Pope Francis proclaimed his predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints in front of more than 500,000 pilgrims, hailing both as courageous men who withstood the tragedies of the 20th century.

The US fund Lone Star has acquired the bulk of Anglo Irish Bank’s €7bn UK loan book sold by the special liquidators for IBRC.

A HIGH-TECH robotic suit similar to those featured in the “Iron Man” movies just got one step closer to becoming a reality.

DARIAK, absent since finishing fourth behind Indian Pace in the Galway Hurdle, stormed away with the Brandon Hotel Handicap Hurdle at Tralee yesterday.

JOHN MURPHY, enjoying a break in Italy, missed seeing his Royal Rhythm easily beat hot-pot Salt Lake in the ladbrokes.com Maiden Hurdle at Limerick yesterday.

South Africa was due to unveil the largest single telescope in the southern hemisphere today at a ceremony attended by President Thabo Mbeki and scientists from around the world.

Model Caprice has joined yet another cast of unlikely celebrities, on US reality TV show The Surreal Life.