The seventh World Happiness Report, compiled by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, ranked 156 countries in terms of happiness, with Ireland placing 16th on the list, down from 14th in the last report.

Catch up on all the headlines this lunchtime...

Three years ago, Norbert fled his homeland for Ireland, in the hope of securing refugee status and bringing his wife and four children to Ireland, and safety.

Concern is rising about a member of staff from an Irish human rights group, who has been detained in Burundi.

Crimes against humanity are being committed in Burundi, a United Nations commission of inquiry has said.

It was predicted. That didn’t make it any less impressive, or any less contentious.

As the World Humanitarian Summit is held in Istanbul, Oxfam Ireland CEO Jim Clarken says Europe could learn a lot from Tanzania’s solidarity with and generosity towards refugees

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.

Chris Stone writes that the right to public protest is just one area in which autocratic regimes are limiting the right to free expression.

A raft of senior Department of Foreign Affairs officials have been promoted and nominated as ambassadors and heads of mission.

Concern Worldwide’s Anne O’Mahony feels there are reasons to to be optimistic about 2016 but also sees many challenges ahead, especially if we all don’t work together.

Legendary aid worker returns from Ethiopia for a rest before renewing efforts to help some of the world’s most dispossessed people, writes Joyce Fegan

The number of people forcibly displaced worldwide is likely to have “far surpassed” a record 60m this year, mainly driven by the Syrian war and other protracted conflicts, the UNsaid.

Europe correspondent, Ann Cahill, delivers her weekly briefing on Euro affairs from the European Parliament.

Burundi police fired tear gas and beat protesters demanding president Pierre Nkurunziza end his bid for a third term, in a resurgence of unrest that has stoked fears of ethnic conflict in Africa’s Great Lakes. 

Heavily armed soldiers have been deployed in Burundi to quell protests against the president’s bid for a third term, which sparked a coup attempt last week that was foiled.

Burundi president Pierre Nkurunziza has made his first appearance in the capital since the attempted coup against his government last week.

Two senior army officers and a police general accused of taking part in an attempted coup in Burundi have been arrested, a presidential spokesman said as it became apparent that a military plot to oust president Pierre Nkurunziza had fizzled out.

The head of Burundi’s army said an attempted coup had failed and forces loyal to President Pierre Nkurunziza were in control but heavy gunfire in the capital suggested the battle for power was far from over.

Police vanished from the streets of Burundi’s capital as thousands of people celebrated a coup attempt against president Pierre Nkurunziza, who was in a neighbouring country for a conference.

Premier League footballer Saido Berahino is set to appear in court charged with drink-driving on the M6 in Cheshire.

The economic geography of the world is changing. The eurozone faces the spectre of another round of stagnation; Japan has slipped into recession; and the US, despite relatively strong performance in the latter part of the year, has raised concerns worldwide with its exit from quantitative easing.

Two rampaging drivers who injured a total of 23 people in nearly identical incidents in France were apparently mentally ill and the attacks are unlikely to be linked to terrorism, government officials have said.

Eleven people were hurt, five seriously, when a van drove into a Christmas market in France.

Premier League football star Saido Berahino is to be interviewed by police after being arrested for drink-driving.

Schoolchildren are getting into the Christmas spirit this week, sending millions of gifts to needy children in Africa and Eastern Europe.

Three missionary nuns have been found murdered in their convent in Burundi, Italian officials said.

Three missionary nuns have been found killed in their convent in Burundi, Italian officials said.

Three missionary nuns have been found killed in their convent in Burundi, Italian officials said.

A lot goes on behind the scenes before you sip your cuppa. Jonathan de Burca Butler meets a master tea-blender and puts himself through a taste test

Twenty years ago, it is said, one person died every 10 seconds over 100 days as genocide gripped Rwanda, says Hannah McNeish.

Down the centuries, each era of human development has shown an extraordinary capacity to produce leaders of great stature. The passing of Nelson Mandela has taken from the South African people, and the world at large, one of the greatest figures of this or any age.

The US military has evacuated its non-essential government personnel from Yemen due to the high threat of attack by al Qaida which has caused temporary shutdowns of 19 American diplomatic posts across the Middle East and Africa

An intercepted secret message between al Qaida chief Ayman al-Zawahri and his deputy in Yemen about plans for a major terror attack was the trigger for the current shutdown of many US embassies.

Amid online “chatter” about terror threats, US diplomatic posts in 19 cities in the Muslim world will be closed at least through the end of this week, the State Department said.

Former president Mary Robinson has been tasked by the UN to police delicate peace efforts in one of the most violent regions of the world.

Mary Robinson has been appointed as UN Special Envoy for the troubled Great Lakes region of Africa.

Alan Pardew has warned Arsenal not to underestimate injury-hit Newcastle as they head for the capital determined to atone for their St Stephen's Day disappointment.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is closing in on another summer target after agreeing a fee for teenage midfielder Gael Bigirimana.

Britain moved to whip up international support for a new military and political strategy in Somalia to intensify pressure on al-Shabab militants and try to pull the failed Horn of Africa nation back from the grip of pirates and terrorists.

Five children around the world die every minute because of chronic malnutrition, according to a report that also said almost half a billion children are at risk of permanent damage over the next 15 years.

SHE’S a 40-year-old mother of eight, with a ninth child due soon.

Kenya says its forces will pursue militants into Somalia, following a spate of attacks in which four Europeans have been kidnapped and one killed since September.

The widow of Rwanda’s former president, wanted in connection with the country’s 1994 genocide, has won her court appeal against extradition from France.