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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at a regional Asian summit on Wednesday that he expects a "very positive" visit from Chinese President Xi Jinping to the United States in September.

South African mining magnate Patrice Motsepe on Wednesday ruled out a future in politics, dismissing speculation that he could one day run for the country's presidency.

Jasper Philipsen took a dominant victory in a reduced bunch sprint at the end of the Tour de France's Alpine 17th stage on Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump threatened Wednesday to knock out one Iranian bridge or power plant in return for each attack on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, warning he was "not finished" with a war that has already cost Washington $37.5 billion.

DonnaPro, the premium executive assistant agency built exclusively for CEOs and founders, has introduced AI-trained executive assistants into the marketplace, bringing a new standard of human-led, AI-amplified support to European business leaders.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday picked his right-hand man to lead the CDU/CSU alliance in parliament after the incumbent was forced out for using a surrogate mother.

The UK's Prince George, second in line to the throne, turned 13 on Wednesday as he readied to follow in his father Prince William's footsteps and start at the prestigious Eton College.

African football boss Patrice Motsepe offered an emphatic defence of FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Wednesday, portraying him as a devoted steward of the game and friend of the continent.

World oil prices soared Wednesday, with the benchmark international contract Brent North Sea crude surpassing $95 for the first time in nearly six weeks as the United States and Iran carried out more strikes.

You can smell the fire dozens of kilometres away, and its smoke has partly blocked out the sun: the huge wildfire north of Madrid has unnerved officials and evacuees alike.

The US military struck Iran's Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, after President Donald Trump warned he was "not finished" with a war that has already cost Washington $37.5 billion.

Tyre, an ancient Phoenician city in southern Lebanon bombarded by Israel over recent months, was added Tuesday to the UNESCO list of world heritage sites in danger.

From building wind turbines to reinforcing power grids for rising demand from electric cars, transitioning from fossil fuels to greener economies will require a massive increase in metal extraction.

In Tunisia long power outages across the country have added to the strain of an intense heatwave, with temperatures as high as 49C, leaving many fearing for their livelihoods.

MEXC, a pioneer in 0-fee digital asset trading, increased its market share in Q2 2026 and ranked No. 2 globally in commodity perpetuals market share, according to TokenInsight's newly released Q2 2026 Crypto Exchange Report. The report provides a comprehensive review of trading volume, open interest, and TradFi perpetuals markets across major global crypto exchanges.

"Today more than ever, we remain united" reads the banner brandished by the players of Venezuelan club UCV prior to the first major sporting event hosted by the country since the twin earthquakes that killed over 5,000 last month.

The head of Italian defence giant Leonardo told AFP it would be "beneficial" for Germany to join an initiative led by Britain, Italy and Japan to develop a next-generation fighter jet, after its rival project with France collapsed.

World oil prices soared Wednesday, with the benchmark international contract Brent North Sea crude surpassing $95 for the first time in nearly six weeks as the United States and Iran carried out more strikes.

The glittering, vaulted gallery targeted by thieves at the Louvre last October reopened to the public on Wednesday, becoming a novel attraction for tourists even though its priceless exhibits have been removed.

British boxer Tyson Fury insisted on Wednesday that "the best is yet to come" ahead of a charity fight in Thailand, a warm-up to his long-awaited clash with Anthony Joshua.

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky has announced Mykhailo Drapaty as the country's new commander-in-chief, following a political crisis triggered by Zelensky's surprise ousting of a young modernising defence minister.

Japanese cities are experiencing "cruelly hot days", a new meteorological term devised this year to warn people of intense heat above 40C, with emergency officials describing the soaring temperatures on Wednesday as "a disaster".

Crowds of supporters of India's online "cockroach" movement grew on Wednesday at a New Delhi protest site, with their campaign for accountability and reform following examination scandals getting a boost inside parliament from opposition lawmakers.

In a slowly emptying village in northern Kazakhstan, wild grass engulfed the entrances of abandoned apartment blocks, as children's songs spilled into the street from the only building still occupied.

The head of Italy's football federation has confirmed he held discussions with legendary coach Pep Guardiola over the vacancy at the Italian national side but added he was "not sure that this will come about".

Austria opened a new police station in Adolf Hitler's former house on Wednesday, in the hope of deterring today's ascendant far-right extremists from making the pilgrimage to the Nazi dictator's birthplace.

Britain's annual inflation rate fell more than expected in June, driven by lower fuel prices, official data showed Wednesday, in a boost to new Prime Minister Andy Burnham's cost-of-living push.

Oil prices rose sharply on Wednesday as fresh US strikes triggered air defences in Iran, while stocks in Asia gave up earlier gains and inched higher in Europe.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has held talks about joining the Amit Bhatia-fronted consortium that has expressed interest in buying a minority stake in Liverpool, according to reports on Wednesday.

Greece is expected to experience its hottest day of the year on Wednesday, with temperatures reaching up to 43C according to meteorologists, and several regions placed on alert due to the risk of wildfires.

What began as online outrage over exam scandals has snowballed into protests against India's education system, posing one of the biggest challenges to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his third term in office.

Japanese cities are experiencing "cruelly hot days", a new meteorological term devised this year to warn people of intense heat above 40C, with heatstroke alerts issued across almost the whole country.