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A Garda closes the door of a van as Marin Rostas, one of three remaining members of the Romanian Roma family who had been living on an M50 roundabout, waves goodbye yesterday. .

Photograph: Kate Geraghty

US use of Shannon 'moral compromise' - C of I prelate
The Government has been accused of compromising itself morally in allowing the US military use Shannon airport by the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin Most Rev John Neill, writes Patsy McGarry , Religious Affairs Correspondent.

Taoiseach defends contact with AIB official
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has defended making contact with a senior AIB official who was inquiring into his finances for the Mahon tribunal, write Colm Keena , public affairs correspondent, and Mark Hennessy , political correspondent.
Harney approves VHI move to increase charges by 8.5%
The Voluntary Health Insurance proposal to increase charges by 8.5 per cent this year for 1.5 million members has been cleared by Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney, writes Mark Hennessy , Political Correspondent.

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Ireland

Local stores charging up to 20% more
Consumers who do their shopping in local convenience stores are paying up to 20 per cent more than they would in supermarkets, according to a price survey by the new National Consumer Agency (NCA). p
Missiles thrown as murder appeals rejected
Two weighty copies of written judgments and rosary beads were hurled in the direction of three judges yesterday after they dismissed the appeal by five Limerick men against their convictions for the murder of crime boss Kieran Keane and the attempted murder of his nephew, Owen Treacy. p
IVF death inquiry criticises hospital care
An independent inquiry into the death of a 32-year-old woman following IVF treatment at Dublin's Rotunda hospital has identified problems with the management of her care in the hospital. p
Five candidates in contention for two seats
NUI Seanad panel: A recount was called in the NUI Seanad election last night by Independent candidate Dr Valerie Bresnihan when she was about to be eliminated. She was 34 votes behind outgoing Senator Brendan Ryan on the 20th count. p
Commission backs shoot-to-kill report
The Human Rights Commission has backed the investigation by the Police Ombudsman into the so-called shoot-to-kill cases. However it has also warned that the ombudsman's office may not have sufficient powers to do so when MI5 assumes intelligence responsibility in Northern Ireland in October. p
LINE OF INQUIRY: Minister takes New York subway on fact-finding mission
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan travelling with the Irish consul-general in New York Niall Burgess on the morning rush-hour no 6 subway train yesterday on their way to meet New York city speaker Christine Quinn at City Hall. It was the New York leg of a four-day fact-finding trip to the US. p
Trial collapses as victim refusesto be questioned
The trial of a man accused of shooting another man in Crumlin has collapsed after the victim refused to be cross-examined. p
Ryanair to continue reduced mobility policy despite new law
Ryanair has said it will continue to limit the number of passengers with disabilities on its flights, despite the entry into force of a new EU law on discrimination today. p

World

Brown shines as poll shows fall in Tory support
BRITAIN: Gordon Brown sent Labour MPs on holiday in happy mood yesterday with a strong display of prime ministerial authority following a new poll showing support for David Cameron's Conservatives plummeting. Frank Millar , London Editor, reports. p
Homes in Oxford evacuated as Thames bursts its banks
BRITAIN: The Thames burst its banks yesterday, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of homes in Oxford in Britain's worst floods in 60 years. p
Democrats call for citings over federal sackings
US: Democrats in Congress have ramped up their dispute with the White House over presidential power, calling on the House of Representatives to cite two officials for contempt of Congress for refusing to co-operate with an investigation the firing of nine federal prosecutors last year. p
Body of kidnapped Korean recovered
AFGHANISTAN: Police in Afghanistan yesterday recovered the bullet-riddled body of a South Korean hostage. p

Finance

Supreme Court ready to rule on Fyffes case
The Supreme Court will rule tomorrow on an appeal by fruit importer Fyffes against the High Court's dismissal of its mammoth "insider trading" action against industrial holding group DCC, writes Arthur Beesley , Senior Business Correspondent p
Diageo rules out Guinness sale
Paul Walsh, chief executive of Diageo, yesterday ruled out selling off Guinness, saying the group would expand sales of the stout in Africa to counter declines at home. p
B of I syndicate makes €61m on Paris building
A syndicate of more than 100 wealthy clients of Bank of Ireland Private Banking will realise a profit of some €61 million after 19 months on the sale of a Paris office complex leased to Cartier, the jeweller and watchmaker. p
Irish spread betting firm for London flotation
An Irish spread betting firm plans to raise close to €9 million by floating on the London Stock Exchange in a move that will value it at €27 million. p

Sport

Tour de farce loses its leader
CYCLING/Tour de France: The Dane Michael Rasmussen looked to have wrapped up the Tour yesterday but his win on the 16th stage was to be his last involvement with the race; within hours of finishing and increasing his overall lead he was sacked by his team, Rabobank, and was thrown out of the race. William Fotheringham reports. p
Harrington launches curve ball
Sports Institute: Ian O'Riordan was among those present as the Open champion did the honours for the new Setanta College p