Minister sees merit in separate faith instruction in schools
Minister for Education Richard Bruton has said he believes there is merit in the practice in Community National Schools whereby entire class groups are taught religion and beliefs together but where individual faith groups are allowed to withdraw from those classes for around ten hours each year to receive separate instruction in their own faiths.
Addressing the Primary Schools Principals' Network's AGM in west Dublin, Mr Bruton said the precise way of delivering the mainstream and opt-out classes can be worked out locally in cooperation with local faith groups.
Earlier this month, the minister launched a four-week public consultation on the so-called 'baptism barrier' to admissions to church-controlled schools.
The move followed his publication of a range of possible ways of addressing the capacity of religious-run schools to give preferential access to children of their own faith.
Death toll from deadly Kashmir avalanches climbs to 20
Rescuers have retrieved the bodies of another four Indian soldiers buried beneath tonnes of snow in Kashmir, taking the death toll from a series of avalanches to 20, the military said.
The disaster struck an army post and a patrol along the de facto border that divides the disputed territory with Pakistan on Wednesday.
Dozens of Indian and Pakistani soldiers are killed by avalanches almost every winter along the border.
Indian-administered Kashmir has been witnessing one of the most severe winters in recent decades, with heavy snow across the territory and temperatures dropping to -7C.
Man arrested after Kerry drug seizure
A man has been arrested after drugs with an estimated street value of €200,000 was seized in Co Kerry.
The 42-year-old was arrested following a search of a premises in the Kilmorna area of Listowel.
About 100 cannabis plants and 6.5kg of cannabis herb was found during the search.
The man is being held at Listowel Garda Station.
Syria talks in Geneva postponed until end of February
UN-hosted negotiations on the Syrian conflict planned for 8 February in Geneva have been postponed until the end of that month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said.
There was no confirmation from the United Nations on the latest plans for the next round of talks between the Syrian regime and opposition.
The latest peace initiative to halt fighting that has killed over 310,000 people since 2011 comes after the Syrian regime, with the help of Russian and Iranian firepower, dealt rebels a crushing blow by ousting the rebels from eastern Aleppo last month.
