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

A dejected Eddie O'Sullivan as his players look on following their team's 30-15 defeat during the Rugby World Cup 2007 Pool D match with Argentina at the Parc des Princes in Paris yesterday.

Photograph: David Rogers/Getty

FG keeps up attack on Ahern over cash payments
Fine Gael stepped up its attack on the Taoiseach yesterday as party leader Enda Kenny accused Bertie Ahern of failing to tell the truth to the Mahon tribunal about his financial affairs.
Game over as Irish fighting spirit flies south for winter
In the event, we didn't even have to ask. The Rugby World Cup had been embarrassing enough already without the spectre of Argentina crying for us. Luckily, when the final whistle blew on Ireland's hopes last night, the opposition was too busy having a Latin carnival to weep for anyone.
Gormley raises on-the-spot littering fine to €150
Fines for littering are increasing by 20 per cent to €150 from this week in a new effort by Minister for the Environment John Gormley to crack down on litter louts.

In Focus

Head2Head
Do we need more detailed food labelling?
Business poll
Will Hibernian pay a price for offshoring some of its customer service operations?
Education
Full education coverage

World

UN envoy meets Suu Kyi but is snubbed by junta
BURMA: The UN special envoy tasked with brokering a compromise in the Burma crisis extended his mission into today after holding talks with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, but failing to gain an audience with pivotal military leader Gen Tan Shwe. p
Rebels kill peacekeepers in attack on Darfur base
SUDAN: Hundreds of rebels overran an African Union camp in Darfur, killing at least 10 soldiers and leaving 50 unaccounted for, in the deadliest assault since the peacekeeping mission began three years ago. p
Cameron plans 'great fightback' for Tory party
UK: David Cameron has promised "the great Conservative fight-back" this week despite a poll suggesting British voters are eager for an early election and overwhelmingly expect Gordon Brown to win it. p
'I ask myself if Europeans really know us'
INSIDE TURKEY: Turks are unsure whether they will ever be accepted into the EU, reports Lara Marlowe from Istanbul, in the first of a series of reports p

Ireland

New rules on nursing homes delayed to next year
Some 100 submissions from members of the public and other interested parties have been lodged in response to a request for views on draft quality standards for nursing homes. A working group will meet later this month to consider the submissions. p
HSE to tell unions freeze will continue
The Health Service Executive is expected to tell unions representing around 100,000 staff today that the controversial cost-containment plan, aimed at tackling the organisation's major financial deficit, is to continue. p
Ó Cuív says time to plan future after Shannon decision
Negative campaigning over the loss of the Shannon-Heathrow air link is selling the mid-west region short, according to Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív. p
New Liberty Hall shortlist
A shortlist of six architects firms has been drawn up to design a replacement for Liberty Hall in the centre of Dublin. p
'I have never got an improper payment'
In his article published in the Sunday Independent , Taoiseach Bertie Ahern defended his integrity p
New group proposed after State jobs ruling
The Department of Finance has proposed that a high-level group should be established to consider the implications of a recent Labour Court ruling which effectively prohibited State agencies from making promotions conditional on staff being prepared to move out of Dublin. p
Shooting claims Irish-born soldier
The United States military is investigating the shooting dead of an Irish-born soldier in Afghanistan late last week. p
Fair weather perfect for horsing around
Clothes horses can mark Ballinasloe's Great October Fair down in their diaries - and that's official. For the second year in a row, Wellington boots were superfluous on the fair green as some 70,000 people, horses, ponies and donkeys basked in mid-teen temperatures. p
Tesco defends prices in Republic
Tesco Ireland has defended itself against claims of overcharging after a survey released by another supermarket chain claimed Tesco branches in the Republic charge an average of 15 per cent more than stores in Britain or Northern Ireland. p

Finance

Quinlan seeks €400m to fund Jurys plans
Quinlan Private is seeking to raise €400 million from private investors to fund the €1.165 billion takeover and expansion of Jurys Inns. p
Hasbro pays out €63m dividend
Waterford-based games manufacturer Hasbro Ireland, which laid off 140 workers last November, paid a €63 million dividend to its US parent in December 2005, according to accounts just filed. p
Operating profits at Chivers fall 50%
Operating profits at Irish food group Chivers, which was sold to UK-based Premier Foods earlier this year for £21 million (€32 million), tumbled more than 50 per cent last year to just over €1 million as sales fell 19 per cent to €34.2 million from €43.2 million in 2005. p
Profits rise 62% at Des Kelly Carpets
Home furnishing group Des Kelly Carpets saw profits soar 62 per cent last year to almost €2 million as sales at the Dublin-based group rose. p

Sport

Irreconcilable breakdown
Rugby World Cup: One banner said it all: Argentina existe . Ireland, alas, no longer exist in the 2007 Coupe du Monde, going out in the pool stages for the first time ever. p
It's all too easy for Faldo and his troops
Golf/ Seve Trophy : As it turned out, Nick Faldo didn't need any Irish meat in the stew; nor did he need any rub of the green. p
Alonso challenge melts in the rain
Formula One/ Japanese Grand Prix : Lewis Hamilton's lead in the drivers' championship looks insurmountable, writes Justin Hynes . p