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A stampede that led to the deaths of eight people outside an Africa Cup of Nations stadium was caused by a "reckless" decision to open a gate in the face of a "flood of people", Cameroon's sports minister said Friday.

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.

Top Pentagon officials on Friday backed a renewed push for diplomacy to avert conflict in Ukraine, after President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Western leaders to avoid stirring "panic" over the Russian troop buildup on his country's borders.

World number one Ashleigh Barty will look to become the first Australian woman for 44 years to win her home Grand Slam Saturday, but to do it she needs to get past a rejuvenated Danielle Collins in the form of her life.

Russia's population declined by more than one million people in 2021, the statistics agency Rosstat reported Friday, a historic drop not seen since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

New York police on Friday said they arrested a man outside Taylor Swift's building, which he had crashed his vehicle into and attempted to forcibly enter.

A stampede that led to the deaths of eight people outside an Africa Cup of Nations stadium was caused by a "reckless" decision to open a gate in the face of a "flood of people", Cameroon's sports minister said Friday.

A new Janet Jackson documentary out Friday offers a narrow glimpse into the fiercely private superstar's early life and rise to fame.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Friday for directing profane and derogatory remarks toward a game official, the league announced.

The new ending to the Chinese release of "Fight Club" in which the authorities win is actually closer to the original book, the author has said.

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.

The Pentagon said Friday that the destruction and human cost of a full-scale incursion by Russian forces into Ukraine would be "horrific," but that there was still time for diplomacy to avoid a war.

World 100 meters champion Christian Coleman makes his return to athletics after a two-year absence on Saturday, determined to "have fun" after the anti-doping suspension that forced him to miss last year's Olympic Games.

Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic has completed his transfer to Juventus from Serie A rivals Fiorentina, the Turin club confirmed on Friday, hailing the arrival of a "lethal finisher".

US aviation officials reported progress Friday on allowing more 5G service near airports following negotiations with telecommunications providers, but airlines said there were still some disruptions.

A Georgian former chess world champion's $5-million lawsuit against Netflix will go ahead after she claimed she was defamed in an episode of "The Queen's Gambit," a Los Angeles judge has ruled.

President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday called on Western leaders to avoid stirring "panic" as Ukraine faces a Russian troop buildup on the border that has sparked fears of an invasion.

Europe and the US should be "very careful" not to make concessions to Russia, Estonia's prime minister told AFP on Friday, insisting that Moscow alone can de-escalate the situation.

Liverpool are reportedly set to beat Tottenham to the signing of Colombian winger Luis Diaz for a fee that could rise as high as £50 million ($67 million).

European stock markets ended a volatile week in the red of Friday, as investors weighed expectations of economic recovery against soaring inflation, rising interest rates and mixed earnings.

Antoine Dupont's hopes of playing for France in the Six Nations received a lift on Friday when the world player of the year was named at scrumhalf for Toulouse's Top 14 match against Racing 92 on Saturday.

Burkina Faso's football team are hoping to continue their run at the Africa Cup of Nations all the way to the final to "give joy" to the people of their troubled west African country where the president was this week ousted in a military coup.

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.

An Alabama man convicted of murder was put to death by lethal injection after the US Supreme Court ruled the execution could go ahead.

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.

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.

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.

Manchester City defender Kyle Walker has been banned for three European matches after his Champions League red card against RB Leipzig.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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, led by the club's former president Josep Maria Bartomeu, is being investigated by the prosecutor's office, sources told AFP on Friday.

The dog-loving Bidens have finally fulfilled a key White House pledge -- they got a cat.

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.

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.

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.

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.