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DR Congo ceasefire terms still unclear after surprise summit
The terms of a possible ceasefire in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo were unclear Wednesday, a day after Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame held surprise talks in Doha.
UniCredit CEO says prepared to wait on Commerzbank decision
UniCredit's chief executive said Wednesday he could wait until 2027 to determine whether a takeover of Germany's Commerzbank made sense for Italy's second-largest bank.
Fleeing civilians fill Gaza roads as Israel keeps up strikes
Long lines of fleeing civilians filled the roads of Gaza Wednesday as Israel kept up its renewed bombardment of the territory for a second day despite a chorus of calls from foreign governments to preserve a fragile January ceasefire.
After Putin-Trump call, Russians dream of 1945-style Ukraine victory
For Russian civil servant Larisa, talks between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump have put Moscow one step closer to victory, even if they are far from ending three years of fighting in Ukraine.
Global music business raked in $29.6 bn in 2024: report
The global music industry raked in a record $29.6 billion last year as online streaming propelled revenues to their highest level since records began in the 1990s, new figures showed on Wednesday.
Ukraine, Russia claim neither heeding halt to energy strikes
Ukraine and Russia on Wednesday accused each other of not respecting a halt on energy infrastructure strikes, after talks between Washington and the Kremlin aimed at ending the grinding three-year conflict.
Rangers 'embarrassed' by racist banner charge from UEFA
Rangers have reacted with "embarrassment" after being charged by UEFA for a "racist and/or discriminatory banner" displayed by fans in last week's Europa League tie against Fenerbahce.
USL aims to bring promotion and relegation to USA
The United Soccer Leagues says it plans to become the first professional sports league in the USA to adopt promotion and relegation.
Santander to close one fifth of UK branches amid online switch
Spanish bank Santander announced Wednesday plans to close one fifth of its UK branches, impacting 750 jobs, as the switch to online banking gathers pace.
Samaranch unruffled by China links on eve of IOC presidential vote
Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior dismissed suggestions on Wednesday that it was unfair two Chinese members who sit on a foundation board with the Spaniard could vote for him in the International Olympic Committee presidential election.
Ohtani hits home run as Dodgers sweep Cubs in Tokyo
Shohei Ohtani hit a home run but Roki Sasaki had a wobbly Major League Baseball debut as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 6-3 in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Italy says six dead, 40 missing after migrant shipwreck
Six people died and 40 are missing after a migrant shipwreck in the Mediterranean, the United Nations said Wednesday, as Italian authorities searched for survivors off the island of Lampedusa.
Algerian boxer Khelif 'not intimidated' by Trump as she targets second Olympic gold in LA
Algerian Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif, at the centre of a gender row at the Paris Games, is targeting a second gold in Los Angeles and says she will not be intimidated by Donald Trump.
Record numbers forced to flee climate disasters: UN
Hundreds of thousands of people were forced to flee climate disasters last year, the United Nations said Wednesday, highlighting the urgent need for early warning systems covering the entire planet.
'Living in dictatorship': Istanbul mayor's arrest sparks anger
"We're living in a dictatorship," said Kuzey, an Istanbul shopkeeper after police detained the city's popular opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on corruption allegations.
Russia threatens the entire EU, bloc's chief tells AFP
Russia represents a threat for all European nations -- regardless of how far they lie from Moscow, EU chief Antonio Costa told AFP ahead of a leaders' summit on Thursday.
French billionaire Bollore targeted in fraud case over Africa ports
Groups from five African countries filed fraud and corruption complaints Wednesday accusing French billionaire Vincent Bollore and one of his sons of illegally obtaining and benefitting from port concessions.
'Dark universe detective' telescope releases first data
Europe's Euclid space telescope, which is on a mission to shed light on the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy, released its first data Wednesday with a little help from volunteers and artificial intelligence.
Stock markets diverge, gold hits high tracking global unrest
European and Asian stock markets traded mixed and gold hit another record high Wednesday as trade war worries cast a shadow and geopolitical concerns returned to the fore.
Son says fit and firing as South Korea close on World Cup spot
Son Heung-min dismissed concerns about his form and fitness on Wednesday as he looks to forget his Tottenham woes by firing South Korea to the World Cup.
China's Tencent sees profits surge as AI drive accelerates
Chinese internet and gaming giant Tencent said on Wednesday that profits in the fourth quarter of 2024 surged 90 percent as the firm accelerates a push into artificial intelligence (AI).
Hamas says open to talks as Israel keeps up Gaza strikes
Hamas said it remained open to negotiations while calling for pressure on Israel Wednesday to implement a Gaza truce after its deadliest bombing since the fragile ceasefire began in January.
Turkey detains Istanbul mayor, Erdogan's main rival
Turkish police detained Istanbul's powerful mayor Ekrem Imamoglu early Wednesday as part of a corruption probe, a move his opposition CHP party slammed as a "coup".
Endo says Japan won't be satisfied just to reach World Cup
Liverpool's Wataru Endo said Japan's sights are set higher than just qualifying for next year's World Cup as they look to become the first team to clinch their place on Thursday.
Toy trouble: Vietnam pulls dolls over South China Sea map
Seething international tensions over the South China Sea have struck an unlikely victim in Vietnam: popular children's dolls pulled from shops over a facial mark supposedly resembling Beijing's claims in the flashpoint waterway.
Zelensky accuses Russia of rejecting ceasefire after new strikes
Ukraine accused Russia on Wednesday of effectively rejecting a US-backed ceasefire proposal, reporting a barrage of strikes hours after Moscow agreed to temporarily pause attacks on energy facilities.
Myanmar relief camps receive last WFP aid as cuts begin
Distraught Myanmar relief camp dwellers received final handouts from the World Food Programme on Wednesday as the UN agency begins halting aid to a million people in the country because funding has dried up.
Markets mixed as geopolitics, trade wars deplete sentiment
Equity markets were mixed and gold hit another record high on Wednesday as trade war worries cast a shadow and geopolitical concerns returned to the fore.
Zelensky accuses Russia of rejecting ceasefire as new strikes hit Ukraine
Ukraine accused Russia on Wednesday of effectively rejecting a US-backed ceasefire proposal, reporting a barrage of strikes hours after Moscow agreed to temporarily pause attacks on energy facilities.
Bank of Japan holds rates and warns of trade uncertainty
The Bank of Japan left its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday and warned about the economic outlook amid global uncertainty fuelled by Donald Trump's trade war.
Australia prepare for unknown against Kluivert's Indonesia
Tony Popovic admitted Wednesday there will be a degree of unknown when his Australia side face an Indonesia team led for the first time by Patrick Kluivert in a World Cup qualifier.
Uganda: the quiet power in the eastern DRC conflict
Uganda's role in eastern DR Congo has largely gone under the radar during recent violence but its complex approach aims to secure long-standing security and economic interests in the mineral-rich area, experts say.