A Swiss solar-powered plane has taken off from Abu Dhabi at the start of the first ever attempt to fly around the world without using a drop of fuel.

Billionaire playboy lives a life of lust and luxury goods

Rory McIlroy’s stellar form this year has seen his online popularity surpass three of the biggest global brands who sponsor him, a study has shown.

Rory McIlroy’s stellar form this year has seen his online popularity surpass three of the biggest global brands who sponsor him, a study has shown.

Leading generic drugs producer, Perrigo is set to raise approximately $1bn (€800m) — via a share placing — to mainly cover the cost of its proposed takeover of Belgian firm, Omega Pharma Invest NV.

A diamond solitaire to be auctioned next week for €65,000 to €75,000.

Aviation tycoons Ulick and Desmond McEvaddy’s loss-making healthcare business was the chief factor behind the brothers’ group of firms going into the red in 2012, recording pre-tax losses of €491,351.

Golf star Rory McIlroy is to be hit with a counter claim when he takes legal action against his former sports agent, a court has been told.

Superstar golfer Rory McIlroy is facing his biggest challenge to date — but in the courts, not on the course.

A judge has made orders fast-tracking an action against three companies over an alleged €2.23m deficit in a defined benefit pension scheme.

Jeweller Harry Winston is selling its watches-to-necklaces division to Swatch Group in a $750m (€562m) cash deal that expands the Swiss watchmaker’s luxury offering and lets the Canadian group concentrate on its diamond mines.

A cruise ship carrying up to 600 people which was the subject of an arrest order in the High Court yesterday, was allowed to sail on to its next destination last night.

BEFORE there was a Twitter, camera, or even a telegraph, the results of the Olympics were transmitted via carrier pigeon.

Cork’s city manager has been asked to tackle parking problems outside a bingo hall.

The operator of a bingo hall in Cork has sued gardaí and the State for damages arising from a number of allegedly “vindictive” garda raids on the premises.

THE 1,000-seater Rock Bingo hall in Togher, Cork, which has been dogged by legal issues for several months was effectively given the go-ahead to operate by Mr Justice Frank Clarke at the High Court yesterday.

A COMPANY operating a bingo hall yesterday spoke of its “enormous relief” after the High Court declared its activities were lawful.

ONE of the first aspects on the agenda of Horizon Sports Conor Ridge in managing the affairs of Rory McIlroy has been to curb the ‘madness’ of his client’s heavy end-of-season schedule.

A GARDA superintendent whose officers searched a bingo hall and seized property in a case where the licence is in dispute said yesterday at the High Court in Cork that “the last thing I wanted to do was go down there and take bingo books from old ladies”.

A GARDA superintendent who was criticised in the High Court for his opposition to a bingo hall operating in Cork City was defended yesterday when it was claimed he had a legal obligation to act the way he did.

A GARDA Superintendent who objected to a commercially run bingo hall operating in Cork city was described by the company’s barrister as a man with a mission with a “truly alarming” approach to the issue.

THE controversial 1,000-seater bingo hall in Cork city will open for business tonight after securing a temporary High Court order.

ANGLO IRISH BANK didn’t just make a mess of lending to developers, it made a mess of its own property investments too.

Biel: Swatch, Switzerland’s largest watchmaker, said it sued UBS over investment losses as chief executive Nick Hayek intensified his late father’s disputes with the banking industry.

POLICE were yesterday trying to establish the value of jewellery stolen in a smash and grab raid from one of Britain’s most prestigious shopping arcades.

JOHANN RUPERT, chief of the South African company Dunhill, one of the European Tour’s chief sponsors for many years, laid it on the line for players and officials at the annual Tour dinner on Tuesday night.

A SOLAR-POWERED airplane designed to fly day and night without fuel or emissions successfully made its first test flight above the Swiss countryside.

The Omega Mission Hills World Cup will return to the calendar in 2011 as a biennial event, with a record prize fund of $7.5m.

LEE WESTWOOD has assured Rory McIlroy he will fight the young Irishman all the way for the inaugural Race to Dubai Number One title.

USA Swimming have announced they have suspended Michael Phelps for three months after the publication of a picture apparently showing him using illegal drugs.

Defending champion Soren Hansen avoided the worst that Cologne’s weather could throw at him to move up the leaderboard in the Mercedes-Benz Championship today.

Patchy fog today delayed the start of the second round of the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Cologne.

Nineteen-year-old Rory McIlroy no longer leads on his own, but he still has a great chance to become the youngest winner on the European Tour since Seve Ballesteros won the first of his record 50 titles.

IRISH firm Zeus Packaging has increased its presence in the British market through the purchase of Stevenage-based packaging distribution company, All Purpose Packaging for €11 million.

George Clooney is stepping into the row over 2008 Olympic host country China's trade links with Sudan - because of his sponsorship deal with Games sponsors Omega.

BOX-OFFICE favourite George Clooney is stepping up the pressure on one of the main Olympic sponsors to take a stand over China’s foreign policy, the BBC reported yesterday.

Timmy Murphy endured an up-and-down afternoon at Huntingdon with the pain of a two-day ban eased by winning the feature race.

BILLIONAIRE businessman Denis O’Brien is turning quizmaster for the biggest corporate brainteaser ever organised in Ireland, which will benefit the Cork Cancer Research Centre.

George O’Grady, executive director of the European Tour, has asked the president of Omega to reconsider the issuing of another invitation to Michelle Wie.

Michelle Wie is set to make her debut on the men’s European Tour in September at the Omega European Masters in Switzerland.

Heather Mills McCartney has accused supermodels of “selling their souls” by wearing fur.

Graeme McDowell found himself under attack at the top of the leaderboard on the second morning of the Dunhill Links Championship.

Swatch Group AG, the world’s largest watchmaker, said first-half profit advanced 17% as a recovery in US and Asian spending on luxury goods boosted demand for brands including Omega and Breguet.

An independent report has found that controversial plastic bullets introduced in the North in recent years are potentially more dangerous than the weapons they replaced.