Scotland’s Alastair Forsyth has defended the decision to finish the Madeira Islands Open after his caddie died on the course on Sunday.

Ellen Kent has resumed her multiple roles as promoter, artistic director and producer of operas.

FRANK GILES, an editor of The Sunday Times during the ’80s wrote: “The welcome at Russborough was invariably warm. Alfred and Clem, warned no doubt by the sound of the Jaguar’s tyres on the gravel, would be at the ready in the great hall, genuinely delighted by the sight of their guests.”

Anti-Angela Merkel sentiment in the European press is turning increasingly nasty, but despite the pressure she is under, those close to her say she is not for turning as she sets her sights on re-election, writes Madeline Chambers

ONE of Spain’s richest women is to marry at the age of 85, to a man 25 years her junior, despite opposition from her children.

Spain's leading broadcaster said it will no longer show the country's centuries-old tradition of bullfighting in order to protect children from viewing violence.

Australia’s Marcus Fraser won the Ballantine’s Championship today by four shots as a battling three-under-par 69 final round secured a wire-to-wire win and first victory in seven years.

Australia’s Marcus Fraser remained on course for a wire-to-wire victory at the weather-affected Ballantine’s Championship after securing a one shot advantage over defending champion Thongchai Jaidee, Gareth Maybin and Tano Goya heading into tomorrow’s third and final round.

Australia’s Marcus Fraser carded a second-round 70 to maintain a one-shot lead at the weather-affected Ballantine’s Championship on a bright but windy third day at Pinx Golf Club.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON will make his first appearance in the European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship for three years at Wentworth from May 20-23.

Four birdies in three holes around the turn pushed defending champion Thongchai Jaidee hot onto the heels of battling leader Tano Goya of Argentina at the Ballantine’s Championship on Jeju Island.

AND STILL we learn, as Goya said.

Argentina set the pace on the opening day of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup as Rafa Echenique and Tano Goya combined to post an 11-under-par 61 in the first round fourballs.

Argentina's Tano Goya leads the Moravia Silesia Open by one from English pair John Bickerton and Steve Webster after a seven-under-par 65 on the European Tour's return to the Czech Republic after a 12-year gap.

Argentina’s Estanislao Goya survived a late scare and an amazing birdie burst by Scot Callum Macaulay to win a European Tour title at just the sixth attempt today.

Argentina’s 20-year-old Estanislao Goya was four clear of Irishman Damien McGrane with nine holes to play in the Madeira Islands Open BPI-Portugal in Porto Santo today.

Estanislao Goya put himself in a commanding position to clinch the Madeira Island Open BPI-Portugal after a third-round two-under-par 69 gave him a three-shot lead heading into the final day tomorrow.

Estanislao Goya led by one shot at the halfway point of the third round at the Madeira Island Open BPI-Portugal at Porto Santo today.

Rocco Mediate, the 46-year-old who last June came so close to toppling Tiger Woods in the US Open, has another chance this weekend for a first victory since 2002.

A US magazine has been forced to apologise to actress Natalie Portman after suggesting she's far from happy with her performance in short film 'Hotel Chevalier'.

An Irish artist whose work formed part of the multi-million euro revamp of Dublin’s Shelbourne hotel is now opening a major exhibition in the Italian capital of style.

Natalie Portman has ruined her new film, Goya's Ghosts, for lusty fans by revealing the naked shots of her character feature a body double.

Great painters often make for worthy screen characters so here the noted director turns his attention to Spain's Francisco Goya … and almost instantly lets his attention wander.

A painting by famed Spanish artist Francisco de Goya was stolen as it was being transported to a US exhibition at New York City's Guggenheim Museum.

THE conclave will be the most physically comfortable in history. For centuries, the cardinals - almost all men over 60 years old - had to sleep on iron cots scattered in small rooms near the Sistine Chapel, off the Vatican Museum.

TURNER Prize favourites the Chapman Brothers gave an unprecedented glimpse yesterday of their world of death, deformity and depravity as a career retrospective of their work was unveiled.

Three Spanish men have been formally charged in connection with the theft of a collection of Flemish, Japanese and Spanish paintings worth millions of euro from a Spanish billionaire.

The BBC was today launching a new digital cultural and arts channel to replace BBC Knowledge.

An armed gang that stole two old masters worth more than £3m from an art collection in Co Wicklow were tonight thought to have slipped out of the area - despite having to flee on foot.

Gardai are today investigating the theft of two paintings valued at a total of £3m from Russborough House, Co Wicklow.

The director of Madrid’s Prado Museum director has dismissed claims by experts that two of the most famous paintings attributed to Francisco de Goya, The Colossus and The Milkmaid of Bordeaux, are not the work of the Spanish master.