JUST hours before Irish Water reminded us yesterday morning how very precarious our water supply is and that just under half — 49% — of the water processed for drinking in the State is lost because of endemic leaks in a dilapidated system, researchers at Columbia University warned that America’s south-west and the Great Plains will face decade-long droughts far worse than any experienced over the last 1,000 years because of climate change.

WALKING a bohreen above the sea last week, on a day that was dull, but warm — intermittent patches of bright sunlight, a pearl grey blanket overhead, and heavy heat beneath — I suddenly found a half dozen butterflies zipping madcap around me at a rate approaching the speed of bats.

Our pick on what to look out for on the box tonight.

Unabashed sentimentality took the unofficial Super Bowl trophy for advertising brilliance, with draft horses and pickup trucks both putting a lump in America’s collective throat.

CELEBRATING the exploits of frontierswoman Martha Jane Canary, Doris Day sang, “Take me back to the Black Hills, the Black Hills of Dakota”, in the 1950s film Calamity Jane.

French Connection insisted its recovery was on track today despite a near doubling of losses at its UK and European retail arm as it sold more stock on discount.

French Connection remained upbeat about its recovery today after seeing a “significant improvement” in sales since Easter.

A tornado-spewing storm system that killed at least 45 people across half the US unleashed its worst fury on North Carolina, where residents mourned the dead, marvelled at their survival and began to clean up devastated neighbourhoods.

Shares in fashion retailer French Connection soared today after it said profits would be higher than its previous expectations despite the tough conditions on the high street.

French Connection founder Stephen Marks today said the fashion brand appeared to be “back on track” following a major restructuring effort.

The US presidential rivals have remained silent on some very serious issues, says Conor Ryan.

DISCOVERY and its crew returned to Earth yesterday and concluded a 15-day space station build and repair mission that was among the most challenging — and heroic — in shuttle history.

Mentec International, which provides integrated financial management, ERP and eBusiness solutions, has acquired Xdat Software Ltd, the London-based Microsoft Great Plains specialist.

Nebraska poet Ted Kooser will be the next poet laureate of the United States.

After a 17-year nap, trillions of red-eyed insects are crawling their way above ground in 14 US states and the US capital.

US Senator John Kerry squeezed past John Edwards to win the Wisconsin primary for the Democratic nomination to challenge George W Bush for the White House, leaving former front-runner Howard Dean considering backing one of his rivals.

HIS front-runner status, bolstered by dual Southern victories, John Kerry is looking to Wisconsin to dispatch the dwindling field of Democratic presidential rivals still clinging to hope.

John Kerry’s growing string of wins is persuading party leaders to look for ways to bring the Democratic presidential primary season to a quick close.

The United Nations was shut down and hundreds of flights were cancelled after a storm dumped 14 inches of snow on New York and in the north-eastern United States.

The complexities of plot return in all their glory with the second - of three - Matrix sci-fi films.