A rare white pelican normally found in the warmer climes of southern Europe has set up home in rural Kent.
Bird watchers have been flocking to the 285-acre Bough Beech reservoir, near Edenbridge, to catch sight of the bird. Dave Hutton, reserve officer for Kent Wildlife Trust, said: "White pelicans are normally found in the Mediterranean, but if it has come all that way then it is some occurrence." - (PA)
Man's work, brethren
A US Baptist preacher has publicly defended himself for firing a female Sunday School teacher after more than 50 years in the job because he believes the Bible bans women from teaching men.
Watertown First Baptist Church Pastor Tim LaBouf, of Watertown, New York state, said women could fulfil any role or responsibility they wanted to - outside the church.
LaBouf and the church board fired Mary Lambert, 81, earlier this month, in a letter that cited the scriptural qualifications for Sunday School teachers, Lambert said."They quote First Timothy Two, 11-14: A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, she must be silent," Lambert said, reading from the letter. - (Reuters)
Showtime in Bansha
The Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan will officially open the 50th Bansha, Agricultural Show in Co Tipperary today. The show is regarded as one of the most important of its kind in Munster.
Glencree school
Gregory Campbell, Democratic Unionist MP and MLA, will be keynote speaker at the Glencree Reconciliation Centre's summer school this weekend. The event takes place from Friday to Sunday, at the centre in Glencree, Co Wicklow. The theme is Dimensions of Conflict and Peace -Opportunities and Challenges.