THE captain of a German sail training ship battered by a ferocious storm praised his rookie crew last night after their vessel limped into Cork harbour.

A teenager stabbed to death after refusing to offer his killer a cigarette was buried today amid concerns about rising violence in Belgium.

SONIA O’SULLIVAN leads Ireland’s European cross-country medal hopes tomorrow, pledging: “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I had a chance of winning.”

RYANAIR is scrapping nine routes where seat-sells are less than 80% of capacity and reallocating aircraft to new ones.

SONIA O’SULLIVAN is prepared to run faster than ever in her quest for a medal at the world championships in Paris today.

Ryanair Holdings PLC said it is offering one-way tickets at Stg35 pence (49c), excluding taxes and charges, for flights between London Stansted airport and several European destinations.

UNA ENGLISH emerged as Ireland’s leading athlete at the World Cross-country Championships staged in sun-soaked Lausanne over the weekend when she finished 16th in the short course race.

NO-FRILLS airline Ryanair said yesterday that it was considering expanding to the former Soviet bloc, as it extended a deadline for staff at newly-acquired Buzz to accept a job offer or face closure.

IGNORING radio warnings, guardships and safety buoys, a tanker loaded with oil and kerosene slammed into a wreck in one of the world's busiest sea lanes, damaging its hull and threatening Europe's coastline with yet another environmental disaster.

Belgian police say the body recovered from a dock at Ostend is that of missing best man Ian Gilbert.

A body has reportedly been recovered from a dock at Ostend in Belgium.

Paula Radcliffe is not taking anything for granted even though her three top rivals will be missing when she defends her World Cross Country long course title in Dublin tomorrow.

In the men’s race at the World Cross Country Championships in Ostend, home favourite Mohammed Mourhit retained his title.

The World Cross-Country Championships, forced to switch venue because of the foot and mouth crisis, are now being hampered by a rail strike.

An ankle injury will prevent Rosemary Ryan from taking part in the World cross Country championships in Ostend.

Maureen Harrington has pulled out of the Irish team for next week's World Cross-Country Championships in Ostend in Belgium.