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Taoiseach Bertie Ahern joins in the traditional annual Christmas choral service at the Department of the Taoiseach, Government Buildings, in Dublin yesterday.
Photograph: Dara MacDónaill
Reinstate offence of statutory rape, says report
Two constitutional amendments are proposed in the reports of the special rapporteurs on child protection, which went to the Cabinet yesterday.Uncertainty in South Africa as Zuma wins ANC election
South African politics has entered a new era with the election of Jacob Zuma as president of the ruling African National Congress. The 65-year-old former guerilla fighter scored a resounding victory over Thabo Mbeki, setting up the prospect of him becoming the next president of South Africa in 2009.Ahern announces exemption for schools from water bills
Schools are to be given a two-year exemption from paying full local authority water bills following a Government climbdown yesterday.
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Motors
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Refugee protection ruling
High Court asylum seeker protection ruling
Education
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Ireland
Businessman asked to bring 'a few bob' to help a friend
Manchester-based businessman John Kennedy told the Mahon
tribunal he was asked to "bring a few bob" to a dinner in
Manchester in 1994 to "help a friend". pCoroner warns about cocaine-related deaths
The Dublin county coroner yesterday issued a stark warning about the dangers of using drugs including cocaine, which he termed "by far the biggest killer" of all. pIreland has fastest growing population in EU
Ireland has the fastest growing population in the EU, driven
mainly by continuing high levels of immigration. pChildren attend psychiatric units
Children as young as six years of age were admitted to psychiatric units last year, according to a report out yesterday. p'Damaged, dangerous' man gets seven years for rape
A young man described as "damaged and dangerous" has been jailed
for seven years by Ms Justice Maureen Clark at the Central Criminal
Court for raping a woman in Dublin two years ago. pStabbing suspect sought hospital help three times
Gardaí are still waiting to interview a man with mental health problems about the stabbing to death of another man in Dublin last weekend. pTributes paid to Gene Fitzgerald
Former government minister and MEP Gene Fitzgerald left a legacy
of achievement at community, county, national and European level,
Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin
told mourners at Mr Fitzgerald's funeral yesterday. pContainerholds list of1916 fallen
A 12-year-old girl killed in crossfire during the 1916 Rising
was one of those named on a time-capsule parchment which was
reburied at Glasnevin Cemetery yesterday. pFormer doctor in court on deception charges
A former doctor from Co Clare has appeared in court on charges
arising out of allegations that he treated terminally-ill cancer
patients in return for payments ranging from €100 to
€20,000. p
Finance
IN&M to acquire 'Sligo Champion' newspaper
Independent News & Media has agreed to acquire the Sligo Champion newspaper subject to the completion of due diligence and regulatory approval. pZetar pays up to €8m for Lir Chocolates
Navan-based Lir Chocolates has been acquired for up to €8
million by Zetar plc, a UK publicly quoted holding food group. pKingspan shares close 21% down
Shares in the Cavan-based building materials group Kingspan fell as much as 25 per cent yesterday after it said profit growth will slow in 2008 due to "more challenging" construction markets in the UK, the Republic and western Europe. p
World
Clegg wins Lib Dem leadership
BRITAIN: Hot favourite Nick Clegg won the
leadership of Britain's Liberal Democrats yesterday, but with just
a 511-vote majority over rival Chris Huhne. pIrish support EU but feel left out of decision-making
EU: Irish people strongly support the EU but feel their voice does not count when it comes to decision-making, the latest Eurobarometer survey shows. pTymoshenko is Ukraine prime minister for second time
UKRAINE: The charismatic orange revolution leader
Yulia Tymoshenko has become Ukraine's prime minister for the second
time, after scraping through a parliamentary vote that appears to
end months of political deadlock. p
Sport
Fudge impossible to stomach
RUGBY/World Cup review: The Ireland players and
those who pay to support them are entitled to feel taken for a
ride, writes
Gerry Thornley pReserves of character win out
SOCCER/Blackburn 2 Arsenal 3 (after extra time): Arsène Wenger's reserves showed reserves of character to finally oust Blackburn Rovers from the League Cup on their own Ewood Park ground. pNo end in sight to Cork dispute
GAA: Cork officials and players are remaining
tight-lipped about the potential outcome of this evening's meeting
aimed at resolving the dispute over the appointment of team
managements. p
Motors
SGS to triple driving test capacity
The private firm carrying out driving tests is to more than triple its capacity by training up to 130 extra staff over the coming weeks.
