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Rory McIlroy helped secure Europe's first ever clean sweep of a morning session at a Ryder Cup as the hosts raced into a 4-0 lead over the United States after the Friday foursomes in Rome.

At least 40 people were killed and dozens more wounded in Pakistan's Balochistan province on Friday by a suicide bomber targeting a procession marking the birthday of Islam's Prophet Mohammed, officials said.

Ireland back rower Jack Conan credits Andy Farrell and his coaching staff in filling him with "confidence" by telling him despite a foot ligament injury they were keeping him in the Rugby World Cup squad.

The death toll from a Nagorno-Karabakh fuel depot blast soared to 170 on Friday as the exodus from the ethnic Armenian enclave following its fall to Azerbaijani forces continued unabated.

Relatives of Saudis facing heavy sentences for social media posts are calling on the kingdom's de facto ruler to take action after he voiced shame over their cases.

Under-fire Australia coach Eddie Jones on Friday said he had picked his "best 23" for the Wallabies' final Rugby World Cup Pool C clash against Portugal, making just three changes to his starting line-up.

Rory McIlroy helped secure Europe's first ever clean sweep of a morning session at a Ryder Cup as the hosts raced into a 4-0 lead over the United States after the Friday foursomes in Rome.

A 16-year-old boy arrested after one of Britain's most photographed trees was found felled next to the Hadrian's Wall UNESCO World Heritage site in northeast England was released on bail on Friday.

Eurozone inflation dropped to an almost two-year low in September, official data showed Friday, raising hopes that the European Central Bank will end its rate-hiking cycle.

Rome welcomed thousands of fans to the Ryder Cup on Friday as the 44th edition got underway for the first time in Italy, a country steeped in sporting history but a minor player in golf.

Europe must invest more quickly and massively in its energy transition if it wants to remain a global industrial power, top policymakers warned on Friday.

Chinese travellers thronged transport networks Friday as an eight-day national holiday kicked off, the first October break since the end of the strict zero-Covid policies that separated families and hammered the tourism industry.

Zheng Qinwen won the Asian Games women's tennis title in Hangzhou to add to her fast-growing reputation while eSports star "Faker" will later on Friday chase gold of his own -- and an exemption from military service.

Handre Pollard is aiming to enjoy expressing himself-- albeit not perfectly -- when he dons the Springbok jersey for the first time in 13 months against Tonga in Marseille on Sunday.

Wavering ambition by governments and a growing belief that science is politically subjective are great causes for concern in a rapidly escalating climate crisis, an expert told AFP.

The Philippine Coast Guard vowed Friday to "do whatever it takes" to remove any more floating barriers installed by China at a disputed reef in the South China Sea.

World number three Daniil Medvedev cruised into the second round of the China Open with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Tommy Paul on Friday.

Facing the world's fastest bowlers requires steady nerves and a sure bat, but a top-class cricketer turned Bangladesh's first World Cup umpire said it's a "thick skin" he needs for his new role.

French billionaire Bernard Arnault and Russian oligarch Nikolai Sarkisov are under investigation for alleged money laundering at a luxury Alpine resort, according to Paris prosecutors.

Most markets followed Wall Street higher Friday as a drop in oil prices and US Treasury yields provided some much-needed respite from speculation the Federal Reserve will push interest rates even higher.

Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland were in fine form as Europe raced into the lead in all four of the foursomes matches in the opening session of the Ryder Cup against the United States on Friday.

Liverpool's Premier League title credentials face a stiff test at a resurgent Tottenham on Saturday as the Reds aim to keep pace with relentless leaders Manchester City.

Inspired by Bill Shankly and Ferenc Puskas, Ange Postecoglou is the risk-taking trailblazer reviving Tottenham Hotspur with his no-fear philosophy.

Three cricketers, considered the backbone of Bangladesh's golden generation, are expected to make their swansong at the World Cup, after dragging their side up from whipping-boy status over 15 years.

Sri Lanka will make yet another attempt to end the "curse" of their only previous World Cup victory in next month's tournament, but go into it on the back of a humiliating defeat.

Jim Crowley would not "swap" his ride on Hukum for any of his 14 rivals in the "world's most prestigious flat race", the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, he told AFP.

Fiji and Georgia enter their showdown in Bordeaux on Friday on quite different emotional trajectories.

Scotland face a struggling Romania in the Rugby World Cup on Saturday in Lille, but coach Gregor Townsend and his players will have one eye on next week's game with Ireland

Newly crowned world number one Aryna Sabalenka said Friday she is "super motivated" to finish the year in top spot as she prepares to compete in the China Open in Beijing.

Most markets followed Wall Street higher Friday as a drop in oil prices and US Treasury yields provided some much-needed respite from speculation the Federal Reserve will push interest rates even higher.

As hopes dim of further contact with India's Moon rover, the country's space chief has said he was satisfied with the prospect of calling its successful lunar mission to an end.

US Open quarter-finalist Zheng Qinwen called it an "incredible feeling" after winning Asian Games gold on Friday to burnish her fast-growing reputation.