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Lewis Hamilton's surprise decision to quit Mercedes and join Ferrari at the end of the coming Formula One season was greeted with joy in the Italian media on Friday.

Fighting in Gaza raged on Friday with scores reported killed overnight, after mediator Qatar said Hamas had given its "initial" support to a hostage-prisoner exchange deal that would pause its war with Israel.

Public transport workers across Germany walked off the job on Friday in the latest industrial action to buffet Europe's top economy.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is engaged in intense political manoeuvring as pressure grows at home and abroad to release hostages held in Gaza and bring fighting to a halt.

Qatar coach Tintin Marquez said Friday they relish the "positive pressure" of trying to retain their Asian Cup title on home soil, on the eve of a quarter-final with Uzbekistan.

China's economic slowdown is likely to persist in the coming years as the Asian giant struggles with sagging productivity and a rapidly aging population, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Friday.

Canadians Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier said they were remembering they were champions as they took the lead in the ice dance at the Four Continents figure skating competition in Shanghai on Friday.

Stock markets rose Friday, tracking a surge on Wall Street fuelled by bargain-buying from the previous day's sell-off, while strong earnings from tech titans soothed worries about the impact of higher interest rates on bottom lines.

At least three people were killed and more than 270 injured in a massive fire when a truck laden with gas exploded in the Kenyan capital, police said Friday.

A Los Angeles Lakers team missing superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis barreled past the NBA-leading Boston Celtics on Thursday as Tyrese Maxey scored 51 points to lead Philadelphia over Utah.

Asian markets rose Friday, tracking a surge on Wall Street fuelled by bargain-buying from the previous day's sell-off, while strong earnings from tech titans soothed worries about the impact of higher interest rates on bottom lines.

Rising Black Caps batting star Rachin Ravindra said Friday he is relishing his next crack at Test cricket when New Zealand take on a weakened South Africa side this weekend.

If the main opposition Labour party wins the next UK general election as opinion polls indicate, then a familiar sight will appear outside the prime minister's official residence the next day: removal vans.

At least three people were killed and more than 270 injured in a massive fire when a truck laden with gas exploded in the Kenyan capital, police said Friday.

Fighting in Gaza dragged on into Friday with scores reported killed overnight, after mediator Qatar said Hamas had given its "initial" approval to a hostage-prisoner exchange deal that would pause its war with Israel.

At least two people were killed and more than 200 injured in a massive fire when a truck laden with gas exploded in the Kenyan capital, a government spokesman said Friday.

A Los Angeles Lakers team missing superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis barreled past the NBA-leading Boston Celtics 114-105 on Thursday as the New York Knicks pushed their winning streak to nine games with a gutsy win over Indiana.

Asian markets rallied Friday, tracking a surge on Wall Street fuelled by bargain-buying from the previous day's sell-off, while strong earnings from tech titans soothed worries about the impact of higher interest rates on bottom lines.

At a prominent Shiite shrine in southern Tehran, Qasem Ashgari was buying yet another gemstone ring in the hope it would help his prayers to be answered promptly.

While most teams at the Africa Cup of Nations rely heavily on players based in Europe, South Africa stand out in having an almost entirely home-based squad with coach Hugo Broos leaning heavily on the Mamelodi Sundowns side that dominates domestically.

Only one team has beaten La Liga leaders Real Madrid this season -- neighbours Atletico Madrid, twice.

If Bayern Munich want to turn up the heat on leaders Bayer Leverkusen ahead of next week's blockbuster clash, Thomas Tuchel's men will need to get past bogey side Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday.

Two teenagers in Britain will be sentenced on Friday for murdering a 16-year-old transgender girl in a "frenzied and ferocious" knife attack.

Argentine police fired rubber bullets Thursday to disperse protesters gathered outside Congress as lawmakers debated the new president's sweeping economic, social and political reform package.

The United Nations' top court will decide on Friday whether it has jurisdiction to rule in a case brought by Ukraine over Russia's brutal 2022 invasion, with Kyiv urging reparations.

Jamie George and Gonzalo Quesada are hoping to lead England and Italy into new eras as the countries face off in Saturday's Six Nations opener in Rome.

El Salvador's gang-busting President Nayib Bukele has proudly embraced the monicker of "dictator" and breezily shrugs off criticism of human rights transgressions.

Patrick Cantlay, who helped approve a new PGA Tour investment deal worth up to $3 billion, said Thursday the group of US sports team owners involved will help decide any merger deal with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Warren Gatland has urged a new-look Wales to "go out there with no fear" when they launch their Six Nations Championship campaign at home to a Scotland side desperate to end a 22-year losing streak in Cardiff.

When the Olympic torch relay gets underway in France in May keep an eye open for Charles Coste, France's oldest living Olympic champion.

Portugal stunned everyone last year when they surprised Fiji in the Rugby World Cup in only their second appearance at the event.

Arsenal must stop a Liverpool juggernaut, inspired by the impending departure of Jurgen Klopp, if the Gunners are to maintain Premier League title aspirations at the Emirates on Sunday.