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Economy
British fintech Revolut gets full UK banking licence
British fintech company Revolut on Wednesday said it had obtained a full UK banking licence from regulators, lifting restrictions on it competing with established retail lenders.
US consumer inflation unchanged but price shocks from Iran war loom
Consumer inflation in the United States remained stable at 2.4 percent in February, official data showed Wednesday, with price shocks from the US-Israel war on Iran yet to be reflected in the data.
Culture
Kneecap rapper scores new court victory as UK prosecutors lose appeal
An Irish-language singer from punk-rap group Kneecap will not face a terrorism charge after UK prosecutors lost a High Court challenge Wednesday against a judge's decision to dismiss the case.
Economy
IEA says members to release 400 mn barrels from oil reserves
The International Energy Agency said Wednesday its member countries would unlock 400 million barrels of oil from their reserves to ease the impact of the Middle East war, the biggest such release ever.
Boulevard
Trump's 'racist hate speech' fuelling rights abuses: UN watchdog
A UN watchdog warned on Wednesday that racist hate speech by US President Donald Trump and other political leaders coupled with intensified immigration crackdowns were fuelling grave rights violations.
Politics
Four killed in Ukraine as Moscow and Kyiv exchange drone strikes
Russian and Ukrainian drone strikes killed at least four people Wednesday, officials said, as the war between the neighbours dragged on for more than four years with no diplomatic breakthrough in sight.
Sports
India T20 hero dons disguise for unexpected train home
Indian cricket fans were stumped to discover that star all-rounder Shivam Dube could have been travelling incognito on a train with them, fresh from delivering a record third T20 World Cup crown.
Iran hits ships in Gulf chokepoint as G7 dips into oil reserves
Iran fired on two commercial ships in the Gulf on Wednesday, setting at least one vessel on fire, as it pressed its campaign against its energy-exporting neighbours and forced world governments to dip into their strategic oil reserves.
Technology
Russia says internet outages to last as long as 'necessary'
Mobile internet outages in Russia will last as long as "necessary" to ensure citizens' safety, the Kremlin said Wednesday, after network disruptions were recorded in Moscow and other Russian cities.
Economy
US consumer inflation unchanged at 2.4% year-on-year in February
Consumer inflation in the United States remained stable at 2.4 percent in February, in line with market expectations, government data showed Wednesday, as affordability concerns persist in the world's largest economy.
Sports
Rana takes five wickets as Bangladesh crush Pakistan in ODI opener
Bangladesh pace sensation Nahid Rana claimed his first five-wicket haul in one-day internationals to lead his team to a crushing eight-wicket win over Pakistan in their opening match on Wednesday.
Sports
Barca blunder: Fan ends up at wrong St James Park
A red-faced Barcelona fan was treated to a surprise evening of third-tier English football after mixing up Exeter's St James Park with the famous home of Newcastle.
Sports
Malaysia's JDT reach Asian Champions League quarter-finals
Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta'zim reached the Asian Champions League quarter-finals for the first time despite a 1-0 loss to Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Wednesday, advancing 3-2 on aggregate.
Politics
Oil jumps, stocks drop as Mideast war prolongs market volatility
Oil prices rallied and equities mostly dropped Wednesday as traders assessed the latest developments affecting global markets as a result of the Middle East war.
Politics
French aid worker killed in DR Congo air strike
A French aid worker for the UN children's agency has been killed in an air strike in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in a city controlled by the Rwanda-backed M23 militia.
Politics
Germany, Japan to unblock oil reserves as G7 stands 'ready' to act
Japan and Germany said Wednesday they would tap into their oil reserves to tackle the rise in crude prices due to the Middle East war, with Berlin saying the IEA global energy body had asked member states to release 400 million barrels.
Economy
German defence giant Rheinmetall sees business boost from Mideast war
German arms maker Rheinmetall said Wednesday the Middle East war offered new business opportunities, especially for its air defence systems, as it forecast continued strong growth this year.
Economy
Malawi court dismisses 15-year lawsuit against Madonna charity
A Malawi High Court has dismissed a wrongful‑termination case against US pop star Madonna brought by the sister of a former president, in one of the country's longest-running NGO disputes.
Politics
Trade ships hit as Iran threatens Gulf oil chokepoint
New attacks hit three commercial ships in the Gulf on Wednesday, with one of the vessels in flames as Iran pressed its campaign against its oil-exporting neighbours, threatening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and plunging the global energy economy into crisis.
Economy
Airlines grapple with impact of Mideast war
Global airlines are grappling with the effects of the war in the Middle East, as fuel prices soar and customers reassess their travel plans.
Politics
Iran's new supreme leader injured but 'safe', says president's son
Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is injured but "safe and sound", the son of the president said Wednesday, offering the first official explanation for why the 56-year-old has not been seen since his appointment at the weekend.
Economy
Thai navy says cargo ship attacked in Strait of Hormuz
A Thai bulk carrier travelling in the crucial Strait of Hormuz was attacked Wednesday, with 20 crew members rescued so far, the Thai navy said.
Boulevard
Poland starts human trafficking probe into Epstein ring
Polish prosecutors said Wednesday they were investigating human trafficking tied to Jeffrey Epstein they suspect took place in the country.
Politics
G7 inches closer to tapping oil reserves to tackle price rise
The Group of Seven advanced economies inched closer Wednesday to tapping strategic oil reserves to tackle the rise in crude oil prices due to the Middle East war as energy ministers said they stood ready to take "all necessary measures".
Economy
Airlines in Asia hike fares as Mideast war raises fuel costs
Airlines in the Asia-Pacific region, including Qantas, Air India and Cathay Pacific, have hiked fares -- or will soon -- to factor in surging jet fuel prices spurred by war in the Mideast.
Politics
UK govt to release first batch of Mandelson files
Britain's government was due Wednesday to publish the first tranche of documents relating to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's controversial appointment of a Jeffrey Epstein associate as UK ambassador to Washington.
Economy
European football clubs score with stadium rebuilds
On a former derelict dock in the British port city of Liverpool, fans of Everton throng eateries and bars at the football club's new stadium ahead of a Premier League match.
Politics
Trump said Iran 'welcome to compete' in World Cup, says Infantino
US President Donald Trump has said that Iran is "welcome" to participate at the upcoming World Cup in North America, despite the ongoing Middle East war, FIFA chief Gianni Infantino said on Wednesday.
Politics
'No good choice': the Afghans forced to return from Iran
Exhausted Afghans cross the border from Iran in a sandstorm, leaving behind a country in the grip of war to return to a homeland that is battered by conflict and humanitarian crisis.
Asia stocks rise but oil resumes gains amid IEA supply report
Asian equities rose Wednesday while oil resumed its gains as traders weighed growing supply concerns against a report that the International Energy Agency was considering the release of a record amount of its reserves.
Cathay says surcharge to rise as fuel prices jump during Mideast war
Hong Kong aviation giant Cathay Pacific said on Wednesday that fuel surcharges would rise as prices soared in March after war broke out in the Middle East.
Politics
Cargo vessels hit as Iran threatens to close Gulf oil chokepoint
Three commercial ships took fire in the Gulf on Wednesday as Iran launched strikes against its oil-exporting neighbours, threatening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and plunging the global energy economy into crisis.