The Irish Times -

Two charged with terror offences

Wed, 30 May 2012 20:10:42 GMT

Two men have been charged with terrorism offences in Northern Ireland after seven pipe bombs were discovered.

Three admit to brothel charges

Wed, 30 May 2012 19:39:26 GMT

Three women arrested in a major cross-Border offensive against prostitution walked free today after pleading guilty to running a brothel in Belfast.

Farc frees French reporter

Wed, 30 May 2012 19:23:47 GMT

Colombia's Farc guerrillas freed French reporter Romeo Langlois today, a month after taking him hostage in a firefight that showed the leftist group is still a menace despite a decade of military blows.

Obama congratulates Romney on win

Wed, 30 May 2012 18:52:18 GMT

US president Barack Obama called former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney today to congratulate him for wrapping up the Republican US presidential nomination and wish him well in their battle for the White House, Mr Obama's campaign said.

Further evidence of Syria executions

Wed, 30 May 2012 18:05:04 GMT

UN observers said today 13 bodies had been discovered bound and shot in eastern Syria, days after a massacre of 108 civilians, nearly half of them children, ignited a world outcry.

Lawyer quits McAreavey murder trial

Wed, 30 May 2012 18:05:04 GMT

The trial of two hotel workers accused of murdering Michaela McAreavey has been rocked after a lawyer dramatically withdrew from the case and signalled his intent to appear as a witness.

Mental health directorate plan welcomed

Wed, 30 May 2012 17:33:28 GMT

The campaign group Mental Health Reform has welcomed the decision by Minister for Health James Reilly to proceed with the establishment of a new structure for the HSE, which will include a new directorate of mental health.

Forecast good for Forbidden Fruit

Wed, 30 May 2012 17:18:01 GMT

The weather forecast for Dublin’s first urban festival looks good for the estimated 30,000 fans who are expected for this weekend.

Rodgers on his way to Anfield

Wed, 30 May 2012 17:18:00 GMT

Soccer:Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers appears to be edging closer to filling Liverpool’s managerial vacancy but reports he has agreed a three-year deal have been dismissed as premature. The 39-year-old emerged yesterday as Fenway Sports Group’s first choice to succeed Kenny Dalglish, having moved ahead of Wigan boss Roberto Martinez.

Congress to 'reflect today's church'

Wed, 30 May 2012 17:02:21 GMT

The Eucharistic Congress which begins in Dublin on June 10th “will reflect the Church in Ireland today. It will not be a going back to the Church of 1932 (when the last Eucharistic Congress took place in Dublin) or any other period,” the Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin said today.

Activists 'occupy' commission offices

Wed, 30 May 2012 17:02:21 GMT

Up to ten people associated with the Occupy Dame Street movement today staged a protest inside the offices of the Referendum Commission in Dublin.

McIlroy hoping for a quick fix

Wed, 30 May 2012 15:57:53 GMT

Golf:Seven of the world’s top 10, including numbers one and two Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy, are in head-to-head combat at Muirfield Village in Ohio this week for the Memorial Tournament. Lee Westwood, Jason Dufner and Matt Kuchar are the only three missing, which means Tiger Woods is back to try to banish the memory of three bad events in a row.

Woman hurt in dune collapse dies

Wed, 30 May 2012 15:57:52 GMT

A 19-year-old woman who was seriously injured when a sand dune collapsed on her in west Kerry yesterday, has died.

Torres expecting to kick on at finals

Wed, 30 May 2012 15:25:32 GMT

Soccer:Fernando Torres is thrilled he will have a role to play for Spain at Euro 2012 after a difficult first full season at Chelsea. The former Liverpool striker scored just 11 goals in 48 appearances for the Londoners and had been dropped from Vicente del Bosque’s last Spain squad in February.

Banks may require an extra €3-€4 billion, says Elderfield

Wed, 30 May 2012 15:09:23 GMT

The country's main banks will likely need a further €3-€4 billion over the coming years to meet international capital requirements, Financial Regulator Matthew Elderfield told German paper Boersen-Zeitung today.

Live Register remains steady at 14.3%

Wed, 30 May 2012 14:36:23 GMT

The number of people signing on the Live Register increased marginally for the second straight month in May but the standardised unemployment rate held steady at 14.3 per cent.

Ireland's climate gradually warming up

Wed, 30 May 2012 14:20:23 GMT

The temperature of Ireland has increased by 0.75 degrees over the last 20 years, new figures from Met Éireann indicate.

Markets fall on Spain's banking woes

Wed, 30 May 2012 14:04:33 GMT

European shares fell and the euro neared a two-year low today, depressed by worries that Spain's banking problems would push its borrowing costs to unsustainable levels and force it to seek a bailout.

