Over 400 child soldiers freed in Democratic Republic of Congo
At least 430 child soldiers have escaped from armed groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in 2015 thanks to a string of operations targeting militants, the UN mission said today.
The UN children's agency says there may be as many as 30,000 Congolese children fighting or living with armed groups, an estimated 30 to 40% of them girls..
Government to announce solutions for distressed mortgage holders
The Government is to bring forward solutions for people in long-term mortgage arrears.
During Leaders Questions in the Dáil, the Taoiseach said the Government is committed to bringing forward solutions for "really distressed mortage holders", next week.
Responding to the Fianna Fáil Leader Michael Martin, Enda Kenny said another alternative will be offered so that in the vast majority of cases, the family or tenant can remain in the home.
He said he wouldn't give the details today, that the Government would announce them next week.
Sinn Féin received bomb threat for Adams' home
Sinn Féin says it received a warning that a bomb had been placed at the home of party president Gerry Adams in Belfast this morning.
The warning was phoned through to the office of a Belfast newspaper.
The incident may be part of an ongoing campaign by dissident republicans that has seen a number of attacks on the property of Sinn Féin activists in recent months.
Coppinger launches bill on Eight Amendement
Socialist Party TD Ruth Coppinger has said a referendum could take place on repealing the Eigth Amendment which "acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother" in the Autumn.
Speaking at the launch of her bill for a referendum on the issue, Ms Coppinger said it would be interesting to see how Labour votes on the issue, given that its members were in favour of repealing the amendment at its party conference.
She also said they would be expecting support from Sinn Féin.
The bill is proposed by Ms Coppinger and party colleague Joe Higgins and is also supported by TD Paul Murphy.
Bollywood star sentenced to five years for hit-and-run
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has been sentenced to five years in jail for killing a homeless man in 2002 in a hit-and-run after a night out drinking.
The 49-year-old was convicted of culpable homicide for crashing his SUV into a group of homeless men in India's entertainment capital Mumbai and then fleeing the scene.
Khan, who blamed his driver for the crash, faced a maximum of ten years in prison.
Television channels have reported the High Court is to hear Khan's appeal for bail later today.
Obama administration approves licences for Cuba ferries
The US Treasury Department has approved an unknown number of licences for passenger ferry services between the United States and Cuba.
One of the licences was issued to Baja Ferries, part of a major shipping group with passengers and cargo operations, including on Mexico's west coast, according to a lawyer who handled the licence application.
Ferry services between Cuba and the US were cut off in the early 1960s, following the Cuban revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power.
