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Ireland to vote on key EU treaty
The Irish Republic is due to vote in a referendum on the Lisbon treaty, which would change the way in which the European Union is run.
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All other 26 EU states have left the issue to their parliaments, but Ireland is obliged to hold a popular vote on changes to its constitution.All of the main Irish parties back the treaty but the No campaign has been putting up a strong challenge.With many voters undecided, opinion polls suggest the result will be close.Voters will be asked whether or not they approve an amendment to the constitution which would allow Ireland to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon.The treaty's main provisions include a smaller European Commission, the removal of the national veto in more policy areas, a new president of the European Council and a strengthened foreign affairs post.
In 2001, Irish voters almost wrecked EU plans to expand eastwards when they rejected the Nice treaty. It was only passed in a much-criticised second vote.
Ireland's EU Minister, Dick Roche, predicted on the eve of polling that the Yes campaign would win but the result would be "very, very close".Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, urged all EU states to back the treaty, which is due to come into force on 1 January 2009.Speaking after Finland and Estonia became the latest EU members to ratify the treaty in their parliaments, he said the reforms would strengthen the EU to meet global challenges.The No campaign is a broad coalition ranging from lobby group Libertas to Sinn Fein, the only party in parliament to oppose the treaty.Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said a successful No vote would give Ireland's "government a strong mandate to negotiate a better deal for Ireland".
US and EU 'to issue Iran warning'
US President George W Bush is to hold talks with European Union leaders later on Tuesday as they meet in Slovenia for their twice-yearly summit.
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The BBC's Oana Lungescu in Ljubljana says they are expected to issue a joint warning to Tehran that more sanctions against Iran's banks are being readied.They are pressuring Iran to abandon its nuclear programme, rejecting claims it is solely for peaceful purposes.Mr Bush's trip is expected to be his last Europe tour while in office.Mr Bush's week-long trip also takes him to Germany, Italy, France, the Vatican and the UK.The summit will also focus on Zimbabwe, calling for an end to state-sponsored violence and urging the UN secretary general to immediately send a team to monitor human rights, our correspondent says.
'Carrot and stick' policy
There will be a tough joint message to Tehran about further sanctions against Iranian banks linked to nuclear proliferation and terrorism, our correspondent says. Mr Bush is also expected to apply pressure on individual European businesses to take a harder line.
Barclays Bank, based in Britain, has already responded to US pressure, and ended all dealings with Iran's Saderat Bank and Bank Melli.
The warning of sanctions is a stick that Washington is keen to wield, but it is ready to give the carrot one more try, our correspondent says.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana will go to Iran at the weekend with an upgraded offer of economic and political incentives.
The UN Security Council has approved three rounds of sanctions against Iran.
These include asset restrictions and travel bans on Iranian individuals and companies said to be involved in nuclear work.The sanctions also ban the sale to Iran of so-called dual-use items - items which can have either a military or civilian purpose.
'No illusions'
As EU leaders prepare to bid goodbye to Mr Bush in Slovenia, they want to focus on what unites Europe and America, our correspondent says.But on some key challenges like global warming, no-one is expecting a breakthrough, she says.The US envoy to the EU has warned Europeans not to have any illusions that Washington's position will change "magically" with a new president.Ahead of the summit, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel made reference to the possible tensions, telling reporters: "As in all relationships, the EU and US sometimes have different views."
Obama declares nomination victory
Barack Obama has declared himself "the Democratic nominee for president of the United States".
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He was speaking to a cheering crowd on the last day of the primary season, as projections showed he had earned enough delegates to clinch the nomination.Of the states that voted, Montana was won by Mr Obama and South Dakota by his rival Hillary Clinton, US media say.In her own speech to supporters, Mrs Clinton refused to concede and said she would make a final decision later.
Role for Clinton?
Mr Obama's speech was delivered in St Paul, Minnesota, where Republicans are set to hold their presidential nominating convention.In the address, he paid tribute to Mrs Clinton and hinted that she would play a role in a hypothetical Obama administration. "What gets Hillary Clinton up in the morning is an unyielding desire to improve the lives of ordinary Americans," he said.
"When we finally win the battle for universal health care in this country, she will be central to that victory."
Mr Obama also praised Republican rival John McCain's "many accomplishments", although he accused the Arizona senator of choosing to deny his own accomplishments.
Speaking in New York, Mrs Clinton congratulated Mr Obama and his supporters "for all that they have accomplished".
But she said she was making "no decisions tonight" about her continued presence in the race.
