Four people were injured while more than a million were advised to evacuate in Japan as two tropical storms barrelled towards the archipelago on Friday, with authorities warning about risks of flooding and landslides.
Serena Williams was on Friday drawn to play Australia's Maya Joint in the Wimbledon first round as the American legend returns to singles action after four years.
Russia will no longer take part in the rhythmic gymnastics World Challenge Cup in Romania, the team said Friday, after accusing the event's organisers of banning their flag and anthem.
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Politics
Chinese ballistic missile tests and naval forays will become a "persistent" feature of the Pacific as Beijing expands its security presence, New Zealand officials said in an internal document obtained by AFP.
June 26, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Turkey beat a heavily changed United States 3-2 with a late Kaan Ayhan winner in an action-packed dead-rubber clash that gave the World Cup co-hosts their sternest test so far ahead of the knockout rounds.
June 26, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Desperate Venezuelans raced Thursday to find and rescue loved ones trapped alive beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings after two major earthquakes that killed at least 235 people.
June 26, 2026
Seoul tanked more than eight percent Friday, leading another rout across Asia equity markets as the rollercoaster ride that has characterised the week continued into the weekend.
June 26, 2026
A French teen facing criminal charges in Singapore for a straw-licking stunt will enter a plea next month in a case that could land him in jail on conviction, a court heard Friday.
June 26, 2026
Sports
Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu hopes his side's World Cup exploits will inspire other Asian countries after AFP footage showed Chinese football fans celebrating the success of their traditional rivals.
June 26, 2026
RECENT NEWS
In vast warehouses at the Kamoa copper mine in the southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, mountains of reddish rocks pile up as the machines grind away day and night.
Durga Devi finds no relief after a day working in New Delhi's sweltering summer, because her poorly ventilated home radiates trapped heat, leaving her bedroom as hot as 45 degrees at night.
Sony is halting sales of its robotic puppy "aibo" in Japan, the company said, eight years after the latest model of its interactive android pet became an instant hit.
Against a backdrop of World Cup good vibes, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Spanish King Felipe VI on Thursday eased diplomatic tensions following Mexico's demand for an apology over the colonial-era conquest.
June 26, 2026
Sports
Herve Renard said Thursday he had no regrets about taking on the job as Tunisia's emergency coach at the World Cup despite the North African nation's catastrophic campaign.
June 26, 2026
RECENT NEWS
In the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, which has long limited outside influence, viral videos of school bullying have triggered debate over social media's erosion of traditional values.
Asian tech stocks sank again Friday as the rollercoaster ride that has characterised the week continued into the weekend, while crude prices edged back down after a brief rally sparked by news of an attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
Desperate Venezuelans raced Thursday to find and rescue loved ones trapped alive beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings after two major earthquakes that killed at least 235 people.
A clash over the future of the Wimbledon tennis championships is being played out away from the manicured southwest London courts set to welcome the world's best players next week.
June 26, 2026
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