Scientists have pieced together the oldest human DNA ever recovered after extracting it from the thigh bone of an individual who died 400,000 years ago.

NOT every life warrants a film of seven hours and 46 minutes, but not every life was as dramatic as Richard Wagner’s. The British film director, Tony Palmer, cast Richard Burton in the title role of the epic biopic, Wagner, which was shot over seven months and released in 1983. It will be screened, with two breaks, as part of this year’s Cork Film Festival.

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.

Christmas is all about tradition... and so it is with Cian O’Connor and Olympia.

Guinness World Records has launched the latest edition of its best-selling book documenting global achievement, including new entries for the shortest bull, the oldest gymnast, and the lowest ever car.

Show jumper Billy Twomey’s fourth place in the World Cup qualifier at Leipzig, Germany, has propelled him to the top of the Olympic rankings, according to Horse Sport Ireland, while Jessica Kürten posted her first major grand prix win in over a year in Amsterdam.

NEXT MONTH’S Ballindenisk Horse Trials has attracted a stellar line-up, according to the organisers.

THE World Cup’s Western European League begins this weekend in Oslo, and Denis Lynch is taking a different approach to last year.

DENIS LYNCH will be aiming to further repair his “dented pride” this weekend when he lines out in the second leg of the Global Champions Tour (GCT) in Valencia, Spain.

BILLY Twomey’s bid for World Cup glory ended yesterday when, with Tinka’s Serenade, he finished with eight faults in the second qualifying contest in Leipzig, Germany.

THE effects of the dispute between Jessica Kürten and the owner of her top horses Lady Georgina Forbes were made visible yesterday, with the latest Rolex World Rankings showing the rider falling to 16th.

NOVEMBER in Toronto and Dermott Lennon is in top form. Fourth in the World Cup qualifier with Hallmark Elite and, along the way, picking up a couple of decent placings.

JESSICA KUERTEN greatly boosted her chances of making the World Cup final yesterday when fending off a strong effort from the home contingent to win the qualifier at Mechelen, Belgium.

IRELAND show jumping manager Robert Splaine has given two of the next four Rolex World Cup slots to Jessica Kürten, with Cameron Hanley and Dermott Lennon sharing one apiece.

CONSIDERING Billy Twomey’s wealth of talent, it is a surprise to find he has never contested a World Cup final.

EVIDENCE of a previously unknown species of human that lived alongside our ancestors 40,000 years ago has been uncovered in Siberia.

Technically demanding and at times furiously paced, two newly identified Mozart works are helping scholars complete their assessment of the maestro’s very early achievements.

Depeche Mode are back on tour a month after a tumour forced frontman Dave Gahan to pull out of shows.

China’s emerging car industry unveiled a collection of new vehicles today at Shanghai’s car show, from electric run-arounds to luxury saloons.

TATTERSALLS IRELAND managing director George Mernagh was delighted and relieved yesterday to say the Meath venue’s international horse trials will go-ahead this year, but conceded that failure to save it would have dealt a huge blow to Ireland’s equestrian reputation.

Cameron Hanley notched up Ireland's first international show jumping win of 2008 when he took first place in the opening competition at the World Cup show in Leipzig, Germany today.

ZZ Top has cancelled its European tour so bassist-singer Dusty hill can undergo treatment for a benign growth in his inner ear.

THE Irish Farmers Association (IFA) this week said it is “outraged” by the Department of Agriculture’s refusal to provide compensation for four breeders it says are at a financial loss as a result of swamp fever restrictions.

KBC Project Finance has completed bank syndication of its €114 million 15-year financing of a major waste-to-energy facility near Leipzig, Germany.

Bernard Dunne produced a measured display in Leipzig, Germany tonight to score a sixth round KO of experienced Romanian Marian Leondraliu.

AN infant gorilla in a Congo sanctuary is smashing palm nuts between two rocks to extract oil, surprising and intriguing scientists who say they have much to learn about what gorillas can do - and about what that says about evolution.

CORK’S Glucksman gallery has lost out to the controversial Scottish Parliament building to land Britain’s most prestigious architecture prize.

A FULL-TIME chef d’équipe for the senior Irish show jumping team is expected to be appointed this month.

CORK’S Glucksman Gallery has been shortlisted for a prestigious British architecture award worth €30,000.