Last news

France's Zemmour says delinquents 'same' as jihadists
French far-right presidential candidate Eric Zemmour on Wednesday suggested criminals in high-rise housing estates are fighting alongside jihadists in a "civilisational battle" pitting immigrants against traditional French culture.

Hodgson ready for dogfight after accepting Watford's 'siren call'
Roy Hodgson is ready for the challenge of Watford's relegation dogfight after admitting he could not resist the "siren call from the mermaid".

Europe rights body launches rare action against Turkey
The Council of Europe on Wednesday launched for only the second time in its history disciplinary action against Turkey over its failure to free activist Osman Kavala, with Ankara denouncing the decision as interference.

Stocks off earlier highs as attention turns to interest rates
Global stock markets shed some of their earlier gains on Wednesday as investors turned their attention to central bank monetary policy in the eurozone and Britain later this week.

Death toll from Brazil storms rises to 28
Floods and landslides caused by torrential rains have killed at least 28 people in southeastern Brazil, with seven still missing, authorities said Wednesday.

Mickelson says 'everyone in top 100' approached to play in Saudi league
While Dustin Johnson welcomes the challenge he will face on the course at the lucrative Saudi International, Phil Mickelson appreciates the financial competition being offered to the established tours, claiming on Wednesday that "everyone in the top 100 has been approached" to play in the new Saudi Arabian-funded Super Golf League.

CNN chief Jeff Zucker resigns over relationship with colleague
CNN president Jeff Zucker announced his resignation on Wednesday for failing to disclose a romantic relationship with a colleague at the US cable television network.

Rotterdam to dismantle historic bridge for Bezos superyacht
The Dutch port city of Rotterdam said Wednesday it would temporarily dismantle an historic bridge to allow a superyacht built for Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to pass.

Wounded whale found dead on Greek island
A young whale that washed up near Athens last week was found dead on a nearby island Wednesday despite "superhuman" efforts to save the wounded animal, the Greek government said.

Aubameyang finally joins Barcelona with break clause in 2023
Barcelona finally confirmed the signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on Wednesday, handing the 32-year-old a contract until 2025 but with a break clause after 18 months.

Punxsutawney Phil predicts six more weeks of winter in US
Don't put away those coats and mittens just yet, America. Punxsutawney Phil, the world's furriest weather forecaster, is predicting six more weeks of winter.

USA Swimming changes rules in wake of transgender athlete's success
A transgender American swimmer's controversial career hung in the balance Wednesday after the collegiate body governing the sport announced new rules, including testosterone limits, that could impact her ability to race competitively.

US deploys troops to support NATO in Ukraine standoff
The United States said Wednesday it was deploying thousands of troops to bolster NATO forces in eastern Europe, ratcheting up its military response to fears that Russia could invade Ukraine.

Brussels labels gas and nuclear as sustainable investments
The European Commission on Wednesday defied protests from green campaigners and dissent in its own ranks to give a sustainable finance label to investments in both gas and nuclear power.

Democratic US senator's stroke threatens Biden agenda
A US senator was resting in hospital Wednesday after suffering a stroke from which he is expected to recover fully, although it threatens to throw the Democrats' agenda into disarray until his return.

US private hiring slumps in ominous labor market sign
US private businesses shed jobs last month for the first time since December 2020 as the Omicron strain again complicated workplaces, potentially a bad sign for the upcoming government employment report.

Amazon oil spill in Ecuador was 6,300 barrels
An oil spill caused by a ruptured pipeline in Ecuador's part of the Amazon leaked almost 6,300 barrels into an environmental reserve, according to information given on Wednesday by the company that owns the conduit.

Beckham's MLS Inter Miami signs USA fullback Yedlin
David Beckham's Inter Miami signed US national team fullback DeAndre Yedlin to a four-year Major League Soccer contract, the club announced Wednesday.

Turkey strikes Kurd targets in Iraq, Syria
Turkey said Wednesday it launched deadly strikes against Kurdish targets in Iraq and Syria, where Kurd forces have been left reeling from the largest Islamic State group attack in nearly three years.

Stocks advance on strong earnings, oil steady after OPEC+
Global stock markets largely rose Wednesday, driven by strong quarterly earnings, but investors are now turning their attention central bank monetary policy in the eurozone and Britain later this week.

Thousands without power as cyclone winds hit Mauritius
Thousands of homes were left without power in Mauritius on Wednesday as powerful cyclone winds battered the Indian Ocean island nation.

Turkey says 12 migrants blocked by Greece die at border
Turkey on Wednesday accused Greece of allowing 12 migrants to die in the winter cold after stripping them of their clothes and then pushing them back across the Turkish border.

New US swim policy could impact transgender athlete
The controversial career of a transgender American swimmer hung in the balance Wednesday after the collegiate body governing the sport announced new rules that could impact her ability to race competitively.

Footballer Benjamin Mendy's rape trial set for July
Manchester City and France international footballer Benjamin Mendy will face trial in July for the alleged rape and assault of six women, a court heard Wednesday.

West Brom sack head coach Valerien Ismael
Valerien Ismael was sacked as West Bromwich Albion manager on Wednesday after the Championship club slipped out of the race for automatic promotion.

Calm in Guinea-Bissau capital after president survives gun attack
Guinea-Bissau's capital appeared calm on Wednesday a day after President Umaro Sissoco Embalo survived a gun attack, as France joined condemnation for what has been called an attempted coup in one of Africa's most unstable countries.

OPEC+ backs another modest oil output hike despite surging prices
Top oil-producing countries led by Saudi Arabia and Russia announced another modest increase in output on Wednesday despite soaring crude prices and geopolitical tensions rattling the markets.

Kremlin says China will back Russia on security at Games talks
The Kremlin said Wednesday that China would back Russia over its security concerns with the West when President Vladimir Putin visits for the opening of the Winter Olympics this week.

US private hiring fell 301,000 amid January Omicron surge: survey
Private US businesses shed 301,000 jobs last month as the Omicron variant of Covid-19 disrupted activity, payroll services firm ADP said Wednesday in a report that was far worse than expected.

UK church court to decide on slave-link memorial
An ecclesiastical judge on Wednesday began hearing arguments for and against the removal of a Cambridge University college chapel memorial honouring a donor with slave trade links.

Scotland's Price urges Six Nations consistency
Scotland scrum-half Ali Price said Gregor Townsend's men must build on an impressive set of wins over the past year and become more consistent if they are to challenge for the Six Nations title.

Commanders is new name of Washington's NFL team
Commanders will be the new name of the NFL's Washington Football Team, the club announced Wednesday, completing a name change after dropping the controversial "Redskins" in 2020 over racist connotations.