Israel said today it will press forward with construction of new housing for Jews in east Jerusalem, drawing Palestinian accusations that the plans could undermine newly relaunched peace talks.

“THIS is a first for both of us,” Barack Obama said of his meeting with Brian Cowen, “and with a little bit of luck, I’m sure we’ll get it right”.

Barack Obama would consider whether a special US envoy to the North was still necessary if elected president, a statement from the Democratic candidate said today.

The Rev Ian Paisley must be given credit for finally delivering power sharing in the North, Senator George Mitchell said today.

FORMER British prime minister John Major and former taoiseach Albert Reynolds are poised to receive the freedom of Cork.

IF recent events showed a week can be a long time in politics, then a decade can be an eternity.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, will be in Belfast today for events to mark the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern will honour his former British counterpart, Tony Blair, at a charity fundraising dinner in Dublin next month.

Tony Blair and Bill Clinton have been invited to an event in the North marking 10 years since the Good Friday Agreement, it was revealed today.

Murdered former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri will be awarded this year’s Tipperary International Peace Award at a ceremony in Co Tipperary on Friday, it emerged today.

Lebanon’s former prime minister, the late Rafic Hariri, was named today as the 2005 Tipperary International Peace Award winner.

Northern Ireland's politicians are on the verge of a historic compromise if they are willing to seize the opportunity, former Stormont talks chairman Senator George Mitchell said today.

The vast majority of people in Northern Ireland want the peace process to succeed, former talks chairman Senator George Mitchell insisted today.

Former Northern Ireland talks chairman Senator George Mitchell is to meet politicians in the North for high-level talks on the peace process.

The leaders of Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government were today preparing to pay tribute to the victims of last September’s terror attacks on the United States during a visit to the rubble of the World Trade Centre.

Former President of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, was today in Dublin where he was made an honorary doctor for his contribution to peace.

Rudolph Giuliani is being honoured in Ireland as he prepares to step down as Mayor of New York.

US Senator George Mitchell says the Unionist Ministers who voted against David Trimble’s re-election as First Minister yesterday made a grave error.

The Northern Ireland peace process will succeed, the US politician who brokered the Good Friday Agreement insisted today.

Palestinians were preparing a mass funeral procession through the West Bank today for Faisal Husseini, the top Palestinian official in Jerusalem, who died earlier of a heart attack during a visit to Kuwait.

Former American President Bill Clinton was ending his visit to the Irish Republic tonight with a gala event set to raise more than £700,000 for Northern Ireland’s Reconciliation Fund.

Former US president Bill Clinton, in Dublin for two days of engagements and private meetings, said today he hoped he would have a continuing role in the Northern Ireland peace process.

Former US President Bill Clinton is to be honoured for his part in the peace process.