US air strikes are believed to have hit a hospital in Afghanistan - killing three staff working for the medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières.

A NATO spokesman says an American operation in the northern city of Kunduz may have resulted in collateral damage to the facility nearby.

The hospital's trauma centre was partially destroyed and dozens of workers are missing.

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Sepp Blatter has rejected calls from a host of leading sponsors to stand down as FIFA president.

He is due to quit after elections next year. However Coca-Cola, McDonalds, Visa and the makers of Budweiser have made it clear they want him to leave immediately.

It comes after Swiss authorities launched criminal proceedings against the 79-year-old.

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Fr Peter McVerry says the current housing crisis is the responsibility of the Taoiseach.

The founder of the Peter McVerry Trust - which was set up to tackle homelessness, drug misuse and social disadvantage in Dublin - is calling on the Taoiseach to call an emergency meeting with the relevant agencies to deal with the housing shortage crisis.

Fr McVerry is among speakers at a public conference focused on the housing crisis is taking place in Dublin today.

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The nine victims of a community college shooting in the US on Thursday have been named.

Police in the state of Oregon report that the victims range from 18 to 67 years of age, and include a teacher and several students.

It has also been revealed that the gunman Chris Harper-Mercer had 13 weapons, all of which were bought legally.

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Alan Shatter has overcome a major challenge to be added to the Fine Gael ticket for the general election.

The former justice minister scored a narrow victory in the convention held in the constituency of Dublin-Rathdown last night, after a challenge by local councillor Neale Richmond.

Deputy Shatter will now run alongside Councillor Josepha Madigan to retain his seat in an area reduced from five TDs to three.