United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon has offered a grim assessment of prospects for defusing the latest wave of violence between Israel and the Palestinians.

The Taliban have chosen late supreme leader Mullah Omar’s longtime deputy to replace him, two militant commanders announced, as Pakistan said peace talks between the insurgents and the Afghan government had been postponed.

Yaya Toure decided to stay at Manchester City after being assured he is a key figure in the club’s future by owner Sheikh Mansour, his agent has said.

Manuel Pellegrini may well insist he isn’t under pressure but, as Manchester City’s squad, which cost €1.4bn to assemble, was out-classed in the Nou Camp, you could almost hear the sharpening of knives in Abu Dhabi.

Bayern Munich 1 Manchester City 0

A Westmeath chef who raped a young woman after inviting her back to his apartment for a party has been given a seven-year sentence.

A Westmeath chef is due to be sentenced today for raping a young woman after telling her he was gay and inviting her back to his apartment.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said it is more urgent than ever to avoid another Israeli-Palestinian war that could spill into the Middle East and called on both sides to agree a ceasefire.

A Westmeath chef has been convicted of raping a young woman after telling her he was gay and inviting her back to his apartment.

Egypt’s interim president has chosen outgoing housing minister Ibrahim Mehlib as the country’s new prime minister.

Egypt will hold a presidential vote before parliamentary polls, president Adly Mansour said yesterday, in a change to a political roadmap that could pave the way for the swift election of army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Egypt’s interim president has announced the country will have presidential elections before parliamentary polls.

The date for a key referendum on Egypt’s amended constitution has been set for January 14-15, interim president Adly Mansour said as he called on citizens to vote “yes” to move ahead with the country’s transition to democracy.

Egypt’s interim president pledged to protect his country against those who sought chaos and violence in the aftermath of a popularly-backed military coup, promising justice and reconciliation for all.

Egypt’s interim president is swearing in a new cabinet, the first since the removal of his predecessor by the military nearly two weeks ago.

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood has declared it will refuse to join an interim cabinet to replace ousted president Mohammed Morsi, spurning an offer from the new prime minister to help shepherd the country through a transition period.

Egypt’s military-backed interim leader has named a new prime minister and won $8bn (€9.3bn) in promises of aid from wealthy Arab allies in the Gulf.

Egypt’s interim president has issued a swift timetable for the process of changing the constitution, setting parliamentary and presidential elections for early 2014.

Egyptians were on edge today after supporters and opponents of ousted president Mohammed Morsi fought overnight street battles that left at least 30 dead across the increasingly divided country.

Egyptian troops have opened fire on protesters marching in support of ousted president Mohammed Morsi, killing at least one and wounding several more.

Egypt's army has said it will protect peaceful protests ahead of planned rallies by supporters of ousted president Mohammed Morsi.

The chief justice of Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court was sworn in as interim president, taking over hours after the military ousted Islamist president Mohammed Morsi.

The supreme leader of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood has been arrested and flown to Cairo on a military helicopter, security officials say.

Egytian prosecutors have ordered the arrest of the leader of Muslim Brotherhood and his deputy for the killing of eight protesters in clashes outside the group’s Cairo headquarters.

The chief justice of Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court was sworn in today as the nation’s interim president, taking over hours after the military ousted the Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.

The supreme justice of Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court has been sworn in as the nation’s interim president, replacing the Islamist Mohammed Morsi who was ousted by the military.

The Court of Criminal Appeal has quashed the conviction and ordered the retrial of a Tunisian man who was jailed for eight years for the rape and false imprisonment of a woman he met in a nightclub.

Manchester City’s much-vaunted new dynasty began with an historic goal when Sergio Aguero scored in the very last minute on the final day of the 2011-12 campaign; but now it is about to end because of a lack of them.

With a 15 point advantage and only nine games remaining, even if Manchester United did a ‘Devon Loch’, as their manager would have it, they’d still win the title.

A 46-year-old chef who falsely imprisoned, raped and orally raped a woman he met in a nightclub in Co Westmeath has been jailed for eight years.

Israeli troops fired on Gazans as they surged towards their border fence, killing one person but leaving intact the fragile two-day-old ceasefire between Hamas and the Jewish state.

Palestinian officials have asked the UN Security Council to act to halt Israel’s military operation in Gaza.

Manchester City paid £38m for Sergio Aguero because he is a player that can perform rare feats of brilliance with a football.

Striker Djibril Cisse has called on QPR to deliver Mark Hughes some “sweet revenge” by denying Manchester City the title and ensuring their own survival at the Etihad Stadium next weekend.

Yaya Toure is setting his sights on sustained success after firing Manchester City to the brink of a first league title in 44 years.

Manchester United may have handed them a second chance at the Barclays Premier League title but Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour is happy to call this season a success whatever happens next.

Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour has declared the club’s season a success even if they come up short in their efforts to catch rivals Manchester United and win the Barclays Premier League title.

Syria has rebuffed as a “conspiracy” an Arab League call for president Bashar al-Assad to step down in favour of a unity government to calm a 10-month-old revolt in which thousands of Syrians have been killed.

Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour remains top of FourFourTwo’s Football Rich List for the 2011-12 season, with the magazine reporting he is worth £20bn.

THE Security Council took its first official step yesterday to consider the Palestinians’ request for UN membership.

The United Nations Security Council will meet tomorrow to start the process of formally considering the Palestinian request for membership in the world body.

As Though She Were Sleeping

IT WON’T be a “normal” Community Shield.

WHEN God invented the beautiful game he’d had one of his better days. Seen one fjord, seen them all, but football changes forever.