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Emergency personnel inspect part of the undercarriage of a British Airways aircraft at London's Heathrow airport following an emergency landing yesterday. The flight from China crash-landed, injuring three people.

Photograph: Gill Allen

PD founder tells party to quit Coalition or dissolve
A key member of the Progressive Democrats has called on the party to either pull out of Government as the first step in a revival strategy or else dissolve itself forthwith, instead of continuing to drift "aimlessly and rudderless."
Inflation falls back to 4.7% as price pressures ease
Prices virtually marked time during the Christmas rush, rising by just one-tenth of 1 per cent. As a result, the annual rate of consumer price inflation eased back to 4.7 per cent in December from 5.0 per cent in November, according to the Consumer Price Index published yesterday by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
Revenue holiday shopping operation yielded €22,921
A Revenue operation to enforce compliance with the tax laws by transatlantic Christmas shoppers yielded just €22,921 in VAT and duty, a Dáil committee was told yesterday.

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Additional hospital beds bill could reach €4bn
The exchequer is facing a €4 billion bill to provide thousands of additional acute hospital beds for public patients over the next decade or so if the health service continues to operate its existing model of care, a major new report given yesterday by the Health Service Executive to trade union leaders has found. p
Maintenance firm loses two of its Aer Lingus contracts
Dublin-based aircraft maintenance group SR Technics has lost two of its four contracts with Aer Lingus and fears have been expressed within the company that the loss of the other remaining business could put it out of business. p
Doctor critical after hospital stabbing
A psychiatrist was in a critical condition in hospital last night and a colleague was also being treated after they were stabbed a number of times at a psychiatric day hospital in Limerick. p
Developer paid £360,000 in legal fees for Dunlop
Cork developer Owen O'Callaghan paid more than £360,000 (€457,000) in tribunal legal fees for lobbyist Frank Dunlop, the Mahon tribunal was told yesterday. p
Air traffic controllers' dispute referred to LRC
A dispute involving air traffic controllers which threatens to disrupt flights at Dublin airport is to be referred to the Labour Relations Commission. p
Ireland 'losing out' on film investment
Ireland lost more than €100 million of potential investment in major feature films last year because of competition from abroad, the Irish Film Board (IFB) has said. p
Protection of privacy remains vulnerable, says expert
The newly-established Press Council and Ombudsman may not satisfy the privacy protection standards of the European Court of Human Rights, according to an expert on privacy law. p
Corruption fears not grounds to end aid - Ahern
Ireland cannot abandon Third World countries even in cases of governmental corruption, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has declared, speaking in Tanzania yesterday. p
Community 'not ready to move on'
The Eames-Bradley Consultative Group on the Past could finally recommend to the British government that nothing can be done at this stage to come to terms with the legacy of the Troubles. p
Man to be extradited on child trafficking charges
The High Court has ordered the extradition to the Netherlands of a man for allegedly trafficking children from Africa to Europe, where they are used as prostitutes. p

Finance

Payzone shares suspended in London
Shares in electronic payments group Payzone were suspended in London yesterday until High Court proceedings involving the company and its chief executive John Nagle and chief financial officer John Williamson have concluded. p
Insomnia coffee shop chain taken over
The Irish-owned Insomnia chain of coffee shops has been taken over by the Icelandic conglomerate Penninn in a deal that values the business at €16 million. p
Strike threat over ESB plant closures
The ESB could push ahead with the closure of some of its older power plants by the end of this year. p

World

Backing of food union could be decisive for Obama
US: The roulette wheels never stop spinning and the slot machines don't stop churning at the Bellagio, the opulent Las Vegas casino featured in Ocean's Eleven, but service could be a little slow tomorrow morning. p
Putin faces uphill task on gas deal
RUSSIA: Vladimir Putin faced protests and unexpectedly tricky negotiations when he landed in Bulgaria last night on his final planned foreign trip as Russia's president. p
Odinga says police are 'executing citizens'
KENYA: Protesters battled police armed with batons, tear-gas and live rounds for a second day yesterday as opposition leaders in Kenya said they were planning an economic boycott to force President Mwai Kibaki to back down over disputed elections. p

Sport

O'Leary turns down Ireland
Soccer/News: As FAI chief executive John Delaney put in time catching up on how the search for Steve Staunton's successor is progressing, and speculation mounted that long-time favourite Terry Venables might be appointed next week, David O'Leary and Steve Coppell yesterday made it clear they are not contenders for the job. p
Captain O'Gara anxious to hit ground running
Rugby/European Cup Pool Five: Tomorrow's epic-in-waiting at Thomond Park will, fittingly, be adorned by the kind of ensemble cast such a plot demands. p
Kaymer states his case
European Tour: It is, as Padraig Harrington describes it, a time for a changing of the guard on the European Tour. On Wednesday evening, in a Q&A session at the pro-am dinner on the eve of the 1.3 million Abu Dhabi Championship, the British Open champion turned prophet and predicted that Europe's Ryder Cup team for the defence of the trophy in Kentucky come September could have as many as six newcomers. p

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PD founder tells party to quit Coalition or dissolve

Inflation falls back to 4.7% as price pressures ease

Revenue holiday shopping operation yielded €22,921

Head2Head

Business poll

Education

Additional hospital beds bill could reach €4bn

Maintenance firm loses two of its Aer Lingus contracts

Doctor critical after hospital stabbing

Developer paid £360,000 in legal fees for Dunlop

Air traffic controllers' dispute referred to LRC

Ireland 'losing out' on film investment

Protection of privacy remains vulnerable, says expert

Corruption fears not grounds to end aid - Ahern

Community 'not ready to move on'

Man to be extradited on child trafficking charges

Payzone shares suspended in London

Insomnia coffee shop chain taken over

Strike threat over ESB plant closures

Backing of food union could be decisive for Obama

Putin faces uphill task on gas deal

Odinga says police are 'executing citizens'

O'Leary turns down Ireland

Captain O'Gara anxious to hit ground running

Kaymer states his case

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