Churches plan joint tour of war memorials
The Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Richard Clarke, has announced that he will join his Catholic counterpart, Archbishop Eamon Martin, in leading a group of young people from both churches on a tour of memorials to Irish people of all backgrounds who died in war in 1916 both at home and abroad.
Archbishop Clarke told his church's General Synod in Dún Laoghaire that the tour will begin in late June at the memorial wall in Glasnevin Cemetery which commemorates by name all who died during the Easter Rising.
It will then proceed to the battlefields of the Somme, where men from both traditions and both parts of the country fought and died together during World War I.
Their three-day journey to the continent will end at the Irish Peace Park in Messines in Belgium.
Archbishop Clarke called the initiative "a shared journey on so many different levels, reflecting on our past but also looking to how we can shape our future".
Iran and Saudi Arabia fail to reach hajj deal
Iran has failed to reach agreement with Saudi Arabia on arrangements for its pilgrims to join the annual hajj in September following the severing of ties, its culture minister said this morning.
An Iranian delegation held four days of talks in Saudi Arabia last month aimed at securing a deal but with Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran closed since January and Iranian flights to the kingdom halted they hit deadlock.
"The arrangements have not been put together and it's now too late," Ali Jannati told the official IRNA news agency. The sabotage is coming from the Saudis.
"Their attitude was cold and inappropriate. They did not accept our proposals concerning the issuing of visas or the transport and security of the pilgrims."
"Saudi officials say our pilgrims must travel to another country to make their visa applications."
FSAI Warning over Apricot kernels
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has warned of the dangers of cyanide poisoning from consuming apricot kernels.
In a statement, the FSAI said "unprocessed apricot kernels, as well as the powdered form, should be avoided."
"Apricot kernels contain the naturally occurring plant toxin amygdalin, which converts to cyanide after eating," it added.
The Authority says children should not eat the kernels while adults, who ignore the warning, should not consume more that 1-2 apricot kernels per day.
Four men arrested following Wexford burglary
Four men have been arrested in the Enniscorthy area following a burglary in Co Wexford last night.
A sum of money and electrical equipment were stolen from an elderly man's home near Taghmon after four men broke in at around 10pm.
The man was threatened during the incident.
The four, ranging in age from their 20s to 40s, are being held at Enniscorthy and Wexford garda stations.
Unsuccessful election candidate arrested for not paying fine
An unsuccessful general election candidate who refused to pay a fine for failing to file a list of donations with the Standards in Public Office Commission has been arrested and taken to Cork prison.
Gardaí arrived at Diarmuid Ó Cadhla's home at Upper Beaumont Drive, Ballintemple in Cork, by appointment at 11am.
Mr Ó Cadhla failed to file the SIPO returns within 56 days of the 2011 general election in which he ran for the People's Convention in Cork South Central and received 508 votes.
He was fined €300 at Cork District Court in December 2014 for failing to make returns to the body supervising electoral matters and his appeal to the Circuit Criminal Court in July 2015, was rejected.
Under the 2010 Fines Act, failure to pay a fine of this amount can result in up to five days imprisonment.
China claims support on South China Sea stance
A senior Chinese diplomat has said China has widespread support in the international community for its decision not to have anything to do with a legal case lodged by the Philippines against Chinese claims in the South China Sea.
A ruling is expected in a few weeks by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on the Philippines case.
China says it is fully within its rights not to participate in what it views as forced arbitration, and says the Philippines is using the case to directly undermine Chinese sovereignty.
In February, the United States and the European Union said China should respect the ruling. The court has no powers of enforcement and its rulings have been ignored before.
