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

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was to return to Brasilia on Thursday and his regular duties, after getting the go-ahead from his doctors following emergency head surgery, officials said.

The United States was staring down the barrel of a holiday-period government shutdown Thursday as a late-hour intervention by Donald Trump and Elon Musk threatened efforts in Congress to keep the lights on through the New Year.

A Romanian court on Thursday granted an appeal by controversial influencer Andrew Tate, refusing to put him on trial over human trafficking charges for now, and referring the case back to prosecutors.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have appointed Vitor Pereira as their new head coach, the Premier League strugglers announced Thursday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday he wanted to appeal to US President-elect Donald Trump on a human level to win him over against "crazy" Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he was ready for talks at "any time" with US President-elect Donald Trump, who has touted his ability to strike a Ukraine peace deal within hours of coming to office.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday that there was a "flame of hope" in Syria following the fall of president Bashar al-Assad's regime but warned of significant challenges ahead.

Wall Street stocks rebounded Thursday from sharp losses over the prospect of fewer US rate cuts next year despite the looming threat of a government shutdown.

Distraught and angry inhabitants of Mayotte shouted out their grievances to French President Emmanuel Macron Thursday, five days after the Indian Ocean archipelago was devastated by a cyclone.

Gisele Pelicot's ex-husband was jailed on Thursday for 20 years over her drugging and mass rape by strangers recruited online, in a case that shocked France and resonated around the world.

Valtteri Bottas will return to Mercedes next season as a reserve driver in the wake of Mick Schumacher's decision to leave, the constructor announced Thursday.

As Syrians pour out of prisons that Bashar al-Assad used to cement his grip on power, the Saudi-based family of one detainee is desperate for any news, even if it confirms their worst fears.

Sediqullah Atal scored his maiden one-day international century as Afghanistan crushed Zimbabwe by 232 runs in Harare on Thursday to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

A Paris court on Thursday sentenced a brother of France midfielder Paul Pogba to a three-year prison term, with two years suspended, after convicting him in a high-profile extortion case.

Pakistan's loss of several Champions Trophy matches underlines India's dominance of cricket -- and that "stranglehold" could tighten with an Indian now heading the global governing body.

Jim Ratcliffe has increased his stake in Manchester United to nearly 29 percent after completing the cash injection he promised when purchasing a minority share of the Premier League club.

Thousands of workers at Amazon facilities across the United States went on strike Thursday, the Teamsters Union said, halting work at the height of the busy holiday gift-giving season.

His loved ones knew him as a devoted family man. But he had for years been recruiting dozens of strangers to rape his drugged wife without her knowledge.

Distraught and angry inhabitants of Mayotte shouted out their despair to French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, five days after the Indian Ocean archipelago was devastated by a cyclone, with lacking water and food, and fear of looting topping the grievances.

Israel on Thursday faced accusations of "acts of genocide" in Gaza, a charge it denounced as full of "lies", while a medical charity said the devastation caused in the Palestinian territory showed "signs of ethnic cleansing".

Roy Keane believes leaving Manchester United could do Marcus Rashford the "world of good" as he fears the forward will never regain his hunger at Old Trafford.

Denmark's foreign minister said Thursday that he expected a Chinese ship, anchored off the Danish coast and linked to two severed undersea cables, would be able to leave once an inspection which included four countries was completed.

The Bank of England on Thursday kept its key interest rate at 4.75 percent, deciding against a cut in line with the US Federal Reserve, as UK inflation rises again.

A European operation has spared revellers a potential food poisoning nightmare before Christmas, seizing 30 tonnes of molluscs illegally fished in polluted waters and arresting 62 suspects, authorities said on Thursday.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has warned there will be no quick fix as pre-season signing Federico Chiesa looks to regain his best form following a lengthy injury lay-off.

Monaco's Wilfried Singo apologised to Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma on Thursday after the Italian suffered a gruesome facial injury as a result of a collision between the two during a Ligue 1 match.

Jack Draper confirmed Thursday he has withdrawn from both the United Cup and Great Britain's Davis Cup clash with Japan because of a hip injury.

President Joe Biden's administration on Thursday unveiled a new climate target under the landmark Paris accord, just weeks before Donald Trump's return to the White House threatens to upend US efforts to combat global warming.

Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior says his previous career as a perfume salesman taught him how to sell, a valuable lesson he could use if he emulates his father in becoming president of the International Olympic Committee.

The US-based Friedkin Group have completed the takeover of Everton, the Premier League club announced Thursday.

European and Asian stock markets slid Thursday following sharp losses on Wall Street as the Federal Reserve signalled fewer cuts to US interest rates next year.

India will play next year's Champions Trophy matches on neutral ground after refusing to visit tournament host and arch-rival Pakistan, the International Cricket Council said Thursday following weeks of wrangling.

Harry Kane is set to return to the Bayern Munich group before the Bundesliga leader's host RB Leipzig on Friday knowing anything but a win could mean they have little to show for a strong start under new coach Vincent Kompany.

Tyson Fury will be fighting for his legacy and revenge as well as three heavyweight belts in his rematch against the superlative Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday.

Myanmar's junta-appointed foreign minister briefed officials from five neighbouring countries on the military's repeatedly delayed plans to hold elections, Thailand's foreign minister said on Thursday.

Major US weapons manufacturers including Boeing and Lockheed Martin, along with Europe's Airbus and Chinese firms, put their wares on show at an arms fair in Hanoi Thursday as Vietnam looks to diversify its defence supplies away from Russia.

New Zealander Liam Lawson will race for Red Bull alongside world champion Max Verstappen next season after the decision to drop Sergio Perez, the Formula One team confirmed Thursday.

A court on Thursday sentenced a French man to the maximum term of 20 years jail for committing and orchestrating the mass rapes of his now former wife Gisele Pelicot with dozens of strangers he recruited online.

The Pentagon has released its annual congressionally mandated report on China's military and security developments.