THE Irish Food Safety Authority is testing supermarket products for illegal genetically modified rice that has turned up in other EU countries.

NEW rules aimed at preventing political interference in bank mergers and takeovers in the EU have been proposed by Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy.

THE European Union and China have agreed to begin new negotiations on trade and energy that will not be directly dependent on China delivering progress on human rights issues.

BURMA’S military junta experienced the European Union’s new policy of sanctions and dialogue at the Asian-EU (ASEM) summit in Helsinki yesterday.

PEOPLE on social welfare are to be given more free electricity in a bid to offset the 20% hike in bills from next year, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern announced yesterday.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern said he hopes Mary Harney will remain as Health Minister and in that event he will not reshuffle his Cabinet.

THE Irish prison population could be significantly reduced if the EU rules that non-nationals can be sent back to their home country to await trial.

EU FOREIGN ministers yesterday appealed for an immediate end to hostilities in the Middle East, going a step further than the weekend statement from the G8 on the situation.

IRELAND could have 25 types of divorce if an EU proposal unveiled yesterday becomes law.

ROAMING costs will be slashed by up to 70% and travellers will be able to check mobile phone costs before they call under proposals unveiled by the European Commission yesterday.