
Japan's financial precipice

Iraq vs. Iran – The end?

France's debt is growing

Azerbaijan defies Russia

Over 30 dead as northern China hit by heavy rain, landslides

Turkey's glaciers fall victim to climate change

'Happy people': folk festivals punctuate Greek summer life

Afghans show solidarity as migrant returns from Iran surge
Sports
O'Callaghan closes on more world gold to banish post-Paris blues
Olympic champion Mollie O'Callaghan safely negotiated her way into the semi-finals of the 200m freestyle at the swimming world championships on Tuesday as she attempts to shake off the post-Paris blues.
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Five dead including gunman in New York office shooting spree
Four people including a police officer were killed Monday after a gunman walked into a skyscraper in central Manhattan and opened fire in broad daylight, officials said.
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Biden warns Xi against China backing Russia's war in Ukraine
US President Joe Biden laid out to Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday the "consequences" of any backing for Russia in its war against Ukraine, the White House said, as Beijing showed no sign of joining Western condemnation of the invasion.

Imperious Verstappen impressed by Ferrari
Max Verstappen enjoyed an imperious opening day's practice for the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Friday, but admitted he was checking his mirrors for the much-improved Ferraris.

Downcast Hamilton writes off chances of opening day win
A downcast, but realistic Lewis Hamilton dismissed his hopes of winning this weekend's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix after struggling to finish ninth in practice on Friday.

Verstappen leads Ferraris in second Bahrain GP practice session
World champion Max Verstappen set the fastest time in the second Formula One practice session at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Friday ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.

Blackmore adds another golden chapter to her history-making career
Rachael Blackmore added another chapter to her history-making exploits as she became the first woman jockey to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the blue riband of jumps racing, easing to victory on A Plus Tard on Friday.

Spurs boss Conte slams Arsenal's Arteta over fixture complaint
Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has slammed Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta for complaining about the Gunners' crowded fixture schedule.

Scottish-Nigerian NFL prospect injures ankle at workout
David Ojabo, a Nigerian-born Scotsman seen as one of the top prospects for next month's NFL Draft, suffered a left ankle injury during a workout for clubs on Friday.

Chinese, US warships sailed through Taiwan Strait before Biden-Xi talks
Chinese and US warships sailed through the flashpoint Taiwan Strait on Friday, Taiwanese and US officials said, shortly before China's Xi Jinping issued a warning to Joe Biden that ties could suffer if there is a "mishandling" of the island's status.

Dupont determined to enjoy France's Six Nations crunch
France captain Antoine Dupont said Friday that while the stakes will be high as they try to clinch a first Six Nations title since 2010 against England, "we have to enjoy the moment."

Xi says against war in talk with Biden on Ukraine
Chinese leader Xi Jinping said war is "in no one's interest" during a phone call Friday with President Joe Biden, but he showed no sign of giving in to US pressure to join Western condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

'Honour and privilege' for Wales' Alun Wyn Jones as new cap record looms
Wales great Alun Wyn Jones has said it is an "honour and privilege" to make yet more rugby union history by becoming the first player to win 150 caps for a single country.

Shakib leads Bangladesh batting charge
Shakib Al Hasan led a strong Bangladesh batting effort in the first one-day international against South Africa at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Friday.

Russian trio blast off for ISS in shadow of Ukraine war
Three Russian cosmonauts blasted off to the International Space Station Friday, as Moscow's military intervention in Ukraine brought the Kremlin's relations with the West to their lowest point since the Soviet era.

Middlesbrough to donate Chelsea ticket money to Ukraine
Middlesbrough will donate their share of gate receipts from Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final against Chelsea to humanitarian aid in Ukraine, the club announced on Friday.

Transgender swimmer seeks second US college title despite protests
Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas followed her historic 500-yard freestyle title by qualifying for Friday's 200-yard freestyle final, shrugging off protesters at the US collegiate women's championships in Atlanta.

US says flights by Aeroflot, Abramovich violated sanctions on Russia
Airplanes owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich and state carrier Aeroflot among others have violated US sanctions imposed on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, Washington said Friday.

Civilians survive Ukraine theatre strike as deadly fighting rages
A Russian strike on a theatre sheltering civilians in Ukraine's besieged city of Mariupol badly wounded one person but did not kill anyone, authorities said Friday, as deadly fighting raged on elsewhere across the country.

