Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today

DVDs of Sony’s controversial film The Interview will be dropped into North Korea by balloon, a South Korean activist says.

After 15 years of toil, Dan Snaith’s fifth album has made him a star, writes Ed Power

Every year, over 70,000 garter snakes gather at the Narcisse Snake Dens in Canada for one reason - to get it on.

Our pick of what’s best on the box tonight.

Irish driving licences will be eligible in the Canadian province of Ontario very shortly, according to the Department of Transport.

The coldest, most dangerous blast of polar air in decades has gripped the US midwest and pushed toward the east and south and eastern Canada.

A 14-year-old boy in Saskatchewan has been rescued from years of abuse amid a police investigation that targeted 21 alleged online child predators.

Irma Voth, Miriam ToewsFaber: €17.15 Kindle: €9.15

A 15-year-old boy working on a Canadian building site died after he was buried under a mountain of searing-hot asphalt.

AT NOON today President Mary McAleese will open the National Ploughing Championships, a three-day festival of farming that has become the biggest outdoor event in Ireland.

A “disgusting” internet paedophile, who repeatedly took control of schoolgirls’ computers from his own home in Derbyshire, England, before “terrorising them” into sending him indecent pictures of themselves, was jailed for 10 years today.

China has learned the lessons of the Sars outbreak and pledged complete openness as it fights bird flu in its multibillion domestic poultry flock.

Intel Ireland is to ship a new generation of computer chips made in its Ireland facility.

TEACHERS with coaching qualifications should be paid if they coach pupils or students after school hours, according to former world champion Eamonn Coghlan.