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Politics
Macron appoints military advisor as new army chief
President Emmanuel Macron has appointed his closest military advisor, an experienced fighter pilot, as the new chief of staff of France's armed forces, Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said Wednesday.
Culture
Texas's Alamo honors Ozzy despite notorious urination incident
Ozzy Osbourne was a pioneering musician but the Black Sabbath frontman was perhaps best known in the mainstream for his antics -- including offending all of Texas when he drunkenly urinated on the US state's monument to its fallen Alamo heroes.
Economy
US existing home sales dip to 9-month low on high costs
Sales of previously-owned homes in the United States hit their lowest rate in nine months, according to industry data released Wednesday, as high home prices and mortgage rates weighed on the market.
Politics
Zelensky defends law curbing anti-graft agencies' independence
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday defended legislative changes removing the independence of two key anti-corruption bodies, sparking the first major protests in Ukraine since the start of Russia's invasion.
Sports
Pogacar's Tour superiority stirs up old doping debate
Tadej Pogacar's towering domination of this year's Tour de France is once again raising eyebrows in a sport long tainted by the spectre of doping.
Sports
Juventus make Conceicao loan permanent
Portuguese international Francisco Conceicao, who spent last year on loan at Juventus, has completed a full transfer from Porto, the Serie A club has announced.
Boulevard
ICJ begins handing down landmark climate opinion
The world's top court on Wednesday began delivering a much-anticipated ruling laying out what legal obligations countries have to prevent climate change and whether polluters should pay up for the consequences.
ICJ begins handing down watershed climate opinion
The world's top court on Wednesday began delivering a landmark ruling laying out what legal obligations countries have to prevent climate change and whether polluters should pay up for the consequences.
Nature
Greece mulls water-saving moves as heatwave intensifies
Greece on Wednesday announced plans to "urgently" overhaul its water management as temperatures continued to rise during a week-long heatwave.
Sports
India openers make solid start against England in must-win Test
Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul got India off to a solid start against England at Old Trafford on Wednesday in a must-win fourth Test for the tourists.
Sports
Teenage super-sub Agyemang emerges as England's star at Euro 2025
Michelle Agyemang may have been brought into the England squad for Euro 2025 as something of a wildcard but the teenager has followed a "crazy season" by playing a crucial role in helping the reigning champions reach this weekend's final.
Economy
Canal+ clears final hurdle to acquire S.Africa's MultiChoice
France's Canal+ said Wednesday it had cleared the final regulatory hurdle for the buyout of Africa's largest pay TV enterprise MultiChoice and further expand its footprint on the continent.
Economy
UK launches first sanctions in new strategy to deter migrant crossings
The UK imposed sanctions Wednesday on more than two dozen people, groups and suppliers from the Balkans, the Middle East and China accused of helping migrants cross the Channel.
Culture
National Ballet of Japan to make UK debut
The National Ballet of Japan makes its debut at the London Royal Opera House on Thursday, pirouetting into a void left when Russia's Bolshoi Ballet was cancelled over the war in Ukraine.
Politics
Kremlin expects 'difficult' talks with Ukraine in Istanbul
Russia said that it expected talks with Ukraine later on Wednesday in Istanbul to be "difficult", downplaying expectations of a breakthrough at a meeting between the two sides after nearly three and a half years of war.
Politics
EU, Japan vow joint push for 'fair' global trade
The EU and Japan pledged on Wednesday to work together on championing a "free and fair" trade global system, as US tariffs and disputes with China rattle their economies.
Sports
Springboks omit Mapimpi, De Klerk for Wallabies Tests
Double Rugby World Cup winners Makazole Mapimpi and Faf de Klerk have been omitted from the South Africa squad for two Rugby Championship Tests against Australia during August.
Economy
Stock markets rally after Japan-US trade deal
Stock markets rose on Wednesday after Japan and the United States hammered out a trade deal to slash Donald Trump's tariffs, including those on the crucial car sector.
Culture
Tributes flood in for Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne
Tributes poured in Wednesday for hell-raiser singer Ozzy Osbourne as tearful fans laid flowers in his hometown and his Black Sabbath bandmates mourned the death of their legendary heavy metal frontman, just weeks after he played an epic farewell concert in their Birmingham hometown.
Politics
AFP journalist covers war as Gaza faces extreme shortages
With fuel prices exorbitant and road travel treacherous in the war-battered Gaza Strip, AFP video journalist Youssef Hassouna has to walk for hours in the searing heat every day just to document the news.
Politics
Zelensky defends contested anti-corruption law changes
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday defended legislative changes removing the independence of two key anti-corruption bodies, sparking the first major protests in Ukraine since the start of Russia's invasion.
Politics
Germany seeks US guarantee before sending Patriots to Ukraine
Germany needs firm US assurances that it will quickly receive replacement Patriot anti-missile systems if it sends two of its own units to Ukraine, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Wednesday.
Sports
England bowl in fourth Test as India pick Bumrah
England won the toss and elected to bowl in the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford on Wednesday as the tourists picked paceman Jasprit Bumrah for a match they must win.
Economy
UniCredit boosts outlook after walking away from Banco BPM
Italy's UniCredit posted a sharp rise in quarterly profit on Wednesday despite lower revenues, a day after it withdrew its offer for smaller rival Banco BPM due to government interference.
Nature
Equinor takes $1 bn hit from US wind farm regulations, tariffs
Norwegian energy company Equinor said on Wednesday that its giant offshore wind project in New York -- once halted by the US administration -- had lost nearly $1bn in value following regulatory changes and tariffs.
Speculation swirls about Japan PM's future
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba denied discussing his resignation with party elders on Wednesday, as media speculation about his futureintensified after a weekend election debacle.
Economy
'So Trump-like': relief but no surprise in Japan as US cuts tariffs
In the Japanese city of Seki, famed for its razor-sharp artisan knives, news that incoming US tariffs will be lowered is welcome but not entirely unexpected.
Sports
Sinner reappoints coach he sacked in doping scandal
World No.1 Jannik Sinner is teaming up once again with Umberto Ferrara, the fitness coach he sacked in the summer of 2024 after it was revealed that the Italian had tested positive for doping, his management team announced on Wednesday.
Sports
Brighton forward Ferguson joins Roma on loan
Brighton and Ireland forward Evan Ferguson has joined Serie A side Roma on a season-long loan, the clubs announced on Wednesday.
Weather
More than 80% of Tuvalu seeks Australian climate visa
More than 80 percent of Pacific nation Tuvalu's population is seeking a landmark climate visa to live in Australia as rising seas lap at its shores, official figures showed Wednesday.
Economy
South Korea sees record birth rate growth for Jan-May
South Korea registered record birth rate growth during the first five months of the year, a statistics agency official told AFP on Wednesday.
Nature
'Garden of Eden': Albania eyes up growing exotic fruit for Europe
Passion fruit, guava, dragon fruit or kiwano -- climate change is sparking Albanian farmers to start growing exotic fruits to sell to Europe.