Two men have been charged in connection with an attack in Cobh, Co Cork this morning, which left a garda hospitalised with extensive injuries.

The IRA says only the direct involvement of the British Prime Minister can resolve the impasse over decommissioning.

The Government is urging motorists to boycott petrol stations who have not passed on a cut in prices that was due to come into force at the strike of midnight on New Year's Eve.

The Taoiseach has welcomed the Pope's World Day of Peace message for the New Year.

An Irish nun has been killed in a cathedral on a Caribbean island in an attack by two men who claim they were sent by God to combat corruption in the Catholic Church.

Scientists in the US says that a quarter of all non-fatal heart attacks in people under-45 in the are down to cocaine use.

A fruit-picker charged with murder after 15 backpackers died in a hostel blaze has appeared in court in Australia.

West Ham manager Harry Redknapp was left awestruck by Manchester United's display in a 3-1 New Year's Day defeat for the Irons at Old Trafford.

Janet Jackson's estranged husband has filed a £7m lawsuit against the singer.

The Trocadero Centre in central London has been sealed off after two armed men overpowered security guards.

Security guards said the armed siege at London's Trocadero Centre was over, as staff arrived for work as usual.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is taking part in more talks at the White House in what is seen as a last-ditch attempt at a breakthrough before the end of Clinton's term in office.

Doctors treating victims of the fire which swept through a New Year party in the Netherlands are losing hope of saving some of the injured.

A Taiwanese boat has arrived in the Chinese port of Xiamen on the first legal and direct crossing from Taiwan in more than 50 years.

Napster is suing an online retailer for using its logo on T-shirts and baseball caps.

Anne Robinson's cruel catchphrase on The Weakest Link is proving to be a fashion hit by gracing the year's best-selling T-shirt.

Sonia O'Sullivan is joining a campaign to encourage Irish people to eat their greens today.

The Government's estimate that 270,000 jobs will be created over the next six years must be matched by a coherent immigration policy, according to IBEC.

Opposition leaders in Iraq say that Saddam Hussein has been rushed to hospital after suffering a "severe stroke".

Lee Westwood has held off the challenge of the European Solheim Cup team to win the Golf Writers' Trophy for 2000.

Charlton boss Alan Curbishley was delighted with his side's New Year victory over Arsenal at The Valley - a second win in three days for the Addicks after the Boxing Day thrashing at West Ham.

Manchester United welcomed in the New Year with an awesome display against West Ham - and one which has presented manager Sir Alex Ferguson with a problem to ponder for the months ahead.

The funeral of 72- year - old Sister Theresa Egan is expected to take place on the island of Saint Lucia next Saturday.

Irish people are more conscious of the Euro now than they were 12 months ago, according to the Euro changeover board

The Minister for Public Entreprise, Mary O'Rourke, has announced details to select an operator for Dublin's first light rail lines which will open in 2003.

The Irish Naval Service carried out searches of over a thousand trawlers last year as part of the regular patrol of Irish waters.

An Israeli civilian has been shot and wounded while working on a fence on the border with Lebanon.

At least 26 people have been injured in a bus crash outside Paris.

People in receipt of one-parent family payments will be allowed to retain up to 50% of any maintenance received from early this year, the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs has announced.

The Irish Cancer Society has today announced a 40% increase in its New Year cancer research grants to Irish scientists.

The Government is confirming that it is blocking the construction of new hyper-markets by the big chain stores.

Thousands of residents on Achill island, Co Mayo have been left without water for the past five days.

A woman has been killed and a number of other people are feared injured after several cars fell over cliffs following a landslide in North Wales.

Dissident Ulster Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson has responded to the IRA's New Year statement by warning that his party will withdraw from the Executive if there is no movement on the issue soon.

The RUC is continuing to question a teenager about the murder of a gay man in Belfast over the weekend.

Fine Gael has accused the government of being unable to implement its own plan on road safety after a year in which the accident death toll was up for the first time in three years.

Juan Pablo Angel looks set to complete his £9.5m move to Aston Villa after securing a work permit.

Tonight's eircom League Premier Division clash between St Patrick's Athletic and Bohemians has been postponed after Bohemians lodged an appeal against the re-fixing of the game.

Doctors treating injured boxer Paul Ingle said he had attempted to speak for the first time since suffering life-threatening injuries in the ring.

Tesco Ireland has confirmed that it is to push ahead with a £100m investment here despite the Government's decision to limit the size of supermarkets.

A father and son have appeared in court in Co Cork again today in connection with an attack which left a Garda hospitalized with multiple injuries.

Dean Gallagher made a dream comeback to the saddle when riding West End Dancer to victory at Folkestone.

The Southern Health Board is investigating the use of bovine-based materials in health products administered to patients in what could be a new BSE scare.

A bid by UFF leader Johnny Adair to regain his release from prison will be challenged by the British Government tomorrow at a private hearing.

Former Northern Ireland international Nigel Worthington has been appointed manager of First Division Norwich on a two-and-a-half year contract.

An elderly man in Co Monaghan has become the first person to be killed on the roads this year.

Roscommon Co Council has confirmed that three of its officials are under investigation for breaking planning regulations.