Mannix to join Munster backroom team

Wed, 30 May 2012 13:31:13 GMT

Rugby:The incoming Munster coach Rob Penney has made his first major change to his backroom team, brining Simon Mannix as the province’s new backs coach. Mannix was released by Racing this season after five years working with their backline and will team up with his fellow Kiwi in the coming weeks.

O'Reilly calls for expanded FOI Act

Wed, 30 May 2012 13:31:13 GMT

Information Commissioner Emily O’Reilly has urged the Government to extend the remit of the Freedom of Information Act under which the public can have access to information about State bodies.

Police thwart Eurovision terror attack

Wed, 30 May 2012 13:31:12 GMT

Security services in Azerbaijan say they arrested 40 suspects and seized weapons as they thwarted a series of planned terror attacks against the Eurovision Song Contest.

Scholes signs up for another year

Wed, 30 May 2012 13:31:12 GMT

Soccer:Paul Scholes has put pen to paper on a one-year contract extension that keeps the former England midfielder at Manchester United until the end of the 2012/13 season, the club have confirmed. Scholes came out of retirement in January and produced a number of impressive displays as United were just beaten to the Premier League title by neighbours Manchester City.

Warm welcome for Suu Kyi in Thailand

Wed, 30 May 2012 13:14:56 GMT

Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi received a rapturous reception in Thailand today from crowds of cheering compatriots who flocked to celebrate her first trip outside Burma in nearly a quarter of a century.

Commission urges direct bank aid

Wed, 30 May 2012 12:58:52 GMT

The European Commission advocated direct aid from a euro zone rescue fund to recapitalise distressed banks in a move that could eventually help Spain, the latest front in Europe's debt wars, overcome a worsening banking crisis.

Anti-bailout Syriza ahead in Greek poll

Wed, 30 May 2012 12:58:51 GMT

Greece's radical leftist Syriza party has taken the lead over the pro-bailout conservatives, a poll showed today, ahead of a national parliamentary election next month that may determine whether the debt-laden country stays in the euro zone.

Bono to join Suu Kyi on Dublin stage

Wed, 30 May 2012 12:42:47 GMT

Bono will join fellow aid campaigner Sir Bob Geldof in a special tribute event to honour Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Canadian quota for Irish visas filled

Wed, 30 May 2012 12:10:47 GMT

Irish people planning to go to Canada on a working holiday visa will have to wait until next year to apply, as the quota for Irish passport holders has been filled for 2012.

Kidney finalises squad for New Zealand

Wed, 30 May 2012 12:10:46 GMT

Rugby:With the exception of Paul O’Connell, who will be given until Friday to prove his fitness ahead of Ireland’s forthcoming trip to New Zealand, Declan Kidney has finalised his squad for the test series against the world champions.

Coulson arrested in perjury inquiry

Wed, 30 May 2012 11:38:31 GMT

David Cameron’s former communications chief, Andy Coulson, has been detained on suspicion of committing perjury during the trial of former Scottish Parliament member Tommy Sheridan.

EC warns of 'major challenges'

Wed, 30 May 2012 11:22:05 GMT

The European Commission has urged the Government to continue its steadfast execution of the EU-IMF bailout plan to minimise Ireland’s vulnerability to the volatile situation in the euro zone.

Dublin name side to face Louth

Wed, 30 May 2012 10:49:36 GMT

GAA:Having been wrapped in cotton wool throughout the entire league campaign, Bernard Brogan will make his first start for Dublin since last September’s All-Ireland final when the champions open their defence against Louth this weekend.

High Court rejects Sinn Féin referendum legal challenge

Wed, 30 May 2012 10:49:36 GMT

The High Court has rejected an application by a Sinn Féin TD aimed at having the Referendum Commission withdraw remarks it made earlier this month concerning Ireland’s veto over the European Stability Mechanism (ESM).

Balotelli to take hard line on racists

Wed, 30 May 2012 10:17:11 GMT

Soccer:Mario Balotelli intends to walk off the pitch if he is racially abused at Euro 2012 — and has claimed he would kill anyone who threw a banana at him in the street. The Manchester City and Italy striker was speaking after a BBC Panorama programme raised fears of potential racism at the tournament in Ukraine and Poland.

Liberia's Taylor jailed for 50 years

Wed, 30 May 2012 10:17:11 GMT

Former Liberian president Charles Taylor has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for supporting fighters to commit atrocities during an 11-year civil war in neighboring Sierra Leone.

Olympus planning to cut 2,500 jobs

Wed, 30 May 2012 09:28:06 GMT

Japan's Olympus, hit by a $1.7 billion fraud scandal, plans to shed 2,500 workers and sell an equity stake to either Sony or Panasonic in a bid to bolster its finances, local media reported today.

