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New Zealand star Miller out of Women's Rugby World Cup semi-final
Jorja Miller has been ruled out of New Zealand's Women's Rugby World Cup semi-final against Canada in a blow to the reigning champions' hopes of defending their title.

Lyles and Gout Gout advance to world 200m semi-finals
Noah Lyles' bid to match Usain Bolt's record of four consecutive world 200 metres titles got off to a steady start as the American safely negotiated his heat on Wednesday.

S.Africa commission begins probe into alleged links between politics and crime
A judicial commission set up by South Africa's president to investigate explosive claims by a top cop linking politicians to criminal gangs began its public hearings on Wednesday, weeks after a delayed start.

PSG women in audacious bid to sign Barca's Putellas
Paris Saint-Germain women have made an offer for Barcelona's Alexia Putellas and are "in discussion" with the two-time Ballon d'Or winner, AFP learned on Wednesday from a source close to the negotiations.

Jefferson-Wooden eases into world 200m semis and sets sights on being next Fraser-Pryce
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden eased into the 200 metres semi-finals on Wednesday in Tokyo as she began her quest to become the first woman to achieve the individual world sprint double since Jamaican legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in Moscow in 2013.

Germany's Merz vows 'autumn of reforms' in turbulent times
Germany will need sweeping change to remain free and prosperous, Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned Wednesday, calling on the country to unite in the face of Russian aggression, economic woes and rising extremism.
Park Chan-wook's murder comedy opens Asia's biggest film festival
Celebrated director Park Chan-wook's star-studded murder comedy "No Other Choice" opened Asia's biggest film festival Wednesday, which is launching its first fully-fledged competition lineup as South Korea projects its soft power worldwide.

EU says India's Russian oil purchases, military drills hinder closer ties
India's participation in military exercises with Moscow and its purchases of Russian oil "stand in the way of closer ties" with the EU, the bloc's top diplomat Kaja Kallas said on Wednesday.

Gold worth 600,000 euros stolen in Paris museum heist
Thieves have broken into Paris's Natural History Museum, making off with gold samples worth 600,000 euros ($700,000) in the latest of a series of robberies from cultural institutions, according to the museum.

Top music body says AI firms guilty of 'wilful' copyright theft
AI companies have sucked up the world's entire music catalogue and are guilty of "wilful, commercial-scale copyright infringement", a major music industry group told AFP.

Trump gets royal treatment on UK state visit
Britain treated Donald Trump to an elaborate ceremonial welcome featuring a gun salute and mounted horses as the US president's unprecedented second state visit began under tight security on Wednesday.

Ostrich and emu ancestor could fly, scientists discover
How did the ostrich cross the ocean?

Former boxing world champion Hatton 'excited for the future' before death: family
Ricky Hatton's family said the British former world boxing champion was "excited for the future" before his death at the age of 46.
Stocks, dollar calm before expected US rate cut
Stock markets and the dollar steadied as investors expected the US Federal Reserve to cut interest rates Wednesday to shore up the world's biggest economy.

After mass Nepal jailbreak, some prisoners surrender
Days after escaping alongside 13,500 others in a giant jailbreak during deadly anti-corruption protests in Nepal, Avinash Rai rubbed his belly after a meal -- and strolled back into prison.

Poison killed Putin critic Navalny, wife says
The wife of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said Wednesday that laboratory analysis of smuggled biological samples found he was killed by poisoning while incarcerated at an Arctic prison in February 2024.

Australia coach expects Cummins to play 'key part' in Ashes
Australia coach Andrew McDonald is confident that skipper Pat Cummins will play "a key part" in the Ashes despite a back injury.
Hong Kong leader plans to fast-track border mega-project
Hong Kong's leader outlined plans Wednesday to diversify the city's economy and accelerate growth, including fast-tracking an ambitious border development project and establishing the artificial intelligence sector as a "core industry".

Ben & Jerry's co-founder quits, says independence 'gone'
The co-founder of Ben & Jerry's has resigned from the ice cream brand after saying his company know for its social activism has lost "the independence to pursue our values" under the ownership of British giant Unilever.

Erasmus keeps faith with Springbok squad after record All Blacks win
South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus said on Wednesday he was keeping faith with the squad of players who inflicted a record defeat on New Zealand ahead of the Springboks' Rugby Championship double-header with Argentina.

Hong Kong leader unveils plan to boost growth with border mega-project, AI push
Hong Kong's leader outlined plans Wednesday to diversify the city's economy and accelerate growth, including fast-tracking an ambitious border development project and establishing the artificial intelligence sector as a "core industry".
Israel says opening new route for Gazans fleeing embattled city
The Israeli military said it was opening a temporary new route Wednesday to allow people to flee Gaza City, as it pressed a major ground assault aimed at crushing Hamas.

New Zealand's historic athletics worlds a decade in the making
New Zealand basked in "amazing" athletics glory on Wednesday after winning two gold medals in as many days at the world championships in Tokyo.

Trump to get royal treatment on UK state visit
Britain readied to roll out a supersized royal welcome for Donald Trump's unprecedented second state visit on Wednesday, with King Charles III set to greet the US president amid tight security and out of sight of noisy protesters.

Benfica sack Lage after shock defeat, Mourinho next?
Benfica sacked coach Bruno Lage following Tuesday's Champions League defeat to minnows Qarabag, the club announced, with some media claiming that Jose Mourinho is in line to take over.

Israel says to open new route for Gazans fleeing embattled city
The Israeli military said Wednesday it will open a temporary new route to allow people to flee Gaza City, as it pressed a major ground assault aimed at crushing Hamas.

Nestle share price slips as chairman follows CEO out the door
Nestle shares slipped on Wednesday after the Swiss food giant announced the earlier-than-expected departure of its chairman, just weeks after the sudden ouster of its chief executive over an office relationship.

German suspect in Madeleine McCann case freed from prison
The top suspect in the 2007 disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann in Portugal was freed from a German prison on Wednesday, an AFP journalist at the scene reported.

US tennis star Townsend apologises for 'crazy' Chinese food post
American tennis player Taylor Townsend apologised on Wednesday after calling turtle and bullfrog served at a dinner buffet "crazy" while at the Billie Jean King Cup in China.

Peru evacuates 1,600 tourists from Machu Picchu amid protest
Peru has evacuated around 1,600 tourists from a train station that serves the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu after a local protest escalated into clashes with police.

Nepal mourns its dead after anti-corruption protests
Nepal flew flags at half-mast during a national day of mourning Wednesday for the 73 people killed during youth-led anti-corruption protests that toppled the government.

UK inflation stable ahead of central bank rate call
British inflation was unchanged in August, official data showed Wednesday, fuelling expectations that the Bank of England will not cut interest rates again at its meeting this week.