The Irish Press - News from Dublin, Kilkenny, Waterford, Drogheda, Galyway, Ireland and the world

The eurozone recorded an unexpected contraction in the first three months of 2026 due to a steep slump in Ireland's economic figures, according to revised data issued on Friday.

Some 1.47 million people are displaced in gang-ravaged Haiti, the United Nations' migration agency said Friday, warning that its ability to help could dry up within months.

Ollie Robinson celebrated a five-wicket haul on his return to England Test duty as New Zealand were dismissed for just 113 on day two of the first Test at Lord's on Friday.

Philippe Saint-Andre told AFP many people had said he "was mad" to coach French second tier rugby side Aix-en-Provence but he has proved them wrong as if they beat Vannes in Saturday's play-off final they will be promoted to the Top 14 for the first time.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday distanced himself from an alleged plot to sabotage investigations into his entourage and Socialist party that has intensified pressure on a government already beset by legal woes.

Oil prices slipped and stock markets were mixed Friday as traders reacted to Mideast war developments and concerns over the AI sector.

France's government on Friday grappled with outrage over an 11-year-old girl's killing after it emerged that the main suspect was previously accused of sexually abusing children.

Tuvalu's prime minister voiced disappointment Friday over the island nation's fossil fuel holdings, after AFP revealed a trust fund for the climate change-threatened state had invested in oil and coal.

Serena Williams will take part in the women's doubles at June's WTA event in Berlin, organisers announced Friday, the next stop in her comeback after a near four-year absence.

France's ambition to compete in the global rush to build artifical intelligence data centres is dividing a small village outside Paris, where a massive planned facility stokes both hope for an economic dividend and fears of disruption.

Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who suffers from an incurable lung disease and whose health has recently deteriorated, has been placed on a waiting list for a lung transplant, the royal palace announced Friday.

Britain's disgraced former prince Andrew earned a private income from subletting cottages while paying a symbolic "peppercorn rent" for a mansion for over two decades, government auditors revealed Friday.

The US Senate on Friday approved $70 billion in funding for Donald Trump's hardline immigration crackdown, but only after a long day of votes on multiple amendments that highlighted Republican infighting over some of the president's other contentious policy proposals.

The Dutch climate pressure group that won a landmark court case against Shell has been plunged into turmoil after its boss jumped ship to Tata Steel, only to be sacked a day later over his pro-apartheid past.

France's government was on Friday assessing possible judicial failings, after allegations investigators could have prevented a 11-year-old girl's disappearance by better dealing with previous sexual abuse complaints.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has signed a contract extension that will take him to the end of the 2031 Rugby World Cup, the Irish Rugby Football Union announced on Friday.

Israel's air force struck a Lebanese village on Friday following warnings for several areas of imminent attacks against Hezbollah, after the Iran-backed militants rejected a truce brokered by the United States.

Cam Roigard and Ruben Love gave another glimpse of their potential All Blacks combination on Friday as the Wellington Hurricanes hammered the ACT Brumbies 66-12 to roll into the Super Rugby semi-finals.

The UN on Friday more than doubled its aid appeal for Lebanon as the country reels from Israel's war against Iran-backed Hezbollah, saying nearly $640 million was needed over six months.

The yacht is docked, the paparazzi have arrived, and Dua Lipa and Callum Turner -- the celebrity newlyweds set to party in Sicily this weekend -- have been spotted at their five-star hotel.

The 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is likely to be named in India's T20 squad while skipper Suryakumar Yadav could get the axe when selectors meet on Saturday, according to reports.

Japan's World Cup squad had to twice change their training pitches in Mexico because of the poor condition of the fields, Japanese media said, in a turbulent start to preparations.

As dawn breaks over Nigeria's Okomu National Park, an exhausted wildlife caretaker prepares milk formula for Agbaibor, a months-old orphaned forest elephant rescued after wandering out of the rainforest alone.

Despite facing up to 10 years in jail on fraud charges for allegedly luring people into putting their savings into an Albania-based cryptocurrency investment scam, Jon shows zero remorse.

Trainers clad in ornate uniforms and traditional white fur headgear led golden-bedecked stallions round a stage arena at an annual horse beauty pageant in the ultra-closed Central Asian state of Turkmenistan.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea next week, state media said Friday, the latest in a series of high-level summits as Beijing asserts its position as a diplomatic superpower on the world stage.

An "extremely intelligent" bear that injured four people in northern Japan remains at large as of Friday, after apparently unlatching a window while evading capture and turning on a water tap, officials said.

Aidan O'Brien saddles four runners in Saturday's Epsom Derby and has a chance of sweeping the first three places, just as he did in last weekend's French equivalent (Prix du Jockey Club).

With its team already hailed as heroes and under the star guidance of Ballon d'Or and World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro, Uzbekistan will make its first appearance at the 2026 tournament with no pressure from fans back home.

Wildlife officers have busted an illegal cockroach-breeding operation in rural Australia, seizing a skin-crawling haul worth more than $100,000 on the black market for exotic bugs.

Jennifer Kupcho made a hot start in firing a five-under-par 66 for a one-shot lead in the first round of the US Women's Open at Riviera Country Club on Thursday.

Asian equities went into reverse Friday on continued worries about the AI trade after disappointing forecasts from chip titan Broadcom, while investors were also keeping a wary eye on stuttering Middle East peace efforts.