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Heavy blasts shook Tehran late Friday, hours after the United States vowed intensified air strikes against Iran and reportedly sent Marines and more ships to the Middle East.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said on Friday his group was ready for a long confrontation with Israel, as the latter threatened to make Lebanon pay an "increasing price" in damage to infrastructure.

Democrats accused US President Donald Trump on Friday of weakening pressure on Russia by easing oil sanctions amid the conflict with Iran, saying the move risks boosting Moscow's war revenues while American troops face threats of their own in the Middle East.

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday banned a US diplomat who wanted to visit jailed former far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro amid fears of US meddling in the run-up to elections this year.

Cuba's communist authorities on Friday began a prisoner release negotiated with the Vatican and confirmed that talks were underway with the United States amid intense pressure from President Donald Trump.

Pierre Mignoni, who has resumed his post as Toulon coach after a sudden mid-season pause, said Friday he had suffered a "breakdown" and had learned that coaching could kill.

Frugal Germans are crossing into Poland to buy petrol as pump prices rise as a result of Iran choking off global oil supplies in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes.

Britain's energy minister warned petrol retailers Friday that the government would not tolerate "unfair practices" amid a row over rising fuel prices sparked by the Middle East war.

Irish duo Willie Mullins and Paul Townend completed a sweep of the races regarded as the 'Holy Trinity' of the Cheltenham Festival as Gaelic Warrior romped to victory in the Gold Cup on Friday.

A drone strike killed a French soldier in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, France's armed forces ministry said on Friday, after President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the country's first military death in the Middle East war.

A photograph of Britain's former prince Andrew and veteran politician Peter Mandelson sitting in bathrobes alongside late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was unearthed Friday in previously published documents.

Tomos Williams has urged Wales to learn from the example of Italy as they try to end their lengthy losing streak in the Six Nations Championship.

Formula One races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will be cancelled or rescheduled as the Middle East war engulfs the region, a source with knowledge of the matter told AFP on Friday.

The war in the Middle East has largely paralysed the Gulf region's crucial oil industry, which has been hit by attacks and an export blockade.

Ireland captain Caelan Doris believes his side will have a "ton of motivation" when they face Scotland in a Triple Crown decider in Dublin on Saturday -- a match where the winners will remain in the hunt for the Six Nations Championship title.

Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by 128 runs via the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern (DLS) method in the rain-affected second ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Gaelic Warrior eased home to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the blue-riband event of steeplechasing, and give trainer Willie Mullins a record-equalling fifth win in the race on Friday.

Only 77 ships have so far crossed the Strait of Hormuz in March as the Mideast war disrupts one of the world's most vital shipping routes, a maritime data firm reported Friday.

Sri Lanka on Friday repatriated the remains of 84 Iranian sailors who perished when their frigate was sunk nine days ago by a US submarine, local officials said.

Notorious Latin American narco trafficker Sebastian Marset, who eluded police for years, was handed over to US authorities after his arrest Friday in Bolivia.

The United States has eased some restrictions on Russia's oil sales as it tries to stabilise global energy markets, upended by Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz amid the war in the Middle East.

Oil prices stayed under $100 Friday with no end in sight to the disruption in supplies of crude, while stock markets slid lower.

Colombian climber Harold Tejada attacked 4.5 kilometres from the finish in Apt on Friday to win the sixth stage of the Paris-Nice cycling race as Jonas Vingegaard retained a comfortable lead.

France captain Antoine Dupont is wary of a "dangerous" and "physical" England side with nothing to lose in the Six Nations finale on Saturday.

The Pentagon and White House slammed CNN over its Iran war coverage Friday -- with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth saying he looked forward to an ally of President Donald Trump taking over the news network.

The US-Israeli air strikes that on February 28 killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei not only resulted in the death of Iran's longstanding supreme leader but also several key family members.

Iran's latest internet blackout has lasted more than 14 days, connectivity monitor Netblocks said Friday.

Mikel Arteta said Arsenal "fully trust and love" Bukayo Saka despite an underwhelming season for the England winger.

Next month's edition of the annual men's Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge universities will feature French captains for the first time in the rowing event's long history.

President Donald Trump said in an interview aired Friday that American forces would strike Iranian targets "very hard" in the coming days, signaling an intensification of the US-Israeli campaign as the war in the Middle East approaches its third week.

Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu says his side have "been to hell and back together" as they attempt to break new ground by winning a first Six Nations title.

Senegal's government said on Friday it would take back all the assets of ICS -- one of Africa's biggest phosphate fertiliser producers -– ending the licence to control it held by Asian group Indorama Ventures.