The Los Angeles Galaxy have announced the signing of Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard as a designated player from July.

Tulisa is set to be quizzed by police after she was caught setting up an £800 cocaine deal.

Tobacco manufacturers and retailers have warned that new EU anti-smoking legislation will boost the illegal tobacco market and cost the State tens of millions of euro.

John Terry was today urged by hundreds of Chelsea fans to try to talk Roman Abramovich into giving Frank Lampard a new contract after revealing his own devastation at his team-mate’s impending departure.

Goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini looks set for a fresh start in America after Tottenham announced they have reached an agreement to sell the goalkeeper to Major League Soccer outfit the LA Galaxy.

With the focus almost exclusively surrounding David Beckham’s Major League Soccer farewell, the competition’s showpiece occasion has been comprehensively overshadowed this week.

If I was a hat wearer, I would certainly take my hat off to the scores of Irish companies present at the Royal Welsh Show.

MAJOR insurer Aviva is to close all of its Irish branches by June next year — a move which will cost over 1,200 jobs and leave just a handful of officials, one executive and a single call centre here.

MALCOLM GLADWELL’S damning profile of the relationship between American Football and brain injury, which he wrote for the New Yorker over two years ago, has stuck with me ever since.

IRISH smokers purchased 4.3 billion cigarettes from companies in the tobacco industry last year, new figures show.

A MAJOR western defence firm was upgrading military equipment for an elite Libyan security brigade just before the uprising against Muammar Gaddafi began, documents show, revealing how the West tried to foster ties with Gaddafi during his final years in power.

New Los Angeles Galaxy striker Robbie Keane remains “100% committed” to playing for the Republic of Ireland.

Robbie Keane last night revealed David Beckham had played a part in his move to Major League Soccer as he completed his transfer from Tottenham to the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The Los Angeles Galaxy have declined to confirm they are targeting a move for Tottenham’s Robbie Keane.

A MAJOR charity initiative to provide medical and financial aid to a small country devastated by poverty and disease was launched yesterday.

A MAJOR university in the US was locked down yesterday when three teenage girls attending a summer camp said they saw a man holding what looked like a gun on the Virginia Tech campus where a 2007 massacre left 33 people dead.

A MAJOR new report has recommended changes to existing legislation to allow 16-17-year-olds to seek or refuse medical treatment including contraception, surgery and mental health services without the need of parental consent.

A MAJOR rescue strategy has been launched to help an estimated 6,000 Europeans trapped in Libya to escape the country.

A MAJOR international air accident investigation is underway to establish why an aircraft crashed in heavy fog on its third landing attempt at Cork Airport yesterday, killing six of the 12 passengers on board.

TOBACCO firm PJ Carroll saw its pre-tax profits plunge from €10.1m to €4.8m last year as the number of cigarettes smoked in Ireland fell to 4.5 billion from 5.1bn.

A MAJOR US company which produced faulty artificial hips given to more than 93,000 people worldwide, including 3,500 Irish patients, has been heavily criticised after it insisted any refunds or covered repair surgery costs are dependent on the equipment being returned to the firm.

CRIMINAL gangs here are making about €3 million every week from the illegal cigarette trade, according to an Irish tobacco company.

BARCELONA last night confirmed Thierry Henry and Yaya Toure are to leave the club.

A MAJOR step towards creating a single research programme to supportinnovation and development in the country’s €25 billion-turnover food and drink industry was taken yesterday.

A MAJOR medical monitoring group has claimed 80,000 Europeans could die from swine flu in the coming months, naming Ireland as one of the EU’s hotspots for the deadly pandemic.

TOBACCO firm PJ Carroll saw its pre-tax profits increase 11% to €10.7 million last year despite falling cigarette sales.

A MAJOR operation has been launched to root out the widespread abuse of disabled parking permits in Cork city.

A MAJOR auctioneering body has expressed concerns about the possible exclusion of Irish property valuers from the State’s new toxic debt agency.

David Beckham admits he is unsure whether to remain in Major League Soccer with the Los Angeles Galaxy or to sign a permanent deal with AC Milan.

A MAJOR security alert at the Israeli embassy in Ballsbridge Dublin occurred yesterday following the discovery of suspect package containing a powder substance.

Former Fulham skipper Brian McBride has completed his move to Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire.

The girlfriend of a club doorman shot dead in front of her as she lay in bed exactly a year ago appealed today for help in snaring his killers.

Laurent Robert appears on the verge of leaving Derby as he has joined Major League Soccer side Toronto on trial.

David Beckham’s introduction to Major League Soccer suffered another setback as he was left out of the Los Angeles Galaxy team to face New England with a flare up of his ankle injury.

Former England captain David Beckham was unveiled as Major League Soccer’s first ’galactico’ today.

Los Angeles Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas sees no reason why David Beckham’s forthcoming move to America should preclude him from being selected for England – although he would prefer it if the midfielder was not picked too often.

A MAJOR split among the 12 Fianna Fáil members on Limerick County Council led to the snap resignation at the weekend of the group leader, Cllr Kevin Sheahan.

New England Revolution coach Steve Nicol has claimed he has held talks with former Liverpool team-mate Robbie Fowler about a move to Major League Soccer.

A MAJOR study has revealed that nearly 40,000 homes are expected to be built, or under construction, within the next five years in Co Cork.

A MAJOR investigation into delays in the investigation and prosecution of murder and rape cases in the Republic has come to some damning conclusions.

A MAJOR report to Government endorsing the work of the further education sector strengthens the case for it to be restructured, teachers have claimed.

A MAJOR construction company has submitted proposals for an estimated €120 million housing project in Co Cork.

A MAJOR report on the road safety record of EU member states accuses Ireland of making only “limited progress” in reducing the number of road fatalities since 2001.