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Lawyers for Niger's ousted president on Friday rejected claims by the new military rulers that he had tried to escape, as France said its forces would be gone from the West African country by year's end as planned.

Lebanon's national carrier Friday said it was cutting more than half of its flights as tensions along the border with Israel prompted more Western countries to warn against travel to Lebanon.

Thousands of tonnes of "life and death" aid for Gaza should be delivered soon, the United Nations said Friday, to relieve a "beyond catastrophic" situation after unrelenting Israeli bombing in response to an unprecedented Hamas attack.

Want to get a slight edge during a coin toss? Check out which side is facing upwards before the coin is flipped –- then call that same side.

The Republican-controlled US House of Representatives was closing out a third week of dysfunction Friday, no nearer to replacing its ousted leader and with no realistic plan to end one of its worst institutional crises in decades.

Temba Bavuma said he would fulfil a cherished ambition on Saturday when he leads out South Africa in a World Cup match against England at the Wankhede Stadium, the home ground of his boyhood idol Sachin Tendulkar.

Women's Champions League holders Barcelona were placed in a pool with four-time winners Eintracht Frankfurt while English champions Chelsea were matched with Real Madrid in the group-stage draw on Friday.

Two people died and families were trapped in flooded homes in Scotland Friday as Storm Babet moved east, prompting the cancellation of flights and ferries in Scandinavia.

Liverpool defender Andy Robertson is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines as he prepares to have surgery on a shoulder injury.

Pep Guardiola says Lionel Messi should have his own category at the Ballon d'Or after he was asked whether the World Cup winner or Erling Haaland should win this year's award.

Fadwa al-Najjar said she walked for 10 hours with her family from the north of war-torn Gaza to reach a UN camp for displaced Palestinians, witnessing terrifying scenes along the road.

Reigning champions England and South Africa head into their World Cup clash on Saturday with both sides looking to revive their campaigns after shock defeats by Afghanistan and the Netherlands respectively.

Granada's Israeli forward Shon Weissman is not travelling for Friday's Liga match against Osasuna in the Basque country for security reasons, his club told AFP.

Victor Lindelof is available for Manchester United on Saturday even though he is "exhausted" following the fatal shooting of two Swedish fans before the country's Euro 2024 qualifier against Belgium.

Openers David Warner and Mitchell Marsh hit swashbuckling hundreds against a sloppy Pakistan to lift Australia to 367-9 in their World Cup clash in Bengaluru on Friday.

Author Salman Rushdie on Friday called for a "cessation" in fighting between Israel and Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas, saying he was filled with "horror" and "foreboding".

South Africa assistant coach Mzwandile Stick said on Friday scrum-half Cobus Reinach was in a good place before this weekend's Rugby World Cup semi-final despite receiving a death threat on social media.

George Russell declared increased fines of up to one million euros ($106 million) for Formula One drivers who breach sporting regulations as "obscene" and unrealistic, confirming that the drivers will meet on Friday to address the problem.

Trucks of international aid for Gaza should be rolling "in the next day or so", the United Nations said Friday, with Palestinians desperate for life-saving supplies after sustained bombing from Israel, still reeling from its bloodiest-ever attack.

Christiane Benner will become the first woman to lead Germany's biggest union when she takes the helm at IG Metall next week. But the milestone comes as the once mighty industrial sector battles a series of crises.

Two people died and families were trapped in flooded homes in Scotland on Friday as Storm Babet moved east after pounding Ireland.

Dutch batsman Teja Nidamanuru believes it will not be an "upset" if his team defeat Sri Lanka on Saturday and keep alive their bid to reach the Cricket World Cup semi-finals.

Stock markets slid and oil prices jumped Friday on worries that an expected ground invasion of Gaza by Israel would spark a wider conflict in the crude-rich Middle East.

Russia on Friday ordered Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva to be detained three more days, after prosecutors said she had failed to register as a "foreign agent".

David Warner and Mitchell Marsh both made centuries as the openers pummelled Pakistan in their World Cup clash at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday.

Japan winger Kaoru Mitoma has signed a new contract with Brighton that will keep him at the Premier League club until 2027, ending speculation over his future.

Author Salman Rushdie on Friday urged a "cessation" in fighting between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, saying he was filled with "horror" and "foreboding".

Eddie Howe insists Sandro Tonali has a future at Newcastle as the Italian midfielder awaits the outcome of an investigation into alleged breaches of betting rules.

Russian author Sergei Lebedev's novel "Untraceable", about an undetectable toxin used to target Kremlin critics, was released a few years ago but has taken on added resonance as alleged poisonings have multiplied.

England captain Jos Buttler accepted Chris Woakes's form with the new ball was a major concern heading into the faltering champions' key World Cup clash against South Africa on Saturday.

Xander Schauffele finished with a flourish to move three strokes off the lead heading into the last two days of the US PGA Tour's Zozo Championships in Japan on Friday.

Mikel Arteta revealed on Friday that "role model" Mauricio Pochettino advised him not to go into coaching as he prepares his Arsenal side to take on Chelsea.