German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has squared off with the European Central Bank over the pace of pooling bank levies in a euro-area resolution fund, potentially slowing the proposal’s progress into law.

An influential member of the European Parliament has supported the Government’s efforts to get a direct recapitalisation on bank debt.

The Gordon Elliot-trained Nedzer’s Return showed no ill-effects from his victory at Tattersalls Farm on Saturday by winning the open lightweight at yesterday’s Clonakilty point-to-point meeting, staged under the auspices of the Carbery Hunt on Inchydoney Island.

Gary Anderson landed an amazing 19 180s before edging out John Bowles in a tie-break as the second round of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship began on Friday afternoon, with Andy Hamilton and Dave Chisnall also winning through at Alexandra Palace.

“It’s a great night for us, the pressure is off, and from now on we will be able to hurl with freedom and without fear,” were Dromina coach Gary Morrissey’s words of praise after his side scraped past Dripsey in round three of the IHC in Kanturk on Saturday night.

Four countries, Germany, France, Italy and Portugal are refusing to share information on debt in key areas with the EU.

A gunman opened fire in a busy hairdressing salon, killing eight people and critically wounding another in a quiet Southern California beach community.

David Cameron was today forced to deny a rift with police over the handling of the devastating riots that swept England.

The protester who threw a foam pie at Rupert Murdoch will be sentenced today.

AT last some external support for this beleaguered economy for its uncompromising stance on the 12.5% corporation tax rate and its mission to get the borrowing rate on the bailout loans cut by 1%.

IRELAND is being overcharged on the interest rate imposed by its European partners on its €85 billion bailout package who are being spiteful in demanding a cut in corporation tax in return for lower rates.

THEY may have been safely ensconced in the Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-finals before throw-in, but that did not impinge on Cork IT’s focus against Dublin IT yesterday.

Cork IT 2-12 NUI Galway0-17

The UK should pay back Ireland any significant profit it makes from charging high interest rates in its £7bn (€8.3bn) bailout of the country, a senior Liberal Democrat MEP said today.

One of the world’s biggest tobacco companies today pledged €134m towards European efforts to smash the illegal trade in cigarettes.

MEPs today backed a crackdown on bankers’ bonuses – to come into force in time for this year’s round of top-up payouts.

THREE days after the county senior side had departed Páirc Uí Chaoimh with an emphatic championship victory, Cork’s U21 outfit replicated that effort at the same venue in last night’s Bord Gáis Energy Munster U21HC quarter-final against Waterford.

Owner Shelley Bowles has been warned off for two years following a British Horseracing Authority disciplinary hearing.

A REAL test of resolve yesterday for the 3,000 dedicated fans who made the journey to Thurles for this Munster final, defying the sleet and biting wind to support their teams.

CORK CONSTITUTION and Old Crescent demonstrated at Clifford Park yesterday that the ODM Munster Senior Cup is still very much alive.

CORK 2-11 TIPPERARY 3-14

Fresh from his match-winning exploits at Croke Park on Sunday, Cathal Naughton will be hoping to help the Cork Under-21 hurlers retain their Munster title tomorrow night.

THE Cork team to play Tipperary in the Erin Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship final tomorrow night in Thurles (7.15pm) shows two changes from the side that defeated Waterford in the semi-final.

Another Ulster Unionist has defected to the UK's Conservatives, it emerged tonight.

An Ulster Unionist councillor is defecting to the Conservatives in protest at the party’s deal with the Progressive Unionist Party, it emerged today.

Charleville CBS 3-10 De La Salle, Waterford 2-9

RICHARD BOWLES had only one thing on his mind when he entered the Galway dressing room and spoke to his team after they had lost their All-Ireland crown to Cork.

CORK have made one change from the team which defeated Clare in the semi-final for tomorrow night’s Munster U21 hurling championship final against Tipperary at Páirc Uí Chaoimh (7.15pm).

CONFUSION surrounded Bill Clinton’s cancellation of part of his trip to the tsunami-hit Maldives last night, with some officials blaming bad weather and others exhaustion.

Saturday's nuptials of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles drew just 7.6 million television viewers in their native Britain - compared to the 30 million Brits who watched his first marriage to Diana.

Former US president Bill Clinton will spend at least two years in his new role as the top United Nations envoy promoting recovery in tsunami-hit countries and demanding accountability for the unprecedented billions of dollars donated by countries and individuals.

Elton John is convinced Prince Charles should have fought for his first love Camilla Parker-Bowles instead of exchanging vows with Diana, Princess of Wales - because the pair was a tragic mismatch.

British actor and Irish RM star Peter Bowles inadvertently snubbed Quentin Tarantino recently, when the Kill Bill director recognised him in a Nottingham, England, bar.

James Bowles has been drafted into the Cork senior hurling panel ahead of their Guinness All-Ireland appointment next Sunday with Kilkenny.

Tipperary 1-16 Cork 1-13

Newtownshandrum 3-12 Erin's Own 0-14

Cork 1-11 Clare 1-6

IT was tougher, tighter and didn't have the pretty hurling of the drawn game, but at Semple Stadium on Saturday, Newtownshandrum finally ended the dogged challenge of O'Loughlin Gaels of Kilkenny in the All-Ireland club hurling championship semi-final.