Heavy rain and 185 mph winds lashed the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico's north-east coast on Wednesday as Hurricane Irma roared through Caribbean islands on its way to a possible hit on South Florida.

Cristiano Ronaldo has arrived at a Spanish court to answer questions as part of an investigation to determine whether the Real Madrid footballer committed tax fraud.

Spanish prosecutors are considering whether Cristiano Ronaldo should face charges over allegations by the country's tax agency that he defrauded the authorities of 15 million euro (£12.9 million) between 2011 and 2014.

The next five years is a make or break period for Ireland’s burgeoning offshore exploration sector, an industry analyst said yesterday.

In the wake of the Panama Papers leak, Ryle Dwyer looks at the Irish connection in the form of Gerard Ryle, the Kerry-born journalist with the drive to expose scandal worldwide

The sound of crashing waves is the norm for Valentia Island off south Kerry and Loop Head off west Clare, where lighthouses guide mariners to safe havens.

We take a look at some of the quirkier stories from around the world.

The student grants system that caused “chaos” when set up four years ago has lost so much money it would risk being closed down if it was a private company, the chair of a Dáil group has claimed.

Property developer Michael O’Flynn has reached a deal with the US private equity firm that sought to gain control of his empire last year.

Des O’Driscoll highlights some television highlights for the week ahead.

The issue of Ireland’s tax regime was not raised for the first time in a long time at the EU summit, showing that pressure to change its tax regime has lessened as a result of the EU investigation being widened to include all EU countries.

Residents and holidaymakers in Bermuda are battening down the hatches as Hurricane Gonzalo churns towards them as a major Category 3 storm.

The Quinn family is planning on focusing its defence on what it says is the illegal means used by the liquidators of IBRC to obtain information alleging they hid hundreds of millions in assets.

One of the world’s largest private yachts is due to slip in to a Cork marina today, further cementing the south coast’s reputation as a ‘must-see stop-off’ for the super-rich cruise set.

HOME is the sailor, home from the sea — and 5 Ard Cuan in Kinsale’s Ardbrack Heights is no bad spot to drop anchor at.

Lancôme by Alber Elbaz

The first person to introduce John Fitzgerald Kennedy in public as “the next President of the United States” was from Kanturk, Co Cork.

Tropical Storm Rafael has lashed the eastern Caribbean with heavy rains which are expected to unleash floods on islands around the region.

Tropical Storm Rafael has formed over the eastern Caribbean Sea, and warnings have been issued for numerous Caribbean islands.

One of our lovely customers clutching a jar of traditional Seville orange in one hand and ginger marmalade in the other chirps, “Oh bliss — you’ve got the first of the new season’s Seville orange marmalade already.

PAUL HESSION faces his first big test of the season when he lines up for the 200m at Cork City Sports today in a field that includes Alonso Edward (Panama), silver medallist behind Usain Bolt at the World Championships in Berlin two years ago when the Jamaican shaved .11 of a second off the world record he set at the Olympic Games in Beijing the previous year.

Inspectors have found small, sub-surface cracks in two more Southwest Airlines planes which are similar to those that caused a jet to lose pressure and make a terrifying emergency landing in Arizona, the airline said today.

NEARLY 30 years after its first major scandal and bailout — and after a number of others along the way — we arrive at this: the country’s largest bank nationalised and retreating deeper into the protection of the taxpayer.

Tropical Storm Karl dumped heavy rains on the Yucatan Peninsula today as it moved toward the Gulf of Mexico, where it is expected to pick up steam and become a hurricane threatening Mexico’s central coast by the weekend.

Hurricane Julia has formed in the Atlantic, becoming the fifth hurricane of the season, forecasters said today.

Hurricane Earl battered tiny islands across the north-eastern Caribbean with heavy rain and roof-ripping winds as it rapidly intensified into a major Category 4 storm and threatening the US.

DAVID GILLICK believes he is in with ‘a shout’ of a medal in today’s 400m final at the world indoor championships in Doha (3.05pm, Irish).

Somali pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama merchant ship again today just seven months after capturing its captain who had to be freed in a special forces operation.

THE draw did Irish boxers few favours at the world boxing championships in Milan and this was reflected on the first day of competition when they met with mixed fortunes.

DAVID GILLICK emerged from the old Olympic Stadium in Berlin last night with his head held high, after finishing sixth in the final of the men’s 400m.

PAUL HESSION will get his new outdoor season under way tonight when he lines up for the 100m at the Primo Nebiolo Memorial Meeting which will be staged in Turin.

PANORAMA Holidays is offering May departure specials from Cork to Majorca. The largest of the Balearic Islands caters for all tastes, offering lively, family-friendly resorts, as well as relaxed, low-key resorts, cultural excursions, golf courses and countless beaches.

Country star Kenny Chesney has fired back at reports his ex-wife Renee Zellweger's divorce plans came as a complete shock to him, insisting the media slant on their break-up made it look as if it was all one-sided.

AN Irish investment firm is seeking the return of €31.6 million given to a company which was to be passed on for investment with international securities fraudster Bernard Madoff, the Commercial Court heard yesterday.

Kenny Chesney has penned a new tune about his break-up with actress Renee Zellweger.

Ireland's John Joe Nevin has beaten African champion, Abdelhalim Ourradi of Algeria, in his heat of the Bantamweight 54kg competition.

KENNY EGAN’S next Olympic opponent yesterday declared himself ‘the best boxer’ in the division ahead of their light heavyweight showdown on Thursday.

Reigning World and European lightweight champion Katie Taylor completed a fantastic day for Irish amateur boxing after claiming her third major title at the European Union Championships in Liverpool this afternoon.

Olympic swimmer Andrew Bree failed to qualify from his 100m breaststroke heat despite a personal best time of 1:01.76.

Darren Sutherland and Paddy Barnes both received byes into the last sixteen of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing at this morning's draw at the Asia Hotel in the Chinese capitol.

Barack Obama erased Hillary Rodham Clinton’s once imposing lead among superdelegates in their epic race for the Democratic nomination and turned his attention to the expected campaign against Republican John McCain.

Democrat presidential hopeful Barack Obama was today hoping to be on a victory roll and win primaries in Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC.

President George Bush urged Republicans to “go forward, fight for victory and keep the White House in 2008” as the Democratic presidential hopefuls prepared for voting in five more states this weekend.