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Republicans in the US Senate on Wednesday blocked a bill recognizing a legal right to contraception, introduced as part of a Democratic effort to highlight threats to reproductive freedoms as a key issue in November elections.

Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane converted an 82nd-minute penalty to keep Tunisia on track for a third straight World Cup appearance with a 1-0 win over Equatorial Guinea in Rades on Wednesday.

Euro 2024 favourites France beat Luxembourg 3-0 in an international friendly on Wednesday with superstar striker Kylian Mbappe on the score sheet.

Latvian forward Kristaps Porzingis returns from a right calf strain for the Boston Celtics in Thursday's opening game of the NBA Finals against his former club, the Dallas Mavericks.

After torrential rains that sparked historic flooding in southern Brazil, the country expects a swing to severe drought in parts, the environment minister said Wednesday.

NBA scoring champion Luka Doncic and former NBA champion Kyrie Irving have led the Dallas Mavericks into the NBA Finals with a chance to upset the favored Boston Celtics.

Italy's Jasmine Paolini reached her first Grand Slam semi-final at the French Open on Wednesday after dumping out fourth seed Elena Rybakina 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday criticised the West's delivery of long-range weapons to Ukraine, arguing Moscow could arm other countries with similar weapons to attack Western targets.

Joe Biden is looking to convince voters of his leadership credentials with a striking flurry of major announcements on Gaza, Ukraine and the Mexican border, analysts say.

The UN nuclear watchdog's board of governors has passed a resolution criticising Iran's lack of cooperation with the agency, diplomats told AFP on Wednesday, a decision Tehran slammed as "hasty and unwise".

A historic championship legacy and a gut-wrenching 2022 finals loss have the Boston Celtics extra motivated to capture their first title since 2008 in this year's NBA Finals.

As Europe goes to the polls, skewed work-life balance, housing and cost of living crises are key issues for people across the continent.

Apple is expected to make the case next week that it is not being left behind as tech world rivals blaze ahead with artificial intelligence.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Wednesday blamed his opponents for fostering the "hatred" that led to an assassination attempt against him, in his first address since the shooting.

Boeing on Wednesday launched its very first astronauts bound for the International Space Station aboard a Starliner capsule, which joins a select club of spacecraft to carry humans beyond Earth.

Former Rangers and Feyenoord coach Giovanni Van Bronckhorst was appointed manager of Turkish club Besiktas on Wednesday.

India captain Rohit Sharma allayed fears about an injury after making 52 before retiring hurt as his side thrashed Ireland by eight wickets in the teams' T20 World Cup opener in New York on Wednesday.

French artist Ben, best known for his slogans in handwriting against a black background, has died aged 88, taking his own life just hours after the death of his wife with whom he had been married 60 years, his family said Wednesday.

Mirra Andreeva became the youngest Grand Slam semi-finalist for 27 years with a shock win over Aryna Sabalenka on Wednesday at the French Open, after fourth seed Elena Rybakina was knocked out by Italy's Jasmine Paolini.

Donald Trump is now a felon.

Rohit Sharma made 52 before retiring hurt as India overwhelmed Ireland by eight wickets in the teams' T20 World Cup opener in New York on Wednesday.

New York dropped a controversial plan Wednesday that would have charged drivers to enter central Manhattan, amid criticism that it would hit businesses and poorer motorists disproportionately.

Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva became the youngest Grand Slam semi-finalist since 1997 with a shock victory over second seed Aryna Sabalenka, who was struggling with an apparent illness, at the French Open on Wednesday.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday arrived in Chad, the last leg of a tour of African nations marked by strong anti-Western sentiment and the promise of greater military backing against jihadists.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Wednesday blamed his opponents for fostering the "hatred" that led to an assassination attempt against him, in his first address since the shooting.

Kenya's 10 kilometres road race record holder Rhonex Kipruto has been banned for six years for doping and his world mark cancelled, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced on Wednesday.

The road to the Paris Olympics starts for many athletes at the June 7-12 European athletics championships in Rome where a raft of top stars will aim to hone their form ahead of national trials.

Israel's military pounded central Gaza with heavy air strikes on Wednesday as international talks to secure a truce and hostage release deal resumed.

A low-budget French comedy about a camp for disabled people has become a "societal phenomenon" in France, trouncing Hollywood blockbusters like "Dune 2" and Mad Max spin-off "Furiosa".

Humans are as dangerous to Earth as the meteorite that drove dinosaurs to extinction, the UN chief said Wednesday, urging an end to fossil fuel ads after 12 months that were the hottest on record.

Hardik Pandya took two wickets in two balls as India dismissed Ireland for a lowly 96 in the teams' T20 World Cup opener in New York on Wednesday.

US and European stock markets climbed Wednesday on the eve of an expected European Central Bank interest-rate cut, and as US jobs data fuelled hopes the Federal Reserve will follow suit in the coming months.