A round-up of today's other world news in brief ...
Call to keep an eye on elderly neighbours
The co-ordinator of a national helpline has asked members of the public to be vigilant about checking in with their housebound or elderly neighbours during the holiday period.
Mary Nally, chief executive of the Senior Helpline, a confidential listening service for older people by older people, says Christmas and the new year can be a time of hidden loneliness and heartache for many older people.
Ms Nally says older people can be particularly susceptible to loneliness because over the years they may have seen a spouse, family and friends pass away.
Senior Help Line, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, has seen call volumes growing steadily over the years. Calls are currently averaging 800 per month.
Asylum process delays criticised
Taxpayers are "forking out" €843.40 a week for each asylum seeker because the department of justice "continues to under-resource the section which could expedite the asylum process", Fine Gael integration and immigration spokesman Denis Naughten has claimed.
Calling for more staff for the asylum section, Mr Naughten said Minister of State for integration Conor Lenihan had disclosed at a recent Dáil committee meeting that the asylum process has cost €2.25 billion between 2002 and 2008.
It was taking years to process applications and this was "not fair on those who seek genuine asylum and it is not fair on the Irish taxpayer who must fund it".
Challenge of rural unemployment
Rural communities will face many employment challenges in changing economic circumstances and there must as a result be greater awareness of the needs of others, according to Muintir na Tíre, writes Marie O'Halloran
Martin Quinn, national president of the rural community development organisation said that "how we respond to these challenges and to the needs and difficulties of others will define us as a people".
In a new year message Mr Quinn said that "employment opportunities in Ireland, especially in rural communities, are going to change substantially and there will be many challenges for communities".
He added that Muintir na Tíre, as a national organisation "also needs to respond to the changing needs of society and communities".
It will launch a strategic plan at the end of January, part of which will focus on one of its main services, the Community Alert Programme, a safety and crime prevention national project.
Commemoration at boxer's home
The achievements of Mick Leahy, who became one of the first Irish men to win a British Empire boxing title at middleweight in the 1960s, will be commemorated with the erection of a plaque close to his old address in Cork.
Mr Leahy, who is now 75 and living in Leamington Spa in the UK, was born in Paul Street, Cork, in 1935 and later moved to Spangle Hill in the city. He won the British middleweight title when he beat George Aldridge in 1963.
He was also victorious over boxing legend Sugar Ray Robinson in 1964.
Mr Leahy was recently commemorated in a street mural in Coventry.