THE second papers in Irish kicked off the last day of week one for Leaving Certificate students yesterday.

U2 lead singer Bono began the second day of his ten-day tour of Africa today, where he plans to examine the achievements of his Make Poverty History campaign.

A GLOBAL campaign called Stop the Traffik, which plans to raise awareness and stop women and young girls being sold into sex slavery, was launched in Brussels yesterday.

Rock star Bono today spoke about the tensions caused within his group U2 by his high-profile campaigning against global poverty.

BOB Geldof yesterday defended his decision to join Britain’s Tory party policy group on global poverty, saying he was “in no one’s pocket”.

Bob Geldof is to become a new independent advisor for the British Conservative party on global poverty.

The Make Poverty History campaign has delivered thousands of Christmas cards to the Taoiseach demanding measures to help the developing world lift itself out of misery.

Bob Geldof is to receive a European prize for his promotion of human rights.

The Government’s pledge to spend 0.7% of GNP on overseas aid by 2012 has proved people power works, Irish aid agencies claimed today.

An overnight demonstration outside Government buildings has ended this morning.

The Irish branch of the Make Poverty History campaign today urged the Irish Government to deliver on its broken promise on overseas aid to poor countries.

Aid agency World Vision Ireland has congratulated the G8 leaders on their decision to double their annual aid to the developing world.

IT would be a travesty if violent protests against the G8 summit were to deflect the eyes of the world from vitally important campaigns aimed at ridding Africa of poverty and combating global warming.

World leaders have “the best chance we have ever had” to tackle African poverty, International Development Secretary Hilary Benn said today.

Anti-poverty activists chained themselves to the top of a high-rise crane in Edinburgh today in a dramatic G8 protest.

Live 8 co-organiser Bob Geldof fears the historic gig to lobby world leaders to help poverty-stricken Africa has been a "grotesque failure", because he believes the G8 leaders are unwilling to support his Make Poverty History crusade.

HOPES for a historic deal to end poverty in Africa look set to be dashed at this week’s Gleneagles summit, unless the leaders of the rich world are ready to be more generous on aid and debt relief, development charities warned yesterday.

CHANGING “glaringly unjust” rules to ensure fair trade is one of the key aims of the Make Poverty History campaign.

Hundreds of thousands of people joined hands to form a human band around Scotland’s capital today in protest at world poverty.

BOB GELDOF promises it will be the greatest concert ever, as the Live 8 gigs kick off today and hundreds of pop stars leave their egos backstage to raise awareness of poverty in Africa.

Dublin came to a standstill tonight as thousands took to the streets in a bid to help Make Poverty History.

The Green Party is planning to table a private members' motion in the Dáil this week calling on TDs to support the Make Poverty History campaign.

The line-up of bands for Dublin’s massive Make Poverty History rally was confirmed today.

Tens of thousands of people led by Bob Geldof issued a call to the G8 summit today, shouting in unison “Make Poverty History“.

Director Richard Curtis has slammed people who wear charity wristbands for the Make Poverty History campaign, despite making a TV movie to raise awareness of the project, which aims to relieve poverty in Africa.

Bob Geldof has confirmed charity concert Live 8 will go ahead this summer - but warned music fans the gig will not be "a Live Aid 2".

Hollywood hunk Brad Pitt has invited TV cameras to film his forthcoming trip to Africa to raise awareness of the Make Poverty History campaign.