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Sports
Goals galore for Gattuso's Italy in World Cup qualifiers, France start with win
Gennaro Gattuso enjoyed his start to life as Italy coach on Friday as his team beat Estonia 5-0 to get their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign back on track, while Kylian Mbappe struck as France began their bid with a win against Ukraine.
Sports
Morocco crush 10-man Niger to seal 2026 World Cup spot
Morocco trounced 10-man Niger 5-0 in Rabat on Friday to win Group E and become the first African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
Trump threatens to down Venezuelan jets as tensions grow
Donald Trump on Friday threatened to shoot down Venezuelan military jets if they pose a danger to US forces, as Washington deploys F-35 warplanes to Puerto Rico as part of the president's war on drug cartels.
Gattuso's new Italy hammer Estonia in World Cup qualifier
Gennaro Gattuso got off to an impressive start as Italy coach with Friday's 5-0 thumping of Estonia as he bids to stop the Azzurri missing out on a third straight World Cup.
Politics
Trump to blacklist countries for imprisoning Americans
US President Donald Trump moved Friday to create a blacklist of countries that Washington says unjustly detain Americans, spelling out harsh punishments including bans on travel.
Politics
Trump hails Department of War rebrand as 'message of victory'
US President Donald Trump signed an order Friday rebranding the Department of Defense as the Department of War, saying it sent a "message of victory" to the rest of the world.
Politics
Israel army levels high-rise in Gaza City offensive
The Israeli military destroyed a high-rise in Gaza City on Friday, shortly after announcing it would target tall buildings identified as being used by Hamas ahead of its planned seizure of the Palestinian territory's biggest city.
Sports
Gattuso's Italy hammer Estonia in World Cup qualifier
Gennaro Gattuso got off to an impressive start as Italy coach with Friday's 5-0 thumping of Estonia as he bids to stop the Azzurri missing out on a third straight World Cup.
Technology
AI giant Anthropic to pay $1.5 bn over pirated books
Anthropic will pay at least $1.5 billion to settle a US class action lawsuit over pirated books allegedly used to train its artificial intelligence (AI) models, according to court documents filed Friday.
Sports
Suarez banned six matches for Leagues Cup spitting furore: official
Inter Miami star Luis Suarez has been handed a six-match suspension for his actions following last weekend's stormy Leagues Cup final defeat to the Seattle Sounders, tournament disciplinary chiefs said on Friday.
EU massive fine against Google draws Trump threat
The EU on Friday slapped Google with a massive 2.95 billion euros ($3.47 billion) antitrust fine for favoring its own advertising services, drawing a furious rebuke from President Donald Trump and a threat of fresh tariffs against Europe.
Almeida wins Vuelta 'queen stage' amid Palestinian protests
Portuguese rider Joao Almeida climbed to victory in the 'queen' stage 13 of the Vuelta a Espana on Friday ahead of Danish race leader Jonas Vingegaard as repeated roadside pro-Palestinian protests continued to upset the peloton.
Sports
Paraguay celebrates 2026 World Cup spot with impromptu holiday
Paraguay celebrated an impromptu national holiday Friday after a draw against Ecuador saw the South American nation qualify for its first Football World Cup in 16 years.
Culture
Eiffel Tower to honour 72 women scholars to ensure gender parity
Gustave Eiffel, who designed France's world-famous monument, had the names of 72 scholars inscribed on the base of the tower in golden letters. All of them men.
Economy
US agents arrest 475 in raid on Hyundai-LG plant
South Koreans suspected of working in the United States illegally were the majority of the 475 people arrested in a raid on a Hyundai-LG battery plant being built in the southern state of Georgia, a US official said Friday.
Politics
Lebanon says army will begin implementing Hezbollah disarmament plan
The Lebanese military will begin implementing its plan to disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah, the government said on Friday following a cabinet meeting, amid opposition from the group and its allies.
Culture
Gaza film at Venice targeted by hate campaign, director says
At its premiere, a powerful new Gaza film at the Venice Film Festival sparked 23 minutes of sustained applause. But the next day hate emails flooded in, the director said Friday.
Sports
Clippers owner Ballmer says he had no idea about Leonard deal: report
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer says he had no idea that a sponsor of his NBA club reportedly was paying superstar Kawhi Leonard $28 million for a no-work job.
Economy
Leo XIV inaugurates eco training centre near Rome
Pope Leo XIV inaugurated a new training centre devoted to sustainability on the outskirts of Rome on Friday, following in his predecessor Francis's efforts to champion the environment.
Sports
Ferrari fans downhearted by Hamilton's F1 troubles
Ferrari fans have been left disillusioned by Lewis Hamilton's dismal first season at Formula One's biggest team which has failed to live up to hype.
Boulevard
EU hits Google with 2.95 bn euro fine despite Trump threats
The EU on Friday slapped Google with a massive 2.95 billion euro ($3.47 billion) antitrust fine for favouring its own advertising services, despite President Donald Trump's warnings not to target US big tech.
Sports
England rest Duckett for South Africa T20s and recall Sam Curran
England announced Friday they were resting opening batsman Ben Duckett from an upcoming T20 series against South Africa following successive one-day international losses to the Proteas, with Sam Curran recalled for the first time this year.
Sports
Binder sets record pace in Catalan MotoGP practice as Marquez lurks
Brad Binder set a lap record on Friday as KTM dominated opening practice for the Catalunya MotoGP at Montmelo.
Politics
Spain's BBVA bank to start Sabadell offer Monday
Spanish banking giant BBVA said on Friday its tender offer for smaller national rival Sabadell would start on Monday after its hostile bid received the stock market regulator's green light.
Sports
Boxing chiefs vow to learn lessons after world championships sex test row
Boxing chiefs on Friday pledged to redouble efforts to get their message across about newly introduced genetic sex tests after a row overshadowed the start of the world championships.
Sports
F1 title pretender Norris fastest in second Monza practice
Lando Norris was fastest in the second practice session at the Italian Grand Prix on Friday as the McLaren driver bids to cut into his teammate Osar Piastri's handy Formula One championship lead.
Politics
Seizing Russian assets would risk 'terrible systemic shock' to euro: Belgian FM
Seizing Russian central bank assets immobilised in the 27-nation EU over the Ukraine war risks inflicting major damage on Europe's economy, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot told AFP Friday.
Boulevard
Fresh Nicaragua crackdown hints at behind-the-scenes power grab
A wave of arrests and the death of jailed opposition figures has signalled a new "era of repression" in Nicaragua, observers say, as powerful co-president Rosario Murillo prepares to take power from her ailing husband, Daniel Ortega.
Politics
WHO chief lifts global mpox emergency
Mpox no longer represents a global public health emergency, the WHO said Friday, following a steady decline in cases and deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other affected countries.
US jobs data boosts rate cut hopes but stocks slide
Weak US jobs data cemented expectations of an interest rate cut later this month on Friday but stocks slid on worries about the economic outlook and profit-taking.
Boulevard
EU hits Google with €2.95 bn fine despite Trump threats
The EU slapped Google with a massive 2.95 billion euro ($3.47 billion) antitrust fine for favouring its own advertising services Friday, despite President Donald Trump's warnings not to target US big tech.
Politics
Starmer shakes up top team after deputy Rayner quits
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer overhauled his ministerial team Friday in a bid to reset his embattled government after deputy premier Angela Rayner resigned for underpaying a property tax.