Investigators were today searching for flight recorders in the shattered remains of an airliner that crashed on the banks of the Volga River, killing 43 people including most of one of Russia's premier hockey teams.

IRISH food is going down a treat with the 180,000 visitors attending the five-day Salone del Gusto Slow Food Fair in Turin, Italy.

Adrien Brody is suing the makers of a thriller film for more than $2m (€1.44m), claiming he has not been fully paid for the project and the movie is being released in the United States without his permission.

FRENCH President Nicolas Sarkozy’s marriage to Carla Bruni, an Italian-born heiress and ex-supermodel long considered among the world’s most desirable women, was touted as a coup for the French leader.

Shakira has released dates for her European tour, including a December 16 gig in Dublin.

Ireland's Denis Lynch made a 600km dash to win today's show-jumping Grand Prix Qualifier at Wiesbaden in Germany.

David McCarthy qualified for the semi-final of the 800m as he finished as a fastest runner-up in his heat in a time of 1.49.59 at the European Indoor Championships in Turin, Italy.

Ireland’s top athletes will begin their quest for medals early tomorrow morning when the European Indoor Track and Field Championships begin at the Oval Lingotto in Turin, Italy.

Athletics Ireland has announced a 12-strong team to compete at the European Indoor Track and Field Championships in Turin, Italy next month.

Filmgoers have selected 'The Italian Job' as featuring their favourite movie car chase.

Ireland retained the European Amateur Team Championship for the first time in 41 years on Saturday.

Late opera legend Luciano Pavarotti mimed during his last ever live performance, according to a new book written by his longtime conductor.

Pavarotti credited his Dublin performance in 1963 with his international success. Jim Morahan traces the connections.

LUCIANO Pavarotti’s vibrant high C notes and ebullient showmanship made him the most beloved and celebrated tenor since Caruso and one of the few opera singers to win crossover fame as a popular superstar.

Luciano Pavarotti, whose vibrant high Cs and ebullient showmanship made him one of the world’s most beloved tenors, died today, his manager said.

The Academy Awards will take place in February again next year, after the 2006 ceremony was moved back a week to avoid clashing with the last night of the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

Brad Pitt is planning to buy a vineyard outside Turin, Italy - a short distance from his pal George Clooney's Lake Como pad.

IRELAND’s Kirsty McGarry finished 42nd in the Women’s slalom at the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy yesterday.

AN ITALIAN court has agreed to extradite to the United States a Russian man accused of fixing figure skating events at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, the Russian’s lawyer said yesterday.

Beijing was today awarded the 2008 Olympic Games in the most controversial choice of a host city for decades.