Alcaraz, Medvedev win Beijing openers as world no. 595 scores upset
UK clears $4 bn AI partnership between Amazon, Anthropic
Barca fans barred from Champions League away game over racist banner
60 'survivors' accuse ex-Harrods boss Al-Fayed of sex abuse: lawyers
Culture
Maneskin's Damiano David releases first solo song
Damiano David, lead singer of Italian rock band and Eurovision winner Maneskin, released his first solo track Friday, sparking fears among fans that the group might be about to split.
Economy
Chinese stocks extend surge, Europe higher on Beijing stimulus
Hong Kong and Shanghai stock markets soared again Friday with the latter index recording its strongest weekly gain in 16 years on hopes China would unveil yet more measures to boost its flagging economy.
Last news
US returns to Iran latest batch of ancient clay tablets
The United States has returned to Iran more than 1,000 clay tablets dating from the Achaemenid-era, official media said, reporting the sixth such handover of its kind.
Trump to meet Zelensky after tensions over Ukraine war
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky will sit down for a potentially fractious meeting Friday, following a series of scathing attacks by the White House hopeful on the Ukrainian president's handling of the conflict with Russia.
US officials warn weakening storm Helene still 'dangerous'
Helene weakened to a tropical storm Friday hours after it made landfall as a powerful hurricane in the US state of Florida, with officials warning the deadly storm remained "dangerous" as it surged inland, leaving flooded roads and homes in its wake.
Afghan embassy in UK shutters after Taliban cuts ties
Afghanistan's embassy in London closed on Friday after Taliban authorities cut ties with diplomatic missions set up by the previous government in Kabul and fired its UK staff.
'No ego' before Alonso clash, says Bayern boss Kompany
Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany on Friday laughed off suggestions Saturday's match with Bayer Leverkusen was a personal showdown with visiting opposite number Xabi Alonso.
French rape trial sparks timid debate about masculinity
The trial of a man who drugged his wife to have her raped by dozens of strangers for almost a decade has ignited a quiet discussion around masculinity in France.
Pope says Church must 'seek forgiveness' for child sexual abuse
Pope Francis said Friday that the Catholic Church must "seek forgiveness" over the "scourge" of child sexual abuse, during a visit to Belgium where the Church's dark past looms large.
UK watchdog bans Naomi Campbell from running charity over 'misconduct'
Former supermodel Naomi Campbell has been barred from running a charity after an inquiry found funds raised by an organisation she founded had been spent on spa treatment and room service charges.
Former defence minister Ishiba to be Japan's PM
Former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba will become Japan's prime minister next week after winning the conservative ruling party's leadership vote on Friday.
Israel, Hezbollah exchange fire after truce bid fails
Israel and Hezbollah traded fire Friday after the United States and its allies failed to secure a halt in clashes that have killed more than 700 people in Lebanon this week.
Alcaraz, Medvedev win Beijing openers as Zhang scores big upset
Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev both won in straight sets to start their China Open title bids Friday while 595th-ranked Zhang Shuai pulled off a big shock in the women's draw.
Bastianini sets record time in Indonesia MotoGP practice
Enea Bastianini marked himself down as the man to beat at the Indonesia MotoGP with a sparkling record lap in practice on Friday, raising his hopes of closing the gap on championship leader Jorge Martin.
At least 3,661 killed this year in Haiti violence: UN
More than 3,600 people have been killed this year in the "senseless" gang violence ravaging Haiti, the United Nations said on Friday.
French minister says in favour of adding 'consent' to rape law
France's new Justice Minister Didier Migaud said Friday that he was in favour of adding the notion of "consent" to the country's law defining rape.
Workers remove Olympic rings from Eiffel Tower -- for now
Workers removed the Olympics logo from the Eiffel Tower overnight on Friday, returning the beloved monument to its usual form -- but perhaps only temporarily.
China caps week of 'bazooka' stimulus for ailing economy with rate cut
China on Friday opened up over a hundred billion dollars in cash for its ailing economy, capping a week in which its leadership embark on one of their biggest drives in years to kickstart growth.
X says complied with Brazil court orders, should be reinstated: source
Elon Musk's X social media platform has complied with orders from Brazil's Supreme Court and is asking for its suspension in the country to be lifted, a source close to the case told AFP on Thursday.
Draper ready to take lead for British tennis
US Open semi-finalist Jack Draper says he is ready for the "responsibility" of leading British tennis but thinks it is "unrealistic" to match the achievements of retired great Andy Murray.
