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Donald Trump on Wednesday called for far-right Republicans to end their blocking of the party's candidate to become US House speaker, after a damaging split prevented Kevin McCarthy from securing the key role.

Zimbabwe have included former England Test batsman Gary Ballance in a 15-man squad for three Twenty20 internationals against Ireland in Harare during January.

Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City have it all to do if they are to overhaul leaders Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.

Spanish rider Joan Barreda won his first stage of this year's Dakar Rally on Wednesday taking the honours in the fourth stage of this year's race with Australia's Dominic Sanders retaining the overall lead.

Everton manager Frank Lampard said his focus is on preparing the side for Friday's FA Cup tie against Manchester United after another crushing defeat left his job seemingly hanging by a thread.

Mikaela Shiffrin took another step towards matching Lindsey Vonn's women's record of 82 World Cup wins when she nailed the fastest time on the first run of Wednesday's slalom in Zagreb.

Former world number one Daniil Medvedev locked in an all-Russian Adelaide International quarter-final with Karen Khachanov on Wednesday, while Aryna Sabalenka stormed back to book her place in the last eight.

Stock markets mostly extended a New Year rally Wednesday but oil prices slid further as investors weighed China's reopening moves against its surging Covid cases.

The global airline association criticised on Wednesday decisions by governments to impose Covid tests and other measures on travellers from China as ineffective "knee-jerk" reactions.

Nineteen people have been killed in twin car bombings in central Somalia claimed by Al-Shabaab, a local militia commander in the Hiran region said.

Swedish director Ruben Ostlund is aiming to get his famously straight-faced compatriots out of their seats with a special screening of Palme d'Or-winning satire "Triangle of Sadness".

Four-time champion Chris Froome's Israeli team Israel Premier Tech and Uno-X of Norway complete the line-up for this year's Tour de France after organisers issued invites as wild cards to compete on Wednesday.

Germany used more renewable energy than ever in 2022 but again failed to reach its CO2-reduction goal as Russia's war in Ukraine prompted a return to more coal and oil use, a think tank reported Wednesday.

The toll from a Ukrainian New Year's missile strike on a Russian-controlled city in eastern Ukraine rose to 89 on Wednesday, upping pressure on Russia's military leadership.

At least nine people were killed and several wounded in two simultaneous car bombings in a town in central Somalia on Wednesday, security officials and witnesses said.

It was used to build the Great Wall of China and Spain's mediaeval Alhambra Palace -- and now earth is back in vogue as a building material.

Trading in Kenya Airways shares has been suspended for another year, the local stock exchange said Wednesday, as the troubled national carrier battles to return to profitability.

Crisis-hit Sri Lanka Wednesday announced its first nationwide elections since its president fled and resigned in the face of widespread protests, in what will be a test of popularity for his successor.

World Cup history makers Morocco must wait until September for their next competitive match -- a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in South Africa.

Myanmar's junta said it would hold "free and fair" multiparty elections as it marked Independence Day on Wednesday, days after increasing democracy figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi's jail term to 33 years.

Italian Matteo Berrettini edged Italy ahead in their United Cup city final in Brisbane winning a thrilling three-set match over Poland's Hubert Hurkacz in Brisbane on Wednesday.

An auto garage in Kyiv is giving beat-up cars a second life as battle-ready vehicles for Ukraine's military, trying to plug a supply gap as the war with Russia grinds on.

Crowds of techies will descend on Las Vegas this week for the annual CES technology mega-show, but one innovation may again fall short of long-held hopes: driverless cars.

Pillows that stifle snores, urine-testing toilets, and "digital twins" for safer surgeries were all on display at a CES gadget fest in Las Vegas Tuesday, ahead of the opening of the consumer electronics extravaganza.

South Africa strike bowler Anrich Nortje claimed the key wickets of David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne on Wednesday to prise Australia's grip on the third Test in Sydney as rain plagued the opening day.

World number one Iga Swiatek outlasted Martina Trevisan to level Poland's United Cup city final Wednesday after rising star Lorenzo Musetti produced an almost flawless display of serving to put Italy in front.

Though it is a pariah on the world stage and battling fierce domestic opposition to its rule, Myanmar's junta has found grounds for optimism -– the birth of a rare albino elephant.

Asian markets were mixed Wednesday as investors weighed China's reopening moves against its surging Covid cases, while recession concerns and a drop on Wall Street kept sentiment grounded.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday he will hold talks with US President Joe Biden at the White House on January 13, and will also visit other G7 allies this month.

Myanmar's junta announced an amnesty for 7,000 prisoners to mark Independence Day on Wednesday following a show of force in the capital, days after increasing democracy figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi's jail term to 33 years.

Former world number one Daniil Medvedev locked in an all-Russian Adelaide International quarter-final with Karen Khachanov Wednesday, while Aryna Sabalenka stormed back to book her place in the last eight.

With the death of Benedict XVI, Pope Francis enters a new phase of his papacy free from the constraints of co-existing with a predecessor, but conservative criticism of his reforms may not end.