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The international jury of the 51st annual World Press Photo contest selected an image by Tim Hetherington as World Press Photo of the Year 2007. The picture was taken on September 16th, 2007, and shows a US soldier in Afghanistan resting at "Restrepo" bunker, named after a soldier from his platoon who was recently killed by insurgents.

Photograph: AP Photo/Tim Hetherington

O'Rourke victims relieved as 10-year struggle ends
Victims of sex-abuser Derry O'Rourke expressed relief yesterday at reaching a settlement for damages with the swimming coach's former employers after a 10-year fight for justice. Paul Cullen and Mary Carolan report.
Former driver of Adams exposed as British spy
A former driver for Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and other senior party figures was yesterday exposed as an agent and informer working for the British security services. Roy McShane, a familiar figure with the Sinn Féin political and security entourages that travelled to Stormont, was last night said to be in "protective police custody" after he was revealed to be a British agent, writes Gerry Moriarty , Northern Editor
Government drops plan to hold two polls on same day
The Government has dropped plans to hold the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty in conjunction with one on children's rights, according to senior sources. The EU referendum will take place in late May or early June. Stephen Collins , Political Editor, reports.

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Finance

Wind industry to invest €4bn after subsidies announced
New Government supports to encourage the development of renewable energy announced yesterday were immediately followed by a pledge from the wind industry to invest more than €4 billion in the sector over the next five years, writes Tim O'Brien p
Atlantic Dawn to cast nets in African venture
The Donegal-based Atlantic Dawn company is planning to send an Irish-registered freezer trawler to fish off west Africa in a joint venture with a Dutch fishing company. Pieter Tesch and Lorna Siggins , Marine Correspondent, report. p
CSO figures show manufacturing production rose 7.4% last year
Manufacturing production last year was up 7.4 per cent on 2006, the strongest yearly increase since 2002, provisional figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) yesterday indicate. Colm Keena reports. p
Largest subprime lender seeks job cuts
The Republic's largest subprime lender, Start Mortgages, is seeking at least 10 redundancies, due to the downturn in the property market and the funding crisis in the international markets. Simon Carswell , Finance Correspondent, reports. p

Ireland

Victims unsettled by current dispute -Martin
The renewed controversy over sexual abuse by priests in the Dublin archdiocese has "reawakened the hurt" felt by victims, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has acknowledged. Patsy McGarry , Religious Affairs Correspondent, reports. p
Role of ITs could be diluted by status issue
Any decision to grant university status to the Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) could potentially damage the entire institute of technology sector, according to a confidential report commissioned by the Department of Education. Seán Flynn , Education Editor, reports. p
Court rules Mulhall sentencing 'legally improper'
The Court of Criminal Appeal has ruled it was "legally improper" and "inappropriate" for a trial judge to have imposed a 15-year sentence on Linda Mulhall for manslaughter of her mother's boyfriend without having first considered probation and psychological reports on Mulhall. p
Motor insurers' bureau surprised by Minister's criticism
The Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland which compensates blameless victims of uninsured motorists has expressed its "surprise" at strongly worded criticism from Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey. Tim O'Brien reports. p
Intrepid passengers buckle up for three-month bus trip to Australia
Nine valiant adventurers set off on a marathon bus journey this morning from Dublin - to Sydney, Australia, writes Fiona Gartland. p
Fears over downsizing at Belmullet operation
Senior US-based executives of ICT Eurotel are due in Belmullet, Co Mayo, on Tuesday amid increasing fears for the future of the company's local operation which employs up to 80 full-time and 50 part-time workers. p
Award-winning 'Braveheart' director recognised for outstanding contribution
Mel Gibson, the star and director of the Oscar-winning Braveheart , will attend the fifth annual Irish Film and Television Academy (Ifta) awards ceremony in Dublin tomorrow week, when he will be presented with the academy's Outstanding Contribution to World Cinema award. p
Press ombudsman receives over 30 complaints in first month
The Office of the Press Ombudsman has received more than 30 complaints in its first month of operation. p

World

Kosovo to declare independence 'next week'
Serbia: Kosovo will declare independence a week from tomorrow, Serbia's minister for the restive province said yesterday, amid growing impatience among its 90 per cent Albanian population and signs of rising tension in the rest of Serbia. p
Clinton, Obama set for battle in five states
United States: Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are campaigning across the United States as five states vote in the first primaries and caucuses since Super Tuesday left the two candidates virtually tied. p
Death toll from smoking predicted to reach billion
United States: One billion people may die of tobacco-related illness this century, almost all of them in developing countries, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned as it rolled out an unprecedented global campaign to limit the spread of smoking. p

Sport

Ominous frisson in Paris air
Rugby/ Six Nations Championship : Somewhat ominously, it feels like springtime in Paris. The sun is shining from clear blue skies and the World Cup seems like an aeon ago. p
Keane fiercely critical of FAI
Soccer : Roy Keane has launched a scathing attack on the FAI from Sunderland. Days after senior players such as Shay Given and Richard Dunne questioned the FAI's competence in searching for a new manager, Keane yesterday described the organisation as "backwards". p
McGrane eases into pole position
Golf/Indian Masters : Damien McGrane carded a second round 69 to take a two-shot lead at the halfway point of the inaugural Indian Masters in New Delhi yesterday. p