World News joined 5

[OMEN]

The Rev Ian Paisley will remain as the MP and Assembly member for North Antrim
The Rev Ian Paisley has announced he is to quit as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party and First Minister in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

He will remain as the MP and Assembly member for North Antrim.

Senior Democratic Unionists are hopeful that there will be a seamless handover following his decision to stand down after 37 years.

Stormont finance minister and DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson is the strong favourite to take over, although economy minister Nigel Dodds has also been mentioned as a possible leadership candidate.
But senior sources predicted that there would be no divisive contest, with 59-year-old Mr Robinson likely to take over as leader and First Minister and 49-year-old Mr Dodds becoming his deputy as part of a dream ticket.

Mr Paisley announced he would stand aside after an investment conference on May 7 to 9 aimed at American businessmen, which Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Irish taoiseach Bertie Ahern are expected to attend.

Mr Paisley said he had decided to stand down after the conference because it seemed to be the most appropriate time for him to quit frontline politics.

But he would not be drawn on who should take over. "This is not the Church of Rome," he told Ulster Television, "This is not Apostolic succession and I have no right to say who will succeed me."

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "Ian Paisley has made a huge contribution to political life in Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom. His commitment and dedication to public service deserve our gratitude. Progress on bringing a lasting peace to Northern Ireland would not have been possible without his immense courage and leadership."

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams extended his best wishes to Mr Paisley and commended him for his crucial role in forging the agreement with Sinn Fein last year which restored devolution.

AOL

[OMEN]

BACK IN THE RACE: Analysts said it was critical that Hillary Clinton won Ohio.
Democratic White House hopeful Hillary Clinton has scored a huge boost in her campaign, winning the popular vote in the Texas primary after taking Ohio and Rhode Island, US media reports.
The wins for Clinton, 60, a New York senator, will send the hotly contested Democratic race on toward the next major contest - Pennsylvania on April 22.

Today's wins break Barack Obama's month-long string of victories in the state contests to pick a Democratic candidate for the November US election.

It is a major comeback for Clinton, who was under pressure to win in the two biggest states, Ohio and Texas, or face calls to withdraw from the race.

"We're going on, we're going strong, and we're going all the way," Clinton told roaring supporters in Columbus, Ohio. "We're just getting started."

Earlier, Clinton won the Rhode Island presidential primaries, while Obama picked up an easy win in Vermont.

Turnout was reported heavy in all four states, and the Obama and Clinton campaigns traded accusations of irregularities at the polls in both Ohio and Texas.

Reuters

[OMEN]

Steve Irwin's widow Terri has lost her bid to fight a multi-million dollar lawsuit in her home state of Queensland.

The wife of the late Crocodile Hunter and their world-famous Australia Zoo are being sued by a debt collection company which claims both parties owe more than $A2.5 million ($NZ2.92 million) over a complex loan deal with an offshore bank.

Alyssa Treasury Services has taken over several debts allegedly owed to various overseas companies and banks.

It has issued dozens of writs against various parties it claims did not honour "bills of exchange" - unconditional promises to pay money as part of their involvement in a tax minimisation scheme.

Lawyers for Ms Irwin and the zoo argued that Queensland was a more appropriate venue for the case because most potential witnesses were based there and the claim by Alyssa was brought under commonwealth law.

But Victorian County Court Judge Maree Kennedy today rejected the application, saying she wasn't satisfied the Supreme Court of Queensland was the appropriate court to hear the matter.

"The cause of action herein has a strong connection with this state (Victoria)," Judge Kennedy ruled.

"On the evidence at this stage, it appears that issue, acceptance and endorsement of the bill (of exchange) have all taken place in Victoria."

Judge Kennedy said she accepted that a Queensland connection could become more significant as the case proceeded, adding that she would reserve the right of Ms Irwin and Australia Zoo to further apply in future to have the case moved to their home state if fresh evidence was produced.

Alyssa alleges several parties including Ms Irwin - who is being personally sued for $A60,000 - and the zoo promised but failed to pay large sums of money in connection with the loan.

AAP

[OMEN]

Venezuela has lifted trade restrictions with Colombia after an earlier halt, state television reported, amid a diplomatic crisis that threatens stability in the Andean region.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez ordered tanks to the border after Colombian security forces killed leftist rebels in an attack on Ecuadorean territory, escalating tensions in a dispute Chavez says could lead to war.

A state television reporter said authorities had "decided to allow the entrance of Colombian cargo trucks into Venezuelan territory (if) they are carrying high priority and perishable goods."

Military officials at the border told Reuters they were allowing all cargo trucks to cross into Venezuela.

"Tomorrow the border will be open like any other day," said one official when asked if the restrictions would be lifted permanently.

Truckers and transport industry leaders said Venezuela had shuttered customs operations at three major crossing points, creating long lines of truck on the Colombian side of the border.

The border opening followed hours of conflicting media reports and confusion along the border over what the government had actually decided.

Agriculture Minister Elias Jaua in the morning said, "We have taken some measures like the closure of the border" without elaborating.

Venezuela's Seniat tax agency, which is also in charge of customs, did not respond to requests for clarification.

The two nations have around $US6 billion ($NZ7.61 billion) a year in trade, with Venezuela importing cars, beef and medicine from its neighbour. Colombia imports chemicals, iron and plastic from Venezuela.

Venezuela has also increasingly relied on imports from its neighbour to address shortages of staple foods such as milk and chicken.

The country's business leaders say the shortages are caused by price controls that have not kept up with Latin America's highest inflation, while government leaders blame the problem on increased demand and hoarding.

Reuters

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An Iraqi military helicopter has crashed and all eight people on board killed, the US military said, the worst crash suffered by Iraq as it rebuilds its air force.

"Recovery operations have been completed and there were no survivors," the US military said in a statement.

One US service member was among those on board the Russian-made Mi-17 aircraft, it said, adding that the cause of the crash in northern Iraq was under investigation.

An Iraqi Defence Ministry statement said the helicopter had gone missing in a dust storm and the weather was the most likely cause of the crash.

It said the wreckage of the aircraft was found on Tuesday near Baiji, 180km north of Baghdad.

The helicopter was first reported missing on Monday near Sharqat, a desert area on the northern edges of Salahuddin province. Iraqi security officials had originally said two pilots were the only people on board.

An Iraqi military official in Salahuddin said the helicopter's pilots had radioed that they planned to make a forced landing because of the dust storm.

The US military said the last reported contacted with the helicopter was at 2.40pm (0040 NZT) on Monday.

Iraq is slowly rebuilding its air force, once one of the world's largest, after the US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. Its helicopters are mainly used for reconnaissance missions and to ferry troops.

Another Iraqi military helicopter was reported to have crashed in Diyala province northeast of Baghdad on May 30 last year, killing five people on board.

Five people were also killed when an Iraqi helicopter crashed during a training flight earlier last year.

Reuters

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[Stamkos]

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