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Economy
Brazil seeks WTO relief against Trump tariffs
Brazil on Wednesday approached the World Trade Organization (WTO) for relief against a hefty trade tariff imposed by President Donald Trump on more than a third of US-bound exports from the Latin American powerhouse.
Sports
Isak told to train alone by Newcastle - reports
Alexander Isak's future at Newcastle hangs in the balance after the Swedish striker was reportedly told to train apart from the rest of the squad on Wednesday.
Boulevard
McDonald's sees US rebound but says low-income diners remain stressed
McDonald's profits rose in the second quarter behind a rebound in US sales but executives said Wednesday that low-income consumers remained under economic stress.
Politics
Trump hikes India levy over Russian oil as tariff deadline approaches
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered steeper tariffs on Indian goods over New Delhi's continued purchase of Russian oil, opening a new front in his trade wars just hours before another wave of duties takes effect.
Politics
Swiss president hopes Washington talks avert surprise tariff
Switzerland's president held last-gasp talks with the US secretary of state on Wednesday after she rushed to Washington to avert a surprise steep hike in tariffs -- but her chances of meeting Donald Trump were unclear.
Boulevard
France wildfire kills one as Spanish resort evacuated
French firefighters on Wednesday battled to halt the spread of a wildfire in the south of the country that has left one person dead as emergency workers in Spain fought a fire that has forced the evacuation of more than 1,500 people from a resort.
Politics
Stocks higher with eyes on earnings, US tariff deadline
Stock markets edged higher Wednesday as traders assessed the latest corporate earnings and awaited President Donald Trump's next wave of tariffs.
Sports
Vonn appoints Svindal as coach ahead of 2026 Olympics
Comeback queen Lindsey Vonn has appointed former Norwegian ski star Aksel Lund Svindal as coach to help her prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Culture
Backlash after 'interview' with AI avatar of US school shooting victim
Independent journalist Jim Acosta faced a torrent of online criticism Wednesday after he posted an "interview" conducted with an AI avatar of a US school shooting victim.
Economy
Darth Vader's lightsaber could cost you an arm and a leg
Darth Vader's lightsaber, used to chop off Luke Skywalker's hand in Star Wars classic "The Empire Strikes Back", went on display in London on Wednesday, ahead of its US sale next month.
Economy
Swiss president to meet Rubio as surprise tariff hike looms
Switzerland's president met with her country's business representatives Wednesday in Washington -- ahead of scheduled talks with the US secretary of state -- in a last-minute visit as she scrambles to avoid a surprise tariff hike.
Politics
Israel orders army to execute govt decisions on Gaza
Israel's military will have to execute any government decisions on Gaza, the defence minister said Wednesday after reported disagreements over the prospect of a full occupation of the Palestinian territory.
Politics
Berlin wary as Berlusconi group closer to German media takeover
An Italian media group majority-owned by late leader Silvio Berlusconi's family moved closer to taking over a German broadcasting giant Wednesday, sparking warnings from Berlin that its journalistic independence must be maintained.
Economy
Italy approves plans for world's longest suspension bridge
Italy's government on Wednesday approved a controversial 13.5-billion-euro ($15.6-billion) project to build what would be the world's longest suspension bridge connecting the island of Sicily to the mainland.
Sports
Arsenal have 'belief' to end trophy drought, says Arteta
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said the Gunners believe this season will be different as they aim to get over a series of near misses at winning silverware.
Politics
Putin decree allows Russia to increase greenhouse gas emissions
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday signed a decree that would allow Russia to increase its greenhouse gas emissions by a fifth by 2035 compared with 2021 levels.
Politics
Putin holds 'constructive' talks with US envoy Witkoff ahead of sanctions deadline: Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin held "constructive" talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Wednesday, the Kremlin said, two days ahead of a US deadline for Russia to halt its Ukraine offensive or face fresh sanctions.
Sports
Liverpool set to cut losses with Nunez move to Saudi: reports
Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez is reportedly closing in on a move to Saudi club Al Hilal, which could allow the Premier League champions to make a fresh bid for Newcastle's Alexander Isak.
Economy
Stocks tick up with eyes on earnings, US tariff deadline
Stock markets edged higher Wednesday as traders assessed the latest corporate earnings and awaited President Donald Trump's next wave of tariffs.
