The country’s top university plans to rely on more funding from foreign and online students to reduce its reliance on public funding, a part of its €600m five-year strategy.

More than €30m is being invested in high-end research equipment as Ireland sets its sights on top international science awards.

Nestlé, the world’s biggest food group, is closing in on a deal to buy Pfizer’s infant nutrition business for up to $10bn (€7.6bn) to boost its business in China and extend its lead in the world of formula milk for babies, sources familiar with the matter said yesterday.