
Turkey opens Spotify probe after 'provocative playlist' complaint

Britain reestablishes full Syria ties as FM visits Damascus

Philipsen wins nervy Tour de France opener as Evenepoel loses time

Verstappen shades Piastri for pole at Silverstone
Sports
Fernando's 4-35 restricts Bangladesh to 248 in 2nd Sri Lanka ODI
A career-best 4-35 by seamer Asitha Fernando helped Sri Lanka bundle out Bangladesh for 248 inside 46 overs in the second one-day international in Colombo on Saturday.
Sports
Prolific Jordan closes on All Blacks try record in nervy France win
Will Jordan edged closer to New Zealand's all-time Test try scoring record after bagging two more against France in Dunedin on Saturday.
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Philippines asks Japan's help searching lake for missing cockfighters
The Philippines' justice secretary said Friday he has asked for Japan's technical assistance to help the search for dozens of cockfighting participants allegedly killed by rogue police and dumped in a lake south of Manila.

Rio to host BRICS summit wary of Trump
A summit of BRICS nations will convene in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday and Monday, with members hoping to weigh in on global crises while tiptoeing around US President Donald Trump's policies.

Trump to sign 'big, beautiful' bill on US Independence Day
US President Donald Trump will sign his flagship tax and spending bill Friday in a pomp-laden Independence Day ceremony featuring fireworks and a flypast by the type of stealth bomber that bombed Iran.

Schmidt confident sidelined Wallabies' trio will be fit for Lions
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt allayed injury worries Friday around Rob Valetini, Will Skelton and Jake Gordon after they were left out the Australia team to play Fiji, insisting they will ready for the British and Irish Lions.

North Korean detained after crossing land border: Seoul military
A North Korean civilian voluntarily crossed the heavily mined land border between the two countries, aided by the South's military in a delicate 20-hour operation, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Friday.

Bayern stand before PSG in battle of Club World Cup favourites
A glance at the quarter-final line-up for the Club World Cup suggests that whoever comes out on top in the heavyweight last-eight showdown between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich on Saturday will be the favourites to go on and win FIFA's new competition.

Record cold grips Argentina, Chile and Uruguay
A polar air mass has brought record low temperatures to Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, causing at least 15 deaths and forcing governments to restrict gas supplies and activate emergency shelters.

Abidjan dreams of becoming Africa's next cinema hub
In the lush forests north of Abidjan, technicians were busy filming on the set of "Le Testament" ("The Will"), a comedy co-production between Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Senegal.

Fired in bathrobe: Slovak cultural heads recall their dismissals
In the crackdown of nationalist Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's government on culture and media, heads of major cultural institutions have been replaced.

Scott Barrett says All Blacks not 'disrespected' by France
All Blacks captain Scott Barrett said Friday his team does not feel disrespected by their French opponents, who named eight uncapped players for Saturday night's Test match in Dunedin.

Alcaraz searches for perfect serve at Wimbledon, Raducanu eyes Sabalenka shock
Carlos Alcaraz will step up his bid for a third successive Wimbledon title when the world number two faces German underdog Jan-Lennard Struff on Friday.

Tour de France: Clash of styles as odd couple duel for title again
Tadej Pogacar and his great rival Jonas Vingegaard have won the past five editions of the Tour de France between them, and the chalk and cheese duo top the bill again at the 2025 Tour which starts on Saturday.

Mead eyes Euros repeat for England after emotional rollercoaster
Darling of England's coronation as European champions three years ago, Beth Mead is back among the goals ahead of Euro 2025 after the toughest moments of her career on and off the field.

Springboks dream comes true for Congolese refugee Tshituka
The remarkable rise of flanker Vincent Tshituka from a child refugee to the Springboks Test team will be completed on Saturday when he faces Italy in Pretoria.

'Frogging' takes off in Borneo's jungle
Dodging fire-ants, snakes and millions of nighttime creepy-crawlies, a group of trekkers advances through the humid Bornean rainforest, scanning with torches for some of the jungle's most unlikely stars: frogs.

Germaine Acogny, promoting Africa as a beacon of dance
A group of performers stepped and swayed in the sand at an open-air studio on the Senegalese coast as Germaine Acogny, known as the mother of contemporary African dance, called out to them.

Porecki back for Wallabies with Wilson captain against Fiji
Former skipper Dave Porecki will make his first start for the Wallabies since the 2023 World Cup when they play Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday, with Harry Wilson retaining the captaincy.

Making connections in Myanmar's fractured state
In a riverine battleground in western Myanmar, an entrepreneur hunts for reception using a makeshift bamboo antenna, his payphone kiosk providing locals a lifeline to connect with their loved ones.

