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Equity markets rose going into the weekend on Friday following a broadly positive lead from Wall Street as a mixed bag of US data did little to change expectations the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next week.

Rory McIlroy fended off disaster by making the cut at the Australian Open as home favourite Min Woo Lee holed an eagle and four birdies to surge into contention Friday during a dramatic second round.

German industrial orders rose far more than expected in October, official data showed Friday, raising hopes that a long downturn in Europe's biggest economy may have bottomed out.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted Russia's President Vladimir Putin Friday, with defence and trade ties centre stage as New Delhi faces heavy US pressure to stop buying Moscow's oil.

Heavy rain in Vietnam triggered flooding that killed at least two people and caused more than a dozen landslides, state media said Friday, adding to what authorities called the "most unusual" year of natural disasters in the country's history.

The Mediterranean's first sanctuary for dolphins that have lived in captivity will open off Italy next year, as demand for re-homing rises with the closure of marine parks across Europe.

A Hong Kong university has suspended the operations of its student union after a message was posted on campus expressing condolences and urging justice for the victims of a major fire.

Most Asian markets rose going into the weekend Friday following a broadly positive lead from Wall Street as a mixed bag of US data did little to change expectations the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next week.

Scantily clad in a sequin leotard and silver heels, a Nigeria dancer swayed to "Money" by Cardi B in an oversized cocktail glass.

Tanzania's white beaches and safari lodges are emptier than usual as the country counts the cost to its crucial tourism sector from the mass killing of protesters during recent election unrest.

Switzerland hopes to have yodelling recognised by the United Nations this month to help protect the ancestral sing-song tradition of the Alpine nation's herders and shepherds.

Free-flowing opener Jake Weatherald crunched an unbeaten 59 but Australia lost dangerman Travis Head as they chipped away at England's lead on day two of the day-night second Ashes Test on Friday, racing to 130-1 at tea.

At a bus stop in central Tbilisi, two tagged dogs dozed on a bench as some commuters smiled at them and others cast angry glances.

Survivors in Indonesia were piecing back shattered lives Friday after devastating floods killed more than 1,500 people across four countries, with fears of fresh misery as more rain looms.

Jahmyr Gibbs ran for three touchdowns and the Detroit Lions never trailed in a 44-30 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in a clash crucial to the NFL playoff hopes of both teams.

An ancient dam, pandas and ping-pong: French leader Emmanuel Macron concluded his fourth state visit to China on Friday in the southwestern city of Chengdu, striking a more relaxed note after tough discussions on Ukraine and trade with his counterpart Xi Jinping a day earlier.

TikTok said Friday it will comply with Australia's imminent ban on under-16s joining social media on the day it comes into force, but told users the changes "may be upsetting".

A sparkling century by Shai Hope ably supported by Justin Greaves had the West Indies 212-4 at stumps on Friday and clinging to the remote chance they can save the first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch.

The Pentagon said Thursday it has endorsed the tripartite AUKUS security pact with the United Kingdom and Australia, which would involve Canberra's acquisition of at least three Virginia-class nuclear submarines within 15 years.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosts Russia's President Vladimir Putin at a summit on Friday, with defence and trade ties centre stage as New Delhi faces heavy US pressure to stop buying Moscow's oil.

Softbank CEO and AI investor Masayoshi Son said Friday that advanced artificial intelligence could surpass humans to the extent that "we become fish" and could even win the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Rui Hachimura drilled a buzzer-beating three-pointer to lift the Los Angeles Lakers to a 123-120 NBA victory over the Toronto Raptors on Thursday as LeBron James's incredible streak of double-digit scoring games ended.

England were dismissed for 334 in their first innings of the day-night second Ashes Test against Australia in Brisbane on Friday with Joe Root unbeaten on 138.

A Hong Kong university ordered its student union to shut down after a message was posted on campus expressing condolences and urging justice for the victims of a major fire, according to a letter publicly shared on Friday.

Forward Raphinha's comeback from injury has helped Barcelona edge back towards their best form and helped the Catalans reclaim top spot in La Liga.

League leaders Bayern Munich travel to Stuttgart on Saturday, setting the scene for a battle between the Bundesliga's two in-form goal getters: Harry Kane and Deniz Undav.

Napoli have a chance to strike a blow against Juventus as the two great Serie A rivals face off on Sunday in another episode of Europe's tightest league title race.

Beleaguered Nice play Angers at home in Ligue 1 on Sunday, looking to end a dire run on the pitch and tensions between the team and supporters off it.

ChatGPT maker OpenAI and an Australian data centre operator have agreed to develop a multibillion-dollar AI centre in Sydney.

Heavy rains lashed Sri Lanka on Friday, hampering a major clean-up operation after severe flooding and landslides last week killed nearly 500 people, officials said.

Santosh Devi is proud to have brought light -- and hope -- to her hamlet in western India, taking up solar engineering through a programme for women like her whose husbands suffer chronic disease from mining work.

Cherished Christmas tradition for some, profoundly insulting for others, the Dutch character "Black Pete", a servant who helps Santa Claus distribute presents, has divided opinion in The Netherlands for decades.