The intense rivalry between Facebook and Google went public as characters behind the Silicon Valley drama evoked chatter of smear campaigns, secrecy and even Richard Nixon.

THE Munster finals of the Irish Mixed Foursomes get under way at Monkstown on Saturday, with Nenagh facing Newcastle West in the first of the semi-finals at 9am.

Dolly the sheep, the world’s first cloned mammal, has developed arthritis, one of her creators said today.