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

A team of international observers on Monday slammed Serbian elections over a string of "irregularities", including "vote buying" and "ballot box stuffing", after the opposition accused the ruling party of committing voter fraud.

Oil prices shot up nearly three percent Monday as more companies suspended shipping through the Red Sea following attacks on vessels by Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels.

Blue Origin is set Monday to launch its New Shepard rocket for the first time since an uncrewed crash more than a year ago, a mission that is critical in reviving the fortunes of Jeff Bezos' space company.

Marco Odermatt powered to his third straight giant slalom win this season, extending his overall World Cup lead after dominating in Alta Badia on Monday.

Champions League-winning coach Jonatan Giraldez will leave his role at Barcelona Women at the end of the season, the Catalan club announced Monday.

The EU announced "formal infringement proceedings" against Elon Musk's X platform on Monday, under a law cracking down on illegal online content, after identifying disinformation related to Hamas's October 7 attack in Israel.

Last season's Europa League runners-up Roma will meet Feyenoord in a third campaign in a row after the teams were drawn together in the knockout round play-offs on Monday.

AFP Sport takes a look at each tie after Monday's draw for the last 16 of this season's UEFA Champions League:

A United Nations rights expert said on Monday the "enforced disappearance" of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was alarming, and demanded that Moscow release him immediately.

Eight people have been killed after a powerful explosion at the main fuel depot in Guinea followed by a fire that rocked the centre of the capital Conakry early on Monday.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic looked poised to tighten his grip on power Monday after his party secured a parliamentary majority with a dominating victory at the polls, even as the opposition called for protests.

Holders Manchester City were handed a tie against FC Copenhagen in Monday's draw for the Champions League last 16, from which the meeting of last season's runners-up Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid appears the standout tie.

Victor Osimhen followed up being voted African Player of the Year by scoring for Napoli in a 2-1 Serie A victory over Cagliari at the weekend.

Major stock markets mostly fell Monday following last week's rally, with Federal Reserve officials looking to temper expectations the US central bank will cut interest rates several times next year.

Israel kept up heavy bombing of Gaza on Monday as it faced accusations from a human rights group that it is deliberately starving Palestinians in its campaign sparked by the October 7 Hamas attacks.

Algerian international footballer Youcef Atal goes on trial in France Monday accused of inciting hatred after posting a video in which a Palestinian preacher purportedly threatens Israel with a "black day".

Pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai went on trial in Hong Kong Monday on national security charges that could see him jailed for life, with the United States and Britain demanding his release.

Artificial intelligence allowed Pakistan's ex-prime minister Imran Khan to campaign from behind bars on Monday, with a voice clone of the opposition leader giving an impassioned speech on his behalf.

A United Nations rights expert said Monday that the "enforced disappearance" of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was alarming, demanding that Moscow immediately release him.

The chairwoman of major property developer Van Thinh Phat will go on trial in Vietnam, accused with accomplices of embezzling $12.5 billion from a bank "for personal purposes", the official government website said.

Kenya and the European Union on Monday signed a long-negotiated trade agreement to increase the flow of goods between the two markets, as Brussels pursues stronger economic ties with Africa.

Stock markets fell Monday as traders took a step back following last week's rally, with Federal Reserve officials looking to temper expectations the US central bank will cut interest rates several times next year.

Pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai went on trial in Hong Kong Monday on national security charges that could see him jailed for life, with the United States and Britain demanding his release.

Asian markets fell Monday as traders took a step back following last week's rally, with Federal Reserve officials looking to temper expectations the US central bank will cut interest rates several times next year.

North Korea on Monday test-fired its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile that has the potential to reach the United States, extending a record-breaking number of weapons tests this year and triggering further international condemnation.

Hamas has been the focus of a relentless Israeli onslaught in Gaza but with resilient and diverse finances, it is expected to have a significant war chest at its disposal as the conflict drags on.

On a hillside overlooking cabbage fields outside the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai, a drone's rotors begin to whir, lifting it over a patch of forest.

Some of the world's top cricketers will go under the hammer in Dubai on Tuesday in the next auction for the lucrative Indian Premier League.

Former Formula One world champion Jenson Button says his old teammate Lewis Hamilton needs "the right car" to return to the front of the grid next season with Red Bull favourites again to clean up in 2024.

Stranded residents sheltered on a hospital roof as flash floods swamped northeastern Australia on Monday, with raging waters severing roads and flushing crocodiles into towns.

Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen made NFL history to ignite the Bills' 31-10 rout of Dallas on Sunday to snap a five-game win streak even as the Cowboys clinched a playoff berth.

Israel faced mounting international pressure Monday over the rising civilian death toll and destruction of hospitals in Gaza, as it pressed on with its war against Hamas militants in the besieged Palestinian territory.