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Members of the Special Olympics TEAM Ireland, accompanied by Hollywood actor Colin Farrell, during the Parade of Athletes at the opening ceremony of the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai Stadium.

Photograph: Ray McManus

Tough budget likely after shortfall in tax returns
New figures showing the slowdown in the property market is hitting Government finances harder than expected make a tough budget in December all but certain.
Bank chief calls for IDA and NI equivalent to merge
The Industrial Development Authority in the Republic and its northern equivalent, Invest Northern Ireland, should be merged, the chairman of the Ulster Bank Group, Dr Alan Gillespie, has urged.
Aer Lingus poses threat to partnership - Siptu chief
The president of the country's largest trade union Siptu has said that if social partnership is to survive, Government and employer representatives will have to bring into line companies such as Aer Lingus which are in clear breach of national agreements.

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Ireland

400 to sue over nursing home charges
The Department of Health is now facing more than 400 sets of legal proceedings in relation to patients who claim they were illegally charged for their stay in nursing home beds. p
Shannon protest exaggerated - report
The campaign led by midwest companies protesting at Aer Lingus's decision to end flights between Shannon and Heathrow is exaggerated, a report drawn up by senior civil servants has found. p
Gilmartin accused of 'repeated untruths'
Claims that Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin received a five-figure sum from developer Owen O'Callaghan were not true, counsel for the Minister said yesterday. p
CRH link to pollution - MEPs' report
A Cement Roadstone-owned brick factory is the "probable" cause of pollution on a Kilkenny farm afflicted by stunted cattle, dead trees and low milk yields, the European Parliament has charged. p
Games open amid dazzling fanfare
It began with a single Chinese Special Olympics athlete and a drum that symbolised his heartbeat: it built up to a stunning spectacle involving unimaginable numbers of people in a drama of flowing movement and colour, writes Arminta Wallace in Shanghai p
Hospital sues woman it saved with transfusion
A landmark legal action over a Dublin maternity hospital's decision to administer a life-saving blood transfusion to a member of the Jehovah's Witness community has opened before the High Court. The woman contends she gave no consent to the blood transfusion and was entitled to refuse consent because of her religion. p
Thousands pay respects at funeral of second firefighter
They needed a fire truck to carry all the flowers. There wasn't an inch of room on the special appliance fire truck with its hydraulic platform as it led the funeral cortege through the streets of Bray. p
Journeys on Metro North line would cost €22 - study
Every trip on the proposed Metro North line between Swords and Dublin city centre would cost taxpayers at least €22 and possibly a lot more, according to an independent study commissioned by Fine Gael Senator Paschal Donohoe. p
Dunnes copied my top, claims designer
Dunnes Stores unlawfully commissioned and sold copies of clothes designed by UK fashion group, Mosaic, the High Court heard yesterday. p

World

Iraq troop withdrawal steals Tory thunder
BRITAIN: Prime minister Gordon Brown has added to speculation about a snap election with his announcement that 1,000 troops could be home from Iraq by Christmas. p
Blackwater criticised over report on shootings
US: Blackwater, a private security firm that protects United States diplomats in Iraq, has come under heavy criticism from a congressional committee following a report that the company's personnel have been involved in almost 200 shooting incidents since 2005. p
Al-Fayed accuses royals over death of Diana
BRITAIN: The inquest into Princess Diana's death in a Paris car crash 10 years ago opened yesterday with accusations that the British royal family ordered her death. p
MEPs defeat attempt to prevent loss of Irish seat
EU: A government attempt to amend a controversial proposal that would reduce the number of Irish MEPs at the European Parliament failed yesterday. p

Finance

Tesco Ireland's revenues rise to €1.29bn
Tesco Ireland's revenues rose by 8 per cent to €1.29 billion in the six months until the end of August, according to figures provided by the supermarket giant to stock market analysts. p
Boost for Irish shares as global markets steady
Irish shares climbed by more than 4 per cent yesterday as investors took faith in suggestions that the worst of the credit crunch could be over. p
Blackrock and Total Produce in land deal
Blackrock International Land and Total Produce - both companies spun out of Fyffes - have formed a joint venture to buy 135 acres in Co Dublin from the McCann family. p

Sport

Rooney torments Roma
Manchester Utd 1 AS Roma 0: Manchester United opened up a clear lead in Group F by proving fractionally better than Roma. This was in keeping with their muted yet mostly effective showings in the Premier League. There was great distinction, though, to the goal with which Wayne Rooney opened his account for the season. p
Embarrassment of riches means Howlett and Mauger not in 22
New Zealand v France: For New Zealand and their All Blacks, the 2007 Coupe du Monde starts now. Their predictable jaunt through the pool stages having been completed with 309 points and 46 tries scored in four matches (and just four conceded) they move to Cardiff ahead of the anticipated invasion of 20,000-plus of their supporters. p
Terry sprints back
$Chelsea captain John Terry sports a mask to protect his fractured cheek during a training session at the Mestalla Stadium, Valencia, yesterday. Terry will lead his side in tonight's Champions League match against Valencia.$ SOCCER/Group B/Valencia v Chelsea: John Terry will complete a remarkable recovery tonight when he captains Chelsea at the Mestalla Stadium little more than 72 hours after undergoing surgery on a fractured cheekbone. There were fears that Terry might be out for up to six weeks when he suffered the injury on Saturday after he was struck by Fulham striker Clint Dempsey's elbow, but, aided by a mask, the 26-year-old has made clear his desire to play. p
Cisse back on Merseyside
Group A/Liverpool v Marseille: History suggests there is no way back for a player who falls from grace with Rafael Benitez and the consequences of crossing the Liverpool manager should be apparent to Peter Crouch at Anfield tonight in the shape of the man wearing the number nine jersey for Marseille. p