Revisiting the biggest scoop of the ’90s when it was revealed that Bishop Eamon Casey had fathered a child with American Annie Murphy elicits memories of that signal event.

Jonathan O’Brien’s letter (Dec 10) states well how “For over 100 years, 365 days a year, the Union flag is flown over Belfast City Hall ... the cultural national alliances of nationalism have not been recognised”.

It is chilling to read that Cardinal Sean Brady has not resigned after the BBC report of his failure to report to police and parents a list of children who were being abused by notorious paedophile priest Brendan Smyth in 1975.

BISHOP Edward Daly’s call to end mandatory clerical celibacy to ease problems facing the Catholic Church (News, Sept. 13) echoes an ancient refrain in Ireland.

THE criticism by a number of Irish priests of the Vatican’s (ie, the Pope’s) response to the Murphy report and the ongoing revelations of a global clerical abuse cover-up is well stated (‘Priests criticise Vatican response to report fallout’, April 22).

US President George Bush today said he is confident in the ability of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to crack down on militants at the Afghan border and cooperate with the US.

Russian president Vladimir Putin said today that a joint missile defence plan he proposed to the United States could include interceptor missiles hosted by US allies such as Turkey or even Iraq.

Accident-prone George Bush admitted today he should start “acting my age” after crashing his mountain bike into a policeman.

George W Bush says military action against Iraq may become "unavoidable" if Saddam Hussein refuses to disarm.

A Palestinian suicide bomber devastated a bus during the morning rush today - killing himself and eight passengers on a day punctuated by violence from Galilee to Jerusalem’s Old City and the Mediterranean beachfront.

US President George W Bush has come in for severe criticism after it emerged today that he has spent 42% of the time since his inauguration on holidays.

A Texas judge today fined President Bush’s daughter Jenna more than £400 for violating under age drinking laws.

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated President Bush on his 55th birthday today and said he looked forward to meeting him again at this month’s G-8 summit in Italy.