- Chad hunts attackers after 40 killed in Boko Haram raid
- Oil prices tumble, global stocks rise as Iran fears ease
- Verstappen controversy, Hamilton happy - Mexico Grand Prix talking points
- Boeing announces stock offering expected to raise up to $19 billion
- UK far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson jailed for 18 months
- Sexual assault trial of French screen legend Depardieu opens without him
- X suspends new account posting on behalf of Iran leader Khamenei
- Lithuania's centre left starts coalition talks after election win
- Manchester United sack manager Ten Hag
- Michelin-starred Thai street food cook hints at retirement
- Crisis-hit VW mulls closing at least three German plants
- Middle East aid workers say rules of war being flouted
- Taijul vows Bangladesh to bounce back in second South Africa Test
- Ship with suspected toxic waste returns to Albania
- Saka regrets Arsenal not showing 'our best selves' against Liverpool
- Global stocks diverge, oil prices tumble as Iran fears ease
- Afghanistan morality ministry spreads 'living things' images ban
- Spanish PM in India seeking to bolster trade ties
- Israel presses Gaza and Lebanon assaults as Egypt touts truce plan
- Carbon cuts 'miles short' of 2030 goal: UN
- Crisis-hit VW eyeing plant closures, deep pay cuts: report
- What next after Japanese election
- Trump, Harris lean on traditional bases eight days before US vote
- Still no snow on Japan's Mount Fuji, breaking record
- Philips lowers sales outlook on drop in China orders
- French screen legend Depardieu asks for delay to sexual assault trial
- Paris show spotlights Afghan women who 'lost hope'
- Climate change-worsened floods wreak havoc in Africa
- French screen legend Depardieu faces sexual assault trial
- Japan PM vows to stay on despite election debacle
- Record number of women win seats in Japan election
- Vinicius favourite for Ballon d'Or in post-Messi/Ronaldo era
- Milan and Inter back on long road towards a new San Siro
- Oil prices tumble as Iran fears ease, yen weakens after Japan polls
- Olympus CEO resigns over alleged illegal drugs purchase
- After disastrous election, what happens to Japan's new PM?
- Bangladesh immunity order sparks fears of justice denied
- North Korea says probe 'proved' Seoul to blame for drones
- Wallabies return to Perth and Townsville for 2025 Tests
- Left, center-right candidates to duel in Uruguay presidential runoff
- Australia rest Test stars for Pakistan T20 series
- New storm bears down on Philippines after deadly Trami
- 'Wiped off the face of the Earth': How Russia erased a Ukrainian city
- Teacher vs veterinarian: Uruguay's presidential frontrunners
- Down to the wire: Trump, Harris in final week push
- NFL Chiefs stay unbeaten as Commanders win on miracle catch
- Trump's New York rally attacks Harris, draws criticism
- Maxey scores 45 points to propel 76ers over Pacers
- Left, center-right candidates to duel in Uruguay presidential runoff: estimates
- Debutant Sears shines as US women rally to beat Iceland
Verstappen fastest before rain spoils Japanese Grand Prix practice
Max Verstappen went fastest on Friday in the first practice for the Japanese Grand Prix, with the second session badly affected by rain.
Triple world champion Verstappen, who failed to finish the race in Australia a fortnight ago, edged Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez in dry conditions in the first session in Suzuka.
But it was a different story later in the day when only five drivers recorded a timed lap in on-off showers, with McLaren's Oscar Piastri going quickest ahead of Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton.
Verstappen and Perez did not come out for the second practice.
They were among several drivers who stayed in the garage as the teams tried to preserve their tyres in the tricky conditions.
"In FP2 we couldn't do anything, which was a shame as this means that we don't know the long-run pace, but we can't do anything about the weather," said Verstappen.
"In general, it looks like everyone is a bit closer compared to last year and I don't expect the same kind of gaps here at this track."
Verstappen won the first two grands prix of the season but the Dutchman retired from a race for the first time in two years in Melbourne after a brake issue.
Normal service resumed in the first practice, in a session that was red-flagged for around 10 minutes after Williams driver Logan Sargeant crashed into a wall of tyres.
Verstappen clocked a fastest lap of 1min 30.056sec -- 0.181sec quicker than Perez.
"There are a few things that we still want to look at tomorrow but overall I felt quite happy with what we had and the laps that we did," said Verstappen.
Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, who won in Australia after returning from appendicitis surgery, was third-fastest at 1min 30.269sec.
George Russell was fourth-quickest followed by Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc coming home in sixth.
- Hamilton positive -
Hamilton, who has had a difficult start to the season, said it was "a great session" for Mercedes.
"It was the best session for us so far this year and the best the car has felt," said the seven-time world champion.
"I felt very positive and excited heading into FP2 as this is a circuit that every driver loves to drive.
"It was a shame not to get much running in, therefore."
The second session saw very little action until a late flurry of activity.
Australian Piastri ended up on top, clocking 1min 34.725sec to finish 0.501sec clear of Hamilton.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was third ahead of RB pair Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo, but no other driver managed to record a timed lap.
"Not a lot going on in FP2 but I was able to get a couple of laps in at the end in tricky conditions," said Piastri, who finished third at last year's race.
"I think it's been an OK day. It's difficult to get a good reading on everybody's pace."
Sargeant did not take part in the second session after crashing earlier in the day.
The American came skidding off the track at a corner and spun across the gravel before slamming into a barrier midway through the session.
He walked away unhurt and his car was carried off by a crane.
Williams boss James Vowles said the damage to Sargeant's car was "extensive".
"He struggled to see where his position was on the track, so it fundamentally looks like he didn't quite realise where he was," said Vowles.
D.Cunningha--AMWN