Australia held off a late rally from Somoa to complete their World Cup warm-up with a 34-15 win in Parramatta.

A fire has engulfed a home for welfare recipients in northern Japan, killing 11 people and injuring three, officials said.

From Pukguksong to ‘Gangnam Style’, what do you tell your kids when the possibility of a third world war has never loomed larger, asks Catherine Shanhan.

Six people have died and at least 100 others have been made ill by pickles contaminated with E coli bacteria in northern Japan.

Japan have withdrawn from this summer’s Copa America after they were unable to secure the release of both domestic and foreign-based players for the competition, the Japan Football Association have announced.

SCHOOL friends of a 19-year-old Japanese boy who grew up in Killarney but who now lives in one of the worst-affected areas of Japan have expressed their concern and are desperately trying to contact him.

Sebastien Loeb captured a record-breaking fifth straight World Rally Championship drivers' title today by finishing third at the Rally of Japan.

Mikko Hirvonen held onto the Rally Japan lead on Saturday, but conceded his world championship bid is virtually over after Sebastien Loeb remained on course for crown after holding onto third place.

A woman angry over being divorced by her virtual husband in an online game has been charged with murdering his digital persona.

HEAVY security and the Japanese public’s relative political apathy gave anti-globalisation protests a much smaller profile in Japan than in many previous G8 summit meetings.

US President George Bush labelled Zimbabwe’s election a sham today as G8 leaders kicked off their annual summit.

Japan has called out more than 20,000 police officers, mobilised the coast guard and reportedly even conducted flyovers with fighter jets in a stringent security operation for the G8 summit.

The world’s top industrialised nations face pressing financial and environmental troubles at their annual summit tomorrow, confronted with demands they reinvigorate the stumbling world economy, push ahead languishing climate change talks, and make good on pledges to battle poverty and hunger.

Climate change, soaring oil prices and possible steps against Zimbabwe were high on the agenda as leaders from the Group of Eight economic powers gathered in Japan for their annual summit.

Racing in Japan this weekend has been cancelled due to an outbreak of equine flu.

Sven-Goran Eriksson has demonstrated the overwhelming belief he has in his players to achieve World Cup glory by telling them: “You will be staying in Germany until the last day of the tournament.”

Four people were found dead inside a vehicle in northern Japan today, in what appeared to be the country’s latest group suicide pact, police said.

Owen Hargreaves is poised to start only his third international for England since the 2002 World Cup finals after injuries to the midfield duo of Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt.

Former Republic of Ireland midfielder Gary Howlett has joined Bohemians’ coaching staff to fill in the vacancy left by Liam O’Brien, who departed last week for Premier Division rivals Shamrock Rovers.

A massive earthquake rocked Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido today, injuring hundreds but amazingly only two people were feared to have died.

A strong quake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.8 rocked Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido today, knocking out power, reportedly derailing a train and staring an industrial fire.

IT came as a shock to Charlie Haughey. It brought down the Berlin Wall, put paid to the mini-skirt and accounted for such disparate phenomena as punk rock and crooner Engelbert Humperdinck.

British police were today planning for a new batch of England fans preparing to head for Japan if England get past Denmark in today’s World Cup second round match in Niigata.

England’s fringe squad members have vowed to bide their time and support the team in their World Cup challenge as they could be called upon at any time by Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Sven-Goran Eriksson believes Nicky Butt has become ‘‘a very important player’’ in England’s bid for World Cup glory.

Sven-Goran Eriksson led the accolades for David Beckham after the England captain this time overcame the underhand tactics of Diego Simeone to guide his team to the brink of the World Cup knockout stages.

Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa claimed his side did not deserve to lose today’s World Cup showdown because they were ‘‘more skilful’’ than the England team.

England stars of the past were united in praise for Sven-Goran Eriksson’s team after an heroic 1-0 World Cup win over Argentina in Sapporo.

England skipper David Beckham completed a one-man revenge mission by kicking England to a win over Argentina in Sapporo this afternoon.

England skipper David Beckham completed a one-man revenge mission by kicking England to a win over Argentina in Sapporo this afternoon.

Owen Hargreaves has been replaced by Trevor Sinclair in the 18th minute of England's clash with Argentina in Sapporo.

England have kicked off their crucial Group F World Cup clash against Argentina in Sapporo.

Sven-Goran Eriksson brought Nicky Butt into the England side to face Argentina as he opted for a safety-first strategy amid an intensifying World Cup qualification struggle.

Britain was expected to down tools at lunchtime today as millions of fans abandon work to watch England’s crucial World Cup match against historic rivals Argentina.

Juan Pablo Sorin has joined Roberto Ayala on the injury list as Argentina prepare for tomorrow’s Group F meeting with England in Sapporo.

Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa insists he is thinking only of booking a place in the second round of the World Cup - not of sending England home.

Argentina have made one change to the side which overpowered Nigeria as they prepare to face England in Sapporo tomorrow.

England and Argentina square up again in Sapporo on Friday for the latest instalment in the controversy-plagued history of matches between the two nations.

Michael Owen has set his sights on a revenge mission against Argentina on Friday.

Sven-Goran Eriksson declared that Argentina are by no means ‘‘unbeatable’’ as he insisted he could find weaknesses in a team built around players he helped to nurture to the top.

England captain David Beckham insists he is now mature enough to walk away from any Argentinean provocation in Friday’s World Cup rematch of the darkest moment of his career.

Juan Sebastian Veron has raised the temperature ahead of Argentina’s World Cup clash with England in Sapporo on Friday by raising the spectre of the Falklands War.