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Stocks sank Friday as US-Iran clashes in the Strait of Hormuz jolted hopes for a deal to end the war and reopen the crucial waterway.

Japan confirmed Friday the first fatal bear attack of 2026 after a record 13 deaths last year, with reports pointing to a jump in sightings as the animals emerge hungry from hibernation.

Three hikers, including two foreigners, died and 10 were missing after Mount Dukono on Indonesia's eastern Halmahera island erupted Friday, spewing an ash cloud about 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) into the air, a local police chief said.

For years, Syrian brown bears Nairi, Aram and their cub Lola were trapped in a three-metre-wide cage in Armenia's capital Yerevan, living in their own faeces and fed with sweets.

Bangladesh's deadliest measles outbreak in decades is stretching its health system, with children filling hospital wards and doctors struggling to contain a surge in infections that have killed more than 300 youngsters.

Russia and Ukraine launched major attacks on each other on Friday, with a two-day unilateral ceasefire that Moscow had declared around its World War II commemorations appearing to be in tatters.

The rules of the Eurovision Song Contest -- the biggest live televised music event -- have evolved to keep pace with technological, artistic and geopolitical changes over the past 70 years.

The Oklahoma City Thunder pulled away late to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 125-107 in an NBA playoff thriller on Thursday, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven Western Conference semi-final series.

Already fighting to avoid relegation from the Bundesliga, Wolfsburg on Saturday host a Bayern Munich side still smarting from their Champions League elimination by holders Paris Saint‑Germain.

With the sting of Champions League disappointment fading but not forgotten, Barcelona are aiming to clinch back-to-back La Liga titles on Sunday when they host bitter rivals Real Madrid.

The young Ukrainian lieutenant talked back too much so his Russian jailers beat him to a pulp.

Stocks sank and oil prices jumped Friday as US-Iran clashes in the Strait of Hormuz jolted hopes for a deal to end the war and reopen the crucial waterway.

Malaysia is resorting to cloud seeding to bring much-needed rain to the country's "rice bowl" north, where a drought has delayed planting of the staple crop and raised supply fears.

Donald Trump is poised to be the first US president visiting China in almost a decade, but an uneasy trade truce and tensions over Iran and Taiwan loom over his trip next week.

US President Donald Trump is due to visit China on May 14-15, where he is expected to meet leader Xi Jinping, after delaying an earlier summit because of the Iran war.

In an overcrowded camp in Sudan's Blue Nile state, Awatif Awad has been fighting to keep her five children alive as the region becomes a new front line in the country's three-year war.

North Korea plans to deploy a new type of artillery along its southern border, state media said Friday, potentially putting Seoul within striking range as Pyongyang deepens its hostility towards South Korea.

The European Union's climate monitor said Friday that ocean temperatures are edging toward record highs as conditions shift toward a potentially powerful El Nino weather pattern.

The Detroit Pistons thwarted Cleveland's comeback bid to beat the Cavaliers 107-97 on Thursday and take a 2-0 lead in their NBA playoff series.

Pope Leo XIV marks one year as leader of the Catholic Church Friday with a visit to southern Italy, returning to his flock after weeks dominated by a clash with Washington.

In a football league of big men trying to lose weight, the five-a-side teams feature names like OB City, Big Bananas and Heavy Touch FC.

US President Donald Trump heads for a superpower summit with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping next week hoping the Iran war will not spoil the mood in Beijing.

Russia said Friday it intercepted drones bound for Moscow after warning of a potential retaliatory strike on Kyiv despite a two-day unilateral ceasefire it declared around its World War II victory holiday.

New York's governor on Thursday ordered federal immigration agents operating in her state to not wear masks, a move likely to be challenged by President Donald Trump's administration after courts overturned a similar effort in California.

Arsenal are firmly back in control of the Premier League title race and a win at struggling West Ham on Sunday could all but seal the Gunners' first English title in 22 years.

The grass pitch for the World Cup final was installed Thursday at a stadium near New York, a milestone as anticipation builds for the top football tournament.

Two Australian women "kept a female slave" after travelling to Syria in 2014 to support the Islamic State group, police said Friday after they were charged in Melbourne.

Venezuela's prisons ministry on Thursday acknowledged the death in custody of a political prisoner nearly a year after his passing and after his mother spent months searching for him.

American Andrea Lee birdied four of her last five holes to grab a one-stroke lead after Thursday's opening round of the LPGA Mizuho Americas Open.

Matt McCarty birdied five of his first eight holes, three on spectacular putts from beyond 50 feet, and grabbed the lead in Thursday's storm-halted opening round of the PGA Truist Championship.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Thursday called for US authorities to relaunch their investigation into the Israeli military's killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was gunned down while reporting for Al Jazeera in the occupied West Bank in 2022.

The US military said it carried out strikes on Iranian military targets Thursday after an attack on three American destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran accused Washington of striking first.

A passion for football binds three generations of the Rueda family in Mexico City, from Pele fan Fernando to Maradona aficionado Jairo and France follower Emilio.

Crystal Palace soared into their first European final on Thursday, completing an emphatic 5-2 aggregate win over Shakhtar Donetsk to give manager Oliver Glasner the chance of a fairytale end to his golden reign.

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins saluted Unai Emery for masterminding his side's run to the Europa League final after they thrashed Nottingham Forest 4-0 on Thursday.

Performances by AI-generated actors will not be eligible for Golden Globe awards, organizers said Thursday, days after they were also ruled out of Oscars contention.

Lukas Kuebler scored in each half as Freiburg beat Braga 3-1 at home on Thursday to win 4-3 on aggregate and and qualify for the Europa League final where they will face Aston Villa.

Rayo Vallecano are through to the first European final in their history after ending Strasbourg's hopes with a 1-0 win in France in the second leg of their UEFA Conference League last-four tie on Thursday, as a 2-0 aggregate success set up a decider against Crystal Palace later this month.


Aston Villa reached their first European final for 44 years in memorable style with a 4-0 demolition of Nottingham Forest in the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday.