Irish Republic swears in Enda Kenny as new leader

The Irish parliament has officially elected Enda Kenny as taoiseach (prime minister), to lead a new government.

Mr Kenny's centre-right Fine Gael won last month's general election, three months after the previous government accepted an EU/IMF 85bn euro bail-out.

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7.2 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Northern Japan, Tsunami Alert Issued (Earthquake Today)

TOKYO -- A magnitude 7.2 earthquake has hit northern Japan, prompting the country's meteorological agency to issue a tsunami alert for the northeastern coast. It warns that a tsunami of about 20 inches (50 centimeters) will hit the coast around noon Wednesday.

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