Sonia Gandhi, Congress leader, has convened a meeting of her aides to discuss the report’s ramifications for the longstanding family loyalist and is expected to make a recommendation to India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his expected return to New Delhi last night. . Kerry who voted to authorize the use of force in Iraq, has been a strong critic of Bush's handling of the war, accusing the president of misleading the public into going to war.

The Taoiseach says there is no reason why talks on the return of powersharing between the parties in Northern Ireland should not be underway by next spring. . The call for greater integration in European military research and procurement is likely to be controversial since France and Britain, in particular, have been at odds over the extent to which a pan-European defence agency should have a say over national budget priorities.

"It's morally wrong that so many children live in poverty. . Currently, for people who have yet to retire, the scheme pays out 90 per cent of their retirement income entitlement up to a cap of £25,000 a year.