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France is gearing up for municipal elections this month, with a presidential candidate testing his popularity and the far right eyeing gains ahead of a crunch vote for the country's top job next year.

Moscow said on Friday that the global energy market "cannot remain stable" without its oil, piling pressure on Washington to lift more sanctions as the Middle East war strangles supplies.

Carlos Alcaraz extended his unbeaten season and got revenge over Cameron Norrie on Thursday to reach the semi-finals at Indian Wells for a fifth straight year.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander says he is a totally different player and man compared to 17 months ago when he began what Thursday became the longest streak of 20-point games in NBA history.

George Russell was quickest ahead of Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli and the McLaren of world champion Lando Norris on Friday in the only practice session of the Chinese Grand Prix weekend in Shanghai.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander broke the NBA record for consecutive 20-point games by delivering his 127th in a row on Thursday in Oklahoma City's 104-102 home win over the Boston Celtics.

When Kazane Kajiya voluntarily sterilised herself in the United States aged 27, she essentially "flipped the middle finger" at Japan's patriarchal society that had long pushed her towards motherhood.

Thousands of Chinese fishing boats have been massing in geometric formations in the East China Sea, in coordinated actions that experts believe are part of Beijing's preparations for a potential regional crisis or conflict.

Building his cryptocurrency holdings over eight years and helping out defrauded traders, Singaporean investor Mark Koh had thought he was savvy enough to spot a scam. Until he fell prey to one.

Japan is hurting from the Iran war ahead of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's visit to Washington next week. She has promised to be "candid" with the US president.

Saudi forces intercepted more than two dozen drones on Friday after renewed Iranian threats against oil facilities, as the regional conflict killed a French soldier in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander broke the NBA record for consecutive 20-point games by recording his 127th in a row on Thursday in an Oklahoma City Thunder home match against the Boston Celtics.

Head coach Fabien Galthie says France have a Six Nations to win and that is motivation enough for their clash with fierce rivals England in the tournament finale on Saturday.

Robert Baloucoune is nicknamed the 'Cat' and the Ireland wing thought he had used up his nine lives with regard to Test rugby until Andy Farrell gave him another chance in this season's Six Nations match with Italy.

Barcelona welcome Sevilla on Sunday aiming to maintain their La Liga lead on Real Madrid, but the stakes are even higher off the field with the club's next president to be named that night.

Wales may be on a 15-game losing streak in the Six Nations but it would sum up an unpredictable 2026 Championship were they to beat Italy in their tournament finale.

Oil prices held around $100 Friday and most equity markets dropped after Iran's leader called for the blocking of the crucial Strait of Hormuz and opening up of new fronts in the war against the United States and Israel.

Lens are enjoying a remarkable season in France and can seize top spot in Ligue 1 this weekend as they look to take the title fight to a Paris Saint-Germain side whose main focus is the Champions League.

Unpredictable Bayer Leverkusen host Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich on Saturday, still battling the inconsistency which threatens to derail their top-four hopes.

Elina Svitolina sent two-time champion Iga Swiatek spinning out at Indian Wells on Thursday to line up a semi-final meeting with Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina.

A French soldier was killed in an attack in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday, confirming the first French military death in the Middle East war.

Canadian, German and Norwegian leaders will meet in the Norwegian Arctic on Friday to discuss the region's fragile security situation, against the backdrop of a large NATO exercise.

Troubled Tottenham head to Liverpool on Sunday searching for salvation in their increasingly desperate fight against relegation.

For Sahar Saidian, past and present collide every day on the airwaves as she hosts a Persian-language show on Israeli public radio for listeners in Israel and in Iran, the country she left behind years ago.

At a massive shipyard in North Vancouver, Canadian workers grind metal beams for a powerful new icebreaker crucial to cementing the country's presence in the increasingly contested Arctic.

The northeastern Brazilian city of Recife, where the Oscar-nominated movie "The Secret Agent" is set, is revelling in its moment in the limelight as tourists flock to film locations and a classic local shirt flies off the shelves.

When a film stays with you, it is often because of the magical chemistry among the actors. You can thank casting directors for that, and finally, the Academy is honoring them too.

A red fox that managed to slip onto a US-bound ship in Britain was discovered by customs officers in the Port of New York, a zoo in the city has said.

Austria's Sepp Straka and American Sahith Theegala were among five players sharing the lead at five-under par 67 when darkness halted Thursday's opening round of the US PGA Players Championship.

Saudi forces intercepted more than two dozen drones Friday after Iran vowed to attack oil resources in the Middle East and said it would maintain a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz that has sent crude prices soaring.

US President Donald Trump warned Iran's football team Thursday their "life and safety" would be at risk if they took part in the upcoming World Cup in North America.

Jury deliberations are set to begin Friday in a landmark social media addiction trial accusing Meta and YouTube of intentionally trying to hook young internet users.