FINLAND: A couple has narrowly won the 19th World Wife Carrying Championships — a quirky competition in which men race to be the fastest while carrying a female teammate-

A High Court action against music promotors MCD by tribute act 'The Complete Stone Roses' has been struck out.

ALEXA, THE

A YOUNG boy, his face pressed firm against the plate glass, points in the direction of a towering, twisting hulk of clay-red metal in the middle distance asks “Is that a roller coaster, daddy?” His father, reading off an inscription on a nearby viewing panel replies: “No son, it says here it’s a piece of art.”

THE owner of the discount fashion chain, Primark, which owns Penneys in Ireland, said it was having to discount more than expected as it battles the harsh consumer climate.

The owner of the discount fashion chain Penneys today said it was having to discount more than expected as it battles the harsh consumer climate.

Twilight heartthrob Robert Pattinson admitted he was overwhelmed by his own celebrity as thousands of fans who had queued for 13 hours greeted him with screams at his latest film premiere in London tonight.

Lady Gaga demanded lambs and hundreds of butterflies on stage for her performance on ‘The X Factor’.

Mariah Carey request to have 20 white kittens at a Christmas lights switch-on has been blocked.

Department store chain Debenhams today hailed the success of its "Designers at Debenhams" range in helping to deliver a 14% rise in annual profits.

IN JANUARY 2002 a tall gangly irrepressible girl with thick dark curly hair and a wonderful gappy smile arrived at Ballymaloe Cookery School in a cute little Renault Deux CV.

Luxury goods firm Burberry today reported a 13% fall in underlying profits, despite annual revenues topping more than £1bn (€12.5bn) for the first time.

EVER wondered where east meets west? No, it isn’t Istanbul, nor is it some sort of fusion cooking... it’s a pair of semi-ds on Cork’s Rochestown Road — it says so on the name plaques.

IRISH luxury chocolate producer and retailer, Butlers Chocolates is to expand its network of retail outlets into the US.

Butlers Chocolates is to expand its network of ‘Butlers Chocolate Cafes’ into the US.

Debenhams slashed its shareholder payout today as it focused efforts on coping with the consumer downturn and cutting a £1bn (€1.2bn) debt mountain.

Great Britain gave the massed ranks at Brands Hatch almost the perfect weekend with a win and a second place - but still missed out on the runners-up spot in the championship at the last A1GP round of the season.

Great Britain's Robbie Kerr gave the home support the perfect start to the final A1GP round of the season by going quickest in practice at Brands Hatch today.

CELTIC manager Gordon Strachan admitted his side are going through a difficult period in front of goal after slipping to a third straight defeat at Falkirk.