GRAEME MCDOWELL’S fondness for a tougher golf course test was rewarded with an encouraging level par score on the opening day of the Singapore Open.

Thailand’s prime minister has vowed to prevent a “civil war” as the nation braced for a massive anti-government protest tomorrow amid fears of bloodshed, just two days before Asian leaders gather in the country.

India's Jeev Milkha Singh overcame personal tragedy to win the Golf Nippon Series JT Cup today and dedicated the two-stroke win at the event to his wife only days after she gave birth to their stillborn child.

Survivors and families of the Asian tsunami have gathered to mark the third anniversary of the disaster.

Ireland’s Paul McGinley hopes his experience of the course at the Yalong Bay Golf Club will put him firmly in contention when the TCL Classic in Hainan begins tomorrow.

Ryder Cup-wining captain Ian Woosnam is seeking a return to form at the TCL Classic in Hainan this week after an inglorious comeback following last year’s K-Club success.

European Tour rookie Gary Lockerbie today moved within touching distance of his first victory as a professional after carding a three-under-par 69 to share the third-round lead at the Clariden Leu Singapore Masters.

Lee Westwood expressed his love for playing in Asia today and hopes that good feeling will help lift him to his first European Tour victory in four years at this week’s Clariden Leu Singapore Masters.

Mikko Ilonen hopes becoming the first Finn to win on the European Tour will do wonders for the sport in his homeland.

England’s Simon Dyson today claimed his second European Tour title of the season in the KLM Open in Zandvoort.

Asia’s key annual security meeting opens this week amid the backdrop of North Korea’s nuclear threat and increasing regional frustration over Myanmar’s failure to restore democracy.

Japan 1 Brazil 4

Tunisia 2 Saudi Arabia 2

The first UN flight arrived today in Indonesia’s earthquake zone carrying water, tents, stoves and cooking sets, as the death toll from the disaster climbed to nearly 5,000.

Asian Tour golfers will not play in the Indonesian Open as a result of scheduling deadlock between the Asian and European Tours.

STUDENTS take part in the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition “mostly for the craic”.

THE CYNICS have already dismissed next weekend's inaugural $1.5 million (€1.2 million) Royal Trophy contest between Asia and Europe as nothing more than another glorified exhibition match.

Vital funds will be collected at churches across the capital this weekend to aid survivors of the devastating earthquake in Pakistan.

The family of an Irishman killed in the Asian tsunami is travelling to Thailand today to help survivors of the December 26 disaster.

Japan 2 Brazil 2

Japan became the first country to book their place at next year’s World Cup finals, other than hosts Germany, with a 2-0 win over North Korea today.

The remains of the Co Wexford man missing since the Asian tsunami is to be flown home from Thailand early next week.

TONY MCCOY showed just why connections moved for him when giving Brave Inca an inspired drive to beat Harchibald in the Emo Oil Champion Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday.

The body of the Co Wexford man missing since the Asian tsunami has been formally identified.

BANK of Ireland’s 2005 profits would fall by about €127 million if the new financial accountancy standards for Europe were applied this year.

A record prize fund of €3.3million – up €145,000 on last year – will be on offer at the Smurfit European Open at The K Club this summer.

Two tennis players are hoping to raise more than €1,000 today for the Asian tsunami appeal by breaking the world record for the longest competitive singles match.

Republic of Ireland players in tonight’s friendly against Portugal have donated their €35,000 match fees to the Asian tsunami disaster fund and a cheque will be handed over to GOAL at half-time.

Ireland’s response to the Asian tsunami tragedy was “fantastic”, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said today.

Swiss insurance giant Zurich Financial Services today said the Asian tsunami and a string of hurricanes would cost it $185m (€144m) in the fourth quarter.

THE GAA is set to spread its wings into the Hong Kong school system. Plans are already at an advanced stage for members of the Irish community to teach the basics of hurling, football and camogie to children.

Oxfam Ireland has appealed for the donation of warehouse space to help it deal with the huge public response to its Asian tsunami appeal.

“WE love him very, very much — all we want is Robert back safe at home. That’s the only thought we’re holding on to now.”

Three members of girl band All Saints are set to reunite to record a track for the Asian tsunami appeal.

THE Asian tsunami puts into perspective how fragile the planet we inhabit really is. What occurred was beyond comprehension.

A special fund to help some of the tens of thousands of children affected by the Asian earthquake and tsunami was established in Northern Ireland today by the Honorary Indian Consul.

The official death toll of the Asian tsunami is now at 123,000, according to media reports.

Wolves manager Glenn Hoddle is calling on the British football industry to follow his lead in raising money for the victims of the Asian tsunami catastrophe.

Dozens of Irish people are still unaccounted for, three days after the Asian tsunami disaster, it was confirmed today.

Concerns over the economic impact of the Asian earthquake tsunami disasters pushed stocks lower in the United States today, putting Wall Street’s recent rally on hold despite decent holiday sales figures and falling oil prices.

ISLAMIC rebels set off an explosion near an army convoy yesterday, wounding 40 Indian soldiers and three civilians in the most visible attack in Kashmir’s summer capital Srinagar since India and Pakistan entered a border truce in the divided province.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf today refused to renounce the first use of nuclear weapons, as efforts to bring him together with his Indian counterpart appeared to fail.

Islamic gunmen stormed a police base in Kashmir, killing two officers, and cross-border shelling killed at least 28 other people today amid international efforts to avert a full-fledged war between nuclear powers India and Pakistan.

Hopes that another war between India and Pakistan can be averted rose today, with increasing signs that the country’s leaders will meet at an Asian summit in Nepal this week.