The great divide between the rich and the poor would be catastrophic in the event of a global flu pandemic, Mexico’s health minister said yesterday, and called on developed nations to put aside some of their influenza drugs for the less influential ones.

Bertie Ahern defended Ireland's record on overseas aid today, ahead of tomorrow’s G8 summit in Scotland.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, is due to meet Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin in Dublin this afternoon.

CANADA would become only the third country in the world to legalise gay marriage under landmark legislation passed in the House of Commons in spite of fierce opposition from Conservatives and religious leaders.

YESTERDAY’S poignant ceremony in remembrance of the victims of the Air India bomb atrocity was a chilling reminder of man’s inhumanity to man.

THE people of Cork and the small peninsula community in West Cork that comforted the families and friends of the Air India disaster, at the time of the tragedy and during the sad pilgrimages over the past two decades, were thanked yesterday.

President Mary Mc Aleese has offered her sympathy to all those affected by the Air India plane crash off the coast of Co Cork 20 years ago.

President Mary McAleese and Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin are in west Cork this morning to commemorate the anniversary of the 1985 Air India plane disaster.

Leaders from Canada and Ireland are this week joining families of the victims of the 1985 Air India crash off the Irish coast for a memorial service to mark the 20th anniversary of the tragedy.

Outspoken rocker Bono has hit out at Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin for breaking his promise to increase foreign aid.

Indonesia today increased its tsunami death toll by 5,000 – pushing the worldwide toll from the December 26 disaster to more than 162,000 people – as the nation’s defence minister said there is no three-month deadline for foreign troops helping in the massive relief efforts to leave.

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin become more deeply embroiled in the Ukrainian crisis yesterday and attacked the opposition's push to repeat the nation's disputed presidential run-off election.

Joint work against terrorism, boosting oil and gas supplies and cooperation on Arctic issues were expected to dominate talks this week between Russian officials and Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, who arrived in Moscow today for a three-day visit on the invitation of President Vladimir Putin.

A member of the crew of stricken Canadian submarine HMCS Chicoutimi died in Sligo General Hospital late last night.

Prime Minister Paul Martin battled to stave off defeat yesterday in what could be one of Canada’s closest elections ever.

Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin battled to stave off defeat today in what could be one of Canada’s closest elections ever.

Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin has sacked the president of the country's passenger railroad, only days after he dismissed its chairman over a €74.5m spending scandal.