The American military and industrial complex needs a new enemy to justify its massive budget and Vladimir Putin is the right person at the right time, argues Peter Van Buren.

Hillary Clinton made the prospect of her being elected the first woman president of the US a centrepiece of her campaign, then lost a critical nominating contest to a 74-year-old man, Bernie Sanders, in part because women preferred him.

Violence has a very firm underpinning within the Islamic theological tradition, writes TP O’Mahony

In her new book, Ayaan Hirsi Ali breaks with centuries of political orthodoxy and says Islam must adapt and divorce itself from acts of terrorism. TP O’Mahony reports

There's plenty of interesting sport and some great movies on TV tonight...

Hillary Clinton used a personal email account during her time as secretary of state, rather than a government-issued email address, potentially hampering efforts to archive official government documents required by law.

The Hillary Effect on women’s rights has spread across the globe. But will it last without her at the helm, asks Kathleen Parker

US President Barack Obama has presented the US Medal of Freedom to more than a dozen political and cultural greats at a ceremony in Washington.

KIM JONG IL, North Korea’s mercurial and enigmatic long-time leader, was reputed to have a taste for cigars, cognac and gourmet cuisine.

President Barack Obama sternly proclaimed ratification of the US-Russia nuclear arms treaty “a national security imperative” today.

IT WAS high society inside and high security outside as Chelsea Clinton wed her longtime boyfriend at an elegant estate in a Hudson River village where several prominent guests were spotted beforehand, but the husband-and-wife-to-be stayed out of sight.

Chelsea Clinton wed her longtime boyfriend at an elegant estate in a village where several prominent guests were spotted beforehand, but the husband-and-wife-to-be stayed out of sight.

PRESIDENT Dmitry Medvedev struck a conciliatory note at Russia’s Victory Day military parade yesterday, urging world powers to unite for peace and defending his decision to invite Nato troops to march on Red Square.

Europe will be a “paper tiger” in military terms unless it reverses the decline in its defensive capabilities, Nato’s chief warned today.

EUROPEAN countries were accused of having an anti-war attitude that is threatening world security by US Defence Secretary Robert Gates yesterday.

Former Czech president Vaclav Havel opened the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Velvet Revolution with a concert attended by celebrities.

The highest-ranking American diplomat to visit Burma in 14 years offered improved relations if the country's military regime moves toward democracy.

Calvin Woodward reports from Washington on a remarkable coup by the former president and wife Hillary

The debate between Barack Obama and John McCain heated up today as the two US presidential candidates prepared for their first face-to-face clash later this week.

Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama, looking to chart a US foreign policy course far removed from the Bush administration’s path, said he would bring Osama bin Laden to justice in a way that would deny the al-Qaida leader the chance to become a martyr.

George Bush has led one of America’s “worst presidencies” and there has never been “such a mess” internationally, former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said.

Nicolas Sarkozy made a minor gaffe on his first US visit as France’s president by wrongly suggesting that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has recent immigrant roots.

FRANCE’S president abruptly ended a television interview aimed at introducing him to US audiences, dubbing it “stupid” and a “big mistake” and refusing to answer questions about his wife.

A delegation of Iraqi parliamentarians is to travel to Stormont to study power sharing in Northern Ireland.

Leaders of the two Koreas began formal talks today at the first summit between the divided countries in seven years.

More than 50 years after the end of the Korean War, the United States and North Korea opened historic talks on steps to establish diplomatic relations following Pyongyang’s agreement to dismantle its nuclear programme.

The second US annual Clinton Global Initiative has been crowned by a $3bn (€2.34bn) pledge from business mogul Richard Branson for battling global warming.

Broadcaster ABC made editing changes to its controversial mini-series The Path to 9/11, after former Clinton administration officials complained that scenes about them were fabricated.

The G-8 summit that US President George Bush and seven other world leaders are attending next weekend in Russia is often billed as a gathering of the world’s leading economic powers.

US President George Bush said today that militias are the biggest roadblock to Iraq’s effort to getting a unity government up and running, a goal that would help bolster the president’s sagging approval ratings over its handling of the war.

President George Bush is starting his sixth year in office with a flurry of activity designed to trumpet upturns in the economy, defend US action in Iraq and challenge critics who claim his methods of fighting terrorists infringe on civil liberties.

US Vice President Dick Cheney is adding his voice to the chorus of Republican criticism of Democrats who have accused the Bush administration of manipulating intelligence to justify war against Iraq.

Hollywood actor Rob Lowe remembers his time on hit TV drama The West Wing fondly, because former US President Bill Clinton often pitched plot ideas to him.

He once declared that he was God, and ordered his Serb artillery to “scorch the brains” of Bosnian Muslims in Sarajevo.

US Under-secretary of State John Bolton’s chances of winning Senate approval to be UN ambassador appeared to brighten as Republican fence-sitters drifted in his direction.

With a smile and a wave, Condoleezza Rice took over as America's 66th Secretary of State today to confront an agenda laden with difficult and potentially explosive foreign policy problems.

US Secretary of State nominee Condoleezza Rice told senators today that a US exit strategy from Iraq is “directly proportional” to Iraq’s ability to defend itself against terrorists after this month’s elections.

US national security adviser Condoleezza Rice will be nominated to succeed outgoing secretary of state Colin Powell, it emerged today.

FORMER US secretary of State Madeleine Albright has criticised President George W Bush’s doctrine of pre-emptive war, saying the strained US-European relationship is unlikely to improve as long as he in the White House.

US President George Bush will appeal to allied leaders next week to send a Nato force to Iraq to bolster the coalition that is struggling against a potent insurgency, two senior administration officials said.

Television hosts Richard and Judy have signed a multi-million pound deal to stay with Channel 4 for another three years.

Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic will start his defence against war crimes charges at the UN court two weeks late, in part due to his ill health.

Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush failed to act on intelligence and eliminate key al Qaida terrorists by force in the years before the September 11 attacks, according to a probe in the US.