Poland’s chief rabbi, Michael Schudrich, was punched and sprayed with what appeared to be pepper spray by an unidentified man in Warsaw, but escaped without injuries from what police said may have been an anti-Semitic attack.

Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz, a former school principal turned economic adviser, is set to become Poland’s new prime minister as he embarks on talks to form a new government that will try to reduce taxes and increase prosperity for the country’s 38 million residents.

Four Greek left-wing terrorists were each jailed for more than 1,000 years today – then the judges reduced the sentences to 25 years.

There were fresh calls today for heightened security at Shannon airport ahead of an anti-war demonstration.

THE Government has been accused of showing disdain for anti-war protesters by labelling them anti-American and pro-Saddam Hussein.

TWO more US airlines carrying troops to the Middle East have decided to end stopovers at Shannon because of recent security breaches.

Gardai have made several arrests at Shannon airport after protestors charged the perimeter fence.

US intelligence was today examining a newly-aired videotape of Osama bin Laden that contains clues suggesting it could have been made around the time he vanished.

UN peacekeepers are expected to arrive in Afghanistan later this week, with a team of British soldiers expected in the capital, Kabul, when the new anti-Taliban interim government takes power on Saturday.

Turkey, the only Muslim member of NATO, has announced plans to send special forces soldiers to Afghanistan to help train the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance.

The Unionist Party will contest 11 seats in the local Government elections, it was announced today.