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Economy
How many cargo ships are passing Hormuz strait?
Just a trickle of cargo ships and tankers has made it through the Strait of Hormuz since Iranian forces blocked the crucial trade route in the Middle East war.
Politics
'Free France': Macron reveals name of Europe's largest warship
President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday announced that France's next nuclear-powered aircraft carrier will be called "France Libre" (Free France), as the country looks to reinforce its status as a major maritime power.
Economy
Oil surges as Iran gas facilities hit, stocks slide
Oil prices surged Wednesday following a strike on one of Iran's gas facilities that raised the spectre of a further escalation of attacks on energy infrastructure in the Gulf region.
Boulevard
Foreign press group slams Israeli police for breaking journalist's wrist
An international media association on Wednesday criticised an "unprovoked assault" by Israeli police on journalists in Jerusalem, which it said left a CNN producer with a fractured wrist.
Sports
Aston Villa want to be more than 'maybe team' in Europa League quest
Aston Villa captain John McGinn wants his side to be remembered as more than a "maybe team" in their quest for Europa League glory.
Sports
McIlroy happy with back injury recovery as Masters looms
Rory McIlroy is pleased with his recovery from a back injury and excited to play the Masters in three weeks as defending champion after last year's emotional Augusta National triumph.
Sports
Vinicius 'should be loved by everyone' says Donnarumma after celebration row
Gianluigi Donnarumma has questioned why Vinicius Junior celebrated his goals at Manchester City on Tuesday in front of the home support, saying a player of his calibre "should be loved by everyone".
Politics
Iran was not rebuilding nuclear enrichment, US intelligence finds
US intelligence concluded Wednesday that Iran was not rebuilding nuclear enrichment capacities destroyed last year by the United States and Israel, contradicting a key justification by President Donald Trump for his ongoing war.
Sports
Carrick urges England boss Tuchel to call up United trio
Michael Carrick has urged England manager Thomas Tuchel to give Manchester United trio Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo a chance to underline their World Cup credentials.
Sports
Three sporting champions to be stripped of titles for non-doping reasons
Senegal's shock disqualification as African football champions on Tuesday is not the first time winners of a sporting title have been stripped of their crown for non-doping reasons.
Economy
Chilean GDP beats 2025 forecast despite mining dip
Chile's GDP beat expectations for 2025 thanks to a trade and investment boost which helped offset a weaker mining sector, the country's central bank said Wednesday.
Weather
Storms, warm seas drove sudden drop in Antarctic ice: study
Unusually strong winds and warm ocean water likely drove a rapid plunge in Antarctic sea ice in recent years, scientists said on Wednesday, shedding new light on a puzzling event.
Sports
Aston Villa want to be more than a 'maybe team' in quest for Europa League
Aston Villa captain John McGinn wants his side to be remembered as more than a "maybe team" in their quest for Europa League glory.
Politics
Trump administration takes steps to curb energy cost hikes
US President Donald Trump's administration scrambled Wednesday to rein in surging energy costs from war in the Middle East, temporarily waiving a century-old shipping law and easing Venezuela sanctions.
Health
Vaccines facing misinformation spike: WHO experts
Vaccine programmes are being challenged by rising misinformation and an uncertain pipeline for research funding, the World Health Organization's immunisation experts said Wednesday.
Politics
Pakistan announces Eid 'pause' in conflict with Afghanistan
Pakistan announced on Wednesday a "temporary pause" in hostilities with Afghanistan to mark the end of Ramadan, after Kabul promised to avenge the deaths of hundreds killed in a strike on a Kabul drug treatment centre.
Health
'Happened so fast': UK students panicked by meningitis outbreak
Hundreds of masked-up students queued Wednesday to get vaccinated at the UK university campus at the heart of a deadly meningitis outbreak, as the number of cases rose to 20.
Sports
WNBA, players union agree 'transformative' labor deal: reports
The WNBA and the league's players' union have reached a verbal agreement on a record-breaking labor deal, US media reports said Thursday, heading off the prospect of a strike.
Economy
Global music market grows, calls for AI compensation: industry body
The global music industry generated $31.7 billion last year, driven by online streaming, industry body IFPI said Wednesday, as it called on the sector to ensure AI-generated content compensates musicians.
Politics
Maiduguri bombings follow surge of jihadist violence in Nigeria
Nigeria's defence chiefs visited Maiduguri Wednesday after one of the deadliest attacks in the Borno state capital in years, in a show of defiance.
Weather
Belgian court suspends TotalEnergies climate trial
A Belgian court Wednesday adjourned a case pitting TotalEnergies against a farmer seeking compensation for climate-change damage, pending the outcome of a separate trial against the French energy giant in Paris.
Economy
Troubled waters: Thai fishermen marooned by rising fuel costs
With his belongings stuffed into a plastic bag, Thai fisherman Narongsak Kongsuk heads home, far from the sea.
Sports
Doku adamant Man City still have plenty to play for after Champions League exit
Jeremy Doku believes Manchester City demonstrated enough quality while being knocked out of the Champions League to show that Pep Guardiola's men could yet enjoy a successful season.
Health
Afghanistan vows to avenge deadly Kabul bombing but says open to talks
A mass funeral for some of the hundreds of victims of a Pakistani strike on a Kabul drug treatment centre was held in Afghanistan on Wednesday, with the Taliban government promising retribution but leaving the door open for talks to end the conflict.
Politics
Stocks fall, oil surges as US inflation jumps and Israel strikes gas facilities
Stocks markets fell and oil prices surged Wednesday after a closely watched US inflation gauge came in hotter than expected and Iran said that Israel struck one of its gas facilities.
Things to know
Nigerian president meets royals on 'historic' UK state visit
King Charles III ceremonially welcomed Nigerian President Bola Tinubu at Windsor Castle on Wednesday in the first state visit by the leader of Africa's most populous nation in nearly four decades.
Politics
South Lebanon residents flee death and destruction
The line of cars stretched as far as the eye could see along the coast of southern Lebanon, as residents of areas bombarded in the Israel-Hezbollah war poured into the ancient city of Sidon in search of safety.
Sports
Buttler ready to continue England career despite 'poor' T20 World Cup
Jos Buttler is refusing to accept his England career is over despite admitting he had a "poor tournament" at the recent T20 World Cup.
Economy
Why convoys cannot fully protect oil tankers from Iran attacks
The Israeli-US war on Iran has provoked a reaction from Tehran that has effectively choked a large chunk of the world's oil supply, and untangling the blockage will take a regional effort beyond what is currently being proposed, experts have told AFP.
Health
UK PM leads efforts to halt deadly meningitis spread
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday led urgent calls for young people who visited a nightclub at the centre of a deadly meningitis outbreak to come forward, as the number of cases rose.
Boulevard
EU lawmakers back ban on sexualised AI deepfakes
EU lawmakers on Wednesday approved a ban on AI systems generating sexualised deepfakes, after a global outcry over non-consensual nudes created by Elon Musk's chatbot Grok.
Sports
Stripping Senegal of AFCON title a 'disgrace for Africa' say fans
Senegal football fans slammed the decision to strip the country of its Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and give it to Morocco, calling the move a "disgrace for Africa" as they woke up to the news Wednesday.