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The UK weather service said Friday that carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere in 2024 grew at the fastest annual rate on record, exceeding their own projections by some margin.

Russia and Iran are poised to sign a new treaty on Friday to cement military and economic ties between two of the world's most heavily sanctioned nations, in a pact likely to worry the West.

Erling Haaland has signed a blockbuster new deal at Manchester City that will keep the prolific forward at the Etihad until 2034, the Premier League champions announced on Friday.

A suspension for Elon Musk-owned social network X in the European Union could be more difficult than some politicians have suggested and at worst only temporary, experts told AFP.

An Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal expected to take effect on Sunday has sparked hope for life-saving aid to reach Palestinians, but aid agencies warn of obstacles from destroyed infrastructure, massive need and collapsed law and order.

South Korean prosecutors asked a court Friday for a new arrest warrant for detained President Yoon Suk Yeol as he again refused questioning by investigators probing his failed martial law bid.

Yazeed al-Rajhi made history on Friday by becoming the first driver from host nation Saudi Arabia to win the Dakar Rally.

Coco Gauff extended her unblemished start to the season with a straight-sets win over Leylah Fernandez on Friday to roll into the second week of the Australian Open.

Israel's security cabinet met Friday to vote on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal that should take effect this weekend.

In an era of town-torching megablazes spewing smoke plumes visible from space, scientists say there is still a lot they don't know about the effects of extreme fire on people, nature and the climate.

Cinemas worldwide are still struggling with the after-effects of the Covid pandemic, but France's screens bucked a broad downturn in developed markets last year, providing lessons for other countries.

Erling Haaland has signed a new 9.5-year deal at Manchester City that will keep him at the Etihad until 2034, the Premier League champions announced on Friday.

Two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka said "it sucks" after retiring Friday with a stomach muscle injury during her third-round match against Belinda Bencic in Melbourne.

Israel's security cabinet was set to meet Friday to approve a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal that should take effect this weekend.

A Pakistan court on Friday convicted former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in a landmark graft case, sentencing Khan to 14 years in prison.

Consumers pinching pennies, businesses seeing fewer customers, and a pervading sense that the economy just isn't bouncing back -- the mood was grim in Beijing as China posted some of its lowest growth in decades.

Giant-killing Jakub Mensik's Australian Open ended Friday at the hands of Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina as the 19-year-old Czech crashed out in five gruelling sets.

Carlos Alcaraz plans to get a kangaroo tattoo should he win the Australian Open for the first time as he muscled into the Melbourne last 16 on Friday.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka was pushed to the limit in setting up an Australian Open showdown with teenager Mirra Andreeva on Friday but Naomi Osaka's run ended with an injury retirement in round three.

Two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka retired with an injury during her third-round match against Belinda Bencic on Friday in Melbourne.

Thousands of people marked on Friday the 30th anniversary of an earthquake that claimed more than 6,400 lives and levelled much of the Japanese city of Kobe.

Nintendo shares tumbled as much as seven percent on Friday after the Japanese games giant failed to impress with a teaser video of its hotly awaited Switch 2 console.

Sumo is facing a potential chasm at the top of the ancient sport for the first time in over 30 years after the only yokozuna, Terunofuji, announced his retirement on Friday.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka was pushed to the limit in setting up an Australian Open showdown with talented teenager Mirra Andreeva on Friday while Carlos Alcaraz dropped a set before surging into the last 16.

Fidias Panayiotou, a Cypriot YouTuber-turned-lawmaker who snatched his 15 minutes of fame by hugging Elon Musk, is doubtless the tech titan's biggest fan in the European Parliament -- but far from the only one.

Carlos Alcaraz dropped a set before muscling his way into the Australian Open last 16 on Friday and edge closer to becoming the youngest man in history to complete a career Grand Slam.

Second seed Alexander Zverev accelerated his march through the Australian Open on Friday with a straight-sets takedown of Briton Jacob Fearnley in the third round.

Dutch rider Daniek Hengeveld (Ceratizit-WNT) stole the opening stage of the women's Tour Down Under with a daring breakaway to win her first UCI World Tour stage near Adelaide on Friday.

Nintendo shares tumbled as much as seven percent on Friday after the Japanese games giant failed to impress with a teaser video of its hotly awaited Switch 2 console.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka blamed heavy balls and a slow court Friday as she dropped four serve games in a row before "pushing to the limit" to keep her Australian Open hat-trick dream alive.

Apple pushed out a software update on Thursday which disabled news headlines and summaries generated using artificial intelligence that were lambasted for getting facts wrong.

Aryna Sabalenka stayed on track for an Australian Open hat-trick Friday, while later Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka can set up a blockbuster clash and Novak Djokovic steps up his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title.