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

Thousands flee south Lebanon over fears of invasion
Israel called up army reservists yesterday for a possible major ground assault against Hizbullah in Lebanon as Washington announced a diplomatic drive and said that the conflict's root causes had to be tackled before any ceasefire.
Gas price rise of 34% will add €300 to average annual bill
Consumers are facing a 34 per cent increase in gas prices only days after rises of up to 20 per cent were predicted for ESB customers, writes Emmet Oliver .

A hospital worker walks past the coffins of victims of the bombardment by Israeli warplanes during preparations yesterday for a mass burial in the southern Lebanese port town of Tyre.

Warning that stray snakes can leave some people rattled
The Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) is seeking new homes for 10 stray pets of the slithering kind.

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Ireland

Man (21) charged with Cobh murder
A 21-year-old man was last night remanded in custody after he was charged with the murder of 19-year-old Cobh girl Sheola Keaney in the town last week. p
Senior garda rejects defendant's Omagh allegation as 'absolute lie'
A senior Garda officer has vehemently rejected a suggestion that he told a detective sergeant that gardaí had "decided to let one through" shortly before republican dissidents moved a car across the Border and planted a bomb in Omagh, Co Tyrone, which killed 29 people. p
Man found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity
A 50 year-old Kildare man has been found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity by a jury at the Central Criminal Court - the first time in Irish legal history such a verdict has been returned. p
Jailed for role in shooting of Dublin publican
A man has been jailed for his role in the robbery and shooting of Dublin publican Charlie Chawke nearly three years ago. Mr Chawke lost his right leg in the October 2003 attack after he was shot with a double-barrelled pump-action shotgun. p
Taoiseach apologises to family of John Carthy
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has apologised to the family of John Carthy, the Co Longford man shot dead by gardaí more than six years ago. p
Ahern presents plans for disabled services
Major plans to improve services for the disabled across the sectors of health, communications, environment, employment, social welfare and transport were presented yesterday by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. p
Embryo is beginning of life, says doctor
An Italian doctor involved in new developments in IVF treatment has told the High Court it is "really difficult" to find a scientific reason to support the destruction of embryos created during such treatment. p
'Freshwall' structure for smoking in pub is ruled illegal
The High Court has refused to grant a declaration that a "freshwall" structure designed for use as a smoking area in bars complies with the the Public Health Tobacco Act 2002. p
Limerick youth not intended target of gun attack
A 16-year-old Limerick youth who was shot twice in the leg in a hail of gunfire was not the intended target of the attack, it has emerged. p

Finance

Dell suffers worst day since dotcom collapse
Shares of Dell suffered their biggest single-day fall since the collapse of the dotcom bubble yesterday after the world's biggest PC maker said sales and earnings would fall short of expectations in the second quarter. The news capped a grim week for technology stocks. p
Bank of Ireland chief defends profits
Bank of Ireland chief executive Brian Goggin defended the status of Irish banks as the most profitable financial institutions in Europe, attributing their high earnings to the State's economic boom. p
Beacon to go ahead with new hospital in Dublin
Beacon Medical Group will press ahead with the construction of a new maternity, women's and children's hospital in Dublin, having lost out on the acquisition of Mount Carmel earlier this month. p
Ryanair ordered to pay High Court costs of €1m
Ryanair will have to pay more than €1 million in legal costs arising from its unsuccessful High Court case in which a judge emphatically rejected claims by the airline that its pilots or their unions had engaged in bullying. p

World

Call for UN sanctions vote against Iran
UN: Britain, France and Germany have introduced a draft UN Security Council resolution demanding that Iran stop enriching or reprocessing uranium by next month or face unspecified sanctions. p
Bush asks black Americans to trust his party
US: President George W. Bush has told black leaders that he wants to change the relationship between the Republican Party and the African-American community and to work together to combat such blights as HIV and poor education. p
Reservists called up as ground operation intensifies
MIDDLE EAST: There are growing doubts that the Israeli air force can dramatically weaken Hizbullah, writes Peter Hirschberg , in Jerusalem p

Sport

Game on as big two set the pace
British Open: For much of the day, the roars that resonated around the dunes on this piece of golfing terrain in the Wirral were akin to that of the fat lady singing. p
Unsettled Kilkenny can still stem Galway's flow
GAELIC GAMES/Kilkenny v Galway: There is a sense of déjà vu about this. Galway might not welcome the comparison with Wexford (at the moment who would?), but last year the then Leinster champions went into the provincial final as distant underdogs against a Kilkenny team they had innovatively beaten the season before. p
Waterford better prepared for repeat examination
GAELIC GAMES/Tipperary v Waterford: The one aspect of the new championship system that no manager really likes is having to play a side you've beaten already. Adding to Tipperary's unease must be the knowledge that they ended up making a bit of a saga out of a Munster semi-final they were supposed to win because of Waterford's absent players. p
Liverpool join race for Duff's signature
Liverpool were last night granted permission to speak to Damien Duff and now rival Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur in the pursuit of the Chelsea winger. However, Newcastle appear to be heading the race to sign the £10million-rated Republic of Ireland international. p