Denmark overtook Switzerland as the world’s happiest place, according to a report that urged nations regardless of wealth to tackle inequality and protect the environment.

A former Catholic archbishop has settled his High Court action alleging he was defamed and wrongly depicted as a paedophile in the May 2011 RTÉ Prime Time Investigates: Mission to Prey programme.

A 45-year-old woman has told the High Court a priest kissed her and touched her breast when she was a teenager in 1983.

Boko Haram militants have attacked a village inside Chad, their first deadly attack in the country, according to an army spokesman.

Boko Haram extremists have abducted about 30 people including eight Cameroonian girls and killed seven hostages in two bus hijackings in Cameroon and Nigeria, Cameroon residents and a Nigerian intelligence officer said.

Cross-border attacks increasing as conflict spills across frontiers

Boko Haram staged an overnight assault on a border town in Niger and a suicide bomber detonated explosives near a market in the same town a few hours later, witnesses said.

Nigeria’s electoral commission is to postpone presidential and legislative elections for six weeks to give a new multinational force time to secure north-eastern areas under the sway of Boko Haram, an official has said.

Will Irish artist Duncan Campbell win the Turner Prize tonight? He talks with Alan O’Riordan

Four people with fever considered at risk for ebola were being tested in Spain yesterday for the virus, including one who arrived on an Air France jet that was isolated at Madrid’s airport as a precaution, officials said.

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A new video from Nigeria’s Boko Haram terrorist network purports to show dozens of abducted schoolgirls, covered in jihab and praying in Arabic.

Troops from 13 African countries that took part in the French-led war against al Qaida-linked extremists in Mali marched with the French military during the Bastille Day parade in Paris to honour their role in the conflict.

RICK GEKOSKI’s book, Lost, Stolen or Shredded, is an expertly told tale of the shadowy world of books, manuscripts and artworks that have disappeared.

Malian forces have regained control of the strategic town that was under extreme Islamist rule for four months, as the French-led military intervention pushed northwards in its second week.

The French military said its fighter planes and helicopter gunships have carried out a dozen operations over the weekend in Mali, most of them aimed at “terrorist vehicles”.

Radical Islamists have fled a key Malian town on foot following French air strikes.

A major donor to Barack Obama has been accused of defrauding a businessman and impersonating a bank official, creating new headaches for the US president’s re-election campaign as it deals with the questionable history of another top supporter.

Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill will assess striker Stephane Sessegnon ahead of Sunday’s derby trip to Newcastle after he was delayed on his return from international action.

Armed pirates have robbed a cargo ship at anchor in a Nigerian port and kidnapped at least two crew members in the latest of several attacks off Africa’s west coast, an international maritime watchdog said.

Pirates have killed the captain and chief engineer of a cargo ship they attacked off the coast of Nigeria.

A MOB torched an Islamic school in southern Nigeria as the second day of a national strike over fuel prices locked down the country, fanned religious tensions and unnerved the global oil market.

NIGERIAN police and protesters clashed and three people were shot dead as tens of thousands demonstrated nationwide over fuel price hikes and a general strike shut down the country.

POPE Benedict XVI yesterday led tens of thousands of people in a panoply of African tongues during a Mass in Benin’s national soccer stadium, wrapping up a pilgrimage where he laid out his spiritual vision for Africa.

Pope Benedict XVI formally handed over to church authorities in Benin a detailed pastoral guide which articulates his spiritual vision for Africa.

Pope Benedict XVI made an impassioned plea to Africa’s leaders today to stop depriving their people of hope.

ARMED pirates raided a tanker off the west African coast and kidnapped 23 sailors yesterday, sailing off with the vessel in waters increasingly at risk of piracy.

Sunderland 0 Newcastle 1

Sea piracy worldwide surged to 266 attacks in the first half this year, up 36% from a year ago, as Somali pirates became bolder and raided more vessels, a global maritime watchdog has said.

BACKROOM HSE staff spent thousands of euro in taxpayers’ money on flowers, candlesticks, hotels, foreign trips, restaurant tips and phone calls — including some from abroad by people allegedly on sick leave.

SEPP BLATTER was re-elected as president of FIFA yesterday after the FA’s attempt to block the vote ended in heavy defeat and vengeful recriminations.

Chris Brown leads nominations for this year's Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards, with six nods.

THE coastguard and Ballybunion Sea and Cliff Rescue yesterday continued their search for the body of a 33-year-old man who jumped to his death from the cliffs at the north Kerry seaside resort on Tuesday night.

THE African partner of a Polish woman, who was found dead in violent circumstances in Tralee yesterday, last night jumped from a cliff in Ballybunion following a six-hour stand-off with Garda negotiators.

Ivory Coast's incumbent leader has seized the nation's electric company and its distribution centre.

AFRICAN mediators have offered Ivory Coast’s embattled leader Laurent Gbagbo incentives to stand down after disputed polls, using the threat of military action as the only alternative.

US President George W Bush today said that Congress should renew his global Aids programme and preserve a requirement that steers money into abstinence efforts.

US President George Bush insisted today his administration is actively engaged in resolving turmoil in Africa, but said his trip to the continent is focused more on its successes than its conflicts.

US President George W Bush began a five-country journey through Africa today to show that the US has a moral imperative as well as economic, political and national security interests in fighting poverty, disease and corruption across the continent.

FRANCE’S best-known mercenary Bob Denard, who had a hand in numerous African wars and coups d’etat over 30 years, has died at the age of 78.

The United Nations today named Dublin Port as a key partner in helping developing countries boost their economies through shipping.

Nearly 1,000 armed men, thought to be from Sudan's troubled Darfur region, have occupied a town in the Central African Republic, the main rebel leader in the region said today.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez arrived in the West African nation of Mali yesterday for a one-day visit, promising to invest more in the impoverished country after signing a bilateral energy agreement.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has praised Vietnam for its battle against “imperialism” and pledged to help the communist country develop its nascent oil and gas industry during a two-day state visit.