Jail terms handed down for the sectarian murder of a man in the North may be appealed against for being too lenient, it was disclosed today.

A SETTLEMENT was reached on the fourth day of a High Court action yesterday, in which three people sued the Garda commissioner, the Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Ireland and the Attorney-General for damages for alleged wrongful arrest, assault and malicious prosecution.

A US intelligence chief says waterboarding “would be torture” if used against him or if someone under interrogation was actually taking water into their lungs.

THE year 1977 was not a great one from the standpoint of the state papers. Historically, the most important events were related to that year’s general election. As the civil servants were not formally involved, the elections were glossed over in the state papers.

POLITICIANS should be banned from speaking out against judges or undermining them outside the Dáil, a report suggests.

Israeli president Moshe Katsav today asked parliament to temporarily remove him from office after Israel’s attorney general recommended that he be indicted on rape and other charges, according to parliamentary spokesman Giora Pordes.

Israel’s politically powerful justice minister today led the growing chorus of calls for President Moshe Katsav to resign over impending charges of rape and abuse of power.

Israeli President Moshe Katsav today came under intense pressure to step down after the attorney general told him he faced charges of rape and abuse of power, the most serious accusations against a top official in Israel’s history.

Outraged Muslims today demanded an Australian newspaper apologise after it published one of a series of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that have sparked angry protests around the world.

A former Australian soldier is suspected of being a masked gunman who appeared in a videotaped terror message this week threatening attacks against the West, newspapers reported today.

ENOCH POWELL came up with some nasty stuff during his long political career. But there were a few diamonds on the dungheap. The best was his observation that all political careers end in failure.

PRIME Minister Ariel Sharon survived a no-confidence vote over his Gaza pull-out plan in Israel's parliament yesterday after receiving a boost from reports that he would avoid charges in a bribery scandal.

IRELAND’S EU Commissioner David Byrne yesterday said he would not seek a second term in Brussels.

ISRAELI widows will be able to harvest the sperm of their dead husbands even if the men did not give their consent while alive.

Voting ended in the crucial Greek Cypriot presidential election today with exit polls showing opposition candidate Tassos Papadopoulos may emerge victorious.

Sensational publicity about a man arrested and charged over a hostel fire in Australia that killed 15 young backpackers - including Limerick woman Julie O'Keeffe - created “universal revulsion” and poisoned any chance he had of a fair trial, his lawyer told an appeal court Tuesday.

THE Government begins legal action today to demand full disclosure by Britain of top secret documents on the Sellafield nuclear fuel manufacturing plant.

An Australian men’s group has been warned that its members could be prosecuted if they continue harassing their former wives with letters and angry rallies.

Israeli fraud squad detectives interviewed Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today over allegations of illegal campaign donations during primaries for the leadership of his Likud party.

A lawyer for an Australian captured last year in Afghanistan today welcomed a US decision to apply the Geneva Convention to Taliban fighters being held at a naval base in Cuba.

The future of the British-led multinational security force in Afghanistan was unclear today as Afghan leaders were divided about how long it should remain in the war-ravaged nation.

Afghan leaders were divided today over how long the British-led multinational security force should remain in the war-ravaged nation.

Asylum seekers at a remote Australian detention centre held violent protests again last night, damaging five more buildings after rioters set fire to 15 structures earlier this week.

The investigation into the mystery death of a 94-year-old American woman from anthrax was being stepped up today.

The American Government has recommended outlawing Loyalist and Republican paramilitary groups opposed to the Good Friday Agreement, it emerged today.

George W Bush has braved warnings of a terror attack to start a baseball game in front of more than 60,000 people.