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Iran-Israel war: a lifeline for Netanyahu?
The Iran-Israel war has helped strengthen Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu domestically and overseas, just as his grip on power looked vulnerable.

Gaza Humanitarian Foundation initiative 'outrageous': UN probe chief
The use of the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to distribute food in the Palestinian territory is "outrageous", the head of a UN inquiry said Wednesday.

India's Pant glad of Anderson and Broad exits ahead of England Tests
India vice-captain Rishabh Pant is relieved pace-bowling greats James Anderson and Stuart Broad are no longer in the England line-up heading into Friday's first Test at Headingley.

Moth uses stars to navigate long distances, scientists discover
A species of Australian moth travels up to a thousand kilometres every summer using the stars to navigate, scientists said Wednesday, the first time this talent has been discovered in an invertebrate covering vast distances.

Hurricane Erick approaches Mexico's Pacific coast
A storm bearing down on Mexico's southwest Pacific coast strengthened into a hurricane Wednesday, hours before it is due to make landfall, the US National Hurricane Center said.

Gaza flotilla skipper vows to return
The Dutch captain of a Gaza-bound ship carrying activists including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg said Wednesday future missions could still be in the works as he returned to the Netherlands.

Netherlands returns over 100 Benin Bronzes looted from Nigeria
Nigeria has taken delivery from the Netherlands of 119 pieces of priceless "Benin Bronze" artefacts looted more than 120 years ago, the country's museum commission and the Dutch embassy said Wednesday.

Nippon, US Steel say they have completed partnership deal
Nippon Steel and US Steel announced Wednesday they have completed a partnership deal in which the US government will essentially have veto power over significant decisions affecting US jobs.

Almeida takes fourth stage of Tour of Switzerland with injured Thomas out
Portuguese rider Joao Almeida powered to the fourth stage of the Tour of Switzerland after former Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas withdrew with less than three weeks from the start of the Tour de France.

World champion Olga Carmona signs for PSG women's team
Spanish World Cup winner Olga Carmona said she is ready to step up another level with Paris Saint-Germain after signing with the French club for three seasons on Wednesday.

Putin T-shirts, robots and the Taliban -- but few Westerners at Russia's Davos
Russia's flagship economic forum kicked off Wednesday with stalls selling Vladimir Putin-themed merchandise and humanoid robots, but Westerners were few and far between -- despite warming ties between Moscow and Washington under Donald Trump.

Trump on Iran strikes: 'I may do it, I may not do it'
President Donald Trump said he was considering whether the United States will join Israeli strikes on Iran Wednesday, as he said that Tehran had reached out to seek negotiations.

Khamenei vows Iran will never surrender
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday the nation would never surrender and warned the United States of "irreparable damage" if it intervenes, while Israel said it had destroyed the internal security headquarters in Tehran.

Bangladesh tighten grip on first Sri Lanka Test
Bangladesh continued their dominance over Sri Lanka on the second day of the first test Wednesday, finishing at a commanding 484 for nine -- despite a few late breakthroughs by the hosts.

England's Pope keeps place for India series opener
England vice-captain Ollie Pope has retained his place at number three for the first Test against India starting on Friday, meaning rising star Jacob Bethell must wait for his return to red-ball internationals.

Itoje to lead Lions for first time against Argentina
Maro Itoje will captain the British and Irish Lions for the first time in their Australia tour warm-up match against Argentina in Dublin on Friday.

Oil rises, stocks mixed as investors watch rates, conflict
Oil prices rose and stock markets diverged Wednesday as investors tracked the Israel-Iran conflict and a looming US interest rate decision.

Iran-Israel war: latest developments
Israel and Iran exchanged fire again on Wednesday, the sixth day of strikes in their most intense confrontation in history, fuelling fears of a drawn-out conflict that could engulf the Middle East.

Iran threatens response if US crosses 'red line': ambassador
The United States is "complicit" in Israel's strikes in Iran, Tehran's ambassador to the United Nations claimed Wednesday, vowing that his country would respond if Washington crosses a "red line".

Iranians buying supplies in Iraq tell of fear, shortages back home
Near the once-bustling Iraqi border crossing of Bashmakh, Iranian driver Fatah stocked up on rice, sugar and tea, staples that have become increasingly hard to get back home.

UK's Catherine, Princess of Wales, pulls out of Royal Ascot race meeting
Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, who is recovering from cancer, has pulled out of attending the Royal Ascot race meeting, her Kensington Palace office said on Wednesday.

Rape trial of France's feminist icon Pelicot retold on Vienna stage
A staged reading of selected fragments of the trial that made Frenchwoman Gisele Pelicot, who survived nearly a decade of rapes by dozens of men, a worldwide feminist icon will premiere in Vienna on Wednesday evening.

Khamenei says Iran will 'never surrender', warns off US
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday the nation would never surrender as demanded by President Donald Trump and warned the United States it would face "irreparable damage" if it intervenes in support of its ally.

Oil prices dip, stocks mixed tracking Mideast unrest
Oil prices eased and stock markets diverged Wednesday as traders kept a close watch over the Israel-Iran conflict ahead of an interest-rate announcement from the US Federal Reserve.

How Paris's Seine river keeps the Louvre cool in summer
As Paris braces for a heatwave this weekend, a little-known network of underground pipes will be cooling the Louvre museum and other storied landmarks using water from the Seine river.

Welshman Thomas out of Tour of Switzerland as 'precautionary measure'
Former Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas has withdrawn from the rest of the Tour of Switzerland, his Ineos Grenadiers teams announced on Wednesday.

UN says two Iran nuclear sites destroyed in Israel strikes
The UN nuclear watchdog said Israeli strikes on Wednesday destroyed two buildings making centrifuge components for Iran's nuclear programme near Tehran, while Iran said it fired hypersonic missiles as the arch foes traded fire for a sixth day.

South Africans welcome home Test champions the Proteas
Several thousand supporters were at the main airport in Johannesburg on Wednesday to welcome home World Test Championship winners South Africa.

Middle Age rents live on in German social housing legacy
When German pensioner Angelika Stibi got the keys to her new home in the southern region of Bavaria this year, a huge financial weight was lifted from her shoulders.

Israel targets nuclear site as Iran claims hypersonic missile attack
Israel said it struck a nuclear site near Tehran on Wednesday, while Iran said it fired hypersonic missiles as the arch foes traded fire for a sixth day.

China's AliExpress risks fine for breaching EU illegal product rules
Chinese online giant AliExpress must do more to protect consumers from illegal product sales, the European Commission said Wednesday in an interim finding that could open the way to heavy fines.

Liverpool face Bournemouth in Premier League opener, Man Utd host Arsenal
Liverpool will kick off their Premier League title defence at home to Bournemouth on Friday, August 15 while Arsenal head to Manchester United in a blockbuster clash on the opening weekend.