Pope Leo XIV arrives on Saturday in Angola, the third leg of a landmark African tour marked by a war of words with US President Donald Trump over the Middle East conflict.
Tehran on Saturday threatened to shut the Strait of Hormuz once more if the United States continues its blockade of Iranian ports, hours after the key waterway was reopened in the wake of a ceasefire deal in Lebanon.
Former champion Matt Fitzpatrick fired a bogey-free eight-under-par 63 on Friday to surge to a one-stroke lead over Victor Hovland at the US PGA Tour RBC Heritage.
- Andreeva sinks Swiatek to meet top seed Rybakina in Stuttgart semis
- Carrick won't rule out Rashford return to Man Utd
Sports
Frank Lampard has silenced his critics by leading Coventry into the Premier League for the first time in 25 years, masterminding a promotion-winning campaign that rehabilitated the former Chelsea star's managerial reputation.
April 17, 2026
RECENT NEWS
US President Donald Trump told AFP on Friday there were "no sticking points" left for a peace deal with Iran, which he said was "very close" as Tehran declared the Strait of Hormuz open to commercial shipping.
April 17, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Detroit are tuning out the naysayers who tip the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks or even fourth-seeded Cleveland to beat the top-seeded Pistons to the NBA Eastern Conference crown.
April 17, 2026
Teenage Mirra Andreeva came from a set down to stun Iga Swiatek and reach the semi-finals of the WTA clay-court tournament in Stuttgart on Friday.
April 17, 2026
Pope Leo XIV on Friday warned that the AI boom could fuel "conflict, fear and violence" while on a trip to Cameroon marked by his ongoing spat with US President Donald Trump.
April 17, 2026
Boulevard
Alejandrina Guasorna did not discover until adulthood that she had been subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM) the day she was born in a remote Indigenous community in Colombia's coffee-growing region.
April 17, 2026
RECENT NEWS
UEFA on Friday opened disciplinary proceedings after several photographers were injured when fans stormed over barriers at the end of Wednesday's quarter-final between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in Germany.
US President Donald Trump told AFP on Friday there were "no sticking points" left for a peace deal with Iran, which he said was "very close" as Tehran declared the Strait of Hormuz open to commercial shipping.
US President Donald Trump signaled Friday that an Iran peace deal was all but done, telling AFP there were "no sticking points" left between Washington and Tehran.
Shipping industry figures gave a cautious welcome Friday to Iran's announcement that it was reopening the crucial Strait of Hormuz trade route to commercial freight after nearly seven weeks closed.
April 17, 2026
Politics
France and Britain said Friday they will lead a multinational mission to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, while emphasising the force would be entirely defensive and only deployed once lasting peace in the region was agreed.
April 17, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Arthur Fils defeated second seed Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-4 on Friday to reach the Barcelona Open semi-finals.
Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann said he is soaking up all the small moments he can during his last weeks at the club, ahead of the Copa del Rey final on Saturday.
A Kanye West concert scheduled to take place in a stadium in Poland in June was cancelled by the venue on Friday, following condemnation of antisemitic remarks by the US rapper.
Lille midfielder Nabil Bentaleb faces a spell on the sidelines after underdoing "minor surgery" to treat an infection, his club said on Friday.
April 17, 2026
- Oil plunges, stocks jump as Iran declares Hormuz open
- Trump signals Iran deal near, hails 'brilliant day for world'
- Zverev fights past Cerundolo to reach Munich semis
- France, UK to lead multinational Hormuz mission
- Vondrousova in trouble after shutting door on doping officer
- Stranded seafarers endure costly path home from Gulf
- Iran declares Hormuz open as Lebanon ceasefire begins
- Pope Leo comes into his own with Trump spat