France's Socialist incumbents held onto the country's four biggest cities — Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Lille — in local elections that offered a boost to established parties ahead of next year's presidential contest.The results suggested a retreat from political extremes in many urban centres, even as the far left and far right made selective advances in other areas.Parties across the...

An early-morning blast on a residential street in Bucha, just outside Kyiv, left two police officers with limb injuries after a second explosion detonated as officers responded to the scene.Authorities have described the incident as an act of terrorism and say a 21-year-old local has been detained in connection with the two blasts.He has been formally charged with terrorism. Police say the...

A leading offshore trade group has urged the UK government to allow more North Sea oil and gas activity, warning that shrinking domestic output is leaving the nation exposed to volatile global markets.Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) said recent supply shocks and rising crude prices have underlined the need for more home-grown hydrocarbons to reduce import dependence.The trade body pointed to...

Jannik Sinner extended a remarkable run at ATP Masters 1000 events by setting a new record for consecutive sets won, dispatching Corentin Moutet at the Miami Open.The Italian, world number two and a four-time Grand Slam champion, notched his 25th and 26th straight sets with a 6-1 6-4 victory in 71 minutes.He had matched Novak Djokovic's previous mark of 24 sets in his opening match against Damir...

Two Russian men are set to stand trial in Angola, accused of running a covert campaign to sow dissent, spread false information and interfere in next year’s presidential vote.Igor Ratchin and Lev Lakshtanov were detained in August and face 11 counts including terrorism, espionage and illicit influence.Angolan prosecutors say their activities were part of a wider operation tied to a network that...

Michael Lyster, one of RTÉ Sport’s most familiar presenters, has died aged 71.Lyster began his journalism career at The Tuam Herald in County Galway before moving to RTÉ around 1980.In his first year with the broadcaster he covered the Moscow Olympic Games and soon became a regular voice across its sports output. He took over presenting duties on The Sunday Game in 1984 and remained closely...

An explosion in the town of Bucha, just outside Kyiv, injured two police officers after a second device detonated when officers arrived at the scene.The blast happened in the early hours of Monday on a residential street.Emergency teams rushed in after a loud initial explosion and were hit by a follow-up blast that wounded the two officers in their limbs; their injuries are not believed to be...

Many families who once treated days out as a routine are tightening their belts as everyday leisure costs climb.Parents across the UK say meals, attractions and activities have become harder to justify on a middle-income budget, even when both adults are in work.Bianca and Paul Osborne, who live in Stockport and earn close to the national average household income, found a typical family outing...

A British couple imprisoned in Iran have warned their situation has become dangerous amid the region’s latest fighting and say they feel abandoned by the UK government.Craig and Lindsay Foreman, both 53 and from East Sussex, recorded a message relayed by their son Joe Bennett from Evin prison in Tehran.The pair were detained in January 2025 during a motorbike trip and later given 10-year...

The UN's weather agency says Earth is accumulating heat faster than ever recorded, creating an unprecedented imbalance that is already reshaping the climate.Experts point to rising greenhouse gas levels as the main driver of this extra trapped energy, which last year pushed ocean and ice measurements to new extremes.The World Meteorological Organization reports that the past 11 years are the...