Firms create 130 jobs in Dublin, Cork

Wed, 30 May 2012 09:12:09 GMT

Four companies are to create 100 jobs in Cork and Dublin as IDA Ireland confirmed they would set up operations here, with a further 30 jobs coming to Tullow Oil's Dublin operation.

Body of DCU student due in Ireland

Wed, 30 May 2012 09:12:08 GMT

The body of Irishwoman Nicola Furlong will arrive back in Dublin tomorrow as Japanese police continue their investigation into her death.

Thousands homeless after quake

Wed, 30 May 2012 08:55:08 GMT

One person is still missing after the second deadly earthquake to hit northern Italy’s Emilia region this month.

Assange fails to halt extradition

Wed, 30 May 2012 08:55:08 GMT

Britain's Supreme Court upheld the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to Sweden over alleged sex crimes today.

Syrian crisis at 'tipping point'

Wed, 30 May 2012 08:06:39 GMT

Syria's president Bashar al-Assad came under increasing international pressure last night as UN envoy Kofi Annan warned the crisis there had reached tipping point and French president François Hollande said military intervention cannot be ruled out if it has UN Security Council backing.

Connemara islanders vote on treaty

Wed, 30 May 2012 08:06:38 GMT

The people of Connemara’s offshore islands are casting their referendum votes today, with indications of a low turnout on the Mayo islands yesterday.

S&P downgrades Danske Bank

Wed, 30 May 2012 07:50:04 GMT

Denmark's biggest financial institution Danske Bank said today ratings agency Standard & Poor's had downgraded the bank's credit rating by one notch and adjusted its outlook upwards.

TV 'of intense interest' to Apple

Wed, 30 May 2012 07:50:04 GMT

Apple chief executive Tim Cook said technology for televisions was of "intense interest" but stressed the company's efforts would unfold gradually amid speculation the iPad and iPhone maker was on the brink of unveiling a revolutionary iTV.

Ireland pipped by a point at Kingsholm

Tue, 29 May 2012 21:22:54 GMT

Barbarians 29 Ireland XV 28:Ireland warmed up for their forthcoming tour of New Zealand with a 29-28 defeat at the hands of the Barbarians in a competitive and entertaining match at Kingsholm.

Treaty campaign in last stretch

Tue, 29 May 2012 21:22:54 GMT

Both sides in the fiscal treaty referendum are using the final hours before the onset of the broadcast moratorium on referendum content tomorrow afternoon to persuade the electorate.

Foley gets run as strikers find range

Tue, 29 May 2012 20:51:48 GMT

Tuscan Select XI 0 Republic of Ireland 5:Discarded defender Kevin Foley played 45 minutes of the Republic of Ireland’s friendly against a Tuscan XI tonight hours after being told he would not be going to Euro 2012.

Fresh Italian earthquake kills 16

Tue, 29 May 2012 20:51:48 GMT

An earthquake killed 16 people and injured about 350 in northern Italy today, spreading fear among thousands of residents living in tents after a similarly strong tremor in the same region flattened their homes nine days ago.

BoI refunds €1m to customers

Tue, 29 May 2012 20:36:15 GMT

Bank of Ireland has refunded €1 million to over 1,500 customers after an internal review discovered they had taken out credit card insurance on which they could not make a claim.

Pipe bombs made safe in Tyrone

Tue, 29 May 2012 20:20:43 GMT

Seven pipe bombs have been made safe in Northern Ireland.

SF seeks treaty judicial review

Tue, 29 May 2012 20:20:43 GMT

The High Court is hearing the remainder of an application by Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty for a judicial review of statements made by the Referendum Commission during the fiscal treaty campaign.

Bank of Spain chief to exit early

Tue, 29 May 2012 20:04:53 GMT

Miguel Angel Fernandez Ordóñez's early exit as Bank of Spain governor signals Madrid's desire to restore its credibility, days after the government was forced to stage the country's biggest ever bank rescue.

Breivik 'came across as depressed'

Tue, 29 May 2012 19:49:20 GMT

Former friends of confessed Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik said that some years before the massacre he came across as depressed, expressed feminine tendencies and led some to believe he might be gay.

Serena Williams falls at first hurdle

Tue, 29 May 2012 19:33:45 GMT

Tennis:Pre-tournament favourite and 13-times Grand Slam champion Serena Williams slumped to a shock 4-6 7-6 6-3 defeat against Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano in the first round of the French Open.

Western countries expel Syria envoys

Tue, 29 May 2012 18:46:22 GMT

Western powers expelled Syria's envoys today in outrage at a massacre of 108 people, almost half of them children, and peace envoy Kofi Annan urged president Bashar al-Assad to take bold steps to halt the bloodshed as "a tipping point" had been reached.

