As immigration reform meanders through Washington DC, activist Ciarán Staunton spoke to John Riordan

NOBODY seems to have asked what Brian Cowen was doing in Vietnam around St Patrick’s Day 2008.

THE Afghan human rights campaigner named as the latest winner of the Tipperary Peace Award has said the honour will be an inspiration to women in her country.

Ryle Dwyer on how Irish affairs figured in US politics as Reagan came to power

* January 6: Three members of UDR killed by an IRA landmine near Castlewellan, Co Down.

The Democratic-controlled US Congress has approved historic legislation extending healthcare to tens of millions of Americans who lack it and cracking down on insurance company abuses.

President Barack Obama is making about $8bn (€5.8bn) in federal loan guarantees available for the first new US nuclear power plant in nearly three decades, underscoring the administration's efforts to reduce dependence on foreign oil.

US Representative Patrick Kennedy, son of the late Senator Edward Kennedy, decided not to seek re-election to Congress, saying his life is "taking a new direction".

President Barack Obama tonight implored Senate Democrats to stay aggressive in pushing through their agenda despite the loss of one vital seat, saying: “We still have to lead.”

President Barack Obama unveiled his new budget today, a plan that forecasts the government spending a record $1.66 trillion (€1.19 trillion) more than it takes in through taxes.

President Barack Obama stepped up his campaign against Wall Street today with a far-reaching proposal for tougher regulation of the biggest US banks.

President Barack Obama treated first lady Michelle Obama to a surprise birthday party at a Washington restaurant known for its commitment to organically grown food.

The US Senate has passed President Barack Obama’s landmark healthcare overhaul in a climactic Christmas Eve vote, extending medical insurance to 30 million Americans.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen will be under pressure to nominate the next Irish Commissioner over the next 10 days.

THE governor of Massachusetts has named former Democratic Party chairman Paul G Kirk Jr to temporarily fill the late Senator Edward Kennedy’s seat.

President Barack Obama today urged the US Congress to enact sweeping health care legislation, declaring the "time for bickering is over" and the moment has arrived to help millions who have insurance and many more without it.

IN a posthumous memoir, Senator Edward Kennedy writes of fear and remorse surrounding the events on Chappaquiddick Island in 1969 and says he accepted the finding that a lone gunman assassinated his brother President John F Kennedy.

THERE was a poignant footnote to President Obama’s historic July 10 meeting with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican.

The Taoiseach Brian Cowen is due to arrive in the US today for the funeral of the late Senator Edward Kennedy, who died on Tuesday after battling a brain tumour.

Senator Edward Kennedy’s body was taken on the first leg of its final journey, first past landmark after landmark bearing his family’s famous name and then to his murdered brother’s presidential library where mourners lined up by the thousands to bid farewell to him.

THE world remembers Senator Edward Kennedy for his passionate liberalism, legislative skill and stewardship of a political dynasty.

DUBLINERS raised glasses in pubs and signed a book of condolence at the US Embassy yesterday in heartfelt tributes to Senator Edward Kennedy.

President Barack Obama will deliver the eulogy at Senator Edward Kennedy’s funeral, a White House source said, in a tribute to the last political elder of the family that fascinated Americans with its ambition, style, idealism and tragedies for decades.

A book of condolences is due to be opened in Dublin today for the late US Senator Edward Kennedy, who died yesterday at the age of 77.

ON a spring day nearly two years ago, Senator Edward Kennedy sat on the porch of his sprawling Hyannis Port home with a friend of five decades, Edmund Reggie, father of Kennedy’s wife, Vicki. The two men gazed out at the ocean that has been such an anchor in Kennedy’s life and talked about the future.

Senator Edward Kennedy made the single greatest contribution of any American to helping resolve the North problem, a prominent politician said today.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has today paid tribute to US Senator Edward Kennedy, who died overnight following a battle with a brain tumour.

Veteran US Senator Edward Kennedy, dubbed the liberal lion of the Senate, has died after battling a brain tumour. He was 77.

Ailing Senator Edward Kennedy has asked Massachusetts politicians to change the law to allow the governor to appoint an interim replacement for his US Senate seat, should he be unable to continue serving.

EUNICE Kennedy Shriver, the presidential sister who founded the Special Olympics, was celebrated yesterday at a funeral Mass as a fearless warrior for the voiceless who changed the world for millions and an unconventional woman who smoked Cuban cigars and played tackle football.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver was celebrated by family members as a passionate humanitarian and a pious woman devoid of vanity, hours after thousands of mourners flocked to a church to pay their respects to the founder of the Special Olympics.

The Government tonight congratulated former President Mary Robinson on being awarded the highest civilian honour in the US by President Barack Obama.

A book of condolence is to be opened in honour of the late Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics founder.

Former President Mary Robinson is to receive America’s Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama today.

PRESIDENT John F Kennedy’s sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who carried on the family’s public service tradition by founding the Special Olympics and championing the rights of mentally disabled people, died early yesterday surrounded by relatives at a Hyannis hospital. She was 88.

President John F Kennedy’s sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver, a champion for the rights of mentally disabled people and founder of the Special Olympics, died today aged 88.

THE Shriver family announced yesterday that Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the 88-year-old sister of Senator Edward Kennedy, is critically ill at Cape Cod Hospital.

FORMER President of Ireland Mary Robinson has hit back at pro-Israeli critics of her selection as recipient of a US Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Former President Mary Robinson has been awarded the highest civilian honour in the United States - the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Pope Benedict XVI stressed the Catholic church’s opposition to abortion and stem cell research in his first meeting with US president Barack Obama.

America’s first canine got star treatment and his first back-yard romp at the White House – and even presidential clearance to visit the Oval Office.

YOUR mild rebuke (Editorial, March 6) of the Irish State for its failure in not having an honours system in place whereby we could officially acknowledge the contribution made to it by those deemed as worthy recipients is unwarranted.

JOHN F KENNEDY’s infamous love life is once again in the limelight after an 87-year-old woman yesterday claimed she had an affair and a child with the former US president.

A near-US$800bn stimulus bill is on its way to President Barack Obama's desk for signing having cleared its last political hurdle.