Hundreds of people have died after a tsunami triggered by one of the largest earthquakes on record smashed into Japan's eastern coast.

A massive tsunami triggered by the largest earthquake in Japan’s recorded history slammed into the eastern coast today sweeping away boats, cars, homes and people.

George Michael has received a letter of support from Sir Paul McCartney.

Paris Hilton is “beyond upset” at being refused entry to Japan.

Canadian authorities should have known an Air India flight in 1985 was a likely terrorist target, a public inquiry has concluded.

Europe began allowing limited air traffic to resume, giving hope to millions of travellers stranded around the world when ash from a volcano in Iceland choked the jet age to a halt.

Canada became the third country to confirm human cases of swine flu as global health officials considered whether to raise the global pandemic alert level.

Asian health authorities were on alert today, with some checking passengers and pork products from Mexico, as the World Health Organisation declared the deadly swine flu outbreak a public health emergency of “pandemic potential”.

A cargo plane burst into flames after bouncing off a runway in high winds at Tokyo’s main airport, killing the pilot and co-pilot.

Shunsuke Nakamura was today back in his native Japan after Celtic gave him the weekend off to ensure he is ready for the upcoming Old Firm derby.

Smiling and waving to screaming fans, Michael Jackson has arrived in Japan for his second visit in recent years to host an exclusive party and sponsor a fan art competition.

A public inquiry into the botched investigation into the Air India terror bombing that killed 329 people has begun in Canada.

Smoke was detected in the cabin of a United Airlines flight from Tokyo to Los Angeles today, and the plane was to make emergency landing in Tokyo, an official said.

Jeremy Hainsworth, Vancouver

A Canadian judge today acquitted two Indian-born Sikhs of murder and other charges relating to the deaths of 331 people in bomb outrages on an Air India plane over the Atlantic and at Tokyo’s airport 20 years ago.

Lawyers have made their final arguments in the murder trial of two Sikhs charged over the 1985 bombing of an Air India jumbo jet, ending one of the most exhaustive and expensive trials in Canadian history.

The two men accused of the Air India jumbo jet bombing that killed 329 people nearly 20 years ago were guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, Canadian prosecutors said.

FORMER world chess champion Bobby Fischer, detained in Japan for allegedly travelling with a revoked US passport, wants to renounce his American citizenship, his lawyer said yesterday.

FUGITIVE US chess master Bobby Fischer has applied for political asylum in Japan in a new bid to avoid being deported to the United States, where he could face a jail term.

Chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer plans to appeal against a deportation order to the United States next week for the second time and to apply for temporary freedom from a detention centre in Japan, an adviser said today.

Former world chess champion Bobby Fischer has appealed against Japanese move to deport him to the US for travelling on an invalid passport and is seeking political asylum.

It was not the best move he ever made. After more than 10 years of evading the public eye and US justice officials, former world champion Bobby Fischer has been arrested by Japanese immigration officials after trying to leave the country with an invalid passport.

FOOTBALL star turned actor Vinnie Jones was charged by police yesterday over an alleged air rage incident, police said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is monitoring the case of a 22-year-old Irishman arrested in Japan for allegedly attempting to smuggle marijuana into the country.

THE Real Madrid and David Beckham show hit Japan yesterday, greeted by 3,000 fans at the airport with a further 45,000 turning up for a training session at the Tokyo Dome.

New Real Madrid signing David Beckham was given a rapturous welcome by fans in Japan today after jetting in for a tour of the Far East.

More than 1,000 Japanese fans turned up amid tight security at Tokyo’s main airport today as David and Victoria Beckham arrived to kick off a tour of the Far East.

A CHOPPY sea littered with bodies, suitcases, seats and brightly-coloured clothes was how an Irish naval officer yesterday described the aftermath of the Air India explosion in 1985.

THE two men accused of masterminding the aircraft’s destruction have pleaded not guilty to murder in a Vancouver court.

THE LE Aisling was one of the first ships to arrive at the scene of the felled Air India Flight 182, around four hours after air traffic controllers at Shannon lost contact with the Boeing 747 jet airliner.

A SIKH man who acquired the materials for a bomb that killed 329 people aboard an Air India flight in 1985 was sentenced to five years in prison yesterday.

A SIKH militant has admitted killing 329 people on board an Air India jet that was blown up 110 miles south of the Cork coast in 1985.

Canadian prosecutors will this week file charges against convicted British bombmaker Inderjit Singh Reyat over the 1985 bombing of an Air India flight in which 329 people died.

Japan Airlines is studying ways to ensure passenger safety amid heightened concern about "economy class syndrome".