The United States has brought cyber-espionage charges against five Chinese military officials accused of hacking into American companies to gain trade secrets.

Irish Continental Group (ICG) has seen an 18% rise in its freight market.

President Barack Obama’s national security adviser has conceded there are legitimate questions about US spying on its allies, as America sought to soothe Brazil’s concerns about far-reaching surveillance by the National Security Agency.

Barack Obama said tonight a proposal to put Syria’s chemical weapons under international control to avoid US military strikes could be a potential breakthrough.

European Union officials have agreed that the August 21 chemical attack outside Damascus appears to have been the work of Syria’s regime, but that any potential military attack against it should wait for the UN inspectors’ report.

The leaders of the G20 have signed up to a new plan to make multinational companies pay more taxes, according to officials.

Barack Obama has discussed the National Security Agency’s surveillance programmes with the presidents of Mexico and Brazil, the White House said.

The G20 meeting, which convened yesterday in St Petersburg, Russia, is being overshadowed by the Syrian crisis.

US President Barack Obama opened a three-day overseas trip with a stop in the Swedish capital of Stockholm.

The Government has pledged another €1m in aid to help support Syrian refugees. This will bring the total Irish aid package to €10.8m.

After a tense Dragon’s Den-style face-off, four IT Sligo students were yesterday declared the winners in the Irish finals of the Microsoft Imagine Cup.

Hundreds of world landmarks from Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate to the Great Wall of China went dark last night, part of a global effort to highlight climate change.

Britney Spears has promised fans her 'Femme Fatale' tour is one of her most entertaining shows yet.

The supermodel Kate Moss is working on a piece with legendary ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov for a short film by renowned choreographer and director Michael Clark.

Katie Taylor beat China's Dong Cheng 10-2 at the Sports Palace in St Petersburg, Russia tonight to advance to the quarter finals of an International Box-Off.

Detectives who charged a dentist and his ex lover with the murders of their former partners are investigating a third death, it was revealed today.

The Rolling Stones' European tour opened in Belgium to rave reviews, a big crowd - and a massive traffic jam.

Pope Benedict XVI tonight lent his support to the G8 summit declaration on the Middle East, which blamed the militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah for the escalation in fighting and which urged Israel to exercise restraint.

Not realising his remarks were being picked up by a microphone, US President George Bush told Tony Blair today that Syria should press Hezbollah “to stop doing this sh*t".

France is today sending Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin to Beirut to express support for Lebanon, President Jacques Chirac’s office said.

Israeli missiles struck Lebanon from north to south and in the Bekaa Valley near Syria, killing 35 people, including a family who had come from Canada to visit their home village.

Investigators said today they expected a breakthrough soon over the Mumbai train bombings, which officials have linked to Pakistan.

World leaders agreed Sunday to deliver a “strong message” on the crisis in the Middle East, adopting a joint statement with four conditions they said were needed to halt the escalating violence.

Controversial rock star Pete Doherty was being questioned today about allegations of assault and theft.

REM were forced to cancel their first concert in ten years last night, because their equipment failed to arrive at the venue in St Petersburg, Russia, on time.

Paul McCartney’s historic 3,000th gig in St Petersburg, Russia was so loud, it is being blamed for damaging a neighbouring museum building and paintings contained inside.

Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney is playing his 3,000th gig today.

PETER USTINOV, a brilliant wit and mimic who won two Oscars in an eclectic acting career has died. He was 82.

A SUSPECTED British arms dealer who authorities believe was selling a shoulder-fired missile to a Muslim terrorist bent on shooting down an airliner was arraigned on federal charges yesterday.

World leaders clamped a harmonious face on a summit simmering with Iraq war disputes today, striking a united front with pledges of billions of dollars to fight Aids and hunger in poor nations.

George W Bush toured former Nazi death camps today and urged the world never to forget the Holocaust victims.

Brirish Foreign Secretary Jack Straw was holding talks with French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin in Paris today in a bid to hammer out a plan for post-war Iraq.

THE tanker that broke in half and sank apparently took most of its cargo of toxic fuel oil to the frigid bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, where it may solidify and pose less danger to fishing grounds and scenic beaches along northwestern Spain.

Cleanup crews braced today for the possibility of a massive oil spill and environmental catastrophe, propping up 18 miles of floating booms around the spot where an oil tanker broke in two and sank in the Atlantic.

Turkey today shocked art lovers who had travelled from as far as Japan to see Picasso paintings at a national museum. Four of the five works are fakes, they admitted.