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CIA chief quits after charges of intelligence failures
The director of the CIA, Mr George Tenet, under pressure for months to step down over the failure of intelligence about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, resigned suddenly yesterday, citing "personal reasons".
PD deputy backs Labour candidate in European poll
The Progressive Democrats TD Ms Fiona O'Malley has declared her support for her friend, Prof Ivana Bacik, a Labour candidate in the European election in Dublin.
Bank of Ireland appoints new head
Bank of Ireland has moved quickly to appoint a new chief executive, following the sudden resignation of Mr Michael Soden last weekend.The bank said last night that Mr Brian Goggin would take over as group chief executive, writes Siobhan Creaton , Finance Correspondent.

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Ireland

Curtin expected to try to block inquiry
Judge Brian Curtin is expected to begin a legal battle to halt the Oireachtas inquiry into his conduct if he fails to stop evidence seized from his Tralee home from being used against him. p
New penalties set for driving without care
More than 1,000 drivers have six penalty points or more, according to the latest statistics.The figures come as motorists now face five points, a fine and a mandatory court appearance for careless driving, including the use of mobile phones. p
Artists defend right to citizenship
Referendum: No campaign A group of Irish artists and writers have called for a No vote in the referendum saying that the right to citizenship through birthplace is a "beautiful concept" which should be kept. p
Cork docklands development plan launched
The development of the docklands area of Cork offers the city the opportunity to expand and become a real alternative centre of development to Dublin and the east coast, said the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Colm Burke, at the launch of the Cork City Development Plan 2004-2010 last night. p
O'Hanlon acts to de-escalate Rabbitte row
The Ceann Comhairle, Dr Rory O'Hanlon, has chosen not to escalate his confrontation with Mr Pat Rabbitte, despite the Labour leader's refusal to withdraw his claims that the chair of the Dáil is "congenitally incapable of fairness". p
Five held in Cork as gardai seize drugs worth €1.8m
Gardaí last night hailed the seizure of €1.8 million worth of drugs and the arrest of five men in Cork city and county as a major blow against one of the biggest drug-dealing operations in the State. p
Plea for price rise to reduce alcohol abuse
A plea for a significant increase in the price of alcohol was one of the key recommendations to emerge yesterday from a forum on alcohol whose chairman described Ireland as being "truly awash with drink". p

Finance

US inventories soften blow of new OPEC oil quota
The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the world's largest oil exporters, yesterday agreed to increase production quotas by less than the market was expecting. p
'Figures back Aer Rianta break-up'
The Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, has claimed new figures given to him strongly support the break-up of Aer Rianta and contradict the findings of a report released this week by the unions. p
Baltimore backers to get average dividend of €300
Baltimore Technology's 5,143 Irish shareholders are likely to share an average of just over £200 (€300) each as a result of the company's decision to distribute its cash to stakeholders. p
RTE reports rise of 300 in staff numbers
RTÉ has informed the Government that employment legislation has pushed its staff numbers up by almost 300. p

World

EU treaty unlikely to mention Christianity
EU: The EU's new constitutional treaty is unlikely to refer specifically to Christianity, the Taoiseach said yesterday. p
Fury in Congo as UN fails to halt crisis
CONGO: Furious anti-United Nations protests exploded across the Democratic Republic of Congo yesterday, plunging the peacekeeping mission deeper into crisis and buffeting the vast country's fragile hopes for peace writes Declan Walsh in Bukavu. p
Prince meets UK veterans of D-Day landings
D-DAY ANNIVERSARY: Britain's Prince of Wales paid his respects to 650 veterans of the D-Day landings yesterday who marched in a parade held as part of commemorations of the 60th anniversary of the Normandy invasion. p
Soviet veteran happy Russia will remember D-Day
RUSSIA: It has taken 60 years for a Kremlin leader to follow Nikolai Sobolyev to the beaches of Normandy writes Daniel McLaughlin in Moscow. p

Sport

Santini agrees to join Tottenham
Soccer News round-up: Tottenham pulled off a coup yesterday when they announced that Jacques Santini will take over as their head coach after he has led France at Euro 2004. The appointment ends the club's nine-month search for a successor to Glenn Hoddle. p
Ireland's colossus of amateur game
Death of Joe Carr: In the book Breaking 80 , which chronicled the life of Joe Carr - Ireland's greatest amateur golfer who died last night, aged 82, in Dublin's Mater Private Hospital after a short illness - there's a story of the time when the player was asked to play a round of golf with the US president, Dwight D Eisenhower, at Portmarnock Golf Club. p
Dutch match a real treat
Soccer International news: Safe to say there's a touch more enthusiasm in the Irish camp for tomorrow's friendly against Holland at the Amsterdam Arena than there was for their Unity Cup games against Nigeria and Jamaica. Mary Hannigan reports from Amsterdam . p