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World plastic pollution treaty talks collapse with no deal
Talks aimed at striking a landmark global treaty on plastic pollution fell apart Friday without agreement, as countries failed to find consensus on how the world should tackle the ever-growing scourge.

Facing US tariffs, India's Modi vows self-reliance
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Friday that India is seeking self-reliance in energy independence and the development of its own powerful defence systems, vowing to defend his country's interests "like a wall".

Trump to meet Putin in high-stakes Alaska summit
US President Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin meet Friday in Alaska in a high-stakes, high-risk summit that could prove decisive for the future of Ukraine.

Indian rescuers scour debris after 60 killed in flood
Indian rescue teams on Friday dug through mud searching for victims, a day after the latest deadly flood to crash through a Himalayan village killed at least 60 people.

Ivory Coast village reburies relatives as rising sea engulfs cemetery
Fisherman Alphonse Akadie was forced to exhume the bodies of his relatives last year from the village cemetery in Ivory Coast to avoid their remains being carried off into the ocean.

Stressed UK teens seek influencers' help for exams success
Posing as a fortune teller on his YouTube channel, former teacher Waqar Malik tells thousands of followers that he can predict this year's exam questions.

National Guard deploys 800 personnel for DC mission, says Pentagon
All 800 National Guard troops who were ordered to the US capital Washington to aid law enforcement personnel by President Donald Trump have now been mobilized, the Pentagon said Thursday.

Japan emperor expresses 'deep remorse' 80 years after WWII
Tens of thousands of people braved blazing heat to pay their respects at a controversial Japanese shrine Friday, as Emperor Naruhito spoke of his "deep remorse" on the 80th anniversary of the nation's World War II surrender.

With waters at 32C, Mediterranean tropicalisation shifts into high gear
When Murat Draman went scuba diving off the coast of the southern Turkish province of Antalya and saw the temperature in the depths was pushing 30C, it didn't surprise him.

Historic Swedish church being moved as giant mine casts growing shadow
A historic red wooden church considered one of Sweden's most beautiful buildings is to be moved from its longtime home in the Arctic town of Kiruna next week as part of a campaign to expand Europe's biggest underground mine.

Malawi's restless youth challenged to vote in September polls
At a rally of pounding drums and ululating women, star Malawian rapper Fredokiss urged young people to vote in next month's elections despite their disenchantment with the government and the choice of main presidential candidates, all aged over 70.

Indonesian roof tilers flex muscles to keep local industry alive
A young Indonesian man turns his back to a crowd, flexing his oiled-up muscles before picking up a stack of roof tiles, holding as many as he can in a pose reminiscent of Mr. Olympia.

World's first humanoid robot games begin in China
The world's first-ever humanoid robot games began Friday in Beijing, with over 500 androids alternating between jerky tumbles and glimpses of real power as they compete in events from the 100-metre hurdles to kung fu.

Scott Barrett returns to lead All Blacks against Argentina
Captain Scott Barrett returns from injury to lead a strong All Blacks side against Argentina in their opening Rugby Championship clash on Saturday in Cordoba.

Five things to know about Nigeria's oil sector
Africa's biggest oil refinery will on Friday start direct and free shipping of fuel to retailers in Nigeria, a move expected to disrupt the oil sector in the continent's largest crude producer.

New compromise but still no deal at plastic pollution talks
Countries trying to break the deadlock and strike a landmark global treaty on combating plastic pollution negotiated through the night into Friday on a last-minute revised proposal.

France's Cernousek seizes lead at LPGA Portland Classic
Rising French talent Adela Cernousek conjured an eagle and six birdies in an eight-under-par 64 to break free atop a jammed leaderboard after the first round of the LPGA Portland Classic on Thursday.

Putin-Trump summit: What each side wants
The US and Russian presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are to meet at a US air base in Alaska on Friday for talks on the Ukraine war.

Desperate Myanmar villagers scavenge for food as hunger bites
People in western Myanmar have been driven to scavenging for bamboo shoots, as humanitarian workers warn a wartime blockade and aid cutbacks led by Washington have caused hunger cases to surge.

Qualifier Atmane stuns Rune to set up Sinner semi-final in Cincinnati
French qualifier Terence Atmane toppled another top-10 player in Holger Rune on Thursday to line up a semi-final showdown with world number one Jannik Sinner at the Cincinnati Open.

Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai's security trial delayed over health concerns
Hong Kong judges on Friday postponed the trial of Jimmy Lai until the pro-democracy media tycoon is provided with a heart monitoring device and related medication -- the second delay to the case this week.

Asia stocks mixed before US-Russia summit
Asian stocks were mixed Friday after better-than-expected Japanese growth and weak Chinese data, while oil slipped back ahead of a US-Russia summit on Ukraine.

Putin hails North Korean troops as 'heroic' in letter to Kim
Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed North Korean troops sent to fight in Ukraine as "heroic" in a letter to Kim Jong Un, North Korean state media reported Friday.

Fleeing the heat, tourists explore Rome at night, underground
It was already 30C at 9:30 am as New Zealander Olivia Ansari waited with other tourists outside Rome's Catacombs of Saint Callixtus, seeking relief underground from the punishing summer heat.

Online cockfighting thrives in Philippines despite ban and murders
Divers have spent more than a month searching a lake south of Manila for the bodies of men with links to the Philippines' bloody national obsession: cockfighting.

Keeping cool with colours -- Vienna museum paints asphalt to fight heat
Equipped with an infrared thermometer, Austrian artist Jonas Griessler measures the sweltering heat in an inner courtyard in the centre of Vienna.

Raising the bar: Nepal's emerging cocktail culture
On a lively weekend, a bartender in Nepal's capital Kathmandu balances carefully a slice of titaura, a local tangy and spicy hog plum treat, on top of a martini glass.

El Salvador plans 600 mass trials for suspected gang members
El Salvador plans to hold around 600 mass trials for the tens of thousands suspected gang members who have been detained without charges in the country since 2022, the Central American country's attorney general said Thursday.

Trump's tariffs drown Brazil's fish industry
When the water pump is switched on, hundreds of tilapia come to the surface of a pond at a Brazilian fish farm. Their final destination is now uncertain because of US President Donald Trump's stiff tariffs.

Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai's collusion trial resumes after delay
A Hong Kong court on Friday began hearing closing arguments in the national security trial of pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai, following a one-day delay because of bad weather.

Britain's Princess Anne turns 75 with typically minimal fuss
Princess Anne, the sister of British head of state King Charles III, turned 75 on Friday, with the famously straightforward royal eschewing any public celebration of her birthday.

Japan posts modest growth despite US tariffs
Japan eked out modest growth in the second quarter despite painful US tariffs, official data showed Friday, in welcome news to embattled Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.