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Col Paul Fry, Chief of Air Staff Operations and Deputy Commander of the Air Corps, looks on as his son, Second Lieut Andrew Fry, receives his commission at a military ceremony at Baldonnel airport in Dublin, yesterday.

Photograph: Eric Luke

Son faked armed kidnapping to extort €50,000 from father
The Garda has foiled a highly unusual attempted robbery in which a man claimed he had been taken hostage by an armed gang in an effort to extort €50,000 from his own father, The Irish Times has learned.

McDowell and Mahon in conflict on expense of tribunal
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Michael McDowell, was in open conflict with the Mahon tribunal last night, following his decision to stand by his claim that it will cost €1 billion to finish its investigation.
State to acquire unused development land by order
The Government is to introduce a "use or lose it" provision under which the State will compulsorily acquire development land from owners who have failed to exploit its potential.

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Finance

AIB to disclose documents in Rusnak scandal
AIB is to disclose hundreds of pages of internal bank documents relating to the $691 million (€521 million) John Rusnak trading scandal following a landmark New York court ruling, writes Sean O'Driscoll in New York. p
Jacob Fruitfield eyes up big British biscuit manufacturer
Jacob Fruitfield Food Group, a Tallaght-based company headed by Michael Carey, is vying to acquire Burton's Foods, the UK's second-biggest biscuit company, in a £200 million (€297 million) deal. Ciarán Hancock reports. p
Tourism plan to focus on activities
A €540 million State tourism spending programme will focus on attractions and activities rather than accommodation. Barry O'Halloran reports. p
Diageo says fall in sales in Europe, mostly beer
Diageo, the world's biggest drinks group, reported a decline in European sales in the six months to the end of December, led in particular by weakness in Ireland, Britain and Spain. Claire Shoesmith reports. p

World

Ireland and Britain block cross-border police pursuit within EU
EU: Ireland and Britain have blocked an EU plan to enable police forces to operate across national boundaries because of sensitivities over the Border with Northern Ireland. p
Hamas cabinet steps aside to make way for power-sharing
MIDDLE EAST: The Hamas cabinet resigned yesterday to make way for the formation of a Palestinian national unity government including Fatah and other factions. p
Atomic agency chief set to discuss development issues with Taoiseach
IRELAND: Dr Mohamed ElBaradei, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, will meet the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern and Environment Minister Dick Roche, this morning. p

Ireland

EPA calls for new measures to tackle emissions
The director general of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Dr Mary Kelly has called for new measures to be introduced to tackle Ireland's greenhouse gas problem, after new figures showed that emissions have surged by more than 1.3 million tonnes. p
Today FM overtakes RTÉ in evening slot
The independent radio station Today FM has overtaken RTÉ Radio One on a time slot for the first time, according to the latest radio listenership figures from the JNLR/TNSmrbi survey. p
Woman's brother denies repeatedly raping her
The brother of a woman who alleges repeated rape by him in the family home in south Dublin in the 1970s has said all her allegations of sexual abuse against various people "are absolutely and totally made-up lies". p
Unions warn of inflation threat to pay deal
Union leaders have said the partnership process is going through a "rocky patch", with increasing concerns about rising inflation. p
Swabbing for MRSA 'huge fear' for hospitals
If the Health Service Executive ordered hospitals to swab all their staff for MRSA, it could result in large numbers of them having to take time off because they would be found to be carriers of the bug, an Oireachtas committee heard yesterday. p
Driver praised for clearing school bus before fire
A Co Leitrim bus driver who evacuated four teenagers from a school bus and then drove it a safe distance away before it was engulfed in flames yesterday has been praised for his courage. p
SF to meet Orde for talks on policing issues
Sinn Féin will today meet PSNI Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde for their first direct talks since the special ardfheis last month to change policing policy. p
March of penguins forced by climate warming
Antarctic ecosystem: The march of the penguins is well under way, a forced relocation as a result of climate change, writes Dick Ahlstrom , Science Editor, in San Francisco. p

Sport

GPA and Tyrone row may impact on talks
Gaelic Games News round-up A public row between the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and the Tyrone County Board is likely to impact on current talks between the GPA and Croke Park officials on a number of issues. p
Elliott out for 'up to six weeks'
Republic of Ireland team news Sunderland striker Stephen Elliott is set to miss Ireland's two European championship qualifiers next month after having surgery on an ankle problem on Wednesday. The 22-year-old Dubliner will be out for "up to six weeks" according to his club leaving him with only a marginal chance of completing his recovery in advance of the games at Croke Park against Wales and Slovakia. p
Ireland's indoor odyssey continues
Athletics National Indoor Championships: Ian O'Riordan reports on the quest to eventually have a national indoor arena built p