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

Marie Carthy speaking to the media at a press conference in Dublin, outlines her family's initial response to the Barr report into the fatal shooting of her brother John Carthy. Ms Carthy said it was regrettable the Garda was not accepting responsibility.

Photograph: Alan Betson

Jeb Bush to meet Ahern today during trade visit
Florida governor Jeb Bush, brother of US president George W Bush, is due to meet Taoiseach Bertie Ahern this morning as part of a series of trade meetings likely to attract protests by anti-war activists, writes Carl O'Brien .

Tribunal identifies critical errors at Abbeylara
Minister for Justice Michael McDowell, Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy and senior officials will meet to discuss which of the Barr tribunal's recommendations to implement after the tribunal report strongly criticised Garda handling of the Abbeylara siege. Mark Brennock & Olivia Kelly report.
Annan critical of Israel in call for immediate ceasefire
United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan has called for an immediate halt to violence in Lebanon, telling Hizbullah that it must release captured Israeli soldiers and warning Israel that its actions are weakening the Lebanese government, writes Denis Staunton in New York.

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Ireland

Broader embryo debate urged by Dr Martin
Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin has expressed surprise that only a judge would make a decision on the constitutional significance of the human embryo and has criticised the absence of a broad debate on the issue. p
Court hears case for embryo protection
A former master of the Coombe hospital said yesterday that an embryo had all the genetic material to make a human being and if he had to choose when life began he would say it was when fertilisation occurred. p
McDowell accused over casino U-turn
The Opposition parties have accused the Minister for Justice of making a humiliating U-turn on the issue of casinos, following his decision to regulate the gaming industry rather than close it down. p
Garda expect early arrest in Cobh murder
Gardaí investigating the murder of 19-year-old Cobh woman Sheola Keaney are poised to make an arrest after forensic results provided them with vital information on her killer, The Irish Times has learned. p
Forced closure of Donegal shop costs 80 jobs
The forced closure of a Co Donegal supermarket yesterday has caused much anger and prompted a number of business people in the region to talk about setting up their own political party entitled New Ireland. p
Garda 'had no knowledge' of Omagh bomb
Garda intelligence did not receive any information which could have prevented the 1998 Omagh bombing in which 29 people died, a senior Garda officer told a Letterkenny Circuit court. p
Centre for asylum seekers to be closed
A purpose-built reception centre for asylum seekers in north Dublin is expected to close permanently soon and be re-developed as a facility for elderly patients discharged from hospital, according to a senior Health Service Executive (HSE) officer. p
Taoiseach's car involved in minor crash
The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, was involved in a minor traffic collision during rush-hour traffic in Dublin yesterday evening on the first day of the new penalty points regime. p

World

Iran accuses US of trying to obstruct nuclear talks
IRAN: Iran accused the US yesterday of trying to obstruct talks to end a standoff over Tehran's nuclear programme while Washington said that its fears had increased because Iranians were present at North Korean missile tests. p
Thousands of children used as spies by Ceausescu's police
ROMANIA: The dreaded secret police of Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu recruited thousands of children to spy on schoolfriends, parents and teachers, historians have revealed. p
White House outlines plan for trying terrorists
US: The Bush administration has told senators it wants to retain key elements of military tribunals for inmates at Guantánamo Bay that the supreme court struck down as illegal, but to incorporate elements of the legal code used in courts martial of military personnel. p
Memo shows why Hirohito refused to visit shrine
JAPAN: The bitter debate over prime minister Junichiro Koizumi's annual pilgrimages to the controversial war memorial, Yasukuni shrine, was given a new twist yesterday by a remarkable, beyond-the-grave intervention from an unusual critic: Emperor Hirohito. p
Polish MPs find time to pray for rain
POLAND: MPs from Poland's ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) got a huge laugh in parliament after calling for a special Mass yesterday to pray for rain. p

Finance

Irish firm to develop tallest US building
North America's tallest skyscraper will be developed at a cost of $1.2 billion (€949 million) by a Dubliner Garrett Kelleher, who is building Chicago's newest landmark after arriving in the city 20 years ago with just $500 in his pocket. p
Shelbourne to reopen two months behind schedule
Dublin's Shelbourne Hotel will reopen on December 1st, more than two months behind schedule and missing the Ryder Cup, one of the country's biggest-ever tourist events. Marriott, the US group that operates the hotel, said the cost of the delay would be covered by a $6 million (€4.7 million) provision made for the closure. p
Former Cologne Re worker banned
John Byrne, a former senior employee of Cologne Reinsurance in Dublin, was yesterday banned from working as a reinsurance specialist in the UK and Australia following a coordinated clampdown by financial regulators around the world. p

Sport

Flawless McDowell dare not dream
GOLF/ British Open: The early-morning thunderstorms took some of the fire out of the parched links, but not enough to take away a player's requirement to be creative. And, in this first round of the 135th British Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club yesterday, no one played with as much imagination or guile as Graeme McDowell. p
Duff allowed to leave
SOCCER: Jose Mourinho has confirmed Damien Duff wants a transfer and the winger will be allowed to leave Chelsea. Tottenham Hotspur are expected to sign him, and two more players will need to be sold for Mourinho to achieve the ambition he revealed yesterday of slimming his squad to 16 senior outfield professionals. p