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Heavy, acrid smoke blanketed the eastern United States on Saturday, marring preparations for the weekend's highly awaited World Cup final to be held in an open stadium in New Jersey.

Tadej Pogacar won an "unforgettable" mountainous 14th stage of the Tour de France amidst huge crowds in the Vosges on Saturday to extend his lead over Jonas Vingegaard to four and a half minutes.

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli roared to pole position for Mercedes on Saturday when he beat Red Bull's four-time champion Max Verstappen in the final seconds of Belgian Grand Prix qualifying.

Waves of Ukrainian explosive-laden drones on Saturday pounded e-commerce warehouses in the Moscow and Tambov regions, killing eight people and causing large fires that blackened the skies with thick smoke for hours.

The World Cup tournament was bigger than ever before this year, and so is the list of stars expected at MetLife Stadium for Sunday's final, from Tom Cruise in the closing ceremony to Madonna and Shakira on the halftime stage.

India all-rounder Washington Sundar has been ruled out of the third one-day international against England, team management announced on Saturday.

Tadej Pogacar won the 14th stage of the Tour de France in the Vosges on Saturday to extend his lead over Jonas Vingegaard to four and a half minutes.

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli outpaced his rivals Saturday when he took pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.

Britain's Josh Kerr etched his name into the pantheon of milers when he set a new world record in the men's mile at the London Diamond League on Saturday.

Josh Kerr streaked to a memorable world record in the men's mile at a high-octane Diamond League meet in London on Saturday, while Julien Alfred continued her unbeaten sprint streak.

An "alarming" number of Botswana nationals are being forced into combat in Russia's war against Ukraine after falling for deceptive recruitment schemes, the government said Saturday.

England all-rounder Jacob Bethell thanked the "incredible" Garry Sobers for the key role he played in forging his career following the death of the West Indies legend.

Brazil's top court on Saturday denied a request by Argentine President Javier Milei to visit former Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro, who is under house arrest, a ruling obtained by AFP showed.

Bryson DeChambeau said a two-shot British Open penalty "fires me up" as Ryan Fox became the third player in two days to equal the record score of 62 at a major to move into a share of the lead on Saturday.

England white-ball captain Harry Brook has urged his side to learn from Joe Root as they seek to complete a one-day international series win against top-ranked India.

A prominent figure in German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's centre-right party resigned his leadership post Saturday, party sources told AFP, amid controversy over his use of a surrogate mother in the US despite a ban on the practice in Germany.

Coach Eddie Jones said Japan were "making good progress" after losing 42-15 to France in the Nations Championship in Tokyo on Saturday.

When Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal line-up against each other in the World Cup final on Sunday it will mark the closing of an incredible full circle moment that has been two decades in the making.

France head coach Fabien Galthie praised the "energy and commitment" of his players at the end of a long season after cruising to an emphatic 42-15 Nations championship win over Japan on Saturday in humid Tokyo.

Australia snapped a six-match losing streak after dismantling a depleted Italy 57-10 in the Nations Championship on Saturday, ensuring coach Joe Schmidt ended his unsuccessful tenure on a winning note.

Iran on Saturday struck infrastructure in the Gulf and threatened a "full-scale offensive" in retaliation for the seventh consecutive night of US strikes on the Islamic republic.

A prominent figure in German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's centre-right party resigned his leadership post Saturday, party sources told AFP, amid controversy over his use of a surrogate mother in the US despite a ban on the practice in Germany.

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli topped the times again with a searing lap for Mercedes in Saturday's crash-hit third and final free practice at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Coach Andy Farrell said Saturday that Ireland were closer to the All Blacks than the scoreline suggested in a 40-21 defeat, but conceded his side "never really got going" after an error-strewn start.

France beat Japan 42-15 on Saturday to wrap up their Nations Championship southern hemisphere series with a comfortable win in humid Tokyo.

Coach Dave Rennie said he was "really rapt" after New Zealand unfurled a commanding first-half performance to beat Ireland 40-21 on Saturday and extend their remarkable unbeaten streak at Eden Park to 53 matches.

France beat Japan 42-15 on Saturday to wrap up their Nations Championship southern hemisphere series with a comfortable win in humid Tokyo.

Laos authorities said on Saturday they could not determine blame or the cause of the deaths in 2024 of six tourists previously linked to methanol-tainted alcohol because their families had refused to allow autopsies.

Andy Burnham, who is set to become Britain's prime minister Monday, will face a roster of challenges when he steps into the office as the UK's seventh leader in a decade.

New Zealand unfurled a commanding first-half performance to beat Ireland 40-21 in a bruising Test on Saturday and extend their remarkable unbeaten streak at Eden Park to 53 matches.

Severe flooding and landslides caused by heavy rains killed at least four people in Vietnam, state media reported on Saturday.

There are rooftops draped in blue and white and murals of Lionel Messi everywhere -- but this is not Argentina, it is Bangladesh where football-crazy fans are again celebrating their unique bond with the South American giants.