Champions League Wednesday

Chelsea, Bayern and Arsenal could secure qualification for second round while Milan and Madrid prepare to duke it out.

Body confirmed as belonging to Romanian dictator

DNA testing confirms that body which was exhumed from Bucharest cemetery is that of Nicolae Ceausescu.

'Gold coast' the target of new hunt for oil

Exploration company says that up to 870 million barrels of oil could be just 10km off the Dublin coast.

Neanderthals were promiscuous because they had longer fingers

Scientists conducting fossil research on neanderthals reveal that promiscuity and aggressiveness went hand in hand for the ancient human relatives.

Students to take to the streets over increase in college fees

Up to 25,000 students expected to march in Dublin city centre in protest over planned increase in registration fees.

Building collapse at Afghan wedding leaves dozens dead

Women and children thought to make up the bulk of an estimated 65 people dead in northern province of Baghlan.

Unnamed pop star blackmailed with 'highly sensitive' photographs

Mystery female pop star blackmailed after laptop containing “highly sensitive” pictures were stolen from her London home.

Cherie sells Tony's autograph on eBay for £10

Signature sold for a tenner after noone on eBay would pay Cherie £25 for her husband’s autograph.

Kiwis rejoice as PM says Hobbit is staying put

New Zealand’s Prime Minister emerges from two days of talks with Hobbit producers with agreement on films’ future down under.

Live crabs found in woman's case at Belfast airport

Five live crustaceans seized after they were wrapped in black bags and tea towels and concealed in luggage by a woman flying from China.

One man dead after Cork road crash

Separate crashes in Cork and Westmeath bring the number dead on Irish roads in 2010 to 179.

Israel bans social network use in defence forces

IDF forced to ban social networks and email clients following series of blunders and leaks.

Corkonians demand flood inquiry

Cork city residents demand public inquiry into last November’s floods.

UCD to begin talks on giving back ‘illegal pay’

€1.6 million in unauthorised allowances paid to staff over a ten-year period to be repaid to HEA.

Has Google Earth found God?

Has God visited Earth via Google Street View?

Business expects modest growth, while confidence remains lower

KBC Bank Business Sentiment Survey reveals “two economies” with businesses expecting modest growth but confidence in economy remaining low.

US military now accepting gay soldiers

Pentagon appeals decision to reverse “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy banning openly gay recruits.

Avoca man killed by car after pub fight

Brian ‘Brier’ Doyle killed by impact from car, not punch, after row over football match.

Dáil leaders meet to try to find consensus over budget plan

Common ground on approaches to combating crisis in public finances will help Ireland’s image with investors, says Cowen.

Olympic ticket prices to range from £20.12 to £2012

London 2012 unveil “the daddy of all ticketing strategies”

Sinn Féin critical of exclusion from consensus talks

Queen cancels staff Christmas party

Staff party cancelled because of “current economic climate”

Protests over retirement age hit France

Government plans to raise retirement age from 60 to 62 spark widespread protests.

Hicks claims he was "swindled" in NESV sale

Former Liverpool owner claims “conspiracy” prevented him from repaying debts to RBS.

HSE screens 336 people after TB outbreak in Cork school

HSE investigating the TB outbreak which infected 48 pupils and staff in Ballintemple.

Temple St chair backs Harney in hospital row

Row over co-location intensifies as Donal Walsh backs Harney’s selection of Mater site.

Oscar Wilde's birthday commemorated with Google doodle

Google celebrate Oscar Wilde’s 156th birthday with new doodle on homepage.

20 dead and 17 trapped in Chinese coal mine

Gas explosion leaves 20 dead and rescuers searching for trapped miners.

The 9 at 9: Saturday

The nine things you need to know by 9am.

Sofa Supporter: your guide to sport on TV

All the weekend’s sport you’d want to watch.

Tuitupou gets three week suspension

Munster left without their All Black star for three weeks.

Connacht recall mainliners to play Bayonne

5 first teamers recalled for Challenge Cup pool match.

Gold for Barnes and Gallagher in Delhi

Northern boxers both win gold at Commonwealth Games.

Indian athlete fails a drug test at Commonwealth games

Walker Rani Yadav becomes the third athlete suspended over doping after testing positive for Nandrolene.

Horan appointed as Limerick manager

Former Mayo and Limerick player takes charge in the Treaty City after managing under 21s last season.

Navan hospital to suffer two ward closure blows

Up to 28 beds and orthopaedic unit expected to be closed in Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan.

Housing agency calls for 'NAMA for the people'

Threshold urges government to take stake in bad mortgages while allowing tenants to retain a stake and stay in their home.

Keane's form worries Trap

Keane’s lack of match practice worries Trap after captain misses two key chances in Zilina.

Munster include Flannery in squad

Crisis for Munster as Tuitupou could miss Toulon match (pending citation hearing) leaving Tony McGahan’s side with a shortage in the back line.

Slovakia: Who are they?

How Slovakia are preparing, their current form, and who Ireland should be wary of – with Slovak expert Daniel Richardson.