School roof collapse kills teacher, 27 children in NW Pakistan
Pope has 'good night' in hospital: Vatican
Haze turns Indonesia skies orange, shuts schools in East Timor
China's economy seen missing target as global shocks bite: AFP poll
Politics
California puts first US billionaire tax to the vote
When Americans vote in next month's midterm elections, one question on the ballot in California could echo far beyond the state: should the ultra-wealthy pay a special tax on their fortunes?
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Costa Rica opens jail inspired by El Salvador mega-prison
Costa Rica opened a high-security jail on Wednesday inspired by a mega-prison in El Salvador that has become a symbol of the country's war on gangs, widely criticized by human rights groups.
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Elon Musk says xAI startup buying X platform
Elon Musk on Friday said his artificial intelligence startup xAI is buying his social networking platform X in a deal valuing the company once known as Twitter at $33 billion.
'Jail or death': migrants expelled by Trump fear for their fate
Marwa fled Taliban rule in Afghanistan because she wanted to study, work, wear jeans and go to the park without a male chaperone.
Djokovic closing in on 100th title after Dimitrov downed in Miami
Novak Djokovic moved to within one win of his 100th career title on Friday, outclassing Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-3 to cruise into the final of the Miami Open.
Leverkusen beat Bochum to stay hot on Bayern's heels
Goals from Aleix Garcia, Victor Boniface and Amine Adli took Bayer Leverkusen to a 3-1 home win over Bochum on Friday to cut Bayern Munich's lead atop the table to three points.
Global markets slide as fears over US tariffs intensify
Stock markets plunged Friday as a closely watched US inflation reading heated up amid intensifying concerns over fallout from President Donald Trump's incoming wave of tariffs.
Dorival Junior sacked as Brazil coach after Argentina humiliation
Dorival Junior was on Friday sacked as Brazil coach, three days after a humiliating 4-1 World Cup qualifying defeat by bitter rivals Argentina, the Confederation of Brazilian Football (CBF) announced.
Djokovic cruises past Dimitrov into Miami Open final
Novak Djokovic outclassed Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-3 on Friday to reach the final of the Miami Open, becoming the oldest man to reach a ATP Masters 1000 title match.
Trump, Canada PM strike positive note after call
US President Donald Trump said he had an "extremely productive" first call Friday with Canada's new Prime Minister Mark Carney, after soaring tensions over tariffs and Trump's repeated calls to annex his northern neighbor.
No.1 Scheffler ties Houston Open record with 62 to grab lead
Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler matched the tournament record he already shared with an eight-under par 62 on Friday to grab an early lead in the second round of the PGA Houston Open.
Trump auto tariffs strike at heart of North American trade
US President Donald Trump's tariffs on imported cars strike at the heart of a North American free trade agreement, threatening to disrupt supply chains and raise prices, experts say.
Vance says Denmark has 'under invested' in Greenland
US Vice President JD Vance accused Denmark on Friday of not having done enough to protect Greenland, when he visited the strategically placed, resource-rich Danish territory coveted by US President Donald Trump.
Green light for Winter Olympics bobsleigh slope
The troubled 2026 Winter Olympics bobsleigh and luge slope was given the provisional green light on Friday after a week of testing by the two sports' international federations.
Musk's DOGE team emerges from the shadows
It has worked in the shadows for months, but Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has now offered the first peek behind the curtain of the government cost-cutting drive it launched on behalf of US President Donald Trump.
Film stars blast Academy for 'failing to defend' Palestinian filmmaker
Movie stars including Joaquin Phoenix, Penelope Cruz and Richard Gere have blasted the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for failing to defend an Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker who said he was attacked by Israeli settlers.
Record fine for UK university renews free speech row
A UK university was fined half-a-million pounds this week for its treatment of a professor accused of transphobia by students, rekindling a debate on freedom of speech in academic institutions.
