DESPITE their name, RIP cigarettes are designed to save lives.

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny this week has an opportunity to turn his famed ability to connect with ordinary citizens to connect with the country most likely to decide our future — Germany.

THE prospect of technocrat-led governments in both Greece and Italy calmed markets but volatility is expected to return next week as both regimes attempt to push through austerity measures.

THE EU economy is moving into dangerous territory with growth slowing to stagnation and a new recession looming large, according to the latest forecast.

KEVIN CARDIFF, the Government’s controversial nomination to the European Court of Auditors, has been described as a very credible appointment by the outgoing Irish auditor, Eoin O’Shea.

AUDITORS discovered there was €5.7 billion missing from the EU’s accounts in what was described as a “significant error” by Ireland’s outgoing member of the court of auditors.

TECHNICAL discussions are ongoing with the European Commission and the European Central Bank to explore ways of reducing the cost of winding up Anglo Irish Bank.

EU GOVERNMENTS should not rely on treaty change to help save the euro, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso warned in Brussels last night.

THE euro crisis intensified last night as the EU’s rescue fund found it difficult to raise €3bn on the markets for Ireland and had to pay its highest rate so far for the money — the cost of which will be passed on to Ireland.

ALL eyes will be on Athens this evening as politicians warn that the future of the country is at stake and the health of other eurozone countries is in danger.