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Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by phone on Friday, days before the incoming US president returns to the White House, with both leaders vowing to take a positive approach to improving ties between the rival countries.

Mikel Arteta said on Friday the Premier League title race cannot be boiled down to a straight shootout between Arsenal and Liverpool as he urged his players to relish the battle.

The US Supreme Court on Friday upheld a law that will ban TikTok in the United States, potentially denying the video-sharing app to 170 million users in two days.

Ange Postecoglou on Friday defended Tottenham's lack of activity in the January transfer window, saying the club is "working as hard as it can" to bring in reinforcements for his injury-hit squad.

Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha returned to team training on Friday after a two-month absence as he continues his recovery from a thigh injury.

The EU's medicines watchdog on Friday gave the thumbs up to two new vaccines against the bluetongue virus which struck parts of Europe from late 2023, infecting thousands of sheep, goats and cattle.

Global growth is expected to increase slightly this year while remaining stuck below its pre-pandemic average, the IMF said Friday, flagging the growing economic divide between the United States and European countries.

Ruben Amorim has warned that Manchester United's season will continue to be a "rollercoaster" ride as players learn to adapt to his system following a dramatic 3-1 win against Southampton.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 and Frankfurt's DAX 40 index reached all-time highs Friday as global equities rallied and the dollar climbed on renewed optimism for the global economy.

France's president said Friday that Paris will soon host an aid conference to help rebuild Lebanon after the Israel-Hezbollah war last year, as he visited Beirut in a show of support for Lebanon's new leaders.

Authorities in France's La Reunion have launched a probe to identify fraudsters who scammed a woman out of 830,000 euros by making her believe she had an online relationship with Brad Pitt.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday said US tech billionaire Elon Musk is threatening European democracy with his attacks on political leaders and support for the far right.

Exiled Russian opposition politician Ilya Yashin said Friday that Russian authorities had interrogated his parents and searched their home, as Moscow cracks down on any remaining public dissent left in the country.

Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen claimed a surprise maiden win in the men's World Cup Super-G race at home in Wengen on Friday.

Rory McIlroy will need a spectacular weekend to win a third straight Dubai Desert Classic title after slipping nine shots behind halfway leader Ewen Ferguson on Friday, while Jon Rahm missed the cut.

In a sprawling tent city in central Gaza, Palestinians displaced by war to other parts of the territory are all waiting for one thing: a ceasefire so they can go home.

Chinese President Xi Jinping held phone talks Friday with US president-elect Donald Trump, Chinese state media reported.

Donald Trump's economic plans risk reigniting US inflation, International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas told AFP, a few days before the president-elect returns to the White House.

A French maritime patrol aircraft was the object of an "intimidation attempt" this week by the Russian military over the Baltic Sea, France said Friday, calling the incident "unacceptable".

Belgium's football association on Friday announced the sacking of national team coach Domenico Tedesco after disappointing performances at Euro 2024 and in the Nations League.

Novak Djokovic called Danielle Collins' feisty reaction to Australian Open hecklers "funny" and "smart" after himself getting riled up during his third-round win on Friday.

The Miami Dolphins will feature in the first NFL game to be held in Spain as the league expands its international footprint, organisers announced on Friday.

Russia and Iran are poised to sign a new treaty on Friday to cement their military and economic ties, a pact between two of the world's most heavily sanctioned nations that is likely to alarm the West.

Israel's security cabinet approved in a vote on Friday a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal that should take effect this weekend, the prime minister's office said.

Russia on Friday sentenced three lawyers who had defended Alexei Navalny to several years in prison for bringing messages from the late opposition leader from prison to the outside world.

Pep Guardiola said Friday that Erling Haaland's new nine-and-a-half-year contract at Manchester City is "exceptional news" for the Premier League champions.

Novak Djokovic said on Friday that tennis needs to be "more fun" and suggested dancers should be brought on court during breaks.

Archaeologists at Pompeii have uncovered a private thermal baths complex where guests would take the plunge before sitting down to sumptuous feasts, the Italian site said Friday.

Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan helped Pakistan fight back from a poor start in the first Test against the West Indies Friday to reach 143-4 at the close of a fog-hit opening day.

England wing Anthony Watson has retired from professional rugby union on medical grounds, it was announced Friday.

Toulouse captain Antoine Dupont said on Friday the format of the Champions Cup is difficult to understand as the six-time winners face a challenge to claim a top spot in their pool.

The EU is prepared to redeploy a monitoring mission to the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt after a ceasefire deal to end Israel's war in the territory, the bloc's top diplomat said Friday.