Presidential candidate Barack Obama today turned to some of the most respected names in the business world for fresh ideas to end the US financial upheaval and win the confidence of voters.

US financial watchdogs today followed Britain and Ireland in banning the routine stock market practice of short-selling.

Asian stock markets soared today as a news of a US government plan to rescue banks from risky mortgage debt brought hope of a let-up in the world’s worst financial crisis in decades.

The New York Stock Exchange is to buy Euronext for about $10bn (€7.8bn) in cash and stock, creating the first transatlantic securities market in a deal that would pressure rival exchanges to consolidate.

A Dublin poet who went "berserk" and attacked his neighbours with a sword because he thought they were talking about him has to do 240 hours of community service in lieu of a two year sentence.

A published poet who went "berserk" and attacked his neighbours with a sword because he thought they were talking about him has been remanded on bail for sentence on July 26.