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Actor Martin Sheen at a ceremony in Dublin where the National University of Ireland conferred an honorary degree of Doctor of Arts on him yesterday.

Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons

Hopes fade for Irish illegals as US senate deal stalls
Tens of thousands of undocumented Irish immigrants in America have seen hopes of an early change in their legal status slip away as a senate deal on immigration reform collapsed yesterday, writes Denis Staunton in Washington.
'President Bartlett' retiring to new role at NUIG
The Government should not believe anything the US says about its use of Shannon airport, because the White House is controlled by "a bunch of gangsters", The West Wing actor Martin Sheen has claimed. But the man famous for playing a fictional US president admits he may have to tone down his opposition to the real one during his next major role, as a full-time student in NUI Galway, writes Frank McNally .
No indication of property downturn, says Ahern
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has made light of the relentless rise in property borrowing and said there was no indication of a downturn in the property market, writes Arthur Beesley , Senior Business Correspondent, in Druids Glen.

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Ireland

Ministers back Asbos in face of criticism by Ombudsman
The Tánaiste, Mary Harney, and the Minister of State with responsibility for children, Brian Lenihan, have indicated that they support plans to introduce Anti-social Behaviour Orders (Asbos) despite criticism of the move by the Ombudsman for Children, Emily Logan. p
Angry bridal shop customers told little chance of refunds
The owner of the Cork bridal boutique which went in to liquidation last month has debts in excess of €1 million and "no assets to speak of", a creditors meeting heard yesterday. p
Court told of friction at 'the girls' going on tours
After the appointment of a number of protocol officers to President Mary McAleese, her secretary Brian McCarthy had expressed unhappiness that "the girls" should be allowed to accompany the President on official engagements, the High Court has heard. p
No need for further anti-bird flu control measures
There are to be no further anti-bird flu control measures introduced in the State following the confirmation last evening that bird flu had not reached the island. p
Retired garda denies threatening woman with seven years in jail
A retired Garda detective has denied that he threatened a Donegal woman who was being interrogated when he told her she could get seven years in imprisonment if convicted. p
Curtin inquiry chief keen to finish report
The Chairman of the Oireachtas committee inquiring into the behaviour of Judge Brian Curtin has said he will be "deeply disappointed" if the committee's report is not complete by the end of July. p
Cash-transit firms to face new controls
A strict new licensing system for cash-in-transit companies is warranted after a demise in standards in the industry of late and it will be in place in less than six months, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has said. p
1916 leader's son (92) to return for ceremonies
Fr Joseph Mallin (92), the last surviving offspring of one of the executed 1916 leaders, will travel back to Ireland from his home in Hong Kong on Tuesday as a guest of the Government. He will remain here for a month before returning to the school in which he still teaches. p

Finance

Fyffes appeals insider dealing judgment
The Fyffes/DCC insider dealing judgment is being appealed by Fyffes to the Supreme Court, writes Colm Keena , Public Affairs Correspondent p
BAE moves to sell stake in Airbus worth more than €4bn
Europe's largest defence firm, BAE Systems, wants to sell its 20 per cent stake in aircraft maker Airbus to EADS, in a deal which could give it at least €4 billion for acquisitions in the United States. p
Live register shows small decline in jobless figures
The jobless total declined by 600 in March, with the fall cancelling out a slight increase recorded in February. p

World

Triple suicide bombing kills 74 in Baghdad mosque
IRAQ: A triple suicide bombing at a prominent Shia mosque in Baghdad killed at least 74 people and wounded more than 130 yesterday in the deadliest attack in months of sectarian strife. p
Berlusconi trailing Prodi on eve of Italian poll
ITALY: On the eve of Italy's general election, Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi and his centre-left rival Romano Prodi both did it their way when it came to winding up their election campaigns yesterday. p
EU freezes direct aid to Palestinian Authority
EU: The European Commission halted direct aid to the newly-formed Hamas-led Palestinian Authority yesterday, prompting a deeper financial crisis in the territory. The EU's executive arm said it was halting the payments because the new Palestinian cabinet had not recognised Israel's right to exist or renounced the use of violence. p

Opinion

Rising tax revenues to boost State spending
I want to put forward a proposition that may at first seem to defy common sense. That, although our economic growth rate in the next decade is going to be about half what it was in the decade or so after 1993, nevertheless, at unchanged tax rates, the volume of resources available for public spending will be very much greater than it was during that period, writes Garret FitzGerald p

Sport

Third time lucky for McCoy and Clan Royal
Grand National Sentiment is a dodgy currency to trade in the world's most demanding race but there could be quite a lot of the stuff floating about Aintree this afternoon if Clan Royal can fulfil his destiny and win the John Smith's Grand National. p
Clarke reaps the reward for patience
Golf US Masters Just another of life's little mysteries. Here we are crowding around Darren Clarke at the back of the 18th green, just minutes after the Ulsterman has tapped in a finishing birdie to jump into contention in the US Masters, and his mind is still on rod fishing and the sandy beaches of the Bahamas. p