In brief: Higher fees for mobile users

MOBILE phone customers will need to buy new handsets and pay higher charges to avail of the latest high-speed 4G internet technology.

The country's four main mobile operators -- Vodafone, O2, Meteor and Hutchison 3G -- agreed to fork out more than €850m to secure licences that will enable them to deliver the highspeed mobile services.

Between 4G licences, renewals and upgrades, the phone companies will probably be forking out nearly €2bn. They will need to charge more in order to recoup the massive investment.

Son of Madoff fraudster takes own life

The son of Bernard Madoff's long-time accountant, who himself pleaded guilty to securities fraud in the scandal centred on the disgraced financier, has committed suicide in central Ohio, authorities said.

Jeremy Friehling (23) was found dead at his apartment of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Columbus, where he was a second-year student at Ohio State's medical school, police there said.

There was no indication that the Madoff investment scandal had anything to do with the suicide.

Chaplin's hat sells for €48k

The bowler hat and cane that accented Charlie Chaplin's costume in Little Tramp has sold for $62,500 (€48,900) at an auction in Los Angeles.

Bonhams said the silent film star's trademark accessories were sold at an auction of Hollywood mementos.

Other notable items included a handwritten letter from John Lennon with a nude drawing of him and Yoko Ono. It went for $25,000 (¤19.500). A set of original photographs of Marilyn Monroe sold for $21,250 (¤16,600) and a painting by Frank Sinatra went for $10,625 (¤8,300).

Subway system for badgers

Badgers are to be given their own subways to protect them from being run over.

A network of tunnels will be installed each time a new road is built or a trunk road or motorway is modernised, said British Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin. A manual setting out the best ways to protect badgers has been posted on the Department for Transport's website.