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

Opposition says Ahern's fitness to lead now in doubt
THE LATEST disclosures at the Mahon tribunal about the lodgement of £15,500 sterling into Bertie Ahern's building society account raise doubts about his ability to continue in office, according to the Opposition.
Regulator starts inquiry into 'false rumours' about banks
THE FINANCIAL Regulator has started an inquiry into "false and misleading rumours" about the fiscal health of two Irish financial institutions in light of unusual volatility in their share prices.
Sonia O'Sullivan prepares for one more attempt at Olympic glory
SONIA O'SULLIVAN still holds an impressive eight Irish athletics records, but at age 38 she has not given up on chasing one more. It emerged yesterday that she will run next month's Boston Marathon with the hope of qualifying for the Beijing Olympics next August.

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Ireland

Financial adviser faces £3.6m laundering charges
A FINANCIAL adviser has been charged with 10 counts of money laundering, while a second man has been charged with possession of ammunition following an investigation by the Garda into the Northern Bank robbery in Belfast in 2004. p
NRA restarts work claiming M3 protesters broke truce
THE NATIONAL Roads Authority (NRA) has withdrawn its commitment to refrain from work on the M3 near Rath Lugh in Co Meath, after what it said was continual "violent protests", and damage to fencing and equipment. p
No more funding for schools computers, says Hanafin
THE GOVERNMENT is unwilling to invest in computers in schools beyond the €252 million promised in the National Development Plan (NDP), the Minister for Education, Mary Hanafin, signalled yesterday. p
Nigerian family can take case to High Court
THE WOMAN and her two daughters who are facing deportation to Nigeria have been granted permission to fight their case in the High Court. p
Pubs and clubs urged to install CCTVs
AGSI ANNUAL CONFERENCE: THE GOVERNMENT should introduce legislation that legally obliges pub and nightclub owners to install CCTV systems in an effort to deal with serious assaults, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) has said. p
Archbishop says Dublin is 'mission territory' for church
EVERY HOUSE in the Dublin archdiocese is to be visited by a representative of the Catholic Church next year as part of a major programme of evangelisation announced by the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, yesterday. p
Talks to avert ambulance strike to restart next week
TALKS AIMED at averting a threatened national strike by ambulance personnel next month are to reconvene next Thursday following more than three hours of talks yesterday between the trade union Siptu and health service management. p
Unionists furious at President's remarks on royal visit
BRITISH MONARCH Queen Elizabeth concluded her three-day visit to Northern Ireland by attending the first royal Maundy service in Armagh yesterday - the first time it has been held outside England or Wales. p
Two held over fatal stabbing of taxi driver
A MAN and a woman were arrested last night in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 31-year-old off-duty taxi driver in Blanchardstown, west Dublin, on Tuesday night. p
Proposal to regulate use of jet-skis gets mixed reaction
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR tougher laws regulating the use of jet-skis have been greeted with a mixed reaction by a number of sailing and boating organisations. p

World

Thousands of armed Chinese troops pour into Tibet
TIBET: TIBET SECURITY forces in Lhasa searched houses for rioters and made two dozen arrests as they continued their crackdown on anti-Chinese protests that killed an unknown number of people and brought turmoil to Tibet and surrounding regions last week. CLIFFORD COONAN , China Correspondent, reports. p
46% Irish surveyed gave negative view of US
BRITAIN: A MAJORITY of Irish people favour closer relations with the United States but large numbers consider the US to have a negative influence in the world today, a new survey exploring transatlantic relations has found. MARY FITZGERALD , Foreign Affairs Correspondent, reports. p
Pastor row puts Clinton in poll lead
US: HILLARY CLINTON opened an opinion poll lead over Barack Obama for the first time in weeks yesterday in the wake of the row over his pastor's sermons that have forced him on the defensive. p
Cyprus reunification talks get under way
CYPRUS: While the atmospherics are positive Turkish and Greek leaders remain far apart on the shape of a future union, writes MICHAEL JANSEN. p

Finance

Qualceram shares rise 2% on takeover approach
SHARES IN Arklow-based bathroom products maker Qualceram Shires closed up more than 2 per cent yesterday at €1 after the company said it had received an "unsolicited preliminary expression of interest" from a third party. p
Growth slows as balance of payments deficit hits €9bn
ECONOMIC GROWTH in the Republic is losing momentum. The annual rate of growth in real Gross National Product (GNP) decelerated to 1.2 per cent in the last quarter of 2007. And the country recorded its biggest-ever balance of payments deficit - €9 billion - in cash terms last year, according to data released by the Central Statistics Office. p
CRH makes foray into Indian cement market in €290m deal
BUILDING MATERIALS giant CRH is set to make its first foray into India with a €290 million deal. The Irish group said yesterday that it has agreed to buy 50 per cent of Hyderabad-based My Home Industries Ltd (MHIL), one of the biggest cement producers in India's southern region. p

Sport

IRFU must decide the what before the who
RUGBY: THE IRFU will be in no hurry to appoint a successor to Eddie O'Sullivan, who formally resigned as Ireland coach on Wednesday night. The priority for the union now is to first decide upon the job specification before beginning a search in earnest for O'Sullivan's successor, writes JOHN O'SULLIVAN. p
Hutton accepts apology from Cole
SOCCER: ASHLEY COLE issued public apologies to Alan Hutton and the referee Mike Riley last night for the ugly tackle that left the Tottenham Hotspur full back writhing on the turf just before half-time in Wednesday's fiercely competitive draw at White Hart Lane, as well as his dismissive reaction to the official as he was subsequently shown a yellow card. p