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Global tensions rattle COP30 build-up but 'failure not an option'
This year's UN COP30 summit in Brazil was hotly-anticipated as a pivotal moment for the planet, as the world fast approaches a key global warming threshold.

China's top diplomat to visit EU, Germany, France next week
China's top diplomat Wang Yi will head to Europe next week for talks with counterparts from the European Union, Germany and France, Beijing said on Friday as it seeks to shore up fraught ties with the bloc.

Manager Van Nistelrooy leaves relegated Leicester
Ruud van Nistelrooy has left his position as manager of Leicester after relegation from the Premier League, the club announced on Friday.

Eel-eating Japan opposes EU call for more protection
Japan's agriculture minister said Friday the country would oppose any call by the European Union to add eels to an endangered species list that would limit trade in them.

Messi's PSG reunion, Real Madrid face Juventus in Club World Cup last 16
From Inter Miami's Lionel Messi facing former side Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid meeting Juventus and Chelsea taking on Benfica, AFP Sport looks ahead to the Club World Cup last 16.

China confirms trade deal framework reached with United States
China confirmed on Friday details on the framework of a trade deal with the United States, saying Washington would lift "restrictive measures" while Beijing would "review and approve" items under export controls.

Dollar holds losses on rate cut bets, trade hope boosts stocks
The dollar held around three-year lows Friday as traders ramp up bets on US interest rate cuts, while most stock markets rose on hopes Donald Trump will further delay imposing tough tariffs.

India accused of illegal deportations targeting Muslims
India has deported without trial to Bangladesh hundreds of people, officials from both sides said, drawing condemnation from activists and lawyers who call the recent expulsions illegal and based on ethnic profiling.

Australia and Lions yet to resolve tour sticking point
A British and Irish Lions demand that top Wallabies appear for their club sides to ensure competitive tour matches is yet to be resolved, Rugby Australia said on Friday.

Green bonds offer hope, and risk, in Africa's climate fight
It only took two days for Nigeria to raise $59 million through green bonds -- part of a funding drive for climate and environmental projects in a nation still hooked on oil.

Game 'reloots' African artefacts from Western museums
Under the cover of darkness, Nomali jumped over a wall, burst into a museum and snatched a human skull from a pedestal before escaping through a window to the wail of an alarm.

Renters struggle to survive in Portugal housing crisis
With sky-high rents beyond his modest pension, Antonio Lemos has no choice but to live in an abandoned house in Lisbon without electricity or running water as Portugal's perennial housing crisis spirals.

Western Japan sees earliest end to rainy season on record
Japan's rainy season ended at the earliest date on record in the country's western regions, meteorologists said Friday, as climate change makes global weather patterns less predictable.

Ketamine 'epidemic' among UK youth raises alarm
The first time Barney Casserly used ketamine at a UK music festival he thought he had found "nirvana". Five years later he died in agony, leaving behind devastated parents and friends.

'Shocking' COP30 lodging costs heap pressure on Brazil
"Belem is ready," Brazilian officials have insisted ahead of the COP30 gathering in November -- but eye-watering lodging costs in the northern city have panicked many would-be attendees.

India investigates 'unnatural' death of five tigers
India has launched an investigation after an endangered tigress and her four cubs were found dead in a protected forest in the southern state of Karnataka, an official said Friday.

Anderson teases Dior debut with Mbappe, Basquiet and Marie Antoinette
It's the most eagerly awaited show of Paris Men's Fashion Week. And for the last few days Dior's new creative director Jonathan Anderson has been dropping clues on social media about the contents of his first collection for the fabled French house.

Bangladesh pushes solar to tackle energy woes
Bangladesh's caretaker leader has ordered all government institutions including ministry buildings and schools to install solar panels to ease chronic power problems in a country regularly hit by deadly heatwaves.

Wallabies veteran White relishing 'unreal' Lions opportunity
Wallabies scrum-half Nic White has been waiting 12 years to face the British and Irish Lions and on Friday called it "proper spine-tingling stuff" to finally get the opportunity this weekend.

Hong Kong's dragnet widens 5 years after national security law
Jailed pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong shrugged and shook his head after a Hong Kong court this month announced a fresh charge of breaching the city's national security law.

Tibetans face up to uncertain future as Dalai Lama turns 90
Tibetans in exile celebrate the 90th birthday of spiritual leader the Dalai Lama next week, an occasion overshadowed by uncertainty about the future of the role and what it means for their movement.

'Simple monk': the Dalai Lama, in his translator's words
With his flowing red monk's robes, beaming smile and contagious laugh, the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, has been the charismatic global face of his people's cause for decades.

Man City crush Juventus, Real Madrid reach Club World Cup last 16
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City demonstrated their Club World Cup credentials with a 5-2 victory over Juventus on Thursday while Vinicius Junior starred as Real Madrid beat Salzburg 3-0 to secure a spot in the last 16.

Stocks climb, dollar holds on trade hopes and rate bets
Asian markets rose Friday on fresh trade hopes and the dollar held around three-year lows amid bets of cuts to US interest rate cuts.

Bezos, Sanchez to say 'I do' in Venice
Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are expected to tie the knot Friday at a sumptuous, secluded ceremony attended by celebrity friends on an island in Venice's lagoon.

Vinicius stars as Real Madrid ease into Club World Cup last 16
Vinicius Junior scored one goal and made another with a touch of class as Real Madrid sealed their place in the last 16 of the Club World Cup with a 3-0 win over Salzburg on Thursday.

New-look Wimbledon prepares for life without line judges
Wimbledon is guaranteed to be picture-perfect when it gets under way next week but the courts will never look the same again after the demise of line judges.

Japan executes 'Twitter killer' who murdered nine
Japan on Friday executed a man dubbed the "Twitter killer" who murdered and dismembered nine people he met online, in the nation's first enactment of the death penalty since 2022.

UN conference seeks foreign aid rally as Trump cuts bite
Spain will host a UN conference next week seeking fresh backing for development aid as swingeing cuts led by US President Donald Trump and global turmoil hinder progress on fighting poverty, hunger and climate change.

Dying breed: Tunisian dog lovers push to save age-old desert hound
Nemcha, Zina and Zouina, three North African Sloughi hounds, play on the beach in Tunisia where their ancestors have long roamed desert plains, seemingly unaware of the existential threat to their dwindling breed.

Springboks launch 'really tough season' against Barbarians
World champions South Africa tackle the Barbarians in a non-cap exhibition match on Saturday to kick off what head coach Rassie Erasmus says will be a "really tough season".

Syria's wheat war: drought fuels food crisis for 16 million
Rival Syrian and Kurdish producers are scrambling for shrinking wheat harvests as the worst drought in decades follows a devastating war, pushing more than 16 million people toward food insecurity.