Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin TD today announced that Allen-Vanguard Corporation, a Canadian company, is to undertake a significant R&D initiative at its Irish operation at Kilbrittain, Co Cork.

Warplanes dropped bombs on suspected Taliban fighters hiding in orchards in a major Afghan-Nato offensive that the alliance said killed more than 200 militants in southern Afghanistan. Four Canadian soldiers were killed.

Warplanes today dropped bombs on suspected Taliban fighters hiding in orchards and ground troops fired artillery in a major Afghan-Nato offensive that killed more than 200 militants in southern Afghanistan.