Last October jockey Clifford Lee came within a "millimetre" of dying when he broke a vertebra in a motorbike crash -- on Friday he rode Venetian Sun to victory in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.
Harry Kane says England's emotional "Wonderwall" singalong with fans after their opening World Cup win against Croatia was one of his top moments in the national shirt.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka stormed back from the cusp of defeat to beat Czech Nikola Bartunkova and reach the last four of the WTA event in Berlin on Friday.
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Nature
Much of Western Europe was sweltering in a gruelling heatwave on Friday with the mercury expected to continue rising in the coming days, likely shattering yet more temperature records.
June 19, 2026
RECENT NEWS
No spring, no river, no lake: "Every litre counts" at French mountain lodges where water is scarce but visitor numbers are booming.
June 19, 2026
RECENT NEWS
South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo told his team to keep their heads up and channel their disappointment into sealing a spot in the World Cup knockout rounds after a 1-0 defeat to Mexico.
June 19, 2026
More than half of France's population was dealing with scorching temperatures on Friday, according to AFP's calculations, with hundreds of schools adapting their timetables to keep students out of broiling classrooms.
June 19, 2026
Matt Henry took five wickets before Rachin Ravindra helped New Zealand extend their advantage in the second Test against England on Friday.
June 19, 2026
Sports
French Open champion Alexander Zverev will face American Taylor Fritz in the semi-finals of the ATP event in Halle after edging Raphael Collignon in straight sets on Friday.
June 19, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Dropped England captain Ben Stokes was denied a wicket with just his fourth ball as he returned to action for Durham in their County Championship match against Northamptonshire on Friday.
Wyndham Clark made a bogey at the ninth hole to drop his lead to two strokes as he made the turn in Friday's second round of the US Open with rivals on his heels at blustery Shinnecock.
Queen's Club bad-boy Corentin Moutet has been fined £30,248 ($39,991) following his foul-mouthed interview at the Wimbledon warm-up event.
Japan's Ai Ogura set a new track record late in Friday's practice for the Czech GP to top the session ahead of championship leader Marco Bezzecchi.
June 19, 2026
Sports
Turkey's interior ministry has instructed governors nationwide not to permit the installation of giant public screens for the national team's World Cup match against Paraguay, citing the need to minimise noise and traffic disruption during the country's university entrance examinations.
June 19, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Russia's central bank on Friday cut its benchmark interest rate to 14.25 percent from 14.5 percent, less than analysts expected, and signalled a more cautious approach to further monetary policy easing as the Ukraine war takes a growing toll on Moscow's finances.
Inflammatory social media posts -- including of men brandishing a machete or calling foreigners "leeches" -- are stoking emotions around an unofficial demand for illegal immigrants to leave South Africa by the end of the month, fuelling a volatile situation, analysts say.
The ceasefire declared in Gaza more than eight months ago is a "deadly illusion", the UN charged on Friday, with 265 children killed there since the fighting was supposed to have stopped.
Humanoid robots able to perform tasks from grape harvesting to welcoming visitors were front and centre at France's Vivatech trade fair this week, with European firms looking to fill niches beyond what dominant Chinese giants can offer.
June 19, 2026
- From birds to fish, how extreme heat causes wildlife to suffer
- Trapped on Everest for days, Nepali survivor recounts escape
- The Sun may not engulf Earth after all, scientists say
- Clark leads by three as US Open second round begins
- Fritz gets revenge on Shelton to reach Halle semis
- Henry strikes as New Zealand lead England by 100 runs in 2nd Test
- Heatwave hits more than half of France's population
- Former England keeper Earps agrees to join London City Lionesses