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

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka wouldn't be blown off course in her return to Indian Wells, outlasting Sloane Stephens 3-6-, 6-1, 6-2 in a blockbuster first-round clash.

Asian markets sank Friday as traders resumed their Ukraine-fuelled selling after the previous day's bounce, with data showing US inflation at a 40-year high adding pressure on the Federal Reserve to ramp up interest rates.

People in Japan's northeast offered prayers and carried out searches for the missing on Friday, 11 years after an earthquake and tsunami left 18,500 people dead or unaccounted for and triggered a devastating nuclear meltdown in Fukushima.

Facebook has temporarily eased its policy on violent speech after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, allowing statements like "death to Russian invaders" but not credible threats against civilians, the tech giant said Thursday.

As much of the West seeks to isolate Russia after it invaded Ukraine, experts say Moscow is boosting relations with its longtime African ally Sudan, eyeing its gold wealth and strategic location.

Friday marks two years to the day since the World Health Organization first described Covid-19 as a pandemic, shaking countries into action as the disease ripped around the planet.

Lea and Keks are among the latest refugees arriving in Poland from war-torn Ukraine, both jumping at their master's feet and visibly relieved after crossing the border.

Ministers from Northern Ireland's five main political parties are on Friday to issue a public apology for historical, institutional abuses in children's homes after years of delays.

Eleven years after a devastating tsunami hit Japan's northeast, thousands of workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant are involved in the complex and decades-long process of decommissioning the site.

US actor Jussie Smollett was sentenced to almost five months in prison Thursday after being found guilty of falsely telling police he was the victim of a racist and homophobic hate crime in 2019 -- an attack prosecutors said he himself staged.

A Lima zoo announced Thursday the birth in captivity of four American crocodiles, an endangered species, after a successful artificial incubation.

Colombians vote Sunday to draw up a shortlist of presidential candidates for elections in May while also electing the 296 members of its Congress.

The Apollo missions to the Moon brought a total of 2,196 rock samples to Earth. But NASA has only just started opening one of the last ones, collected 50 years ago.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka outlasted Sloane Stephens 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 in a tough first-round encounter at the Indian Wells WTA and ATP Masters on Thursday.

Major League Baseball and the MLB players union reached agreement on a new five-year labor deal on Thursday, setting the stage for a delayed start to the 2022 season next month.

Russia and Ukraine failed to make a breakthrough Thursday in their first top-level talks since Moscow's invasion two weeks ago, as Russian forces advanced on Kyiv and faced new accusations they attacked a humanitarian corridor into Mariupol.

Rain and thunderstorms wreaked havoc at the PGA Tour's Players Championship in Florida on Thursday, with a long delay that kept some players from even teeing off before darkness halted the opening round.

Two recent missile tests conducted by North Korea were of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system, the Pentagon said Thursday, marking what one US official called a "serious escalation" that will be punished with fresh sanctions.

Facebook said Thursday that due to the invasion of Ukraine it has temporarily eased its rules regarding violent speech to allow statements like "death to Russian invaders," but not credible threats against civilians.

Thomas Tuchel has vowed Chelsea will not be destroyed by the sanctions on Blues owner Roman Abramovich that plunged the European champions into turmoil before their 3-1 win at Norwich on Thursday.

Nkrumah Bonner's considerable reserves of patience and determination paid off with an invaluable second Test century as the West Indies closed the third day of the first Test against England at 373 for nine at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Thursday.

The IMF expects to cut its global growth estimate due to the economic damage caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Thursday.

The US State Department on Thursday ruled out proposals to send MiG fighter jets to Ukraine via an American base, saying Kyiv's efforts to repel the Russian invasion would be better served by the supply of ground-based weapons.

Barcelona stumbled to a goalless draw with Galatasaray in their Europa League last-16 first leg at the Camp Nou on Thursday, while Rangers cruised into a 3-0 lead in their tie against Red Star Belgrade.

Twelve Cubans who took part in unprecedented anti-government protests last July were sentenced to between five and 16 years in prison, convicted of sabotage, public disorder and theft, the Supreme Court said on Thursday.

Twelve Cubans who took part in unprecedented anti-government protests last July were sentenced to between five and 16 years in prison, convicted of sabotage, public disorder and theft, the Supreme Court said on Thursday.

A Canadian restaurant chain that specializes in a local delicacy of fries smothered in gravy and cheese curds has dropped from its menu a variety named after Russia's president over the war in Ukraine, it said Thursday.

Rafael Nadal called for tougher sanctions against players who abuse tennis officials on Thursday in the wake of the controversial suspended sentence handed down to Alexander Zverev.

Chelsea showed they can cope amid the Roman Abramovich turmoil as they won 3-1 against Norwich just hours after their Russian owner was sanctioned by the British Government, while Leeds plunged deeper into relegation trouble on Thursday.

Two recent missile tests conducted by North Korea were of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system, marking a "serious escalation" by Pyongyang that will be punished with fresh sanctions, a senior US official said Thursday

Survivors of opioid abuse and relatives of victims delivered emotional and stinging rebukes on Thursday to members of the Sackler family, owners of Purdue Pharma, accused of fueling the US addiction crisis.

With the war in Ukraine causing oil prices to soar, US President Joe Biden's administration is treading a fine line between staying true to its commitment to clean energy, while seeking to ramp up petroleum production.