Cuts, cash, credit: China bids to jumpstart flagging economy
China this week unveiled a bundle of new measures aimed at kickstarting its economy, battered by unprecedented headwinds including a property sector crisis and sluggish spending.
France's debt weighs heavier ahead of budget debate
France's vast public debt pile grew in the second quarter, official figures showed Friday, as Prime Minister Michel Barnier's shaky minority government girds itself for a gruelling budget debate.
The Hezbollah commanders killed in Israeli strikes
Israel has killed several top Hezbollah commanders in a series of targeted strikes on the Iran-backed movement's stronghold in Beirut.
Shigeru Ishiba: Abe-critic wins Japan top job at last
Shigeru Ishiba, who will be Japan's next prime minister after winning his party's leadership vote on Friday, is a seasoned lawmaker known for his in-depth security policy knowledge.
Former defence minister Ishiba to be Japan's PM after winning party vote
Former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba will become Japan's next prime minister after winning the ruling party's leadership vote on Friday, the official count showed.
Iran treads carefully, backing Hezbollah while avoiding war
As violence between Israel and Hezbollah escalates, Iran is walking a tightrope by supporting Hezbollah without being dragged into a full-blown conflict and playing into its enemy's hands.
Draper ousts second seed Hurkacz at Japan Open
Britain's US Open semi-finalist Jack Draper said he felt "really strong" after knocking out number two seed Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 6-4 to reach the Japan Open quarter-finals on Friday.
Weakening Hurricane Helene still 'extremely dangerous,' officials warn
Hurricane Helene weakened on Friday hours after it made landfall in the US state of Florida, with officials warning the storm remained "extremely dangerous" as it surged inland, leaving flooded roads and homes in its wake.
EasyJet founder makes life hard for 'brand thieves'
Daring to prefix a company or even a pop group's name with "easy" could land you with legal action, as the founder of British airline easyJet relentlessly tackles alleged trademark breaches.
Return to sender: waste stranded at sea stirs toxic dispute
Amid the scorching heat at the Albanian port of Durres, 102 containers set sail for Thailand in early July, sparking a high-seas drama that highlighted the perils of the global waste trade.
'Broken' news industry faces uncertain future
From disinformation campaigns to soaring scepticism, plummeting trust and economic slumps, the global media landscape has been hit with blow after blow.
On remote Greek island, migratory birds offer climate clues
Gently holding a blackcap warbler in his palm, ornithologist Christos Barboutis blew on its feathers to reveal the size of its belly: a good indicator of how far the bird can migrate.
Ishiba, Takaichi face off in Japan ruling party vote for next PM
A seasoned defence geek and a nationalist who would be Japan's first woman prime minister will go head-to-head in the final round of a ruling party leadership vote on Friday, the official count showed.
Taken from mother by nuns, victim seeks answers as pope visits Belgium
The stain of Catholic child abuse looms over Pope Francis's visit to Belgium this week, but a lesser-known scandal still roils the country: the "forced adoption" of newborns taken from their mothers, with nuns' complicity.
595th-ranked Zhang stuns US Open semi-finalist Navarro in Beijing
The 595th-ranked Zhang Shuai, who earlier this week won her first match in more than 600 days, stunned US Open semi-finalist Emma Navarro 6-4, 6-2 in Beijing on Friday.
Cowboys halt skid with victory over Giants
The Dallas Cowboys snapped a two-game skid with a 20-15 victory over NFC East rivals the New York Giants on Thursday to improve to 2-2 early in the NFL season.
Indian artisans tackle waste with creative upcycling
The world's most populous nation India has a waste problem to match, but one group hopes their efforts can inspire change in one of the top polluters of plastic.
Morbidelli fastest in first Indonesia MotoGP practice
Italian rider Franco Morbidelli topped the times in Friday morning's free practice session at the Indonesia MotoGP, with his teammate and championship leader Jorge Martin back in third.
'Extremely dangerous' Hurricane Helene makes landfall in Florida
The "extremely dangerous" Hurricane Helene made landfall in the US state of Florida on Thursday, with officials warning of "unsurvivable" conditions and a potentially catastrophic storm surge high enough to swamp a two-story house.
China cuts amount banks hold in reserve to boost lending
China on Friday cut the amount banks must hold in reserve, releasing an estimated $142.6 billion in liquidity into the financial market as leaders embark on one of their biggest drives in years to kickstart growth.
Hong Kong, Shanghai extend surge as China optimism boosts markets
Hong Kong and Shanghai ploughed on with their China-fuelled rally Friday on hopes that Beijing will press on with new plans to boost the world's number two economy.