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Economy
US Treasury chief defends pivot to extend Russia oil sanctions relief
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday defended the Trump administration's recent about-face to temporarily extend a sanctions waiver that allowed the sale of Russian oil already at sea.
French teenager Seixas becomes youngest Fleche Wallonne winner
French prodigy Paul Seixas at 19 became the youngest winner of the La Fleche Wallonne one-day classic on Wednesday in his first ride in the race.
Oil prices rise on uncertain prospects for US-Iran ceasefire
Oil prices climbed Wednesday while stocks were mixed after US President Donald Trump announced the extension of a ceasefire with Iran, prompting investors to wait and see if peace talks would resume.
Economy
New drugs raise hopes of pancreatic cancer breakthrough
After decades of struggling to find a way to treat pancreatic cancer, researchers have developed several promising new drugs that could offer rare hope to patients given this particularly deadly diagnosis.
Economy
South Africa coal delay could cause 32,000 deaths, report says
South Africa risks thousands of premature deaths if the phase-out of coal plants is delayed due to the government's updated decommissioning dates, climate rights groups said in a report Wednesday.
Sports
French teenager Seixas becomes youngest winner of La Fleche Wallonne
French prodigy Paul Seixas at 19 became the youngest winner of the La Fleche Wallonne one-day classic on Wednesday in his first ride in the race.
Politics
Hezbollah supporters defiant after sons killed fighting Israel
Lebanese town official Sharif Badreddine begged his youngest son not to leave to fight for Hezbollah against Israel in the country's south, but as the tearful father buried his child he could not hide a sense of pride.
EU unblocks 90-bn-euro Ukraine loan after Hungary row
The EU on Wednesday gave the green light to unblock a 90-billion-euro ($106 billion) loan for Kyiv, after the deadlock was broken in a months-long row between Ukraine and Hungary over a damaged pipeline.
Politics
Russia says will halt flow of Kazakh oil to Germany
Russia confirmed Wednesday it will halt the pipeline flow of Kazakh oil to Germany next month, citing technical reasons, as Berlin stressed it does not expect an energy supply crunch.
Weather
Merz says climate policy must not 'endanger' German industry
Germany's Friedrich Merz addressed a major climate policy gathering on Wednesday by stressing the need to unshackle industry from harmful regulations, including by reworking the EU's carbon trading scheme.
Culture
Ziggy Stardust lives on at David Bowie London immersive
Silhouetted against the light on stage in 1990, David Bowie belts out a deafening rendition of "Rebel Rebel" as a rapturous audience claps along with arms raised.
Economy
Thousands of London commuters walk to work in underground strike
Workers streamed into the British capital by foot, bike and bus Wednesday as strike action on the London Underground train network disrupted services.
Economy
Boeing reports narrowing loss, points to progress on turnaround
Boeing reported a small quarterly loss Wednesday following an uptick in commercial plane deliveries as the aerospace giant pointed to progress on a turnaround after a long period of stumbles.
Politics
Oil up, stocks mixed on uncertain prospects for US-Iran ceasefire
Oil prices edged higher Wednesday while stocks were mixed after US President Donald Trump announced the extension of a ceasefire with Iran, prompting investors to wait and see if peace talks will resume.
Politics
Germany halves 2026 growth forecast on Iran war fallout
The German government on Wednesday halved its growth forecast for this year as the energy shock triggered by the Middle East war hammers Europe's biggest economy.
Technology
Chinese EVs look to sideline foreign brands at Beijing auto show
The world's biggest auto show opens in Beijing on Friday, as Chinese manufacturers solidify their status as industry innovators and foreign brands face ferocious competition in the country's giant car market.
Politics
Russia to block flow of Kazakh oil to German refinery, Berlin says
Germany has learned that Russia plans to halt the flow of Kazakh oil through the Druzhba pipeline to a refinery in eastern Germany starting May 1, the energy ministry in Berlin told AFP on Wednesday.
Politics
Vietnam, South Korea sign deals on tech, nuclear power
Vietnam's top leader To Lam hosted South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Hanoi on Wednesday, announcing a dozen cooperative agreements including on tech innovation and development of nuclear power plants.
Economy
EU nears approval of Ukraine loan after Hungary pipeline row
The EU on Wednesday gave a preliminary green light to unblocking a 90-billion-euro ($106 billion) for Kyiv, after a months-long row between Ukraine and Hungary over a damaged pipeline.
Boulevard
Duterte jurisdiction appeal quashed at ICC
International Criminal Court judges Wednesday threw out a challenge against the court's jurisdiction by Rodrigo Duterte, meaning the former Philippines president could still stand trial over his war on drugs.
Economy
Three ships targeted in Hormuz, Iran seizes two: monitors, Guards
Iranian forces targeted three container ships on Wednesday, seizing two and firing on a third, global security monitors and the country's Revolutionary Guards said, the latest incidents to threaten a crucial trade route in the Middle East war.
Pope in Equatorial Guinea criticises prison conditions
Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday called for "greater room for freedom" in Equatorial Guinea and delivered a rare criticism of living conditions for prisoners before visiting inmates in a jail known for its squalor and ill-treatment of detainees.
Iran says seized two ships seeking to cross Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Wednesday their naval forces had seized two container ships seeking to cross the blockaded Strait of Hormuz, despite US President Donald Trump announcing he was extending a ceasefire to allow more time for peace talks.
Politics
Iran murals project defiance in war with US
Since the outbreak of war between Iran, Israel and the United States, colourful murals have sprung up across capital Tehran and other major cities, rich in symbolism and themes of resistance and defiance.
Politics
Oil prices rise despite US-Iran ceasefire extension
Oil prices edged higher Wednesday while Europe's main stock markets eased on uncertainty surrounding the prospect of resumed Mideast peace talks following an extension to the US-Iran ceasefire.
Economy
Ships attacked in Gulf as Trump extends Iran ceasefire
Iranian gunboats attacked at least one container ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, maritime agencies said, despite US President Donald Trump announcing he was extending a ceasefire to allow more time for peace talks.
Economy
Germany set to slash growth forecast due to Mideast war
The German government on Wednesday is expected to cut its growth forecast for this year as the energy shock triggered by the Middle East war hammers Europe's biggest economy.
Politics
Pakistan's capital holds its breath with US-Iran talks in limbo
Pakistan's capital was still locked in gear on Wednesday to host high-stakes US-Iran talks that were pushed back at the last minute overnight, but many residents began to tire of the heavy personal and economic toll of tight security restrictions.
Sports
Groundbreaking Iranian snooker star Vafaei takes on the world
Iranian player Hossein Vafaei begins his campaign at the snooker world championship later Wednesday but he admits it has been hard to focus because of the bombardment of his country by the United States and Israel.
Sports
Sakib Hussain: IPL quick whose mum sold her jewellery to fund cricket dream
Sakib Hussain's father is a labourer from India's poorest state and his mother sold her jewellery to buy him bowling boots.
Nature
US-based Buddhist monks bring peace walk to Sri Lanka
Saffron-robed Buddhist monks began a week-long peace walk across Sri Lanka on Wednesday, accompanied by a rescued stray dog that has become a celebrity in its own right.
Technology
NASA unveils new space telescope to give 'atlas of the universe'
NASA unveiled a new telescope on Tuesday to scan vast swathes of the universe for planets outside our solar system and probe the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy.