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Overturned cars outside a cinema in Ohio after a tornado hit the town yesterday. Tornadoes ripped through the eastern US from the Great Lakes into the deep south on Sunday and yesterday, killing at least 34 and leaving dozens missing.

Photograph: John Sommers/Reuters

Gerry Daly voices doubts about those new city trees
One of Ireland's most respected gardening experts has expressed doubts about the types of tree planned for O'Connell Street in Dublin once the current London planes have been felled.

PSNI says it has broken major IRA intelligence operation
A major IRA intelligence-gathering operation concentrated on Stormont and Castlereagh special branch offices has now been smashed, according to the PSNI, the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Expectations of war rise in US after Baghdad setback
The condemnation in the Iraqi parliament of the UN resolution on Iraq has heightened war expectations in Washington, where President George W. Bush vowed yesterday that "the dictator of Iraq will fully disarm, or the United States of America will lead a coalition and fully disarm him."

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Ireland

Fischler opposed to unrestricted Irish Box fishing
The EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr Franz Fischler, says he is opposed to unrestricted fishing in the 50-mile Irish Box, but has made it clear that legal opinion supports equal access by European fleets. p
Medical agencies say EU rule on registration puts patients at risk
Medical regulatory authorities are combining to voice their concerns that new EU rules will allow medical staff from abroad to work in Ireland without registration. p
Trinity considers legal action over image in Star Wars film
Trinity College Dublin is taking legal advice on whether Star Wars director Mr George Lucas used an image of the college's famous Long Room library without its permission or knowledge. p
Court plea heard to quash 1985 murder conviction
A Monaghan man serving 40 years for the murder of a Garda sergeant 17 years ago has brought a legal application aimed at having his conviction quashed or securing a retrial. p
Barron suspect alleges threats by gardai
One of the suspects in the investigation into the death of cattle dealer Richie Barron was told that the dead man's son would "come to get" him, and that he would receive no Garda protection, the Morris tribunal was told yesterday. p
Post dispute threatens Christmas deliveries
Christmas post could be affected by the threatened escalation of a pay dispute between postmasters and An Post. p
Gym sees fit to ban snappy new mobile phones
Mobile phones with inbuilt cameras, expected to be big sellers here this Christmas, have put privacy in the picture, sources in the fitness industry said yesterday. p
Maggots on the menu on day one of science week
SCIENCE WEEK IRELAND: It isn't too often you get a chance to eat baked maggots but the formal launch of Science Week Ireland presented just such an opportunity. Also available for the brave and curious who attended the event at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin was the chance to talk to an astronaut and tickle a tarantula. p

Finance

Riverdeep doubles in value on bid speculation
Shares in e-learning group Riverdeep doubled in value at one stage yesterday as chairman and chief executive Mr Barry O'Callaghan weighed up the prospect of taking the company private. p
State in fight over An Post welfare contract
The Government is fighting proceedings taken against it by the European Commission over the award of An Post's social welfare contract. p
Job cuts take effect at Miza as sale talks continue
Staff at the Miza Ireland plant in Roscrea, Co Tipperary, were told yesterday that a programme of job cuts and cutbacks in hours would begin immediately. p
Enforcer expects legal challenge to powers
The Director of Corporate Enforcement, Mr Paul Appleby, expects the powers of his office to be challenged in the courts as those of the Criminal Assets Bureau have been. p

World

UN puts forward federal plan to resolve Cyprus
Cyprus could soon be reconstituted as a federal republic made up of Greek and Turkish Cypriot sectors if a new UN settlement proposal is accepted. p
Russia and EU agree on Kaliningrad travel deal
Russia's President Vladimir Putin has agreed a deal with the European Union over travel arrangements for Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave that will be surrounded by the EU after 2004. But sharp differences over the conflict in Chechnya prevented the two sides from issuing a joint statement following yesterday's EU-Russia summit in Berlin. p
Pelosi likely to become first woman leader of main US Congress party
A Liberal Democrat, Ms Nancy Pelosi, is poised this week to become the first woman to lead either of the two main parties in the US Congress. Ms Pelosi (62) is clear favourite to succeed minority leader Mr Dick Gephardt, with the prospect of eventually becoming Speaker of the House of Representatives. p
Pressure on royals for independent inquiry
British royal courtiers were locked in crisis talks last night as an Italian newspaper named the aide to Prince Charles accused of male rape. p

Sport

Givens cameo prompts striking question
SOCCER/Friendly International: A new and brief era in Irish soccer opened yesterday with the announcement by Don Givens of his first and last squad as interim Irish manager. Givens will take his squad to Athens for a friendly against Greece on November 20th. p