The Yazidis are followers of an ancient religion derived from Zoroastrianism

Islamic state militants kill at least 500 in Iraq

15.41 Islamic state militants have killed at least 500 members of Iraq's Yazidi ethnic minority during an attack in the north of the country.

NEWS HEADLINES

FULL NEWS INDEX

Loyalists have been permitted to stage two protests

Anti-internment parade passes off without incident

15.45 Thousands of republicans have taken part in an anti-internment parade this afternoon through Belfast city centre.

Smoke rises from Gaza City as Israeli tanks gather on the Gaza border

Palestinians examining new 72-hour truce proposal

15.50 Palestinians are examining a proposal for a new 72-hour ceasefire in Gaza, a Hamas spokesman has said.

Russia has banned fruit, vegetable, meat, fish and dairy imports from the European Union, US, Australia, Canada and Norway

Lower number of Irish exports to Russia 'affected'

14.46 It is now estimated that only €10-15m of Irish food exports to Russia will be directly affected by Russia's decision to ban food imports from the European Union.

Some 53 million Turks are eligible to vote

Turkey's presidential voting underway

14.34 Turkish voters have been taking part in the country's first direct presidential election.

Around 400 troops will leave over the coming five years under the measure

Calls to allow hundreds of soldiers remain in army

13.41 Minister of State Ann Phelan has called on the Defence Minister Simon Coveney to review plans to force hundreds of soldiers to leave the army over the coming years.

Passenger plane crashes in Iran

14.50 A civilian airliner has crashed in Iran killing at least 38 people on board and narrowly avoiding more fatalities on the ground.

Seven people were injured in the accident, three seriously

Man dies following Carlow road crash

14.51 A 42-year-old man has died following a road crash in Co Carlow yesterday evening.

The two-car collision took place near Milford in Co Carlow (Pic: Dylan Vaughan)

Man dies in car crash in Co Carlow

09 Aug A man in his thirties has died following a car crash in Carlow this afternoon.

Brendan Howlin said talks with unions will begin next year

Howlin says some public sector cuts to be reversed

09 Aug Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin has said some pay and pension cuts in the public sector will be reversed as exchequer finances improve.

Smoke rises after Israeli air strikes in the north of Gaza City

Obama and Cameron call for end to Gaza hostilites

09 Aug US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron have called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza and pressed for action that would lead to a permanent ceasefire.

The US is trying to stop continuing attacks on religious and ethnic minorities

US destroys Islamic State arms and equipment

09 Aug US President Barack Obama has said US airstrikes have destroyed arms and equipment that Islamic State insurgents could have used to attack Erbil, the Iraqi Kurdish capital.

The patient showed symptoms of fever and flu, possible signs of the deadly Ebola virus

Nigeria calls for volunteers to fight Ebola virus

09 Aug Authorities in Nigeria's largest city Lagos have appealed for volunteers to help fight an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus after admitting they lacked medical personnel.