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A German man went on a deadly gun, explosives and arson rampage against his family and then killed himself on Wednesday, sparking security fears in Munich that shuttered the Oktoberfest for seven hours.

Efforts to bring a quick end to the US government shutdown floundered Wednesday when senators rejected a plan to resolve an acrimonious funding stand-off between President Donald Trump and Democrats in Congress.

President Donald Trump has appointed himself troller-in-chief during a US government shutdown, mocking rival Democrats with sometimes racially tinged memes and hoping they take the blame.

The US Supreme Court on Wednesday barred Donald Trump from immediately firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, as the president mounts multiple challenges that have tested the independence of the central bank.

Wall Street stocks shrugged off early losses on Wednesday as the US government started to shut down after Democrats and President Donald Trump failed to break a deadlock over spending.

Israel issued a final warning Wednesday for people to flee Gaza's main city, as Hamas weighed US President Donald Trump's plan to end nearly two years of war in the Palestinian territory.

Northern Irish designer Jonathan Anderson drew a standing ovation as he launched a bold first women's ready-to-wear collection for Dior on Wednesday during Paris Fashion Week.

Asian Cricket Council chief Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads Pakistan's cricket board, said Wednesday that India are "welcome" to collect their Asia Cup trophy from his office in Dubai.

Pope Leo XIV urged people Wednesday not to resign themselves to the global crisis of climate change but play an active part in stopping it, at an event with "Terminator" star Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Just before nightfall on Wednesday, the near-deserted streets of Afghanistan's capital Kabul suddenly filled with people -- mobile phones everywhere had pinged back to life.

Asian fast-fashion giant Shein said Wednesday it had picked France to open its first permanent physical stores in November.

Rescuers pulled five survivors from a collapsed school in Indonesia on Wednesday as frantic parents demanded searchers speed up efforts to find dozens of children believed still trapped in the rubble two days on.

Germany's famed Oktoberfest was briefly shut Wednesday after threats against it by a man who had torched his parents' home with family inside, and was later found with an explosives-laden backpack.

Japanese trainer Takashi Saito hopes he has absorbed the bitter lessons of his first failed tilt at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe when he takes another shot at Europe's most prestigious race on Sunday with Croix du Nord.

Jannik Sinner won the 21st title of his career by thrashing American teenager Learner Tien at the China Open on Wednesday as women's top seed Iga Swiatek was dumped out in the last 16 in a shock.

British fashion designer Stella McCartney is showcasing plant-based alternatives to real feathers in her latest collection, as the animal-rights campaigner takes on the "barbaric" farming of birds for clothing.

Mobile networks and the internet were restored across Afghanistan on Wednesday, 48 hours after the Taliban authorities shut down telecommunications.

Wall Street stocks slid on Wednesday as the US government started to shut down after Democrats and President Donald Trump failed to break a deadlock over spending.

The United States entered a government shutdown Wednesday with President Donald Trump and Democrats in an acrimonious stand-off and banking on the other side to blink first in what could be a prolonged crisis.

Germany's famed Oktoberfest was briefly shut Wednesday after threats against it by a man who appeared to have torched his parents' home with family inside, and was later found with an explosives-laden backpack.

Iga Swiatek's tennis collapsed in the final set as Emma Navarro stunned the top seed and 2023 China Open champion 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 in Beijing on Wednesday.

A flotilla carrying aid to war-battered Gaza said Wednesday it would stay its course despite what it called "intimidation tactics" by the Israeli military.

Facebook owner Meta on Wednesday defended its advertising model in a 550-million-euro trial in Spain over alleged breaches of EU data protection rules brought by more than 80 Spanish media organisations.

Rescuers pulled two survivors from a collapsed school in Indonesia on Wednesday as frantic parents demanded searchers speed up efforts to find dozens of children believed still trapped in the rubble two days on.

Mobile networks returned to several provinces across Afghanistan on Wednesday, including the capital Kabul, 48 hours after the Taliban authorities shut down telecommunications.

Danish premier Mette Frederiksen on Wednesday urged Europe to step up its response to Russia's "hybrid war", as she hosted EU leaders for defence talks held under tight security following mystery drone flights.

Britain's Labour government plans to permanently ban fracking, a highly controversial method of extracting fossil fuels, due its environmental impact, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said Wednesday.

The situation at the Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine is "under control", the Moscow-installed operator said Wednesday, a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned it was "critical" following a week-long power cut.

An independent appeals body tasked with resolving disputes between social media platforms and EU users on Wednesday criticised a lack of cooperation from digital platforms, especially YouTube.

The EU will propose cutting steel import quotas and significantly increasing tariffs on the metal from abroad, the bloc's industry chief Stephane Sejourne told the sector on Wednesday, mirroring US moves.

Liverpool started the season with seven straight wins as they threatened to sweep all before them but consecutive defeats underscore pressing issues that Arne Slot must address.

European stocks and gold prices rose, while Wall Street futures fell on Wednesday as the US government shut down after lawmakers failed to reach a funding deal.