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Haiti sees surge of deaths amid instability crisis: UN report
A soaring wave of gang violence in Haiti left 1,660 people dead and some 850 injured in the first three months of 2024, a UN report said Friday.
NATO must choose 'whether we indeed are allies': Zelensky
NATO must decide if it is Kyiv's ally, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday, urging defence ministers from the bloc's member states to step up arms deliveries to his struggling forces.
Microsoft teases lifelike avatar AI tech but gives no release date
Researchers at Microsoft have revealed a new artificial tool that can create deeply realistic human avatars -- but offered no timetable to make it available to the public, citing concerns about facilitating deep fake content.
Second Ecuadoran mayor killed ahead of anti-crime referendum: police
The mayor of a mining town in violence-riddled Ecuador was shot dead Friday, the second such killing in days ahead of a weekend referendum on tougher measures against organized crime, police said.
Roma's interrupted match at Udinese to be finished on April 25
Roma's match at Udinese, which was suspended last weekend after defender Evan Ndicka collapsed on the pitch, will be finished on April 25, Serie A said on Friday.
X owner Musk says opposed to US ban of competitor TikTok
Elon Musk on Friday came out against banning TikTok in the United States, even if it would mean less competition for his social media platform X, formerly Twitter, as the initiative sees fresh bipartisan momentum in Congress.
Neuville and Evans locked in Croatia Rally lead
Thierry Neuville of Hyundai clung on to his lead in the Rally of Croatia despite a puncture as Toyota's Elfyn Evans won two late specials to draw level on time with the Belgian on Friday.
Trump jury set for opening arguments, man self-immolates outside
Donald Trump's unprecedented criminal trial is set for opening arguments next week after final jury selection ended Friday in proceedings overshadowed by a man setting himself on fire outside the Manhattan courthouse.
IMF calls on EU to deepen single market integration to boost growth
Deeper integration of the European Union's internal market could prove crucial for boosting lackluster economic growth and productivity levels in the 27-member trading bloc, a senior IMF official told AFP Friday.
Mideast enters new era with Israel strikes on Iran
After years of high-level US pressure on its ally to show restraint, Israel's purported attack on Iran takes the region and Western-led diplomacy into uncharted territory.
US fines Thailand-based firm $20 mn for Iran sanctions violations
The United States fined a Thailand-based firm $20 million on Friday for more than 450 possible Iran sanctions violations -- a day after Washington slapped fresh sanctions on Iran following last weekend's attack on Israel.
Tsitsipas saves two match points to reach Barcelona semi-finals
World number seven Stefanos Tsitsipas saved two match points to defeat Facundo Diaz Acosta and reach the semi-finals of the Barcelona clay-court tournament on Friday.
Swiatek's perfect 10 in Stuttgart as Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka
World number one and defending champion Iga Swiatek took her Stuttgart winning streak to 10 matches on Friday with a straight sets victory over Emma Raducanu while Marketa Vondrousova stunned three-time runner-up Aryna Sabalenka to also make the semi-finals.
Man self-immolates outside Trump trial as jury selected
A man set himself on fire Friday outside the courthouse where at almost the same moment, full jury selection was completed in the unprecedented criminal trial of Donald Trump.
Advanced economies pledge $11 bn to boost World Bank lending
A group of advanced economies have pledged $11 billion in new funding commitments to boost the World Bank's lending capacity by up to $70 billion over a decade, the development lender announced Friday.
Pro-China PM retains his seat in Solomon Islands election
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare was set Saturday to retain his seat in elections, local media reported, paving the way for the pro-China leader to try to form a government.
Zelensky says NATO must choose 'whether we indeed are allies'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that NATO must decide if it is Ukraine's ally and urged the defence alliance's members to accelerate weapons deliveries to help his struggling forces.
P&G profits rise despite hit from Middle East tensions
Procter & Gamble reported higher profits Friday, citing strong demand in the United States and many European markets that offset weakness elsewhere due to Middle East tensions and a lackluster performance in China.
Calls for calm after reported Israeli strike on Iran
World leaders appealed for calm Friday after reported Israeli retaliation against Iran added to months of tense spillover from the war in Gaza, with Iranian state media reporting explosions in a central province.
Pochettino says Chelsea star Palmer has nothing to prove to Man City
Mauricio Pochettino is adamant Chelsea star Cole Palmer has nothing to prove to his former club Manchester City in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final.
Oil, gas drilling blocked in Alaska wilds as Biden seeks green cred
The United States on Friday blocked oil, gas and mining operations across tracts of unspoiled wilderness in Alaska, winning praise from environmentalists for safeguarding habitat for polar bears, caribou and other Arctic species.
Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka to make Stuttgart semi-finals
Marketa Vondrousova on Friday reached her first semi-final since clinching the Wimbledon title last July when she stunned world number two Aryna Sabalenka at the Stuttgart clay-court tournament.
Croatia top court bars president from becoming next PM
Croatia's top court said on Friday that the country's president, who had campaigned to become prime minister ahead of this week's parliamentary election, could not head the new government.
French police detain intruder at Iranian consulate in Paris
French authorities Friday detained a man suspected of entering the Iranian consulate in Paris and falsely claiming to be armed with an explosive vest, police and prosecutors said.
US says two 'forever chemicals' are hazardous, tells polluters to pay
The US Environmental Protection Agency on Friday classified two so-called "forever chemicals" as hazardous substances, meaning those responsible for releasing them will have to pay to clean up contamination.
Everton must 'give more' in survival fight: Dyche
Sean Dyche has demanded Everton "give more" in their fight to avoid relegation from the Premier League as his side prepare for a crucial showdown with fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest.
US ski great Vonn hails use of AI to protect Olympic athletes from online hate
US skiing great Lindsey Vonn has welcomed plans to use artificial intelligence to shield Olympic athletes from vicious online hate, recounting how she was "wildly harassed" before the 2018 Winter Games.
'I don't know much about snooker' says seven-time world champ O'Sullivan
Ronnie O'Sullivan will launch his bid for an eighth World Championship triumph with a new approach after claiming he doesn't "know much" about snooker.
Taylor Swift, tortured poet, exorcises demons with new double album
Taylor Swift's hotly anticipated "The Tortured Poets Department" is here along with a surprise second album -- 31 tracks released Friday in which the megawatt star purges her inner turmoil while scorching former lovers.
UK environment activists guilty of halting 'Les Miserables'
Five environmental activists from the group Just Stop Oil were on Friday convicted of trespassing for disrupting a performance of "Les Miserables" in London last year.
Man City suffer Haaland injury scare before FA Cup semi-final
Pep Guardiola has revealed Erling Haaland could miss Manchester City's FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday.
Coe riles Olympic movement with prize money move
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe's decision to award prize money to Olympic gold medallists was welcomed by athletes but has sparked a backlash from bosses of other sports.