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From Mexico's most ruthless drug cartels to Central America's most notorious street gang, these are the eight drug trafficking groups being designated terrorist organizations by US President Donald Trump's administration:

The European Union will respond "firmly and swiftly" to protect its interests if Washington imposes tariffs on the bloc's goods, its trade chief said Wednesday, rejecting President Donald Trump's claim that US-EU trade ties are unfair.

Major League Baseball will begin pre-season testing of an automated system to allow challenges of ball-strike calls on Thursday with the technology backstopping home plate umpires in about 60% of exhibition games.

Lewis Hamilton is convinced that this season could be Ferrari's year after he drove for the first time on Wednesday the Formula One team's car for the upcoming season, with a record eighth world title in his sights.

British tennis star Emma Raducanu insisted she would be fine as she thanked fans for their support following a "difficult experience" during the Dubai WTA 1000 event where she was targeted by a man displaying "fixated behaviour".

US President Donald Trump called Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky a "dictator" Wednesday, widening a personal rift with major implications for efforts to end the conflict triggered by Russia's invasion three years ago.

Pope Francis's blood tests show a "slight improvement" as he receives hospital treatment for pneumonia, the Vatican said Wednesday, while Italy's prime minister found the 88-year-old joking "as always".

Carlos Alcaraz withstood a spirited fightback from Italian qualifier Luca Nardi to seal his place in the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open on Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump called Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky a "dictator" Wednesday, widening a personal rift with major implications for efforts to end the conflict triggered by Russia's invasion three years ago.

The NFL will return to Brazil for a regular-season game in the first week of the 2025 campaign with the Los Angeles Chargers set to appear, the league announced on Wednesday.

Aryna Sabalenka blamed a lack of hunger for her last-16 exit in Dubai at the hands of world number 38 Clara Tauson on Wednesday, insisting she was kind of all over the place".

Syria's tiny Jewish community said they held their first group prayer in decades Wednesday, in a synagogue in Damascus's Old City, expressing joy at the long-awaited return to public worship.

New Zealand rode on brilliant hundreds from Tom Latham and Will Young to beat Pakistan by 60 runs in the Champions Trophy opener on Wednesday, spoiling the country's historic return to hosting global events after three decades.

World number-one furniture retailer Ikea is hoping the market will improve next year from a decline in consumer spending on furnishing their homes, one of its senior leaders told AFP.

Iga Swiatek on Wednesday praised the WTA's "solid" action after a fearful Emma Raducanu broke down in tears at the sight of a "fixated" fan in Dubai while teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva admitted she regularly receives "hateful messages" whenever she loses.

Germany's car lobby on Wednesday warned that tariffs threatened by US President Donald Trump would raise prices for American drivers after Trump said he might hike taxes on imports of cars, pharmaceuticals and semiconductors.

Warren Gatland says he is "hurting" following the end of his time as Wales head coach.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka slumped to a 6-3, 6-2 loss against Denmark's Clara Tauson in the last 16 of the Dubai Championships on Wednesday, as Jasmine Paolini's title defence came to a painful end.

Arsenal lost £17.7 million in the 2023/24 season despite a return to the Champions League helping to post a club record £616.6 million ($775 million) revenue.

Ice loss from the world's glaciers has accelerated over the past decade, scientists said on Wednesday, warning that melting may be faster than previously expected in the coming years and drive sea levels higher.

England will face Senegal at Nottingham Forest's City Ground in June, while Wales will make an October trip to Wembley, the Football Association announced on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday announced Canada's first high-speed rail line, connecting major hubs from Toronto to Quebec City, calling it "the largest infrastructure project in Canadian history."

Countries bordering the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo sought to shore up defences on Wednesday as violence spreads through the region, with Burundi forced to pull back troops and Uganda securing a key city.

Pope Francis is alert and still making jokes despite having double pneumonia, Italy's prime minister said Wednesday after visiting the 88-year-old pontiff in hospital.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday held a new meeting on Ukraine in a bid to coordinate a European response to what he called an "existential threat" from Russia after a shock policy shift in Washington.

Prosecutors demanded a near five-year jail sentence Wednesday for Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik for defying the envoy who oversees the peace accords that ended the country's bloody 1990s war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday hailed progress in talks with the United States, a day after top diplomats met in Saudi Arabia and as a public spat between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US counterpart Donald Trump deepened.

Italian prosecutors on Wednesday called for Napoli and the club's owner Aurelio De Laurentiis to stand trial for false accounting related to transfers, including that of Serie A title hero Victor Osimhen.

Stand-in boss Matt Sherratt is poised to make sweeping changes to the Wales team beaten by Italy in the Six Nations, a defeat that brought the curtain down on Warren Gatland's second spell as coach, for the visit of champions Ireland.

Tajikistan said Wednesday it would publish a new book updating the country's dress "guidelines" for women, tightening the secular state's policing of women's clothing.

Rangers chief executive Patrick Stewart said Philippe Clement will remain in charge of Rangers on Wednesday despite what he described as a shameful and "disastrous" Scottish Cup exit to second-tier Queen's Park.

India captain Rohit Sharma on Wednesday said he hopes "classy" batter Shubman Gill carries his blazing form into the Champions Trophy.