A 19th century sea wall is at risk of collapsing onto one of the west’s most popular beaches while the adjacent road continues to sink after being damaged in the recent storms.

Cork’s city manager has hit back at the judge who criticised the city’s commercial rates policy, describing his comments as “unfair and unbalanced”.

The linking of the household charge to third-level grants raises important questions about what we expect from our local authorities and how they should be funded, writes Aodh Quinlivan

China’s premier called for additional efforts to support growth yesterday, signalling Beijing’s willingness to take action after a recent series of economic indicators suggested that the world’s second-biggest economy will slow further in the second quarter.

Chambers Ireland has said that, while the most effective property tax collection mechanism must be employed, the funds raised must be "earmarked exclusively to fund local services".

BUSINESSES in Co Cork will not face an increase in commercial rates for the next four years.

Fine Gael's road safety spokesperson, Shane McEntee, has warned that the failure to fund measures to tackle dangerous roads is threatening lives.

Barack Obama will not commit more US troops to Afghanistan until he is convinced that its government can be a credible and effective partner, his top White House aide said.

RATES, refuse and water charges may have to increase in Cork next year if Central Government again cuts its funding to Ireland’s largest local authority.

The fire service could be thrown back to the pre-Celtic Tiger days of second-hand vehicles if the Government slashes funding, it was warned today.

The Dalai Lama’s envoys met Chinese officials today – the first talks between the two sides have since violent anti-government protests erupted in Tibet.

IT IS difficult for anyone — and that includes Health Minister Mary Harney and HSE chief Prof Brendan Drumm — to understand what has happened to the health service over the years.

China is to donate two pandas to a Hong Kong zoo to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the former British colony’s handover to Chinese rule.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today said he was delighted the Indian government planned to name a street in the capital New Delhi in honour of Eamon de Valera.

A NUMBER of elderly and disabled people have been refused grant aid for essential repairs, because they proceeded with work after Cork County Council was forced to suspend a scheme in 2003, due to a shortage of funding from Central Government.

British American Tobacco is to become the first foreign company to manufacture cigarettes in China, it announced today.

China increased its precautions against the twin health threats of Sars and bird flu today as it entered its peak travel period ahead of the Lunar New Year.

The Chambers of Commerce of Ireland (CCI) has today welcomed the introduction of service levies on new houses that are to be imposed by local authorities.

As Beijing today prepared to open a hastily-built 1,000-bed SARS hospital, villages around China’s capital were blocking roads in hopes of keeping out the virus.

THE Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, may have put his political future on the line when he introduced the concept of road users paying to enter London.

The Labour Party are welcoming Dublin Bus' decision to reduce a number of bus fares which had been increased over the sanctioned 9%.