Fruit importer Fyffes has announced pretax profits of €10.2 million for the first-half of 2010, compared to €12 million for the same period last year.

Oil fell today for the first day in three as traders awaited US monthly jobs data, while Hurricane Earl neared the country's east coast, fuelling concerns of disruptions to refineries and demand during the Labor Day long weekend.

A six year-old boy who was struck at a beach in Co Down earlier this week has died.

Soldiers killed 25 suspected cartel members in a raid and gunbattle in a Mexican state near the US border that has seen a surge in drug gang violence.

Tennis: Roger Federer has enjoyed another comfortable victory to secure his place in the third round of the US Open at Flushing Meadows. The Swiss ensured the high temperatures in New York did not cause him any concern by taking just one hour 41 minutes to beat Germany's Andreas Beck 6-3 6-4 6-3 on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Israeli and Palestinian leaders began direct peace negotiations in Washington today, and agreed to meet every two weeks to try to forge a deal within a year to end the conflict.

GAA:Liam Sheedy has opted to stick with the personnel that beat Waterford ahead of the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny at Croke Park on Sunday.

Tennis:Top seed Caroline Wozniacki wasted no time, on another hot and sunny day at the US Open, in beating the heat with a 6-0 6-0 whitewash of unseeded Chang Kai-chen of Taiwan to reach the third round.

Tax receipts fell by 9 per cent last month compared to a year ago, according to the latest Exchequer figures.

Golf:The latest Italian to make the Ryder Cup was outshone in Switzerland today by the 17-year-old very likely to be the next one. Edoardo Molinari followed up his Gleneagles victory and wild card call-up with a 66 when the Omega European Masters began at Crans-sur-Sierre.

Soccer:Former Aston Villa player Alan Curbishley has emerged as one of the candidates to succeed Martin O'Neill as manager of the midlands club.

Traveller men are now living 15 years less than men in the general population, a new study has found.

The European Commission has halted a proposal to allow Israel to access sensitive personal data on European citizens following concerns expressed by the Irish government.

An offshore oil rig has exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, close of the site of the April blast that caused the massive BP oil spill.

The Dublin market finished the day a half a per cent lower, reversing the previous session’s rally, which saw almost all stocks enjoy gains.

Cricket:The Pakistan High Commissioner has cast doubt over the authenticity of evidence suggesting three of his touring players are guilty of 'spot-fixing'. Wajid Shamsul Hasan was speaking after he and Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt interviewed Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer over claims they bowled no-balls to order in the Lord's Test against England as part of a plot to defraud illegal bookmakers.

Gardaí investigating the death of a 58-year-old cyclist in Co Cork have ruled out a hit and run.

The Government may have to consider making banks charge for withdrawals from ATMs to reduce the amount of cash in circulation, the Minister for Justice said today.

Hundreds of mourners attended the church of St Mochta's in Dublin for the funeral of 12-year-old murder victim Michaela Davis this afternoon.

Soccer:Rafael van der Vaart maintains he was no “failure” at Real Madrid, but he will not take a place in the Tottenham team for granted. Spurs were able to complete the €9.6 million signing of the Holland international after the Premier League ratified the 11th-hour transfer deadline day move.