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Pope Francis asks North Korea to invite him to visit
Pope Francis has asked Pyongyang to invite him to North Korea, saying in a televised interview on Friday that he would not turn down a chance to visit and work for peace.
Australia launches formal inquiry into ex-PM's secret power grab
Australia on Friday tapped a former high court judge to investigate ex-prime minister Scott Morrison's decision to secretly appoint himself to several key ministerial portfolios.
UN high-seas biodiversity treaty struggles to leave port
A two-week negotiating session on a treaty to protect the high seas wraps up Friday, with UN observers holding their breath that the long-stalled deal can cross the finish line.
Chinese volleyball team wear masks during Asian Cup clash
China's volleyball association apologised on Friday for failing to tell its women's team to remove their face masks for an Asian Cup match in the Philippines.
Long Covid costs Australia millions of working days
Long Covid has already cost the Australian economy three million working days this year, according to a government analysis seen by AFP Friday, significantly worsening the country's acute labour shortages.
Christie's to auction Microsoft co-founder Allen's $1bn-plus art collection
Christie's announced plans on Thursday to auction the art collection of late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, which it estimated to be worth more than $1 billion.
In risky recycling venture, Gazans burn plastic for fuel
Living in one of the poorest parts of the Middle East and facing some of the region's highest fuel costs, Palestinians in Gaza are burning plastic to make affordable diesel.
Asia stocks up before Powell speech, China tech adds support
Asian markets rose Friday after a Wall Street rally ahead of a speech by Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell that is expected to reiterate his plan to ramp up interest rates to fight inflation.
In risky recyling venture, Gazans burn plastic for fuel
Living in one of the poorest parts of the Middle East and facing some of the region's highest fuel costs, Palestinians in Gaza are burning plastic to make affordable diesel.
Liverpool look to end dismal start, Arsenal on the up
Troubled Liverpool will be desperate to get their first win of the Premier League season when they face Bournemouth on Saturday.
North Korea says new fever cases were flu, not Covid
North Korea said Friday that the fever cases it detected earlier this week were found to be influenza, and not a Covid-19 resurgence as initially suspected.
Kasatkina advances as Saville makes first WTA final since '17
Australia's Daria Saville advanced to her first WTA final since 2017 on Thursday at the US Open tuneup event in Granby, Canada, while 10th-ranked Daria Kasatkina reached the semi-finals.
Air raid warning puzzles Swedish motorists
Swedish motorists were left puzzled this week after mistakenly receiving an air raid warning, an incident authorities termed "serious" on Thursday given the war in Ukraine and Russia's irritation over Sweden's NATO bid.
Taiwan fruit, fish farmers feel squeeze of China's sanctions
As a Taiwanese fighter jet screamed over the lush green fields of eastern Hualien county last week, pomelo farmer Mulin Ou sat in his orchard counting the cost of China's latest push to squeeze the island.
Brazil's Bolsonaro bets on 'moderate' tone to win vote: minister
Far-right President Jair Bolsonaro is not exactly known for mild rhetoric, but with Brazil deeply divided heading into elections, he is counting on a more moderate image and economic upturn to win, his communications minister says.
Fed's Powell to hammer home inflation-fighting message
With US inflation at a 40-year high, economists say there is no doubt about the Federal Reserve's policy course: Interest rates will continue to rise.
Two plead guilty to stealing, selling Biden daughter's diary
Two people pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing and selling for $40,000 the private diary of President Joe Biden's daughter Ashley Biden, when he was running for office against Donald Trump in 2020.
George Foreman sued for alleged sexual assault
Former world heavyweight champion George Foreman was accused of sexual assault in the 1970s by two women who were teenagers, according to lawsuits filed in Los Angeles.
Trump social media platform faces money woes, modest following
Signs are growing that Donald Trump's social media platform Truth Social is in financial trouble, with just a modest following six months after launching.
Webb telescope finds CO2 for first time in exoplanet atmosphere
The months-old James Webb Space Telescope has added another major scientific discovery to its growing list: detecting for the first time signs of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of a planet outside our solar system.
US strikes in Syria aimed at Iran-backed forces: Biden
US President Joe Biden said Thursday that US air and artillery strikes that killed four militants in eastern Syria were ordered to protect US forces from attacks by Iran-backed militia.
California says new cars must be zero emission by 2035
California ruled Thursday that all new cars sold in America's most populous state must be zero emission from 2035, in what was billed as a nation-leading step to slash the pollutants that cause global warming.
Twitter ordered to give Musk additional bot account data
A US judge told Twitter on Thursday to surrender more data to Elon Musk on fake accounts, a key issue the billionaire is using to try to cancel his buyout bid.
Boeing eyes February for space capsule's first crewed flight
The first crewed flight of Boeing's space capsule Starliner is scheduled for February 2023, the company and NASA announced Thursday, as the United States seeks to secure a second way for its astronauts to reach the International Space Station.
West Ham cruise into Conference League group stage
West Ham shrugged off their dismal Premier League start to ease into the Europa Conference League group stage on Thursday with a 6-1 aggregate rout of Viborg in their play-off tie.
Brazil records worst day for Amazon fires in 15 years
The number of forest fires in the Brazilian Amazon hit a nearly 15-year high this week, according to official figures that provided the latest warning on the advancing destruction of the world's biggest rainforest.
France's Macron announces 'new page' in Algeria ties
French President Emmanuel Macron announced a "new page" in ties with Algeria on Thursday, the first day of a three-day visit aimed at mending ties with the former French colony months after it marked 60 years of independence.
Search for trapped Mexican miners could take 'almost a year'
Relatives of 10 workers trapped in a flooded Mexican coal mine reacted with despair on Thursday after being told by authorities that the search operation could take nearly a year.
Outgoing HRW chief says govts no longer able to hide repression
After three decades at the helm of Human Rights Watch, Kenneth Roth has come to believe that governments are "always tempted" to violate citizens' rights.
US warns Moscow not to divert power from Ukraine nuclear plant
Washington on Thursday warned Russia against diverting energy from a nuclear plant Kyiv says was cut off from its grid, as calls for an independent inspection of the facility mount.
Duplantis soars to pole vault victory on banks of Lake Geneva
Olympic champion and world record holder Armand Duplantis won the Lausanne Diamond League pole vault competition staged on the banks of Lake Geneva on Thursday.
Norris has no sympathy for axed teammate Ricciardo
Lando Norris offered no sympathy for his McLaren team-mate Daniel Ricciardo on Thursday when asked how he felt about the early termination of the Australian's contract.