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Armenia said Wednesday that nearly half of Nagorno-Karabakh's population has fled the enclave since Azerbaijan crushed the rebels' decades-long fight for an independent state last week.

Republican hopefuls will hold their second presidential debate Wednesday in California but the party's runaway frontrunner, scandal-plagued former president Donald Trump, will reduce them to a sideshow by snubbing the event.

The Aragon Grand Prix returns to the MotoGP circuit and Kazakhstan will finally host its first race in a record 22-race calendar for 2024, which was published on Wednesday.

The crisis at Dutch giants Ajax went from bad to worse Wednesday as arch-rivals Feyenoord piled on the misery, completing a 4-0 win in a game rescheduled after crowd violence.

Ukrainian football teams will boycott all competitions featuring Russian sides while Poland will refuse to play against teams from the country, their national federations said on Wednesday following a decision by UEFA to lift a ban on Russia's youth sides.

Beatboxers from Britain and beyond have been showcasing their skills at a nightclub in Birmingham, central England, with an influx of newcomers meeting each other for the first time since the pandemic.

Tanzania has culled millions of quelea birds to prevent them from destroying rice fields, using drones and planes to monitor commercial farms, the country's plants and pesticides watchdog said Wednesday.

The French government on Wednesday presented a budget plan based on a buoyant growth prediction that raised eyebrows at France's public finance watchdog.

Gennaro Gattuso is expected to be named as the new coach of French giants Marseille following the resignation of Marcelino Garcia Toral last week, sources close to the discussions said on Wednesday.

More than 56,000 Pakistan schools will shut for the rest of the week in a bid to curb a mass outbreak of a contagious eye virus, officials said Wednesday.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek and world number four Jessica Pegula surged into the quarter-finals of the WTA Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Wednesday with straight-sets victories.

Britain on Wednesday authorised oil and gas production in its largest undeveloped field to bolster its energy security, one week after the government diluted its net zero targets, triggering further condemnation by environmentalists.

Mitchell Marsh made 96 in an Australian batting onslaught of 352-7 against India that raised hopes of a consolation win in Wednesday's third and final one-day international.

The UN called for rapid decarbonisation of the shipping industry on Wednesday, warning that the price tag could top $100 billion a year as the sector's emissions continue to swell.

Indonesia has banned goods transactions on social media platforms in a new regulation, its trade minister said Wednesday, as Jakarta aims to rein in direct sales on major platforms it says are harming millions of small businesses.

With some players in their 70s and opponents young enough to be their grandchildren, age is just a number for bridge competitors engaged in a battle of wits at the Asian Games.

World stocks markets were mixed Wednesday as the dollar hit multi-month peaks on expectations of more hikes to US interest rates to combat persistently high inflation.

Rising from their tables after the meal, the Russian prisoners of war shouted in Ukrainian "Thank you for lunch!"

Spain's women's national team took one step towards the Olympic Games and several more towards equality, over a tense fortnight out of which a fragile peace emerged.

Alberto Nunez-Feijoo saw his bid to become Spain's next prime minister rejected by parliament on Wednesday, with the right-wing opposition leader lacking the support to pass a key vote.

Poland's agriculture minister said on Wednesday that his country remained open to a Ukrainian proposal for a grain import licensing system, adding that the thorny issue would be discussed in the coming weeks.

Thirteen-year-old Cui Chenxi became China's youngest gold medallist at the Asian Games in Hangzhou when she won the women's street skateboarding event on Wednesday.

At least 100 people were killed when a fire ripped through a crowded Iraqi wedding hall, officials said Wednesday, pointing to indoor fireworks as the likely cause for the blaze that sparked a panicked stampede for the exits.

Veteran Spain defender Sergio Ramos' home was raided by burglars with his four young children inside while he was on Champions League duty with Sevilla last week, police and reports said Wednesday.

Armenia said Wednesday that more than a third of Nagorno-Karabakh's population has fled the enclave since Azerbaijan crushed the rebels' decades-long fight for an independent state last week.

Berlin said Wednesday German maestro Christian Thielemann would succeed world-renowned conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim as general musical director of its State Opera following his resignation due to ill health.

Cryptocurrency firm Binance said on Wednesday it was selling its Russia business, months after reports suggested US authorities were investigating possible sanctions violations.

Italy are ready for New Zealand's intimidation and bullying tactics, head coach Kieran Crowley said on Wednesday after naming his team to face the All Blacks.

Victor Osimhen's agent has threatened legal action against Napoli after a video was published on the club's official social media mocking the Nigeria striker for missing a penalty in the weekend's goalless draw at Bologna.

Britain on Wednesday authorised oil and gas production in its largest undeveloped field to boost energy security, one week after diluting net zero targets, triggering more condemnation by green groups.

Rory McIlroy on Wednesday said European stalwarts absent from this week's Ryder Cup in Rome after joining LIV Golf will be "missing being here more than we're missing them".

David Beckham made his Asian Games debut on Wednesday in the same team as Ronaldo but not, sadly, in the football tournament.