Police in the North have charged a 39 year old man in connection with security alerts in Derry yesterday.

A number of homes were evacuated and roads closed as a result of the alerts.

The PSNI say a man has been charged with communicating false information, causing a bomb hoax, and he is due to appear at Derry Magistrates Court later today.

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Teacher's pay, industrial relations issues and the funding of schools, are some of the issues on the agenda at the INTO Congress, which gets underway today.

Around 850 delegates representing 3,600 primary schools will gather in Galway for the Irish National Teachers Organisation gathering.

Education Minister Joe Mc Hugh will make an address to delegates later this afternoon.

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A comedian whose only political experience was playing Ukraine's president on TV has become the country's leader.

Petro Poroshenko - who was criticised for failing to deal with corruption - has suffered a crushing defeat against his rival Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

He secured nearly three-quarters of the vote.

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Gardaí are renewing their appeal for information after a girl was killed and her brother injured in a collision with a car, while cycling in County Galway yesterday.

Forensic examinations have been carried out at the scene - on the R358 - just outside Ballinasloe town.

Both children were taken to Portiuncula Hospital following the crash, which happened shortly before noon.

The nine year old girl was later pronounced dead, while her brother's injuries are being described as "serious but not life-threatening."

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Irish holidaymakers in Sri Lanka are being advised to stay indoors where possible and avoid large gatherings following yesterday's bomb attacks.

The airport is still operating but security has been increased and some airlines are advising travellers to arrive early for check-in to allow extra time for screening.

The Irish Travel Agents Association says curfews are in place across the island, but holidaymakers can still travel to the airport.