US defence secretary Robert Gates, making his first official visit to China, is expected to press the country to do more to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities.

US president George Bush apologised to Chinese president Hu Jintao for a protest during an elaborate welcoming ceremony on the White House lawn.

AN ARRIVAL ceremony for the White House visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao yesterday didn't quite go to plan yesterday after a couple of embarrassing incidents.

AS the FTSE 100 hit a year high last Friday, the debate going on among British and Irish analysts is whether the markets have run ahead of global economic recovery.

BRITISH stock market investors will turn to drugs and drinks companies this week, for evidence of whether British firms can repeat the earnings revival shown by US counterparts, seen as a key to sustaining the recent rally.

A GRAND total of 85 boats turned out for the opening race of the C.H. Marine Autumn League at the Royal Cork YC in Crosshaven where the skippers and crews just could not have had it any better.

A WAVE of more upbeat company results and economic data have stoked a summer surge in British share prices and should keep them on the rise in the coming months — albeit at a less sizzling pace.