Five dead as Hurricane Simon, Rachel pummel Mexico's Pacific coast
Malaysia's Firefly extends flight cancellations due to haze
Seoul, Tokyo stocks plunge as Asia suffers fresh tech rout
IMF upgrades 2026 growth forecast but warns of 'split' outlook
Politics
Damaged and drained, Indonesia's peatlands go up in smoke
For weeks on end, parts of Indonesian Borneo have resembled an Armageddon landscape with masked residents immersed in a putrid, red-brown haze as wildfires devour peatlands near homes and farms.
Sports
Infantino could pull off 'Houdini' act as critics struggle for candidate
Gianni Infantino could survive weeks of criticism and secure re-election as FIFA president in the absence of a heavy hitter to challenge him, observers have told AFP.
Last news
Asian markets mixed even as US data fuels rate cut talk
Asian markets diverged Friday following a mixed day on Wall Street, with data showing a continued fall in US inflation unable to relight the buying that characterised much of November.
UK's HS2: trying to bridge the gap between cost and ambition
The unfinished Colne Valley Viaduct traces a gentle curve over several lakes northwest of London, a picturesque symbol that belies the ugly debate over the ambitious but expensive HS2 train line.
Spain bets on mixed gender prisons
At a jail in northwestern Spain, a sole female inmate played football with 21 male convicts, part of a push towards mixed prison living that remains rare in Europe.
Ex-United star Fellaini bids emotional farewell to Chinese football
Former Manchester United star Marouane Fellaini called his five years at Shandong Taishan "among the best of my life" as he bid an emotional farewell to China.
Cowboys rally late for 41-35 NFL win over Seahawks
Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott hit tight end Jake Ferguson with a 12-yard touchdown pass with 4:36 to play as the Cowboys rallied from an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Seattle Seahawks 41-35 on Thursday.
Israel resumes military operations in Gaza as truce expires
Israel's military said Friday it had resumed fighting in Gaza, with airstrikes and artillery fire reported in Gaza City, as a truce expired with no agreement to extend it.
Thunder rally to beat Lakers, Bulls stun Bucks in overtime
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points to propel the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 113-110 NBA victory over LeBron James and the weary Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.
US judge halts pending TikTok ban in Montana
A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked a ban on TikTok set to come into effect next year in Montana, saying the popular video sharing app was likely to win its pending legal challenge.
Australian rugby to trial lower tackle height to reduce concussions
Rugby Australia said Friday it will trial a lowering of the legal tackle height from the shoulder line to below the sternum in a bid to reduce concussions.
Climate and Gaza crises share spotlight as world leaders attend COP28
World leaders take centre stage at UN climate talks in Dubai on Friday, under pressure to step up efforts to limit global warming as the Israel-Hamas conflict casts a shadow over the summit.
Asian markets struggle even as US data fuels rate cut talk
Asian markets drifted Friday following a mixed day on Wall Street, with data showing a continued fall in US inflation unable to relight the buying that characterised much of November.
Hamas open to truce extension as expiry nears
A truce between Israel and Hamas entered its final hours on Friday as more hostages were freed from Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Simmonds welcomes 'massive impact' of Whitelock arrival on Pau
Former New Zealand lock Sam Whitelock will have a "massive impact" on Pau, the French club's fly-half Joe Simmonds said before Saturday's Top 14 trip to Toulon.
Struggling Lyon prepare for life after Grosso
Lyon travel to a resurgent Lens on Saturday, where they will be seeking to turn the page on a catastrophic season that has claimed another coaching victim - Fabio Grosso.
Barca's Felix starts firing just in time for Atletico reunion
Barcelona forward Joao Felix ended a long goal drought with a vital strike this week, ominous timing for his parent club Atletico Madrid, who visit the Catalan capital on Sunday in La Liga.
Leverkusen set to host Dortmund in clash of Bayern hunters
Bayer Leverkusen welcome Borussia Dortmund on Sunday with the hosts sitting clear atop the Bundesliga table, having dropped just two of a possible 36 points to start the season.
Super Bowl star Miller turns himself in after assault allegation
Two-time Super Bowl champion Von Miller turned himself in on Thursday after police in Dallas, Texas alleged in an arrest warrant that he assaulted his pregnant girlfriend.
Meta sues US regulator to stop privacy settlement change
Meta filed a lawsuit late Wednesday arguing that US regulators planning to change the terms of a 2020 privacy settlement are overstepping their authority and should be stopped.
Arsenal plot long stay at Premier League summit
Arsenal are back on top of the Premier League with ambitions to stay there as they host Wolves this weekend while champions Manchester City play faltering Tottenham.
Germany hosts Euro 2024 draw as contenders to learn fate
The draw for Euro 2024 takes place in the port city of Hamburg on Saturday when France, England and the other leading contenders will learn the path to potential continental glory that awaits them next summer.
Sam Kerr's Matildas win Australia's top sports honour
Australia's women's football team won the country's highest sporting honour on Friday for causing a "seismic shift" in the national game with their World Cup exploits.
New Zealand to ban cellphones in schools
Cellphones will be banned in schools across New Zealand, conservative Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Friday, as his fledgling government looks to turn around the country's plummeting literacy rates.
Venezuela to vote on oil-rich region controlled by Guyana
"The Venezuelan sun rises in Essequibo," "Essequibo belongs to Guyana" -- the opposing camps' slogans say it all.
COP28 puts spotlight on state oil giants
Western energy firms are the usual suspects when it comes to criticism about the sector's role in climate change, but a less visible lineup of powerful state companies dominates the industry.
After success abroad, Saudi designers hit the runway at home
Couturier Adnan Akbar's past clients included Princess Diana and two French first ladies, but until recently he had never staged a major fashion show in his native Saudi Arabia.
Focus on Paris as Australia plan small swim team for world championships
Powerhouse Australia expect to take a team of fewer than 20 to the world swimming championships in Doha in February with the Paris Olympics the focus next year.
Canadian mining firm seeks to suspend 7,000 workers in Panama
Canadian firm First Quantum Minerals on Thursday asked Panama's government to suspend the contracts of some 7,000 workers at Central America's biggest copper mine, due to be closed under a court ruling.
McIntosh topples Ledecky in US Open 400m free
Canadian teen Summer McIntosh clocked a meet-record 3min 59.42sec to win the 400m freestyle at the US Open ahead of American distance great Katie Ledecky.
Purdy leads 49ers against Eagles in NFL showdown
San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy says he isn't looking for revenge when the 49ers visit the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in an NFL rematch of last season's NFC conference final.
'Hell is Real' in American soccer's new hotbed
Just six years ago, Ohio faced the prospect of being without a Major League Soccer team but on Saturday the Buckeye state will have two clubs going head-to-head for a place in the MLS Cup final.
Russian pleads guilty in US to role in Trickbot malware scheme
A Russian man pleaded guilty on Thursday to involvement in developing the Trickbot malware used to extort businesses, including hospitals during the Covid pandemic, the US Justice Department said.
Elliott Erwitt: capturing the moment
A pillar of the venerated Magnum agency, US photographer Elliott Erwitt who has died aged 95 became world renowned for catching the humorous details of daily life, in black and white.