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Japan enacted a law on Friday that criminalises damaging the national flag, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pushes forward with her conservative agenda despite worries over freedom of expression.

On a rocky Cape Verde beach, Maria and Vania fill their buckets with black sand the moment that waves recede, transporting it on their heads to a stockpile where it will be sold illegally.

From the top of a wind turbine nearly 100 metres above the ground, Grzegorz Witek, a coal miner, gazes at the horizon.

When Eric Lauer needs to hire at Giftory, the online gift-giving platform he runs, he's no longer looking for eager young coders fresh out of college.

The more Yoriko Kitagawa learns of a massive data centre to be built near her home in Hino on the outskirts of Tokyo, the more she worries.

Tokyo and Taipei led losses on a glum day for Asian markets Friday, with tech firms once again in the crosshairs as investors cash in following this year's breathtaking rally.

Japan's parliament tweaked the imperial succession law on Friday but maintained the bar on women emperors -- despite surveys suggesting wide public support for the idea.

The United States hit Iran on Friday, with Tehran accusing US forces of striking civilians sites and drawing Iranian threats of reprisals on regional infrastructure.

US President Donald Trump resurrected long-debunked claims about fraud and foreign interference in the 2020 election, alleging in an address Thursday that China stole millions of voter files and suggesting Venezuela could manipulate American voting machines.

Artificial intelligence should not be dominated by a single country, China's President Xi Jinping said Friday, urging international cooperation on its development at a major conference in Shanghai.

As Pakistan stepped into the global centre-stage through Iran war mediation, it hired a US lobbying firm to push Washington for boosted security cooperation and minerals investment, the contract shows.

India has sent spacecraft to Mars and the Moon, put hundreds of satellites into orbit and will in the coming days launch its first privately developed orbital-class rocket.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday revived sweeping and unsupported claims of voter fraud and Chinese meddling –- firing a clear warning shot ahead of midterm elections that many expect him to dispute.

Lawmakers in Taiwan are set to approve changes to a law that will open the door for Starlink to operate its satellite internet services on the island, which is seeking to secure its communications in case of a conflict with China.

Private companies are reshaping India's space ambitions, building rockets and satellites as the country pushes to capture a bigger share of the global space economy.

Tokyo and Taipei led losses on a glum day for Asian markets Friday, with tech firms once again in the crosshairs as investors cash in following this year's breathtaking rally.

President Donald Trump on Thursday reeled off extraordinary claims of voter fraud and Chinese meddling in US elections in a speech to the nation that doubled down on his false claims to have won the 2020 election.

Coach Andy Farrell says Ireland won't beat New Zealand at their impregnable fortress by keeping the score down, urging his team to attack in the Nations Championship Test at Eden Park.

Japan and France are preparing for a heavyweight arm-wrestle in Tokyo on Saturday, with the heat and humidity set to turn their Nations Championship contest into a forwards' battle.

Australia denounced Laos' response to a 2024 tainted alcohol poisoning that killed six tourists, saying Friday it is "bitterly disappointed" the country is not pressing stronger charges.

After two pregnancies, Diana Tergenbayeva dreamed of a breast lift.

Venezuela is struggling to get back on its feet after last month's devastating earthquakes, but one sleepy town managed to escape the tragedy untouched.

Favoured by the likes of Beyonce and Aya Nakamura, Ivory Coast fashion is wooing the world stage, thanks in part to showcasing on social media.

As an infant a lifetime ago, Maria Elena Paez Pumar was buried under the rubble of an earthquake in Venezuela and it was her crying that led rescuers to save her.

Mexico's vibrant capital city has been relatively untouched by decades of drug violence, but a video of self-styled cartel gunmen claiming to operate in a neighborhood popular with tourists has sparked fears that could change.

Britain's ruling Labour party will confirm veteran politician Andy Burnham as its new leader, and the country's next prime minister, at a special conference on Friday.

Joe Schmidt is feeling "nervous and a little bit lost" ahead of his last Test as Wallabies coach, desperate for a win to go out on a high against a depleted Italy in the Nations Championship on Saturday.

The United States launched fresh strikes Thursday on Iran with bridges and transport infrastructure among the apparent targets, as Tehran responded with attacks on US allies in the Gulf.

The Manhattan skyline was obscured by thick haze and Chicago closed its beaches Thursday as out-of-control Canadian wildfires raged, sending smoke spewing into the United States and exposing millions of people to dangerously unhealthy air.

The All Blacks are well advanced in their planning for the looming series against South Africa but coach Dave Rennie has confirmed he won't be selecting playmaker Richie Mo'unga.

SpaceX on Thursday scrubbed what was to be its first Starship flight since the company went public, abruptly calling it off just as the booster began to ignite.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday pledged "zero tolerance" for arson after wildfires scorched thousands of hectares in France, including in a historic forest near Paris.

Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo said Thursday he believes the Miami Heat are his best chance at another title.

Netflix shares dropped as much as 8 percent Thursday after results underwhelmed investors already worried about slowing engagement at the streaming giant.

Polish star Robert Lewandowski's Major League Soccer debut was on hold Thursday after the match between the Chicago Fire and Vancouver Whitecaps was postponed due to air quality issues caused by wildfires.

President Donald Trump's administration finalized rules Thursday that impose stricter limits on how long foreign students and journalists can stay in the United States, the latest bid to tighten legal immigration in the country.

Rory McIlroy remained hopeful he can recover from shooting two over par after his opening round of the British Open that left the Masters champion seven shots off the lead.

Giannis Antetokounmpo arrived in Miami to join the NBA's Heat on Thursday taking inspiration from Lionel Messi, a sporting legend who launched his own new chapter of success with a move to South Florida.

Head coach of Argentina's rugby team Felipe Contepomi said on Thursday that the feats of the country's football side at the World Cup are an "inspiration" for his outfit as they prepare to face England in the Nations Champions in Santiago del Estero.