Republicans captured Democratic governorships in at least 10 states, including some prime presidential battlegrounds, and hoped for even more gains.

Ignoring a presidential veto threat, Democrats in the US House of Representatives predict they have enough votes today to pass legislation requiring American troops to begin leaving Iraq by October 1.

REPUBLICANS seeking to defend US President George W Bush’s troop build-up in Iraq tapped military veterans among their own ranks to lead the debate yesterday as Democrats relished likely victory in their fight for a resolution opposing Bush’s policy.

Speaker Dennis Hastert told fellow Republicans today he does not intend to run for minority leader when Democrats take control of the House of Representatives in January, officials said.

The first bid by Northern Ireland Assembly members to elect a First Minister and a Deputy First Minister today failed.

As US congress hurried toward approval of a €41.8bn emergency hurricane aid package, US President Bush George today mapped a plan to get a wide range of government benefits – from medical care to job training – to storm victims who have scattered around the US.

Democratic Senator John Kerry conceded defeat in a hard-fought US presidential election today saying he had offered President George Bush congratulations on his victory but that the nation needed healing.

The US House of Representatives today gave strong endorsement to a 87.5 billion dollars (€75.3bn) package to sustain US military forces and rebuild the shattered nations of Iraq and Afghanistan.

The US Senate yesterday sided with environmentalists over the Bush administration’s controversial plans to open up some of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration.