Canada’s prime minister tonight announced he has been given permission to suspend parliament, allowing him to delay a vote that could bring down his new government.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper condemned an opposition plan to gain power by ousting his government in a confidence vote, calling the manoeuvres undemocratic.

Canada’s opposition parties signed an unprecedented agreement to topple the Conservative government in a no-confidence vote next week and form a coalition government less than two months after national elections.

AN IRISH language campaigner has lost his battle to avoid the “institutional harassment” of a Canadian army pledge, which requires him to toast and salute Queen Elizabeth II.

Thousands of New Zealanders filed solemnly past the casket of Mount Everest conqueror Edmund Hillary today as they paid final respects ahead of his state funeral tomorrow.

Ireland can learn lessons about multiculturalism from New Zealand, President Mary McAleese said during a visit to the two-island nation.

President Mary McAleese leaves today for a six-day state visit to New Zealand.

President Mary McAleese is making her first official state visit to New Zealand next month, it emerged today.

Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin informed the governor general today that he would step down as prime minister.

Canadian-born country music star Shania Twain has received the Order of Canada, the country’s highest honour.

Former Governor General Peter Hollingworth, who resigned as the Queen’s representative in Australia a year ago over a paedophilia scandal, said today he took too long to comprehend the damage of child abuse.

THE Governor General of Australia announced yesterday he has offered to resign as nominal head of state following rape accusations and separate allegations that he did not act against child-abusing clergy when he was an Anglican Church archbishop in the 1990s.

The British Queen’s representative to Australia said today he had offered to resign as Governor General – the country’s nominal head of state.

Less than two weeks before the Queen arrives for an Australian tour, the governor general in Canberra is fighting renewed allegations he covered up child sex abuse in the Anglican Church.