British and Irish Lions to play first women's match against France
The British and Irish Lions will play their inaugural women's match against France in Cardiff ahead of their 2027 tour of New Zealand, officials announced Wednesday.
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Pope recovering after lung cancer operation that rattles Church
Pope Leo XIV began post-surgery recovery Wednesday after a tumour removed from his lung was found to be cancerous, plunging the Catholic Church into a period of uncertainty.
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Fuel shortage triggers queues on resort island Bali
Moldovan tourist Raisa Neagu spent hours on Wednesday waiting to fuel up her scooter, one of many people snared in a petrol shortage on resort island Bali that authorities blamed on supply disruptions.
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Indonesia haze spikes Singapore pollution, shuts East Timor schools
Air pollution in part of Singapore hit the country's "very high" band on Wednesday, while East Timor shut schools, as haze from forest fires raging in Indonesia causes a regional crisis.
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Sao Tome's niche vanilla finds far-away fans
The plump, bright-green vanilla pods growing in tiny Sao Tome's vast leafy plantations may well end up in some of Europe's finest dining.
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Higher borrowing costs an 'alarm signal' for France: finance minister
The higher interest rates on France's government debt are an alarm signal for the country even though Paris retains the confidence of bond investors, the country's finance minister said Wednesday, as concerns grow over the sustainability of the French budget.
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China-North Korea bridge to open Thursday, 12 years late
A new bridge linking China and North Korea will finally open on Thursday, 12 years after its construction, with Beijing vowing it will spur trade and "enhance the well-being of the two peoples".
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Zelensky accuses Putin of disrespecting Trump after latest attacks
Ukraine on Wednesday accused Russia of wilfully flouting Donald Trump's purported "energy ceasefire" and passing up an opportunity to ease hostilities, after a renewed wave of deadly strikes across the country that also hit vital power supplies.
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Asian stocks mostly down as tech firms struggle to claw back losses
Asian stocks mostly fell on Wednesday as investors struggled to claw back the previous day's steep tech losses following disappointing comments from Dutch giant ASML, with focus turning to US inflation data.
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Japan PM says housework makes her busier than male predecessors
Japan's prime minister said on Wednesday she probably spends "three or four more hours" than her male predecessors tackling household duties on top of her already packed daily schedule.
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