The prime ministers of Spain and Belgium have held talks over their testy bilateral relations as ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and four secessionist allies prepare for an extradition court appearance in Brussels.

Next year’s World Equestrian Games (WEG) have taken on a new perspective for Ireland’s show jumpers following their recent European Championships victory in Gothenburg, Sweden, team member Cian O’Connor said yesterday.

Ireland has won a medal at the European Show Jumping Championships in Sweden.

Since March of this year, the A Head Full Of Dreams Tour has played to 2.5 million people across Latin America, the US and Europe, including four sold-out nights at London’s Wembley Stadium.

“I know there is room for improvement and I am confident I can achieve it.”

Show jumper Cian O’Connor boosted his Olympic aspirations when runner-up in the Million Dollar Grand Prix in Ocala, Florida, last night.

Dressage rider Judy Reynolds is breaking new ground this weekend as the first Irish rider to line out in a World Cup final and her aim is to replicate the performances that have seen her greatly improve Ireland’s reputation in the sport.

Show jumper Denis Lynch is within striking distance of qualifying for the World Cup after finishing runner-up with All Star in the penultimate qualifier in Zurich, Switzerland, yesterday.

Shane Sweetnam got “two new toys” for Christmas, Buckle Up and Cobolt, but when it comes to fun, Chaqui Z remains the top plaything.

Dermott Lennon placed second in the World Cup qualifier in Toronto, Canada, a fortnight ago with Loughview Lou Lou.

Show jumper Richie Moloney is considering a shot at the World Cup final following his qualifier victory in North Salem, New York on Sunday.

Volvo is banking on automated driving technology eliminating deaths

The inaugural Eventing Ireland National Championships at Ballindenisk, Co Cork, will be a “major affair” according organiser Peter Fell. 

A new study has put Dublin as the best place in Europe - and second in the entire world - for US citizens to live in.

A lifesize bronze statute of Ireland’s most famous female athlete is to be unveiled next August in her hometown.

Showjumping Ireland (SJI) chairman Tony Hurley yesterday said the organisation is to correct a situation whereby imported horses are automatically given 70 points when first registered here, regardless of their actual performance history.

IT’S the bane of any online shopper — you order the book from Amazon, but can’t be there to collect it. Now Volvo is trying to solve the problem of missed package deliveries and believes the solution is sitting right outside in your driveway or office carpark.

Robbie Williams has signed a fan's butt.

Show jumper Denis Lynch rounded off his World Cup challenge yesterday in 14th place in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Robert Splaine is hoping the team that placed second in last year’s US nations cup will get his new term as manager off to a good start today when they line out in Florida.

Horse Sport Ireland’s (HSI) new chairman, Patrick Wall, wants riders to return to college.

Show jumper Denis Lynch failed to make it to the second round of yesterday’s Rolex FEI World Cup qualifier in Zurich, Switzerland, posting nine faults with All Star.

Show jumper Denis Lynch is almost assured of a place in the Rolex World Cup final following his second place in the qualifier in Leipzig yesterday.

Irish eventing was last night on course to have a team at the Olympics, after riders rose to the challenge in the Goresbridge Go For Gold International Horse Trials at Ballindenisk, Co Cork.

Jayne Doherty would be the first to acknowledge she does not do “quietly confident”.

Madonna has announced her 2012 World Tour. It includes a July 24 date in Dublin's Aviva Stadium.

PLANNING for the nations cup season moves into focus next Tuesday, when riders gather with management at Dublin airport to plan the season ahead.

Senior American officials believed Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin could have known about the plan to murder dissident former spy Alexander Litvinenko in London, the latest leaked US diplomatic cables have revealed.

Keith Richards reportedly threatened a Swedish journalist and hit him on the head yesterday.

The Irish squad arrived in Moscow this morning ahead of the 2010 European Senior Championships which begins Friday in the Russian capital.

IRAN yesterday said it would refuse to discuss a newly declared nuclear plant at forthcoming international talks and cautioned Western powers it could curb co-operation further if they repeated “past mistakes”.

The next date of U2’s mammoth worldwide tour was in doubt today after protesters held up the removal of its custom-built stage from Croke Park.

JESSICA KÜRTEN qualified for the World Cup final last Sunday and then declared her surprise at the achievement.

EARLY optimism of Ireland’s first show jumping World Cup victory came to an abrupt end yesterday, when Jessica Kürten finished equal fourth at Gothenburg, Sweden.

Jessica Kurten failed to break the 30-year jinx that has denied Irish riders a World Cup win, when finishing equal fourth after today's final competition at Gothenburg, Sweden, but an American-owned Irish-bred horse did claim the runner-up spot.

Jessica Kurten upped her status as favourite to capture the 2008 World Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden, when she streaked home to win tonight's second competition in the weekend series.

JESSICA KÜRTEN got her World Cup challenge off to a good start last night when third in the opening competition in Gothenburg, Sweden.

SHOW jumper Jessica Kurten put the disappointment of last weekend’s Paris grand prix behind her on Saturday to take the €300,000 Rolex Top 10 in Geneva, Switzerland, with her ‘wonder horse’ Castle Forbes Libertina.

Ireland's Jessica Kurten racked up her second place of the day at Gothenburg, Sweden, tonight when she finished in the Masters qualifier just a fraction of a second behind German winner Ludger Beerbaum in a 15-horse jump-off.

A CHANGE of horse proved a judicious move for show jumper Cameron Hanley when he rode SIEC Concept to seventh place in Saturday’s World Cup contest in Vigo, Spain.

Derval O'Rourke, Alistair Cragg and David Gillick are top of the pile in the 29-strong team chosen to represent Ireland at next month's European Athletics Championships in Gothenburg.

Paula Radcliffe feels improving the tests to catch drug cheats must remain the priority as debate over a life ban from athletics for those found guilty of doping offences goes on.

Police have arrested a suspect in a spectacular robbery of a passenger plane in south-western Sweden.