WITH a major study suggesting that alcohol is causing more harm to society than heroin or crack cocaine, a leading addiction counsellor has called on politicians to end their public relationship with drink.

Sacked British government adviser Professor David Nutt today vowed to tell “the truth about drugs” as he launched a breakaway body of “unfettered” scientific colleagues.

A prominent member of the British government’s drugs advisory panel has resigned in protest over the treatment of the committee’s chairman Professor David Nutt.

Madonna toured an impoverished village today in Malawi, the central African nation where officials said she was expected to begin proceedings this week to adopt a young girl.

Madonna is expected in Malawi today as the star’s plans to adopt a girl as her second child from the poor African country begin to draw criticism.

THE British government rejected advice from its own narcotics advisory body yesterday to lower the penalties for possessing the drug ecstasy, raising questions over the relevance of the expert panel.

Taking ecstasy is no worse than riding a horse, the British government’s top drug adviser claimed today.

UP TO 11 million people across East Africa face starvation after the worst drought in 20 years hit the poverty stricken region, a British charity has warned.

Up to 11 million people across East Africa face starvation after the worst drought in 20 years hit the poverty-stricken region, a charity warned today.

Britain's Steve Perez won the Killarney Historic Rally by over a minute in his Porsche 911 from the similar Porsche 911 of defending champion, Dessie Nutt.

MAINTAINING his remarkable run of success on the Killarney Historic Rally, Dessie Nutt, co-driven by Geraldine McBride in a Porsche 911, won his fifth title when he finished the ten-stage event a minute and twenty one seconds ahead of the similar Porsche of John Keatley/Maurice Beckett.

For the fifth time in succession, Dessie Nutt (Porsche 911) has won the Killarney Historic Rally.

BILLY COLEMAN, arguably Ireland’s greatest rally driver, will be honoured this evening at the Motorsport International Show at the Simmonscourt Pavilion where a video entitled Tarmac Titans will be launched.

The organisers of the EPS Bison/Red Mills 2002 Killarney Historic Stages Rally, the Killarney & District Motor Club, have attracted entries from the leading exponents of Historic and Classic rallying from Ireland and further afield for the event which will take place on Sunday, December 1.

With four race wins, Hilton Hincks was very much the in-form rider at the "Race of the Year" in Mondello Park.