The two men, accused of hacking an Irish nun to death in Saint Lucia, are expected to be charged with murder and attempted murder, according to police.

A plan to move 10,000 civil servants out of Dublin could be abandoned by the Government because of fears of a political backlash ahead of the next election.

There is no sign of a breakthrough in the search for a Middle East peace deal, despite a second round of talks between Bill Clinton and Yasser Arafat.

A tenth person has died as a result of injuries received at a New Year's party in The Netherlands.

The Central Bank of Ireland is dismissing suggestions that Europe will be flooded with counterfeit notes next January.

A plan has reportedly been drawn up to run the Leaving Certificate exams without striking ASTI teachers, as the bitter row looks set to escalate.

Two people have been shot in Limerick.

The North’s sentence review committee will begin an oral hearing today on whether the notorious loyalist Johnny Adair should be released from prison.

Two pipe bombs were made safe last night, after being discovered in the grounds of a church in Belfast.

The mass slaughter of Irish cattle at risk from carrying BSE is just days away.

Robbie Fowler is recovering after being attacked during a night out in Liverpool city centre.

Padraig Harrington, the highest-ranked European in the Accenture World Matchplay Championship, failed to survive the opening round for the second year running in Melbourne today.

Wolves are expected to unveil former Southampton boss Dave Jones as their new manager on Wednesday morning.

England captain Martin Johnson will have an appeal against his 35-day ban for foul play heard by a three-man panel on Thursday.

The funerals of three young victims of the big freeze will take place in Monaghan and Dublin today.

The surge in the euro continues today.

Irish golfer Padraig Harrington, the highest ranked European in the Accenture world match play championship, has failed to survive the opening round for the second year running in Melbourne.

An explosion has destroyed the entrance to the offices of the Israeli national airline El Al in the Swiss city of Zurich.

At least 11 people have been killed when a train ploughed into a van on a level crossing in southeastern Spain.

Sheffield Wednesday striker Gilles de Bilde has returned to Hillsborough after a three-month loan spell at Aston Villa.

Bill Clinton is refusing to abandon the Middle East peace effort, and is planning further talks with Palestinian, Israeli and Arab leaders.

At least nine people are now believed to have died after a train hit a van on a level crossing in Southeastern Spain.

Bars across the country have started cutting the price of a pint. Publicans say they are passing on the one per cent reduction in VAT onto drinkers.

Five young children have been burned to death after a thatched room caught fire in an Indian village.

There has been a spate of minor accidents across the west and midlands this morning as ice and frost returned.

The conviction of Jack Lyons, one of the businessmen who stood trial over the Guinness share-fixing affair, has been referred to the Court of Appeal in the UK

The RUC Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan may be called as a key witness at a private hearing into the continued imprisonment of the loyalist Johnny Adair.

Two men have been arrested in connection with last night’s shooting in Limerick.

Gavin Dykes has shocked Finn Harps by resigning from the Donegal club.

The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland has accused the Minister for Education of being confrontational.

Labour party TD Eamon Gilmore says a shortage of planners is causing a conflict of interest in local authorities.

Shoppers are being encouraged to make complaints to the Director of Consumer Affairs, if they find that recent VAT reductions are not being passed on.

Speculation is increasing that Saddam Hussein may be dead.

The United Nations is close to completing the deployment of more than 4,000 peacekeepers and support staff to monitor a ceasefire between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Russia is reported to be moving tactical nuclear weapons into a military base in Eastern Europe for the first time since the Cold War.

Civil rights groups are to meet in Washington to discuss the alleged denial of blacks' voting rights during the US presidential election.

Two men in Los Angeles have been jailed for two years after they sent 50 million e-mails as part of a scam which almost brought the largest internet providers to a standstill.

The Minister for Justice, John O’Donoghue, has just published new rules to govern private security, including door security at bars and nightclubs.

One man has died following a car accident at Ballinea, Mullingar, Co Westmeath.

Fulham captain Chris Coleman has sustained serious leg injuries in a car crash.

Spain and Portugal are shaping up to be the most popular destinations for Irish holiday makers this year.

The two young cousins, who drowned after falling through ice on Lake Hollywood in County Monaghan, were buried in the same grave.

Yahoo has pledged to stop carrying online auctions of Nazi artefacts and other hate-related materials after some users complained that such items promote hate and violence.

A suicide bomber walked into a Turkish police station and detonated explosives strapped to his body, killing himself and injuring at least four officers and a civilian.

Eleven members of a family have been killed after fire gutted their home in southern Delaware.

Iraqi officials say reports of the demise of Saddam Hussein are silly.

Aberdeen have ruled out any possible bid to lure Sir Alex Ferguson back to Pittodrie.

Darren Anderton has followed in the footsteps of England and Tottenham team-mate Sol Campbell by announcing he wants to stay at White Hart Lane.

Investment into this country has seen a significant swing into regions outside Dublin, according to the Industrial Development Agency.

Yasser Arafat has reportedly accepted Bill Clinton's formula for a negotiated settlement with Israel.

The 900-year-old prophecies of an Irish saint are becoming popular reading among those who fear the Armageddon is near.

Irish international John McWeeney will return to the Leinster line-up for the first time since a summer shoulder operation for the game against Munster in Cork next Friday night.