As a rollercoaster week on the financial markets comes to an end, we appear to be right back where we started, writes Kyran Fitzgerald.

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

US Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush says it was ludicrous to describe his use of the term “anchor babies” as offensive to immigrants, saying his original comments referred more to Asians coming to the US to give birth.

Fifa boss Blatter presents himself as a champion of developing nations to deflect from shady, most likely criminal dealings, writes Ian Buruma.

Pope Francis has wrapped up his first trip to Asia by challenging Koreans, both North and the South, to reject the “mindset of suspicion and confrontation” that clouds their relations.

More than one in four children born here six years ago have at least one migrant parent, with childcare costs among the biggest issues facing their families.

Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen struck in the 78th minute to hand 10-man Belgium a 1-0 triumph over South Korea on Thursday in Curitiba.

There’s nothing more frustrating than being a size 10 in one shop, and finding you’re a 12 in the next. Rose Mary Roche explains why vanity sizing has become such a big issue.

It was a memorable afternoon for Irish hockey as both national sides produced quarter-final victories at the Champions Challenge I in Malaysia and Scotland yesterday.

Campaigners have claimed 24 Asian nationals jailed for cannabis cultivation in recent years are potential victims of human trafficking.

If you are a hairy diabetic who smokes and suffers from stomach cramps, blame your Neanderthal ancestry.

You might be forgiven for thinking that Finance Minister Michael Noonan is the most important man in your life this week.

The airline involved in a fatal crash in San Francisco earlier this month has abandoned its plans to sue a local TV station over the use of racially offensive names.

On CNN’s Connect the World programme on Mar 11, the day before the conclave opened, host Becky Anderson asked me a question about geographic blocs in the college of cardinals.

Black Africans are four times more likely to be out of work than white Irish-born citizens, it has emerged.

Tougher penalties and instant sackings for racist abuse, plus the introduction of the ‘Rooney rule’ to boost the numbers of black coaches, are part of a six-point plan put forward by the Professional Footballers’ Association to tackle discrimination.

The world’s tobacco merchants are down on Australia after the country’s highest court backed the toughest cigarette-labelling rules anywhere.

Dairy cattle grazed in Saharan Africa as early as 7,000 years ago, according to a study based on milk residue found on shards of pottery.

A picture posted on a popular Chinese message board has gone viral amid speculation that its three female subjects may have had plastic surgery to look the same.

Spain 4 South Korea 1

A gang of nine Asian men was yesterday found guilty of plying white girls as young as 13 with drink and drugs so they could “pass them around” and use them for sex.

The grievances that allowed al-Qaeda to grow still remain, says Rami Khouri

CHINESE scientists have genetically modified 300 cows to enable them to produce human-like breast milk.

China's Ding Junhui and Marco Fu of Hong Kong made history at Wembley today as they set up the first all-Asian final in the history of snooker's marquee tournaments.

Marco Fu produced a stunning comeback to see off Irishman Mark Allen and reach his first Wembley final.

THE fitness of Nicklas Bendtner has been the major topic of discussion ahead of Denmark’s decisive World Cup encounter against Japan tomorrow, with Morten Olsen conceding his star striker is again doubtful.

THE estimated time when whites will no longer make up the majority of Americans has been pushed back eight years — to 2050 — because the recession and stricter immigration policies have slowed the flow of foreigners into the US.

The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century pitched a swathe of Asia from India to China into near darkness today as millions gathered to watch the phenomenon.

A WHITE supremacist in Britain is facing years behind bars after being convicted of terrorism and explosives offences.

RYANAIR will wait for the Government to ask it to rescue Aer Lingus before it makes another bid for the airline.

More than 70 people from South East Asia have been charged in connection with a £15m (€18m) drug manufacturing operation in the North, police revealed today.

But taking pride in the sheer size of your country is increasingly anachronistic.

FOUR-IN-TEN black people in Ireland feel they have been discriminated against, according to a groundbreaking survey.

Nobody could accuse Indian golfer Jeev Milkha Singh of having had a dull year so far – and eventful was certainly the way to describe his opening 66 in the Irish Open today.

ASIANS have become a critical swing voter bloc in the US presidential election race, with rival parties courting them ahead of another intense White House contest.

WORLD number six Adam Scott will be looking to put a distinctly average season behind him this week when he attempts to win the Asian Tour’s flagship event, the Barclays Singapore Open, for an unprecedented third year in a row.

World number six Adam Scott will be looking to put a distinctly average season behind him this week when he attempts to win the Asian Tour’s flagship event, the Barclays Singapore Open, for an unprecedented third year in a row.

ALMOST one-in-five first-time buyers who purchased in the first half of the year were born outside the state.

Almost one-in-five first time buyers who purchased in the first half of the year were born outside the state, it emerged today.

Almost one-fifth of first-time house-buyers in the first half of this year were born outside the State, according to new research.

IF you see a black person walking down the street today, the chances are they were born here.

THERE are 2,143 Asians and 1,543 people of African descent living in Cork city, while Midleton has the largest number of foreign nationals of any town in the county.

Some members of the Asian community in Uganda’s capital Kampala kept their children home from school, skipped work and left their shops shuttered today, a day after a protest ignited racial violence.