Court papers suggest Johnson will seek Brexit extension
The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will seek a Brexit extension from the European Union if no withdrawal agreement is agreed by October 19th.
That is according to papers seen by Scotland's Court of Session.
This would be a direct contradiction of what Mr Johnson has said in public.
The documents submitted to the court by Downing Street relate the Benn Act which obliges Mr Johnson to request and extension if no deal has been agreed by October 19th.
Donohoe drops long-promised €500m rainy day fund lodgement
Opposition parties have accused Fine Gael of losing control of the public finances after it emerged no money will be added to the rainy day fund this year.
At a briefing this evening Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said he was moving forward with his plans to transfer €1.5bn from the State’s Strategic Investment Fund into the new Rainy Day Fund.
However, he said he was dropping his promise to top it up with €500m from the Exchequer this year.
He said it would make no sense to deposit the extra money with the ‘real material risk’ of a no-deal Brexit on the horizon.
Over 64,000 students receive Junior Cert results
Some 64,330 students will receive their Junior Certificate results today.
Provisional statistics show more than 4,000 students who sat the higher-level history paper did not pass it.
They got an 'E' grade or lower. This would give it one of the highest fail rates for any subject.
The position of history in the curriculum has recently changed, after Education Minister Joe McHugh moved to make it mandatory for all future junior cycle students.
FAI asks for postponement of Oireachtas appearance
The FAI has asked for its appearance before the Oireachtas Sports Committee this month to be delayed.
In a letter to the Committee, FAI chief executive Rea Walshe asked for the appearance to be put back until a forensic audit of the association’s finances can be completed.
The audit is being carried out by Northern Ireland firm KOSI.
The firm was due to publish its findings on October 7th; however, it last week requested more time to finish its work in light of “significant recent developments.”
Hong Kong to ban protesters from wearing masks
Hong Kong is to ban people wearing masks during protests, the territory's chief executive has confirmed.
Carrie Lam announced the use of the emergency powers - which have not been used for more than 50 years - after months of violent street protests.
However, she stressed that Hong Kong was not under a state of emergency.
Anyone breaking the ban could be jailed for a year or be fined but many protesters have said they will defy the ruling.
