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Bertie Ahern leaves Leinster House yesterday after his last address as Taoiseach to the Dáil.

Photograph: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

Tributes to Ahern on his last day in Dáil as Taoiseach
POLITICAL FRIENDS and foes paid tribute to Bertie Ahern yesterday on his last day in the Dáil as Taoiseach. He was given a standing ovation by TDs on all sides of the House at the conclusion of the special debate to mark the occasion, writes STEPHEN COLLINS , Political Editor
Clinton victory paves way for election showdown in Indiana
BARACK OBAMA and Hillary Clinton are preparing for an electoral showdown in the mid-western state of Indiana early next month after Tuesday's clear victory in Pennsylvania enabled Mrs Clinton to remain in the race, writes DENIS STAUNTON in Philadelphia
Investors urge DCC to announce date for retirement of Flavin
DCC IS facing calls from senior institutional investors to move in advance of its annual general meeting (agm) in July to name a date for the retirement of executive chairman Jim Flavin. ARTHUR BEESLEY , Senior Business Correspondent, reports.

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Ireland

Bill aims to curb binge drinking and public disorder
NEW LAWS aimed at curbing binge drinking and tackling alcohol-related public disorder are due to come into force by this summer, the Government said yesterday. CARL O'BRIEN , Social Affairs Correspondent, reports. p
Supreme Court allows trial of man accused of sex abuse
THE SUPREME Court has cleared the way for the trial of a man accused of sexually abusing a troubled man who has alleged he was abused from childhood by other men. p
Many crime conviction rates in single digits
CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS are pursued in fewer than one in 10 cases for some crime types, with many conviction rates in single digits, new data by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) reveals. CONOR LALLY , Crime Correspondent, reports. p
Plans for inquiry into solicitor's murder stopped
PREPARATIONS FOR an independent inquiry into the murder of solicitor Pat Finucane have ceased, the Northern Ireland Office has told the Finucane family. The NIO has cited the family's opposition to the terms for the proposed inquiry as the obstacle. The family has now said it doubts if an inquiry will ever be held. DAN KEENAN , Northern News Editor, reports. p
Charter 'could eclipse' Supreme Court
THE ROLE of national supreme courts and constitutional courts in the EU could, over time, be eclipsed by the Charter of Fundamental Rights, according to a leading constitutional lawyer. The Charter of Fundamental Rights will become enforceable under the proposed Lisbon Treaty. p
Politicians return to classroom to create the World's Biggest Lesson
POLITICIANS SAT in a special "class" with secondary school pupils yesterday to assist the Irish leg of a simultaneous world record attempt that highlighted the need for Government funding for education initiatives in developing countries. p
Festival favourite bows out in feature in Punchestown
Beef or Salmon trotted gently into retirement after profitable service for his grateful owners, writes SEÁN MAC CONNELL in Punchestown. p
Developer ordered to halt building
PROPERTY DEVELOPER Harry Crosbie has been ordered to cease coastal protection works being carried out near his holiday home in Co Wexford because he does not have planning permission. p
Roche accuses Lisbon Treaty opponents of 'distorting' debate
MINISTER FOR European Affairs Dick Roche has accused opponents of the Lisbon Treaty of "mendacious and perverse" attempts to "distort" the debate on the treaty in the run-up to the summer referendum. p

Finance

Cowen concern over high levels of executives' pay
ON THE eve of negotiations opening on a new pay deal, the taoiseach-elect Brian Cowen yesterday expressed concern at "the very significant payments being made to senior business people". p
Two more lenders tighten mortgage rules
THE CREDIT crunch continued to bite yesterday as two more Irish lenders introduced changes for mortgage brokers in response to rising funding costs in the volatile financial markets. p
Dairy co-op bounces back to profits
LAKELAND DAIRIES, Ireland's second largest dairy co-operative, bounced back into profit last year, recording an operating profit of €5.5 million in 2007 - a complete reversal of the €7.2 million the co-op lost in 2006. p
Relentless rise of euro could jeopardise jobs
MANY EUROPEAN businesses, unions and some politicians grew increasingly worried yesterday that a relentless rise in the value of the euro would further erode company profit margins, jeopardising jobs and investments. p

World

Leader of US army in Iraq promoted to command of Middle East forces
US: Gen David Petraeus, leader of the US war effort in Iraq, has been nominated by the Bush administration to become the senior commander of US forces in the Middle East, it was announced yesterday. p
Diet of mother at time she conceives can determine baby's sex, study shows
UK: WHAT A woman eats around the time she conceives can influence whether she has a boy or a girl, researchers said yesterday. p
Brown defiant after climbdown on 10p tax rate
UK: BRITISH prime minister Gordon Brown has denied allowing himself to be "pushed around" by mutinous colleagues after a government U-turn averted the risk of defeat on a key budget measure days before next week's local and London elections. p

Sport

United just happy to hang in there
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Barcelona 0 Manchester Utd 0: THESE TEAMS could give stalemates a good name. Barcelona, in particular, had much of their old panache and it is their absence of a lethal touch that puts Manchester United in good heart for the return leg at Old Trafford on Tuesday. p
Cech accepts gift and looks ahead to prizes
CHELSEA'S CONVICTION had been on the point of wavering but, after the late gift handed to them by Liverpool at Anfield, self-belief has instead been reinforced. p
Media over the top says Caffrey
GAELIC GAMES NEWS: HE DIDN'T quite describe it as a storm in a teacup, which is just as well given another incident that happened in Parnell Park last Sunday, though Dublin manager Paul Caffrey was fairly adamant the reaction to the latest instalment of the Dublin-Meath rivalry was "over the top". p