Rugby legend McCaw hails 'spectacular' NZ stadium built after deadly quake
Mideast war drives up condom, rubber glove prices: manufacturers
Gulf states in limbo as US-Iran crisis drags on
Liverpool's Slot warns 'margins are small' in Champions League push
Economy
China's top AI players
China's artificial intelligence boom is in full swing, with the release of a new large language model (LLM) by top startup DeepSeek on Friday highlighting the country's rapid progress despite US export restrictions on advanced microchips.
Technology
Five things to know about Chinese AI startup DeepSeek
As DeepSeek releases its first major new artificial intelligence model in over a year -- DeepSeek-V4 -- here are five things to know about the Chinese startup:
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Politics
Possible Trump rescue of Spirit Airlines spurs debate
Bargain US carrier Spirit Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy in 2025 for the second time in a year, could be spared by a controversial potential White House rescue package.
Nature
Wild Balkan berries keep gin taste steady as climate shifts
As he threaded his way through the scrub in Serbia's southern hills, Slobodan Velickovic stopped to inspect the small indigo berries that have made the Balkans a key part of the global gin industry.
Politics
Mass MS-13 trial held at El Salvador mega-jail
Hundreds of alleged Mara Salvatrucha gang members sat chained, shaved and mute as they were accused of murder and torture during a mass trial at El Salvador's notorious CECOT jail, AFP reporters witnessed Thursday.
Sports
Barcelona must live without teen star Yamal for title run-in
With teenage star Lamine Yamal out injured for the rest of the season Barcelona visit Getafe on Saturday in La Liga looking for ways to cope without him and protect a nine-point lead on Real Madrid in the Spanish title race.
Sports
Hearts lead Old Firm as Scottish title race heads for tense finale
Hearts lead a thrilling three-way battle for the Scottish Premiership, with the 41-year dominance of Celtic and Rangers under threat going into the final five games of the season.
Politics
India criticizes 'poor taste' Trump post against immigrants
India on Thursday criticized as inappropriate a post by US President Donald Trump that called the South Asian country a "hellhole."
Economy
China's DeepSeek says releases long-awaited new AI model
Chinese startup DeepSeek released "preview" versions of a new artificial intelligence model Friday, more than a year after it stunned the world with a low-cost reasoning model that matched the capabilities of US rivals.
Sports
Hawks fend off Knicks, Raptors pull away from Cavs to cut deficit
CJ McCollum hit the game-winner with 12.5 seconds remaining as the Atlanta Hawks pulled off another nail-biting victory over New York to take a 2-1 lead in their NBA first-round playoff series on Thursday.
Boulevard
Wildfires spread towards northern Japan town
Flames from raging wildfires in northern Japan were spreading towards the centre of a town Friday, with authorities urging more than 2,500 people to evacuate their homes, media reports and the government said.
Politics
Israel, Lebanon extend ceasefire as Iran peace talks stall
Israel and Lebanon extended a shaky ceasefire by three weeks, President Donald Trump said Thursday, as the United States remained at a standstill in negotiations with Iran to end the Middle East war.
Technology
'Clearly me': AI drama accused of stealing faces
Christine Li is a model and influencer, but not an actor, so when she saw herself playing a cruel character in a Chinese microdrama she felt bewildered, then angry and afraid.
Culture
Soviet architecture vanishes as Central Asia drifts from Moscow
On the facade of an apartment block in Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe, a giant mosaic depicting cosmonauts and engineers celebrates the scientific triumphs of the Soviet Union.
Economy
Oil extends gains, stocks sink as peace talk hopes fade
Oil prices extended gains Friday and stocks struggled as investors worried about a lack of progress in ending the Middle East crisis, with Tehran keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed and the US maintaining a blockade of Iranian ports.
Sports
'Raw and honest': India climbers face obstacles in race to the top
Blink and you might miss Indian speed climber Deepu Mallesh scaling a wall five buses high in five seconds.
Sports
Cowgirls of Philippine rodeo tackle steers, stereotypes
The loop of Rizza Matutino's lasso sat atop the steer's head for what felt like forever.
Culture
'Godzilla Minus Zero' will show monster up close, director says
Godzilla will be closer to audiences than ever before in "Godzilla Minus Zero," the film's Japanese director said.
Nature
'Stigmatized' or 'sustainable'? Vintage sales boost sees fur return
Laura Jacobs thought she'd never wear animal fur, having witnessed years of protests over its use in clothing -- until suddenly she started spotting it all over New York.
Technology
YouTube offers deepfake detection to Hollywood
YouTube is offering Hollywood celebrities and entertainers a free detection tool to help combat their deepfakes, expanding the Google-owned video platform's efforts to guard against AI-driven impersonations.