Earlier, she told congressional backers that she was "open" to the idea of being Mr Obama's vice-presidential running-mate.
Mr Obama was only a few delegates short of the 2,118 needed ahead of the polls closing in South Dakota and Montana.And although he failed to win in South Dakota, he had managed to pick up enough endorsements during the day from the remaining uncommitted "super-delegates" - party officials with a free choice over who to support - to pass the winning post as soon as polls closed in the state.
His projected victory in Montana added even more delegates to his tally.Before the voting was complete, Republican presumptive nominee John McCain delivered a speech to supporters in Louisiana, in which he declared that "the primary season is over, and the general election campaign has begun".He attacked Mr Obama for being "the wrong change", and defended himself against the Obama campaign's criticism that he will continue President Bush's policies, saying he had "not seen eye to eye" with the president on many issues
Ministers sense terror vote shift
Confidence is growing among ministers that the threat of a government defeat over plans to extend detention without charge of terror suspects is receding.
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Colleagues of Home Secretary Jacqui Smith believe concessions made by her to rebels have won some of them over.At a meeting with Labour MPs on Monday, Ms Smith said safeguards would ensure the proposed 42-day limit would be used only in exceptional circumstances.
The Conservatives, Lib Dems and dozens of Labour MPs remain opposed.
'Shifting ground'
Home Office Minister Tony McNulty said he now believed a vote in the Commons next week could be won in the wake of Ms Smith's pledges.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Things do seem to be shifting back to the government's way.
"There's still a lot of work to do, but I'm very hopeful."Aberdeen North MP Frank Doran had planned to vote against the government, but said he had now changed his mind.He said the "ground is shifting" and although a hard-core of rebels would not be moved, "those in the middle who have had doubts will have heard a lot [from Jacqui Smith] that will have satisfied them". Ms Smith's concessions are likely to include an earlier Parliamentary vote on any decision to allow a terror suspect to be held for 42 days, a shorter period in which the powers could be used, and a tight definition of the circumstances in which they could be implemented.
Currently terrorist suspects can be held for up to 28 days before they have to be charged or released without charge.
The concessions offered to Labour rebels - previously thought to number about 50 - are expected to be outlined in the form of amendments to the Counter-Terrorism Bill. MPs are to vote on the proposals next week.
Leaving Monday evening's meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party, Ms Smith said there had been a "constructive discussion" about the promised strengthening of proposals. 'No evidence'
She said MPs should accept her proposals "if they are serious about the security of the country".
But Labour MP John Grogan said while Ms Smith had made a "powerful speech", he was still not convinced she had made the case on security grounds for extending the 28-day limit.
He told the BBC: "We should not give up lightly liberties which have taken centuries to establish. Reluctantly, I still can't support the government."
Another rebel, David Winnick, said: "I haven't changed my views in anyway whatsoever. I don't believe there's any evidence to go beyond 28 days.
"I regret that the measure is going to go, apparently through."
Speaking on Monday, Mr Brown re-emphasised his arguments in favour of extending the time limit.
He said the "scale and complexity" of the terrorist threat facing Britain provided compelling evidence of the need to increase the amount of time suspects could be held without charge.
Security services are pursuing about 2,000 terrorists, 30 potential plots and 200 networks, he said.
Writing in Tuesday's Daily Telegraph, Former Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Peter Clarke, said the 28-day limit would "undoubtedly" soon be insufficient and criticised the politicisation of the debate over the issue.
'Desperation'
Mr Clarke wrote that "the terrorist threat is growing in scale and complexity" and rejected claims that an extension would be a threat to civil liberties.Meanwhile Justice Secretary Jack Straw has accused the Tories of behaving in an "unprincipled" manner over the controversial proposals.Mr Straw said: "I think they are in a very inconsistent position."I'd put any money you like that had they had been in government in the last period, they would have done at least this."Shadow home secretary David Davis said: "I shall refrain, at this stage, from commenting on the government's reported tactics, both with their own party and other parties."Its approach now clearly smacks of desperation."
Puerto Rico Democrats go to polls
Democrats in Puerto Rico have started voting for the candidate they want to be the party nominee for US president.
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The poll is one of the three final primaries taking place this week that could help decide whether Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton gets the nomination.
Mrs Clinton's campaign suffered a setback on Saturday when the party took a compromise decision over delegates from Florida and Michigan.She is still trailing Mr Obama, who remains the clear leader in the race.Mrs Clinton's supporters have said they reserve the right to appeal against the Democratic Party committee ruling that restored some of the votes for her from Florida and Michigan.Mrs Clinton won both states, but both were initially discounted because they held their primaries in January, in contravention of party rules.
