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Muslim pilgrims surround the Kaaba (the Sacred or Primordial House) while performing Friday prayer inside the Grand Mosque in Meca yesterday. About 1.5 million Muslims are expected to arrive in Saudi Arabia for the haj pilgrimage.
Photograph: Ali Jarekji/Reuters
Climate agreement close after all-night bargaining
Almost 190 countries from all over the world were last night on the brink of striking a deal on how a comprehensive new agreement aimed at tackling global warming is to be negotiated over the next two years.Leaders agree EU must focus on practical issues
EU leaders have pledged to tackle practical challenges facing citizens after agreeing there would be no more institutional reforms to the EU for the "foreseeable future".Orthopaedic consultant named as tax defaulter
Orthopaedic consultant Brian Hurson was yesterday named as the tax defaulter who failed in court this week to stop the Revenue Commissioners publishing details of a €1.1 million settlement.
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Refugee protection ruling
High Court asylum seeker protection ruling
Education
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Ireland
Car ownership reaches all-time high
Car ownership in Ireland has reached a new high with one private
car for almost every two adults living in the State, according to
the Central Statistics Office (CSO) transport figures for 2006. pCourt overturns misconduct findings
Two consultant obstetricians have won a High Court order
overturning as "unlawful" findings of professional misconduct
against them by the Medical Council over their 1998 reports about
the obstetric practice of Dr Michael Neary at Our Lady of Lourdes
Hospital in Drogheda. pDaughter tells of butcher's loan to Ahern
Mahon tribunal: The daughter of a deceased Dublin butcher told the tribunal yesterday that her mother confirmed a loan to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern of £2,500 in 1993, as part of a dig-out among friends. pCourt rules State failed to protect endangered birds
Europe's highest court has ruled the Government broke EU law by
failing to adequately protect some of Ireland's most endangered
bird species. pCommission U-turn on schools water charges
The European Commission has backtracked on its declaration this week that the Government can exempt schools from paying water charges, which leave some facing bills of €10,000 a year. pMissing Laois man's rucksack found in hostel
A rucksack belonging to an Irish backpacker missing in South
America, has been found at a hostel in El Calafate, Argentina. pCityJet to operate route from Shannon to Paris
The Government offered no financial incentives to Air France in
advance of an announcement yesterday that it will operate a
twice-daily service from Shannon airport to Paris Charles de Gaulle
from February, the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, said
yesterday. pFirefighters turn hose on sword attacker
Firefighters in Dundalk were forced to turn a water hose on a 24-year-old man who went to attack them wielding a samurai sword. The firefighters had been trying to extinguish a burning car in Marion Park, Dundalk, when they were attacked by a man who was apparently trying to set fire to another car. pTrader tried to claim €101,000 in VAT scam
A trader who started up a snack food business tried to defraud the State of more than €101,000 with his first VAT return. pGAA club loses court challenge over stadium
A Dublin GAA club has lost a High Court challenge to a decision that the new Shamrock Rovers stadium in Tallaght will be developed as a soccer-only venue rather than a larger-sized playing area suitable for Gaelic sports. pInjury death rates high - study
A new study has revealed that people in the Republic are more likely to die as a result of an injury than those in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. p
Finance
Landsbanki scales back interest in Irish Nationwide
Icelandic bank Landsbanki is drawing back from the race for the Irish Nationwide Building Society only six weeks before its managing director, Michael Fingleton, must retire from its board when he turns 70. p
World
Devil is in the detail as talks enter key phase
BALI CONFERENCE : The crafting of language
preoccupied negotiators at the final all-night session of the UN
conference, writes
Frank McDonald. pSuitcase of cash opens Argentina, US wounds
ARGENTINA: Argentine and Venezuelan officials have angrily denounced a US criminal case linking a suitcase full of cash from Caracas to the campaign of newly installed Argentine president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. pLetters to Dodi read out at Diana inquest
BRITAIN: More than 10 years after Princess Diana and Dodi al-Fayed died, the emotional turmoil generated reduced one witness to tears and upset another, writes Owen Bowcott in London. pSerbia angered by EU move to send mission to Kosovo
EU SUMMIT : EU leaders have agreed to send an EU
police and civilian administration mission to Kosovo despite strong
opposition from Serbia. p
Sport
Capello gets under starting orders
International Soccer: Fabio Capello was appointed
as England coach last night following the conclusion of
negotiations between his legal team and English Football
Association officials at Soho Square. p
