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The vuvuzelas finally fell quiet in Morocco on Thursday as the only African team left in the World Cup came up against the insurmountable hurdle of France and Kylian Mbappe.

From remote-controlled trucks delivering life-saving aid in dangerous settings to mobile phone data analysis flagging mass displacement, humanitarians are eyeing ways in which artificial intelligence can speed up and improve their operations.

The last thing Zarina Giyassova recalls before she lost consciousness in a deadly gas explosion was people "burning and screaming" in the inferno unleashed by the blast.

Indian designers are a growing presence at Paris Haute Couture Week -- "overdue" representation for a country that has long played a role behind the scenes, the latest newcomer, Manish Malhotra, told AFP.

South Korean chip giant SK hynix set pricing for its mega US listing on Friday, raising $26.5 billion as it takes advantage of the AI boom in what will be one of the world's biggest ever stock sales.

Coach Rudi Garcia said "everyone" expects his Belgium team to be eliminated by Spain in Friday's World Cup quarter-final, but backed his side to pull off a famous victory.

Venezuela's devastating earthquake threatens to set back momentum for a democratic transition, with the United States under President Donald Trump even more set on prioritizing stability over elections.

Australia might "blow hot and cold" but they cannot be taken lightly, France coach Fabien Galthie says with both teams desperate to bounce back from gut-wrenching defeats when they meet in the Nations Championship on Saturday.

The best of Lamine Yamal is yet to come at this World Cup, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente warned, ahead of Friday's quarter-final clash with Belgium in Los Angeles.

France captain Kylian Mbappe insisted Thursday his team were not getting carried away about their chances of winning another World Cup despite reaching the semi-finals thanks to a 2-0 win over Morocco on Thursday.

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry would love to play with LeBron James, but he knows he's not the only one who feels the same as the NBA's all-time leading scorer ponders where he'll play next.

France coach Didier Deschamps paid tribute to forward Kylian Mbappe after he scored his eighth goal of the World Cup to fire Les Bleus into the semi-finals on Thursday with a 2-0 victory over Morocco.

Ireland coach Andy Farrell says Japan are "bang in form" and pose a threat, but Eddie Jones' side will need something special to topple a team on a five-match win streak when they meet on Saturday.

Top Silicon Valley executive Fidji Simo announced Wednesday she is leaving her full-time role at OpenAI to go part-time as an advisor and focus on recovery from a chronic illness.

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi promised that his team will bounce back from their World Cup quarter-final exit against France on Thursday and keep building as they prepare to co-host the next tournament in 2030.

Iran on Friday laid to rest its former supreme leader Ali Khamenei over four months after his killing in an airstrike, as two days of US and Iranian attacks raised fears of a return to all-out war.

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie said he won't be caught out by an under-par Italian performance in the opening round of the Nations Championship when the two teams meet in Wellington on Saturday.

Lionel Messi has scored in every World Cup match so far, but after two gruelling knockout ties, will age finally catch up with the 39-year-old in the quarter-final against Switzerland?

Rory McIlroy made a fine start to the Scottish Open after a five-under-par 65 on Thursday gave him a share of the first-round lead.

South Korean chip giant SK hynix on Friday priced its mega US listing at $149 per share, raising around $26.5 billion in what will be the world's second largest stock sale after SpaceX.

England's quest to end 60 years of World Cup pain comes up against Norway's scoring machine Erling Haaland in a Miami showdown for a place in the semi-finals on Saturday.

The medieval Bayeux Tapestry began a hugely complicated journey on Thursday that will see it leave France for the first time in more than 900 years for an exhibition in the British capital.

France coach Didier Deschamps paid tribute to forward Kylian Mbappe after he scored his eighth goal of the World Cup to fire Les Bleus into the semi-finals on Thursday.

Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele were on target as France surged past Morocco 2-0 to book their place in the World Cup semi-finals on Thursday.

Kylian Mbappe recovered from having a first-half penalty saved to score a magnificent opener that set France on their way to a 2-0 win over Morocco in their World Cup quarter-final showdown on Thursday.

South Korean chip giant SK hynix is expected on Thursday to set the price for its mega US listing that could be the world's second largest stock sale after SpaceX.

Australian backstroke star Kaylee McKeown pulled out of the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Swimming Championships Friday, citing fatigue and loss of breath.

India captain Shreyas Iyer said his T20 world champions were in "transition" after another heavy defeat saw England complete a series-clinching success in Bristol on Thursday.

Torstein Traeen, who started the day in the race leader's yellow jersey, was forced to leave the Tour de France on Thursday after suffering a concussion in a dramatic crash.

India captain Shreyas Iyer said his T20 world champions were in "transition" after another heavy defeat saw England complete a series-clinching success in Bristol on Thursday.

The timing of the International Olympic Committee's decision to ease restrictions on Russian athletes was "particularly cynical", Ukraine's sports minister has told AFP.

Keeping Erling Haaland quiet would be "huge" but the Norwegian juggernaut is not the only threat to England in their World Cup quarter-final, Manchester City teammate Nico O'Reilly said on Thursday.

Kawhi Leonard's return to Toronto is on hold pending conclusion of the NBA's probe of whether the LA Clippers skirted salary cap rules by paying him through a phony endorsement deal.

Veteran politician Andy Burnham was on track Thursday to become Britain's next prime minister as hundreds of Labour lawmakers formally nominated him to succeed Keir Starmer as party leader.

Australian sprint star Gout Gout has pulled out of the world under-20 championships, Australian Athletics said on Thursday, and he is set to miss the rest of the season with a hamstring tear.

President Donald Trump's administration on Thursday moved to loosen truck pollution regulations put in place by his predecessor Joe Biden, in its latest environmental rollback that benefits makers of fossil fuel burning vehicles.

Iran on Thursday was laying to rest its former supreme leader Ali Khamenei over four months after his killing in a US-Israeli airstrike, as Tehran's reports of new American attacks and Iranian hits on US allies raised fears of a return to all-out war.

England captain Harry Brook led the way as his side thrashed India by nine wickets at Bristol on Thursday to secure a dominant series win over the T20 world champions.

Fendi presented its first haute couture show under designer Maria Grazia Chiuri Thursday, showing off a luxurious collection of black and cream looks -- and an homage to longtime couturier Karl Lagerfeld.