According to the most recent data released by Irish Venture Capital Association (IVCA), the year 2012 witnessed 189 Irish technology firms raising a total of €269 million funds from investors.

According to security experts, government officials in over 20 European countries have been targeted by cyber criminals in by far the most sophisticated online attacks - dubbed `MiniDuke' - since the turn of the millennium.

According to an Enterprise Ireland announcement, contracts worth _1.5 million have been signed by three Irish companies - AMCS, Cork Plastics and Anua - operating in the cleantech and manufacturing sectors, with three French firms operating in similar areas.

In a strategic move which clearly underscores the potential for a substantial transformation of the European manufacturing business of Aryzta AG, the Irish-Swiss baked food group has recently announced its decision to acquire German bakery company Klemme AG in a €280 million ($376 million) deal.

In a move which underscores Iceland's efforts to become the first democratic country in the West to block online pornography, the country is reportedly considering a new law that will ban access to violent Internet porn.

For this year's prestigious SC Magazine awards, which will handed out at the SC magazine Awards Europe 2013 event, Irish IT security expert Brian Honan of BH Consulting has been shortlisted for the award in the `Information Security Person of the Year' category.

With technology developed in the Cork region being showcased during a two-day summit of the Irish Technology Leadership Group's (ITLG) global technology leaders, the summit will apparently have Cork positioned as Ireland's Silicon Valley.

Employees at Irish Daily Star have been notified that the publication would cut jobs and trim down wages of the remaining staff as part of its cost-cutting plan.

Irish Daily Star is a 50:50 joint venture (JV) between Independent News & Media and British publisher Northern & Shell. In September last year, Northern & Shell owner Richard Desmond had threatened to close the title.