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Economy
'Alter-Ego': An Italian hospital's little robot carer
A robot with expressive eyebrows that is designed to perform basic tasks to free up healthcare workers is being given a trial run by a hospital in Milan.
Sports
Japan's men told to clean at home, not just the World Cup
Images of Samurai Blue fans cleaning up World Cup stadiums have garnered them widespread praise, but back in Japan, a post has gone viral complaining men rarely do so at home.
Sports
French court confirms Moroccan football star Hakimi will stand trial for rape
A French appeals court on Friday confirmed that Moroccan football star Achraf Hakimi will face trial for the alleged rape of a woman in 2023, which the Paris Saint-Germain defender denies.
Iran-US deal under strain after Swiss talks postponed
A newly signed deal to end the Middle East war was already under strain on Friday, after talks in Switzerland were postponed and fighting flared between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Politics
South Korean leader says told Trump sanctions on North are 'ineffective'
Assistance from Russia had rendered sanctions imposed on nuclear-armed North Korea "ineffective", South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Friday after discussing the matter with his US counterpart Donald Trump.
Boulevard
Deadly Philippines quake turns seabed into shore
Arsenio Butil Jr. fell to his knees and began to pray when last week's deadly 7.8-magnitude earthquake began shaking his home on the coast of the southern Philippines.
Stocks rally falters, oil rises as US-Iran talks postponed
Stock markets were mixed on Friday and oil prices rose after Switzerland said planned talks following up on the US-Iran agreement had been postponed, dealing a blow to the week-long rally.
Politics
S. Korean leader says he told Trump sanctions on North are 'ineffective'
Closer ties between Moscow and Pyongyang have rendered sanctions imposed on North Korea over its nuclear programme "ineffective", South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Friday.
Things to know
Indonesia to capture last-known wild Bornean rhino for IVF
Indonesia's government is racing to capture the last-known Bornean rhino in the wild in a bid to preserve the species through in-vitro fertilisation, a government official told AFP on Friday.
Economy
No vaccine, conflict, mistrust: Ebola's return to DR Congo
Ebola is spreading again in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where conflict, mistrust and the lack of a vaccine have made the outbreak hard to contain.
Sports
USA, Australia eye World Cup knockout rounds, Brazil in action
The United States and Australia will look to book their place in the World Cup knockout rounds on Friday while Brazil aim to kickstart their campaign against Haiti.
Switzerland says US-Iran talks postponed
Switzerland announced Friday that planned talks following up on the deal to end the Middle East war had been postponed, hours after US Vice President JD Vance's departure for the Alpine country was cancelled.
Economy
AI museum brings sights, sounds and smells of the rainforest
The squawks of macaws, the smell of wet earth after rain and a swirl of colors will transport visitors from a Los Angeles museum to the heart of the Amazon rainforest -- or rather, an AI version of it.
Sports
Iran to lodge complaint with FIFA over World Cup restrictions
Iran's World Cup team will lodge a complaint with FIFA claiming they are being subjected to travel restrictions during the tournament in North America, the Iranian football federation spokesman said on Thursday.
Sports
'Old dog' Slipper out of retirement for Wallabies' Nations Championship campaign
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said Friday "old dog" James Slipper will add vital leadership and experience after the 37-year-old was coaxed out of retirement for the Nations Championship.
Economy
New Zealand minister defends fishers after two orcas killed in net
A New Zealand minister has defended fishers involved in the deaths of two orcas in commercial fishing incidents and said "these things happen", while conservationists condemned the "devastating" loss.
Sports
Mexico into World Cup last 32, Canada celebrate historic win
Mexico became the first team to reach the knockout round of the World Cup on Thursday after a 1-0 victory over South Korea while Canada edged closer to the last 32 after thrashing Qatar.
Politics
Seoul record leads most Asian markets higher, crude extends losses
Tech firms powered Seoul's Kospi index to another record on Friday, while oil prices extended losses after traffic began to resume in the Strait of Hormuz under the US-Iran agreement.
Sports
Co-hosts Mexico first team into World Cup knockout rounds
Co-hosts Mexico became the first team to reach the knockout rounds of the World Cup with a 1-0 win over South Korea at a delirious Guadalajara Stadium on Thursday.
Politics
Burnham wins key UK poll, paving way for bid to challenge PM Starmer
Veteran UK Labour politician Andy Burnham emphatically won a crunch by-election on Friday, securing a parliamentary seat and clearing the way for a widely expected leadership challenge against beleaguered Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Sports
Erasmus under 'no illusions' as tough Springboks season kicks off
Top ranked South Africa launch their 2026 season against the Barbarians in Gqeberha on Saturday with a warning from head coach Rassie Erasmus ahead of a 14-match schedule.
Sports
'Pico' Lopes -- Cape Verde defender's journey from Ireland to World Cup
Roberto 'Pico' Lopes might have been whiling away his time as a mortgage advisor in Ireland instead of preparing to face Uruguay in the World Cup on Sunday had Shamrock Rovers not come calling.
Politics
100 Colombian guerrillas disarm in deal with leftist government
About 100 guerrillas laid down their weapons Thursday in a jungle area of southern Colombia under a deal with leftist President Gustavo Petro, who has sought peace with armed rebels, AFP journalists witnessed.
Sports
'Pretty special': captains eye Super Rugby glory in clash of top seeds
Waikato Chiefs captain Tupou Vaa'i said Friday the Super Rugby final against the Wellington Hurricanes on Saturday is "the game that everyone wanted to see".
Things to know
Football 'ambassador' and fan favorite: a duck becomes a star in Mexico
Merlin meets the journalists early in the afternoon after a busy morning at Mexico's biggest TV station. His agenda is jam-packed, going late into the night so he can join thousands of admirers at the World Cup "Fan Fest" in Mexico City.
US Vice President Vance postpones trip to Switzerland for Iran talks
US Vice President JD Vance postponed a trip to Switzerland for talks that were originally slated for Friday to discuss next steps with the US-Iran agreement on ending the war in the Middle East, according to the White House.
Sports
Ivory Coast's Diomande living World Cup dream, dealing with tragedy
Two years after leaving the United States following a series of unsuccessful MLS tryouts, Yan Diomande is shining at the World Cup for Ivory Coast -- and still grieving a family tragedy.
Sports
Slipper out of retirement for Wallabies' Nations Championship campaign
Veteran prop James Slipper was named in coach Joe Schmidt's 37-strong Australia squad for the opening three Tests of the Nations Championship on Friday, with a trio of potential debutants also included.
Sports
Australia seek 'respect' from US amid World Cup 'layup' row
Socceroos coach Tony Popovic said victory over the United States on Friday would earn his side "respect," in the wake of disparaging comments by US pundits about the Australian side that have triggered a long-brewing row.
Sports
New Zealand's Payne joins Paraguayan powerhouse after Instagram fame
New Zealand's World Cup social media sensation Tim Payne has capitalised on his newfound fame, with the defender announcing on Friday that he has signed for Paraguayan powerhouse Club Olimpia.
Culture
Japan doctor-turned-author moots amputations to ease care crunch
Like the protagonist in his taboo novel, former doctor-turned-author Yo Kusakabe believes chopping off elderly patients' useless limbs could help prevent a potential collapse of super-ageing Japan's overstressed care industry.
Sports
Clark seizes four-stroke lead at darkness-halted US Open
Wyndham Clark made an eagle and two birdies in three holes to seize a four-stroke lead when darkness halted Thursday's first round of the 126th US Open at blustery Shinnecock.