South Africa’s Steinhoff International — which owns the Dealz-Poundland stores in Ireland — plans to sell almost 7.5bn rand (€509m) of shares in South African financial services firm PSG Group, the latest in a line of disposals aimed at shoring up the retail group’s battered balance sheet.

Demand for the new iPhone helped boost electrical goods retailer Dixons-Carphone’s sales in Ireland by 12% over the Christmas trading period.

In a series of articles across 2017, the Irish Examiner revealed serious concerns about the working environment within the Air Corps — matters that have seen allegations of a deliberate cover-up, of victimisation of whistleblowers, and of a lackadaisical attitude towards health and safety that has put lives at risk, writes Joe Leogue.

There is likely to be an increasing number of lone wolf, low-tech terror attacks in Europe in 2018 and we may be underestimating the danger of such an attack happening in Ireland.

Let's start with the good news about a public health risk that’s serious but which rarely features in media reporting: the number of anabolic steroids seized in Ireland during the first eight months of this year was up by 400% on the figure for the same period in 2016.

Electrical goods group Dixons-Carphone is still looking for a buyer for its iD Mobile arm in Ireland after seeing core group sales and profits slump in the first half of its financial year.

Residents of Sherkin Island off the Cork coast have been without a landline phone service since Storm Ophelia — and have now been rebuffed after calling on the Government to consider laying broadband cable instead.

Five of the country’s main stockbroking firms are set to share nearly €159m from the sale of the Irish Stock Exchange (ISE).

The two parties of the last government — Fine Gael and Labour — posted a combined deficit of almost €3m last year, despite receiving funding of almost €8m from taxpayers, the Irish Examiner can reveal.

Britain’s banks all avoided bills for more capital in annual stress tests for the first time since 2014, but the Bank of England warned of pain ahead if there is no Brexit deal and said the country’s current account deficit posed a big risk.

As the country teeters on the precipice of a snap election over the mistreatment of whistleblower Maurice McCabe, another man who spoke up about wrongs within the public service is facing the sack from the Defence Forces — without a whisper from the majority of the political class.

Collapsed airline Monarch has won an appeal against a court decision that had stripped it of rights over valuable airport slots, in a boost to administrators who are hoping to recover money for creditors.

Pre-tax profits at department store retailer Michael Guiney — better known as Guineys — has climbed to €2.45m.

A record level of global investors currently think shares are overvalued, while an increased amount of them are taking more risks with their investment choices than before, a survey shows, writes Geoff Percival.

Construction activity grew at its slowest level for 31 months in October, with new orders and staff hiring also easing.

IAG — the owner of Aer Lingus, British Airways, and Iberia — is interested in the London Gatwick slots of failed airline Monarch after it collapsed last week, IAG chief executive Willie Walsh said, adding that the reduction of capacity was good for the industry.

A Polish man who works as a chef in Galway did not understand the court poor box procedure in Kerry — and paid his €500 contribution directly to a charity of his own choice, Killarney District Court heard.

Ryanair remains interested in acquiring certain assets of broke carrier Air Berlin — including landing slots at major German airports — but has vowed to continue growing strongly in Germany whether or not it is successful.

Rovio Entertainment — the Finnish company behind the Angry Birds mobile games phenomenon — is planning an IPO as early as next month which could value the company at around $2bn (€1.7bn).

Professional and legal fees related to the special liquidation of IBRC — the Anglo Irish Bancorp and Irish Nationwide holding group — have reached over €214.5m.

A Cork city suburban bar and off-licence, on a site of 0.3 of an acre, is up for sale in an evolving community, close to a new multi-million euro public library, a shopping centre with Super Valu, the progressive and highly-regarded Terence McSwiney Community College — and Apple’s European HQ, employing thousands.

More than 60% of items produced annually by the fashion industry end up on landfill within a year, but now the High Street is taking the lead in promoting eco-friendly fashions. Carolyn Moore looks at some of the brands —some even getting the green light from Beauty and the Beast star Emma Watson — which are aiming at sustainability.

Ireland has been ranked third — ahead of the likes of the US, Britain and France — in a league table of the best and most effectively marketed global tourist destinations.

A motorist who failed his driving test for the 15th time was successful in his appeal against the latest failed test — which means that a free re-rest was ordered.

Teva Pharmaceuticals — the generics drug giant and maker of Sudocrem — will close one of two laboratories in Dundalk but major manufacturing plants in Waterford and at Baldoyle in Dublin appear safe amid a worldwide cost-cutting review.

Last Tuesday, the members of Muirfield Golf Club — the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which owns and runs the course — voted overwhelmingly to allow lady golfers to join the oldest recorded golf club in the world.

Cork comes bottom of eight regions nationally for labour participation — in an economic study released by Ibec — but scores the highest in the country for the most IDA-supported jobs.

Global online ticketing firm Eventbrite has cemented its place as one of Europe’s largest ticketing providers following the purchase of Dutch company Ticketscript — which could mean expansion at its Cork base in the future.

The annual awards of Cork Business Association — which is celebrating its 60th birthday in 2017— has heard rousing calls for Cork people to embrace what they have in their city if it is to thrive to its full potential.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has ruled out any chance of a bilateral Brexit deal between Ireland and Britain — despite a House of Lords report warning this country faces becoming the “collateral damage” of the UK’s break from Europe unless the drastic action is taken.

The Central Bank has fined Springboard Mortgages — a unit of Permanent TSB Group — €4.5m for overcharging customers for their tracker mortgages.

Two of Ireland’s largest food companies — Kerry Group and Glanbia — have seen an analyst upgrade on the back of strong quarterly updates showing they are weathering currency headwinds.

Providence Resources — the Tony O’Reilly Jr-led exploration company — has named former Tullow Oil senior executive Pat Plunkett as its chairman.

Petrel Resources — the Irish AIM-listed exploration firm — has reported a near 28% narrowing in first-half losses.