South Korea to double spending on AI and chips in 2027
Asian stocks mixed as tech sector struggles to rebound from selloff
On All Saints' Day, Philippine mountain town honours dead with fire
India's royals find new power in their past
Politics
Years on from fall of IS, French jihadists face justice in Iraq
A decade ago, the Islamic State group broadcast its crimes as it recruited radicals from around the world and imposed a brutal system of oppression across swathes of Syria and Iraq.
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Irish bookshops help meet UK demand for Sally Rooney novels
Irish bookshops are helping readers in Britain and elsewhere obtain novels by Sally Rooney after her publisher halted UK supplies because of complications arising from the author's support for a pro-Palestinian group.
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Pope heads to Portugal's Fatima shrine
Pope Francis will make a lightning visit to the shrine of Fatima in central Portugal on Saturday as part of a major Catholic youth festival.
Saudi dives into Ukraine peace push with Jeddah talks
Saudi Arabia was set to host talks on the Ukraine war on Saturday in the latest flexing of its diplomatic muscle, though expectations are mild for what the gathering might achieve.
Netherlands wary of 'big-hearted' South Africa in World Cup last 16
Coach Andries Jonker has warned his Netherlands team to expect a South Africa side that gives their "heart and soul" when they meet in the Women's World Cup last 16 on Sunday.
Trump, in friendly US south, calls indictment 'ridiculous'
Former president Donald Trump appeared before ardent supporters in the deeply conservative southern state of Alabama on Friday, dismissing the latest federal indictment against him a day earlier as an "illegal and unconstitutional travesty."
Top climate fundraiser offers defense of disruptive protests
For years, Margaret Klein Salamon labored behind the scenes to try to convince politicians about the existential threat posed by climate change.
Lula to host S.American summit on saving the Amazon
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will host a regional summit next week with planetary stakes, as leaders of the countries that share the Amazon seek a roadmap to save the world's biggest rainforest.
W. Africa military chiefs agree plan for possible Niger intervention
West Africa's regional bloc said Friday its military chiefs have agreed a plan for a possible intervention in Niger, after the junta failed to restore civilian rule there following last week's coup.
New York riot erupts as influencer touts game console giveaway
A New York gathering called by a popular online influencer drew an unexpectedly large crowd on Friday and degenerated into violence that left people injured, prompting a massive police turnout, authorities said.
US 'pausing' some assistance programs to Niger government: Blinken
The United States is suspending some aid programs to the Niger government, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday, more than one week after the country's president was toppled in a coup.
'Breaking Bad' actor Mark Margolis dies at 83
Mark Margolis, who played the sinister, wheelchair-bound cartel don Hector Salamanca in acclaimed TV shows "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul," has died aged 83, his family said Friday.
Fritz fightback ousts Murray while Pegula wins at Washington
Top-seeded Taylor Fritz outlasted three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, 6-4 and faced a quarter-final later on Friday at the rain-hit Washington Open.
W.Africa military chiefs agree plan for possible Niger intervention
West Africa's regional bloc said on Friday its military chiefs had agreed a plan for a possible intervention in Niger, after it failed to restore civilian rule there following last week's coup.
Fritz outlasts Murray to advance at rain-hit Washington
Top-seeded Taylor Fritz outlasted three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, 6-4 and faced a quarter-final later on Friday at the rain-hit Washington Open.
Southampton strike late to launch bid for Premier League return
Southampton kicked off their bid for an immediate return to the Premier League with a 2-1 win at Sheffield Wednesday in the opening game of the "toughest ever" Championship season on Friday.
'No hesitation' as Biles prepares for return
Four-time Olympic gold medal gymnast Simone Biles geared up for her highly anticipated return to competition with an impressive practice session ahead of Saturday's US Classic -- her first event since the Tokyo Olympics.
Global equities mixed following US jobs report
US stocks ended lower on Friday as traders digested a mixed employment report, while bourses in Europe and Asia advanced.
Lakers agree to terms with Davis on 3-year $186 mn deal: report
NBA All-Star forward Anthony Davis has agreed to terms on a three-year maximum contract extension worth $186 million, a deal with the NBA's richest-ever annual extension at $62 million, ESPN reported Friday.
Drought-hit Panama Canal must 'adapt or die' as water levels drop
The Panama Canal, an engineering wonder allowing ships to travel between two oceans, is seeking to adapt to climate change after a biting drought has seen traffic and income dry up.
NASA back in touch with Voyager 2 after 'interstellar shout'
NASA has succeeded in re-establishing full contact with Voyager 2 thanks to an "interstellar shout" that righted the distant probe's antenna orientation, the space agency said Friday.
NFL rusher Kamara, defender Lammons handed 3-game bans
New Orleans Saints rusher Alvin Kamara and Indianapolis Colts cornerback Chris Lammons were issued three-game suspensions Friday by the NFL for their roles in a 2022 Las Vegas nightclub fight.
Italian football clubs lost 3.6 bn euros during Covid pandemic
Italian professional football clubs lost 3.6 billion euros ($3.97 bn) between 2019 and 2022 due to Covid and pandemic-related restrictions, according to an annual report.
Thiem saves five match points to reach first final since 2020
Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem reached his first final since 2020 on Friday when he saved five match points to defeat Laslo Djere in the semi-finals of the Kitzbuhuel clay-court tournament.
ECOWAS military chiefs agree plan for possible Niger intervention
West African regional bloc ECOWAS said on Friday its military chiefs had agreed a plan for a possible intervention in Niger, after it failed to secure a return to civilian rule there following last week's coup.
Pope presides Way of Cross ceremony at youth festival
Pope Francis presided over a Way of the Cross reenactment at a Lisbon park on Friday before hundreds of thousands of flag-waving pilgrims, part of a global Catholic youth festival.
Ethiopia declares 'state of emergency' over Amhara violence
Ethiopia's federal government on Friday declared a six-month "state of emergency" as violent clashes escalate between the national army and local fighters from the northern region of Amhara.
Evans leads Rally of Finland as Rovanpera, Tanak crash
Britain's Elfyn Evans grabbed the lead of the Rally of Finland on Friday after world champion and home favourite Kalle Rovanpera spectacularly crashed out.
Pegula rallies past Svitolina to reach Washington semis
Top-seeded Jessica Pegula outlasted Wimbledon semi-finalist Elina Svitolina 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Friday, holding off a late fightback to reach the Washington Open semi-finals.
Evenepoel aims to back rivals into corner in world title bid
Remco Evenepoel will defend his men's cycling world road race title in Scotland on Sunday on a course that culminates on the streets of Glasgow and which should suit the Belgian showman.
'Below acceptable standards': Olympic open water test in Seine postponed
A pre-Olympic open water swimming test event scheduled Saturday in the Seine has been pushed back a day because the water "currently remains below acceptable standards", the French Swimming Federation (FFN) announced on Friday.
Germany questions footballing future after shock Women's World Cup exit
As the dust settled on Germany's shock group stage exit from the Women's World Cup, officials and media sweated over the problems ingrained in the country's once proud football set-up.
Trump's travails: criminal trials and campaign trail
Donald Trump's latest indictment sets the stage for a hugely divisive and potentially explosive mash-up of courtroom drama and campaign mayhem as juries and voters race to decide the future of the former US president.
World's oceans set new surface temperature record: EU monitor
The world's oceans set a new temperature record this week, raising concerns about knock-on effects on the planet's climate, marine life and coastal communities.