Pope Francis is presented with religious-Marxist symbol in Bolivia
On the fifth day of his three-nation tour of South America, Pope Francis has urged everyone to share with the poor.
Celebrating mass for hundreds of thousands in Bolivia's eastern city, Santa Cruz, the 78-year-old Pontiff warned that those with means could not simply wish the poor away.
Earlier, in the capital, La Paz, the Bolivian President, Evo Morales, presented Francis with a wooden carving of the hammer and sickle with an image of Christ crucified superimposed on the Marxist symbol.
Judge Brian Cregan appointed as new Chair of IBRC investigation
The Government has appointed Judge Brian Cregan, currently a Judge of the High Court, to replace Judge Daniel O'Keeffe as Chair of the Commission of Investigation into certain transactions conducted by IBRC.
Mr Justice O'Keeffe has informed the Government that, for personal reasons, he is unable to continue to act as Chairperson of the Commission.
The work already undertaken by Mr Justice O'Keeffe will be available to Mr. Justice Cregan. This includes identifying suitable accommodation and the engagement of a legal team and ancillary services.
The timescale for submission of the Commission's final report is still 31 December 2015.
Salthill beaches closed due to high levels of bacteria
People are being advised not to swim in the sea at Blackrock and Ladies Beach in Salthill, after routine testing found high levels of bacteria in the water. Galway City Council has erected Do Not Swim notices at both beaches this afternoon.
Further tests have been carried out today but it will take three days before the results are known.
Fundraising page for Irishman who drowned in Thailand
A fundraising page set up to help the family of an Irishman who drowned in Thailand bring his body home has raised over €27,500 since it was set up yesterday.
'Helping to bring David home' was set up to show support to the family of David Houlihan, a 24-year-old man from Waterford who drowned in Kao Samui.
So far just under 1,000 people have donated money. The original target was of €1,000.
A statement on the page says: "David's family are looking after everything but we would all love to show our support. Any and all donations welcome".
Tube strike hits London commuters
Commuters in London faced chaos today as a 24-hour strike by London Underground workers continued.
People packed on to buses or walked to work in bright sunshine, with Tube services set to be disrupted until tomorrow morning.
Business groups said the strike will cost London tens of millions of pounds.
Picket lines were mounted outside Tube stations by members of four trade unions involved in the action in a row over the new all-night Tubes, due to start in mid-September.
Four injured in turbulence on Thomson flight
Four people were hurt after an aircraft full of holidaymakers hit turbulence on a flight from Manchester to Cyprus.
Two flight attendants on the Thomson flight were kept in hospital for fractures, police and airport officials said.
Two other flight attendants were discharged after medical treatment.
The aircraft was carrying 328 passengers and ten crew. It landed without further incident at Larnaca airport on last night, police said.
Honda recalls a further 4.5 million cars in airbag scare
Japanese carmaker Honda has said it was recalling another 4.5 million vehicles globally, as a scare over Takata-made airbags widens.
The move takes to 24.5 million the total number of vehicles that the country's number three auto manufacturer has recalled so far.
Israel says two citizens held in Gaza
The Israeli defence ministry has said two Israelis, including an Arab, were being held captive in Gaza, accusing Hamas of holding one of them.
In a statement, the ministry said that "according to credible intelligence" Avraham Mengistu, an Israeli of Ethiopian descent, "is being held against his will by Hamas in Gaza."
"Furthermore, the defence establishment is currently dealing with an additional case of an Israeli Arab also being held in Gaza," it said.
Baltimore police chief sacked
Baltimore police chief Anthony Batts has been sacked following riots and an upsurge in murders in the US city.
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said the police commissioner was dismissed with immediate effect, adding "this is not an easy decision", but recent weeks had shown that "too many continue to die on our streets".
The city has witnessed 155 murders so far this year and 303 shootings, including a quadruple shooting on Tuesday near a college campus in which three people died.
Mr Batts has come under fire for his handling of riots that erupted after the death of an African-American man, Freddie Gray, 25, in police custody in April. Six police officers were later charged in connection with Gray's death.
