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

Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel shares a laugh with France's president Nicolas Sarkozy outside Lisbon's 16th-century Jeronimos Monastery after signing the EU treaty in Lisbon yesterday.

Photograph: AP/Armando Franca

EU treaty rejection would cut us adrift, says Ahern
Ireland would "cut ourselves apart" from the European Union if there is a No vote in next year's referendum on the EU reform treaty, the Taoiseach has warned.
EU may boycott US climate change talks
The EU may boycott US-sponsored talks on global warming involving the world's 17 major greenhouse gas emitting countries next month unless the US delegation at the UN Climate Change Conference agrees to a meaningful "Bali road map".
College director arrested in Garda immigration inquiry
The director of a private third-level college in Dublin was arrested yesterday by gardaí investigating suspected bogus institutions aimed at foreign students, The Irish Times has learned.

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Finance

Law firm asked society about move to seize Lynn's passport
A law firm involved in the legal actions against missing solicitor Michael Lynn wrote to the Law Society in recent weeks asking whether it intended taking steps to seize his passport. p
Only UTV left in race to buy O'Brien's FM104 station
Belfast-based broadcaster UTV is in exclusive talks with Denis O'Brien to buy Dublin local radio station FM104 for about €50 million. This follows the withdrawal late on Wednesday of a joint bid by Vienna Investments, which is backed by the former owners of FM104, Plainfield Asset Management from the United States and Liberty Global, owner of the NTL and Chorus cable TV operations. p
Inflation at 5% on fuel hike
The rise in the Consumer Price Index, from 4.8 per cent in October, brings the inflation rate back to July levels, with overall prices having risen by 0.6 per cent between October and November. p
Transport fuel cost €5.5bn
Motorists and businesses spent €5.5 billion on the oil products needed to fuel transport in the Republic last year, the latest figures show. p

Ireland

Reilly denies making up donation evidence
Mahon tribunal: Paddy "the Plasterer" Reilly has denied "making up" evidence about how he gave Bertie Ahern a contribution of £3,500. p
O'Dea says doubt over powers may limit Garda drug raids
Gardaí should be increasing the number of raids they conduct on private parties and clubs if they suspect the misuse of drugs on such premises, but may not be doing so due to some doubt about their powers in this regard, Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea said yesterday. p
Carlow girl in running for Golden Globe award
Carlow schoolgirl Saoirse Ronan (13) has been nominated as best supporting actress in the Golden Globe nominations announced in Los Angeles yesterday. p
Bishops welcome State community schools
Catholic bishops have welcomed a decision by Minister for Education Mary Hanafin to approve plans for two State-run community primary schools in Dublin. p
Judge imposes jail terms in gun cases
Possession of guns and ammunition in the present climate is a matter that "has to attract a prison sentence", a senior judge has warned. p
Byrne breaks down at launch of road ad
Chairman of the Road Safety Authority Gay Byrne broke down and people in the audience wept during the launch of the authority's latest advertising campaign, "Crashed Lives", yesterday. p
Singing carols before Christmas 'absurd'
No carols should be used in church until Christmas Eve and carol services should be restricted to the Christmas season only, Fr Vincent Twomey has said. The former professor of moral theology at St Patrick's College Maynooth said that "singing Christmas hymns before Christmas . . . is absurd." p
Parties spent €11m on election
Political parties spent some €11 million during the three-week general election campaign last May. However, the State watchdog for standards in public office warned yesterday that gaps in the law mean this figure may be just a fraction of the real cost. p
OPW joint ventures to develop State sites for €125m
The Office of Public Works (OPW) has entered into joint ventures with the private sector for the development of three State-owned sites in Dublin city centre which it said could generate up to €125 million for the exchequer. p

World

Candidates avoid personal attacks
US: Democratic presidential candidates have promised to end the Iraq war, close the Guantánamo Bay detention centre, restore civil liberties and balance the federal budget. In their final debate before the Iowa caucus in three weeks, the candidates avoided personal clashes and revealed few major policy differences. p
Home secretary urged to abandon detention plans
BRITAIN: The Labour government's anti-terrorism strategy remained under pressure yesterday when the home affairs select committee said ministers had failed to make the case for holding suspects without charge beyond the current 28-day limit. p
Liberties curbed in extremists' rise to power
MIDDLE EAST: Women are the main victims of increasing fundamentalism in Iraq, writes Michael Jansen p

Sport

England to pin hopes on Capello
SOCCER: Negotiations between the English Football Association and Fabio Capello will continue today after a debate among the FA board members delayed the expected confirmation of the Italian as Steve McClaren's successor. p
Dunne aiming to kick on from here
RUGBY/European Challenge Cup : Connacht outhalf Andrew Dunne refuses to buy into the black-and-white definition of his career. Sure, he is the focus of attention this week after landing a late drop-goal and penalty to see off a Newcastle team that included Jonny Wilkinson and the All Black goliath Carl Hayman. p
Grant gets four-year vote of confidence
SOCCER: Roman Abramovich yesterday showed his faith in Avram Grant by giving the Chelsea manager a four-year contract. The club's owner has been sufficiently impressed by how Grant has responded to the challenge of succeeding Jose Mourinho, who left the position in September, to entrust him with the next phase of his vision for Chelsea. p

Features

Epic on a human scale
Afghan reaction to a rape scene in The Kite Runner caused trouble for the child actor involved, but the film's legacy will be benign, its star tells Patrick Barkham p