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Irish adventurers Pat Falvey, Jonathan Bradshaw, Shaun Menzies, Dr Clare O'Leary and the group's mascot Freddy T Bear who reached the southern tip of the earth's axis at 7.28pm Irish time yesterday

Salary rises approved for heads of commercial State firms
The Government has sanctioned significant pay increases for chief executives of commercial State bodies.
Paisley assured by Brown over North-UK travel rules
Gordon Brown has assured the Rev Ian Paisley that British citizens travelling between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom will not be subject to passport controls as a result of proposed new electronic borders.
Sheriff seizes items from solicitors' homes in Dublin
The Dublin city sheriff has seized items ranging from a 50-inch plasma-screen television to cases of French wine from solicitors Thomas Byrne and Michael Lynn in two raids on their properties in Dublin in recent days.

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Ireland

Scheme to house young offenders at Thornton Hall
The Government is planning to use the new Thornton Hall prison to accommodate young offenders who are still legally children, in breach of an international treaty which prohibits the jailing of juveniles in adult places of detention. p
Military investigation into video of Irish soldiers dancing while armed
Military police have launched an investigation into the appearance of a video on the internet which appears to show members of the Defence Forces carrying rifles while dancing to a song. p
Young scientists converge on RDS
More than 1,100 student researchers will descend on the RDS in Dublin this morning as the annual BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition gets under way. p
Greens may now opt for straight Yes or No vote on Lisbon Treaty
The so-called "technical resolution" for the Green Party convention to decide policy on the Lisbon Treaty for EU reform on January 19th is now in doubt and the party may opt for a straightforward Yes or No vote. p
Man's face and head reconstructed from skull in effort to identify him
The Dublin county coroner's office has issued pictures of a reconstructed human head in an effort to identify a man whose skull was picked up by a fishing trawler off Lambay Island near Balbriggan, Co Dublin, almost two years ago p
Court told man flattened brother's home
A Co Kildare man had completed the demolition of his brother's home despite an order from the High Court, Mr Justice John Hedigan was told yesterday. p
Life of actor Peter Caffrey recalled at funeral Mass
Actor Paul Bennett said yesterday that what people remembered most about Peter Caffrey was "the laughing, the twinkle in the eye, the wit, devilment at parties . . . there were always parties when Peter was around". p
No EPA guidelines on disposal of broken CFL bulbs
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says it has not been asked to prepare guidelines on handling broken low-energy light bulbs, despite the issuing of strict warning from the British department of the environment in relation to their disposal. p

World

Sarkozy hints at marriage but won't name date
FRANCE: French president Nicolas Sarkozy denies he has flaunted his private life to distract attention from France's economic difficulties, writes Lara Marlowe in Paris. p
Irish landlord warned not to close recently bought Berlin theatres
GERMANY: One of Berlin's oldest theatres has warned its new landlord, Ireland's Ballymore Properties, not to try and close the house, writes Derek Scally in Berlin. p
Bhutto's son says he is not ready to lead political party
UK: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the teenage son of Benazir Bhutto, said yesterday he planned to pursue his mother's legacy but stressed he wanted to finish his studies first and pleaded to be left in peace by the media. p
Brown moves to allay fears of economic turbulence ahead
British prime minister Gordon Brown and chancellor of the exchequer Alistair Darling have assured Britons that the UK is "better placed than most" countries to survive financial turbulence across the globe in the coming year, writes Frank Millar , London Editor. p
Aircraft mice at centre of US-Sino incident
CHINA: Some unwanted stowaways found themselves embroiled in the heart of a simmering trade row between China and the United States recently when eight mice, some dead, some alive, were found on a flight to Beijing from Washington DC, writes Clifford Coonan in Beijing. p

Finance

Intel outlines change in strategy
Intel chief executive Paul Otellini has unveiled advanced microchips for portable gadgets and home electronics, eyeing a new growth opportunity as its main computer processor market matures p
O'Brien boosts IN&M stake to 15.37%
Telecoms tycoon Denis O'Brien has boosted his stake in rival Sir Anthony O'Reilly's Independent News & Media (IN&M) to more than 15 per cent, writes Barry O'Halloran . p
US fund manager buys €112m stake in Kingspan
One of the world's biggest fund managers has snapped up a €112 million stake in Irish building materials group, Kingspan, writes Barry O'Halloran . p

Sport

ICC concede Indian demand over umpire
India have yet to taste success against Australia in this painful series, but they certainly recorded a convincing win over the International Cricket Council (ICC) yesterday and as a result have agreed to continue the tour. p
Sunderland expected to make third bid for Hunt
Transfer news: Roy Keane will urge his chairman, Niall Quinn, to make a third bid for Reading's Stephen Hunt this week after the club had a second offer of €4 million turned down for the Irish midfielder. p