Former Bosnian Serb army chief Ratko Mladic goes on trial this week in a case that will establish if he was responsible for some of the worst atrocities in Europe since Second World War.

Fighters in Sierra Leone raped and killed Halimatu Jalloh’s sister during the country’s civil war, but last night the 27-year-old student felt the pain of her loss ease with the conviction of Charles Taylor, the Liberian leader who backed the rebels.

In a historic ruling, an international court today convicted former Liberian President Charles Taylor of aiding and abetting war crimes and crimes against humanity for supporting brutal rebels in neighbouring Sierra Leone in return for “blood diamonds”.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech and Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky were included in the Czech Republic squad for next week’s friendly against Ireland.

NUREMBERG prosecutors say they have charged a 69-year-old man with 497 counts of rape over allegations that he abused his daughter for 34 years and fathered three sons by her.

West Ham are today awaiting Premier League approval to complete the free transfer of Denmark right-back Lars Jacobsen from Blackburn.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan tonight said he was willing to extend the remit of the banking inquiry to cover the nationalisation of Anglo Irish Bank.

An international court modelled on the Nuremberg tribunal has convicted three top Sierra Leone rebel leaders of crimes against humanity.

Everton manager David Moyes will end the long wait for a summer signing after striking a deal to bring Denmark international Lars Christian Jacobsen to Goodison Park.

Tottenham and Bolton will be among the second seeds in today’s draw for the group stage of the UEFA Cup but Everton are in the group of third seeds.

PINK was the defining colour of the last week. The shocking fuchsia suit Margaret Thatcher wore to meet Gordon Brown wasn’t just the first thing to hand in the wardrobe. As a former British foreign secretary acidly put it, “she has a perfectly good blue dress at home”. She was seeking attention and she got it, dominating the headlines at the expense of Conservative leader David Cameron’s long-awaited ‘green’ report.

Supporters have their minds more on football than prostitution at the World Cup, says Charlie Fox

ASTON VILLA striker Milan Baros could be on the move after just one season in the midlands having emerged as a leading target for Hamburg.

Czech Republic 0 Italy 2

A DREADFUL mistake from Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes gifted Valencia all three points and cut Frank Rijkaard’s side’s lead at the top of La Liga to six points at the Mestella last night.

Hamburg’s hopes of hanging onto the coat-tails of runaway Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich were dashed as they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to lowly Nuremberg.

I AM surprised at Tom Carew's remarks about Noam Chomsky (Irish Examiner letters, January 24).

Nuremberg was marking the 60th anniversary today of the post-war trial of some of Nazi Germany’s top leaders, a landmark process that ushered in a new era of international law.

FRANCE’S hopes of making the 2006 World Cup finals received a further boost yesterday when defender Lilian Thuram confirmed he would make his international comeback.

Football’s rule-makers today gave the go-ahead for FIFA to experiment with goal-line technology.

GOALS from second-string strikers Fernando Morientes and Javier Portillo earned Real Madrid a 2-1 victory over the Thai national team yesterday in the Spanish champions’ last match of their Asian tour.

JUVENTUS, who face Manchester Utd in the Champions League on Tuesday night, remain top of Serie A but only on goal difference from Inter Milan after the weekend’s action in Italy.

BRAZILIAN, Elber struck four times as Bayern Munich put their German league title chase on track by hammering Arminia Bielefeld 6-2 on Saturday.

Sir Alex Ferguson claims Manchester United face a tougher test against Bayer Leverkusen tonight than they did when they famously beat Juventus three years ago.