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

Leo XIV tossed away the diplomatic tact usually required of popes as he began a state visit to Spain on Saturday, revealing that his footballing loyalties lie with Real Madrid.

An Israeli strike on a vehicle in southern Lebanon killed three soldiers, Beirut's military said Saturday, days after the countries agreed a conditional truce during talks in the United States.

Iran launched a salvo of missiles at US allies Bahrain and Kuwait on Saturday, after renewed American strikes, drawing a furious response from the Gulf monarchies and further undermining a fragile truce.

Championship leading teenager Kimi Antonelli bounced back to top the times for Mercedes ahead of both Ferraris in Saturday's final free practice ahead of qualifying at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Centuries by skipper Shubman Gill and KL Rahul led India to a commanding 368-3 on the first day of the one-off cricket Test against Afghanistan on Saturday.

Pope Leo XIV on Saturday called for an end to "polarising narratives" and "sterile simplifications" on a visit to Spain expected to focus on the divisive issue of immigration.

Alexander Zverev is hoping it will be fourth time lucky as he again targets a first Grand Slam title in Sunday's French Open final, facing Italian 10th seed Flavio Cobolli.

Rain prevented the scheduled start of the third day's play in the first Test at Lord's on Saturday as England looked to go 1-0 up in a three-match series against New Zealand.

Iran lashed out at the United States on Saturday for refusing visas to some of its World Cup squad support staff as the players were to leave Turkey for Mexico.

Ukraine fired hundreds of drones at Russia early Saturday, leaving one person dead and setting an oil depot ablaze on the final day of the country's flagship economic forum in Saint Petersburg, officials said.

Bernadette Chirac, who has died aged 93, stood by her late husband and French president Jacques Chirac through thick and thin during 12 years as first lady, but also forged her own, more discreet, political career.

Bernadette Chirac, widow of former French president Jacques Chirac and known as the discreet companion of one of France's key postwar politicians, died at the age of 93, their daughter told AFP Saturday.

Pope Leo XIV on Saturday said sexual abuse within the Catholic Church remained "an open wound" as he began a trip to Spain that will include a meeting with victims.

Opener KL Rahul and Sai Sudharsan hit half-centuries as India reached 209-2 at tea on the first day of the one-off cricket Test against Afghanistan on Saturday.

The Waikato Chiefs and Canterbury Crusaders powered to handsome Super Rugby play-off wins on Saturday to ensure four New Zealand teams will contest the semi-finals.

Peru's leftist presidential candidate Roberto Sanchez could stand trial over alleged campaign finance violations, a judge ruled Friday.

Fullback Johnny McNicholl scored a hat-trick of tries as the Canterbury Crusaders beat the ill-disciplined Auckland Blues 52-31 on Saturday to book a place in the Super Rugby semi-finals.

Indian police tightened security in New Delhi on Saturday ahead of a protest by the satirical "Cockroach People's Party", over alleged irregularities in major examinations.

Farmer Annalisa Schembri is battling to save a wheat field from developers in Malta, where a construction boom is engulfing lands and villages, with even historic UNESCO sites in jeopardy.

Australian Rules bosses condemned racist and obscene social media messages targeting a Sudanese-born player as "vile" on Saturday, pledging to investigate them.

San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama could barely remember the details of the late-game miscues that cost the Spurs in their agonizing 105-104 loss to the New York Knicks in game two of the NBA Finals on Friday.

New attacks in the Middle East on Friday threatened to unravel an already fragile US-Iran ceasefire, even as American officials confirmed that Tehran's football players had received visas for the World Cup.

Jalen Brunson drilled the go-ahead free throw as the New York Knicks held off a furious San Antonio rally to beat the Spurs 105-104 on Friday and take a commanding 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals.

In front of L'industrie Pizzeria, as at many other New York restaurants and shops, customers line up behind barriers -- in this case, all to grab a prized pizza slice.

World Cup co-hosts Canada were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw with Ireland on Friday despite dominating their final warm-up friendly before the tournament kicks off next week.

Pope Leo XIV heads to Spain on Saturday for a visit focused on immigration and social justice at a politically turbulent time for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

Airline executives descend on Rio this weekend to weigh the prospects for an industry grappling with geopolitical turbulence, soaring fuel costs and travellers wary of chasing sky-high ticket prices.

ACT Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham has apologised after their "embarrassing" Super Rugby playoff capitulation to the Wellington Hurricanes, admitting the team let down their fans.

World number one Nelly Korda roared back into contention at the US Women's Open, shooting a four-under par 67 in Friday's best round to sit just two strokes off the lead.

Nearly three years after a catastrophic storm tore through eastern Libya's port city of Derna killing almost 4,000 people the city is getting back on its feet, but the trauma persists.

Two elephants trudged across a makeshift football field at Mexico's Guadalajara Zoo in a whacky attempt to predict the score of the 2026 World Cup's opening game.

Lionel Messi has taken a step forward in his injury recovery and could play a few minutes in Argentina's upcoming friendlies before their World Cup opener, coach Lionel Scaloni said Friday.

FIFA said Friday it will allow fans to bring one "soft, plastic" disposable water bottle into World Cup venues after its ban on refillable bottles sparked an outcry.

JT Poston birdied six of the first eight holes and made two clutch putts late to grab a one-stroke lead after Friday's second round of the PGA Tour Memorial tournament.

The US CDC on Friday urged strong public health interventions against the current Ebola outbreak, citing their models that show it could otherwise rival the scale of the 2014 West Africa outbreak.

Coach Thomas Tuchel on Friday said World Cup hopefuls England will not use scorching heat and vast travel distances between venues as excuses as they target a "long" tournament campaign.

Peru's leftist presidential contender told AFP Friday that he wants "respectful" relations with US President Donald Trump, extending an olive branch ahead of Sunday's tight runoff election.

Alexia Putellas scored a brace as world champions Spain leapfrogged European champions England in Women's World Cup qualifying with a 4-0 thrashing in Mallorca on Friday.

Wall Street's key indices closed heavily in the red on Friday, hit by a massive sell-off in technology stocks following a recent surge driven by AI investment, and fears of US Fed rate hikes on the horizon.