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European stock markets firmed on Wednesday after a global rout driven by fears that surging energy prices from the Middle East war could fan inflation and hit the global economy.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Wednesday they had total control of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global energy transit, as Israel launched a new wave of strikes on the Iranian capital.

Belgian rider Wout Van Aert claimed he suspects "sabotage" after his return to racing at the Samyn Classic was hit by a late puncture.

Israel ordered residents of a vast region of southern Lebanon to leave their homes on Wednesday, as the military expanded its campaign of air strikes and reportedly sent ground troops deeper into the country.

German agrichemical giant Bayer said Wednesday it made a loss of 3.62 billion euros ($4.20 billion) in 2025 after it booked extra charges related to claims that its popular weedkiller causes blood cancer.

India will need a "special performance" to beat a "street-smart" England in their T20 World Cup semi-final in Mumbai, bowling coach Morne Morkel warned on Wednesday.

Snaking queues of vehicles waited in Myanmar for shrivelling petrol supplies on Wednesday, with some gas stations shuttered as fuel stocks dried up due to the war in the Middle East.

Artificial intelligence has only had minor effects on employment in Europe so far, European Central Bank economists said Wednesday, but they warned the technology's future impact was uncertain.

Six months after joining anti-corruption protests that rocked Nepal, 23-year-old Amrita Ban will vote in Thursday's election, hoping the new government will realise the movement's demands.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Wednesday they had total control of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global energy transit, as Israel launched a new wave of strikes on the Iranian capital.

Wales have made three changes as they bid to end their long Six Nations losing streak away to Ireland on Friday.

Adidas shares slumped Wednesday after the German sportswear giant gave a disappointing 2026 profit forecast and warned of a 400-million-euro ($465-million) hit from US tariffs and exchange rate effects.

Shohei Ohtani on Wednesday warned his Japan team-mates to expect a bumpy ride as they go in search of back-to-back World Baseball Classic titles, starting this week in Tokyo.

A Philippine congressional committee agreed overwhelmingly on Wednesday to advance the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, setting the stage for a potential vote that could decide her political future.

France is planning a meeting of G7 finance ministers on the Middle East crisis, with central bankers also in attendance, the country's Economy and Finance Minister, Roland Lescure, said on Wednesday.

A Greek appeals court on Wednesday upheld convictions for leaders of the neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn in a landmark trial over crimes committed at the height of the country's economic crisis.

Iran coach Marziyeh Jafari said Wednesday her team had "so much concern" about their families at home as war rages with players "fully disconnected" from them during the Women's Asian Cup.

Israel expanded its air strikes in Lebanon on Wednesday, targeting the area around the presidential palace near Beirut and other areas south of the capital as well as strongholds of the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, killing at least 11 people.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday that US-Israeli strikes on Iran had been "inconsistent with international law", calling for a rapid de-escalation of the conflict.

Japan is looking into using a remote deserted Pacific island nearly 2,000 kilometres (1,250 miles) from Tokyo as a site for burying nuclear waste, officials said.

Recycled images, video game footage passed off as missile strikes, and AI-generated combat visuals: the US-Israeli assault on Iran has unleashed a torrent of online disinformation that analysts are calling a war of narratives.

The Unification Church lost an appeal Wednesday against a Japanese court's order to dissolve the sect, which came under investigation following the assassination of ex-premier Shinzo Abe.

A Philippine congressional committee agreed overwhelmingly on Wednesday to send articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to lawmakers for a vote that could decide her political future.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Wednesday they had "complete control" of the crucial Strait of Hormuz and Israel launched new strikes on Iranian and Lebanese targets as the war engulfing the Middle East continued into its fifth day.

North Korea has unveiled one of its first-known statues of Kim Jong Un, using the "highly unusual" sculpture to depict the leader as a smiling man of the people, an analyst told AFP.

Strands of raffia dry outside in the sun at the studio of Gabonese fashion designer Chouchou Lazare, who has made a name for himself using the natural fibres to craft his award-winning garments.

A Greek appeals court on Wednesday is to pronounce fresh sentences in a landmark trial over crimes committed by the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party at the height of the country's economic crisis.

ACT Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham extended his contract Wednesday with the Super Rugby club until 2028, rebuffing any potential moves.

Israel launched fresh strikes on Iran and Lebanon, where state media reported a residential building was hit on Wednesday, as Iran's Guards said they had sealed off one of the world's most vital shipping routes for energy.

A bruising Texas Republican primary is advancing to a runoff vote, laying bare the struggle for control of US President Donald Trump's party as the 2026 midterms began Tuesday, while Democrats sparred over their own direction.

Social media platform X announced Tuesday it would suspend creators from its revenue sharing program for 90 days if they post AI-generated videos of armed conflicts without disclosing they were artificially made, the company said.

Israeli strikes hit a Beirut hotel and residential complex in Lebanon's east, Lebanese state media said Wednesday, as Israel announced broad strikes in response to Hezbollah missile and drone launches.