Migrant plight, local anger divide Ceuta one month after influx
US jury deadlocks again in Lindsay Clancy's child murder trial
Outrage as Maltese tycoon acquitted of reporter's murder
Lake America? No way, Canadians say
Weather
Rare train of Pacific cyclones fueled by historic El Nino
Two powerful hurricanes and a strengthening tropical storm on Wednesday were churning through the Pacific Ocean where waters were being warmed by a historically strong El Nino climate episode.
Politics
Spain report flags Moroccan police failings in Ceuta migrant rush
Moroccan security forces displayed "total permissiveness" during the unprecedented migrant rush into Spain's north African territory of Ceuta in July, according to a Spanish police report seen by AFP on Wednesday.
Last news
Nigeria's Nworgu 'in heaven' after winning Paralympics silver with dislocated shoulder
Nigerian Paralympics powerlifter Esther Nworgu said on Wednesday claiming the silver medal in Paris was "like heaven" having dislocated her shoulder just two days ago.
'Stop blaming us,' October 7 survivor tells UN
October 7 survivor Sabine Taasa, who lost her husband and 17-year-old son during the Hamas attack, urged UN experts to stop blaming Israel for the war and focus on the trauma inflicted on Israeli children.
Dozens of viruses detected in Chinese fur farm animals
Dozens of viruses have been detected mixing in animals at fur farms in China, some of which are new and have the potential to spill over into humans, researchers said Wednesday.
Meta clears use of Palestinian slogan 'From the River to the Sea'
Meta's Oversight Board ruled on Wednesday that the standalone use of the phrase "From the River to the Sea," a slogan oft-used by pro-Palestinian users, does not violate the company's content policies.
Moderna mRNA mpox vaccine shows promise in animal study
An experimental Moderna mRNA vaccine for mpox has demonstrated greater effectiveness than current shots in reducing disease symptoms and duration, according to an animal study published in the journal Cell on Wednesday.
England coach Borthwick given new powers over elite rugby players
England rugby coach Steve Borthwick will have the final say on all sports science and medical matters relating to an elite group of players as part of a deal aimed at creating "world-leading English teams".
Burning trash a major source of plastic pollution: study
Burning plastic in dumps and open fires is as big a problem for the planet as littering, scientists said Wednesday in a detailed new assessment of how plastic enters the environment.
Paralympic fencing star Bebe Vio in shock defeat, Storey slams cycling course
Star Italian wheelchair fencer Bebe Vio suffered a shock defeat at the Paralympics on Wednesday but British Paralympic cycling great Sarah Storey won her 18th gold -- then slammed the "appalling" course.
Fuel scarcities, price hike deepen Nigerian frustrations
After sleeping overnight in a line of cars waiting for fuel, Nigerian taxi driver Oluwashina Ilesanmi had to calculate how much a sudden petrol price increase cut into his earnings.
'Russian spy' whale was shot dead: animal rights groups
Animal rights groups said Wednesday that gunfire killed a beluga whale that rose to fame in Norway after its unusual harness sparked suspicions the creature had been trained by Russia as a spy.
German army activates air-defence system, citing Russia threat
Germany's military put a first Iris-T air-defence system into service on its own soil Wednesday having delivered several of them to war-torn Ukraine to intercept Russian rockets, drones and missiles.
Expectations high for dark, music-filled 'Joker' sequel with Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga confessed to having been "deeply moved" by the original film "Joker" on Wednesday as the new sequel starring the pop star and Joaquin Phoenix gets its world premiere in Venice.
Tech stocks tumble on new Nvidia weakness
Tech firms led equity markets lower Wednesday as chip titan Nvidia lost further ground while disappointing data on US trade also hit sentiment.
Ugandan Olympian fighting for her life after fire attack
Ugandan long-distance runner Rebecca Cheptegei was still fighting for her life on Wednesday after being set on fire by a Kenyan man, just weeks after taking part in the Paris Olympics.
