THE FRENCH government yesterday warned that protracted public sector strikes would have dramatic consequences for the French economy as Paris commuters faced yet another day of scant subway and train services and airlines cancelled flights.

By Ronan Mullen YOU have to hand it to Bob Geldof.

Britain, the US and their supporters were continuing to back their intelligence services today, after Tony Blair rejected charges that the British government had doctored evidence on Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction.

US president George Bush pledged to work unstintingly for a Palestinian state and Israel living side by side as he prepared to meet Arab leaders in Egypt today.

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday insisted that he stood “absolutely 100%” behind intelligence claims made by the government about Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction in the run-up to the war, as he sought to face down a looming revolt by Labour MPs.

In his first personal foray into Middle East peace talks, President George Bush pledged today to “put as much time as necessary” into achieving peace between Israelis and Palestinians to help them live side by side.

US President George Bush and French President Jacques Chirac ended their personal feud over the Iraq war today, saying they both support efforts for the reconstruction of the country.

After winning new funds for fighting Aids, world leaders at the G8 summit turned their attention today to global problems like terrorism, nuclear proliferation and the world economy.

A largely peaceful demonstration against the G8 summit in Evian deteriorated into pitched battles between riot police and protesters that continued today.

PRESIDENTS George W Bush and Jacques Chirac smiled for the cameras yesterday at the start of a Group of Eight summit overshadowed by the US-French clash over the Iraq war and concern over Washington’s next moves.

NO Doubt about it, yesterday was the most tumultuous day of world affairs since the Russians lost the Eurovision song contest.

ANARCHISTS and anti-capitalists rampaged through the streets of Geneva and Lausanne yesterday as world leaders clamped a harmonious face on a summit simmering with Iraq war disputes in France.

Anti-riot agents have fired volleys of tear gas and rubber pellets at anti-globalisation demonstrators.

President George W. Bush and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin urged North Korea and Iran today to halt development of nuclear weapons, and Bush stood by his assertion that Iraq had prohibited arms.

On the eve of a mass anti-G-8 demonstration in Geneva, militant protesters set fire to shops and damaged public buildings in the Swiss city, police said.

Food shortages in drought-stricken Ethiopia are worse than feared with millions at risk of starvation, Bob Geldof said today.

Heads of state of leading developing countries gathered in Switzerland today for a series of meetings on the sidelines of the summit of Group of Eight leading world powers.

Two decades ago when Bob Geldof was making his dramatic appeal for help for victims of a devastating famine in Ethiopia, HIV/Aids was all but unknown in the impoverished Horn of Africa nation.

SIGNING a $15 billion authorisation to fight AIDS abroad gives US President George W Bush more leverage to press other wealthy nations to work harder against the killer disease as he prepares for a European summit.

ROCK star Bob Geldof yesterday criticised Western governments for failing Africa, as he headed back to Ethiopia to again highlight the plight of millions of people facing starvation.

Rock star Bob Geldof today criticised Western governments for failing Africa as he headed back to Ethiopia to again highlight the plight of millions of people facing starvation.

America is not over its deep disappointment with France for its opposition to the war in Iraq, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said in Paris.

Chinese President Hu Jintao is having medical tests to ensure he is not carrying the deadly Sars virus when he meets world leaders on the fringes of next month’s G-8 summit in France.