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The scene of the crash on the M50 motorway in Dublin yesterday in which seven people were injured, six of them seriously. Two children are in a critical condition

Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill

Minister demands safety features for M50 after crash
The Minister of State for Transport, Mr Ivor Callely, will this morning demand that "median barriers or appropriate safety measures" are immediately put in place on the M50 following a major accident which left two children fighting for their lives. Tim O'Brien and Liam Reid report

Blunkett asks for inquiry into lover's claim he abused office
British Home Secretary Mr David Blunkett last night asked for an independent review of claims that he misused his office and fast-tracked a visa for the Filipina nanny of his former lover, writes Frank Millar in London
Threat of break-up of Ukraine as east to vote on split
Ukraine moved a step closer to fragmentation last night as an eastern region set a December referendum on forming a breakaway state, writes Chris Stephen in Kiev

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Ireland

Adams to meet Orde as deal hopes rise
The Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams, will meet the PSNI Chief Constable, Mr Hugh Orde, in London this morning for the first time as hopes mount of a political breakthrough. p
FG grassroots to have say in picking leader
Fine Gael's grassroots membership will have a say in the party's next leadership contest, following a special party delegate conference at the weekend. p
Roads agency defends Tara route
The National Roads Authority (NRA) has insisted the "rich historical and archaeological heritage" of Co Meath figured very strongly in selecting a route for the €800 million M3 motorway. p
Government urged to reverse aid decision
The Government must reverse its decision to delay reaching United Nations aid targets, a Government-controlled Oireachtas committee has declared. p
TCD board postpones decision on reform plan
Radical restructuring plans for Trinity College Dublin may not now begin to be fully introduced until 2006, after the college board last week agreed to postpone a decision on the matter until January at the earliest, The Irish Times has learned. p
Greens differ over EU constitution
Sharp differences on the Green Party's attitude to the European constitution emerged at a meeting of its European council in Dublin at the weekend. p
Jury clears five Travellers of murdering cousin
Five Travellers accused of the murder of their cousin at a family funeral have been found not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. p
Government 'underestimated' effect of abandoned carbon tax
The chairman of the State energy agency, Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), has said that the Government seriously underestimated the likely reduction in greenhouse gases that a carbon tax would achieve when it decided to abandon plans for the tax earlier this year. p
EU rules to give children right to speak in court
New EU regulations on family law will give children an unprecedented right to speak in court proceedings which affect them, a legal conference in Dublin heard at the weekend. p

Finance

Airline to set up panel to pick Walsh successor
The board of Aer Lingus is expected to set up a sub-committee today to select a successor to departing chief executive, Mr Willie Walsh, writes Emmet Oliver . p
Dell earns €120m from Irish unit
A leading high-tech employer earned almost $160 million (€120 million) in profits from its manufacturing operations in the Republic during its 2004 financial year, the latest figures show. Barry O'Halloran reports. p
Government set to tackle Norwegian salmon imports
The Government is committed to tackling cheap Norwegian salmon imports which are contributing to a crisis in the Irish fish farming industry, according to the Minister of State for the Marine, Mr Pat The Cope Gallagher. Lorna Siggins , Marine Correspondent, reports. p
ESB may seek funding of €500m
The ESB is expected to borrow over €500 million in 2005 following the high level of demand that accompanied its last fundraising exercise in the US. Emmet Oliver reports. p

World

166 miners trapped after blast in Chinese province
CHINA: A gas explosion tore through a coalmine in northern China yesterday, trapping as many as 166 miners. This could be the worst disaster to hit the world's most dangerous mining industry in four years. p
Swiss back stem-cell research
SWITZERLAND: Voters in Switzerland yesterday appeared to have approved the world's first referendum to allow scientists to experiment on stem cells taken from human embryos, in a move which will deepen the division between Europe and the US over the use of such research. p
Romania's ruling ex-communists returned
ROMANIA: Romanians chose experience over new blood yesterday, when the ruling former communists and their candidate for president came out on top in fiercely fought elections. Daniel McLaughlin reports from Bucharest. p

Sport

No citings to follow claims of gouging
IRELAND V ARGENTINA: Inconclusive video evidence means no action will be taken against any Argentinian players following accusations of eye-gouging during Ireland's last-minute, 21-19 win over Argentina on Saturday, but the bitter fallout is likely to rumble on all the way to their scheduled meeting in the pool stages of the 2007 World Cup. p
Rangers take over at the top
Scottish Premier League/Dundee 2; Celtic 2: Events 90 miles away on Tayside conspired to encourage Rangers to go top of the Scottish Premier League yesterday for the first time in 14 months. p
McCormack closes book on students
For the students of UCD yesterday's Leinster club hurling final was a familiar lesson. You can cram all you like for exams but you run the risk of leaving it too late and not quite getting everything done by the time it's time to hand up your paper. p