Restored St Mel's wins national award
St Mel's Cathedral in Longford has been chosen as Ireland's favourite building in the RIAI public choice award.
The cathederal, which was restored following a devastating fire on Christmas Day in 2009, beat other shortlisted projects including Dublin's Rosie Hackett Bridge and the library in Dún Laoghaire.
Longford/Westmeath TD James Bannon said "it has been wonderful to see St Mel's rising like a phoenix from the ashes and restored to its former glory."
NI preacher charged on Islam comments
An evangelical preacher who described Islam as "satanic" and "heathen" is to be prosecuted.
Pastor James McConnell triggered controversy when he said he did not trust Muslims during a firebrand sermon at his north Belfast church last year.
In a statement, Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service said the preacher had refused to accept a lesser punishment, which meant the case would not have gone to court.
Pastor McConnell initially defended his remarks made during a sermon at his Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle last May but, following a huge public outcry he apologised for any offence or distress caused.
The police were called in to investigate the 78-year-old fundamentalist cleric for a potential hate crime.
Musket believed to be used in Siege of Derry sold for £20k
The musket, temporarily given by Ian Paisley to Bertie Ahern at the Battle of the Boyne site in 2007, has been sold for £20,000 during an auction in Belfast.
The new owner made his bid by telephone and wants to remain anonymous.
It is thought the weapon was used both in the Siege of Derry and the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.
After the ceremony in Co Louth in April 2007 where Dr Paisley was making his first trip outside Northern Ireland as first minister, the musket remained on loan to the Irish state for four years.
But it was then returned to its owner, a Co Antrim businessman, and was successfully auctioned at Ross's Auction Rooms in Belfast this afternoon.
People involved in collusion must be 'brought to justice'
People involved in collusion during the Troubles in Northern Ireland must be brought to justice, according to Tánaiste Joan Burton.
Ms Burton made the comments in the Dáil in response to Sinn Féin's Padraig MacLoughlin during Leaders Questions.
Mr MacLoughlin had asked that the Government meet the families of Pat Finucane and Eddie Fullerton.
Ms Burton referenced the Stormont House Agreement as offering a way forward and taking into account victims' families on both sides.
She said everyone needed to be careful in relation to attempts to re-write the past.
Ms Burton went on to say that Sinn Féin had a role to play in the matter, as did the broader republican movement.
The IRA had a responsibility in relation to the Disappeared, she pointed out; she went on to say that there was a need for the IRA to address child abuse, adding Maíria Cahill deserved justice.
Denmark goes to polls in general election
The people of Denmark go to the polls today to vote in a general election which opinion polls suggest is the closest in a decade.
They show less than half-a-per cent between the centre-left governing coalition of Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt and the right-wing opposition led by former Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.
The election campaign has been dominated by the economy, the welfare state and immigration.
Denmark has some of Europe's strictest laws on immigration after years of right-wing governments.
US marine found guilty in retrial over murder in Iraq
A US marine has been found guilty of murder at his retrial over the killing of a disabled Iraqi civilian in 2006.
Prosecutors said the killing was motivated by a desire to send a message to a resistant Iraqi village.
Sergeant Lawrence Hutchins was initially convicted of murder, larceny and making false statements over the killing of the civilian.
That conviction was later overturned.
Convictions quashed as judge was texting babysitter
Germany's highest civil court has quashed two convictions because the judge had been texting a babysitter while hearing the cases.
The court stressed that judges must be focused on the proceedings at all times and has banned them from using mobile phones while hearing cases in future.
At the time, the judge was presiding over the trial of two men on stabbing charges at a court in Frankfurt.
S Korea confirms three more MERS deaths
South Korea has confirmed three more deaths from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome - also known as MERS - bringing the death toll to 23.
The health ministry also reported three new cases of infection in the outbreak that began in May.
There is no cure or vaccine for MERS.
Meanwhile, Thai health officials have said a 75-year-old man from the Middle East was confirmed to have MERS, the country's first case.
Thailand had investigated around 20 people for the virus, all of who tested negative.
Earlier today World Health Organization chief Margaret Chan expressed guarded optimism over South Korea's ability to contain the MERS outbreak, saying it was now "on a very good footing" after an initially slow response to the virus which has killed 23 people.
