Liverpool leading chase for Porto's Diaz - reports
Wall Street rebounds, European stocks slump at end of volatile week
Six Nations boost for France as Dupont returns for Toulouse
Burkina Faso footballers target AFCON 'joy' for troubled nation
Politics
IMF says 'understanding' reached with Argentina, more work needed
The IMF confirmed Friday it had reached a deal with Argentina on a massive loan repayment, though the Washington-based crisis lender stressed further approvals are needed before reaching a final agreement.
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Alabama executes man after green light from US Supreme Court
An Alabama man convicted of murder was put to death by lethal injection after the US Supreme Court ruled the execution could go ahead.
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US Coast Guard searches waters off Puerto Rico after boat capsizes
US Coast Guard authorities searched waters off Puerto Rico Friday after a boat carrying more than 20 people capsized in the second migrant smuggling accident in a week.
Repsol executives barred from leaving Peru over oil spill
A judge in Peru on Friday barred four executives of Spanish energy giant Repsol from leaving the country for 18 months as investigations look into a catastrophic oil spill.
Harding leads Hatton after round two in Dubai
Justin Harding hit a four-under-par 68 to take the lead after the second round of the Dubai Desert Classic on Friday as Tyrrell Hatton and Rory McIlroy both moved up the leaderboard with 66s.
Man City's Walker banned for three European games
Manchester City defender Kyle Walker has been banned for three European matches after his Champions League red card against RB Leipzig.
Bridge collapses in Pittsburgh just before Biden speech
A bridge collapse Friday in Pittsburgh provided a symbolic backdrop for President Joe Biden's trip to the city to tout his $1 trillion infrastructure plan -- and try rebuilding his own crumbling approval ratings.
Ex-Zimbabwe captain Taylor banned over delayed reporting of spot-fixing plot
Former Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor was on Friday banned from all cricket for three-and-a half years, days after revealing he took cocaine and accepted a $15,000 "deposit" to engage in spot-fixing.
Kazakh president takes party leadership after sidelining mentor
Kazakhstan's president was voted chairman of the ruling party on Friday, replacing his mentor and former head of state Nursultan Nazarbayev, in the wake of bloody unrest that exposed a leaderhip struggle.
Deadly storm Ana strands tens of thousands in southern Africa
Torrential rains from deadly Tropical Storm Ana subsided on Friday leaving tens of thousands of people across three countries in southern Africa cut off by flood damage, without power and living in shelters.
W.Africa bloc suspends post-coup Burkina
West African leaders on Friday decided to suspend Burkina Faso following a coup but will not impose other sanctions pending the outcome of talks with the junta, a participant at their summit said.
Barcelona's previous board investigated by prosecutor's office
Barcelona's previous board, led by the club's former president Josep Maria Bartomeu, is being investigated by the prosecutor's office, sources told AFP on Friday.
First Feline takes up residence in Biden White House
The dog-loving Bidens have finally fulfilled a key White House pledge -- they got a cat.
Howe expects more business as Newcastle close in on Guimaraes
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said Friday that the club would remain active in the January transfer window as Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes is reportedly set to join from Lyon.
US inflation slowed in December, spending fell: govt
In the final month of 2021, Americans dialed back their spending even as incomes rose thanks to wage increases, while inflation showed signs of moderating, government data released Friday said.
Putin says West ignoring Russia's security concerns
President Vladimir Putin told French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Friday that the West was ignoring Moscow's security concerns over Ukraine but added that Russia would hold off from taking action immediately.
Argentina president announces new debt deal with IMF
Argentine President Alberto Fernandez unveiled what he called a "reasonable" new debt repayment deal with the International Monetary Fund on Friday, the day a $700-million repayment was due.
Serie A star Barrow revels in Gambia's stunning AFCON run
Musa Barrow could be forgiven for seeing himself as the superstar in tiny Gambia as the country's football team prepare for their first ever Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final.
Ex-Zimbabwe cricket captain Taylor banned over anti-corruption breaches
Former Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor has been banned from all cricket for three-and-a half years over breaches of the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption code, the world governing body said Friday.
Derby boss Rooney turns down approach from Everton
Derby manager Wayne Rooney said on Friday he turned down the chance to be interviewed by Everton to stay with the financially stricken Championship club.
Caterpillar reports profit jump but warns of supply chain headwinds
Caterpillar reported a jump in fourth-quarter earnings Friday on surging demand for industrial equipment, but warned that supply chain problems will probably continue to weigh on results in 2022.
