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Explosions and fire on the contested India-Pakistan border
At dawn Wednesday on the contested border between India and Pakistan, in the usually sleepy Indian-run town of Poonch, a thumping explosion ripped the air as an artillery shell smashed into a building.

Distillery layoffs send shudders across remote Scottish island
When Scotland's windswept Isle of Harris welcomed its first commercial distillery a decade ago, it was about more than just whisky.

Hong Kong loosens rules for harbour reclamation
Hong Kong passed a law on Wednesday that made it easier for the government to create new land through reclamation in the city's famed Victoria Harbour despite objections from environmental activists.

Israel's Gaza plan 'dangerous moment' for civilians: UN official
The UN's human rights chief told AFP Wednesday that Israel's plan for an expanded offensive in the Gaza Strip represented "a very dangerous moment" for civilians there.

Kenya court fines teens for trying to smuggle protected ants
A Kenyan court on Wednesday fined four people, including two Belgian teenagers, more than $7,000 for attempting to smuggle thousands of live ants out of the country.

Kenya court fines ant smugglers for 'bio-piracy'
A Kenyan court on Wednesday fined four people, including two Belgian teenagers, more than $7,000 for attempting to smuggle thousands of live ants out of the country.

Young Barca earn respect but crave trophies after Inter heartbreak
Hansi Flick's brilliant young Barcelona side won hearts in this season's Champions League and re-established themselves at Europe's top table, but fell agonisingly short of reaching the Munich final after one of the competition's greatest semi-finals.

Palestinians in razed West Bank hamlet vow to stay
Standing in the rubble of used to be his home, Palestinian farmer Haitham Dababseh cleared stones to make space for a tent after Israeli army bulldozers destroyed his village in the occupied West Bank.

Next pope faces 'difficult, complex' point in history, cardinals told
The cardinal leading the last mass before a conclave to elect a new pope urged his peers Wednesday to choose someone able to protect the Catholic Church's unity and lead a "difficult and complex" point in history.

J-pop mega-group Arashi to disband after final tour
J-pop mega-group Arashi, wildly popular in Japan and elsewhere in Asia, said they would end their activities as a band following a final tour next year.

Inter seek Champions League final redemption after winning Barca epic
Inter Milan are one victory away from Champions League redemption after Tuesday's chaotic, mesmerising win over Barcelona which propelled the Italians into their second final in three seasons.

Pant under pressure as record IPL buy fails to justify price tag
Pressure is mounting on record Indian Premier League signing Rishabh Pant with Lucknow Super Giants badly needing their captain to find his brilliant best with the bat if they are to have any chance of making the playoffs.

BMW upbeat on riding out US tariff chaos
German premium carmaker BMW said Wednesday that it expected to largely ride out the impact of US tariffs over the coming year, and that it hoped to soften their impact.

Cardinals hold last mass before conclave to elect pope
Cardinals from five continents held a final mass in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on Wednesday before sealing themselves away to elect a new pope to lead the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

Ukraine, Russia trade aerial attacks ahead of WWII victory parade
Russia and Ukraine traded a barrage of drone strikes overnight on Wednesday, in attacks that killed two in Kyiv and forced Moscow to shut major airports hours before a swathe of foreign leaders was to arrive.

'Prioritise peace': Nations urge restraint in India-Pakistan clash
Deadly clashes between India and Pakistan have prompted concern and calls for restraint from around the world on Wednesday.

Asian stocks rise as China-US trade talks boost optimism
Asian equities rose Wednesday after China and the United States said they would hold trade talks at the weekend, fanning optimism that the superpowers can row back eye-watering tariffs that have heightened recession fears.

Toxic mushroom victim said meal was 'delicious', Australian court hears
A woman who died after eating a beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms told a doctor it tasted "delicious", a court heard Wednesday, as her Australian host faced triple murder charges.
Dozens killed as India, Pakistan clash in worst violence in decades
India and Pakistan exchanged heavy artillery along their contested frontier on Wednesday after New Delhi launched deadly missile strikes on its arch-rival, in the worst violence between the nuclear-armed neighbours in two decades.

China's Xi heads to Moscow to beef up 'no limits' Putin partnership
Chinese President Xi Jinping headed to Moscow on Wednesday for a key three-day visit including a grand Victory Day parade and a show of support for Vladimir Putin.

World energy methane emissions near record high in 2024: IEA
Record fossil fuel production kept planet-heating methane emissions near historic highs last year, the International Energy Agency said Wednesday, warning of a surge in massive leaks from oil and gas facilities.

White smoke: signalling a new pope down the ages
When Catholic cardinals vote in the conclave, they then burn their ballots, sending up black smoke to signal no decision or white smoke to show they have chosen a new pope.

What's a cardinal? The 'princes' of the Church electing a new pope
Cardinals from all over the world will gather in conclave on Wednesday to elect a successor to Pope Francis. But what exactly is a cardinal?
Haliburton stunner sinks Cavs, Warriors down Wolves despite Curry blow
The Indiana Pacers defeated the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 120-119 as the Golden State Warriors shrugged off a Stephen Curry injury to claim victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA playoffs on Tuesday.

Papal conclave by the numbers
The Vatican's papal conclave to choose a new spiritual leader for the world's 1.4 billion Catholics is governed by procedures and rituals that have evolved over centuries.

The Vatican: a papal powerhouse, world's smallest state
The Vatican, headquarters of the Catholic Church, is the smallest state in the world, with its own newspaper, national anthem in Latin and supreme leader: the pope.

Trump, Ukraine propel EU and UK towards defence pact
The EU and Britain look set to seal a defence pact at a landmark summit this month as worries about US President Donald Trump and the war in Ukraine spur them beyond the wrangles of Brexit.

Syrian leader to meet Macron in first European visit
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday meets France's Emmanuel Macron in Paris on his first visit to Europe since overthrowing longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad.

History beckons as cardinals gather to elect new pope
Cardinals from across the world will be shut into the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday for a secretive conclave to elect the next head of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

China's Xi aims to beef up 'no limits' Putin partnership
Chinese President Xi Jinping headed to Moscow on Wednesday for a key three-day visit including a grand Victory Day parade and a show of support for Vladimir Putin.

Hit by Trump cuts, journalists at Dubai-based US channel face uncertain future
Sara, a Dubai-based journalist, joined the US-funded Alhurra TV news channel hoping for job security. But after it abruptly stopped broadcasting and fired most staff, she's wondering how to make ends meet.

Roglic gunning for Giro as Pogacar's absence leaves door open
Primoz Roglic is hunting his sixth Grand Tour triumph at this year's Giro d'Italia and will have the chance to snatch the title from Tadej Pogacar with his superstar compatriot sitting out a gruelling three-week race.