Syria's leader agrees truce with Kurds after govt troops advance
Politics
Syria's army said it would renew strikes on a Kurdish district of Aleppo on Friday after fighters from the minority refused to leave, as a fragile ceasefire deal to halt days of fighting faltered.
Things to know
Britain's future queen, Princess Catherine, marked her 44th birthday Friday with a video about the healing power of nature, almost a year since she revealed she was in remission from cancer.
Politics
A Russian warship arrived off South Africa's main naval base Friday to join Chinese and Iranian vessels for military exercises that risk further damaging Pretoria's relations with Washington.
Boulevard
Carrying a bucket filled with white roses, Azeddine Mekrabech made his way to Crans-Montana on Friday as Switzerland remembered the dozens who died in the New Year fire tragedy.
Boulevard
A German juvenile court started the so-called "White Tiger" trial Friday in which a man is accused of multiple sadistic online crimes including coercing a 13-year-old to take his own life.
Economy
Stock markets advanced Friday despite mixed US jobs data and as traders awaited a possible Supreme Court ruling on US President Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs.
Technology
The director of Oscar-shortlisted film "Palestine 36" said her big-budget production about a crucial but little-known Arab rebellion is a statement about Palestinians "refusal to disappear".
US President Donald Trump said Friday he called off a second wave of attacks on Venezuela after the government, whose leftist president was removed by Washington, began releasing prisoners.
Economy
The United States added fewer jobs than expected in December, government data showed Friday, capping the labor market's weakest year since the Covid-19 pandemic amid growing concerns about hiring.
Boulevard
Switzerland has been left "devastated" by the deadly Crans-Montana bar fire that killed 40 people celebrating the New Year, President Guy Parmelin told a national service of remembrance on Friday.
Sports
Antoine Semenyo said Friday that he wants to "rewrite history again" at Manchester City after joining from Bournemouth for a reported fee of £65 million ($87 million).
Sports
Liam Rosenior said his challenge is to take Chelsea to the "next level" as he prepares to take charge of the Blues for the first time in Saturday's FA Cup trip to Charlton.
Gale-force winds and storms barrelled through northern Europe on Friday, disrupting air and rail travel and cutting power to hundreds of thousands in freezing temperatures.
Politics
Polish farmers descended on Warsaw on Friday to protest a European trade deal with the South American Mercosur bloc, marching just moments after it was accepted by a majority of EU nations in Brussels.
Sports
World number two Iga Swiatek defied a partisan crowd to thrash Australian Maya Joint in Sydney on Friday and help take Poland into a United Cup semi-final clash with the USA.
Technology
Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok has turned off its image creation feature for non-paying users following backlash over its use to create sexualized deepfakes of women and children.
Sports
Two-time Olympic champion skier Marcel Hirscher announced on Friday that he was pulling out of the rest of the season, including the upcoming Winter Games, due to a lack of form.
Politics
Russian strikes cut heating to half of the Ukrainian capital on Friday, prompting the mayor to issue an exceptional call for residents to temporarily leave the city with temperatures at -8C and set to drop further.
Politics
Pope Leo XIV warned Friday that war was "back in vogue" and highlighted the "ambition of belligerents", as his own country the United States flexes its military muscles.
Weather
Gale-force winds and storms barrelled through northern Europe on Friday, disrupting air and rail travel and cutting power to hundreds of thousands in freezing temperatures.
Politics
France has the right to say "no" to its historical ally the United States when it acts in a way deemed unacceptable, the foreign minister said on Friday, warning that the European political order was "in danger".
Boulevard
Prague has long been a tourism hub thanks to its Baroque architecture and deep cultural history, but its latest draw -- a statue of thousands of books made famous on TikTok -- has blindsided officials in the Czech capital.
Venezuela began releasing a "large number" of political prisoners, including several foreigners, in a move praised by US President Donald Trump on Friday as a step toward cooperation after the ouster of ruler Nicolas Maduro.
Economy
The EU gave Friday a long-delayed go ahead to a huge trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur championed by business groups but loathed by many European farmers -- overriding opposition led by France.
Politics
A Russian warship arrived off South Africa's main naval base Friday to join Chinese and Iranian vessels in military exercises that risk further damaging Pretoria's relations with Washington.
Economy
Stock markets advanced Friday as traders awaited the release of crucial US jobs data and a possible Supreme Court ruling on US President Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs.
Boulevard
Tear gas burning his eyes, his voice hoarse from shouting anti-government slogans as cars honked around him, Majid joined crowds of Iranians taking to the streets in defiance of a crackdown on a swelling protest movement.
Politics
Kurdish fighters rejected a call to leave Syria's Aleppo on Friday after the government announced a truce in deadly fighting that forced thousands of civilians to flee.
Culture
Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok has turned off its image creation feature for non-paying users following backlash over its use to create sexualized deepfakes of women and children.
Economy
German industrial production unexpectedly jumped in November but exports fell heavily, data showed Friday, offering a mixed picture for Europe's struggling top economy.
Economy
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday insisted that the Islamic republic would "not back down" in the face of protests after the biggest rallies yet in an almost two week movement sparked by anger over the rising cost of living.
Politics
Russian strikes cut heating to half of the Ukrainian capital on Friday, triggering the mayor to issue an exceptional call for residents to temporarily leave the city with temperatures at -8C and set to drop further.
Boulevard
Switzerland was to hold a national day of mourning Friday for the 40 people killed, mostly teenagers, when fire ravaged a ski resort bar filled with New Year partygoers.
Economy
US President Donald Trump said Friday the world’s biggest oil companies pledged to invest $100 billion to revive Venezuela's oil sector as he prepared for a meeting with top industry executives.
Weather
Fierce winds battered France and Britain on Friday as storms barrelled through northern Europe, snarling train travel, shutting schools and cutting power to hundreds of thousands of homes in plunging winter temperatures.
Sports
Manchester City added to their attacking arsenal on Friday with the signing of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth for a reported £65 million ($87 million).
Weather
The world's oceans absorbed a record amount of heat in 2025, an international team of scientists said Friday, further priming conditions for sea level rise, violent storms, and coral death.
Sports
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner teased Friday the prospect of teaming up for doubles as the world's top two prepare to open their seasons with a lucrative exhibition match in South Korea, a week before the Australian Open.
Sports
Manchester City added to their attacking arsenal on Friday with the signing of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth for a reported £65 million ($87 million).