Proposed deal on Croke Park Agreement extension published in full today

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has confirmed that compulsory redundancies are not part of the proposed deal on an extension to the Croke Park agreement.

The document - agreed with some public sector unions yesterday - will be published in full today.

The Cabinet is being briefed on the document this morning - whilst trade unions will also begin the process of consulting their members on the proposals, which include pay cuts for those earning over 65 thousand euro as well as cuts to premium pay.

There were concerns that compulsory redundancies were included in the deal - in areas where redeployment is not an option.

But speaking on his way into his Department this morning, Minister Howlin said this is not the case - and he had this message for public sector workers.

Post mortem to take place Carlow couple found dead yesterday

Gardai are appealing for witnesses following the death of two people in Carlow yesterday.

The remains of a man and a woman in their 50's were discovered with gunshot wounds in a Bed and Breakfast in the town yesterday afternoon.

Ballistic tests on a firearm found at the scene will be carried out and Post Mortem's are due take place later at Naas General Hospital.

Gardai are appealing to anyone who saw unusual activity in the Centaur Street area of Carlow on Sunday night or Monday morning to come forward.

At least 19 foreign tourists have been killed in a hot air balloon crash in Egypt

There are reports that British, Korean, Japanese and Egyptian tourists are among the victims

An Egyptian official says there was an explosion before the balloon crashed near Luxor.

Reports suggest one tourist and the pilot survived.

An official has said that there was a fire and an explosion and that the balloon then plunged from the sky and crashed into sugar cane fields west of Luxor on Tuesday. Luxor is 510 kilometers (320 miles) south of Cairo.

An Associated Press reporter at the crash site says he counted eight bodies as they were put into body bags and taken away.

Elections in Italy have ended in stalemate

Italy is entering a period of political instability after a general election left the country in political deadlock with with little hope of any party gaining a majority.

This is leading to fears of more instability in the Eurozone

A split vote in Italy's general election has left world markets anxious. The uncertainty could have a big impact on the rest of the Eurozone.

No party managed to secure majorities in both houses of parliament, meaning there's a possibility of a hung parliament.

Voters were torn three ways between a party established three years ago by a comedian blogger, a centre-left coalition and Silvio Berlusconi’s centre-right alliance, raising the prospect of a second election within months.

The result has sent markets into a state of panic amid concerns it could derail the Eurozone's recovery and it has already had a negative impact on markets in the US and Japan.

Britain's Attorney General to pursue people who posted killers pictures online

The images eeportedly show Jamie Bulger's killers as they look today

Anyone who shared the images could face contempt of court proceedings, because of an historical worldwide order against identifying John Venables and Robert Thompson - who were boys themselves when they killed the toddler in Liverpool.

The photos have been available online for at least the last 10 days.

Lisa O'Carroll is a media journalist with The Guardian - she says identifying the men could jeopardise their security, as well as the possibility that the wrong people have been pictured.