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Philips said it expects sales growth to accelerate over the remainder of the year after US orders jumped 9% in the second quarter.

Manchester United 2 Southampton 0: Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice as Jose Mourinho kicked off life at Old Trafford with a comfortable Friday night victory over Southampton.

As he gets ready to play in Cork, Georgie Fame tells Ed Power about hanging out with The Beatles and being reduced to tears by Van Morrison 

Van Morrison has celebrated his 70th birthday with once-in-a-lifetime concerts on the east Belfast street he immortalised in his masterpiece Astral Weeks.

Van Morrison turns 70 today. There should be a lot more going on to pay tribute to somebody whose contribution to music and popular culture has been spectacular, suggests Michael Clifford

Uplifted and yet mellow at the same time, a shared glow united the elated audience exiting the Marquee after Van Morrison’s swinging show last night.

Successful off 75 in a handicap on this card last year (middle leg of a five-time in handicaps) and now rated 108, the Andy Oliver-trained Panama Hat landed the listed Lenabane Stakes in Roscommon last night under an inspired ride by Chris Hayes.

Here’s a quick look at some of the more light hearted stories from around the world.

Friends of Van Morrison have said he is the WB Yeats of the music world after he was honoured by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth for services to the industry.

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has welcomed manager Louis van Gaal’s decision to give his players Christmas Day off.

Van driver Ben Haenow is on the road to music stardom tonight after he was named winner of The X Factor.

You may not be able to catch the St Andrew’s Day celebrations next week, but there is never a bad time to visit Edinburgh, says Denise O'Donoghue.

Van Morrison has written a letter to a public relations guru to set the record straight over the handling of allegations that he fathered a child with his former tour manager.

Global star Van Morrison will make an appearance in Ireland next month after a local jazz committee secured its biggest coup ever.

RTÉ’S RATING WAR MASKS THE REAL ONE

Van Morrison is to play two concerts at his old school in Belfast.

He hasn’t gone away, you know.

South African police photographs of the scene where Oscar Pistorius shot dead his girlfriend show evidence was moved in violation of procedure during the investigation, his chief defence lawyer has told a court.

The Olympic spirit is contagious. It makes you emotionally attached to people you have never met or even heard of before.

Veteran singer Van Morrison said he was “honoured and delighted” to have been granted the freedom of his native Belfast as it was announced he will play a free concert in the city to mark the accolade.

Two Vietnamese men have been jailed for three years after they were caught working in a cannabis growing factory which was housing over 500 plants valued at €428,000.

A music memorabilia sale spanning 60 years will thrill fans, says Colette Sheridan

As I sat on my sofa on Tuesday evening for the much hyped and eagerly anticipated second leg between Manchester United and Real Madrid, I spotted a very familiar face as Nemanja Vidic and Sergio Ramos met in the centre circle for the traditional coin toss — it was none other than my good friend, Cuneyt Cakir, the referee who sent me off in the final few minutes of our match against Italy in Poznan at Euro 2012.

JT Nero tells Gerry Quinn how his Birds Of Chicago project has caused quite a stir in the American roots music scene

Man United 1 West Ham 0

It’s hard to believe, but moody musician Van Morrison wanted to be a vet before he was bitten by the music bug.

Moody music legend Van Morrison is rarely seen without his hat these days — and he now refuses point blank to appear without it in public — no matter what the cost.

Van Morrison will premiere his new show at Sligo Live in October.

Arsene Wenger today hit out at the international friendly schedule and revealed Arsenal are considering lodging an official complaint against the Belgian association after Wenger claimed they “forced” injured defender Thomas Vermaelen to play a full match in midweek.

Back in my Hot Press days, there was a football-mad colleague of mine whose first words upon arriving in the office of a morning were not “hello” or “good day” or even “there were leaves on the track at Donabate”.

THE season of goodwill to all men?

WHEN Arsenal decide whether they should add any more statues to the three they unveiled outside the Emirates Stadium on Friday, Robin van Persie’s name will be top of the list.

ROBIN VAN PERSIE’S contribution to Arsenal’s rapidly improving fortunes continues to grow with the forward scoring twice, taking his recent tally to 12 goals in eight games, to secure qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League for an 11th successive season last night.

TOTTENHAM may have been able to recover from a grim start but it seems there will be no way back for Steve Kean.

THERE were a couple of moments at the Emirates yesterday when Robin van Persie touched perfection.

Tottenham 1 Blackpool 1

Gareth Bale and Samir Nasri have both been nominated for the Professional Footballers’ Association Player and Young Player of the Year awards.

HARRY REDKNAPP is hopeful of having Rafael van der Vaart and Gareth Bale available for tomorrow night’s Champions League return clash with AC Milan and has pledged to go on the attack.

LAST night’s eagerly awaited derby had all the look of a festive hangover about it as UCC Demons cruised past Bord Gáis Neptune to increase their lead over them to four points in the Southern Conference table.

DERBY games hold special places in team sports and in Irish basketball they don’t come any bigger than the clashes between UCC Demons and Bord Gáis Neptune which punctuate the annual NIVEA for MEN SuperLeague programme.