Hospital, and a €25,000 monthly payment for radiology services at Bantry General Hospital where the contract was awarded with no tender process, are among the shortcomings highlighted in a series of HSE internal audit reports.

SPORT: Brazil's Alisson is a man in demand, with Chelsea determined to beat Liverpool to the signing of the Roma goalkeeper.

SPORT: Cork manager Ronan McCarthy has described Colm O’Neill, who yesterday announced his retirement from inter-county football, as “one of the greatest forwards” Cork ever produced.

... SOME DISTRACTION

SHOWBIZ: Retired basketball player Dennis Rodman plans to invite Kanye West to North Korea.

FEATURE: Irina Aleksander meets a high-flying Manhattan divorce lawyer, who, despite spending his days dissolving marriages, still believes in love.

PROPERTY: A 1920s-built, seven-bed Coolfadda up for sale in Douglas was owned by Rory Gallagher’s mother in the 1970s and was where he stayed when not on tour.