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Kriel 'excited' to skipper Boks after Kolisi withdrawal
Jesse Kriel will captain South Africa for the first time against the Barbarians after regular skipper Siya Kolisi withdrew because of injury on Friday.
Bielle-Biarrey set for Top 14 final return after 'spectacular change'
Bordeaux-Begles head coach Yannick Bru said on Friday that winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey has experienced a "spectacular change" in concussion symptoms and will be able to feature in this weekend's French Top 14 final against Toulouse.
US Fed's preferred inflation gauge picks up as tariff effects loom
The US Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation edged up in May while spending weakened, government data showed Friday, with policymakers monitoring the effects of President Donald Trump's tariffs in the coming months.
Sri Lanka spinners leave Bangladesh on verge of crushing defeat
Spinners Dhananjaya de Silva and Prabath Jayasurya rounded off another dominant day for Sri Lanka on Friday, taking two wickets each to leave them on the brink of a crushing innings victory over Bangladesh in the second Test.
Swiatek sweeps past Paolini into first grass-court final in Germany
Five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek reached her first ever grass-court final on Friday defeating last year's Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini in the semi-finals at Bad Homburg.
Russell tops opening practice in Austria
George Russell topped the times for Mercedes ahead of four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull in Friday's opening practice ahead of this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix.
MSF slams US-backed Gaza aid scheme as 'slaughter masquerading' as aid
Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) called on Friday for a controversial Israel- and US-backed relief effort in Gaza to be halted, branding it "slaughter masquerading as humanitarian aid".
Lorde kicks off Glastonbury festival with surprise set
New Zealand singer Lorde helped kick off this year's Glastonbury music festival in southwest England on Friday with a packed out "secret set".
Alex Marquez dismisses helping brother Marc's title bid
Runaway championship leader Marc Marquez can draw level with motorcycling legend Giacomo Agostini's 68 elite wins at the Dutch MotoGP this weekend.
Son of Norway princess suspected of three rapes
The son of Norway's crown princess is suspected of three rapes and nearly two dozen other offences, Norwegian police said Friday, handing the case to prosecutors to decide whether to press charges.
Alive but weakened, Iran's Khamenei faces new challenges
Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has re-emerged after the war with Israel but faces a struggle to maintain the authority he has wielded over the Islamic republic in over three-and-a-half decades of rule, analysts say.
Heatwave across the Med sparks health and fire warnings
Southern European countries braced Friday for a punishing weekend heatwave, with temperatures predicted to hit up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) and beyond, prompting health warnings for residents and tourists plus fears of wildfires.
UAE name powerful team to support Pogacar in Tour de France
Tadej Pogacar will set off in defence of his Tour de France title on July 5 backed by a powerful squad which his UAE team unveiled on Friday.
Bezos, Sanchez to say 'I do' in troubled Venice
Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez were to tie the knot Friday at a sumptuous ceremony with the rich and famous on an island in Venice's lagoon, out of the sight and sound of protesters.
Stocks rise as US-China reach trade deal framework
European stocks rose Friday as the United States and China moved closer to a trade deal and as hopes of a further delay to reciprocal tariffs were boosted.
Alcaraz starts Wimbledon defence against Fognini
Carlos Alcaraz will start his Wimbledon defence against Fabio Fognini while world number one Jannik Sinner faces a potential semi-final clash against Novak Djokovic following Friday's draw.
Spain makes Booking.com scrap 4,000 tourist rental ads
Online hotel booking giant Booking.com on Friday said it had taken down thousands of advertisements in Spain in the leftist government's latest crackdown on illegal short-term tourist rentals.
One of Hong Kong's last opposition parties says it will disband
Hong Kong's League of Social Democrats, one of the city's last remaining opposition parties after a five-year political crackdown by Beijing, said Friday that it will disband.
UK govt climbs down on welfare cuts in latest U-turn
The UK government backed down Friday on controversial plans to slash disability and sickness benefits after a major rebellion by MPs, in a blow to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's authority.
Kusal Mendis steers Sri Lanka to commanding lead over Bangladesh
Kusal Mendis struck a rapid 84 to put Sri Lanka in a commanding position on the third day of the second Test against Bangladesh at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Friday.
Anderson teases Dior debut with Mbappe, Basquiat 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.
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.