If Europe wants its mobile networks to be as advanced as those in the US, further mergers are necessary among wireless operators, said Ronan Dunne, the chief executive of Telefonica SA’s O2 unit.

The latest on the Graham Dwyer trial, Zyan Malik leaves One Direction, the lady who is about to become Ireland’s oldest ever person and Celine Dion discussing her husband’s cancer battle are all part of our evening briefing on the latest and most read content on irishexaminer.com today.   

A survival plan for Eircom is expected to be approved at creditors’ meetings today.

Billionaire Li Ka-shing’s Hutchison Whampoa Ltd made a bid of about €2bn for Eircom Group, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Share prices closed the morning lower, pressured by Wall Street's overnight weakness following weak US retail sales data, dealers said.