Major Garda shakeup will see 1,800 more members on the beat
Some 1,800 more Gardaí are to be put on the front-line by 2021, as part of radical changes to the way the force operates.
Commissioner Drew Harris unveiled a new operating model for An Garda Síochána on Thursday.
The number of divisions is being reduced from 28 to 19, while the number of regions will drop from six to four.
The force says the new model will see improvements to the organisation's structures, processes, services and governance.
Northern politicians back Brexit border backstop
A majority of Northern Ireland assembly members have signed a letter voicing their support for the Brexit border backstop.
It comes as the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson continues to demand the removal of the mechanism, designed to prevent a hard border in Ireland, from the withdrawal agreement.
He is in Paris this afternoon, where French President Emanuel Macron warned him that the backstop is an "indispensable guarantee" to protect stability in Ireland.
The letter to the European Council President Donald Tusk was signed by 49 of the 90 elected members of the Stormont executive – a 54.44% majority.
Macron says Brexit backstop ‘indispensible’
Emmanuel Macron has said it's up to the UK alone to decide how they leave the European Union.
However, he's said the Irish backstop is an "indispensable guarantee" to protect stability in Ireland and the integrity of the EU's single market.
The French president was speaking as Boris Johnson arrived in Paris for talks about Brexit amid the ongoing deadlock over the Irish backstop.
While the British prime minister has repeatedly claimed that the backstop must be dropped in any deal, European leaders have said that can't happen without realistic alternatives.
Wicklow ticket scoops €11.2m jackpot
The National Lottery has revealed a massive €11.2m Lotto jackpot was won in Co Wicklow.
There was just one winner on Wednesday evening.
It was the 15th highest single jackpot won in the history of the game – and was rolling since Wednesday June 12th.
The numbers drawn were 10, 13, 23, 24, 25 and 44. The bonus number was 12.
Bolsonaro backtracks on Amazon rainforest fires claim
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has backtracked on his claim that NGOs were starting fires in the Amazon to make him look bad.
It came after Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) said there had been an 84% rise in forest fires in the South American country this year.
As the news gained momentum around the world, President Bolsonaro suggested that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) could be setting the fires to “draw attention against me; against the Government of Brazil.”
However, during a live broadcast on Facebook today, he said he was only airing his suspicions when he made the claim.
Meanwhile, Environment Minister Ricardo Salles was booed at a climate conference in the city of Salvador yesterday.