Trial opens in spectacular German museum jewel heist
German prosecutors on Friday accused six young members of a notorious criminal family of carrying out a "purposefully prepared" heist on a state museum in Dresden, as a trial opened over the spectacular robbery of priceless 18th-century jewels.
Tsitsipas dogged by father coaching violation in semi-final collapse
Stefanos Tsitsipas said he has spent "countless hours" talking with his father-coach Apostolos over coaching violations after yet another warning helped trigger a semi-final collapse against Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open Friday.
Italy speeds up presidential vote but deadlock persists
Italy on Friday sought to accelerate the process of electing a new president after days of deadlock that has paralysed Prime Minister Mario Draghi's government, but parliament remained bitterly divided.
Campaigning wraps up for tight Portugal snap election
Campaigning wraps up Friday for a tightly-fought weekend general election in Portugal, with polls pointing to a hung parliament and huge gains by the far-right.
Prince Andrew quits golf club as he faces civil sex assault case
Prince Andrew has given up his honorary membership at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews as he faces a US civil suit for sexual assault.
Rwanda to reopen Uganda border in boost to ties
Rwanda said Friday it would reopen its land border with Uganda next week after a three-year closure, a major breakthrough in repairing relations between the neighbours.
Orange appoints Heydemann as first female CEO
French telecoms multinational Orange said on Friday it had appointed Christel Heydemann as its first female chief executive, replacing Stephane Richard, who is leaving after his conviction in a case over his past work at the finance ministry.
European stocks slump at end of volatile week for markets
European stock markets tumbled Friday nearing the end of a highly volatile trading week worldwide as investors assessed the economy's recovery outlook faced with soaring inflation, rising interest rates and mixed earnings.
Medvedev beats Tsitsipas to stand in Nadal's path to Slam greatness
Daniil Medvedev won a tempestuous Australian Open semi-final against Stefanos Tsitsipas on Friday and will face Rafael Nadal, who is bidding to become the all-time men's Grand Slam leader, in Sunday's final.
Hong Kong economy grew by 6.4 percent in 2021: govt
Hong Kong's economy grew by 6.4 percent in 2021 but the city warned that anti-Covid measures in response to the latest outbreak may stifle further recovery, a government spokesperson said on Friday.
Six Nations to trial new scrum law to cut injury risk
Rugby chiefs on Friday announced that a new law designed to improve player safety in the scrum would be trialled during the Six Nations, which starts next month.
Nearly 40 percent of Tigrayans face 'extreme lack of food': UN
Nearly 40 percent of people in Ethiopia's Tigray are suffering "an extreme lack of food" in the face of an extended de-facto blockade of the war-hit region, a UN agency said Friday.
Nord Stream 2 pipeline: key card in West's hand against Russia
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, set to double natural gas supplies from Russia to Germany, has become a key bargaining chip for the West in its bid to stop Moscow from invading Ukraine.
Gunman arrested in Japan as doctor taken hostage dies
A Japanese gunman was arrested after he allegedly took a doctor hostage and shot him, police said Friday, with local media reporting that the victim had died from his wounds after the 11-hour standoff.
New Le Pen family feud looms ahead of French election
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen spoke of her shock and pain on Friday after her niece suggested she would back a rival in this year's presidential election, in what would be a heavy personal and political blow.
IMF warns China's property stress poses spillover risk
A funding crisis battering China's big property developers could start to shake the wider economy and global markets, the IMF warned on Friday, saying deeper reforms were needed to fully curb the threat.
China unveils Winter Olympics world leader guest list
China on Friday revealed a list of visiting dignitaries for next week's Winter Olympics that includes the leaders of Russia, Saudi Arabia and Egypt for an event that is being diplomatically shunned by some Western nations.
Serbians and Albanians kick aside differences on football pitch
Relations have rarely been good between Albania and Serbia. But for Serbian footballers playing in the land of their erstwhile foes, the sport transcends the long standing differences between the rivals.
Left out in the cold by Spain's soaring energy prices
In her flat on the outskirts of Madrid, Pamela Ponce no longer turns on the heating despite the biting chill coming in through the windows.
Berrettini looks ahead after milestones at Open
Matteo Berrettini said he will learn from the experience of playing Grand Slam great Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals at the Australian Open Friday and become a better player.