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Spain's under-fire ecological transition minister, a candidate for a top European Commission post, said Wednesday that questioning the role of state agencies during the country's devastating floods was "dangerous".

President-elect Donald Trump, who has long criticized NATO as overly reliant on American money, on Wednesday nominated loyalist Matthew Whitaker to the crucial post of ambassador to the alliance.

Real Madrid dressing-room lockers used by legends including Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham have been put on display in London as part of a Sotheby's auction.

UK claimants announced Wednesday legal action against US pharmaceutical and cosmetics giant Johnson & Johnson, alleging that women diagnosed with cancers were exposed to asbestos in the company's talcum powder.

European powers and the United States have submitted a resolution censuring Iran for its lack of cooperation on its nuclear dossier, despite the head of the UN watchdog on Wednesday welcoming "a concrete step" by Iran to cap its uranium stockpile.

Three-time Davis Cup winners Germany eased into the semi-finals with a 2-0 victory against Canada on Wednesday.

The family of France's richest person, Bernard Arnault, will complete the acquisition of Paris FC "in the coming days", the Ligue 2 club's president said during a press conference Wednesday.

Hezbollah's leader delivered a defiant speech on Wednesday saying Israel cannot impose its conditions for a truce, as US envoy Amos Hochstein headed from Lebanon to Israel to try to end the war.

Pressure mounted on wealthy nations Wednesday to put a figure on the table as time runs out at COP29 to strike a deal on climate assistance for poorer countries.

Schools reopened Wednesday in Pakistan's most populated province after authorities announced a drop in dangerous air pollution, with parents rejoicing their children's return to classes.

New Zealand fly-half Harry Plummer will join Clermont next season on a three-year deal, the French Top 14 club announced on Wednesday.

US and European stock markets retreated on Wednesday as investors eagerly awaited results from artificial-intelligence giant Nvidia.

US car giant Ford on Wednesday announced 4,000 more job cuts in Europe, mostly in Germany and Britain, in the latest blow to the continent's beleaguered car industry.

With Donald Trump expected to take the United States again out of climate diplomacy, China, the world's largest emitter but green energy powerhouse, is seizing on the chance to project itself as the global leader.

Tottenham have appealed against the length of Rodrigo Bentancur's seven-game suspension for his controversial comments about team-mate Son Heung-min.

A French comedian on Wednesday asked forgiveness in court from the victims he maimed in a car crash he caused while on drugs after chemsex party, in a case that caused a media frenzy over his risky lifestyle as well as the rights of unborn children.

Warren Gatland has insisted he is focused solely on Saturday's daunting Test against South Africa and not talk of his future as Wales stare down the barrel of a win-less calendar year.

Ukraine on Wednesday called on its Western allies not to fuel tension inside the country, after a string of embassies in Kyiv announced they would close, citing the threat of a "massive air attack" on the capital.

Family and friends of One Direction star Liam Payne, who died last month after falling from a Buenos Aires hotel room, gathered for his funeral in Britain on Wednesday.

French farmers protesting pay and conditions and a prospective EU-Latin America trade deal on Wednesday lifted a blockade on the Spanish border after an expression of support from Prime Minister Michel Barnier.

US envoy Amos Hochstein announced he would head to Israel on Wednesday after spending two days in Lebanon trying to hammer out a deal for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Veteran Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye appeared in a military court in Kampala on Wednesday, accused of seeking to compromise national security, after his reported abduction in neighbouring Kenya at the weekend.

Thousands of people demonstrated in Athens and other cities Wednesday as a 24-hour general strike against the rising cost of living shut down public services and part of the transport network.

UN atomic watchdog chief Rafael Grossi on Wednesday welcomed Iran's "concrete step" on agreeing to cap its stockpile of highly enriched uranium after Tehran implemented preparatory steps to stop adding to its inventory.

The floods which killed 227 people in Spain last month could shave 0.2 percentage points off its economic growth in the final quarter of 2024, the central bank said Wednesday.

Scrum-half Gonzalo Garcia will start instead of Gonzalo Bertranou in the only change made by Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi for Friday's November international with France.

Pressure mounted on rich nations Wednesday to commit nearly $1 trillion a year in assistance for poorer countries as time runs out to strike a deal at the COP29 climate talks.

Under-pressure Wales coach Warren Gatland has made four changes to the starting XV thrashed by Australia to face South Africa in Cardiff on Saturday.

Leading Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye appeared in a military court in Kampala on Wednesday after his reported abduction in neighbouring Kenya.

The only certainty about this year's World Rally Championship, which reaches its conclusion in Japan this weekend, is that a Hyundai driver will take the title but whether that is Thierry Neuville or Ott Tanak remains to be seen.

European powers and the United States have submitted a resolution censuring Iran for its poor cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, diplomats told AFP on Wednesday, as Tehran warned of a "proportionate" response if it passes.

US envoy Amos Hochstein was in Lebanon Wednesday, seeking to hammer out a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hezbollah, as the militant group battled Israeli troops in the south of the country.

France head coach Fabien Galthie said on Wednesday there is "no controversy" regarding Gregory Alldritt's absence from the team to face Argentina this week.

Major European and Asian stock markets mostly gained and the dollar firmed against main rivals Wednesday following a positive lead from Wall Street, as all eyes turned to upcoming results from artificial-intelligence giant Nvidia.

The WHO announced late Tuesday that it had raised nearly $4 billion through a new financing mechanism, aimed at securing predictable funding, as shifting political winds threaten cuts from Washington.

Leading Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye has been arrested multiple times, pepper-sprayed, faced spurious charges of rape and treason, and once fled the country in fear of his life.

The South Korean superproducer behind the chart-topping girl band NewJeans resigned from her label Wednesday, following a protracted legal battle with BTS's agency HYBE that has rocked the country's K-pop industry.

Rafael Nadal said early Wednesday he had left a sporting and personal 'legacy' after retiring from professional tennis, as tributes flooded in for the 22-time Grand Slam winner.

Former France and Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira was named on Wednesday as the new coach of relegation-threatened Serie A club Genoa.