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

Oil prices rose back above $80 per barrel on Wednesday as the threat of attacks keeps ships out of the Red Sea, while Wall Street stocks set fresh record highs.

Chris Wilder insisted Wednesday that basement club Sheffield United must retain their self-belief if they are to stand a chance of winning at high-flying Aston Villa.

Among the nations condemning Israel's war in Gaza, one has stood out -- Russia had built a growing friendship with Israel, but that dalliance is over, analysts said, erased by the shifting sands of Middle East geopolitics.

Newly-appointed Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo said he wanted to build on the amazing "legacy" of Steve Cooper at the Premier League club.

Sales of US existing homes crept up in November, according to industry data released Wednesday, though they remained at a low level as high mortgage rates weigh on activity.

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has said Eberechi Eze is on "the cusp" of a return to the first XI as he prepares to be without Joel Ward, his club captain.

Major League Soccer's plan to have their reserve team clubs enter the US Open Cup instead of the first teams has been blocked by the US Soccer Federation, the league and federation said on Wednesday.

European and US equities mostly retreated on Wednesday amid profit-taking while oil prices jumped above $80 per barrel as the threat of attacks keep ships out of the Red Sea.

Brentford and Aston Villa were both charged Wednesday by England's governing Football Association over the clashes late in their Premier League match last weekend.

The controversial building of a tower to judge the surfing event at the Paris Olympics will go ahead despite the sport's federation saying it is not required, chief organiser Tony Estanguet said on Wednesday.

People in the Democratic Republic of Congo voted Wednesday in a high-stakes election pitting the incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi against a fragmented opposition, whose leaders denounced "chaos" and "irregularities".

Suriname's highest court on Wednesday upheld a 20-year prison sentence for ex-president Desi Bouterse, who lost an appeal against his conviction for the 1982 killings of political opponents.

The European Commission said Wednesday it wants to allow wolves to be hunted based on new data suggesting the animals pose a rising threat to livestock.

France's domestic intelligence chief was appointed Wednesday to head the country's DGSE foreign espionage service made famous by the fictional hit series "The Bureau".

Hopes rose Wednesday that Israel and Hamas may be inching toward another truce and hostage release deal in the Gaza war, following secret talks and as the head of the Palestinian militant group visited Egypt.

Britain's top court ruled Wednesday that a Guantanamo detainee waterboarded by the CIA can use English law in his claim against the UK government over alleged complicity in the torture.

Survivors of China's deadliest earthquake in years huddled in makeshift aid tents despite freezing temperatures on Wednesday, too scared to return to homes made dangerous by the disaster.

A top EU court annulled on Wednesday the approval of a pandemic state aid programme for Air France-KLM that had been challenged by Irish rival Ryanair and Malta Air.

France's health minister resigned on Tuesday after the adoption of tough new immigration legislation backed by the far-right sparked an unprecedented rebellion within its ranks of President Emmanuel Macron's ruling party.

European stock markets wavered on Wednesday but London climbed and the pound sank as news of sharply slowing inflation stoked hopes of a Bank of England interest rate cut.

The European Union on Wednesday added three pornographic websites to its list of online platforms that are large enough to come under tougher safety regulation.

All is on track for African football's biennial showpiece, the Africa Cup of Nations, according to organisers in the Ivory Coast who are confident their security measures will prevent a repeat of the tragedy that overshadowed the 2022 edition in Cameroon.

Former Brazil football star Dani Alves will go on trial in Spain for allegedly raping a woman at a Barcelona nightclub in December 2022 between February 5-7, a Spanish court said Wednesday.

The EU on Wednesday agreed to an overhaul of its asylum laws that includes more border detention centres and speedier deportations, prompting migrant charities to slam the changes as "dangerous" and "cruel".

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday sought to restore unity to his centrist ruling party after the adoption of a tough immigration bill under pressure from the far right sparked an unprecedented rebellion within its ranks.

People in the Democratic Republic of Congo were voting Wednesday in a high-stakes general election, pitting the incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi against a fragmented opposition, while much of the east of the impoverished but mineral-rich country is mired in conflict.

Lawmakers in tightly-controlled Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday backed a proposal to modify the country's flag so that it will feature sun rays, arguing the move would boost the economy.

Nuno Espirito Santo has been appointed as the new manager of Nottingham Forest, the Premier League club announced Wednesday.

The leader of Hamas visited Egypt on Wednesday as hopes grew that Israel and the Palestinian militant group may be inching toward another truce and hostage release deal in the Gaza war.

An Indian court has weighed into one of the country's most bitter religious disagreements by greenlighting cases on whether a mosque in the holy city of Varanasi should be opened to Hindu worshippers.

It takes a while but slowly the children gathered around volunteer entertainer Ruaa Hassuna in a Gaza camp start clapping along as her music offers some respite from the horrors around them.

Britain's ruling Conservatives face another potentially bruising by-election early next year after voters in a central English constituency ousted its Tory lawmaker following his suspension from parliament over misconduct allegations.