Spanish wildfire evacuees go home as France hit by new heat alert
Trump says US to hit Iran hard
French DJ Kavinsky, famed for 'Nightcall', found dead in Paris
UBS second-quarter net profit up 17% to $2.8 billion
Weather
How an AFP beach snap became emblem of Europe's wildfire summer
AFP photo editor Maximilien Lamy was on holiday with his partner and daughter last week when he took a series of snapshots of vacationers in fire-struck southwest France with his smartphone.
Economy
FIFA hit by furious backlash over plans to sell stake in competitions
There was a furious backlash on Wednesday to FIFA's controversial plans to sell a stake in the business operations of the World Cup and its other competitions through the creation of a private subsidiary.
Last news
Twitter rivals pile up with Meta's Threads launch
Since Elon Musk took over Twitter eight months ago, users irked by the platform's new regime have vowed to move their online presence elsewhere, though the habit has proved hard to break.
Meta launches Twitter rival Threads -- but not in Europe
Facebook behemoth Meta officially will launch Threads, its text-based rival to Twitter, on Wednesday -- but its release in Europe has been delayed over regulatory concerns.
Greta Thunberg charged over Swedish climate protest
Climate activist Greta Thunberg has been charged with disobeying police during a June climate protest in southern Sweden, the public prosecutor said Wednesday, most likely risking a fine.
JetBlue to end American Airlines joint venture after court ruling
JetBlue said Wednesday it will wind down an alliance with American Airlines rather than challenge a US court ruling that determined the joint venture was anti-competitive.
Di Maria snubs Saudi for second spell at Benfica
Argentina's Angel Di Maria has joined Benfica for a second spell after quitting Juventus, the Portuguese giants announced Wednesday.
UN observers urge access to Ukraine nuclear plant
UN observers appealed on Wednesday for greater access to Europe's largest nuclear plant, after Moscow and Kyiv traded accusations over a possible "catastrophic" act of sabotage at the Russian-controlled facility in Ukraine.
Djokovic, Swiatek win at Wimbledon as confetti-throwing protesters strike
Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek were in cruise control at Wimbledon on Wednesday, but confetti-throwing climate protesters and rain delays caused more headaches at the All England Club.
Study highlights limitations of BMI in predicting death
People classified as overweight though not obese are not at a higher risk of death, according to a new study Wednesday that underscores the clinical limitations of body mass index (BMI), long a standard medical metric.
Russia launches criminal probe after award-winning reporter attacked
Russian investigators on Wednesday said they had launched a criminal investigation after award-winning journalist Elena Milashina was badly beaten in Chechnya.
Danish rising star Rune ready to be Wimbledon wild man
Danish rising star Holger Rune is happy to be the wild man of Wimbledon in the absence of volatile Australian Nick Kyrgios.
Some Fed officials backed rate hike in June, minutes show
Some members of the US Federal Reserve's rate-setting committee supported another interest rate hike in June to tackle high inflation, but ultimately voted for a pause, the Fed announced Wednesday.
Tsitsipas survives Thiem thriller to book Murray showdown at Wimbledon
Greek fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas survived a thrilling five-set Wimbledon battle against Dominic Thiem on Wednesday to book a blockbuster second-round clash against two-time champion Andy Murray.
Biden tells Swedish PM 'looking forward' to NATO bid's approval
US President Joe Biden told Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Wednesday that he is "looking forward" to Sweden's stalled NATO membership bid winning final approval, as the Western alliance prepares for next week's summit.
'I can't live what they live': Kostyuk blocks out Ukraine war
Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk admits that she has to block out the heartbreaking images of the war raging at home as she plots her way through the draw at Wimbledon because "I can't live what they live".
Meta's Twitter-like Threads app will not launch in Europe
Facebook owner Meta's new Threads app, meant to rival Twitter, will not be available in the European Union when it launches Thursday because of regulatory concerns, a source close to the company said.
Texas scraps 'water break' law for construction workers, as heat bakes
Texas has scrapped a law that guaranteed construction workers in some cities the right to water breaks on the job, drawing anger Wednesday from unions and local authorities as much of America endured a brutal heat wave.
Djokovic celebrates 350th Grand Slam win at Wimbledon
Novak Djokovic became only the third player in history to win 350 Grand Slam singles matches after seeing off the challenge of Jordan Thompson at Wimbledon on Wednesday.
Automakers report higher Q2 car sales in US
Leading automakers reported a jump in quarterly US car sales Wednesday, reflecting increased vehicle inventory levels and the support of a strong US labor market.
Medvedev vows 'won't be selfish kid' at Wimbledon
Daniil Medvedev said he was "touched" by the reception he received from Wimbledon fans on Wednesday as the Russian vowed to stop behaving like a "selfish kid".
Black activist Angela Davis struck off name of French school
Authorities in the French capital region struck the name of US black rights activist Angela Davis from a high school on Wednesday, judging her views on race relations to be too radical.
US forces prevented Iran from seizing two tankers near Oman: Pentagon
The US military said Wednesday it had blocked two attempts by the Iranian navy to seize commercial tankers in international waters off Oman, including one case in which the Iranians fired on the tanker.
Afghanistan beat Bangladesh in rain-hit first ODI
Opener Ibrahim Zadran struck 41 not out as Afghanistan beat Bangladesh by 17 runs on DLS method in a rain-shortened first one-day international in Chittagong on Wednesday.
Sixth seed Rune into Wimbledon second round for first time
Danish sixth seed Holger Rune reached the Wimbledon second round for the first time with a 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 6-2 win against British wildcard George Loffhagen on Wednesday.
Hong Kong-American pop singer Coco Lee dies aged 48
Hong Kong-born American pop singer Coco Lee, beloved in Asia for her diva riffs and as the voice of Disney's "Mulan" in Mandarin, died Wednesday, according to an announcement from her family.
Australia star Smith eyes all-time great status as 100th Test cap looms
When Australia's Steve Smith last played a Test match at Headingley he was just one red-ball cap into his celebrated career and thought of mainly as a leg-spinner.
Retiring Kontaveit keeps Wimbledon hopes alive
Former world number two Anett Kontaveit said she was in too much pain to continue her tennis career after Wimbledon following her first-round win on Wednesday.
UN highlights 'vicious cycle' of climate impacts for Latin America, Caribbean
As some Latin American countries battle severe drought and others disease outbreaks brought on by flooding, the World Meteorological Organization warned Wednesday that extreme weather and climate shocks were becoming more acute in the region.
Luis Enrique named new PSG coach as Mbappe future remains up in the air
Luis Enrique was appointed as the new coach of Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday on a two-year deal, but his unveiling was overshadowed by ongoing questions about the future of Kylian Mbappe.
Djokovic eyes Wimbledon third round as rain, protests cause disruption
Iga Swiatek eased through at Wimbledon on Wednesday while Novak Djokovic prepared to take another step towards a record-equalling eighth men's title as the All England Club reeled from rain delays and climate protests.
At least 8 dead in village attack in eastern DR Congo
At least eight people, including five women and two children, died on Wednesday in a new attack in DR Congo's troubled east, local people told AFP on Wednesday.
Spacey grabbed man 'like a cobra', UK court hears
A man claiming to have been sexually assaulted by Kevin Spacey said the Hollywood actor grabbed him "like a cobra", a London court heard on Wednesday.
El Nino spells trouble for vulnerable Galapagos iguana
Unusually warm for this time of year, the waters of the Pacific signal hard times for the reptilian inhabitants of Ecuador's iconic Galapagos Islands.