Norway is seeking greater leeway to restrict foreign ownership of its offshore fields, a move seen to be potentially targeting a growing Russian interest in its resources.

Drinks giant Diageo has announced a net growth in sales of 5% for the year to end June but said its Irish operations continued to be challenging with Guinness sales here down 5%.

One of the world’s biggest tobacco companies today pledged €134m towards European efforts to smash the illegal trade in cigarettes.

THE European Union yesterday declared the spread of bird flu from Asia into the EU a “global threat” requiring international co-operation.

British public support for the war in Iraq has dropped to 43%, from 61% last May at the end of that war, according to a poll released tonight.