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A breach, a blockade, and a blaze: tumultuous UN climate talks head into their final day Friday in the Brazilian Amazon, with countries still sharply split over fossil fuels.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi insisted that a $135 billion stimulus package approved Friday was fiscally responsible and that she would reduce the country's colossal debt burden.

McLaren's championship leader Lando Norris went fastest in Thursday's second practice for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, which featured two late red flags.

Miss Mexico was crowned Miss Universe in Thailand on Friday, strutting to victory after the beauty pageant's host had publicly chastised her, among several dramatic missteps in the run-up to the final stage.

Houston's Calen Bullock intercepted reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Josh Allen twice and the league's top defensive unit powered the Texans over Buffalo 23-19 on Thursday.

Out-of-sorts France welcome out-of-form Australia to Paris in the Autumn Nations Series on Saturday with both sides mired in sticky patches.

Borussia Dortmund host German Cup holders Stuttgart on Saturday in the Bundesliga with yet another shot at a title slowly slipping away from the grasp of Niko Kovac's side.

South African head coach Rassie Erasmus may have quit Irish province Munster after just over a year in charge but he puts a lot of the success behind two consecutive Rugby World Cup triumphs down to "a life-changing experience" when he was there.

A venomous Mitchell Starc struck three times during an intimidating opening spell to leave England in trouble on day one of the first Ashes Test against Australia on Friday in Perth.

Taipei resident Jay Tsai hopes he never needs the crisis guide Taiwan is handing out to millions of households across the island, which faces threats of natural disasters and a Chinese invasion.

In Washington's embassy district, years' worth of wildly overgrown vegetation outside an empty building was finally pruned away in September as the flag of Syria was raised.

Tyrese Maxey scored 54 points to spark the Philadelphia 76ers in a 123-114 overtime NBA victory at Milwaukee on Thursday while San Antonio surged late to beat Atlanta.

Finally reopening Camp Nou is cause to celebrate for Barcelona but coach Hansi Flick will only be happy if they inaugurate their rebuilt stadium by kickstarting their La Liga title defence on Saturday.

A week on from England scuppering their Grand Slam aspirations, New Zealand will bid to bounce back with a season-ending victory over struggling Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.

Paul Pogba is expected to make his long-awaited return to action after over two years out of the game when Monaco travel to Rennes this Saturday in Ligue 1.

Milan takes centre stage on Sunday night as the city's two football giants face off at the San Siro with top spot in Serie A up for grabs, while troubled Napoli try to reset after the international break.

England suffered seven defeats in 12 Tests in 2024, including a painful run of five losses in a row, but Steve Borthwick's men have turned things around in spectacular style.

Towering stacks of oversized saucers and furniture fit for giants are some of the treasures on display in Los Angeles at a new exhibition of the work of Robert Therrien.

In a sharp change, the United States said Thursday that its signature human rights report would start tracking countries that support gender changes for children and diversity and equity programs.

Afghanistan is scrambling to diversify its trade partners after a deadly border clash with Pakistan last month brought ties to their lowest point in years, affecting people on both sides of the frontier.

After years of being banned from leaving Iran, filmmaker Jafar Panahi is enjoying his tour of the United States -- visiting Los Angeles, New York and Telluride -- as he promotes his Oscar-hopeful "It Was Just an Accident."

Cuba has been gripped by an outbreak of the viral disease chikungunya, as it battles shortages of clean water, food, fuel and medicine, during its worst economic crisis in decades.

More than 30 countries have co-signed a letter opposing Brazil's draft proposal at the UN climate conference because it fails to include a roadmap phasing out fossil fuels, the Colombian delegation told AFP on Thursday.

Tech firms led more steep losses across Asian markets Friday as investors struggled to shake off fears about an AI bubble and after a sell-off on Wall Street sparked by jobs data dealt a further blow to hopes for a US interest rate cut.

Ukraine would give up a swathe of eastern territory to Russia and slash the size of its army under a sweeping 28-point peace plan backed by US President Donald Trump, according to a draft obtained by AFP.

England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to bat against Australia in the first Ashes Test under blue skies in Perth on Friday.

Dev Karan recalls the first time he saw a purple pond, "filled with dyes and chemicals, and choked with plastic".

A self-portrait by legendary Mexican artist Frida Kahlo sold for $54.66 million in New York on Thursday, setting a new record for the price of a painting by a woman, the auction house Sotheby's said.

Arsenal are expected to be without defensive lynchpin Gabriel Magalhaes when they host London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday as Manchester City seek to keep up the pressure on the Premier League leaders.

Behind the civil war tearing Sudan apart for more than two years lie the country's natural riches, with foreign powers vying for control of its gold, fertile farmland and coastline.

Livestream giant Twitch will be forced to remove all users under the age of 16 when Australia's strict social media laws take effect next month, Canberra's online regulator said Friday.

Ukraine would give up the eastern Donbas region to Russia under a 28-point peace plan backed by US President Donald Trump, according to a draft obtained Thursday by AFP.

Spain and Germany will face off in the semi-finals of the Davis Cup after coming through respective last-eight ties in Bologna with the Czech Republic and Argentina on Thursday.

"Black Panther" star Chadwick Boseman was posthumously honored on Thursday with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

President Donald Trump's administration is planning to open up millions of square miles (kilometers) of US coastal waters to oil and gas drilling, it said Thursday, in a step that could lead to a massive expansion of fossil fuel extraction.

South Korea's Lee So-mi fired an eight-under par 64 to seize a two-stroke lead over American Allisen Corpuz after Thursday's opening round of the LPGA Tour Championship.

A fire broke out inside the UN climate summit venue in Brazil on Thursday, burning through the roof and causing a panicked evacuation and the suspension of talks entering a crucial phase.

Barcelona lost their 100 percent record in the Women's Champions League but went top of the table on goal difference following a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Chelsea on matchday four at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.

Tampa Bay will face the Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburgh travels to Chicago in Sunday showdowns between NFL division leaders while the New England Patriots seek a ninth consecutive victory.