Neither candidate campaigned in the contests, and in Michigan, Mr Obama's name was not even on the ballot.
Compromise deal
Mrs Clinton wanted the committee to allow delegates from Florida and Michigan to vote at the Democratic National Convention in August. Delegates to that convention, chosen in votes in each state, will decide which politician becomes the Democratic Party candidate in November's presidential election.
The compromise give Mrs Clinton 69 delegates in Michigan, compared to Mr Obama's 59. And in Florida, she gains 105 delegates to Mr Obama's 67.This reduces Mr Obama's lead - previously 202 - by 48, but the delegates from Michigan and Florida will only have half a vote each, so her gains are reduced.But, barring appeals, Mr Obama's victory looks more certain than ever, says the BBC's Jamie Coomarasamy in Washington.Mrs Clinton is expected to do well in Puerto Rico - a territory associated with the United States, not a state. It will send 55 pledged delegates to the convention.Democrats in Montana and South Dakota vote on Tuesday - the last two Democrat primaries of the season.
US Democrats start key poll talks
The US Democratic Party is meeting to decide the fate of two states left out of the dramatic race to find its candidate for president.
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Both Florida and Michigan were stripped of representation for holding their candidate contests in January, in violation of party rules.Hillary Clinton hopes the party will reverse its decision in the two states, where she has enjoyed strong support.She is lagging behind Barack Obama in the closing days of the race.The 30 members of the Democratic party's rules and bylaws committee are meeting in the ballroom of a Washington hotel.Outside about 200 protesters holding placards gathered chanting "Count our vote".But whatever the outcome of the committee's meeting, Barack Obama is still almost certain to cross the finishing-line in first place, says the BBC's James Coomarasamy.
Compromise likely
The committee meeting could mark Mrs Clinton's last stand, our correspondent says. She hopes members will overturn its previous decision and allow delegates from Florida and Michigan to vote at the national convention in August.Officially, she won both states in January but neither she nor Mr Obama campaigned in either - and in Michigan, Mr Obama's name was not even on the ballot.She is hoping to close the delegate gap with Mr Obama, allowing her to claim victory in the popular vote and persuade undecided "super-delegates" that she should be the party's nominee.Mr Obama currently has a delegate lead of 202 over Mrs Clinton, with 1,984 delegates to her 1,782, according to Associated Press news agency projections.Should the committee award her every Florida and Michigan delegate she officially won in January's discounted elections, her net delegate boost would be just 43.Nonetheless, such a decision would boost Mrs Clinton's chances of ending the primary election season with a plausible claim to have won a majority of the popular vote.The rules committee seems more likely to opt for a compromise - perhaps seating half the delegates - that would do little to change the dynamics of the race, our correspondent says.
California lifts gay marriage ban
California's top court has ruled that a state law banning marriage between same-sex couples is unconstitutional.
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The state's Supreme Court said the "right to form a family relationship" applied to all Californians regardless of sexuality.The ban was approved by voters in 2000 but challenged by gay rights activists and the city of San Francisco.The state legislature twice passed laws to legalise gay marriage, but Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed them.
He said California's court system should rule on the matter.The seven-judge panel voted 4-3 in favour of the plaintiffs who argued that the 2000 law was discriminatory."Limiting the designation of marriage to a union 'between a man and a woman' is unconstitutional and must be stricken from the statute," California Chief Justice Ron George said in the written opinion.
'Historic'
The decision was met outside the courthouse by cheers from gay marriage supporters.
"I'm profoundly grateful. This is a historic day," said San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera, who argued the city's case to the court.
"Everybody being entitled to equal protection under the law probably carried the day," he said.The ruling paves the way for California to become only the second US state, after Massachusetts, to allow same-sex marriage.The decision is expected to re-invigorate the fight for same-sex marriage rights nationwide, say gay activists and legal experts.California's Supreme Court has a history of landmark rulings that are later picked nationally.The state currently offers same-sex couples who register as domestic partners the same legal rights and responsibilities as married men and women.Other states, such as Vermont and New Jersey, have similar civil union provisions.
Californian voters approved the ban against same-sex marriages in a 2000 referendum. The law stated that "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognised in California".
