A German man taking his regular morning stroll was killed by an elephant who had escaped from a nearby circus, police said today.

While most Kerry people are dreaming of All-Ireland glory this weekend, Pádraig Lucey is targeting a shot at an AFL career earned by a stint on reality TV.

Former Rehab director Frank Flannery billed the charity for lobbying Government departments as well as business trips, the group has confirmed.

As a showdown edges closer between Rehab’s former bosses and the Dáil’s spending watchdog, the charity has revealed fees paid for lobbying and trips, but questions still remain unanswered.

The long and sometimes rocky road to Hollywood began in simple schoolboy settings for actor Michael Fassbender, 36, nominated for an Oscar tomorrow night for his role in 12 Years a Slave.

Three people have been killed and five wounded following a shooting in southern Germany, police have announced.

JOHN GALLIGAN Travel has teamed up with British over 50s operator SAGA Holidays to create a 14-night tour of Europe, which will incorporate a visit to the Oberammergau Passion Play in Bavaria.

MEN now have another excuse to go down the pub thanks to research suggesting a compound in beer may prevent prostate cancer.

Porsche says one of its drivers has been killed while testing a sports car on a German motorway.

THE discovery of the Aids virus and the role of viruses in cervical cancer has led to Germany’s Harald zur Hausen and French researchers Francoise Barre-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier sharing the 2008 Nobel Prize in medicine.

SUNWAY River Cruise has just launched a number of winter specials, including a Christmas Wonderland Cruise.

MASTERS champion Trevor Immelman has moved up 14 places in the world rankings to 15th with Pádraig Harrington improving from 12th to 11th having started 2008 in eighth.

MORE than 200 delegates from 24 EU countries are set to attend a major conference in Cork on sustainable energy.

HeidelbergCement’s bid for Hanson is set to result in the last UK-owned major building materials firm falling into foreign hands.

AFTER England v Portugal in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday, our delayed late-night rail connection via Essen back to base camp in Heidelberg was doing a passable impression of the Marie Celeste until we pulled into Frankfurt station at about 3.20am.

HEIDELBERG may be the romantic soul of Germany but, until Saturday, nobody could have confused it with the beating heart of this World Cup.

US LEAVES GERMAN BASES

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON has admitted he was struggling for motivation as he returned to European Tour action following the death of his father.

Padraig Harrington has admitted he is struggling for motivation as he returns to European Tour action following the death of his father.

For the fourth time in five years Colin Montgomerie goes into the third round of the British Open high up on the leaderboard.

Three German hospital patients appear to have been infected with rabies through organ transplants and are in critical condition, a medical foundation said today.

In this season of surprises on the European Tour, there is now a real chance of another at the Barclays Scottish Open.

Padraig Harrington now has a 23rd runners-up finish to his name after losing a play-off for the Buick Classic in America last night.

ERNIE ELS made himself firmly at home when he shot a stunning eight-under 64 to take the first round lead of the PGA Championship.

Ernie Els instantly reaped the benefits of a new approach to the Volvo PGA championship at Wentworth today, equalling the course record with an eight-under-par 64.

It took Ernie Els just two holes to count himself among the leaders on a damp and chilly opening morning to the Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth today.

For the second time in three weeks Colin Montgomerie was given a day’s leave on the European Tour today.

Wanted: a top caddie to travel the world with Padraig Harrington, one of golf’s top players.

South African Trevor Immelman provided the greatest possible advert for the belly putter today when he sentenced Padraig Harrington to the 22nd runners-up finish of the Irishman’s career.

Padraig Harrington, reported to be replacing caddie Dave McNeilly after the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open in Heidelberg today, drew level with leader Gregory Havret when the final round began.

Defending champion Padraig Harrington, yet to retain a title in his professional career, has given himself the chance to correct that at the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open in Heidelberg tomorrow.

Defending champion Padraig Harrington suddenly burst into life at the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open in Heidelberg today.

Ian Poulter was missing when the third round of the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open began in Heidelberg today – but it was for the best possible reason.

Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer will be a happy and relieved man tomorrow night if his fellow German Alex Cejka wins only his second European tour title in nine years.

IRELAND'S big two of Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington are back in contention for the €500,000 first prize at the coveted Deutsche Bank European TPC after enjoying productive days in the Heidelberg sunshine yesterday.

Colin Montgomerie and Nick Faldo, former Ryder Cup partners and two of British golf’s biggest names, could not stop the rot at St Leon-Rot today.

Colin Montgomerie’s obvious misery was a world away from the golf produced by German Alex Cejka in Heidelberg today.

Mark Roe, famous for seeing his dream of winning the Open dashed by a rules blunder last year, was disqualified again in Heidelberg today.

If the start was a sign of things to come, Colin Montgomerie was in for a long, tiring and instantly forgettable time today.

Twice Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal is not into begging – and he will not do it now he finds himself struggling for a place in next month’s US Open.

NICK FALDO saw golf in a new light yesterday but it did not make him play any better. Wearing glasses in a tournament for the first time in his life, he managed only a three over par 75 at the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open in Heidelberg.

Colin Montgomerie is a step nearer having to qualify for the Open at his home club Royal Troon in July.

Nick Faldo saw golf in a new light today – but it did not make him play any better.