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Japan has laid out plans to expand its defence capabilities drastically over five years.

While the World Health Organization hopes Covid-19 will soon no longer be considered a public health emergency, it has warned the virus itself is here to stay.

South Africa captain Dean Elgar on Friday said his team was "salivating" at the prospect of facing Australia and conceded there could be feisty moments in their first Test series since the "Sandpaper-gate" scandal.

Japan's government approved a major defence policy overhaul Friday, including a significant spending hike, as it warned China poses the "greatest strategic challenge ever" to the country's security.

At least 16 people were killed when a landslide struck a campsite at a Malaysian farm on Friday, officials said, with rescuers scouring the muddy terrain for nearly 20 people still missing.

In a near pitch-black home set back from fierce fighting in Donbas, Ukraine soldier Volodymyr relishes a few moments of calm before deploying again to the front.

Most Asian stocks fell Friday as investors contemplated interest rates going higher than expected for an extended period after central banks reaffirmed their commitment to bringing down inflation.

Leo Varadkar takes over for the second time as Ireland's prime minister this weekend, in a handover of power between the two main political partners in the three-party governing coalition.

Oscar-winning Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey was due in court in London on Friday to face seven new sexual offence charges.

Three years after the first Covid case was identified in China, preparations to stave off the next pandemic are starting to ramp up but far more needs to be done to avoid repeating past mistakes, experts told AFP.

South Africa captain Dean Elgar on Friday said his team was "salivating" at the prospect of facing Australia and conceded there could be "feisty" moments in their first Test series since the "Sandpaper-gate" scandal.

Rosalia, the former flamenco prodigy who has since cemented her place at the top of the pop world, was arguably the biggest breakout star of 2022.

Kuldeep Yadav recorded career-best figures of 5-40 as India bowled out Bangladesh for 150 to take a towering 254-run lead after the first innings of the first Test in Chittagong on Friday.

US citizens trapped in war-torn Tigray are being detained and interrogated by Ethiopian authorities while trying to leave the country, interviews with fleeing people and family members show.

Russia invaded Ukraine hoping for a quick victory over Kyiv's forces, but is instead locked in a grinding, protracted war that has failed to achieve Moscow's main aims.

Kevin Spacey built a formidable acting career playing dangerous, darkly charismatic antiheroes in hits from "The Usual Suspects" to "House of Cards" -- before disturbing allegations about his personal life brought it crashing down.

Usain Bolt has failed to top the list of the most written about athletes for the first time in years in a sign that track and field is emerging from the hold the retired Jamaican sprint legend had over the sport.

A special Kosovo court in The Hague will hand down its long-awaited first war crimes verdict Friday in the trial of a former rebel commander accused of murder and torture.

Sex workers in Berlin are emerging from the shadows to tell the history of their profession, hoping a new app will help them push back against stigma, abuse and the curse of gentrification.

Whatever happened to the famous British emotional restraint? It's a question that has long fascinated Nobel laureate Kazuo Ishiguro.

Malaysian wrestler Nor "Phoenix" Diana executes a spectacular aerial manoeuvre, then wraps her arms around her opponent and slams her down in the ring as hundreds of spectators cheer.

South Africa's ruling party on Friday launches a closely watched conference that looks set to re-elect Cyril Ramaphosa as its leader, despite a tarnishing cash-heist scandal.

A corruption scandal surrounding last year's Tokyo Games has damaged Japan's bid to host the 2030 Winter Olympics, a top local official warned.

Asian stocks fell Friday as investors contemplated interest rates going higher than expected for an extended period after central banks reaffirmed their commitment to bringing down inflation.

A small fire broke out Thursday in machines that operate the historic Miraflores Lock on the Panama Canal, which delayed the crossing of some ships but did not shut down interoceanic navigation.

North Korea has successfully tested a "high-thrust solid-fuel motor" with the aim of developing a new weapon, state media said Friday.

In one of his last diary entries, Japanese teacher Yoshio Kudo lamented workdays that started early and could last until nearly midnight. Two months later, he suffered "karoshi" -- death from overwork.

Twitter suspended Thursday the accounts of more than a half-dozen journalists who had been writing about the company and its new owner Elon Musk.

Google rivals on Thursday unveiled a project to make freely available data sets for map features to be built into online offerings.

Japan's government is poised to approve a major defence policy overhaul Friday, including a significant spending hike, as it warns China poses the "greatest strategic challenge ever" to the country's security.

Panama ordered a halt Thursday to work at a copper pit that is the largest mine in Central America, after a deadline for a new contract with its Canadian operators expired.

Jose Arnaldo dos Santos Junior traveled to Qatar to cheer on his beloved Brazilian national team led by Neymar in their ultimately failed attempt to claim a sixth World Cup crown.