London - The political leaders of Northern Ireland Wednesday hailed the election of Barack Obama as the next US president and said they wished to continue their "mutual beneficial relationship" with the United States.

Peter Robinson, the Protestant leader of Northern Ireland's power- sharing government, said he was looking forward to working with an Obama administration and to continuing the "mutually beneficial relationship that Northern Ireland has developed with the United States over the years."

Dublin - Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen on Wednesday congratulated Senator Barack Obama on being elected president of the United States, saying Obama's election was "a day of hope for the world".

"Barack Obama's remarkable personal story - allied to his eloquence and his huge political talents - sends a powerful message of hope to America's friends across the world."

"There is a palpable sense of history with the election of the first African-American president.

Dublin - Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen on Wednesday congratulated Senator Barack Obama on being elected president of the United States, saying Obama's election was "a day of hope for the world".

"Barack Obama's remarkable personal story - allied to his eloquence and his huge political talents - sends a powerful message of hope to America's friends across the world."

"There is a palpable sense of history with the election of the first African-American president.

"On this day, we are all reminded of those who struggled for civil rights in America for so many years, as well as all of those who work for justice and peace around the world today."

London, Nov 4 : Ireland’s largest bookmaker, Paddy Power, has slashed its odds on proof being found of God''s existence to just 4-1.

Ever since the betting opened just two months ago, people who hope to have their faith proved correct have placed 5,000 pounds with Paddy Power.

The bet, which was placed on the big question of the existence of God, was made in September, to coincide with the switching on of the Large Hadron Collider that physicists’ hope may lead to the discovery of an elusive sub-atomic object called the “God particle”.

Dublin - Following an austerity budget prompted by ailing public finances amid a recession, Ireland's ruling Fianna Fail party suffered a massive 10-percentage-point drop in support in an opinion poll published Sunday.

In the Red C poll published in the Sunday Business Post, only 26 per cent of voters would opt for Prime Minister Brian Cowen's party, well behind the opposition Fine Gael party on 33 per cent.

The seven-point lead for Fine Gael is the largest since polling began, Irish national broadcaster RTE reported. Fine Gael had gained five points since the last poll.

Dublin - The choked voices on the airwaves telling tales of job losses, repossessions, debt and downright misery signal the seismic shift in Ireland's economy that has caught thousands unaware.

One such voice is that of Kathleen, a mother of four, who sobs as she describes how she was given a sub-prime mortgage to redecorate the family home she inherited.

With arrears of 7,000 euros (9413.6 dollars), she is now in danger of losing that home as interest rate increases meant that her repayments jumped from 1,600 to 2,300 euros a month.