Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has chosen to rest several first-team regulars for tomorrow’s final Champions League Group B tie against Olympiacos in Athens.

WITH individual and team medals within reach, Ireland’s cross-country team manager, Anne Keenan-Buckley, made no effort to hide her excitement when she introduced some of her athletes at Santry yesterday ahead of Sunday’s SPAR European cross-country championships.

MARY CULLEN managed to win back some pride for Ireland with a fine fourth place in the senior women’s race at the SPAR European Cross-Country Championships in Brussels yesterday as Martin Fagan could only watch from his knees as his medal hopes faded after a crashing fall in the senior men’s race.

Portugal’s attorney-general today appeared to pave the way for the authorities to shelve their investigation into Madeleine McCann’s disappearance.

East Timor’s leaders were trying to decide on a new prime minister today following the resignation of Mari Alkatiri, raising hopes for an end to months of political paralysis and violence in Asia’s newest nation.

East Timor dumped its defense minister today and the government showed signs of further unravelling, as desperate residents scuffled over scarce food in the capital and looters ransacked the prosecutor’s office of vast numbers of files.

Fernando Alonso held off team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella to lead the opening lap of the Spanish Grand Prix in front of a sell-out 130,000 crowd in Barcelona.

MIDLAND owner Alex Shnaider has declared Jordan’s final Formula One season a success, despite the team finishing a lowly ninth in the constructors’ championship.

Midland owner Alex Shnaider has declared Jordan’s final Formula One season a success, despite the team finishing a lowly ninth in the constructors’ championship.

Kimi Raikkonen clung on to his world championship dream by winning the Belgian Grand Prix in tricky conditions at Spa-Francorchamps today.

FERRARI’S Michael Schumacher emerged with the victory in a US Grand Prix turned into a parade yesterday by the withdrawal of 14 Formula One cars running on suspect Michelin tyres.

Kimi Raikkonen took his second consecutive pole position by claiming top spot in qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona this morning.

Jordan took the wraps off their 2005 car today at Silverstone, with new sporting director Trevor Carlin declaring the test a success.

Jordan today announced the signing of Tiago Monteiro and Narain Karthikeyan as its race drivers for the 2005 Formula One World Championship.

PORTUGAL coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has named his provisional squad for European Championship in June.