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China's southern tech powerhouse Shenzhen has partially eased lockdown measures, after President Xi Jinping stressed the need to "minimise the impact" of the coronavirus pandemic on the nation's economy.

Argentina's Senate on Thursday gave final approval to an agreement with the International Monetary Fund that restructures a $45 billion debt, clearing the country's short-term financial horizon but leaving a serious inflationary challenge.

Asian equities were mixed Friday as investors took a breather from a strong rally, with Hong Kong giving up some of the colossal gains fuelled by China's support pledge, while unease over the Ukraine war helped oil extend a recovery.

Even though he's still an active player, a new film premiering Friday is attempting to tell the story of Swedish footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic by focusing on the star's childhood growing up in a poor part of the city of Malmo.

Li Meng is a devoted mother trying to support her two-year-old daughter, but in the eyes of Chinese society and the state, she is almost a second-class citizen.

An all-women team of smartphone-toting, low-caste reporters who chronicle India's hardscrabble heartland may give the cinema-mad country its first Oscar-winning film, after their own story became a critically lauded documentary.

Tadej Pogacar is again the man to beat as the peloton rolls towards Milan-San Remo wondering whether anyone can topple the crown prince of cycling.

Mother-of-two Zoubiba Mohamed fled Ethiopia seeking a better life only to be ensnared by Yemen's bitter civil war, and now ekes out an existence in a squalid refugee camp.

Australia announced Friday it is suing Facebook owner Meta over scam adverts for cryptocurrency schemes that falsely claimed to be endorsed by prominent figures.

From rice balls to nappies, prices are rising in Japan. But unlike inflation seen in many other places, the increases are long-sought but also unlikely to last, analysts say.

Five-year-old Amina Nasser hugs her toys in a decrepit cancer ward in Yemen, her life in the hands of a healthcare system pushed to the brink of collapse by grinding conflict.

Yemen's Sira Fortress withstood attacks by the Portuguese and the Turks, but years of war have left the 11th century citadel in disrepair, defaced by graffiti and littered with rubbish.

When Chilean scientist Osvaldo Ulloa led an expedition 8,000 meters under the sea to an area where no human had ever been, his team discovered microscopic organisms that generated more questions than answers.

More than two dozen whales died in a mass stranding at a New Zealand beach renowned as a death trap for the ocean giants, wildlife rangers said Friday.

France coach Fabien Galthie has insisted his side will be "ready to respond" to some typical Eddie Jones taunts when they attempt to win a first Six Nations title since 2010 by defeating England in Paris on Saturday.

Ireland winning the Triple Crown by beating Scotland on Saturday will leave the players feeling hollow if France achieve the Six Nations Grand Slam, former Ireland full-back Hugo MacNeill told AFP.

Discontent is afoot at the happiest place on Earth, as Disney employees this week protested the company's reaction to Florida's so-called "Don't say gay" bill, which would prohibit discussing LGBT topics in classrooms.

In New York, an off-Broadway show is bringing queen of the blues Nina Simone back to life -- but backstage, a battle has been brewing over rights to the anti-racist icon's songs.

Rafael Nadal beat Nick Kyrgios 7-6 (7/0), 5-7, 6-4 in a tumultuous quarter-final clash at the Indian Wells WTA and ATP Masters on Thursday to extend his perfect 2022 start to 19-0.

Paleontologists on Thursday unveiled the fossilized remains of an ancient whale that inhabited the seas 36 million years ago, found last year in a Peruvian desert.

A 13-year-old boy was driving a pickup truck that collided with a van carrying a college golf team in west Texas, killing nine people, officials said Thursday.

Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas shrugged off protesters as she powered to a historic victory in the 500-yard freestyle at the US collegiate championships in Atlanta on Thursday in the latest milestone of her controversial career.

Defending champion Sam Burns closed with back-to-back birdies to match Venezuela's Jhonattan Vegas, Canada's Adam Hadwin and US compatriot David Lipsky for the lead after Thursday's opening round of the US PGA Valspar Championship.

United States coach Gregg Berhalter on Thursday named a 27-man squad ahead of this month's crucial final round of 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

George Furbank will return to the scene of his ill-fated England debut in Paris on Saturday, with team management confident the full-back can handle the "biggest game of his career" against Grand Slam-chasing France.

Bloody new attacks on civilians fuelled accusations Thursday that Russia is committing war crimes in Ukraine, as the United States warned it will make China pay for any support given to Moscow's assault.

Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas powered to a historic victory in the 500-yard freestyle at the US collegiate championships in Atlanta on Thursday in the latest milestone win of her controversial career.

Everton manager Frank Lampard broke his hand amidst wild celebrations of Alex Iwobi's 99th-minute strike to beat Newcastle 1-0 and lift the 10-man Toffees three points clear of the Premier League relegation zone.

The possibility of an imminent Russian debt default appeared to diminish Thursday following statements from Moscow and news of a payment to JPMorgan Chase, however a ratings agency warned of a continued risk of nonpayment.

Defending champion Paula Badosa solved the riddle of Veronika Kudermetova, cruising past the 21st seed 6-3, 6-2 to set up a semi-final clash with Maria Sakkari at the Indian Wells WTA and ATP Masters on Thursday.

Peru's constitutional court on Thursday ordered the release of disgraced former president Alberto Fujimori, who is serving a 25-year sentence for crimes against humanity, a judicial source said.

Alex Iwobi's 99th-minute winner hauled Everton three points clear of the Premier League relegation zone after a dramatic 1-0 victory over Newcastle on Thursday.