A new campaign was launched today by republicans on the need for power-sharing institutions to return at Stormont.

Gerry Adams tonight vowed to achieve a power sharing government at Stormont despite the Reverend Ian Paisley’s refusal to accept the Sinn Féin leader’s nomination of him as Northern Ireland First Minister.

Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell has told politicians in the North that devolution is the best way to tackle sectarianism.

The reconvened Northern Ireland Assembly will try to elect a First and Deputy First Minister today.

The North's Assembly members will gather at Stormont today for the first time in three and a half years as part of a new bid to secure devolution.

The nationalist SDLP was accused today of sending out mixed messages on its attitude to the Northern Ireland Assembly, which reconvenes next week.

Sinn Féin will bid to have the Reverend Ian Paisley nominated as Northern Ireland First Minister when the North’s Assembly is reconvened next week, Gerry Adams insisted today.

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams will today signal his party’s reluctance to get caught in a Stormont Assembly that amounts to little more than a talking shop.

Stilian Petrov is set to give Celtic manager Gordon Strachan more problems with Bulgaria coach Hristo Stoichkov demanding the Scottish champions let him skipper his country.

Scottish Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson has been lined up as a guest speaker at an SDLP conference next week on sectarianism and racism, it was confirmed today.

Sean Connery stepped out in public today for the first time since having surgery to removed a tumour from his kidney and declared: “I’m feeling very well.”

SCOTTISH First Minister Jack McConnell was finally convinced a total ban on smoking in indoor public places would work while visiting Ireland in August 2004.

Two Celtic footballers have denied making sectarian chants at a supporters’ function.

Celtic have refused to comment on a report that two players were captured on an amateur video featuring sectarian chants.

Olympic legend Steve Redgrave insists not even the lure of a potential return to Strathclyde Country Park will tempt him out of retirement.

WORLD leaders stood shoulder to shoulder with Tony Blair at the G8 summit yesterday to condemn the “barbaric” London bombings.

World leaders stood shoulder to shoulder with Tony Blair at the G8 summit today to condemn the “barbaric” London bombings.

More world leaders today began arriving at Gleneagles where the G8 summit got under way.

World leaders began to gather at Gleneagles today for a G8 summit already marred by protests.

Hundreds of thousands of people joined hands to form a human band around Scotland’s capital today in protest at world poverty.

The top names in Scottish music tonight kicked off a benefit concert for the victims of the Asian tsunami.

John Hartson admits that the Old Firm stars have a big duty to keep their discipline at Parkhead on Sunday.

Police in Scotland are investigating a string of complaints about Celtic star Neil Lennon following Saturday’s fiery Old Firm clash, it emerged today.

SCOTLAND yesterday moved towards banning smoking in public places, with tough fines for repeat offenders.

Smoking in enclosed public places will be banned in Scotland under legislation to be launched before Christmas, the Scottish First Minister said today.

A group of British politicians arrived in Dublin tonight to investigate the success of the ban on smoking in public places.

SCOTLAND’S first minister yesterday gave the strongest indication yet that the country would soon follow Ireland’s lead in introducing a workplace smoking ban.

SCOTTISH First Minister Jack McConnell is to visit Dublin next Tuesday to see how the smoking ban is working.

Rescuers confirmed today that they were looking for one remaining victim of the Glasgow factory blast which has claimed eight lives.

RESCUERS last night refused to give up hope that survivors may be pulled from the rubble of the Glasgow factory explosion which has so far claimed seven lives.

Desperate rescue workers were continuing their efforts to find survivors trapped under layers of rubble after a huge explosion ripped through a plastics factory.

Four people were tonight confirmed dead following a blast at a plastics factory in Glasgow, Strathclyde fire brigade said.

Scottish Rugby Union chief executive Bill Watson is confident negotiations with the Scottish Executive will lead to a successful relaxation of licensing laws inside Murrayfield.

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin emphasised his country’s solidarity with Europe during a speech in Edinburgh yesterday.

Celtic’s bid for European glory was today backed by politicians from both sides of the Irish Sea.

CELTIC striker John Hartson will put his injury heartache to one side and urge his team-mates to victory at the UEFA Cup final on Wednesday.

A SCOTTISH city is to host one of the world’s most prestigious showbiz events in which a host of stars will perform live.

A British city is to host one of the world’s most prestigious showbiz events in which a host of stars will perform live, it was announced today.

THE Taoiseach believes the joint Irish-Scottish bid to host the 2008 European soccer championships is on track despite the fact the GAA still has not agreed to make Croke Park available for the competition.

A major advertising campaign aimed at combating racism was launched by the Scottish Executive today - as a new survey found one in four Scots admit they are racist.

EUROPEAN soccer bosses, assessing Ireland's joint bid to host Euro 2008, yesterday said they were "very happy" with the facilities inspected in Dublin last week.

The Euro 2008 UEFA inspection team insist they have no doubts Ireland will be able to provide two stadia as part of the joint bid with Scotland for the Championships.

Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness is confident that UEFA will look favourably on the Granite city and Dundee.

Scotland and Ireland’s hopes of co-hosting the 2008 European football championships were today being put under the microscope.