The Irish Times, Irish News Online, International, Sports & Business News

Poll predicts Euro elections will provide major surprises
The European Parliament elections are set to produce major surprises, with strong candidates poised to take seats against the usual party voting trends, according to the latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi opinion poll, writes Mark Brennock , Chief Political Correspondent.
Way paved for Russia to join world trade pact
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, presided over the signing yesterday of a long-awaited deal between the European Union and Russia that could speed Moscow's accession to the World Trade Organisation and persuade the Kremlin to back the Kyoto Protocol on combating climate change.
Airlines could face 50% rise in airport charges
Airlines based at Dublin Airport could be facing a rise of 50 per cent or more in airport charges if the break-up of Aer Rianta goes ahead, a confidential report seen by The Irish Times reveals.

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US papers publish further evidence of abuse
US: New horrifying photographs of the torture and sexual humiliation of Iraqi prisoners were published in yesterday's Washington Post, which also put the first video clip showing abuse on its website. p
Chelsea owner queried on pay 'errors'
RUSSIA: Russian prosecutors are to investigate what they claim are major financial irregularities in the Chukotka region which is run by Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich, the country's Audit Chamber said yesterday. p
Chalabi raid was wrong - Iraqi leader
A leading Iraqi politician says US authorities were wrong to raid Governing Council member Ahmad Chalabi's headquarters and accused them of trying to hijack Iraq's political future. p

Ireland

Personal injury cases up 80% this month
The number of personal injury cases lodged with the Central Office of the High Court this month is up more than 80 per cent on the same period last year. p
Parents' group welcomes school report ruling
Parents' representatives have welcomed a High Court decision which may allow school inspectors' reports to be made public for the first time. p
Man who stabbed baby loses conviction appeal
An ex-Army Ranger and former monitor in Iraq who stabbed to death an 18-month-old infant in Tallaght has lost his appeal against his conviction for manslaughter. p
College received go-ahead despite financial losses
Hibernia College, the private Dublin institute which gives an online teacher-training course, had question marks over its continued existence at the time it got authorisation for its courses from the Minister of Education. p
Wrong toe operation leads to 50,000 award
A woman who was told by a surgeon that he had made a mistake and operated on her left big toe when it should have been her right big toe has secured €50,000 and costs in her High Court action for damages. p
Inmate's death not due to prison dispute
The death of an inmate who became ill during the night at Mountjoy Prison could not be blamed on industrial action currently being taken by prison doctors, the governor of Mountjoy has said. p
Inquiry into website photos of special branch officers
Gardaí have launched an investigation into the publication of photographs on a US website of members of the Special Detective Unit, or special branch. A total of 14 photographs have been published, apparently showing the officers at work outside courthouses and other locations. p
'Independent' unions to seek all-out picket
Unions at Independent Newspapers are to seek approval from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions for an all-out picket on the company. p
SIPTU signals return to new pay deal talks
Negotiations on a new national pay deal are expected to start again next week after SIPTU, the country's biggest union, yesterday announced its intention to return to the talks. p
Health reforms in danger, says union
Health service reforms announced by the Government almost a year ago have stalled and are in danger of collapsing, a union conference was told yesterday. p
Problems impeaching judge conceded
The Government has conceded in private briefings with the Opposition parties that the process of impeaching Judge Brian Curtin will be fraught with legal difficulty, it emerged last night. p
FF in strong position to hold seats
The sixth election to the European Parliament was held on Friday, June 11th, 1999. At that time a total of 41 candidates contested 15 seats across four constituencies. p

Finance

Offer of €113m tabled for Gresham
The three investors seeking to take over Gresham have tabled an offer of up to €113 million for the hotel group, six months after negotiations on the matter began. p
Hostel booking firm nets €30m in funding
US and UK-based venture capital company Summit Partners has invested between €20 million and €30 million in Hostelworld.com, an Irish internet company. p

Sport

United's future is put on the line
Manchester Utd v Millwall: Millwall have travelled to Cardiff on the back roads. They are the first side in 51 years to sneak through to the FA Cup final without meeting a team from the top division. Today the tournament gets its own back by putting them in the path of a juggernaut. p
Winds of change favour Irish pair
Golf: To hell with equity, which is what golf is supposed to be all about. Yesterday, in the second round of the Deutsche Bank TPC of Europe, the weather gods smiled on some, tormented others and ultimately bestowed the midway lead on one of its own, Alex Cejka, a German, who benefited most from calm early morning conditions before a stiff wind developed over the flat St Leon-Rot course to devour others less fortunate. p
McAteer a victim of McCarthy's cost cutting
Soccer/News: Jason McAteer was one of eight senior players shown the door by Mick McCarthy yesterday at Sunderland where the former Republic of Ireland boss has been forced into another round of severe cost cutting in the wake of the club's failure to win promotion back to the English Premiership. p