In early 2004, San Francisco became the first place in the US where gay couples were able to marry after the city's Mayor Gavin Newsom authorised same-sex marriage licences, claiming the state legislation was discriminatory.In August of that year, California's Supreme Court ruled the mayor had overstepped his authority and nullified the hundreds of marriages.Gay rights group Equality California was joined by nearly two dozen gay couples and the city of San Francisco in bringing the case to the Supreme Court.
'Some progress' in Russia-US ties
US President George W Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin have signed a framework agreement but said they had made no breakthrough on differences.
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Mr Putin said Russia remained opposed to US missile defence plans in Europe, but there were "positive developments". Mr Bush said there was still work to do to persuade Moscow that the system was not aimed at Russia. Their farewell meeting, in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, came a month before Mr Putin was due to stand down. Russian President-elect Dmitry Medvedev also met Mr Bush, saying he hoped to continue advancing Russia-US relations.
'Strategic vision'
The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Sochi says that, at the news conference after the talks, the two leaders did not dwell on their differences and were on first name terms throughout. They said they had agreed to intensify their dialogue.
"We agreed today that the United States and Russia want to create a system for responding to potential missile threats in which Russia and the United States and Europe will participate as equal partners," Mr Bush said.
"This is a powerful and important strategic vision." Measures to ensure transparency and confidence-building would address Russian concerns, he added. Mr Bush said he supported Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organization, and favoured removing the Jackson-Vanik amendment, tying trade relations to human rights issues. Mr Putin said he welcomed US willingness to hear and discuss Russian questions about missile defence. "I have a cautious optimism about agreement," he said. "The devil is as usual in the detail. It is important that our experts agreed what confidence-building measures there will be and how they will be carried out in reality."
'Not afraid'
The summit began cordially, with the leaders joining a folk dance during dinner on Saturday evening at Mr Putin's holiday home. And the following morning they met at a guest house in the presidential compound.
Mr Bush said as they exchanged pleasantries that the meeting would be "interesting".
"You're not afraid to tell me what's on your mind," he said, quoted by the Associated Press.
"When all is said and done, we'll shake hands. You've been a strong leader."
Mr Bush held separate talks with Mr Medvedev, who takes over as Russian president next month.
The president-elect said he wanted to carry on the work done by Mr Bush and Mr Putin to advance bilateral relations, which he described as a "key factor in international security".
Correspondents say the meeting will have given Mr Bush a chance to see how much power Mr Putin will continue to wield when he becomes prime minister.Mr Bush described the president-elect as a "straightforward fellow"."I was impressed and look forward to working with him," he said.
Expansion
Their meeting follows a Nato summit in Romania where Mr Putin - a guest at the Bucharest gathering - warned against the Western military alliance's eastward expansion.The summit also saw Nato countries agreeing to back the US missile plans during the Romanian summit.On the issue of Nato expansion, Russia maintains that US plans to include Ukraine and Georgia will be viewed as a direct threat.The two countries are seeking to become members of the alliance, but were not offered a fast-track "Membership Action Plan" at the summit.The alliance has, however, left open the option of taking them in.
Clintons' earnings exceed $100m
Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton and her husband, ex-President Bill Clinton, have revealed they earned more than $100m (£50m) in eight years.
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Since 2000, the former first couple took in nearly $110m, with more than $20m made in 2007, and gave more than $10m to charity in the same period.Almost half of the income was made from the former president's speeches.Sen Clinton had been under pressure to release her returns since rival Barack Obama disclosed his for 2000-2006.Both Sen Obama and John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee, have said they will reveal their 2007 returns later this month.Both Democratic candidates are keen to show they have nothing to hide from voters as they fight for their party's nomination, the BBC's Jack Izzard reports from Washington.Many Americans will pore over these figures, which show just how much the Clintons are worth, he adds.
Lucrative books
"The Clintons have now made public 30 years of tax returns, a record matched by few people in public service," said Jay Carson, a Clinton campaign spokesman. "None of Hillary Clinton's presidential opponents have revealed anything close to this amount of personal financial information."
The Clintons paid around $34m in taxes between 2000 and 2007, their returns show.
The last time the former first couple publicised their finances was in 2000 - the year they left the White House. In that year they reported a gross income of $416,000.
Since leaving office, though, Bill Clinton has given speeches around the world, as well as becoming involved in numerous business ventures.
He has also made $30m from his two books, My Life and Giving.
For her part, Mrs Clinton made more than $10m from her book Living History.
She donated all the proceeds from another work, It Takes a Village, to charity.
