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Economy
Italian influencer Ferragni acquitted in Christmas cake fraud trial
Italian fashion influencer Chiara Ferragni was acquitted Wednesday of aggravated fraud over charity endorsement deals in a case that has led to greater regulation of the sector in Italy.
Sports
UK interior minister says 'lost confidence' in police chief over Maccabi fan ban
Britain's interior minister Shabana Mahmood said on Wednesday she had lost confidence in the police chief who oversaw the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv football fans from attending a Birmingham match last year.
Economy
Ryanair hits out at 'stupid' Belgium over aviation taxes
Low-cost airline Ryanair on Wednesday announced it is mulling a cut to flights in Belgium, especially at its major European hub of Charleroi Airport, because of Belgian authorities' "stupid" taxes.
Sports
Burkina Faso sack coach Traore after AFCON exit
Burkina Faso sacked their coach Brama Traore and all of his staff on Wednesday following their exit of the African Cup of Nations at the hands of bitter rivals Ivory Coast.
Economy
African manufacturers welcome US trade deal, call to finalise it
African manufacturers on Wednesday welcomed US lawmakers' approval for renewing their duty-free access but called for urgency in finalising the deal.
Technology
What happens when fire ignites in space? 'A ball of flame'
When fire breaks out in the low-gravity, high-stakes conditions inside spacecraft or space stations, it behaves very differently than back here on Earth.
Health
Death of author's baby son puts Nigerian healthcare in spotlight
The recent death of the 21-month-old son of Nigerian best-selling author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has brought healthcare standards in Africa's most populous country under fresh scrutiny, prompting calls for reforms.
Politics
France bans 10 British anti-migrant activists
French authorities have banned 10 British far-right activists for actions in France intended to stop migrants crossing to England on small boats, the interior ministry said Wednesday.
Nature
2025 was third hottest year on record: climate monitors
The planet logged its third hottest year on record in 2025, extending a run of unprecedented heat, with no relief expected in 2026, global climate monitors said Wednesday.
Technology
Hydrogen planes 'more for the 22nd century': France's Safran
Hydrogen-powered airplanes, touted by some as a way to slash carbon emissions from flying, are unlikely to prove a viable technology anytime soon, the head of French engine maker Safran said Wednesday.
Trump calls Greenland 'vital' for US as Danish FM braces for Vance talks
US President Donald Trump insisted Wednesday the US needs to take control of Greenland, with NATO's support, just hours before crunch talks about the Arctic island with top Danish, Greenlandic and US officials.
Boulevard
Julio Iglesias, the Spanish crooner who won global audience
Spanish crooner Julio Iglesias, who is accused of sexual crimes by two former employees, is one of the most successful Latin artists of all time in a career spanning decades.
Economy
'We can't make ends meet': civil servants protest in Ankara
Hundreds of angry civil servants marched through Ankara Wednesday demanding a realistic pay rise as they battle poverty amid the soaring prices and double-digit inflation.
Culture
UK prosecutors appeal Kneecap rapper terror charge dismissal
UK prosecutors launched a High Court challenge Wednesday to appeal a judge's decision to throw out a charge of supporting terrorism against an Irish-language singer from the punk-rap group Kneecap.
Politics
UK police chief blames AI for error in evidence over Maccabi fan ban
An under-fire UK police chief on Wednesday blamed the use of AI for erroneous evidence given to MPs over the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv football fans from a match against Aston Villa.
Economy
Oil prices extend gains on Iran unrest
Oil prices rose further Wednesday on the political instability in major crude producer Iran, helping safe-haven gold to a new record high and weighing on the dollar.
Politics
France bans 10 UK far-right activists over anti-migrant actions
France has banned 10 British far-right activists for actions in France intended to stop migrants crossing to England on small boats, the interior ministry said Wednesday.
Culture
Every cent you take: Sting, ex-Police band mates in royalty battle
London's High Court on Wednesday began hearing a lawsuit brought against the singer Sting by his former Police bandmates claiming some $2 million in unpaid streaming royalties.
Boulevard
Thailand crane collapses onto train, killing 32
A crane at a China-backed high-speed rail project in Thailand collapsed onto a passenger train on Wednesday and caused it to derail, killing at least 32 people, authorities said.
Sports
Amateur stuns star-studded field to win 'One Point Slam' in Melbourne
Amateur Jordan Smith sensationally upset a star-studded field to collect a Aus$1 million (US$670,000) prize Wednesday by winning the pressure-packed "One Point Slam" ahead of the Australian Open.
Economy
Italian influencer Ferragni awaits verdict in Christmas cake fraud trial
Italian fashion influencer Chiara Ferragni on Wednesday was awaiting a verdict in a trial in which the Instagram star is accused of fraud over charity endorsement deals.
Politics
Louvre and other French museums fare hikes for non-European visitors
France began charging non-EU visitors to the Louvre Museum 45 percent more than Europeans on Wednesday, in a controversial bid to raise money for renovations at the beleaguered Paris landmark.
Politics
Japan's Takaichi to dissolve parliament for snap election
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi intends to dissolve the Lower House for a snap election soon after the annual parliamentary session begins next week, the secretary-general of her ruling party and the co-head of her junior coalition partner said Wednesday.
Economy
Dutch court hears battle over Nexperia
A Dutch court held hearings Wednesday to weigh whether to order an investigation into Nexperia, a Chinese-owned chip company at the centre of a global tug-of-war over critical semiconductor technology.
Weather
World-first ice archive to guard secrets of melting glaciers
Scientists on Wednesday sealed ancient chunks of glacial ice in a first-of-its-kind sanctuary in Antarctica in the hope of preserving these fast-disappearing records of Earth's past climate for centuries to come.
Culture
Ted Huffman, the New Yorker aiming to update top French opera festival
Ted Huffman, the New Yorker handed the reins of France's prestigious Aix-en-Provence Festival, wants to attract a younger audience as well as people like him, who come from outside the sometimes intimidating music scene.
Sports
Ofner celebrates early then loses in Australian Open qualifying
Austria's Sebastian Ofner suffered a brutal exit from Australian Open qualifying on Wednesday when he celebrated too early thinking he had won, before collapsing and crashing out.
Culture
Singer Julio Iglesias accused of 'human trafficking' by former staff
A criminal complaint filed by two former employees of veteran Spanish singer Julio Iglesias accuses him of "human trafficking" and "forced labour", according to advocacy groups supporting the women.
Economy
Luxury retailer Saks Global files for bankruptcy
US luxury retail group Saks Global, the parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, said Wednesday it had filed for bankruptcy.
Economy
Asian markets mostly up with politics bump for Tokyo
Asian markets largely rose on Wednesday as speculation about a snap election in Japan pushed up Tokyo shares, and oil prices dipped after a surge fuelled by instability in Iran.
Boulevard
Iran vows fast trials over protests after Trump threat
Iran on Wednesday vowed fast-track trials for people arrested over a massive wave of protests, after US President Donald Trump threatened "very strong action" if the Islamic republic goes ahead with hangings.
Economy
China's trade surplus hit record $1.2 trillion in 2025
China reported strong trade numbers for 2025 on Wednesday, as its surplus rose year-on-year to a record $1.2 trillion despite a slump in exports to the United States after President Donald Trump hiked tariffs.