A fascinating bit of table quiz trivia for years to come, the grandniece of former Taoiseach Charles Haughey, Siobhan, has been at the Olympics.

Starbucks — the world’s largest coffee-shop chain — has reported third-quarter revenue that missed analysts’ estimates after same-store sales growth slowed in the Americas, its biggest region.

DOTTED around rooms, houseplants are pretty to look at and add colour and charm — but their credentials don’t end there. 

The number of people who have been exonerated from their criminal convictions in the US hit a record high in 2015, due largely to district attorneys in places such as Houston, Dallas, and Brooklyn, New York, setting up units to review cases where the legal system may have acted unjustly, a report has found.

Barclay Oudersluys had competed in triathlons and ultramarathons but he wanted to do something bigger, so the Michigan native took a cue from his favourite movie.

Britain: A vicar stopped from going in to a wine bar on Easter Sunday because he was wearing his trademark sandals hopes to return because they “do great mojitos”.

US producer prices fell in February for a fourth straight month, pointing to tame inflation that could argue against an anticipated June interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve.

People with good neighbours and strong community ties are less likely to suffer heart attacks, new research suggests.

Women are more likely than men to be controlling and aggressive relationship "terrorists", say psychologists.

A newly discovered rocky planet may be the most Earth-like yet found in another solar system, scientists believe.

MINE’S a flat white. Plus a couple of squares of dark chocolate and a few cups of Earl Grey tea.

The city of Detroit has gone to court in an attempt to be declared bankrupt, despite protests from workers and pension funds.

The US army is working to limit its dependence on GPS by developing the next generation of navigation technology, the director of the Pentagon’s research agency said.

Yesterday was a mixed day on European markets as stocks treaded water on light volumes. US stocks opened slightly higher as post-election jitters and fears of a fiscal cliff abated on news that consumer sentiment, as measured by the University of Michigan/Thompson Reuters, was at a five-year high in November. The Iseq index finished up 3.8 points at 3,294.57.

Facebook has lost half its value since its May initial public offering, tumbling to a record low after the lifting of restrictions on share sales by its biggest investors.

Irish crews make up nine of the 133 overseas boats in a record entry of 499 crews at this year’s Henley Royal Regatta, beginning today.

Pfizer has reported first-quarter profit fell 19% after revenue from cholesterol pill Lipitor declined because of generic competition.

CADS: they’ll break your heart, shatter your confidence and cost you a fortune in gin, comfort food and snivelling late- night phone calls to friends in the wake of the inevitable break up.

NORMALLY the New York summer lingers like an unwanted late-night party straggler until just after the US Open champions are crowned in Queens.

US STOCKS rose yesterday, capping a week of record swings for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, as an increase in retail sales tempered concern the economy is slowing.

Washington: Confidence among US consumers plunged in August to the lowest level since May 1980, adding to concern that weak employment gains and volatility in the stock market will prompt households to retrench.

The wildest week in Wall Street history ended with a second day of gains.

CONSUMERS became increasingly worried last month as they came to terms with rising interest rates and a poorer economic outlook.

The very technology that the killer known as the Unabomber railed against during his murderous spree was used to help some of his victims.

WORKERS discovered new pools of radioactive water leaking from Japan’s crippled nuclear complex as emergency crews struggled to pump out hundreds of tonnes of contaminated water and bring the plant back under control.

What could Obama possibly know of struggle, of breaking down boundaries? Does he even realise what it took for players like Canty to topple Kerry?

CONCUSSION ruled Brett Favre out of his own swansong as his 20-year career in the NFL came to an end yesterday.

CHEMICALS used to improve cleanliness may be harming the health of children and adults, research suggests.

EARLIER this week Nielson released a report revealing how Americans spend their time online has changed dramatically over the past 12 months.

CHEAP hot dogs, subsidised travel and discounted tickets.

Persistent fears over the US economy sparked a sell-off on world stock markets today as yesterday’s cheer over the end of America’s recession proved short-lived.

MORE than €60 million will be paid out to patients who have suffered from serious medical errors in the health service this year – a massive rise which almost equals the total figure over the last five years.

US stocks fell sharply today after investors were disappointed by media reports that the Reuters/University of Michigan index of consumer sentiment fell short of expectations for the first part of August.

SAYING the new H1N1 virus is “unstoppable”, the World Health Organisation (WHO) gave drugmakers a full go-ahead to manufacture vaccines against the pandemic influenza strain yesterday and said healthcare workers should be the first to get one.

OIL prices dropped nearly $1 to below $60 a barrel yesterday.

Investors sent Washington a message this week: They won’t commit to stocks until the government commits to a plan.

US stocks finished another volatile session mixed today, as gains in the energy, utilities and materials sectors offset some of Wall Street’s angst over the fate of Lehman Brothers.

Wall Street tumbled today after the US government said personal incomes fell last month by the largest amount in nearly three years while consumer spending slowed.

Wall Street ended a volatile week with a moderate gain today after better-than-expected economic data placated a market pummelled a day earlier by concerns about housing and the financial sector.

Wall Street ended a turbulent week with a sharp gain today after government readings on inflation and a drop in oil prices eased worries about the effect of rising prices on consumers.

Wall Street advanced in uneven trading today after a drop in oil prices and an unexpected gain in new home sales encouraged investors to put money back into the market.

Wall Street pulled off its lows to finish narrowly mixed today as investors squared concerns about rising oil prices with a surprise jump in home construction. The major indexes ended the week with big gains.