Ukrainian refugees cook up a storm at Czech campsite
A steaming pot of thick soup bubbles at a campsite turned refugee shelter near Prague where Ukrainian women who fled Russia's invasion prepare delicious meals for curious locals.

Former Boeing pilot on trial over 737 MAX
A former Boeing pilot accused of misleading US aviation regulators during the certification process for the 737 MAX jetliner was due to go on trial Friday.

Guardiola sets sights on Man City treble charge
Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City are capable of surviving the daunting road to a remarkable treble.

Stocks stable, oil climbs at end of volatile week
Oil prices rose and stock markets were stable to slightly higher on Friday at the end of a week of high volatility related to the war in Ukraine, traders said.

Scotland players disciplined after Edinburgh night out
Six Scotland players have been disciplined for a breach of team protocols after a night out in Edinburgh following last week's win away to Italy, it emerged Friday.

USA hopes to partner with World Rugby on 2031, 2033 World Cups
USA Rugby officials said Friday they will refocus bid plans and seek the 2031 Men's World Cup and 2033 Women's World Cup after a three-day summit with World Rugby leaders.

Protests in Britain over shock P&O job cuts
Protests were held on Friday in the English port cities of Dover, Hull and Liverpool, a day after the sudden dismissal of 800 employees by shipping operator P&O Ferries.

US Congress moves to ban discrimination of race-related hairstyles
Afros, braids, dreadlocks: the US House of Representatives on Friday voted to ban discrimination based on hairstyles associated with a particular race or national origin.

Moscow marks Crimea annexation with patriotic rally
A sea of Russian flags, pro-Kremlin pop stars, and state television unexpectedly cutting President Vladimir Putin mid-speech: Moscow on Friday marked eight years since its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, as its troops advanced further into the country.

Stokes strikes but Brathwaite resists for West Indies
Ben Stokes was again in the thick of the action as England plucked out two more West Indies wickets and could have had a third with the home side reaching lunch at 114 for three in their first innings on the third day of the second Test at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Friday.

Liberal young flee to Turkey's 'Little Russia'
In a dark stairwell in Istanbul, Alex, Micha and Nigina wait for keys to a temporary flat.

Blackmore makes Gold Cup history as A Plus Tard wins
Rachael Blackmore became the first woman jockey to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the blue riband of jumps racing, as she eased to victory on A Plus Tard on Friday.

Ukraine fears hundreds trapped in razed theatre as US presses China
Ukraine on Friday said "hundreds" of civilians were trapped in the wreckage of a theatre bombed by Russia, as the United States demanded China get tough with its "war criminal" allies in the Kremlin.

School, kindergarten hit as Kyiv's children suffer
Fourteen-year-old Anna-Maria Romanchuk's lip trembles after a Russian missile exploded outside Gymnasia No34 Lybid, her school in Kyiv.

From Da Vinci to Picasso, doodles on display in Rome
Hidden on the backs of canvases or scrawled on scraps of paper, doodles have allowed artists down the ages, from Michelangelo to Picasso, to test, explore and unleash their creativity.

Erdogan inaugurates world's longest suspension bridge
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday opened the world's longest suspension bridge over the Dardanelles strait in northwestern Turkey -- which cuts travel time between Asia and Europe to six minutes.

Xi speaks out against 'conflict' in call with Biden on Russia
Chinese leader Xi Jinping said war is "in no one's interest" during a phone call Friday with Joe Biden in which the US president aimed to pressure Beijing into joining Western condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Kyiv psychiatric home puts brave face on war
Sometimes, when war makes the walls of her Kyiv psychiatric hospital shudder, head nurse Oksana Padalka hides so she can cry.

US existing home sales fell in February amid supply crunch
Sales of existing homes dropped sharply in the United States last month as buyers struggled to afford homes that remained scarce, an industry survey said Friday.

UN report to lay out options to halt climate crisis
Nearly 200 nations gather on Monday to confront a question that will outlive Russia's invasion of Ukraine: how do we stop carbon pollution overheating the planet and threatening life as we know it?

Seven charged in France over daylight robbery of 'Lupin' crew
France has charged seven youths over a massive daylight robbery from a film crew shooting the new season of hit Netflix heist series "Lupin", French prosecutors said Friday.

Stocks slide, oil climbs at end of volatile week
Oil prices rose while stock markets declined on Friday, as the volatility sparked by the war in Ukraine continued ahead of the weekend.