Last news
Bayer beats forecasts but weedkiller woes still weigh
Germany's Bayer said Wednesday it had set aside more money to deal with long-running legal woes related to weedkillers, even as investors cheered better-than-expected quarterly earnings.
Politics
42 feared dead in migrant shipwreck off Libya: UN
The United Nations said Wednesday that 42 migrants were missing presumed dead after a rubber boat capsized off the Libyan coast last week.
Politics
Cambodia, Thailand trade accusations of fresh border clashes
Cambodia and Thailand traded accusations of fresh clashes along their border on Wednesday, after Bangkok said it was pausing the implementation of a US-backed peace deal.
Boulevard
Pakistan tightens Islamabad security after suicide blast
Residents in the Pakistani capital Islamabad were facing tightened security checks on Wednesday in the wake of a suicide bombing that left top officials vowing to halt the rise in deadly attacks.
Sports
Messi return 'unrealistic', says Barca president Laporta
Barcelona all-time great Lionel Messi returning to the Catalan giants is "unrealistic", the club's president Joan Laporta said Wednesday.
Economy
Bayer narrows loss, upbeat on weedkiller legal woes
Germany's Bayer said Wednesday it was confident of "significantly" containing long-running legal woes related to a weedkiller by the end of next year, as it reported a narrower quarterly loss.
Boulevard
Corruption scandal, court battles pose test for Zelensky
A major corruption scandal and mounting accusations that the Ukrainian presidency is using the judiciary to intimidate and silence critics has rocked Kyiv, presenting a significant test for Volodymyr Zelensky almost four years into the Russian invasion.
Politics
DR Congo ex-rebel leader Lumbala's war crimes trial opens in France
Former Congolese rebel leader Roger Lumbala went on trial in France Wednesday over atrocities committed in the Democratic Republic of Congo's bloody eastern conflict more than two decades ago.
Economy
Five things to know about the first G20 held in Africa
Leaders of the world's largest economies meet in Johannesburg on November 22 and 23 for the G20 summit, being held for the first time in Africa.
Economy
Asian markets rise on hopes over shutdown deal, rate cut
Equities rose in Asia on Wednesday as the US shutdown nears an end and after fresh jobs data boosted the chances of a third successive Federal Reserve interest rate cut.
Politics
Johannesburg gets rushed makeover for G20 chiefs
When G20 leaders touch down in Johannesburg this month, they will be greeted by a city scrubbed, patched, and polished, all part of a last-minute summit gloss thrown over years of neglect.
Economy
World wine output set for modest 2025 recovery: industry body
Global wine production is on course for a modest recovery in 2025 after suffering a sharp downturn last year, the industry's international body said Wednesday.
Politics
Ukraine justice minister suspended over corruption case: PM
Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said Wednesday that justice minister German Galushchenko had been suspended amid a corruption scandal in the country's energy sector.
Sports
Osimhen, Mbeumo potential key figures in African World Cup play-offs
Star African strikers Victor Osimhen of Nigeria and Bryan Mbeumo of Cameroon want to grace the 2026 World Cup tournament, but only one of them can succeed.
Politics
Tanzania politicians in shock as cabal takes over after massacre
Tanzanian politicians are in shock over the massacre of hundreds of young protesters during its recent election, insiders told AFP, but are too afraid to speak out as a tiny cabal of hardliners around the president takes control.
Culture
Prague cathedral's long-awaited organ to pipe up in 2026
Prague's St. Vitus Cathedral, a favourite feature of postcards from the Czech capital, is next year set to inaugurate a long-awaited organ that befits its Gothic splendour.
Australia's Hazlewood gets all-clear after Ashes scare but Abbott ruled out
Pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood was cleared to continue his preparations for the first Ashes Test against England after sending a scare through the Australian camp on Wednesday when he went for a hamstring scan.
Politics
Migrant workers in Romania fear wave of hate fuelled by far right
Bangladeshi food delivery rider Sabbirrul Alam has stopped making night-time deliveries on his bike in Bucharest ever since a man hit a fellow countryman on the street, shouting "Go back to your country!" and "You are an invader!"
Boulevard
DR Congo ex-rebel leader Lumbala's war crimes trial opens in Paris
Former Congolese rebel leader Roger Lumbala goes on trial in Paris Wednesday over atrocities committed in the Democratic Republic of Congo's bloody eastern conflict more than two decades ago.
Politics
Turkey says military plane crash in Georgia killed all 20 onboard
Turkey on Wednesday said all 20 people onboard a military cargo plane that crashed in Georgia on its return from Azerbaijan had died.
Nature
Renewables outpace fossil fuels despite US policy shift: IEA
Renewable energy is still expanding faster than fossil fuels around the world despite policy changes in the United States, with oil demand possibly peaking "around 2030", the International Energy Agency said Wednesday.
Sports
India bank on formidable home Test record in South Africa series
Shubman Gill's India will look to extend their Test domination at home when a two-match series begins against world champions South Africa on Friday in Kolkata.
Sports
Australia's Hazlewood in injury scare ahead of first Ashes Test
Australia suffered a double injury scare Wednesday ahead of the first Ashes Test against England with pacemen Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott both undergoing assessments, reportedly for hamstring issues.
Sports
No ordinary Joe: Stokes backs Root to fire in Australia
Skipper Ben Stokes hailed Joe Root as England's greatest batsman Wednesday and backed him to fire in the Ashes against Australia, while hyping up his team's vaunted pace attack.
Culture
Humans can no longer tell AI music from the real thing: survey
It has become nearly impossible for people to tell the difference between music generated by artificial intelligence and that created by humans, according to a survey released Wednesday.
House vote likely Wednesday on ending US government shutdown
The effort to end the longest-ever US government shutdown heads Wednesday toward a final vote, as President Donald Trump declared victory in the political face-off and rival Democrats tore themselves apart over the deal.
Sports
Sixers edge Celtics while Thunder reach NBA-best 11-1
Tyrese Maxey and hometown hero Justin Edwards sparked the Philadelphia 76ers over Boston 102-100 on Tuesday while reigning champion Oklahoma City improved their NBA-best record to 11-1.
Boulevard
Cambodia's Prince Group denies link to scams after asset seizures
A Cambodian conglomerate whose founder has had more than $15 billion of allegedly ill-gotten assets seized said it "categorically rejects" claims he amassed his fortune running an internet scam empire.
Sports
Stokes bats away criticism of England's Ashes preparations
Captain Ben Stokes denied Wednesday that England were undercooked for the Ashes series against Australia after a chorus of criticism led by legends Ian Botham and Geoffrey Boycott.
Politics
Russia loses legal bid to build embassy next to Australian parliament
Russia's government lost on Wednesday a legal bid at Australia's High Court to build a new embassy less than a kilometre from the country's parliament.
Things to know
Ethiopia's invasive prosopis tree chokes livelihoods and land
Once hailed as a solution to Ethiopia's creeping desertification, a foreign tree is now spreading uncontrollably across the east African nation, threatening fragile ecosystems and the very survival of local communities.
Health
'We're already living in science fiction': The neurotech revolution
From translating thoughts into words to allowing paralysed people to walk, the field of neurotechnology has been quietly surging ahead, raising hopes of medical breakthroughs -- and profound ethical concerns.