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Crude prices were higher Friday and stock markets made decent gains after European countries decided against a ban on Russian oil imports over its invasion of Ukraine -- but Germany said it would slash its energy purchases from Moscow.

The Russian army is riddled with informers and using "old methods of warfare" against Ukrainian forces, the head of Ukraine's defense intelligence agency GUR said in an interview published Friday.

Pop superstar Anitta became the first Brazilian to reach the number one spot on music streaming platform Spotify Friday, with a booty-grinding hit, "Envolver," that has sparked a viral dance phenomenon.

Lewis Hamilton on Friday again used the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to spotlight the country's record on rights, adding that he had heard "mind-blowing" accounts.

The Saudi Arabian Formula One Grand Prix will continue "as planned" despite an attack by Yemeni rebels on an oil facility which set off a huge fire visible from Jeddah's street circuit.

Russia signaled Friday it may dial back its war aims to focus on eastern Ukraine after failing to break the nation's resistance in a month of fighting and attacks on civilians, including bombing a crowded theatre where officials now say up to 300 people died.

Veteran forward Islam Slimani scored five minutes before half-time to give Algeria a 1-0 win over Cameroon in Douala on Friday in the first leg of a World Cup play-off.

A Yemeni rebel attack on a Saudi oil plant set off a huge fire near Jeddah's Formula One circuit during televised practice sessions on Friday, part of a wave of assaults on Aramco facilities.

World champion Max Verstappen was upstaged by rival Charles Leclerc in Friday's practice for the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix and again criticised Netflix for 'fake drama' in the popular 'Drive to Survive' series.

A three-wicket burst by Chris Woakes gave England the edge over the West Indies at tea on the second day of the third and final Test at the Grenada National Stadium on Friday.

Lewis Hamilton on Friday again used the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to spotlight the country's record on rights, adding that he had heard "mind-blowing" accounts.

World Tour rookie Ethan Vernon took advantage of a late crash to swoop for the line and win stage five of the Tour of Catalonia on Friday as Portugal's Joao Almeida took the overall lead by just one second.

The Saudi Arabian Formula One Grand Prix will continue "as planned" despite an attack by Yemeni rebels on an oil facility which set off a huge fire visible from Jeddah's street circuit.

Some call them war heroes, others neo-Nazis: Ukraine's Azov Regiment is at the heart of the propaganda war between Kyiv and Moscow, as Russia claims to seek the "denazification" of Ukraine.

North Korea likely has "more in store" after successfully test-firing its largest-ever intercontinental ballistic missile this week, a top US official said Friday.

Newly-crowned Olympic champions Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron got their bid for a fifth world ice dancing title off to a perfect start on home ice Friday, achieving a world record score in the rhythm dance section.

Practice for this weekend's Saudi Arabian Formula One Grand Prix was delayed Friday after Yemeni rebels attacked an oil facility setting off a huge fire visible from Jeddah's street circuit.

Tarik Tissoudali scored a brilliant equaliser as Morocco moved closer to a sixth World Cup appearance by drawing 1-1 with the Democratic Republic of Congo in Kinshasa on Friday.

Georgia mourned Friday two retired military officers who died fighting in Ukraine, in a war that has reminded Georgians of their own conflict with Russia in 2008.

Wales captain Gareth Bale has slammed the "malicious" Spanish media critics who labelled him a "parasite" before his World Cup play-off heroics.

Yemeni rebels attacked a Saudi Aramco oil facility setting off a huge fire visible from Jeddah's Formula One track as part of a wave of attacks on Friday.

The United States and Britain on Friday announced new sanctions against the Myanmar military that are intended to coincide with the anniversary of a bloody crackdown on protests following last year's coup d'etat.

Hundreds of mourners turned out Friday for the funeral of a Corsican nationalist whose violent death in prison has turned him into a martyr for some despite his murder conviction.

Oil prices were higher Friday, and stock markets were mixed after European countries decided against a ban on Russian oil imports over its Ukraine invasion -- but Germany said it would drastically slash its energy purchases from Moscow.

Gilbert Houngbo, the former prime minister of Togo, was on Friday elected the next head of the International Labour Organization, and will become the first African to lead the UN agency.

Belgian ace Wout van Aert won the E3 one day cycling classic on Friday as his Jumbo team once again proved too powerful for their rivals.

England claimed three wickets after a bright West Indies start as the home side stuttered to 71 for three in reply to the tourists' first innings total of 204 at lunch on the second day of the third and final Test on Friday.

France captain Antoine Dupont was named as the Six Nations Player of the Championship on Friday after leading Les Bleus to a Grand Slam.

With its donations falling and medicines and equipment running short, a Moscow children's hospice fears possible closure due to the impact of Western sanctions over Russia's military action in Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden came up-close to the war in Ukraine Friday as Russia appeared to row back on its vaulting ambitions, after a month of dogged resistance by Ukrainian forces backed by ever-rising Western support.

Gareth Southgate insists there would be no benefit from England boycotting the World Cup amid concerns about Qatar's human rights record.

Early season championship leader Charles Leclerc maintained his impressive form with Ferrari on Friday when he topped the times ahead of Max Verstappen in opening practice for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.