DUBLIN, Aug 14 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in Ireland's newspapers on Thursday. Reuters has not verified these stories and cannot vouch for their accuracy:

THE IRISH TIMES

- Brian Cowen's performance during his first 100 days in office as Taoiseach has been defended by Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern who maintained that the new Government had many solid achievements to its credit during the period.

- As households across the State yesterday counted the cost of the flooding -- some of them for the second time in a week -- Met Eireann warned that heavy rain might return at the weekend.

IRISH INDEPENDENT

- Seven people including an elderly couple were rescued from their swamped cars as floodwaters again swept through many parts of the country last night.

- Ireland will become an approved location for Chinese investors within the next couple of months, the Irish Independent has learned.

IRISH EXAMINER

- Punters who cheered Padraig Harrington to victory last weekend can smile knowing that they have helped make him the most expensive Irish sportsman ever -- for the bookies.

- Waterford Wedgwood <WTF_u.I> (WW) is seeking 250 redundancies at its site in Stoke-on-Trent, the group confirmed through its spokesman.

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