Judging by the comments of rival captains Thomas Bjorn and Jim Furyk during their joint press conference at Le Golf National yesterday, the knockout punch Tiger Woods delivered to Rory McIlroy in Sunday’s Tour Championship must never have happened.

As a Danish company launches underwear that doesn’t need to be washed for a week, Robert Hume investigates what our ancestors did to keep themselves cool and deal with body odour.

Salone del Moblile in Milan is the world’s interior forum and it’s emphasis on texture this year has placed fabrics to the fore in any new decorative scheme, writes Carol O’Callaghan.

The scientists discovered it by accident: An enzyme that eats plastic. Imagine discovering something that incredible by accident? I’ve never discovered anything by accident. At least not by myself.

During the Christmas break of the PGA Tour’s wraparound season, Graeme McDowell toiled for seven hours at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club, his home track in Orlando, working on his game. 

A French appeals court has upheld the far-right National Front's decision to expel party founder Jean-Marie Le Pen over anti-Semitic remarks, a stinging defeat for him and a victory for his daughter and rival Marine.

Those close to power have sometimes been luminaries in the world of fashion too. Meghan Markle’s new it-bag is the latest in a long line of must-have fashion accessories first worn by the rich and famous, says Robert Hume.

France is bidding farewell to its biggest rock star, honouring Johnny Hallyday with a funeral procession down the Champs-Elysees, a presidential speech and a parade of motorcyclists.

Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson has virtually written off a “terrible” season as he puts his family first this year.

The unashamed ogling of the Canadian PM masks the real craze of our times — political fidget-spinning. We need to learn the art of media literacy so that we know when we are being spun, writes Clodagh Finn.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said France must break the addiction to public spending that has left its economy trailing peers as he outlined plans to rein in the budget and cut taxes.

IN JUNE 1767, a quarter of a millennium ago this month, the bloody career of a mysterious killer came to an end, writes Richard Collins. 

Kya deLongchamps encourages a wide-eyed spring ramble around three of the many heritage gardens of Ireland.

The EU has two choices, to be a transnational entity or an intergovernmental one led by Germany. Before it decides, the EU need some honest self-reflection, writes Ana Palacio.

The French Revolution was a triumph followed by a tragedy. Michael Duggan discovers some surprises from a seminal work on the period, among them the number of ambitious young lawyers involved    

Mirrors are not just for moments of vanity but for enhancing light and space, writes Carol O’Callaghan

It was well past midnight when Ireland’s team bus pulled out of Lille but songs and stories dominated the three-hour journey down the A1 towards the Versailles.

There is no limp as Shane Long walks into the Complexe Sportif Montbauron.

Despite the historic night for the Boys in Green with their brilliant victory over Italy, the holiday has come to an end for many Irish fans who took a fortnight off to follow the team around France.

And so we arrive at a point of definition in Euro 2016: a knockout game before the knockout stage, a cup final to gain access to another cup final.

Wes Hoolahan has been there before. Scoot back almost a dozen years and the Dubliner was an integral part of a superb Shelbourne side at the fag end of, what was at the time, the greatest European odyssey any Irish club had known.

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Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

It looks increasingly likely that Ireland will have to do without Jon Walters when they take on Belgium in their Group E game in Bordeaux on Saturday.

Professional footballers may lead sheltered lives but the 23 players representing the Republic of Ireland at the European Championship in France are not oblivious to the terror threat that hangs over a tournament that begins this evening.

Versailles looks the ideal base for team Ireland. The distance between the hotel and training ground is minimal and there will be no repeat of the suffocating proximity of Sopot four years ago, writes Brendan O’Brien

In Uefa-speak, today is MD-1, that is to say, eve of match but also, in this case, eve of tournament.

Robbie Keane has been included in Ireland’s squad of 23 for the European Championship finals despite a calf injury having ruled him out of the match against Belarus at Turner’s Cross.

Five things to do in the world of culture this week

Ireland’s build-up to the Euros starts kicking into high gear today, when the squad gathers at the National Training Centre for their first session of the week ahead of Friday’s friendly against the Netherlands.