Update 11pm: Junior Minister John Halligan has defended President Michael D Higgins over his praise for the regime of Fidel Castro.

The Brazilian judge presiding over criminal proceedings against charismatic entrepreneur Eike Batista, once Brazil’s richest man, was seen driving a Porsche belonging to the fallen tycoon that had been seized by the court.

Rachel Kushner

IT’s 20 years since the iconic movie Thelma and Louise, a cult classic about two women’s wonderful road trip across the US.

The Argentinian Football Association have terminated the contract of the Albicelestes’ coach, Sergio Batista.

Carlos Tevez has been left out of Argentina’s squad for the friendly with Portugal on February 9 in Switzerland but national team boss Sergio Batista does not want the Manchester City striker to be worried by his omission.

The Argentinian Football Association have confirmed Sergio Batista as the head coach of the national team on a permanent basis.

Pablo Zabaleta sees no reason why Argentina caretaker boss Sergio Batista cannot be handed the reins on a permanent basis and go on to take them to the 2014 World Cup.

IT may have been a chastening evening on the pitch but the news was better away from it with confirmation that Giovanni Trapattoni will be back on his feet in good time for the opening Euro 2010 qualifier in Yerevan.

Republic of Ireland 0 Argentina 1

Republic of Ireland striker Kevin Doyle failed a fitness test on a calf injury for tonight’s friendly against Argentina.

LIKE a glitzy film premiere where the lead fails to show, Diego Maradona’s absence from the Aviva Stadium tonight has stripped the event of some of its star quality.

Argentina will use tomorrow night’s friendly with the Republic of Ireland to rid from their system their horrifying World Cup exit.

FORMER Argentina star Ossie Ardiles believes tomorrow’s friendly with the Republic of Ireland at the Aviva Stadium has taken on added significance since the departure of national team boss Diego Maradona.

NO Maradona in the dugout, more’s the pity, but Argentina will certainly not be lacking in star quality on the pitch when they play the Republic of Ireland at the Aviva Stadium next Wednesday.

NO Maradona in the dugout, more’s the pity, but Argentina will certainly not be lacking in star quality on the pitch when they play the Republic of Ireland at the Aviva Stadium next Wednesday.

The Argentinian Football Association have announced they will not name a new coach to succeed Diego Maradona until October at the earliest.

Argentinian Football Association president Julio Grondona has confirmed there is no shortlist yet in place to succeed Diego Maradona as national team manager.

Worried aid workers in Haiti today called for more security amid fears of attacks by increasingly desperate earthquake survivors.

Madonna is setting up a new Brazilian children’s charity.

A US SECURITY consultant who negotiated the release of dozens of kidnap victims in Latin America has himself been kidnapped by masked gunmen in northern Mexico.

More than one failure is likely to have caused the airliner crash in Madrid, according to Spain's civil aviation chief.

Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has been named in Argentina’s Olympic squad.

Striker David Healy is a doubt for Fulham’s visit to rock-bottom Derby after suffering an ankle injury on international duty with Northern Ireland.

Roy Hodgson has no fresh injury worries ahead of the trip to Newcastle tomorrow.

WHERE would Fulham be had Brian McBride not missed six months of the season through injury? Or more importantly, where would their hopes of survival be without him back in their ranks right now?

DWIGHT D EISENHOWER, John F Kennedy, Lyndon B Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford,Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush Snr and Bill Clinton.

Fulham have fitness doubts over midfielder Jimmy Bullard and defenders Carlos Bocanegra and Aaron Hughes for the FA Cup third round replay at League One Bristol Rovers.

“GOODNIGHT Irene” sang the 7,000 Rovers fans when they weren’t busy taunting the home crowd.

Tropical Storm Noel triggered mudslides and floods in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, pushing the region’s death toll to 81 and forcing some parents to choose which of their children to save from the surging waters.

Republic of Ireland U21 0 Portugal U21 2

The CIA recruited a former FBI agent to approach two of America’s most-wanted mobsters and gave them poison pills meant for Fidel Castro during his first year in power, according to newly-declassified papers.

Cuban leader Fidel Castro has paid tribute to his late sister-in-law, guerrilla warrior and women’s rights pioneer Vilma Espin Guillois.

JERMAINE EASTER’S late strike embarrassed Chelsea and earned Wycombe a memorable draw in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final at Adams Park.

Jermaine Easter’s late strike embarrassed Chelsea and earned Wycombe a memorable draw in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final at Adams Park.

Fulham boss Chris Coleman welcomes back striker Heidar Helguson for the visit of Watford to Craven Cottage.

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho has dropped Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko to the substitutes’ bench to accommodate Claude Makelele in midfield for their Prmiership clash with Fulham today.

Fulham defender Zat Knight will miss tomorrow’s Barclays Premiership clash with Charlton because of a broken jaw.

Fulham defender Zat Knight will miss Wednesday’s Barclays Premiership clash with Charlton because of a broken jaw.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will be restored to the starting line-up as manager Rafael Benitez makes five expected changes for the visit of Fulham to Anfield today.

FIDEL CASTRO rose to power after an armed revolution he led drove out then-president Fulgencio Batispta.

Fidel Castro, who took control of Cuba in 1959, rebuffed repeated US attempts to oust him and survived communism’s demise almost everywhere else, temporarily relinquished his presidential powers to his brother Raul last night because of surgery.

Republic of Ireland Under-21s captured the Madeira Invitational Tournament for the second time in two years with a deserved 2-1 victory over Portugal in Machico.