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The US government shutdown entered its fourth week Wednesday, becoming the second longest in history, as Donald Trump's Republicans and the opposition Democrats faced increasing pressure to end a stalemate that has crippled public services.

President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday signed a letter of intent with Sweden to acquire 150 Gripen fighter jets, hours after fatal Russian attacks battered Ukraine's energy grid and spurred nationwide outages.

The grandchildren of the last woman to be executed in Britain have called for Ruth Ellis to be pardoned, 70 years after she was sent to the gallows for murdering her "abusive" lover, their lawyers said Wednesday.

The International Court of Justice said Wednesday that Israel was obliged to ease the passage of aid into Gaza, stressing it had to provide Palestinians with "basic needs" essential to survival.

A flagship US climate-disaster database killed by President Donald Trump's administration has been brought back to life by its former lead scientist -- revealing that extreme weather inflicted a record $101 billion in damages in just the first half of 2025.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday it was now clear that efforts to cap global warming at 1.5 Celsius above pre-industrial levels would fail in the short term.

Simon Harmer grabbed three early wickets to boost South Africa's chances of securing a series-levelling victory over a faltering Pakistan in the second Test in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

Gold prices sank further Wednesday and major stock markets mostly fell on fresh economic jitters caused by China-US trade uncertainty and a batch of weak company earnings.

SpaceX has cut service to more than 2,500 Starlink internet devices at Myanmar scam centres, a company executive said Wednesday, after AFP revealed that their use had exploded in the illicit industry.

Lithuania's Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene resigned Wednesday following a dispute with the prime minister over military spending in the key NATO member.

Simon Harmer grabbed three early wickets to push South Africa closer to a series-levelling victory over a faltering Pakistan in the second Test in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

Former England centre Manu Tuilagi has signed a contract extension to stay at Bayonne until 2027, the French Top 14 club announced on Wednesday.

The cancellation of La Liga's plan to hold a Barcelona match in Miami in December is a "missed opportunity" for Spanish football, the league's president said Wednesday, while elsewhere its collapse was celebrated.

SpaceX has cut service to more than 2,500 Starlink internet devices at Myanmar scam centres, a company executive said Wednesday, after AFP revealed that their use had exploded in the illicit industry.

Like in Beijing in 2022, three-time Olympic champion Ester Ledecka calls next year's Olympic Games "a friendly" to ease the pressure, despite a rather unfriendly schedule thwarting her medal hopes.

UN chief Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called for a fightback against climate disinformation ahead of next month's COP30 summit after US President Donald Trump branded climate change the "greatest con job ever".

Scrum-halves Nolann Le Garrec, Maxime Lucu and Baptiste Jauneau will compete to replace injured France captain Antoine Dupont for next month's Autumn Nations Series, the French rugby federation announced on Wednesday.

Gold prices sank further Wednesday and major stock markets mostly dropped on fresh economic jitters caused by China-US trade uncertainty and some weak company earnings.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Norway on Wednesday, the first leg of a European tour aimed at shoring up support for Kyiv amid a string of deadly Russian attacks.

Viktor Gyokeres says he is eager to respond to manager Mikel Arteta's call to take his goal-scoring momentum into the Premier League, after Tuesday's impressive performance against Atletico Madrid.

The EU parliament awarded the bloc's Sakharov human rights prize on Wednesday to jailed Georgian journalist and editor Mzia Amaghlobeli and Polish-Belarusian journalist Andrzej Poczobut, calling them symbols of the "struggle for freedom".

Eurostar said Wednesday it will run double-decker trains through the Channel Tunnel for the first time, as it faces potential competition on its routes between London and mainland Europe.

US Vice President JD Vance warned Wednesday of the tough task ahead in disarming Hamas and building a peaceful future for Gaza, as Washington sought to reassure its ally Israel over the next steps in its ambitious ceasefire deal.

Senuran Muthusamy and Kagiso Rabada hit fighting half-centuries as South Africa took a crucial 71-run lead over Pakistan on day three of the second Test in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

King Charles III leaves for a state visit to the Vatican Wednesday, where he will meet Pope Leo XIV and make history as the first head of the Church of England to pray publicly with the pontiff since the schism between the churches 500 years ago.

Newcastle attacker Anthony Gordon said being lauded by Benfica boss Jose Mourinho after the Magpies' Champions League win at home to the Portuguese side on Tuesday was a "big compliment".

Italy's second largest bank, UniCredit, beat analyst expectations on Wednesday with record third-quarter profits as higher commissions and cost cutting measures outweighed lower interest income.

The spouse of Japan's first woman Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hopes to support her by being a "stealth husband", cooking meals but staying out of the spotlight.

A Russian overnight barrage on Ukraine killed six people in and around the capital Kyiv and triggered power cuts across the country, Ukrainian authorities said Wednesday.

After Sanae Takaichi took office as Japan's first woman prime minister, AFP spoke to some of her younger counterparts who called it a symbolic victory.

Gold and silver sank for a second day Wednesday, bringing a rally in the precious metals to a juddering halt, while stocks were mixed after US President Donald Trump remarked that a meeting with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping might not take place.

Sales by French luxury group Hermes, known for its silk scarves and leather handbags, defied US tariffs and a weak dollar to rise in the third quarter.