Victims' families 'need space'

Tue, 29 May 2012 18:46:21 GMT

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore has appealed for space for the families of a woman killed after a concert in Japan and her friend who was also sexually assaulted.

Teen's body found in NI quarry

Tue, 29 May 2012 17:27:40 GMT

A dead teenager has been found at a water-filled disused quarry in Northern Ireland.

Technology can help literacy - Quinn

Tue, 29 May 2012 16:24:13 GMT

A series of new reports highlight the importance of children’s motivation and self-confidence when it comes to the development of literacy.

Vatican leak investigation widens

Tue, 29 May 2012 16:24:13 GMT

A special commission of cardinals investigating the worst crisis in Pope Benedict's pontificate is hunting possible accomplices to his butler, held since his arrest in a 'safe room' in the Vatican police station.

Foley the unfortunate one to miss out

Tue, 29 May 2012 16:07:50 GMT

Soccer:Wolves defender Kevin Foley is expected to play against against a selection of local lower division players in Pistoia, Italy, this evening, depsite being dropped from the Euro 2012 squad this morning.

Facebook shares fall further

Tue, 29 May 2012 15:51:58 GMT

Shares of Facebook slid to a new low today at just above $30, extending their losing streak since a market debut on May 18th.

Irish heritage sites worth €700m

Tue, 29 May 2012 15:51:58 GMT

Irish heritage sites are worth about €700 million as tourist attractions, a study released today has found.

Californian sea lion born at Dublin Zoo

Tue, 29 May 2012 15:35:53 GMT

Dublin Zoo is celebrating the arrival of a male Californian sea lion pup, born to its mother Seanna last Tuesday morning.

Aung San Suu Kyi starts world tour

Tue, 29 May 2012 15:35:53 GMT

For 24 years, Aung San Suu Kyi was either under house arrest or too fearful that if she left Burma, the government would never let her return.

Murdoch's a 'great man' - Gove

Tue, 29 May 2012 15:35:52 GMT

The relationship between the press and politicians is not always in the public interest, British education secretary Michael Gove said today.

Bruton says debate talk 'a sideshow'

Tue, 29 May 2012 15:35:52 GMT

Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s decision not to partake in any televised debate during the referendum campaign has been defended by Minister for Jobs and Enterprise Richard Bruton.

Parents held over UK fire deaths

Tue, 29 May 2012 15:35:51 GMT

The parents of six children killed in an arson attack on their home have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

GAA unveils jewellery collection

Tue, 29 May 2012 15:19:50 GMT

A jewellery collection offering a “chic” alternative to GAA jerseys was launched in Croke Park, Dublin today.

John McAreavey 'logged' as suspect in his wife's murder

Tue, 29 May 2012 15:19:50 GMT

The husband of murdered honeymooner Michaela McAreavey was described as a suspect in police logs in the hours after she was found dead, a court in Mauritius has heard.

Man held over Thomastown murder

Tue, 29 May 2012 14:47:52 GMT

Gardaí investigating the murder of 51-year-old Siobhan Stapleton in Kilkenny last Friday arrested a man in his 30s this afternoon.

Schmeichel replaces Sorensen for Denmark

Tue, 29 May 2012 14:15:03 GMT

Soccer:Stoke City goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen has been ruled out of Denmark’s squad for Euro 2012 because of a back injury sustained in a friendly against Brazil on Saturday.

Ganley expects tight treaty vote

Tue, 29 May 2012 14:15:03 GMT

Taoiseach Enda Kenny “couldn’t negotiate his way out a wet paper-bag”, anti-fiscal treaty campaigner Declan Ganley has said.

Opec output at 2008 high

Tue, 29 May 2012 13:42:53 GMT

Opec output in May has hit its highest since 2008 as Saudi Arabia maintained high production rates despite a drop in prices and Iranian shipments did not fall substantially further ahead of an EU embargo, a survey found today.

Bilic makes final cut in Croatia squad

Tue, 29 May 2012 13:42:52 GMT

Soccer:Croatia manager Slaven Bilic has dropped injured defender Dejan Lovren and left out three others in naming a 23-man squad on Tuesday for the European Championship.

May denies Madeleine claims

Tue, 29 May 2012 13:42:52 GMT

Theresa May today denied claims that News International pressured her into launching a fresh inquiry into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

Egyptian candidate's HQ torched

Tue, 29 May 2012 13:26:31 GMT

An arson attack on the headquarters of one of the two candidates in Egypt's presidential election has marred campaigning for the second round in a vote that has polarised the nation with the choice of anIslamist or Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister.