THE Government is willing to “bend over backwards” to secure 300 jobs from Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary after Tánaiste Mary Coughlan agreed to meet him today in a humiliating climbdown.

Up to 150 jobs are believed to be at risk at the Element Six facility in the Shannon Industrial Estate.

SIX UN and Red Cross convoys destined for southern Lebanon were delayed yesterday after failing to receive security clearance from Israeli military forces, although another convoy reached the besieged town of Qana.

JAPAN will bid to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup and so take the tournament outside the sport’s traditional strongholds for the first time.

The hostile bidding war brewing around Six Continents heated up today with the pubs to hotels group firmly rejecting a £5.5bn (€8bn) bid from entrepreneur Hugh Osmond.