The cost of motor insurance claims jumped by almost one quarter in the 12 months to the middle of last year, new figures published by the Central Bank suggest. Conor Pope reports.

Staying with costs, homes and businesses face electricity bill increases of up to €16 a-year if regulators approve State companies’ plans to spend billions boosting the Republic’s power networks. Barry O’Halloran has the details.

Microsoft began its third round of job cuts this year across its global operations on Wednesday as it looks to shed an additional 9,000 workers, including some in Ireland, in a bid to control costs. Ian Curran reports.