Economy
German broadcast giant backs takeover by Berlusconi group
German broadcasting giant ProSiebenSat.1 recommended Wednesday that its shareholders accept an improved takeover offer from Italy's MediaForEurope group, majority-owned by the family of late former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Politics
Pro-Trump nationalist becomes Poland's new president
Poland's new nationalist president Karol Nawrocki called for a "sovereign Poland" and promised to "fight those who are pushing the nation towards decline" as he was sworn in on Wednesday.
Politics
Putin meets US envoy Witkoff ahead of sanctions deadline
Russian President Vladimir Putin met US envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Wednesday, the Kremlin said, two days ahead of a deadline imposed by US President Donald Trump on Moscow to halt its Ukraine offensive or face fresh sanctions.
Economy
UK watchdog bans Zara ads over 'unhealthily thin' model photos
Britain's advertising regulator on Wednesday banned two adverts by Spanish clothing group Zara for featuring models that appeared "unhealthily thin", calling the images "irresponsible".
Boulevard
Natural disasters caused $135 bn in economic losses in first half of 2025: Swiss Re
Natural disasters caused $135 billion in economic losses globally in the first half of 2025, fuelled by the Los Angeles wildfires, Swiss Re said Wednesday.
Politics
Rebuilding in devastated Mariupol under Russia's thumb
Sun-seekers crowded onto the beach in Mariupol in Russian-controlled eastern Ukraine -- a devastated city which Moscow wants to turn into an improbable seaside resort.
Boulevard
One dead, nine injured in huge France wildfire
Hundreds of firefighters on Wednesday battled to halt the spread of a wildfire in southern France that has scorched a vast area, killed one person and injured nine others.
Economy
German factory orders fall amid tariff, growth woes
German industrial orders unexpectedly fell in June, official data showed Wednesday, as Europe's biggest economy struggles with prolonged domestic weakness and volatile US trade policy.
Nature
Turkmenistan's methane-spewing 'Gateway to Hell' loses its anger
People go to the "Gateway to Hell" gas crater in the middle of the Turkmenistan desert expecting an angry cauldron but are now coming away unimpressed.
Economy
Markets tick up but traders wary as Trump tariffs temper rate hopes
Asian equities edged higher Wednesday as traders weighed Donald Trump's trade war and fresh data that indicated further weakness in the US economy but added to interest rate cut speculation.
Economy
A year on, Ugandans still suffering from deadly garbage collapse
When the giant landfill collapsed in Uganda's capital Kampala a year ago, Zamhall Nansamba thought she was hearing an aeroplane taking off.
Economy
Ozempic maker Novo Nordisk posts strong results but competition weighs
Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk posted a sharp rise in second-quarter net profit Wednesday, but rising competition is weighing on sales of its diabetes and obesity treatments Ozempic and Wegovy in the United States.
Economy
Prince Harry cleared of 'bullying' in African charity row
The UK charity watchdog Wednesday cleared Prince Harry of accusations of bullying in a row with an African charity he founded, but deplored that the bitter internal dispute was played out in public.
Economy
Taiwan's orchid growers dig in as US tariffs shoot up
Since the start of US President Donald Trump's global trade war, Taiwanese orchid grower Lee Tsang-yu has watched tariffs on his seedlings shoot from nothing to 20 percent.
Politics
Markets tick higher but traders wary as Trump tariffs temper rate hopes
Asian equities edged higher Wednesday as traders weigh Donald Trump's trade war and fresh data that indicated further weakness in the US economy but added to interest rate cut speculation.
Politics
Cuba activists say detained on anniversary of 1994 anti-Castro protest
Activists, journalists and relatives of jailed dissidents say they were briefly detained or prevented from leaving their homes by state security agents Tuesday on the anniversary of the "Maleconazo," the largest protest Fidel Castro faced during his rule.
Politics
Pro-Trump nationalist to take over as Poland's new president
A Trump supporter backed by the populist opposition will take over as Poland's new president on Wednesday, heralding confrontation with a pro-EU government he has branded "the worst in history".
Politics
Nawrocki: nationalist historian becomes Poland's president
Nationalist historian Karol Nawrocki, who is set to be inaugurated as Poland's new president on Wednesday, is a former amateur boxer with a particular interest in the criminal underworld.
Economy
Lavish 'Grand Mariage' weddings celebrate Comoros tradition, society
It is wedding season in the Comoros, when the diaspora return to the tiny Indian Ocean islands for days-long celebrations that mark an essential rite of passage, the "Grand Mariage".
Culture
Russian cover bands take centre stage as big names stay away
In a Moscow nightclub, some 100 heavy metal fans belted out Metallica's hit song, "For whom the bell tolls!"