Esther N McCarthy picks perfect paperweights, brilliant books and Christmas collectables this week.

Several key Taliban leaders and about 50 fighters have been killed in Afghanistan in an ongoing operation launched last week to clear militants from the country’s violence-plagued south, officials said today.

Schedule for the opening day of the 2005 Cheltenham Festival.

Cork sailor John Twomey produced Ireland's best result of the Paralympics so far, as he guided his 23ft keelboat to third in the second of today's Sonar class races at the Agios Kosmas centre.

Godolphin have a major chance of ending the week with a Classic or two in the bag and the Dubai outfit can keep the winners ticking over in the meantime when Ancient World runs at Nottingham tomorrow.