French hurdler Dimitri Bascou, an Olympic medallist in 2016, was banned for four years on Friday for a positive test for steroids.
Italy's foreign minister on Friday cancelled a visit to the United States over reported comments by US President Donald Trump that appeared to mock Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
American world number four Jessica Pegula reached the semi-finals of the WTA event in Berlin after a straight sets win over countrywoman Madison Keys on Friday.
Health
As the hantavirus scare comes to an end with the last cruise ship passengers set to leave quarantine, what did the world learn from this sudden outbreak of a previously little-known virus?
June 19, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Ebola is spreading again in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where conflict, mistrust and the lack of a vaccine have made the outbreak hard to contain.
June 19, 2026
RECENT NEWS
The United States and Australia will look to book their place in the World Cup knockout rounds on Friday while Brazil aim to kickstart their campaign against Haiti.
June 19, 2026
Switzerland announced Friday that planned talks following up on the deal to end the Middle East war had been postponed, hours after US Vice President JD Vance's departure for the Alpine country was cancelled.
June 19, 2026
The squawks of macaws, the smell of wet earth after rain and a swirl of colors will transport visitors from a Los Angeles museum to the heart of the Amazon rainforest -- or rather, an AI version of it.
June 19, 2026
Sports
Iran's World Cup team will lodge a complaint with FIFA claiming they are being subjected to travel restrictions during the tournament in North America, the Iranian football federation spokesman said on Thursday.
June 19, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said Friday "old dog" James Slipper will add vital leadership and experience after the 37-year-old was coaxed out of retirement for the Nations Championship.
A New Zealand minister has defended fishers involved in the deaths of two orcas in commercial fishing incidents and said "these things happen", while conservationists condemned the "devastating" loss.
Mexico became the first team to reach the knockout round of the World Cup on Thursday after a 1-0 victory over South Korea while Canada edged closer to the last 32 after thrashing Qatar.
Tech firms powered Seoul's Kospi index to another record on Friday, while oil prices extended losses after traffic began to resume in the Strait of Hormuz under the US-Iran agreement.
June 19, 2026
Sports
Co-hosts Mexico became the first team to reach the knockout rounds of the World Cup with a 1-0 win over South Korea at a delirious Guadalajara Stadium on Thursday.
June 19, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Veteran UK Labour politician Andy Burnham emphatically won a crunch by-election on Friday, securing a parliamentary seat and clearing the way for a widely expected leadership challenge against beleaguered Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Top ranked South Africa launch their 2026 season against the Barbarians in Gqeberha on Saturday with a warning from head coach Rassie Erasmus ahead of a 14-match schedule.
Roberto 'Pico' Lopes might have been whiling away his time as a mortgage advisor in Ireland instead of preparing to face Uruguay in the World Cup on Sunday had Shamrock Rovers not come calling.
About 100 guerrillas laid down their weapons Thursday in a jungle area of southern Colombia under a deal with leftist President Gustavo Petro, who has sought peace with armed rebels, AFP journalists witnessed.
June 19, 2026
- 'Pretty special': captains eye Super Rugby glory in clash of top seeds
- Football 'ambassador' and fan favorite: a duck becomes a star in Mexico
- US Vice President Vance postpones trip to Switzerland for Iran talks
- Ivory Coast's Diomande living World Cup dream, dealing with tragedy
- Slipper out of retirement for Wallabies' Nations Championship campaign
- Australia seek 'respect' from US amid World Cup 'layup' row
- New Zealand's Payne joins Paraguayan powerhouse after Instagram fame
- Japan doctor-turned-author moots amputations to ease care crunch