A South African mother-of-eight who acted as a drugs mule to bring over €130,000 worth of herbal cannabis into Cork was sentenced to 10 years today with the last four years suspended.

The world’s major powers have sent a strong signal to Iran that they remain united in seeking to rein in its nuclear ambitions.

In an acrimonious debate, rich nations who pay most of the United Nations budget warned poorer nations yesterday not to stand in the way of UN management reform, and hinted at a showdown that could plunge the world body into a cash crisis.

The latest proposal for a new Human Rights Council calls on the UN General Assembly to elect a 45-nation body taking into account a country’s human rights record – but rights groups warn that offending nations could still gain membership.