X vows to end harvesting of EU users' personal data to train its AI
Social network X has committed to stop its much-criticised harvesting of European users' personal data to train its artificial intelligence program, Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) said Wednesday.
'Optimist' McCullum can work magic with England's white-ball teams, says Pope
Stand-in Test captain Ollie Pope said Brendon McCullum can transform the fortunes of England's limited-overs teams in the same way he has reinvigorated the red-ball side.
US trade deficit widest in two years on imports surge
The US trade deficit in July expanded to its largest since mid-2022, according to government data released Wednesday, as imports rose more quickly than exports.
'Only the dad is alive': Strike decimates Ukrainian family
A Russian missile attack Wednesday on the Ukrainian city of Lviv killed a woman and her three daughters, leaving their father as the only immediate survivor, Ukrainian officials said.
Steve McQueen WWII drama 'Blitz' to kick off London Film Fest
The London Film Festival returns next month with the premiere of Steve McQueen's wartime drama "Blitz", as well as the first look at a new television series from "Peaky Blinders" creator Steven Knight, the organisers said Wednesday.
Greenland court extends detention of anti-whaling activist Watson
A Greenland court decided Wednesday to hold US-Canadian anti-whaling activist Paul Watson an additional 28 days pending a decision on his extradition to Japan, an anti-whaling group said.
Deadly strike hits Ukraine's Lviv as Zelensky confirms reshuffle
Russia struck the city of Lviv in western Ukraine on Wednesday, killing seven people and damaging historical buildings in a rare attack hundreds of kilometres from the frontline.
UK's Starmer defends Israel arms suspension as 'legal decision'
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended Wednesday his government's partial suspension of arms exports to Israel over fears they could be used in a breach of humanitarian law as "a legal decision".
Ex-VW boss tells trial 'dieselgate' charges are 'implausible'
Former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn said Wednesday the charges against him were "implausible" as he testified at his trial over the "dieselgate" scandal that rocked the German auto titan.
New-look Germany 'greedy for success', says striker Fuellkrug
Germany striker Niclas Fuellkrug said Wednesday he hoped the retirement of several experienced players could be an advantage for the new-look side.
Shakira compares Spanish tax office to 'Inquisition'
Colombian pop star Shakira accused Spain's tax office of confiscating all the income she earned when she lived there, comparing the institution to "the Inquisition" in a letter published Wednesday in Spanish daily El Mundo.
Dmytro Kuleba: straight-talking face of Ukraine's diplomacy
Dmytro Kuleba -- who resigned as Ukraine's top diplomat Wednesday -- tirelessly toured the world pleading for more military support and for Kyiv to be given the green light to strike targets deep inside Russia.
Rome mulls introducing tickets for the Trevi Fountain
Authorities in Rome said Wednesday they were mulling introducing a ticketing system for visitors to the iconic Trevi Fountain, in the latest attempt in Italy to tackle overtourism.
French husband kept meticulous records of wife's alleged rapists, court told
A French investigator leading the probe into a man accused of recruiting dozens of strangers to rape his heavily sedated wife told a court Wednesday of painstaking efforts to identify the perpetrators via the husband's detailed records of the assaults.
Mexico's lower chamber passes controversial judicial reforms
Mexico's lower chamber approved a controversial judicial reform plan early Wednesday, passing the measure after a marathon session in a sports gym as protesters blocked access to Congress.
Paralympic legends Masters and Storey light up Games
US cyclist Oksana Masters and British Paralympic great Sarah Storey added to their title hauls in early action on Wednesday as star Italian fencer Bebe Vio began her medal campaign with an easy victory.
Serbia deputy PM mets Putin days after fighter jet deal with France
President Vladimir Putin met Serbia's deputy premier in Russia on Wednesday, less than a week after Belgrade signed a multi-billion-dollar fighter jet deal with France.
Deadly strike hits Ukraine's Lviv as Moscow advances in east
A Russian strike on west Ukraine's Lviv, hundreds of kilometers from the front, killed seven people on Wednesday, authorities said as Moscow claimed advances in the war-torn nation's east.