THE NEW 3G Astroturf pitch at Kingspan Breffni Park alleviated some of the congestion in the Dr McKenna Cup over the weekend after a spate of postponements in earlier weeks left the fixtures’ department of the Ulster Council scratching their heads.

SMILES, Ireland’s first dental spa which opens this week in the former Bank of Ireland building in Dublin’s O’Connell Street, is to invest €3 million in opening a further three outlets in Ireland during 2006.

An Australian truck driver charged with murdering a British backpacker on a lonely Outback highway will appear in court next May for a hearing to decide if he should stand trial for the mysterious killing, a court ruled today.

A mechanic was charged today with murdering British tourist Peter Falconio on a lonely Australian Outback highway more than two years ago.