Man charged with arson has court date adjourned
A 39-year-old man charged with arson after a fire gutted six terraced houses in Newbridge, Co Kildare last week was unable to attend a scheduled court hearing today.
Daragh Ward, with an address at Millfield Manor in Newbridge, was due to appear at Cloverhill District Court today but Judge Victor Blake was given a sick warrant and remanded Mr Ward in custody to appear on 22 April.
It was recommended that Mr Ward get psychiatric treatment when he was charged last week.
Canadian planes carry out first strikes in Syria
Canada has carried out its first air strikes in Syria, expanding the country's contribution to the US-led coalition fighting the self-styled Islamic State, the military said.
Two F-18s using precision-guided munitions struck a IS position near the Syrian city of Raqqa, before safely returning to base.
Previously, Canadian strikes had been limited to Iraqi territory.
Fire service tackle Co Kerry wildfire
A number of fire units are tackling a large wildfire at the foot of the Mangerton Mountain in Co Kerry tonight.
The fire is on the lower slope of the mountain, which is an important buffer zone for Killarney National Park.
NATO soldier killed in Afghan firefight
A NATO coalition soldier has been killed after a firefight broke out between NATO and Afghan troops in the east of the country.
A statement released by NATO did not mention the nationality of the dead soldier, but Afghan police sources said the soldiers involved in the incident were American.
The shooting, which may have been an insider attack, took place after a meeting between a senior US diplomat and a provincial governor.
James Nesbitt nominated for TV Bafta
Irish Actor James Nesbitt has been nominated for a leading actor BAFTA Award for his performance in the BBC One series 'The Missing'.
Elsewhere, Benedict Cumberbatch is in the running to pick up a BAFTA for his performance as the master detective Sherlock Holmes.
Irish comedians Brendan O'Carroll and Graham Norton also get BAFTA nominations, while Chris O'Dowd's Moone Boy has been nominated for the best Scripted Comedy Award.
The nominations were announced at BAFTA's London headquarters by actors Freddie Fox and Sherlock star Amanda Abbington.
Survey finds new income limits preferred healthcare step
A new survey has found that raising income limits so that more people qualify for a medical card is the preferred first step towards free universal healthcare.
The survey, conducted by Amarach Research and commissioned by the National Association of GPs, says this step is particularly backed by members of the 'squeezed middle' aged between 45 and 54.
The survey found the plan to provide free GP care to children under six years old is backed by 20% of people.
Just 16% were in favour of full medical cards for all those aged 70 years and older.
The survey involved an online poll of 1,000 people between 24-27 March.
Le Pen to 'oppose' father standing in elections
The leader of France's far-right National Front party, Marine Le Pen, has said she would "oppose" her father standing in upcoming regional elections, in a major party and family rift.
After a series of controversial comments, Jean-Marie Le Pen's position appears to sit somewhere "between a scorched earth strategy and political suicide", daughter Marine said in a statement.
She added she would oppose him standing in December's regional polls at a party meeting due to take place on 17 April.
Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founder of the party, last week reiterated his belief that gas chambers were a mere "detail" of World War II - an assertion he has made repeatedly over nearly three decades, earning convictions for hate speech along the way.
'The Interview' DVDs balloon-launched into N Korea
A South Korean activist said today he had launched thousands of copies of Hollywood film "The Interview" into North Korea by balloon, ignoring dire threats of reprisals from Pyongyang.
The capital has labelled the Seth Rogen comedy about a fictional CIA plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, a "wanton act of terror".
North Korean defector-turned-activist Lee Min-Bok said he had carried out four cross-border balloon launches since January, the latest one on Saturday.
Greece says it has not asked Russia for money
A Greek government official has said the country has not asked Russia for money to help cope with its financial problems and wants to resolve them within the European Union.
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Russian President Vladimir Putin are holding talks in Moscow.
The Greek government official said the two leaders would discuss economic cooperation and bilateral investment and exports, but made it clear Greece would do so within the framework of the EU.
Raising South Korean ferry could cost over €100m
South Korea has said it could cost over €100m to raise the Sewol ferry, which sank off the country's southwest coast on 16 April last year.
More than 300 people, mostly secondary school students, died when the passenger vessel sank.
Parents of the victims marched on the South Korean capital of Seoul at the weekend calling on the government to bring the sunken vessel to the surface and ensure a full, independent inquiry into the disaster.
