EU Council president Donald Tusk told illegal economic migrants not to risk their lives or money on a perilous trip to Europe “for nothing” but said unilateral actions by European Union states to deal with the crisis must stop.

Sam Bennett failed to feature in the first big bunch sprint of this year’s Tour de France after getting caught on the wrong side of a key split during a crucial part of yesterday’s race.

Dan Martin’s luck was out again yesterday at the Tour de France as he crashed and conceded too much time on his main rivals to still be considered a contender for the General Classification.

Tomorrow, Sunday July 5, stage two, Utrecht to Zeeland.

Everyman, Cork

Two factory managers held captive for two days by French workers protesting over closure plans have been freed after police intervened.

Two Goodyear bosses held captive by workers have spent the night inside a factory in northern France that the company wants to close.

French workers at a Goodyear plant are holding two managers captive in a conference room in a row over the firm’s attempts to close the tyre factory.

A straight-talking US businessman has caused an international row by blasting the French work ethic.

Youths fired buckshot at police in clashes in the French city of Amiens overnight yesterday, setting cars and a nursery school alight in a resurgence of urban unrest that president François Hollande said he would do everything to confront.

Rioters have shot at police during a wave of violence that swept part of the northern French town of Amiens.

TWO vegans who fed their 11-month-old daughter only mother’s milk went on trial in northern France charged with neglect after their baby died suffering from vitamin deficiency.

PAINSTAKING work collecting all the records of the 2,265 men who fought with the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary (ADRIC) finally helped identify the man who instigated the burning of Cork city 90 years ago today.

Blackburn have announced a new long-term deal with Steven Nzonzi, the highly-regarded young French midfielder who made a big impact last season.

A 21-year-old man was arrested today in connection with the murders of French students Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez in London, Scotland Yard said.

A small plane exploded soon after takeoff from the eastern French city of Besancon early today, killing the two pilots and two surgeons who had been heading for a liver removal operation.

THE Frenchwoman who received the world’s first partial face transplant showed off her new features yesterday, saying in a heavily slurred voice that she now looks “like everyone else” and hopes to resume a normal life.

The woman who received the world’s first partial face transplant showed off her new features in a room full of reporters and cameras today.

The woman who received the world’s first partial face transplant today appeared for the first time before the media, saying “I now have a face like everyone else".

DOCTORS who gave a French woman the world’s first partial face transplant have been accused of ignoring ethical advice by not trying normal reconstructive surgery first.

France’s storm of rioting lost strength today with a drop of nearly half in the number of car burnings, police said. But looters and vandals still defied a state of emergency with attacks on stores, a newspaper warehouse and a subway station.

Rioters defied emergency laws that took effect today as they looted and burned two superstores, set fire to a newspaper office and paralysed France’s second-largest city’s subway system with a firebomb.

Rioters shrugged off emergency laws that took effect today, as they looted and burned two superstores, set fire to a newspaper office and paralysed France’s second-largest city’s subway system with a firebomb.

FRENCH champion Thomas Voeckler relieved Lance Armstrong of the yellow jersey after the 200 kilometre fifth stage of the Tour de France from Amiens to Chartres.

LANCE ARMSTRONG seized control of the yellow jersey for the first time during his pursuit of a record sixth Tour de France title yesterday, thanks to a display of unmatched power and discipline in the team time-trial from his US Postal outfit.

Lance Armstrong seized control of the yellow jersey for the first time in his pursuit of a record sixth Tour de France title today after his team's time-trial success.

AFTER 36 days on the road, cycling almost 1,900 miles, yesterday, Jane Tomlinson finished her most gruelling feat yet.

A RARE bronze vessel found by a group of metal detecting pals may have been a Roman soldier’s souvenir of army service at Hadrian’s Wall, experts say.

Ireland lost 1-0 to France in the women's hockey World Cup qualifying tournament in Amiens.