I’ve just been writing a letter to a German painter whom I met on a long trip outdoors last February; some readers may recall my dispatches from Namibia and the Kalahari Desert, writes Damien Enright.

A man jailed for dangerous driving causing the death of a young woman yesterday withdrew a High Court action in which he claimed damages for injuries he received in the fatal crash.

The wreckage at the scene of a fatal three-car crash was the worst a forensic engineer had ever seen in an urban area, he told the High Court in Limerick yesterday.

A Limerick man who was jailed for dangerous driving causing the death of a 19-year-old woman claimed yesterday he was the victim of a miscarriage of justice.

A Carlow woman who has been fighting to free her husband from a Greek jail in a campaign backed by the Irish Innocence Project has finally received some good news after their five-year ordeal.

Louis van Gaal has been disappointed with Angel di Maria’s first year at Manchester United but still expects the British record signing to stay at Old Trafford this summer.

Ryan Moore confirmed his position as one of the best jockeys in the world by winning the Emirates Melbourne Cup at Flemington aboard German raider Protectionist.

IN THE four-and-a-half years since her wedding day, Julie Marku has spent less than one-third of her married life with her husband.

Location: Size: 315 (3,400 sq ft)

Moscow wants to exchange a married couple of Russian spies jailed this month in Germany for at least one convict jailed in Russia on charges of spying for the West, a report said.

LAST month, Andreas Varady attended his manager Quincy Jones’ 80th birthday party in Las Vegas, met Will Smith and Chris Tucker, and shared a limousine with jazz singer Nikki Yanofsky.

Aston Villa are relaxed over the future of striker Andreas Weimann after holding initial talks over a new contract.

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert is demanding goals from all areas of his team as he comes to terms with being without record signing Darren Bent for the festive programme.

Stephen Ireland has set his sights on earning a new contract at Aston Villa after claiming to being rejuvenated since the arrival of Paul Lambert as manager.

Kylie Minogue most values humour and creativity in her boyfriends.

With the eyes of an impatient Europe on them, Greece’s feuding leaders are united by a desire to avoid blame for the harsh austerity required to save their country from a catastrophic default.

I STAND in the porch outside Andreas Varady’s house.

A rare sheet of 10 stamps depicting Audrey Hepburn fetched €430,000 at a charity auction in Berlin, two-thirds of which will go to help educate children in sub-Saharan Africa.

NUMBER 39 Stenson Park, Farranshone in Limerick has become a jazz landmark thanks to the Varady family who moved there three years ago from Slovakia.

Celtic defender Andreas Hinkel has been ruled out for nine months with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, the club have confirmed.

A YOUNG Limerick musician has won a scholarship to a world famous jazz institute in New York.

Kalahari King heads a final field of 15 runners for the Blue Square Handicap Chase at Doncaster on Saturday.

Greece’s Socialist leader George Papandreou was sworn in as Prime Minister today after a landslide election win.

Greece’s Socialists have trounced the governing conservatives in a landslide election.

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell tonight vowed there would be no players sold before the conclusion of the Champions League tie with Arsenal.

Andreas Hinkel wants to stay at Celtic, according to his agent.

IT appears as if Noel Fehily could face a lengthy suspension, after he was referred to the British Horseracing Authority by the Cheltenham stewards on Thursday.

WEXFORD trainer Colm Murphy is hopeful Clew Bay Cove can run a big race in this afternoon’s £100,000 williamhill.com Handicap Chase at Doncaster.

Andreas will attempt to carry top-weight to victory in the williamhill.com Handicap Chase at Doncaster on Saturday.

Andreas has been left at the head of the weights for the Williamhill.com Handicap Chase at Doncaster on Saturday following the confirmation stage.

A run in the John Smith’s Grand National seems unlikely for Denman unless something goes wrong in his pursuit of back-to-back Cheltenham Gold Cups.

CHRISTOPHE Soumillon expressed sympathy for the jocked-off Olivier Doleuze after partnering Good Ba Ba to an impressive success in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin yesterday.

The bodies of another 22 victims were removed from the Taj Mahal Hotel today as survivors of the Mumbai massacre spoke of their terrifying experiences.

I HAVE a dozen rides at Cheltenham over the next two days and, obviously, am very much hoping to get among the winners.

In a season dominated by new champions like Katchit, Master Minded and Denman, the final major race of the National Hunt campaign went the way of an old timer.

Today's Breakingnews.ie horse racing tips for selected courses in Ireland and the UK.

Tom George will bide his time before deciding whether to run Nacarat in the John Smith’s Topham Chase at Aintree next week.

Malcom Jefferson’s Roman Ark is set to bid for glory in the John Smith’s Topham Chase at Aintree.

Wigan defender Andreas Granqvist has joined his former club Helsingborg on loan until the end of the season.

Jari-Matti Latvala’s bid to claim his maiden World Rally victory remains on course after he consolidated his advantage over Ford team-mate Mikko Hirvonen on the second day of the Swedish Rally.

Celtic will continue to back manager Gordon Strachan in his player search after making Andreas Hinkel the club’s first transfer window signing.

Goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson has been told he can leave Manchester City, manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has revealed.