The Irish Times, Irish News Online, International, Sports & Business News

Gardaí from Gorey, Arklow, Wicklow and Garda Ombudsman investigators at the scene of a shooting in Ahullen, Ballyfad, Co Wexford. A man was taken to Beaumont Hospital after he discharged a gun and is said to be in a critical condition.

Photograph: Garry O'Neill

Roadside tests proposed to stamp out drug-driving
New measures to counter drug-driving have been included in a draft of the new road safety strategy, which has been seen by The Irish Times . The Road Safety Authority's (RSA) four-year strategy calls for "the extension of random breath-testing to include a Roadside Impairment Test" for prescription and non-prescription drugs and says new legislation is likely to be required, writes David Labanyi .

Tribunal hears bank records at odds with Ahern story
A senior official with AIB yesterday confirmed a third instance where its records clashed with what Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has told the Mahon tribunal concerning his personal finances, writes Colm Keena , Public Affairs Correspondent.
Surprise in NUI count after strong showing by Mullen
The strong performance of the conservative newspaper columnist Rónán Mullen among NUI graduates and the expected election of Prof Ivana Bacik on the Trinity College panel were among the highlights of the continuing count in the Seanad elections yesterday, writes Stephen Collins , Political Editor.

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Ireland

Up to 100 Roma face prospect of being sent home
Up to 100 members of the Roma community, most of whom were camped on a roundabout off Dublin's M50, will be repatriated to Romania this afternoon having agreed to go home. p
EU supports €6.52bn rural plan
The European Commission is to back six-year rural development plans for Ireland North and South worth more than €6.52 billion. Some £500 million (€746 million) of this will be allocated by the Stormont Executive. p
UCD to be transformed from 'concrete jungle' to 'green gateway'
Extensive green spaces, a hotel, underground parking and landmark six-storey buildings at its primary entrance from the N11 motorway are among the major features of the winning design for UCD's new gateway project. p
McBrearty to receive interim payment
The State is to make a "very substantial" interim payment within a week to Frank McBrearty snr, his wife and their company, the High Court heard yesterday. p
Mother gets two years for safe-theft attempt
A 26-year-old mother of six from Romania who tried to steal a safe containing €9,500 from the sitting room of a rural post office near the Cavan/Westmeath border was jailed for two years yesterday. p
78% rise in race cases for Equality Tribunal
The number of cases of racial discrimination in the workplace referred to the Equality Tribunal increased by 78 per cent last year, according to its annual report published today. p
TURTLE FOUND: Leatherback may have died form eating plastic
Marine scientists are recording details of the largest leatherback turtle to be found in Irish waters when a female of the species was found in Ballycotton Bay off east Cork. p
IFA queries prediction of increase in harvest
The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has questioned a European Commission prediction of an increase in this year's harvest yields in Ireland, despite the recent bad weather. p

World

US accuses Iran over Iraq militia support but agrees security plan
US: The United States accused Iran in talks yesterday of increasing support for militias involved in bloodshed in Iraq but, in a rare sign of co-operation, agreed with Tehran to set up a panel to improve security. p
Bulgaria gives medics heroes' welcome
BULGARIA: Five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor accused of infecting 460 Libyan children with HIV were finally freed from jail yesterday after eight and a half years during which they say they were raped and tortured and sentenced to death for a crime they did not commit. p
Clinton still main contender after web debate
US: An aid worker in Darfur, a lesbian couple in Brooklyn, a woman with breast cancer and a talking snowman worried about climate change were among the questioners when YouTube users quizzed Democratic candidates for two hours in the most innovative debate since the 2008 presidential campaign began. p
Forecasts fuel fears of new flooding
BRITAIN: Heavy rainfall forecasts for tomorrow fuelled fears of fresh flooding along the Thames yesterday, as receding waters in worst-affected Gloucestershire aided the massive relief operation under way there. p

Finance

35,000 jobs to go in housing sector, says Davy
A slowdown in the number of new houses being built will lead to 35,000 job losses in the construction industry by the end of next year, according to a new report by Davy Stockbrokers. p
Sub-prime lenders will face new oversight
Sub-prime lenders in Ireland will shortly face the same oversight as mainstream lenders, if the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority has its way. p
Depfa employees set to share €144m payout
Three hundred IFSC-based employees of Depfa Bank and 350 of their international colleagues stand to receive up to €144.23 million in cash and shares as a result of the group's €5.7 billion sale to investment bank Hypo Real Estate. p

Sport

Suspicions finally catch up with Vino
Cycling/Tour de France : A new chapter in the sorry tale of doping is unfolding. William Fotheringham assesses the grim damage p
Cork drop their captain
GAA: Cork hurling captain Kieran Murphy has failed to make the starting line-up for Sunday's All-Ireland hurling quarter-final against Waterford, his omission one of several changes from the surprise defeat to Tipperary in the last round of the qualifiers. p