A family of swans stopped the traffic as they tried to cross a busy dual carriageway.

Workers at computer giant Hewlett-Packard, which employs thousands of people in Ireland, faced an uncertain future today after it emerged that the company planned to shed 1,400 jobs in Britain.

Five senior Motorola executives received bonuses worth over £2.5 million just weeks before the company shut its Scottish plant, it was disclosed today.

A phone call made by British Prime Minister Tony Blair appears to have won a breathing space for a US-owned mobile phone factory where up to 3,000 jobs are under threat.