5 things you need to know today

Leading news stories on Wednesday, May 4th, 2016.

Republican US presidential candidate Senator Ted Cruz drops out of the race for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination as his wife Heidi (right) looks on during his Indiana primary night rally in Indianapolis, Indiana, US. Photograph: Chris Bergin/Reuters
Republican US presidential candidate Senator Ted Cruz drops out of the race for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination as his wife Heidi (right) looks on during his Indiana primary night rally in Indianapolis, Indiana, US. Photograph: Chris Bergin/Reuters

1. Trump set for Republican nomination as Cruz drops out

Businessman Donald Trump scored a resounding victory in Indiana's Republican primary forcing his chief rival, Texas senator Ted Cruz, to quit the race for the White House and clearing the New Yorker's path to his party's presidential nomination. Mr Trump's landslide win in the midwestern state - his seventh straight victory - and Mr Cruz's shock decision to drop out means that the reality TV star's journey to the 1,237 convention delegates he needs to win the nomination appears little more than a formality. Donald Trump is the first Republican that Tamara Kil-Myers, a nurse from South Bend, Indiana, has ever voted for. The businessman rocking American political elites in the race for the White House has turned this life-long Democrat into a Republican voter.

2. Concessions clear way for FG minority government

Acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny has sought to convince his TDs that Fine Gaelextracted a serious concession from Fianna Fáil by getting Micheál Martin to sign up to a three-year government deal. Mr Kenny and Mr Martin have both received the unanimous backing of their parliamentary parties for the deal struck last week to allow Fianna Fáil facilitate a Fine Gael-led minority government. Fine Gael has committed to increasing the subvention for people on group water schemes as part of its negotiations with Independents. The most notable feature of the agreement between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil to allow for the establishment of a minority government lies not in the detail of the eight-page document but in the fact that the deal was agreed at all.

3. Salary cuts for recent public-service entrants to be reversed

In a significant move, the Government has signalled it will abolish the two-tier public service pay structure which has seen thousands of recently recruited gardaí, teachers and civil servants earn less than longer-serving colleagues. Highly placed sources say the move will effectively reverse cuts to allowances introduced for new personnel after 2012 in return for co-operation on productivity initiatives and a commitment to work within public service agreements such as the Lansdowne Road accord. Much of the controversy over recent weeks about low pay for new teachers, gardaí has stemmed in effect from a Government decision in September 2012 to scrap dozens of allowances paid to staff recruited from that point onwards.

4. One-third of drivers in high-speed fatalities uninsured

One-third of drivers involved in fatal high-speed collisions are uninsured, according to new research which examines five years of forensic crash reports. The head of the Road Safety Authority, Moyagh Murdock, has said the potential for rising insurance costs to increase the number of people driving without cover is an issue of concern. Over the past year, the cost of premiums has risen by between 20 and 35 per cent. A study by the authority of speed-related deaths between 2008 and 2012 has found 32 per cent of culpable drivers "had no record of insurance at the time of collision".

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5. Misc

Sunken wreck of Capt Cook's HMS 'Endeavour' believed found:  Researchers believe they have found the ship that explorer Capt James Cook used to sail to around the world submerged somewhere in Rhode Island's Newport Harbour.

Inishbofin the first Irish island to receive ecotourism award: Birdwatching among activities that helped secure prize

Denis O'Brien gets top rent for south docks warehouse: German online fashion firm Zalando set to move in and to pay €850,000 in rent

Lilly Higgins: Home-made chicken nuggets: These healthy nuggets are a great way to use up leftover chicken

Travis: 'Civilisations lose their technology all the time': On their new album, the Scottish band are worried about the impact of humanity's technology obsession – and are well prepared for the revolution