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Elderly Chinese farmers carrying enormous baskets of vegetables squeezed into a subway station as its doors opened before dawn on Wednesday, on the outskirts of megacity Chongqing.

Stock markets rallied Wednesday, buoyed by Germany's plan to massively boost spending on defence, signals that US President Donald Trump could ease huge tariffs and China's economic targets.

China laid out its economic growth goals and spending for 2025 on Wednesday.

The EU faced questions on Wednesday over how much of its money goes to tech billionaire Elon Musk's companies as tensions ramp up between the new US administration and Brussels.

Pakistan cricket fans and former players seethed Wednesday after the host country's already disappointing Champions Trophy suffered one last blow: no final.

Pope Francis rested well during his 19th night in hospital with pneumonia, the Vatican said Wednesday, as celebrations for the Lent religious season started without him.

North Korea has halted international trips to a city near its border with China, travel agencies said on Wednesday, abruptly reversing Pyongyang's recent decision to reopen its frontier to tourism after five years of isolation.

Markets rallied Wednesday as investors welcomed China's economic targets and a US official signalled that President Donald Trump could dial down tariffs on Canada and Mexico.

Mexico's booming tequila industry was left reeling Wednesday after US President Donald Trump slapped sweeping tariffs on the Central American nation that producers say threaten the popularity of its most famous liquor.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he would address the nation Wednesday over the current global uncertainty in the wake of the radical change in US policy on Ukraine under Donald Trump.

Already renowned for its cleanliness, Singapore will spend $7.5 million to upgrade and deep clean public toilets at coffee shops, the environment ministry has said.

Bryson DeChambeau said in Hong Kong on Wednesday that he was staying with LIV Golf, shooting down rumours he was unhappy on the Saudi-backed circuit and was looking for a way back to the PGA Tour.

Asian markets rallied on Wednesday as investors welcomed China's economic targets which they hope will offset the impact of a global trade war.

China set an ambitious annual growth target of around five percent on Wednesday, vowing to make domestic demand its main economic driver as an escalating trade war with the United States hit Beijing's exports.

Steve Smith has retired from one-day internationals following the defeat to India in the Champions Trophy semi-finals, Cricket Australia said on Wednesday.

Steve Smith has retired from one-day internationals following Australia's defeat to India in the Champions Trophy semi-finals, Cricket Australia said on Wednesday.

India's capital New Delhi has vowed to clear one of its largest trash piles by next year as part of a plan to eradicate unsightly landfills dotting the megacity's skyline.

The US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is considering letting go up to half of its approximately 90,000 employees, a source with knowledge of the situation told AFP on Tuesday.

Japan battled its worst wildfire in half a century on Wednesday in a region hit by record-low rainfall, as wet weather gave hope for some relief.

Real Sociedad are hoping to forget their struggles this season and compound Premier League giants Manchester United's when they meet on Thursday in the Europa League last 16.

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky has told him Kyiv was ready for talks with Russia and the finalization of a US minerals deal, days after the pair's explosive White House meeting.

India pace spearhead Mohammed Shami has broken ranks by admitting that playing all their Champions Trophy games at one venue in Dubai has been to their advantage.

Donald Trump leaned on his reality TV instincts as he goaded opponents, wooed adoring fans, and engineered heart-tugging moments Tuesday in the longest-ever presidential speech to Congress.

Taiwanese chip-making giant TSMC plans to invest a whopping $100 billion in the United States, after US President Donald Trump threatened to slap tariffs on overseas-made chips.

President Donald Trump urged Greenland on Tuesday to choose to join the United States but vowed to take the Danish-ruled island "one way or the other" -- whatever the locals decide.

LeBron James became the first player in NBA history to score 50,000 career points on Tuesday, extending his lead as the league's all-time record scorer by reaching a milestone tally that may never be surpassed.

Donald Trump declared "America is back" Tuesday in his first address to Congress since returning to power, touting his radical policies in the face of raucous Democratic hostility while proclaiming a breakthrough on Ukraine.

China's defence spending will rise by 7.2 percent in 2025, the same as last year, Beijing said on Wednesday, as its armed forces undergo rapid modernisation and eye deepening strategic competition with the United States.

Japan battled its worst wildfire in half a century Wednesday in a region hit by record-low rainfall, as wet weather gave hope for some relief.

Virat Kohli was hailed on Wednesday as the "chase master" after his latest trademark innings took India into a third successive Champions Trophy final.

The US economy is set to experience some "disturbance" from tariffs, President Donald Trump said Tuesday, as trade tensions flare after he imposed sweeping levies on Mexico, Canada and China.

A rare tropical cyclone veered towards Australia's densely populated eastern coast on Wednesday, sparking emergency warnings, closing hundreds of schools, and threatening to flood thousands of homes.