US President Barack Obama is warning that the "moment may be passing" for a two-state solution to the Israeli and Palestinian conflict.

THE gods who order these things have a perverse sense of humour. 

DONALD TRUMP must be kicking himself — or more likely, venting his volcanic, spoilt-brat spleen on some bewildered apprentice working on his dreadful campaign: “Why didn’t we think of that, do I always have to do everything around here?” The enraged Trump — as he always is — will ask, referring to the suggestion made by British Home Secretary Amber Rudd that British businesses be obliged to reveal how many foreign workers they employ.

The Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has confirmed there are no plans to set up Ebola screening at Irish airports just yet.

New Zealand Prime Minster John Key wants the nation to vote next year on changing its flag.

Friends Michael Collins and Harry Boland fought on opposite sides in the Civil War. They also wooed the same woman, says Richard Fitzpatrick

Spain has warned that it cannot afford to finance itself at its current bond yield for much longer.

The Pope today apologised for the “unspeakable crimes” committed by Catholic priests who sexually abused children.

Sinn Féin has fulfilled its obligations in government and now wants unionists to do the same to avoid a political crisis, the North's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said today.

Iranian authorities have detained several local employees of the British Embassy in Tehran, a move that UK foreign secretary David Miliband today called “harassment and intimidation” and reflected a hardening of the regime’s stance toward the West.

Burma’s military government faced worldwide criticism today for bringing new charges against pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, with rights groups urging the junta’s neighbours to intervene urgently.

A new rugby trophy contested by England and the All Blacks will honour the late Sir Edmund Hillary, New Zealand Prime Minster Helen Clark announced today.

TODAY millions of British people will vote in local elections while Londoners will be selecting a Lord Mayor for a new term of office.

A STORM rushing in from the Atlantic lashed Wales and southern England yesterday as high winds and tides brought the risk of coastal flooding.

Richard Branson's Virgin Group is today reportedly planning a sweetened bid for Northern Rock as the British government is poised to outline financial support for a private sale.

THREE Palestinians, including a teenager, were killed yesterday in the latest Israeli military operation in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, Palestinian medics said.

Former Pakistani Prime Minster Benazir Bhutto arrived in Dubai today, after twice changing her mind about leaving Pakistan to visit family there.

British Prime Minster Tony Blair today pledged to use his last months in office to pursue peace in the Middle East – after hearing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agree to meet the Israeli Prime Minister.

Nepal’s Maoist rebels, who have waged a decade-long war to seize control of the Himalayan nation, will join an interim government to be formed shortly, the rebels’ leader said today after meeting with top government officials.

The North’s politicians will have to decide during the next six months whether they want to open or keep closed the door to a new era of self-government, Peter Hain said today.

British Prime Minster Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern were tonight warned that setting up a Stormont Assembly with no real powers would be a costly, undemocratic farce.

The British and Irish Governments were today accused of allowing themselves to be bullied by the Rev Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists into diluting the Good Friday Agreement.

NORTHERN Ireland's police chief, Sir Hugh Orde, will meet Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and senior ministers in Dublin tomorrow to discuss allegations about republican and British spy rings.

Plans to take the UK to the European courts over the Dublin Monaghan bombings will not strain Anglo-Irish relations, Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern insisted today.

British Prime Minster Tony Blair said today his plan to ease African debt was making good progress among G8 leaders.

A suspected car bomb blast rocked Beirut’s waterfront today, setting several cars on fire and killing at least six people.

US PRESIDENTIAL hopeful John Kerry will do everything to secure a lasting peace in the North if elected to the White House, his party vowed yesterday.

The Taoiseach is to propose the name of Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Barroso for the position of President of the EU Commission.

Sonia Gandhi worked swiftly today to build a new coalition government for India around her family’s Congress party after a stunning upset election victory, but refused to confirm whether she would be the next prime minister.

BRITISH Prime Minster Tony Blair vowed last night to rid Britain’s immigration system of abuse after an emergency summit at Downing Street.

The Sinn Féin president has welcomed the Irish and British governments renewed efforts to restore momentum to the Northern Irish peace process.

India’s prime minister called on South Asia’s nations to put aside a long history of suspicion and “petty rivalries” and embrace a future of trust and understanding, before a historic meeting with his Pakistani counterpart.

Tony Blair today faced a fresh wave of attacks accusing him of deceiving Britain over Saddam Hussein’s weapons arsenal.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Prime Minster Tony Blair will have to face up to the reality that a majority of unionists want a new settlement in Northern Ireland, they were told today.

SINN Féin yesterday played down the prospect of a deal to restore devolution before an Assembly election and criticised those focusing on making demands of republicans.

THE Irish and British governments last night stuck by their plan for reviving devolution in the North despite the Ulster Unionists rejecting it at a party meeting.

The British and Irish governments tonight stuck by their plan for reviving devolution in Northern Ireland despite the Ulster Unionists rejecting it at a party meeting.

Sinn Féin today played down the prospect of a deal to restore devolution before an Assembly election.

UK government officials were today holding talks with nationalist SDLP leader Mark Durkan as intense efforts to restore devolution in Northern Ireland continued.

Sinn Féin has threatened legal action unless British Prime Minster Tony Blair sets a date for elections to the suspended Northern Ireland Assembly, it emerged tonight.

CHECHEN refugees flocked around Angelina Jolie yesterday as the actress visited a refugee camp in Ingushetia.

Chechen refugees flocked around Angelina Jolie today as the Hollywood actress visited a refugee camp in Ingushetia.

A TALE of two leaders this week? Or, at least, a tale of what we might think of them.