GREEK politicians have granted initial approval to a new austerity bill which proposes spending cuts and tax hikes that have sparked fury on the streets of Athens.

Hundreds of rioters looted shops in Athens today after a mass anti-government rally against new government cuts erupted into violence.

US president Barack Obama is to ask Polish leaders to use the lessons they learned during the fall of communism to aid fledgling democratic movements in the Middle East and North Africa.

President Mary McAleese today begins a four-day official visit to Russia to build business links with the country.

PRESIDENT Mary McAleese will make a four- day visit to Russia next week in a bid to build business links between the countries, it was disclosed yesterday.

President Mary McAleese will make a four-day visit to Russia next week in a bid to build business links between the countries, it was disclosed today.

Three people died in a blaze at an Athens bank today during rioting over government spending cuts.

Three people died in a blaze at an Athens bank today during rioting over government spending cuts.

Protesters tried to storm Greece's parliament and hurled paving stones at police today as tens of thousands of outraged Greeks took to the streets of Athens to protest at spending cuts aimed at saving their country from bankruptcy.

Flights to and from Greece were grounded, trains and ferries suspended their routes and public services were paralysed today as angry workers went on strike in protest over huge spending cuts.

THE Greek parliament approved new spending cuts and taxes yesterday aimed at defusing the country’s debt crisis, while protesters opposed to the measures fought with police outside.

Greece agreed tough new spending cuts today aimed at dealing with its massive debt crisis even as mobs protesting against them fought running battles with riot police in Athens.

GERMAN and French leaders stood side by side at the World War I remembrance ceremony in Paris for the first time yesterday as events were held around the globe to honour the millions of dead.

The leaders of Germany and France appeared together for the first time at a First World War remembrance ceremony today and said it was now time to celebrate their countries’ reconciliation and friendship.

US PRESIDENT Barack Obama and Kremlin leader Dmitry Medvedev agreed outline cuts in nuclear arsenals and a deal to let US troops fly across Russia, on the first day of an Obama visit intended to mend strained relations.

Greek youths hurled stones and broken paving slabs at riot police who responded with volleys of tear gas in central Athens today.

President Mary McAleese will meet business and political leaders and members of the Irish community during a state visit to Romania next week.

WORLD leaders whose countries faced off on the battlefields of World War II paid tribute yesterday to the fallen soldiers and millions of civilian dead.

SOLEMN commemoration services and street parties drew huge crowds yesterday as Europe celebrated the 60th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat and the end of the continent’s most devastating war.

Solemn commemoration services and street parties drew huge crowds today as Europe celebrated the 60th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat and the end of the continent’s most devastating war.

President Mary McAleese said today that her visit - the first to Greece by an Irish head of state - was an important contribution to the development of relations between Ireland and Greece.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has attacked the "scum" responsible for a remote-controlled mine blast which has left at least 32 people dead, including 12 children, near Chechnya.

The identification process on remains of those killed in the World Trade Centre attacks is continuing as more rubble is pulled from Ground Zero.

An Iraqi opposition group has claimed that Saddam Hussein's televised address to the nation used doctored and pre-recorded film.