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Officials in southern China ramped up security on Wednesday at the site of one of the country's deadliest mass-casualty events in years, snuffing out makeshift memorials to the 35 people killed when a man drove a car into a crowd at a sports complex.

Afghanistan embassies in Britain and Norway loyal to the pro-Western authorities ousted by the Taliban in 2021 discreetly shut down this autumn, as the West seeks a more pragmatic approach to the country's Islamic rulers.

The Philippines ordered evacuations ahead of Typhoon Usagi on Wednesday, as the UN disaster office sought $32.9 million in aid for the country after storms that killed more than 150 people.

US top diplomat Antony Blinken will meet with NATO and EU officials Wednesday to urgently discuss ramping up support for Ukraine before Donald Trump reclaims the White House -- potentially jeopardising future aid.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping headed to Peru on Wednesday, bound for a meeting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) organisation leaders overshadowed by fears of renewed global trade tensions under Donald Trump.

Former Wales flanker Alix Popham has told AFP he hopes the new chairman of World Rugby will push for the changes required to prevent players from suffering the long-term effects of successive head injuries, as he has done.

The Japanese owner of 7-Eleven is considering going private by buying back its own shares in a bid to avoid a takeover by Canadian rival Couche-Tard, reports said on Wednesday.

Palau's president has accused China of flouting the Pacific nation's maritime borders, raising concerns about research vessels lurking "uninvited" within its waters.

Workers in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai removed flowers and candles early Wednesday from a makeshift memorial to 35 people killed when a man drove a car into a crowd in one of the country's deadliest mass-casualty events in years.

Electric vehicles need batteries, and most batteries are made with lithium, a critical material European automakers are chasing as they face tough competition from China.

Asian markets fell again Wednesday as traders fret over the impact of Donald Trump's presidency on the Chinese and global economies, with fears that his policies could also reignite US inflation.

A controversial trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc is back in the spotlight with rekindled optimism that the two sides could conclude an agreement before the year is over.

France, Italy and Portugal lead the teams attempting to secure a place in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals, while England's promotion hopes have been hit by a series of withdrawals.

Donald Trump's impending White House return poses questions once again about conflicts of interest related to his business empire, with new cryptocurrency and other ventures raising fresh concerns.

Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia at the centre of a diplomatic storm, holds a presidential election on Wednesday at a tense moment in the Horn of Africa.

With his team's 5-1 win over Spain, Hector Sanchez could truly say he was an international football champion -- though not in the way he dreamed of as a child.

Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the world's richest man, Elon Musk, will lead a new US "government efficiency" group tasked with cutting federal waste, as the Republican president-elect added a series of seasoned figures and hard-liners to his incoming administration.

International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi is set to visit Tehran on Wednesday for crucial talks on Iran's nuclear programme, warning just ahead of his trip that room for manoeuvre is narrowing.

An Indonesian team under Dutch colonial rule sailed to France for the 1938 World Cup -- they lost their only game 6-0 and the country has not played at the tournament since.

The United States said Tuesday that Israel was not violating US law on the level of aid entering Gaza even as aid agencies said it was still not enough.

The US airman who admitted to leaking a trove of classified Pentagon documents that revealed Washington apparently spied on allies and doubted Ukraine's military strength was jailed for 15 years on Tuesday.

British writer Samantha Harvey won the prestigious Booker Prize on Tuesday for her science fiction novel following six astronauts as they orbit Earth over 24 hours.

The United States on Tuesday banned all civilian flights to Haiti for a month, a day after three jetliners approaching or departing from its gang-ridden capital Port-au-Prince were hit by gunfire.

Brittany Lincicome, a two-time major winner in her 20th LPGA campaign, announced Tuesday she will retire after this week's Annika tournament near her hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida.

Canadian women's national team football coach Bev Priestman and two assistants suspended by FIFA over a drone scandal at the Paris Olympics will not be returning, Canada Soccer announced Tuesday.

Jannik Sinner hit the accelerator at the end of each set as he cruised past Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 on Tuesday to close in on a semi-final spot at the ATP Finals in Turin.

A stocks rally following Donald Trump's US election win lost steam Tuesday as traders looked to consolidate recent gains, sending major indices lower on both sides of the Atlantic.

A top UN official on Tuesday condemned "daily cruelty" in Gaza, describing "acts reminiscent of the gravest international crimes" as Israel continues its daily bombardment of the Palestinian territory.

The United States on Tuesday banned all civilian flights to Haiti for a month, a day after a jetliner was shot at on approach to the capital and as a new prime minister took the reins of a nation ravaged by poverty and gang violence.

A rare square 37-carat emerald owned by the Aga Khan fetched nearly nine million dollars at auction in Geneva on Tuesday, making it the world's most expensive green stone.

Venezuela's Attorney General Tarek William Saab defended the state's crackdown on opposition supporters after disputed July elections, telling AFP the authorities' actions helped avert a "civil war."

Donald Trump continued to cement his incoming team Tuesday -- a mix of seasoned figures and hard-liners -- ahead of a meeting with President Joe Biden in what will be his first White House visit since exiting amid scandal four years ago.