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Former Brazil international Dani Alves denied raping a young woman at a Barcelona nightclub as he took the stand Wednesday on the last day of his trial in Spain.

Two US Federal Reserve officials indicated Wednesday that the nation's central bank is on track to tackle inflation, but that it is still too soon to begin lowering interest rates.

Goal-scorer Akram Afif said "the best is yet to come" after hosts and holders Qatar squeezed into an Asian Cup final against Jordan with a dramatic 3-2 win over Iran on Wednesday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday dismissed Hamas's demand for a ceasefire and ordered troops to move on the city of Rafah in Gaza's far south, where more than one million Palestinians have sought refuge.

The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor told AFP on Wednesday that he wants the tribunal to start trying suspects for "environmental crimes" without having to modify its founding statutes.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes says he's "okay" with his team being cast as Super Bowl villains as they chase a third NFL crown in five seasons on Sunday.

Once regarded as a no-go zone by the NFL, Las Vegas is preparing to stage a neon-lit Super Bowl spectacular that will mark the crowning glory of the Nevada gaming haven's transformation into a global sporting hub.

Democrats pushed Wednesday to secure US aid for Ukraine, following a day of humiliating legislative setbacks for Republicans that underlined congressional dysfunction on key areas of domestic and international policy.

Spain has just experienced its warmest January since current records began in 1961, national weather office Aemet said Wednesday, after temperatures neared 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) in some regions.

Thiago Silva's wife has apologised for her "outburst" after appearing to call for Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino to be sacked following another defeat for the struggling Premier League club.

Tiger Woods will make his first PGA Tour appearance of the year at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, the golfer confirmed on Wednesday.

Three days of mourning and funeral ceremonies got underway Wednesday for Chile's ex-president Sebastian Pinera, a day after he died when the helicopter he was piloting crashed into a lake.

Hosts and holders Qatar squeezed into an Asian Cup final showdown with Jordan after beating Iran 3-2 with an 82nd-minute winner in a frenetic semi-final on Wednesday.

Alpine driver Pierre Gasly is setting his sights on competing at the top of Formula One this season following Wednesday's launch of a "bold" new car for 2024.

Saturn's small moon Mimas seems an unlikely suspect in the hunt for life in Earth's backyard -- it is probably best known for looking like the "Death Star" in the Star Wars films.

The Serbian dinar is not officially "banned" in Kosovo, Prime Minister Albin Kurti told AFP on Wednesday, but he emphasised that only the euro is legal tender for commercial transactions.

Prince William returned to work on Wednesday following his father King Charles III's shock cancer diagnosis as his estranged brother Prince Harry prepared to fly home to the United States after rallying to his father's side.

Spain last month experienced its warmest January since current records began in 1961, national weather office Aemet said on Wednesday, after temperatures neared 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) in some regions.

Tyson Fury has set out an ambitious five-fight plan, including a long-awaited bout against fellow British boxer Anthony Joshua, as the world heavyweight champion dismissed talk of retirement.

French prosecutors said Wednesday they had opened an inquiry after actor Judith Godreche filed a complaint against film director Benoit Jacquot, accusing him of raping her in a relationship that began when she was 14 and he was 25 years her senior.

Ukraine urged the West on Wednesday to speed up and increase deliveries of artillery shells after a "massive" new Russian missile attack on Kyiv and other regions killed at least five people and wounded more than 40.

Once a lush oasis bursting with native and exotic plants, Chile's biggest botanical garden has been left greyed and charred after a wildfire blazed through last week, also killing a nursery manager and members of her family.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on a visit to Israel Wednesday voiced hope for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal but cautioned that more negotiations were needed.

The Serbian dinar is not officially "banned" in Kosovo, Prime Minister Albin Kurti told AFP on Wednesday, but he emphasised that only the euro is legal tender for commercial transactions.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Wednesday that the world is entering "an age of chaos" with a deeply divided Security Council unable to address critical issues such as the Israel-Hamas war.

Global stock markets diverged on Wednesday as investors digested a mixed bag of corporate earnings and the likelihood that the US Federal Reserve would wait longer than hoped to cut interest rates.

At least 28 people were killed Wednesday by two separate bomb blasts outside the offices of election candidates in southwestern Pakistan, on the eve of a national vote marred by violence and allegations of pre-poll rigging.

Sudan's warring sides have agreed to meet for talks on enabling desperately needed aid delivery in their conflict-torn country, the United Nations said on Wednesday.

Brentford have condemned the "vile harassment" of Ivan Toney after the England striker was the target of online racist abuse, labelling the response of social media companies "underwhelming".

Former world number one Simona Halep appeared before the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Wednesday to appeal her four-year doping ban in what is expected to be a three-day hearing.

The US trade deficit narrowed in 2023 to the smallest in three years, according to government data released Wednesday, while America bought more goods from Mexico than China for the first time in about two decades.

Three days of mourning and funeral ceremonies got underway Wednesday for Chile's ex-president Sebastian Pinera, who died a day earlier when the helicopter he was piloting crashed into a lake.