Politics
US soldier allegedly bet on Maduro operation using intel
A US soldier faces charges for using classified information to bet on online prediction markets related to the US operation to capture former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, the Department of Justice said Thursday.
Politics
Bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales set to fail
A contentious bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales was set to fail Friday after running out of parliamentary time, having been stuck in the UK's unelected upper house.
Sports
Arsenal eye return to top spot, Spurs fight for survival
Arsenal can reclaim the Premier League summit this weekend as in-form Manchester City focus on the FA Cup, while Tottenham and West Ham battle to avoid the final relegation spot.
Politics
Child vaccine catch-up drive on course to hit target: UN
The United Nations on Friday said a three-year effort to immunise children who missed routine vaccinations due to the Covid-19 crisis was on course to reach the 21 million target.
Economy
Chinese EVs geared up to dominate world's biggest auto show
The world's biggest car show opens Friday in Beijing, with hundreds of thousands of auto fans expected to descend on the Chinese capital to size up the latest sleek, teched-out models on the market.
Sports
No.2 Korda fires 65 to grab LPGA Chevron lead
Second-ranked Nelly Korda fired a bogey-free seven-under par 65 to seize a two-stroke lead after Thursday's opening round of the LPGA Chevron Championship, the year's first major women's event.
Sports
Raiders take quarterback Mendoza with No. 1 NFL draft pick
The Las Vegas Raiders took quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the number one pick in the NFL draft on Thursday, hoping the Heisman Trophy winner can help revive a franchise that has missed the playoffs for the past four seasons.
Culture
Lebanon leaders accuse Israel of war crime after journalist killed
Lebanon's leaders accused Israel on Thursday of committing a war crime, after an airstrike killed a Lebanese journalist in the country's south, with the Israeli army saying it was reviewing the incident.
Politics
Stuffed toys in US capital symbolize displaced Ukrainian children
In the heart of the US capital, a fence stands adorned with 20,000 teddy bears to represent the Ukrainian children who, according to Kyiv, have been abducted by invading Russia, as war rages on.
Sports
Lakers' Reaves could return for game three against Rockets
The Los Angeles Lakers, up 2-0 on the Phoenix Suns in their first-round NBA playoff series, could have Austin Reaves back from injury in game three.
Sports
US says Iran players welcome at World Cup amid Italy uproar
Iran's footballers will be welcome at this year's World Cup, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday, distancing the US government from a proposal that Italy could take their place in the tournament.
Sports
Images of dead Maradona rock trial of medical team
Shock images of Argentine football icon Diego Maradona lying dead in bed, his stomach grotesquely swollen, rocked the negligence trial of his medical team on Thursday.
Politics
US invites Putin to G20 summit but Trump doubts he'll come
The United States will invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to a G20 summit in Miami, a US official said Thursday, but President Donald Trump said he doubted his counterpart would come.
Politics
Israel, Lebanon extend ceasefire as Trump hopes for historic deal
Israel and Lebanon on Thursday extended a shaky ceasefire by three weeks, President Donald Trump announced Thursday, as he voiced hope for a historic three-way meeting soon and a potential peace deal.
Politics
G20 summit invites to include Russia: US official
An invitation to the December G20 summit in the United States will be sent to Russia as a member of the organization, a senior US official said Thursday.
Sports
Last-gasp Tomas stunner sends Stuttgart into German Cup final
Tiago Tomas' stunning 119th-minute back-heel sent Stuttgart to a German Cup final meeting with Bayern Munich after a 2-1 extra-time home win over Freiburg on Thursday.
Sports
Rights groups warn World Cup visitors over US travel
More than 120 rights groups including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) issued a travel advisory on Thursday warning that visitors to the 2026 World Cup could face "serious rights violations" due to the US government's immigration policies.
Economy
Intel earnings signal recovery at US chip maker
Shares in Intel soared on Thursday after it smashed quarterly earnings expectations in what could be a sign that the US chip maker is on a path to recovery.
Politics
Trump rules out striking Iran with nuclear weapon
US President Donald Trump on Thursday ruled out striking Iran with a nuclear weapon, after his previous threats to completely destroy Iranian civilization.
Economy
Stocks mostly fall as US-Iran peace talks stall and oil prices rise
Global stocks mostly fell Thursday, retreating after recent gains as investors tempered their enthusiasm for a quick end to the Middle East war.
Economy
Meta plans 10% layoffs as AI spending soars: source
Meta plans to cut a tenth of its workforce, looking for productivity gains from its remaining workers as it invests heavily in artificial intelligence.