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

Spain, one of the few places in the world where a total solar eclipse will be visible in August, has begun preparations for an event it hopes will shift tourism away from the beaches and toward the countryside.

European and US stock markets climbed Thursday as a tech-fuelled rally rolled on even as the United States and China were locked in talks in Beijing, accompanied by key US business leaders hoping for deals.

Russia pummelled Kyiv for hours early on Thursday, firing hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles in an attack that killed at least seven people and further shredded hopes of a halt to Moscow's grinding invasion.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping's unusually "blunt" warning to US President Donald Trump over Taiwan at Thursday's summit in Beijing exposes potentially grave pitfalls in the relationship, although its immediate impact could be limited, analysts say.

Cuba was hit by worsening power outages on Thursday as the island's communist government said oil reserves had run out and rare protests broke out around the capital Havana.

Rory McIlroy began with a bogey on the 10th hole in Thursday's opening round of the 108th PGA Championship at Aronimink, where Germany's Stephan Jaeger seized the lead with four birdies in the first six holes.

Jannik Sinner reached the semi-finals of the Italian Open on Thursday after seeing off Andrey Rublev and establishing a new record of consecutive wins in Masters 1000 tournaments.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged the European Union on Thursday to reform its budget to include more investments and reduce subsidies, but rejected any joint borrowing by EU nations to do so.

Britain's health minister Wes Streeting announced on Thursday that he had resigned, paving the way for him to launch a leadership challenge against embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Latvia's Prime Minister Evika Silina resigned Thursday after a key party in her coalition withdrew support in a row over Ukrainian drones that strayed into the Baltic nation.

European and Asian stock markets diverged on Thursday as investors weighed high-stakes talks between the United States and China and optimism over artificial intelligence.

Afghanistan's water crisis worsened in 2025, the United Nations said in a report, with drought nearly doubling compared to the year before.

Russia pummelled Kyiv for hours early on Thursday with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles in an attack that killed at least five people and further shredded hopes of a halt to Moscow's grinding invasion.

Climate activists are urging movie stars to fly economy or take the train to Cannes after saying private jets burned two millions of litres of kerosene getting them to the film festival last year.

Rory McIlroy was hoping for a morning charge and set for an early test of his right foot issues as the 108th PGA Championship teed off Thursday at Aronimink.

Mikel Arteta wants Arsenal to put relegated Burnley to the sword in emphatic fashion on Monday as they close in on a first Premier League title for 22 years.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's future looked increasingly uncertain on Thursday as potential challengers positioned themselves for a possible leadership contest, including popular former deputy Angela Rayner.

A US jury awarded $49.5 million in damages on Wednesday to the family of a 24-year-old American who perished in a 2019 Boeing 737 MAX crash.

A South African court ruled Thursday that a long-running arms deal corruption case against former president Jacob Zuma and French defence giant Thales can proceed, rejecting bids to delay the trial.

A US-brokered peace deal in the DR Congo is more focused on plundering the country's resources than offering security, Nobel Peace Prize-winning Congolese doctor Denis Mukwege has told AFP.

Britain's economy expanded in the first quarter, official data showed Thursday, offering a boost to embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer as the Mideast crisis and political turmoil cloud the outlook.

Russia pummelled Kyiv for hours early on Thursday with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles in an attack that killed at least three people, further shredding hopes of a halt to Moscow's grinding invasion.

Donald Trump paid a visit to the Temple of Heaven in the Chinese capital on Thursday, but the US president had a face like thunder.

Arne Slot dismissed speculation over his future as Liverpool manager on Thursday, despite a disappointing campaign, with the Dutchman already involved in planning for next season.

Pressure mounted on Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer Thursday when his former deputy Angela Rayner emerged as a potential challenger in a frenzied battle for the leadership.

The chief enforcer of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte's deadly drug war has fled the Senate, where he had sought refuge this week to escape arrest for crimes against humanity, the chamber's president said on Thursday.

Irish legends U2 stunned locals and tourists in Mexico City's historic center on Wednesday as the quartet filmed a music video for their upcoming single.

Asian markets were mixed Thursday as investors weighed high-stakes US-China talks and persistent inflation concerns, which tempered optimism fuelled by record highs on Wall Street.

British fashion label Burberry said Thursday that it returned to profit in its latest fiscal year thanks to a sizeable cost-cutting plan launched at the end of 2024.

Eddie Jones has walked a fine disciplinary line throughout his decades in rugby and the former Australia and England coach's acid tongue and spiky character have now landed him in trouble in Japan.

The last 10 places in the Eurovision final are up for grabs in Thursday's second semi, with Denmark and Australia hotly tipped to make it through once the votes are counted.

Large-scale Russian strikes on Kyiv killed one person and wounded at least 31 others, city authorities said on Thursday, as Moscow ramped up attacks on Ukraine following a short-lived ceasefire.