The barometer may be set fair for its most venerable prize, given a spectacular vote of confidence from the sponsors of the Derby yesterday, but otherwise the Turf seemed to lie in a soggy, midwinter time-warp. The steeplechases scheduled at Punchestown were abandoned, and the remaining hurdle and bumper races run in conditions bordering on the farcical. An inspection will be required this morning to pass the course for a card that features the outstanding mare, Quevega.

The boy from Northern Ireland slipped on the down escalator yesterday and fell flat on his face. Passing him on the up escalator was the man from Dublin. Padraig Harrington fired off five birdies in six holes from the 13th while Rory McIlroy fizzled out with double bogeys at the first and fourth. Harrington is four-under after a third-round 68 and is poised to lead the Sunday charge from the chasing pack.

Residents of a Cheshire village were in shock after police officers shot a man dead in a local car park.

The streets of Rio de Janeiro were calm today, just hours after police officers went on strike and a week before glittering Carnival celebrations that typically draw 800,000 tourists were due to start.

Man-for-man marking from the Six Nations match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

At least 73 people were killed and hundreds more injured when a football match ended in one of the worst sporting disasters in Egypt's history.

At least 74 people killed in catastrophic scenes as supporters storm pitch after victory by local team

Breakin’ Brass is a club night, alternating funked-up brass band playing and a breakdancing showdown. It’s an unexpected mix, but a jubilant one. Energy levels are high, with some terrific dancing.

There is hell-fire enough at the close of Francesca Zambello’s 2002 staging of Don Giovanni to consume not just the Don but the entire production.

A festival involving toros embolados (burning bulls) in northern Spain yesterday resulted in the death of one man by goring.

Thousands of New Year's Eve revellers took part in a parade through Northumberland Street in Newcastle last night as millions celebrated across the country.

Blood, yellow bile, black bile and phlegm. Now, we know that's not what you want to be reading on a New Year's Day hangover, but that's what a lot of our Januarys will be based around, so don't go getting light-headed on us now.

Anyone wanting to test the mettle of British classical music’s up-and-coming young stars might begin by checking out the annual parade of talent put on at Christmas by the Park Lane Group.