PADDY BARNES put his devastation at not being able to defend his title to one side and is backing his Irish team-mates to finish in podium positions at the European Championships in Ankara, Turkey.

The Clash

The IABA have announced a 12-strong squad for the upcoming Prime Ministry Tournament in Ankara, Turkey.

Russia secured Turkish support for a pipeline project that challenges EU efforts to reduce energy dependence on Moscow, but said Europe would ultimately benefit from the deal.

PRESIDENT Barack Obama offered the world the audacity to hope for peace in the Middle East and a better understanding between the United States and Muslims.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is using her second overseas trip to assess Mideast peace prospects, reconnect with European allies and remind her Russian counterpart that US efforts to rebuild relations with Moscow have their limits.

A defiant and threatening Iran said it would hide its nuclear program if the West took “harsh measures” after this week’s UN Security Council deadline for Tehran to suspend uranium enrichment.

The war on terror will continue long after Iraq and Afghanistan are stable, Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, told military officials from around the world today.

Two huge blasts which appeared to be artillery or mortar rounds shook the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk tonight.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan was today warning the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders that any failure to agree on his unification plan would entrench the division of the Mediterranean island.

JOE STRUMMER, frontman with the Clash whose 1979 track London Calling exploded as one of punk’s biggest anthems, has died at the age of 50.

A key Iraqi opposition figure said today that his group would not ‘‘blindly’’ commit to any US plans to topple Saddam Hussein.