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

Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso confirmed Friday he will leave the club at the end of the season, amid reports linking him to Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Enzo Maresca has backed Chelsea's revitalised midfield to make the difference in Sunday's crucial clash with top five rivals Newcastle.

Carlos Alcaraz kicked off his bid for a first Italian Open title by cruising past Serbian qualifier Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-3 in Rome on Friday.

Switzerland will once again Friday try to talk its way out of punitive tariffs on its exports to the United States, which would have serious ramifications for Swiss jobs and businesses.

Ruben Amorim admits Manchester United have "so many problems" and deserve criticism despite storming into the Europa League final with a 7-1 aggregate victory over Athletic Bilbao.

One of the most pressing issues facing Pope Leo XIV is tackling sexual abuse by clergy in the Catholic Church -- and campaigners say he has a mixed record.

Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso confirmed Friday he will leave the club at the end of the season, amid reports linking him to Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Serbian students leading an anti-corruption movement that has rocked the Balkan country for months maintained the pressure Friday with a march in the western city of Loznica -- the first major protest since their call for early elections.

Ukraine's EU allies on Friday endorsed the creation of a tribunal to try Russia's top leaders over the invasion, as Kyiv pushes for Vladimir Putin himself to be brought to justice.

An English court found two men guilty on Friday of the "deliberate and mindless" felling of one of the UK's most iconic trees, an incident that sparked national outrage.

Germany's Friedrich Merz made clear Friday that Berlin was back at the European top table, ready to help steer the bloc at a time of dizzying challenges, as the new chancellor made his maiden visit to Brussels.

When Pope Leo XIV walked out onto the balcony of St Peter's Basilica, few among the crowd gathered below had much of an idea of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost the man.

Mohamed Salah won the Football Writers' Association Player of the Year award for the third time on Friday after inspiring Liverpool's march to a record-equalling 20th English title.

Pakistan charged India Friday with bringing the nuclear-armed neighbours "closer to a major conflict", as the death toll from three days of missile, artillery and drone attacks passed 50.

Major stock markets mostly rose Friday, with Frankfurt's DAX hitting a record high, on growing optimism that tariff tensions will ease.

Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed Moscow will be victorious in Ukraine as the Soviet Union was in WWII, rallying Russians to support troops at Moscow's grand Red Square military parade in front of his key allies on Friday.

Eddie Howe has challenged Newcastle to meet his expectations by qualifying for the Champions League.

Mohammad Naseem says his neighbours laughed when he borrowed money and built a concrete bunker under his home in a village near the disputed Kashmir border.

Leo XIV urged the Catholic Church to "desperately" counter a lack of faith in his first homily as pope Friday, a day after the modest cardinal largely unknown to the world become the first US head of the 2,000-year institution.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has warned excessive transfer fees could prevent him from signing a tailor-made replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold.

IAG, owner of British Airways and Spanish carrier Iberia, announced Friday a multi-billion dollar order for Boeing and Airbus planes, as it maintained its outlook despite economic uncertainty.

The Indian Premier League, the richest tournament in cricket, was suspended for one week on Friday because of the conflict between New Delhi and Pakistan.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot said Friday everyone at the club is "disappointed" by Trent Alexander-Arnold's decision to leave Anfield at the end of the season.

Leo XIV celebrated his first mass as pope on Friday, the day after becoming the first US head of the Catholic Church, with the world's eyes watching for signs of what kind of leader he will be.

The death toll from India and Pakistan's biggest clashes in decades passed 50 on Friday with each country accusing the other of sending waves of drone attacks.

Japanese electronics giant Panasonic, which supplies batteries to Tesla, said Friday it will target 10,000 job cuts worldwide as part of efforts to boost profitability.

Russian President Vladimir Putin evoked the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany to rally his country round the Ukraine offensive at a grand military parade in Moscow in front of his key allies on Friday.

Chinese exports rose last month despite the trade war raging with the United States, official data showed Friday ahead of talks between the world's top two economies towards easing the standoff.

Pope Leo XIV will celebrate mass Friday, the day after becoming the first US head of the Catholic Church, with the world watching for signs of what kind of pope he will be.

Most equities rose Friday on growing optimism that the worst of Donald Trump's trade war is past after he reached a deal with Britain and suggested he could lower tariffs on China as officials prepare for high-stakes talks this weekend.

The Indian Premier League has been suspended indefinitely because of the heightened border tensions between New Delhi and Pakistan, Indian media reported Friday.

German lender Commerzbank on Friday reported its best quarterly profit since 2011, ahead of a key shareholder meeting where it will seek to rally support to fend off advances from Italy's UniCredit.

Joyce Lokonyi sits on an upturned bucket, fingers weaving palm fronds as the wind pulls her dress to expose the stump of her amputated foot, lost to a little-known disease ravaging Kenya's poorest county.

India said Friday it had repulsed a wave of Pakistani drone and artillery attacks overnight, and Islamabad insisted it had not struck targets across the border, as the latest conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours showed no signs of relenting.

Zhao Xintong's historic World Snooker Championship title is set to spur the game to even greater heights in China and sparked predictions the country could come to dominate the sport.

Germany's Friedrich Merz makes his maiden trip to Brussels Friday with expectations riding high that the changing of the guard in Berlin can bring fresh momentum to Europe at a time of dizzying global challenges.

An Australian woman accused of triple murder with a toxic mushroom-laced beef Wellington had rarely invited her four guests to eat at her home before, a court heard Friday.

China said Friday sales to the United States slumped last month while its total exports topped forecasts, as Beijing fought a gruelling trade war with its superpower rival.

Indian cricket will decide on Friday what happens to the rest of the IPL season, a senior official said, after deadly confrontations between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan.