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The scene near the village of Ballynacally, Co Clare, yesterday after an aircraft owned by Irish Helicopters, with two men on board, crashed into a field killing one and seriously injuring the other.

Photograph: Eamon Ward

Academic quits post over indecent assaults disclosure
A leading childcare specialist has resigned from his academic post after the disclosure that he has a conviction for attempted indecent assault in the Netherlands.

Troop surge strategy in Iraq falling short, says US report
Iraq has made only mixed progress towards fulfilling key political and military goals linked to an increase in American troop numbers there, according to a White House report published yesterday.
Rising food and oil prices may hit consumer spending
Rising food costs and high oil prices could put pressure on consumers' pockets later this year, economists warned yesterday, as new figures showed a slight fall in inflation last month.

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Ireland

Woman tells of her affair with O'Reilly
The woman with whom Joe O'Reilly was having an affair told the jury in the Central Criminal Court yesterday that they were planning a "permanent future" together. p
It was a 'public duty' to publish, says Kennedy
The Irish Times editor Geraldine Kennedy has told the High Court she concluded it was her "public duty" to publish an article stating that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern had received financial payments from businessmen when he was minister for finance in 1993. p
Census reveals extent of migration to towns
Some 40 per cent of the residents of Gort, Co Galway, are now non-Irish nationals, according to the latest analysis of Census 2006 information by the Central Statistics Office. p
Parades go ahead without major incidents
The contentious Orange Order return parade past the flashpoint Ardoyne shops in north Belfast concluded last night without major incident, marking the end of one of the most peaceful Twelfth celebrations in decades. p
Cost of school site doubles in eight months
The Department of Education paid €5 million for a school site of less than two acres in the rapidly growing Ongar area of northwest Dublin, just eight months after it bought an adjacent four-acre site for almost €5.5 million from the same developer. p
Harry's 'Phoenix' expected to soar
Canadian boy Oran Kerr (12) may be in Dublin on his holidays, but he is impressively up to date on the local Harry Potter angle. p
Taoiseach lauds 'gentleman and scholar'
John Wilson, public and private man, were one and the same, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said at the removal of the remains of the former tánaiste yesterday. p
Gilmartin evidence described as 'cocktail of lies'
Mahon tribunal: Tom Gilmartin's evidence was a series of "headline-grabbing allegations" and a "malevolent cocktail of lies", the Mahon tribunal was told yesterday. p
Early funding urgedfor children at risk
The vast majority of vulnerable children helped by the Barnardos charity last year experienced problems with their living environment, family or other relationships, its annual review has revealed. p
Pope unchurches all other churches - Paisley
Northern Ireland's First Minister the Rev Ian Paisley has accused Pope Benedict XVI of excommunicating all of Christendom. p
Fermoy boy (14) drowns in river
A 14-year-old boy living in Fermoy, Co Cork, was drowned while swimming with some friends in the river Blackwater yesterday evening. p

Finance

Dell's Irish staff avoid brunt of job cuts
Dell's Irish staff will escape the worst of the PC maker's latest job cuts, with the company expected to let go just 100 employees in the Republic. p
Sides in Eircom pay dispute agree to talks at LRC
Eircom and its four trade unions have accepted an invitation from the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) to attend a meeting next Monday afternoon aimed at breaking the deadlock in their pay dispute. p

World

EU and US suggest new path to Kosovan independence as Russia threatens veto
KOSOVO: The European Union and the United States now appear increasingly willing to accept that Kosovo might have to make a unilateral declaration of independence or even have to be divided along ethnic lines to resolve the deep diplomatic impasse over its future status. p
Sarkozy sets out his stall on reform of the state
FRANCE: French president Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday called for a reform of France's constitution and announced he would set up a commission to study ways to modernise rather than revolutionise the French state. p
Musharraf vows to crush fundamentalists
MIDDLE EAST: President Pervez Musharraf vowed yesterday to step up the fight against gun-toting fundamentalists, as the first funerals were held for militants killed in the Red Mosque siege and a defiant captured cleric predicted an Islamic revolution in Pakistan. p

Sport

Gourley and Cavlan to start for Tyrone
Mickey Harte makes three changes for Sunday's Ulster football final in Clones.Ciarán Gourley comes in at full back in place of the injured Cormac McGinley. p
Keane plays his part to perfection
St Patrick's Athletic 0 Tottenham 1: Robbie Keane scored. Chris Hughton and Brian Kerr hugged like they used to. Tottenham won and St Patrick's face no shame in defeat. p