Spanish super-sub Mikel Merino said Friday that neutralising the threat of Lionel Messi will be a "huge challenge" as La Roja prepare for their World Cup final showdown against Argentina.
Southern Mexico and parts of Central America were hit by a 7.3 magnitude earthquake on Friday, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS), with a tsunami alert issued for a stretch of the Pacific coast.
Argentine football players know how to suffer, experts and fans believe, as the South American nation sets its sights on a second consecutive World Cup title.
Boulevard
A Nigerian court Friday dismissed a lawsuit by a traditional monarch in the oil-rich delta region seeking to halt Shell's plan to offload its onshore assets over accusations of decades of environmental pollution.
July 17, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Tokyo and Taipei stock markets led a fresh selloff of technology shares Friday, as concerns that the sector had been overbought in recent months intensified.
July 17, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Spanish elan meets Argentinian steel in a historic World Cup final on Sunday which sees the reigning champions of Europe and South America battle for football's ultimate prize.
July 17, 2026
Swiss rider Mauro Schmid beat Colombian Harold Tejada in a two-man sprint finish to win the 13th and longest stage of the Tour de France on Friday.
July 17, 2026
A landslide in southwest China killed at least eight people and left 34 missing on Friday, local authorities said, with Chinese President Xi Jinping urging comprehensive inspections as rescue efforts were ongoing.
July 17, 2026
Sports
Neymar returns to his home club Santos Friday with only a few months left in his contract and questions over his future after indicating he would no longer play for Brazil following the country's World Cup disappointment.
July 17, 2026
RECENT NEWS
France said Friday it was blocking access to the online prediction market Polymarket, as punters continued to make bets despite a ban already in place.
Dense wildfire smoke billowing down from Canada set off unhealthy air quality alerts across the United States again Friday, fomenting concern over the weekend's World Cup final outside New York.
Karsten Warholm on Saturday returns to the London Stadium where he won his first 400 metres hurdles world title in 2017, sparking riotous celebrations he has vowed not to repeat.
A Russian court fined anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin $13 on Friday for displaying "extremist symbols", delivering the verdict moments after paramedics performed a cardiogram on him in court for extreme high blood pressure.
July 17, 2026
Sports
Lucas Herbert stormed into the lead at the British Open on Friday after the Australian and American Sam Burns equalled the record for the lowest round in major golf history on Friday with eight-under par 62s.
July 17, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Britain's charities regulator is looking into concerns about an Amnesty International report that branded a women's centre for sexual violence victims founded by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling as "anti-rights".
Australia's Lucas Herbert equalled the record for the lowest round in major golf history with an eight-under par 62 to storm into the lead at the British Open on Friday.
Max Verstappen topped the times for Red Bull ahead of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton in Friday's sunny opening free practice ahead of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix.
Andy Burnham vowed Friday to "give hope" back to the British people as he was confirmed as the ruling Labour party's new leader, set to be the next UK prime minister.
July 17, 2026
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