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European stock markets advanced on Wednesday, with Frankfurt setting a new record, while Wall Street struggled to hold onto gains made despite a less-than-stellar inflation report.

Music streaming giant Spotify on Wednesday announced it would be posting music videos on its platform in "select markets", entering an arena long dominated by YouTube.

German auto giant Volkswagen on Wednesday reported a forecast-beating rise in profits for 2023 as vehicle deliveries rebounded but warned of slower sales growth this year, sending its shares down.

Wales centre George North announced on Wednesday he will retire from international rugby after this weekend's Six Nations match against Italy, when both teams will be battling to avoid the wooden spoon.

The EU is set to better protect journalists from political pressure and surveillance under an unprecedented media freedom law approved by the European Parliament on Wednesday.

Martin Odegaard has urged Arsenal to use their dramatic penalty shootout win over Porto as fuel as they chase a Champions League and Premier League double.

Wales centre George North announced on Wednesday he will retire from international rugby following this weekend's Six Nations match at home to Italy.

Lithuanian intelligence services on Wednesday said that the attack on Russian opposition figure Leonid Volkov, a close ally of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, was likely "organised by Russia".

Europe's main stock markets rose Wednesday with Frankfurt scaling historic heights on hopes of interest rate cuts, while London gained ground as slender UK economic growth sparked talk of an end to recession.

Endangered giant redwood trees are thriving in the UK but could also be significantly contributing to capturing carbon emissions, according to research published on Wednesday.

Adidas on Wednesday reported a loss in 2023 due to the fallout from the end of its tie-up with Kanye West, but the company insisted it was starting to turn its fortunes around.

The European Parliament on Wednesday gave the final nod to far-reaching rules on artificial intelligence that the EU hopes will both harness innovation and defend against harms.

The European Parliament gave final approval on Wednesday to wide-ranging EU rules to govern artificial intelligence, including powerful systems like OpenAI's ChatGPT.

Elon Musk travelled Wednesday to Tesla's factory near Berlin to lend his workers "support" after the plant was forced to halt production by a suspected arson attack on nearby power lines.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, head of the global Anglican communion, warned on Wednesday that a new definition of extremism set to be unveiled by the UK government risks stoking division.

Aaron Ramsey was on Wednesday named in Wales' Euro 2024 play-off squad to face Finland, despite not starting a match for six months.

David Raya's penalty heroics against Porto sent Arsenal through to the Champions League quarter-finals -- but also settled the debate over who is the club's first-choice goalkeeper.

Donor nations, aid agencies and charities pushed on with efforts Wednesday to rush food to war-torn Gaza by land, air and sea after the EU top diplomat said starvation had become "a weapon of war".

From its birth in a Beijing apartment 12 years ago, ByteDance grew into one of the world's biggest tech firms -- best known in most countries as the creator of TikTok.

Anger is mounting in some Johannesburg districts left without water for more than a week, fewer than three months before general elections marked by voter discontent with South Africa's failing infrastructure.

Sudan this week entered its second straight Ramadan in the throes of a deadly war that has left much of the country gripped by the spectre of famine.

President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday lauded Moscow's nuclear arsenal and warned that he was ready to deploy the weapons if Russia's sovereignty was threatened.

Al Hilal coach Jorge Jesus called their record of 28 consecutive wins "momentous" but warned it will mean nothing if they finish the season without silverware.

The head of one of France's leading universities said Wednesday he was stepping down after being ordered to stand trial in a domestic violence case.

The Australian wine industry welcomed news on Wednesday that China could begin lifting punitive tariffs within weeks, raising hopes that the country's red wine glut will soon ease.

Beijing warned on Wednesday that a proposed ban on Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok would "inevitably come back to bite the United States".

Asian markets were mixed Wednesday as investors struggled to keep up with Wall Street, though forecast-beating US inflation data did little to dent expectations that the Federal Reserve will begin cutting interest rates this year.

Marcus Smith's "best time is to come", former England head coach Eddie Jones said on Wednesday, following the fly-half's Twickenham heroics.

German auto giant Volkswagen on Wednesday reported a forecast-beating rise in profits for 2023, boosted by higher vehicle deliveries, but gave a cautious outlook for this year.

Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific on Wednesday reported its first annual net profit in four years, citing a surge in demand as it emerges from the impact of the financial hub's Covid isolation.

The picture was meant to douse speculation about the whereabouts and health of Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, but instead her manipulated image unleashed a torrent of internet-breaking rumors and conspiracy theories.

Language teacher Sorina Stoianova has found herself at the forefront of Moldova's efforts to counter Russian influence in its rebel Gagauzia region, which borders Ukraine.