Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and gubernatorial candidate Eliot Spitzer cruised to landslide victories in New York state’s Democratic primary day, turning back long-shot challengers on a night that produced a string of lopsided state-wide contests.

The disclosure of a top-secret US domestic spying programme has ignited a furious debate about presidential authority, civil liberties and whether President George Bush is acting above the law.

Controversial plans to build an International Freedom Centre at Ground Zero in New York have been abandoned after a long and bitter dispute.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams today was flying to the US as Northern Ireland’s largest political party prepared for next month’s review of the Good Friday Agreement.

New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani refused to bow to fear today, marching in a Columbus Day parade that combined a traditional celebration of Italian-American heritage with a patriotic theme.