STRYKER, the US multinational which makes surgical orthopaedic implants, yesterday announced it is to invest €30 million in its Limerick facility to ensure it can cope with the huge international demand for cobalt knees.

WHILE Pope John Paul held many cherished memories of his visit to Limerick in 1979, workers in a city factory yesterday recalled how the Holy Father thanked their skills some years later for helping him maintain his hectic travel schedule.

THE boundaries of Limerick will have be extended to allow the mid-west capital develop into a prosperous gateway city.

Pfizer has said it proposed partner Pharmacia will supply additional information about their planned merger to the European Commission, which earlier said it stopped the clock on its probe of the deal to gather additional facts.