Once a top export, prized Kashmir carpet fades
Japan's 'polka dot queen' artist Yayoi Kusama dies aged 97
Search for 1,000 missing after deadly Nepal-Tibet floods
Nepal-Tibet disaster: what we know
Sports
Park So-yeon first woman to play for eSports powerhouse South Korea
Park So-yeon is set to become the first woman to represent South Korea's national team in eSports and wants to pave the way for more in the male-dominated world of competitive gaming.
Politics
China deploys record number of ships around Taiwan as pressure grows
China deployed a record number of coast guard, scientific research and other ships in Taiwan's waters last month, the island's coast guard told AFP, as Beijing dials up pressure on Taipei.
Last news
Macron invites foreign researchers to 'choose France'
President Emmanuel Macron on Friday invited foreign researchers to work in France, in an apparent effort to lure US scientists hit by federal research spending cuts under Donald Trump.
Klopp 'happy' in new job despite Real Madrid rumours: agent
Jurgen Klopp is "very happy" in his current post at Red Bull despite rumours linking him to a return to management with Real Madrid, his agent said Friday.
Alcaraz into Barcelona semis as defending champion Ruud exits
Carlos Alcaraz battled into the semi-finals of the Barcelona Open on Friday with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Alex de Minaur after Casper Ruud's title defence was ended by Holger Rune.
Vance meets Italy's Meloni before Easter at the Vatican
US Vice President JD Vance on Friday met Italy's Giorgia Meloni in Rome and later prayed at the Vatican during an Easter visit against a backdrop of transatlantic trade tensions.
Evenepoel returns with victory in Brabantse Pijl
Remco Evenepoel said even he was surprised as he won the Brabantse Pijl one-day race on Friday in Belgium on his comeback, four months after a serious training accident.
Maresca confident he will survive Chelsea slump
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said he maintains the full backing of the club's owners despite growing disquiet among the Blues' fanbase.
Mob beats to death man from persecuted Pakistan minority
A mob beat to death a member of Pakistan's persecuted Ahmadiyya minority on Friday after hundreds of radical Islamists surrounded their place of worship in the port city of Karachi, police said.
Lebanon says one killed in Israeli strike near Sidon
Lebanon's health ministry said an Israeli strike Friday on a vehicle near the southern coastal city of Sidon killed one person, with Israel announcing that an attack in the same area had targeted a Hezbollah operative.
Arsenal's Havertz could return for Champions League final
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said he would bet on Kai Havertz returning before the end of the season as his recovery from a hamstring injury is ahead of schedule.
US officials split on Ukraine truce prospects
Top US officials gave mixed signals about the prospect of a Ukraine ceasefire on Friday, bringing uncertainty to the peace process just as Russia abandoned a moratorium on striking Ukrainian energy targets.
Client brain-dead after Paris cryotherapy session goes wrong
A woman injured during a fatal cryotherapy session at a gym in France's capital earlier this week is now brain-dead, the prosecutor's office said Friday.
Flick demands answers from La Liga for 'joke' schedule
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick on Friday demanded to meet with La Liga officials over what he called a "joke" schedule, saying Spanish football was failing to take care of players.
'Maddest game' sums up Man Utd career for Maguire
Harry Maguire said the "maddest game" of his life summed up a topsy-turvy Manchester United career after scoring the winner in a 5-4 victory over Lyon to send his team into the Europa League semi-finals.
Trial opens for students, journalists over Istanbul protests
A trial of nearly 200 people, among them students and journalists, arrested over Turkey's biggest protests in more than a decade opened in Istanbul on Friday.
Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill 24 after Hamas rejects truce proposal
Gaza's civil defence rescue agency said Friday that Israeli strikes killed at least 24 people, including 10 from the same family, after Hamas signalled its rejection of Israel's latest ceasefire proposal.
'Really stuck': Ukraine's EU accession drive stumbles
Launched as a powerful statement days after Russia's 2022 invasion, Ukraine's bid for EU membership is stuttering in the face of hardening opposition from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
'Not the time to discuss future', says Alonso amid Real Madrid links
Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso on Friday refused to shut down speculation he could be set for a move to Real Madrid in the summer.
74 killed in deadliest US attack on Yemen, Huthis say
US strikes on a Yemeni fuel port killed at least 74 people, Huthi rebels said Friday, in the deadliest attack of Washington's campaign against the Iran-backed group.
Southgate's ex-assistant Holland fired by Japan's Yokohama
Former England assistant Steve Holland was fired by Japanese side Yokohama F-Marinos, the club said Friday, less than four months after he took over as manager.
Vance meets Meloni in Rome before Easter at the Vatican
US Vice President JD Vance met with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Friday, ahead of celebrating Easter at the Vatican and a meeting with the pope's right-hand man.
Ryan Gosling to star in new 'Star Wars' film
After his scene-stealing turn as Ken in the 2023 blockbuster hit "Barbie", Oscar-nominated actor Ryan Gosling is taking on another huge pop culture franchise: the "Star Wars" universe.
Hamas calls for pressure to end Israel's aid block on Gaza
Hamas on Friday urged the international community to exert immediate pressure to end Israel's complete blockade of the Gaza Strip that has been in place since March 2.
Russia says Ukraine energy truce over, US mulls peace talks exit
Russia said Friday that a 30-day pause on Ukrainian energy site strikes has expired, a step away from peace just as Washington threatened to exit ceasefire efforts if progress was not made soon.
58 killed in deadliest US strike on Yemen, Huthis say
US strikes on a Yemeni fuel port killed at least 58 people, Huthi rebels said Friday, in the deadliest attack of Washington's campaign against the Iran-backed group.
Museums rethink how the Holocaust should be shown
Historians are rethinking the way the Holocaust is being presented in museums as the world marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the last Nazi concentration camps this month.
Three dead after deadly spring storm wreaks havoc in the Alps
Two men on their way to help with rescue efforts were found dead on Friday after a spring storm drenched parts of northern Italy and dumped more than a metre of snow in other areas across the Alps, shutting ski areas, halting transport and killing at least one other person.
No need for big changes at Liverpool, says Slot
Liverpool manager Arne Slot believes maintaining the squad that is romping towards the Premier League title is more important than major new signings.
Bloody Philippine passion play sees final performance of veteran 'Jesus'
Scores of penitents whipped themselves bloody under a scorching Philippine sun while others were nailed to crosses in a polarising Good Friday tradition drawing the most extreme of Catholic devotees.
New US envoy prays, delivers Trump 'peace' message at Western Wall
The new US ambassador to Israel prayed at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Friday, delivering a handwritten message from President Donald Trump calling for peace in Israel.
Postecoglou sticking around 'a little longer' as Spurs show fight in Frankfurt
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou took aim at his critics after beating Eintracht Frankfurt to reach the Europa League semi-finals and keep dreams of ending the club's 17-year trophy drought alive.
US threatens to withdraw from Ukraine talks if no progress
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday said Washington could soon exit efforts to reach a Ukraine ceasefire if it decided peace was not "doable", after meeting European and Ukrainian officials in Paris.
Tears and defiance in Sumy as Russia batters Ukraine border city
Sofia Stasyuk flinches every time she hears the increasingly frequent missile blasts and thuds of air defence over her Ukrainian hometown of Sumy.