Seven Days

The week that was at a glance

Bright idea?

Minister for the Environment John Gormley announced his "carbon budget" this week. In future, cars will be taxed solely on their emissions, and light bulbs as we know them will be switched off forever. That latter measure could lead to a trade in smuggled light bulbs if spotlights and dimmer switches can't take the new energy-efficient bulbs. It will save the public €185 million a year, the Minister promised. Perhaps because people will be sitting in their new kitchen extensions in the dark.

Dear, oh dear  

If you are going to fake your disappearance, let your wife declare you dead and claim the insurance money, it's never a good idea to have your picture taken for a website promoting the country you've moved to. John Darwin and his wife Anne are alleged to have ignored this golden rule. Darwin disappeared six years ago during a canoeing trip, but this week turned himself in to police. He has been arrested on suspicion of fraud. None of his family knew he was still alive.

"Now I'll be famous" - On the note written by 19-year-old Robert Hawkins before he killed eight people, and then himself, in an Omaha mall.

We now know:

Iran halted its nuclear programme four years ago, according to a US intelligence report

In his 1911 census return - now online - Eamon de Valera registered himself as 'Edward'

Irish passengers made more complaints against airlines in 2007 than any other European nationality

 The numbers

€100,000 The drop in price of new Dublin 15 apartments compared with 2006 launch

48 The jail sentence, in days, for Keifer Sutherland after he was found guilty of drink driving

3 The number of restaurants in Dublin's Powerscourt Centre that were closed due to cockroach infestation

© 2007 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times