Since the Grocery Order was axed two years ago food bills have increased every month, writes Consumer Correspondent PAUL KELLY.

THE parents of a Limerick schoolboy who died when a goalpost fell on him have expressed concern that dangerous sports equipment is still being used, despite yesterday’s launch of new safety standards for goalposts.

Taliban militants released four more South Korean hostages today, an Associated Press reporter witnessed.

Taliban militants were expected to release seven remaining South Korean hostages today, bringing to an end a six-week drama that saw two captives executed by the kidnappers in Afghanistan, a South Korean official said.

TRADE and Commerce Minister Michael Ahern has confirmed he is increasing the audit exemption threshold, the level below which companies are relieved of the obligation to engage an independent external auditor.

SENAN HOGAN (Irish Examiner, March 10) reports Progressive Democrat Fiona O’Malley’s support for the Shell-led consortium’s plans to develop the Corrib gas field.

Iran’s president ordered his commerce minister today to study cancelling all trade contracts with European countries whose newspapers have published caricatures of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

TRADE and Commerce Minister Michael Ahern launched a Chambers of Commerce initiative to encourage business in China yesterday.

Top trade negotiators for the European Union and China struggled to resolve a bitter trade dispute today with no hint of a solution in sight.

Europe’s trade chief arrived in China’s business capital of Shanghai today for make-or-break talks on settling a dispute over surging Chinese textile exports before the EU decides whether to resort to quotas.

China has scrapped plans for a sharp increase in export tariffs meant to restrain a surge in textiles to overseas markets amid a trade dispute with the US and Europe.

China will drastically raise export tariffs on 74 categories of textile products, the government said today, in an apparent effort to avert further confrontation with the US and Europe over the surge of Chinese goods in their markets.

IRISH Fertilizer Industry workers from three plants North and South of the Border will protest outside the Tánaiste’s Dublin office next Thursday over redundancy payments and cuts in some pension funds.

Rival politicians have brawled on the floor of the Sri Lankan Parliament amid bizarre claims that the president had carried a bomb into a cabinet meeting.