Grizzlies fire head coach Jenkins: team
The Memphis Grizzlies fired head coach Taylor Jenkins on Friday after six seasons despite the club being on course to reach the NBA playoffs.
'Game-changing' Hazlewood shines as Bengaluru thrash Chennai in IPL
Table-topping Royal Challengers Bengaluru thrashed Chennai Super Kings by 50 runs on Friday for a second win in this year's IPL, inspired by a "game-changing" performance from fast bowler Josh Hazlewood.
Table-topping Bengaluru thrash Chennai by 50 runs in IPL
Table-topping Royal Challengers Bengaluru thrashed Chennai Super Kings by 50 runs on Friday for a second win in this year's IPL.
Israel warns of attacks 'everywhere' in Lebanon after rocket fire
Israel said on Friday it will enforce a ceasefire in Lebanon everywhere in the country, after rocket fire prompted it to bomb Beirut for the first time during the fragile four-month-old truce with Hezbollah.
Utah becomes first US state to ban fluoride in drinking water
The western US state of Utah has become the first to prohibit fluoridation of its public drinking water, part of a growing movement reexamining the decades-old public health practice.
Trump prompts US allies to reopen nuclear weapons debate
Donald Trump's attacks on NATO and the established world order are undermining the confidence of its allies under the US security umbrella, fuelling fears of an eventual proliferation of nuclear weapons, experts told AFP.
Nigerian police ban Kano Eid parade as rival emirs dispute throne
For the second time in a row, police have banned the colourful Durbar festivities that mark Eid celebrations in Kano, northern Nigeria's largest city, as two traditional royals struggle for the throne.
Ex-Barcelona star Dani Alves has rape conviction overturned
A Spanish appeals court overturned Friday former Brazil international footballer Dani Alves' rape conviction, citing insufficient evidence.
French lawyers condemn 'sexism' of Depardieu's defence in abuse trial
A group of nearly 200 French lawyers on Friday urged the judiciary to fight the kind of courtroom sexism they said Gerard Depardieu's lawyer used to defend the star actor in his sex abuse trial.
Stock markets slide over US inflation, tariff fears
Stock markets took a tumble Friday as a closely watched US inflation reading heated up, adding to concerns over the fallout from an incoming wave of tariffs by President Donald Trump.
King of cobbles Van der Poel adds Belgium's E3 to Milan-San Remo win
Defending champion Mathieu van der Poel launched a solo attack on a cobbled climb 38km from the line and went on to win the E3 Classic on Friday.
Vance lands in Greenland as anger mounts over Trump takeover bid
US Vice President JD Vance landed in Greenland on Friday for a visit to a military base viewed by Copenhagen and Nuuk as a provocation at a time when President Donald Trump is seeking to annex the strategically placed, resource-rich Danish territory.
Teen Brennan wins again, Ayuso retakes lead in Catalonia
Sprinter Matthew Brennan continued his breakout season as he exploded past the pack in a bunch sprint on a blustery stage five of the Tour of Catalonia on Friday, his second win of the race.
Massive quake kills more than 150 in Myanmar, Thailand
A huge earthquake hit Myanmar and Thailand on Friday, killing more than 150 people and injuring hundreds, with dozens trapped in collapsed buildings and the death toll expected to rise.
Trump, Canada PM ease tensions with 'productive' call
US President Donald Trump said he had an "extremely productive" first call Friday with Canada's new Prime Minister Mark Carney, after recent tensions over tariffs and Trump's repeated calls to annex his northern neighbor.
Italy tries to fill its Albanian migrant centres after legal woes
Italy's hard-right government said Friday it would use its Albanian migrant centres for people awaiting deportation, the latest attempt to salvage a costly scheme frozen for months by legal challenges.
S.Sudan govt says Vice President Machar 'under house arrest'
The South Sudan government said on Friday First Vice President Riek Machar was "under house arrest," two days after he was detained, as a former Kenyan premier arrived in Juba to mediate the crisis threatening to end the fragile peace deal between rival factions.