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Tensions mounted between France and Italy on Wednesday over the fate of an NGO ship carrying 234 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean, with Paris calling the refusal by Italian authorities to let the vessel dock "unacceptable."

Brazilian singer Gal Costa, whose crystalline voice and transgressive sensuality made her the muse of the groundbreaking "Tropicalia" movement in the 1960s, died Wednesday, her public relations agency said. She was 77.

Iran's top security official Ali Shamkhani called for dialogue to end the war in Ukraine during a meeting Wednesday in Tehran with his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev.

Republicans appeared poised on Wednesday to carve out a slim majority in the US House of Representatives but their hopes of a "red wave" in midterm elections were dashed as President Joe Biden's Democrats defied expectations.

Azeem Rafiq has said he fears being the central witness in a public racism hearing convened by English cricket authorities will make life "worse" for him and his family, even though he has been a prime mover in ensuring proceedings are not held in private.

Campaigners on Wednesday slammed a South African court ruling to allow construction to go ahead on Amazon's new African headquarters, dealing a blow to indigenous groups who say the development will desecrate ancestral land.

After years of public rows and even a brief naval stand-off in the Channel, Britain and France are looking to reset their relations under new UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday announced that France was ending its Barkhane anti-jihadist mission in Africa after over a decade, saying a new strategy would be worked out with African partners.

A trickle of climate "loss and damage" funding pledges from rich countries at the COP27 summit in Egypt have been welcomed by observers and developing nations, who say they must pave the way for a broad global financing deal.

Investment in renewable energy in Africa fell to its lowest level in more than decade last year despite the continent's huge potential, experts said Wednesday at the COP27 climate conference.

Global stock markets fell Wednesday following weak Chinese data and as traders assessed results of US midterm elections.

South Korean star Son Heung-min allayed fears he could miss the World Cup on Wednesday as he told fans he "can't wait to represent our beautiful country" in Qatar.

King Charles III and his wife Queen Consort Camilla narrowly avoided being hit with eggs thrown at them during a visit to northern England on Wednesday, leading to one arrest.

Newcastle fans opposed to the club's Saudi owners are to stage a protest highlighting human rights abuses in the Gulf state ahead of Saturday's match at home to Chelsea.

Germany on Wednesday blocked the sale of two chipmakers to Chinese investors because of a potential threat to security.

A resurgent Pakistan declared Wednesday "the sky's the limit" as captain Babar Azam rediscovered his form to help power them past New Zealand in Sydney and into a Twenty20 World Cup final against either India or England.

The US midterms made waves Wednesday at a UN climate summit on the shores of Egypt, with activists urging President Joe Biden to take bolder action against global warming regardless of the result.

Reece James confirmed Wednesday he had been ruled out of the World Cup, with the England right-back saying he was "devastated" at failing to overcome a knee injury.

King Charles III and his wife Queen Consort Camilla narrowly avoided being hit with eggs thrown at them during a visit to northern England on Wednesday, British media footage showed.

Doubts over Senegalese talisman Sadio Mane being fit for the World Cup finals had a nation holding its collective breath on Wednesday with Senegal President Macky Sall tweeting: "Sadio, heart of a Lion! All my heart is with you!"

Kane Williamson tried to play down concerns that New Zealand seem incapable of winning a global limited overs title, after they again failed to go the distance at the Twenty20 World Cup on Wednesday.

Indonesia's food and drug agency on Wednesday revoked the licences of two chemical firms to distribute materials used in syrup medicines linked to a wave of child deaths caused by kidney failure or damage.

European workers squeezed by the soaring cost of living went on strike in Belgium and Greece on Wednesday, with stoppages threatening to paralyse parts of Britain, France and Spain in coming days.

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic named his World Cup squad on Wednesday, with the 2018 runners up led by veteran captain Luka Modric.

Wirecard's former CEO Markus Braun will go on trial from December 8 to answer fraud charges in Germany's biggest-ever accounting scandal, a Munich court said Wednesday.

Facebook owner Meta will lay off more than 11,000 of its staff in "the most difficult changes we've made in Meta's history", boss Mark Zuckerberg said on Wednesday.

King Charles III and his wife Queen Consort Camilla narrowly avoided being hit with eggs thrown at them during a visit to northern England on Wednesday, British media footage showed.

India's Tata Motors announced a seventh consecutive quarter of losses Wednesday as chip shortages and weak demand in export markets hurt sales.

France forward Karim Benzema was absent from Real Madrid's training session on Wednesday, hours before Didier Deschamps announces his World Cup squad, an AFP journalist witnessed.

Stock markets fell Wednesday following weak Chinese data and as traders assessed results of US midterm elections.

The International Monetary Fund said Wednesday it reached a preliminary agreement to provide Bangladesh with a $4.5 billion support package to help it cope with soaring energy and food prices.

Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam slammed half centuries as Pakistan powered past New Zealand by seven wickets and into the Twenty20 World Cup final Wednesday, moving within one win of a second title.