Trump wins 'phenomenal' victory as Congress passes flagship bill
US President Donald Trump boasted of a "phenomenal victory" to cheering supporters at a rally in Iowa on Thursday after Congress narrowly passed his signature tax and spending bill, cementing his radical second-term agenda.

Chelsea to let Portugal's Neto decide whether to play against Palmeiras
Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca said he would leave forward Pedro Neto to decide whether to play a part in Friday's Club World Cup quarter-final against Palmeiras as he mourns the tragic death of Portugal teammate Diogo Jota.

What is the state of play with Trump's tariffs?
With sweeping tariffs on friend and foe, US President Donald Trump has roiled financial markets and sparked a surge in economic uncertainty -- and tensions are mounting days before a fresh volley of higher duties are due to kick in.

Where do trade talks stand in the rush to avert higher US tariffs?
As a Wednesday deadline approaches for steeper US tariffs to hit dozens of economies ranging from the EU to India, trade negotiations with President Donald Trump's administration are coming down to the wire.

As US stocks hit records, experts see the dollar falling further
While the US stock market has fully recovered from a spring rout, the relentless drop in the dollar is prompting currency experts to warn of greater financial market turmoil ahead.

Oasis fans converge as mega-tour kicks off in UK
Tens of thousands of ecstatic Oasis fans descend Friday on Cardiff as the legendary Britpop band kicks off a highly anticipated reunion tour nearly 16 years after last performing together.

Thompson expects 'fireworks' in next clash with Lyles
Jamaican Kishane Thompson is looking forward to "fireworks" when he next faces American Noah Lyles in a rematch of the Paris Olympics 100 meter final -- whenever that showdown materializes.

Alexander-Arnold settling in as Real Madrid target Club World Cup glory
Real Madrid paid extra to bring defender Trent Alexander-Arnold in early from Liverpool to compete in the Club World Cup and it is paying off as they prepare to face Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals.

'Hug therapy': How Pope Leo is trying to unify Vatican
Pope Leo XIV heads off on holiday on Sunday, having spent his first two months as Catholic leader rebuilding unity and bolstering tradition after his predecessor's unorthodox papacy.

'Difficult day' for Al-Hilal's Portugal pair - Inzaghi
Al-Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi said the death of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota had impacted his team ahead of their Club World Cup quarter-final against Fluminense on Friday.

'Difficult day' for Al Hila's Portugal pair - Inzaghi
Al Hilal coach Simone Inzaghi said the death of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota had impacted his team ahead of their Club World Cup quarter-final against Fluminense on Friday.

Inter-American court says states must protect people from climate change
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled Thursday that countries belonging to the Organization of American States (OAS) have an obligation to take "all necessary measures" to protect populations from climate change.

Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. arrested by US immigration
Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has been arrested by US immigration officers and faces deportation from the United States, the Department of Homeland Security said Thursday.

US Supreme Court approves deportation of migrants to South Sudan
The US Supreme Court on Thursday gave the green light for the Trump administration to deport a group of migrants stranded at an American military base in Djibouti to war-torn South Sudan.

Trump says 'didn't make any progress' with Putin on Ukraine
US President Donald Trump said he made no progress with Vladimir Putin on ending the Ukraine war in a call Thursday, as the Kremlin insisted the Russian president would stick to his aims in the conflict.

World Bank's IFC ramps up investment amid global uncertainty
While the world economy faces instability from US President Donald Trump's threats of a global trade war, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) is dramatically ramping up its investment activities.

Trump environmental agency suspends employees over letter of dissent
The US Environmental Protection Agency has suspended 139 employees after they signed a scathing open letter accusing Administrator Lee Zeldin of pushing policies hazardous to both people and the planet, a spokesperson said Thursday.

McLemore convicted of rape and abuse while with NBA Blazers
Former NBA player Ben McLemore was found guilty of rape and sexual assault of a woman in 2021 while he was with the Portland Trail Blazers, authoriies said on Thursday.

US, Colombia recall top diplomats as rift deepens
The United States and Colombia called home their respective envoys on Thursday in an apparent acceleration of worsening ties, against the backdrop of an alleged plot against Colombia's leftist leader.

Michael Madsen, 'Reservoir Dogs' and 'Kill Bill' actor, dies at 67
US actor Michael Madsen -- best known for his frequent collaborations with director Quentin Tarantino including "Reservoir Dogs" and "Kill Bill" -- died Thursday at age 67 after suffering cardiac arrest, his management team said.

Russia becomes first country to recognise Taliban govt
Afghanistan's government said on Thursday that Russia had become the first country to officially recognise its rule, calling it a "brave decision".