An Irish ship has dropped out of the pro-Palestinian flotilla planning to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, citing sabotage, and a US ship declared it may set sail from a Greek port for Gaza without permission, activists said.

GARDAÍ have begun drawing up major security plans for the May visits of US President Barack Obama and Queen Elizabeth.

Charges for travellers flying from Dublin Airport will remain the same for the next two years, the Aviation Regulator announced today.

Hundreds more survivors of Pakistan’s huge earthquake sought treatment today for weather-related ailments following a cold snap, hospital officials said.