As they get ready to play Dingle, Editors tell Ed Power of a near encounter with Michael Jackson in Ireland, and why they’ve outlasted so many of their peers

A High Court judge in the UK has given troubled travel firm Thomas Cook the green light to proceed with the next stage of a planned rescue deal.

Philip Reynolds spent the first half of his life as Albert Reynolds' young fella and thinks he might just spend the second as Presenting Percy's owner.

Lions rookie Kyle Sinckler feels like he is in rugby heaven on the eve of his debut in the famous red jersey. Yet his thirst for knowledge may be hell for his teammates.

These are hectic times for Waterford FC. Friday’s First Division win over Athlone Town attracted their biggest crowd of the season at almost 2,000, a fundraiser was held at the greyhound stadium on Saturday and another healthy attendance showed up yesterday at the RSC for the EA Sports Cup game against Cobh Ramblers.

Editors, stronger and as stable as ever, are looking forward to returning to Ireland for their headline slot at Indiependence, writes Ed Power

Reports of the death of Facebook have been “greatly exaggerated”, the boss of a major market researcher into digital customers has said.

JUSTIN LOCKEY was standing in a field in Scotland when the call came through. “Editors were looking for a new guitarist. Someone recommended me. The biggest gig of their career was around the corner.

Andy Burrows is happy to have left the tensions of his former band Razorlight behind, says Ed Power

Brian O’Driscoll has dropped the strongest hint yet that he will still be around when the Irish team embarks on its next Rugby World Cup campaign, in England, in 2015.

Ospreys 23 Aironi 7

OSPREYS replacement Dan Biggar held his head in his hands as his last-gasp drop-goal to win an enthralling Welsh derby with Newport Gwent Dragons hit the post.

Danish singer and pianist Agnes Obel tells Ed Power how the edgy German city inspired her hit album Philharmonics

Munster coach Tony McGahan has made nine changes, two of those positional, from the side that defeated Connacht last weekend for Saturday’s Magners League semi-final match against the Ospreys at Thomond Park Stadium, kick-off 6.30pm.

Ospreys 37 Glasgow Warriors 6

Leinster coach Joe Schmidt has named his side for Friday’s Magners League clash with the Ospreys at the RDS. (kick-of 7.35pm)

A dramatic drop in crime in Belfast city centre has been recorded this Christmas.

Leinster coach Josef Schmidt has named an inexperienced line-up for Sunday’s Magners League clash with the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea. (kick-off 5pm)

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan will announce his squad for Saturday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Northampton Saints today, with hopes that Paul O’Connell and Keith Earls will be available for selection.

Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips will not start for The Ospreys against Connacht in the Magners League on Sunday at Liberty Stadium.

Nathan Hines and Eoin Reddan will make their first starts for the province in Friday's game in Swansea (KO: 7.05pm).

Ireland wing Tommy Bowe will be on the bench for The Ospreys for their Magner's League clash with Ulster at the Liberty Stadium tomorrow.

IAN McGEECHAN let the cat out of the bag the other week when he expressed a preference for a forward to captain the Lions in the forthcoming tour of South Africa.

Wales full-back Lee Byrne failed a fitness test on his ankle and is out of The Ospreys team to face Munster in the Heineken Cup on Sunday at Thomond Park.

Coach Sean Holley will give full-back Lee Byrne every chance to make match day after including him in the Ospreys' squad to prepare for Sunday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Munster at Thomond Park.

Ulster 13 Ospreys 16

Heineken Cup quarter-finalists The Ospreys have surrendered their challenge for the Magner's League by selecting an under-strength side to play Ulster at Ravenhill on Friday.

THE Ospreys maintained their pressure on Munster and Leinster at the top of the Magners League table with comfortable, victory over Connacht at Liberty Stadium yesterday.

Connacht must be boosted by the absence of James Hook from a severely depleted Ospreys side for their Magners League tussle at The Liberty Stadium on on Sunday (2.15pm).

People who misbehave in or around their favourite bar in Belfast will be banned from the premises for a year under a new scheme to combat anti-social behaviour.

Drinkers in the North involved in anti-social behaviour were warned today that they face a one-year ban from a leading nightspot as part of a scheme to combat crime.

GAVIN HASTINGS yesterday urged Lions selectors to retain Brian O’Driscoll as skipper for next summer’s tour to South Africa.

A RETIRED plasterer died after a tragic accident while building a house for his daughter and her boyfriend.

Alex Ferguson will take his Manchester United side to Aberdeen to mark the 25th anniversary of his European Cup-Winners’ Cup triumph with the Pittodrie club.

NORTHAMPTON chairman Keith Barwell has promised there will be no knee-jerk reaction to Saints’ humiliating exit from the Guinness Premiership.

Northampton prop Tom Smith has demanded Saints once again cast aside the shackles of their dismal league form when they meet Wasps in tomorrow’s Heineken Cup semi-final.

Newcastle Falcons boss John Fletcher claims he would have been “a stark raving lunatic” to leave out a fully-fit Jonny Wilkinson for Sunday’s Guinness Premiership clash against title contenders Bristol.

NORTHAMPTON boosted their hopes of earning a quarter-final place in the Heineken Cup with a solid bonus-point triumph over struggling Borders in a match switched from storm-lashed Netherdale to Murrayfield at short notice.

Border Reivers 19 Northampton Saints 29

FOUR days on and the sour taste of defeat at the hands of the New Zealand Maori still lingers in the mouths of the British & Irish Lions.

England’s World Cup-winning skipper Martin Johnson is optimistic that Jonny Wilkinson can achieve as much in the second half of his career as in his highly successful first half.

Munster centre Rob Henderson has accepted an invitation from Martin Johnson to take part in the England legend’s Testimonial Match at Twickenham on Saturday, June 4.

Jon Petrie was today named Scotland’s 106th Test match captain for the summer games with the Barbarians and Romania.

Chris Roberts

Scotland and Lions prop Tom Smith has announced his retirement from international rugby.

The Scottish Rugby Union board will meet tomorrow to discuss the future of coach Matt Williams.

Clive Woodward has spent the last seven months whittling down his list of over 100 players to just 44 names, who will be announced on Monday as the British and Irish Lions squad for the 2005 tour of New Zealand.

Toulouse 37 Northampton 9

There have been 103 Taser stun-gun related deaths in the US and Canada since June 2001, according to a new report.