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Karen Fitzpatrick models a coat from the Joanne Hynes collection, at the launch of Dublin Fashion Week. This is the fourth year for the event and it features 35 participants, many of whom are well-known and upcoming Irish designers showcasing their autumn and winter collections. The three-day programme includes a fashion show by Matthew Williamson at the Mansion House on Wednesday,as well as talks on creativity and design.

Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons

Blair to emphasise Assembly deadline to Paisley
British prime minister Tony Blair and Northern Secretary Peter Hain will this week attempt to impress upon the Rev Ian Paisley and the DUP that if devolution is not reinstated by March 26th the new Assembly will collapse.
State may put tax on standard light bulbs
The Government is to outline plans in the coming weeks for a new tax or an outright ban on traditional light bulbs to encourage people to switch to more environmentally-friendly low-energy bulbs.
O'Sullivan insists O'Gara was choked in Edinburgh
In the fall-out from Ireland's 19-18 win over Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday, coach Eddie O'Sullivan yesterday stood by his rather alarming post-match claim that Irish outhalf Ronan O'Gara had been choked by a Scottish player in the last act of the game.

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World

Chirac bows out after 40 years
FRANCE: With an ardent declaration of love for France and its people, President Jacques Chirac last night announced his intention not to seek a third term in office. p
Iran hails Baghdad conference as step to stability
IRAQ: Michael Jansen reports on the meeting between regional and world powers on security in Iraq p
Opposition leader held after Harare rally
ZIMBABWE: Riot police broke up a prayer rally in Harare yesterday, arresting the country's main opposition leader and shooting dead a protester against President Robert Mugabe. p
Rally protesters call for Zapatero to resign
SPAIN: Tension mounts in Spain as opposition parties accuse the socialist government of giving in to Eta blackmail, writes Jane Walker in Madrid p

Ireland

Complaints of sexism in Defence Forces
In a major research project on the role of women in the Defence Forces, more than 10 per cent of serving female personnel who responded said they had experienced workplace sexual harassment or sexism, The Irish Times has learned. p
Dublin teenager stabbed to death
A 19-year-old man is expected to appear in court in Dublin today in connection with a stabbing incident early yesterday morning in which another teenager was killed. p
Leaving Cert Irish-changes targets oral skills
New moves to improve Irish language standards, including more marks for the oral exam in the Leaving Cert, have been announced by Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin. p
Spencer Dock train station opens today
The first new train station in Dublin city centre in 116 years is to be opened later today at Spencer Dock. p
Real support needed for energy switch - expert
Governments will need to back their rhetoric on renewable energy and cutting greenhouse gas emissions at last Friday's EU summit with real support for a switch to alternatives such as solar power, according to a leading industry expert. p
Doctor hopes views can be given without an inquiry
One of the three obstetricians found guilty of professional misconduct by the Medical Council arising out of a report he prepared in 1998 exonerating Dr Michael Neary has said he hopes in future it will be possible for a doctor to give a professional opinion in good faith without being subjected to a council inquiry. p
Farmer unaware land was registered as quarry
The case of a farmer whose land was registered as a quarry without his knowledge is to be raised as an emergency issue at a meeting of South Dublin County Council (SDCC) later today. p
Garda chief concerned over service to children at risk
The Garda Commissioner has expressed concern to the head of the Health Service Executive (HSE) about the state of out-of-hours services for children at risk. p
Patients at risk, warns hospital board
Patients at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda are "exposed to a high level of risk across all departments" due to staffing shortages and infrastructural deficits, the hospital's medical board has warned. p

Finance

Commercial construction on up
Construction activity grew strongly in February even though house building declined for the fourth month in a row, according to the Ulster Bank Construction Purchasing Managers' Index. p
Goodbody raises £13m from clients to help buy Derry site
Goodbody Stockbrokers has raised £13 million (€19 million) from its private clients to help fund the purchase of a 36-acre residential site in the Waterside area of Derry. p
ESB may lose ownership of grid
The Government is expected to propose that ownership of the national electricity grid should be removed from the ESB when it publishes its white paper on energy in Dublin this morning. p

Sport

O'Connell out of Rome finale
RUGBY: Ireland were last night resigned to being without the talisman of their pack for Saturday's Six Nations finale against Italy in Rome's Stadio Flaminio when Paul O'Connell was ruled out of the game because of a fractured thumb in his right hand. p
Chelsea boss turns air blue
SOCCER: Jose Mourinho admitted last night his frustration with the referee Mike Riley's performance during yesterday's FA Cup quarter-final against Tottenham Hotspur prompted him to spring to the edge of his technical area and berate the official as a "filho da puta" ("son of a whore"). p
Cork are flattered by scoreline
Dublin 1-13 Cork 0-7: Afterwards on Saturday evening, when Dublin had ended Cork's brief league revival in emphatic fashion, a Dublin selector joked that the sword of Damocles had been put back in its scabbard. p
McCoy to partner Aran Concerto
Cheltenham news: Tony McCoy will be the man on board what will be many people's Irish banker bet at Cheltenham this week after securing the ride on Aran Concerto in Wednesday's Ballymore Properties Novice Hurdle. p