FIRST it was the sheer ingratitude of the Irish, then it was the failure of the Dublin government to mount a successful yes campaign. Now Brussels has found a new explanation as to why Ireland voted down the European Union treaty in June - a CIA and Pentagon-backed plot, devised by American neoconservatives to weaken the EU.

The European parliament wants an inquiry into whether Declan Ganley, the multi-millionaire chairman of the Libertas group that campaigned against the treaty, could be in the pockets of US defence and intelligence services.

The Quartet of international powers has "lost its grip" on the Middle East peace process which it is meant to foster, a group of aid agencies says.

In a damning report, the agencies say the Quartet - Russia, the US, the EU and the UN - is failing in its mission.

Conditions for Palestinians, which it was meant to improve, have worsened since peace talks recommenced under US sponsorship in 2007, the agencies say.

In the West Bank there was an increase in Israeli settlement and travel curbs.

The report was issued ahead of a Quartet meeting in New York on Friday.

"The Annapolis process [launched by the US in November 2007] was meant to herald a new dawn for the Middle East peace process," said Christian Aid director Daleep Mukarji.

"Nearly one year on, we are seeing exponential settlement growth, additional check-points and - because of this - further economic stagnation.

"The Quartet is losing its grip on the Middle East peace process."

There has been no immediate response from the Quartet, whose representative in the region is former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

As EU leaders meet in Brussels, chief political correspondent Nicholas Watt tells me Gordon Brown will want to take a strong message to Saudi Arabia at the weekend on rising fuel prices. Meanwhile there's the unresolved issue of the Irish rejection of the Lisbon reform treaty ...

Economics editor Larry Elliott outlines some possible explanations for the shock retail sales figures from the Office for National Statistics.

Yet more dire warnings about the soaring costs of London's 2012 Olympics. Sports correspondent Paul Kelso says there's uncertainty about the security plans; the construction of the village; and what the venues will be used for after the Games.

Angelique Chrisafis explains why environmentalists aren't keen on a scheme to allow motorists to rent electric cars in Paris, similar to the current bicycle programme.

Sao Paulo has more helicopters than any other city in the world. Tom Phillips takes to the skies to explain why.