Although the New York senator revealed highlights of tax returns from 2007, she requested an extension for their full disclosure, citing the need for more information on a blind trust dissolved last year.
Beer distributor
Last week Mr Obama published seven years of tax returns on his website. The data showed he earned nearly $1 million in 2006, nearly half of it coming from the publication of his second book, The Audacity of Hope. In previous financial disclosures, Sen McCain has listed his primary sources of income as his Senate salary of $170,000 and his Naval pension of around $56,000. Although Mr McCain's wife is heiress to a stake in Hensley & Co, one of the largest beer distributorships in the US - reportedly worth more than $100 million - a prenuptial agreement means most of her assets are kept in her name.
David Paterson
The downfall of New York's Governor Eliot Spitzer means the state will now have its first African-American governor.
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David Paterson - who served as Mr Spitzer's Lieutenant Governor - will also be America's first visually-impaired governor.He was born in 1954, the son of Basil Paterson, a former Deputy Mayor of New York and a powerful man on the state's political scene.As a young child, following an infection, David Paterson became blind in his left eye and was left with very limited sight in his right.He did not let his visual impairment block his academic progress, though, and he was admitted to Columbia University in New York, where he studied history, graduating in 1977, before attending Hofstra Law School.He became a member of New York's state senate in 1985, and served as the Democrats' minority leader in the chamber from 2002 until 2006, when he stood for the post of Lieutenant Governor as Mr Spitzer's running mate.
At the time, commentators were puzzled by his decision to run for the largely ceremonial post.As minority leader in the state senate, Mr Paterson was in pole position to become majority leader in the event of a Democratic takeover - which, at least until news of Mr Spitzer's scandal broke, seemed likely to happen in November.
Mr Paterson's gamble now appears to have paid off, however, as he prepares to take over from Mr Spitzer as governor.Mr Paterson is a prominent campaigner for the rights of the disabled, and successfully completed the New York marathon in 1999.He lives in Harlem with his wife, Michelle Paige Paterson, his son Alex, 13, and Ashley, 19, his wife's daughter from a previous marriage.
Last Updated: Wednesday, 12 March 2008, 16:07 GMT
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Profile: David Paterson
David Paterson
Mr Paterson became visually impaired as a young child
The downfall of New York's Governor Eliot Spitzer means the state will now have its first African-American governor.
David Paterson - who served as Mr Spitzer's Lieutenant Governor - will also be America's first visually-impaired governor.
He was born in 1954, the son of Basil Paterson, a former Deputy Mayor of New York and a powerful man on the state's political scene.
As a young child, following an infection, David Paterson became blind in his left eye and was left with very limited sight in his right.
He did not let his visual impairment block his academic progress, though, and he was admitted to Columbia University in New York, where he studied history, graduating in 1977, before attending Hofstra Law School.
He became a member of New York's state senate in 1985, and served as the Democrats' minority leader in the chamber from 2002 until 2006, when he stood for the post of Lieutenant Governor as Mr Spitzer's running mate.
At the time, commentators were puzzled by his decision to run for the largely ceremonial post.
He might be a fellow that when you have disagreements you sort them out
Jim Tedisco
Republican minority leader, New York state assembly
As minority leader in the state senate, Mr Paterson was in pole position to become majority leader in the event of a Democratic takeover - which, at least until news of Mr Spitzer's scandal broke, seemed likely to happen in November.
Mr Paterson's gamble now appears to have paid off, however, as he prepares to take over from Mr Spitzer as governor.
Mr Paterson is a prominent campaigner for the rights of the disabled, and successfully completed the New York marathon in 1999.
He lives in Harlem with his wife, Michelle Paige Paterson, his son Alex, 13, and Ashley, 19, his wife's daughter from a previous marriage.
'Gentle man'
Some people have remarked on the contrast between Mr Paterson and the fiery Mr Spitzer."He's got a wonderful sense of humour, a very gentle man - in that sense, he's the opposite of Eliot," Betsy Gotbaum, the New York City public ombudswoman told the New York Times.With his state senate background, Mr Paterson is expected to have a less combative relationship with New York legislators than Mr Spitzer, who had difficulties getting the Republicans in the legislature to approve his policy programmes."[Mr Paterson] might be a fellow that when you have disagreements you sort them out," Jim Tedisco, the Republican minority leader in the state assembly, told Newsweek.Now that Mr Spitzer has resigned, New York is about to find out whether Mr Paterson's less confrontational approach will allow him to succeed where Mr Spitzer could not.
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