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Tourists run through a swarm of pink locusts near Corralejo, on the Canary Island of Fuerteventura, yesterday. Environmental experts estimate that some 100 million of the insects arrived in the Canaries from north Africa at the weekend.

Judge pressed to clarify why he retired early
The Labour Party has called on the High Court judge, Mr Justice Matthew P. Smith, to clarify the reason he decided to resign from the bench 13 months before he was officially due to retire.

Childcare centres failing to properly vet staff, says report
Only two of 32 health board-run children's residential centres inspected over the past year and a half had properly vetted all staff before taking them on, according to a report being published today, writes Eithne Donnellan , Health Correspondent
Ahern calls on Blair to accelerate military reduction
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has personally urged the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, to speedily move on demilitarisation to enhance the prospects of Sinn Féin and the DUP signing off on a deal to restore devolution. Gerry Moriarty, Northern Editor reports

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World

EU appeals to regions not to split Ukraine
UKRAINE: European Union foreign policy chief Mr Javier Solana appealed last night to Ukraine's rebel governors not to press ahead with a decision today to hold a referendum on forming a breakaway eastern state. p
Extension of Suu Kyi's house arrest condemned
BURMA: Burma's police have told democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi her house arrest has been extended under a law which allows for such detention for up to a year, an opposition spokesman said yesterday. p
Iran-Europe nuclear deal is backed by IAEA
IRAN/EU: Iran's nuclear agreement with European governments was endorsed by the governing board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) yesterday despite resistance from the US, which urged inspectors to remain vigilant. p

Ireland

Tara route 'bordering on vandalism' - Haughey
The new chairman of the Oireachtas Environment Committee, Mr Seán Haughey, has said that plans to route the M3 motorway through the Tara/Skryne valley in Co Meath was "bordering on vandalism" against one of the most important historic sites in the country. p
Stamp duty may be altered for first-time buyers
The Government is examining whether to ease the burden on first-time buyers of second-hand homes by reducing their exposure to stamp duty, senior political sources said last night. p
Labour Party staff laid off on leader's orders
Two Labour Party staff are to be laid off on the orders of the party leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, as part of a major reorganisation of the party's head office. p
Increase in bin charges for Dublin
Dublin City Council has passed the budget for 2005 by 30 votes to 15, despite the inclusion of controversial increased bin charges. p
Last orders for Bewley's this evening
Bewley's landmark Dublin cafes will cease trading this evening, even as a campaign to save them continues. p
€150,000 award has 'implications' for Redress Board
A settlement of €150,000 with a man allegedly abused in residential institutions had "very serious implications for the Redress Board", representatives of victims support groups said yesterday. p
Fahey's driver fined for speeding for second time
The Minister of State for Justice, Mr Frank Fahey, has acknowledged that his driver, fined for speeding in his official car in 2002, was fined again last week for speeding. p
Gardai believe fatal fire may have been caused by cigarette
Investigators believe a fire which claimed the life of a man in his early 30s in Charleville in North Cork was started accidentally and may have been caused by a smouldering cigarette in a downstairs room. p
Doctor and car missing in lease default
A medical doctor who bought a top-of-the-range Mercedes Benz car for €65,000 under a lease agreement subsequently defaulted on payments for the car, the High Court heard yesterday. p

Finance

Aer Lingus seeks chief to keep its profits flying high
The incoming chief executive of Aer Lingus will be expected at least to maintain the company's current profit performance and to ensure that margins remain strong next year, it has emerged. p
Minister to allow for €200m from Revenue inquiries
The Department of Finance will pencil in a €200 million gain from special Revenue Commissioners investigations in tomorrow's 2005 Budget, it has emerged. p
Exports show big drop in September
Exports dropped off markedly in September, interrupting a positive trend that had been in place since the end of May. p

Sport

O'Shea not giving up on United just yet
SOCCER/English FA Premiership: Irish international defender John O'Shea has insisted he is going nowhere despite speculation linking him with a move away from Manchester United. p
Fulham set to come rotation croppers
Chelsea will pursue the League Cup with a radically altered line-up on the banks of the Thames this evening, though to denounce Jose Mourinho's selection as understrength would be to miss the point. For Fulham, rotation is unlikely to bring respite. p
Zeman and Lippi clash over doping case
Euroscene: It's just after five o'clock on Sunday afternoon and, as always, Italian TV channel RAI Due is running its immediate post-match special of interviews and comment on the afternoon's Serie A action. Among the star interviewees are Marcello Lippi, former Juventus coach now in charge of Italy, and Czech Zdenek Zeman, coach of Serie A side Lecce. p