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The helmet and uniform of firefighter Mark O'Shaughnessy are carried ahead of his coffin as it leaves the Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace in Bray, Co Wicklow, yesterday.

Photograph: Eric Luke

Putin may become Russia's PM to retain power
Vladimir Putin yesterday gave the strongest hint yet that he will remain at the centre of power in Russia for the foreseeable future, saying the possibility of him becoming prime minister after the presidential election in March was "entirely realistic".
Politicians 'spineless' over X case inaction, says bishop
A Church of Ireland bishop has strongly attacked the "systemic spinelessness" of politicians in failing to enact legislation to allow for abortion following the X case.
Security flaw leaves Eircom customers open to hackers
Up to a quarter of a million Eircom customers could be inadvertently sharing their broadband connections with strangers due to a security flaw in products supplied by the telecoms company.

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Ireland

Health Unions to meet over HSE staff ban
Health service unions are to meet tomorrow to plan their response to the decision by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to extend its ban on recruitment for at least another month. p
Cowen rejects Kenny criticism of Taoiseach
As the controversy over the Taoiseach's personal finances continued yesterday, the Tánaiste, Brian Cowen, rejected claims by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny that Bertie Ahern had lost the moral authority to govern. p
Coroner refuses to adjourn shooting inquest
The Dublin City Coroner has refused an application by the Garda Ombudsman Commission to adjourn an inquest into the death of a man who was shot by a member of the Garda Emergency Response Unit during a foiled post-office raid in Lusk, on the grounds that it was an unreasonable and disproportionate request. p
Dunlop denies lying over Lawlor meeting
Mahon tribunal: Former Fianna Fáil press secretary Frank Dunlop has denied lying to the planning tribunal when he gave evidence in 2000. p
Council rejects Dunne's giant tower
Dublin city councillors have rejected Seán Dunne's proposed high-rise development, which includes a 37-storey tower, on the site of the former Jurys and Berkeley Court hotels in Ballsbridge on the grounds that it contravenes the city development plan. p
Goodwill army puts China to test
The people of China are used to armies on the march. Military movements of one kind or another have, after all, played a central role in Chinese history, from the terracotta soldiers which once escorted Chinese emperors to the afterlife to the 6,000-mile march which, in 1936, gave Mao Zedong's forces victory over the Kuomintang. p
Gormley makes order to protect fort near Tara
Minister for the Environment John Gormley has used his powers under the National Monuments Acts to make a temporary preservation order for Rath Lugh, a prehistoric promontory fort associated with Tara alongside the route of the M3 motorway. p
Prelate calls for community cohesion, active citizenship to overcome violence
The challenge of violence in society may only be overcome by "the mobilisation of communities" and by active citizenship, the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin has said. p
Thousands attend funeral of Bray fireman
In his Leaving Cert year, Mark O'Shaughnessy wrote an article called "A Parting Note" in the school yearbook. p
Migrant child benefit claims fall
There has been a significant fall this year in the number of child benefit claims made by EU migrant workers whose children are living in their home country. p

Finance

New Irish owners to develop 'Racing Post'
The Racing Post 's new Irish owners plan to expand the brand into international markets and have lined up a number of senior management changes at the title. p
EU postal markets opened to rivals from 2011
EU communications ministers have agreed to open most of Europe's postal market to full competition from 2011. p
Business poll shows firms still positive about future
Senior executives feel relatively upbeat about the prospects for their own firms, but are becoming more concerned about the outlook for the overall economy, a survey has found. p
Nissan dealer EP Mooney posts pretax losses of €1.7m for 2006
EP Mooney, the family-owned Nissan dealership, suffered a pretax loss in 2006 of €1.7 million on a turnover of €108.7 million, according to accounts filed with the Companies Office. p

World

UN envoy to meet leader of Burma today
BURMA: The UN special envoy seeking a resolution to the bloody crisis in Burma (Myanmar) is to meet the regime's top general today to deliver a tough message that the killings which left at least 13 protesters dead must stop. p
De Menezes killed after 'catastrophic' series of errors by Scotland Yard
BRITAIN: An innocent man was shot dead and the lives of commuters and police officers were needlessly put at risk because of a series of "catastrophic" management errors by senior Scotland Yard officers, an Old Bailey jury head in London yesterday. p
Yanukovich refuses to concede defeat in Ukrainian election
UKRAINE: Prime minister Viktor Yanukovich demanded a chance to form a new Ukrainian government yesterday, despite election results indicating that the leaders of the so-called Orange Revolution had enough support to oust him from office. p

Sport

Browne rushes to the defence
RUGBY: Having already moved with indecent haste before the World Cup to extend Eddie O'Sullivan's contract by four years, the IRFU chief executive, Philip Browne, last night reacted with even more astonishing speed in backing the Ireland coach until 2012. p
United wary of fired-up Roma
SOCCER/Champions League Group F/Manchester United v AS Roma: Wayne Rooney is expecting Roma to come out with all guns blazing tonight at Old Trafford to avenge last season's 7-1 humiliation by Manchester United. p
Brennan to have 'talks about talks' with Australians
GAELIC GAMES: As the void left by the cancelling of this year's International Rules series now hits home, the GAA have finally confirmed talks with their Australian counterparts, designed to at least discover whether the series has any immediate future. p