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Naomi Osaka and Iga Swiatek enjoyed winning returns to the Billie Jean King Cup on Friday to move Japan and Poland closer to the finals as former US Open champion Emma Raducanu survived a "muppet" moment.

Salman Rushdie, targeted for assassination since 1989 over his writing, had long wondered who would kill him. When he was stabbed almost fatally, his first thought was, "So it's you."

Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli, whose penchant for python and flamboyant animal prints made him the darling of the international jet set for decades, died Friday at 83, news media said.

Jake Fraser-McGurk smashed a half-century on his Indian Premier League debut as Delhi Capitals thrashed Lucknow Super Giants by six wickets on Friday to reignite their hopes in the money-spinning T20 competition.

China is helping Russia undertake its biggest military expansion since Soviet times, US officials said Friday, stepping up public pressure as concerns rise over Ukraine.

Oil companies drilling on public lands must post larger bonds and pay higher royalties under a rule finalized Friday by the Biden administration.

Americans Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau and Max Homa battled Denmark's Nicolai Hojgaard for the lead in Friday's second round of the 88th Masters while Tiger Woods struggled to avoid missing the cut for the first time since 1996.

Naomi Osaka and Iga Swiatek enjoyed winning returns to the Billie Jean King Cup on Friday as they moved Japan and Poland closer to the finals of the 2024 tournament.

Democrats were set to hammer Donald Trump Friday on the divisive issue of abortion, calling him the "architect" of a US healthcare crisis, as the party sees an opening with voters ahead of the November presidential election.

An Argentine court has blamed Iran for two deadly attacks on Israeli targets in Buenos Aires three decades ago, declaring it a "terrorist state" in a ruling welcomed Friday by Israeli and Jewish organizations.

Novak Djokovic reached a record 77th Masters semi-final on Friday when he defeated Australia's Alex de Minaur in straight sets in Monte Carlo as in-form Jannik Sinner racked-up his 25th victory of the year.

About 95,000 people have fled rampant gang violence in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince since early March, the United Nations said Friday.

Jonbon's win in Friday's feature Melling Chase added to Sir Gino's victory on Thursday ended "two months of absolute hell" for the Nicky Henderson stable, winning rider Nico de Boinville said.

Novak Djokovic reached a record 77th Masters semi-final on Friday when he defeated Australia's Alex de Minaur in straight sets in Monte Carlo.

Iran has vowed to punish Israel over a recent strike on its Damascus consulate widely blamed on Israel, and fears are rising that an imminent response could risk triggering a broader conflict.

The reigning Olympic women's triple jump champion Yulimar Rojas said on Friday she had injured her Achilles tendon and will miss the Paris Games.

Two early second-round birdies moved Max Homa into a share of the Masters lead with Bryson DeChambeau on Friday while Tiger Woods struggled through a difficult 23-hole walk in pursuit of history.

Belgium on Friday announced it is probing Russian "interference" in the European Parliament following allegations that lawmakers took money to spread Kremlin propaganda ahead of the June EU elections.

Thailand's Central Group said Friday it has bought the iconic KaDeWe department store in Berlin from insolvent Austrian real-estate giant Signa.

Large American banks reported solid earnings Friday behind still-high interest rates while offering varying views on the likelihood the United States can avoid a near-term recession.

Aid workers in Haiti's capital are demonstrating great courage to brave the gangs, the stray bullets and the risk of abduction just to go to work every day, according to humanitarians operating in the chaos-wracked Caribbean nation.

Chelsea have spent more than £75 million ($93 million) on agents' and intermediaries' fees during transfer deals, according to figures released by the Football Association on Friday.

Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas kept alive his hopes of a third Monte Carlo Masters title on Friday as he breezed into the semi-finals dismissing Russia's Karen Khachanov 6-4, 6-2.

Donald Trump goes on trial Monday for allegedly covering up hush money payments to hide affairs ahead of the 2016 presidential election which propelled him into the White House.

INEOS Grenadiers owner Jim Ratcliffe has urged cycling's governing body to take "real action" to address mounting issues with rider safety.

Humankind's two closest primate relatives are often said to embody contrasting sides of our nature: peace-loving bonobos versus violence-prone chimpanzees.

The lakes where Africa's flamingos congregate in spectacular numbers are producing less food for the iconic birds as their water levels rise, researchers said Friday, threatening the survival of a much-loved species.

Four bills submitted by Poland's ruling coalition to ease the near-total abortion ban on Friday passed a first hurdle in parliament amid a heated debate on relaxing one of Europe's strictest reproductive laws.

Donald Trump becomes the first US ex-president to go on criminal trial Monday -- pushing the nation's legal and electoral systems to the limit less than seven months before Americans decide whether to return the scandal-plagued Republican to the White House.

Mikel Arteta will put his admiration for the "unbelievable" Unai Emery on hold this weekend as the Arsenal manager aims for a crucial win against Aston Villa.

Tiger Woods struggled to start a difficult 23-hole walk aimed at making Masters history while Max Homa and Nicolai Hojgaard charged after leader Bryson DeChambeau as the first round of the 88th Masters concluded on Friday.

The electoral commission said Friday it had appealed to South Africa's highest court to rule on whether ex-president Jacob Zuma can stand in a general election in May as political tensions heighten.