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A Lebanese soldier stands guard near the site of an explosion in Beirut yesterday. Israel did not rule out that a drone may have been downed over the city.

Photograph: Reuters

TDs slow in paying debts in Dáil bar, even at €3.70 a pint
Politicians might be paying too little for their pints, wine and spirits in Leinster House, it has emerged after an audit which found that the profit margins in the Dáil bar are too low, writes Liam Reid , Political Reporter.

Lebanon Air strikes kill 42 as rockets rain down on Israel
The beginning of the sixth day of the Israeli offensive on Lebanon saw much more international handwringing but only tentative moves towards United Nations intervention as 42 civilians died in Israeli air strikes and dozens of Hizbullah rockets continued to rain down on northern Israel, write Peter Hirschberg in Jerusalem and Patrick Smyth , Foreign Editor.
Summer heat set to peak at 30-plus degrees, says Met office
Temperatures are expected to peak tomorrow around the country and could yet reach the record for the hottest day in the last 100 years, Met Éireann has said. Fiona Gartland reports.

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Ireland

Road death toll since Saturday rises to 10
Four more people have lost their lives on the Republic's roads, bringing the death toll since Saturday to 10. p
Support for taxi protest strongest in Dublin
Less than 100 taxis operated in Dublin yesterday during the planned 24 hour protest over changes to the taxi industry, the National Taxi Drivers' Union (NTDU) has said. p
Addict bailed to attend treatment
A Dublin drug addict who pleaded guilty to a range of shoplifting charges and a charge of escaping from Garda custody earlier this month has been released on bail on condition that she attend ongoing treatment for her problem. p
Woman's family criticises HSE
The family of Maura Reynolds, who went missing from a Bray nursing home last Christmas, has criticised the Health Service Executive's handling of the matter. p
Five hurt over 13 hours of shootings in Dublin
The Minister for Justice has contacted the Garda Commissioner about the weekend shootings in Dublin. Five people were wounded, two of them women, in gangland-style shootings in Dublin in 13 hours from Sunday evening. p
Barracks site development to go ahead
An Bord Pleanála has given the go-ahead for a controversial plan for an apartment and hotel complex on the site of Clancy Barracks in Dublin. p
Real IRA leader to appeal conviction
Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt has been given leave to go to the Supreme Court on a point of law in a fresh bid to challenge his conviction for directing terrorism. p
Taoiseach criticised over delayed Stardust talks
The Taoiseach's decision to defer a meeting with the families bereaved by the Stardust tragedy until mid-September was yesterday criticised by the Stardust Victims' Committee. p

Finance

Irish banks most profitable in Europe, says report
Irish banks have emerged as the most profitable financial institutions in Europe, according to a European Commission report, write Honor Mahony in Brussels and Una McCaffrey p
Bord na Móna row could leave ESB plants without peat
Several ESB plants could be in danger of running out of peat supplies if an industrial relations row within Bord na Móna is not resolved. Emmet Oliver reports. p
Oil falls back despite ongoing fighting
Oil fell more than a dollar yesterday in volatile trading as fighting raged between Israel and Lebanese Hizbullah guerrillas. p
Rosneft shares fall by almost 2%
Shares in Rosneft, the Russian state-controlled oil company, fell yesterday in their Moscow stock exchange debut as lawyers for Yukos sought permission in London's High Court to bring a legal challenge to the UK listing, currently set for tomorrow. p

World

Bush showdown with Congress looms over stem-cell research
US: The Senate is today expected to approve an expansion of federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research, triggering a dramatic, election-year confrontation between Congress and President George Bush, who has promised to veto the bill. Mr Bush has not vetoed any legislation since he took office, a record of restraint unmatched by US presidents since Thomas Jefferson. p
De Menezes's family to challenge decision
BRITAIN: The family of Jean Charles de Menezes vowed yesterday to continue its battle to bring criminal charges against the officers involved in shooting him dead after prosecutors ruled there was insufficient evidence to go to trial. p
G8 leaders show little appetite for any conspiring
G8 SUMMIT: The most startling image perhaps of the G8 summit which drew to a close yesterday was the sight of anti-globalisation protesters decrying the gathering as a conspiracy of rich nations. Chris Stephen reports from St Petersburg p
Darfur violence increases as AU troops under-funded
SUDAN: Victims of Darfur's bloody violence face a growing risk of death or rape around aid camps because African Union (AU) troops lack resources to properly protect them, according to eight international charities working in Sudan's war-torn western region. p

Sport

Chelsea open to offers for Duff
SOCCER: Chelsea are considering the sale of Republic of Ireland international Damien Duff. Tottenham lodged a £5 million offer at the weekend that was immediately rebuffed and Duff was yesterday still training with Chelsea at their base in Surrey. p
GAC may single out Dublin
GAELIC GAMES/Leinster SFC fallout: It is looking likely that Dublin's All-Ireland quarter-final will take place on a stand-alone date, writes Seán Moran, GAA Correspondent p