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Austria finds Microsoft 'illegally' tracked students: privacy campaign group
Austria's data protection authority has determined that Microsoft "illegally" tracked students using its education software and must grant them access to their data, a privacy campaign group said Friday.

Stock markets limp into weekend as AI bubble fears grow
Stock markets struggled Friday following a mixed week dominated by the Gaza ceasefire, US government shutdown and fears that the artificial intelligence sector is overvalued.

New species of Jurassic 'sword dragon' found in UK
A skeleton found on Britain's Jurassic Coast has been identified as a new species of ichthyosaur, a type of prehistoric marine reptile that once ruled the seas, scientists said Friday.

'Full of sorrow': Gazans trek home as truce begins
Full of grief after two years of war but glad to be going home, thousands of displaced Palestinians set off across the Gaza Strip on Friday, as a truce between Israel and Hamas took hold.

Venezuela's 'libertadora' Maria Corina Machado wins Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize was on Friday awarded to Venezuela's opposition leader and democracy activist Maria Corina Machado, a "unifying" figure in what has become a "brutal" state, the Nobel jury said.

Six killed as major quake strikes southern Philippines
A powerful magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck off the southern Philippines on Friday, killing at least six people and triggering regional tsunami warnings that were later lifted.

UK opens door to tougher regulation of Google search
Britain's competition watchdog on Friday paved the way for tougher regulation to tackle Google's dominance in online search, under new targeted measures focused on technology giants.

Art world's 'troublemakers' join forces in 'joyful' London show
They come from a world of underground, even subversive, art, but now US activist Shepard Fairey has joined forces with Britain's Damien Hirst and French street artist Invader with a "joyful" exhibition to show even in dark times there is always hope.

Israel begins Gaza pullback as thousands head home
Israeli forces declared a ceasefire and withdrew from some positions in Gaza on Friday, as thousands of displaced Palestinians began to trek home and the families of October 7 hostages awaited news.

Premier League ref Taylor keeps family away from matches due to abuse
Premier League referee Anthony Taylor says his family no longer attends high-profile matches due to the constant barrage of abuse he receives.

Venezuela opposition leader Maria Corina Machado wins Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize was on Friday awarded to Venezuela's opposition leader and democracy activist Maria Corina Machado, forced to live in hiding in what has become a "brutal" state, the Nobel jury said.

'Duck' Alcaraz and 'Cow' Federer: China tennis fans delight in nicknames
The tennis world is in China this month with fans getting the chance to cheer on some of the sport's biggest stars.

Unseeded Rinderknech ousts Auger-Aliassime to reach Shanghai semis
France's Arthur Rinderknech joined his cousin in the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters on Friday as he claimed the scalp of another seed in Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime, 6-3, 6-4.

'Cynical' Russian attack batters Ukraine energy grid, kills 7-year-old
Russian drones and missiles pummelled Ukraine's struggling energy infrastructure early Friday, cutting power to thousands across the country and killing a seven-year-old boy.

Jaiswal ton propels India to 220-1 in West Indies Test
Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal hit a sparkling century to put India on course for a big total as they reached 220-1 at tea on day one of the second Test against the West Indies on Friday.

EU grills Apple, Snapchat, YouTube over risks to children
The EU Friday demanded digital giants including Snapchat and YouTube explain how they are protecting children from online harm, as member states explore restricting minors' access to social media at a European level.

India to upgrade Afghan mission to full embassy
India will upgrade its technical mission in Afghanistan to a full embassy, Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said Friday, as he met his counterpart from Kabul in New Delhi.

Peru ousts president blamed for failing to stem crime
Lawmakers in Peru removed president Dina Boluarte from office just after midnight on Friday, ending a stint in office plagued by protests, corruption probes and rampant crime.

Two killed as major quake strikes southern Philippines
A powerful magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck off the southern Philippines on Friday, leaving at least two people dead and triggering regional tsunami warnings that were later lifted.

Schauffele jumps into share of second in Japan
Xander Schauffele moved four shots off the lead at the halfway stage of the US PGA Tour's Baycurrent Classic in Japan after carding a sizzling eight-under-par 63 on Friday.

Japan in political crisis as coalition collapses
Japan's ruling coalition collapsed Friday as junior partner Komeito quit the alliance, putting in peril Sanae Takaichi's bid to become the country's first woman prime minister.

Relentless Sabalenka marches into Wuhan semi-finals
Aryna Sabalenka powered into her 11th semi-final of the year with a 6-3, 6-3 win over eighth-seeded Elena Rybakina at the Wuhan Open on Friday.

India lose Rahul after strong start in West Indies Test
India started strongly but lost KL Rahul to reach 94-1 at lunch on the first day of the second Test against West Indies on Friday.

North Korea's Kim hails 'cooperative' ties with China
North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un hailed "friendly and cooperative" ties with China as he hosted Premier Li Qiang and other foreign dignitaries for celebrations marking 80 years under the ruling Workers' Party, state media reported Friday.

Last fluent speaker on a quest to keep ancient S.African language alive
In her humble home on the red soil of the Green Kalahari, 92-year-old Katrina Esau listened intently as her two great-grandchildren practised the ancient N|uu language of South Africa's indigenous San people.

One killed as major quake strikes southern Philippines
A powerful magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck off the southern Philippines on Friday, killing at least one person and triggering regional tsunami warnings that were later lifted.

Peru lawmakers oust president slammed for crime crisis
Lawmakers in Peru voted Friday to remove president Dina Boluarte, whose term has been marked by protests and accusations of failing to stem crime.

'Time runs away': Japan's city with a two-hour cap on phone use
Police won't be rounding up people glued to phones in Japan's Toyoake, but the mayor believes his two-hour limit can help residents find a healthier relationship with their screens.

Carmakers face massive UK dieselgate lawsuit
Five major car manufacturers go on trial at London's High Court on Monday in the latest chapter of the dieselgate emissions scandal that has rocked the global car industry for a decade.

France's Macron to name PM to end political crisis
France's Emmanuel Macron was on Friday due to pick a head of government tasked with pulling the country out of a political gridlock, in a move that staves off fresh elections for now.

Unstoppable Pogacar targets more history at season-ending Il Lombardia
Tadej Pogacar is red-hot favourite to match a feat only ever achieved by cycling icon Eddy Merckx as the Slovenian superstar bids to win the Tour of Lombardy for the fifth consecutive year.

Ex-All Black Kerr-Barlow relishing Top 14 reunion with 'juggernauts' La Rochelle
Stade Francais's ex-New Zealand scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow said he is looking forward to facing former team La Rochelle and their international-packed squad in the French Top 14 on Saturday.