Two sailors and their dogs have been rescued by the US Navy after more than five months lost at sea in the vast Pacific Ocean.

Building materials firm CRH has said it expects to record a 23% rise in its pre-tax profits for 2006.

Building materials group CRH has announced its biggest-ever transaction - its US subsidiary Oldcastle Materials has reached agreement to purchase Ashland Paving And Construction (APAC) for $1.3bn (€1.01bn).

SHARES in Dublin continued to surge ahead yesterday led by gains in CRH and the financials. The ISEQ index finished the day up 47.41 points at 7491.21.

Authorities in the US have said they believe the Washington-area sniper might be trying to communicate with them through a message left at the scene of the latest shooting in Virginia.