Global finance in few hands
Scandic Coin, (SNC) and Trust
Brussels misreads Magyar
US China race hits 2027
Iran's supreme leader defies US blockade as oil prices soar
Ukraine wants details of Russia's army parade truce offer
LIV Golf looking for new partners amid Saudi pullout reports
Cambodia deports more than 600 Thais linked to cyberscams: minister
Sports
Mainoo signs new five-year Man Utd contract
Kobbie Mainoo has signed a new contract at Manchester United that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2031, bringing an end to months of uncertainty over his future.
Culture
European rocket puts Amazon internet satellites in orbit
Europe's most powerful rocket Ariane 6 successfully released 32 satellites into orbit Thursday for Amazon's internet constellation, which is bidding to rival Elon Musk's giant Starlink.
Last news
European stocks fall with eyes on earnings, US Fed
European stocks slipped as oil prices surged Wednesday, with investors digesting a wave of corporate earnings and awaiting the US Federal Reserve's latest interest rate decision.
Politics
France's 'roadmap' to exit fossil fuels by 2050
France has released a detailed "roadmap" to wean the country from planet-heating oil, gas and coal by 2050, an important signal at a moment when nations are reassessing their reliance on fossil fuels.
Sports
Chelsea captain Millie Bright retires
Chelsea captain and former England international Millie Bright announced her immediate retirement from football on Wednesday.
Health
Bangladesh measles outbreak kills over 220 children since March
Bangladesh has recorded 227 child deaths since March in one of its worst outbreaks of measles in decades, with the number of suspected cases reaching nearly 35,000, government data showed Wednesday.
Mercedes warns longer Mideast war could cause shortages
German premium automaker Mercedes-Benz warned Wednesday that a drawn-out conflict in the Middle East could cause shortages of key inputs as it reported tumbling quarterly profits due to fierce Chinese competition.
Economy
Finnish lift maker Kone acquires German rival TKE, creating giant
Finnish lift maker Kone on Wednesday announced the acquisition of its German rival TKE in a huge share-and-cash deal valuing TKE at 29.4 billion euros ($34.4 billion) to create a global giant.
Politics
Hungary's Magyar visits Brussels seeking to unblock EU billions
Incoming Hungarian leader Peter Magyar headed to Brussels Wednesday for his first visit to EU chiefs since his election win, looking to turn the page on the bad blood of nationalist Viktor Orban's tenure.
Technology
Diving robot explores mystery of France's deepest shipwreck
Deep below the surface of the Mediterranean off the French coast, the pincer of a remotely guided underwater robot delicately closes around a centuries-old jug lying near a 16th-century shipwreck.
Politics
Thai ex-PM Thaksin to be released from prison next month
Thailand's jailed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be released early from prison next month, the corrections department said on Wednesday.
Sports
Welsh rugby great North to hang up his boots
Welsh rugby icon George North said he will retire from the sport at the end of the season, having "been able to live out my childhood dream".
Weather
Much-needed rains revive Iraq's fabled Mesopotamian Marshes
A fishing boat glides quietly across the waters of Iraq's southern marshes, sending gentle ripples shimmering over the once-parched wetlands, now revived by long-awaited rains.
Boulevard
French teen in straw licking case allowed to leave Singapore
A French teen facing criminal charges in Singapore for a straw licking stunt was granted permission on Wednesday to leave the country for three weeks on pledges to return.
Politics
EU chief says Kremlin imposing 'digital Iron Curtain' on Russians
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday accused the Kremlin of cutting Russians off from the internet to hide worsening economic conditions in the country as sanctions over the Ukraine war bite.
Boulevard
South Korean court hikes ex-president's sentence for obstructing justice
A South Korean appeals court increased the sentence of jailed former president Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday to seven years for obstructing justice, up from five years.
Economy
Adidas reports higher profits but warns of 'volatile' climate
German sportswear giant Adidas on Wednesday reported strong growth in quarterly profits as sales rose in key markets, but warned of a "very volatile" and highly competitive retail environment.
Economy
TotalEnergies first-quarter profits surge amid Middle East war
French oil and gas giant TotalEnergies said Wednesday net profit rose 51 percent in the first quarter to $5.8 billion, boosted by higher oil prices linked to the war in the Middle East.
Boulevard
Sri Lanka government 'temporarily' takes over cricket board
Sri Lanka's government took control of the island's cricket board on Wednesday, saying it was a temporary measure designed to pave the way for "structural reforms".
Politics
EU finds Meta failing to keep under-13s off Facebook, Instagram
The EU said on Wednesday Meta is failing to prevent children under 13 using Facebook and Instagram, potentially exposing them to inappropriate content -- and putting the tech giant at risk of a massive fine.
Oil rises further with Iran war peace talks stalled
Oil prices rose Monday as talks to end the Iran war appeared to be at a standstill and the crucial Strait of Hormuz no nearer being reopened.
Things to know
King Charles to stress UK-US cultural, trade ties in New York
King Charles III will use a trip to New York on Wednesday to showcase cultural and economic ties between Britain and the United States at a time when the "special relationship" is under strain.
Health
US judge orders Purdue Pharma to pay billions ahead of bankruptcy
A US federal judge on Tuesday sentenced OxyContin-maker Purdue Pharma to pay billions of dollars over its role in the opioid crisis, ahead of upcoming bankruptcy proceedings and its dissolution.
Health
'Jurassic Park' star Sam Neill says cancer-free after gene therapy
Actor Sam Neill says he is cancer-free after five years of living with lymphoma, thanks to a genetic therapy that modified his immune system.
Health
US opioid crisis victims testify at emotional Purdue Pharma hearing
Dozens of victims of the US opioid crisis expressed their grief and anger as they testified on Tuesday against Purdue Pharma, the maker of the pain pill OxyContin which was ordered to pay billions by a judge ahead of its dissolution.
Boulevard
Australian climber on record sea-to-summit Everest bid
Among the hundreds of climbers hoping to scale Everest this season, 27-year-old Australian Oliver Foran began his journey far away, cycling and then walking all the way from the sea.
Politics
Indian opposition slams Nicobar megaport plan as 'destruction'
Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi said Wednesday a proposed $9 billion megaport and city project on the strategic Great Nicobar Island is "destruction dressed in development's language".
Politics
Pentagon chief to testify on Iran war, peace efforts stall
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth will make his first testimony before Congress on the Mideast war Wednesday, as efforts to end the conflict stalled with the United States reportedly skeptical of Tehran's latest offer to unblock the Strait of Hormuz.
Politics
Anxiety, resentment around AI spur violence against tech's figureheads
Several proponents of artificial intelligence (AI) have become the victims of violent acts in recent days, reflecting the existential dread around the emerging technology -- and the public's growing resentment towards its advocates.
Economy
Mercedes-Benz profit slides amid cutthroat Chinese market
German premium automaker Mercedes-Benz said Wednesday its first-quarter profit fell by almost a fifth as cutthroat competition in China shakes the world's carmakers.
Politics
Hungary's Magyar to push post-Orban EU reset on Brussels visit
Incoming Hungarian leader Peter Magyar on Wednesday pays his first visit to EU chiefs in Brussels since his election win, looking to turn the page on the bad blood of nationalist Viktor Orban's tenure.
Health
Going online helps Pakistan's women doctors back to work
With her four-year-old nestled nearby, doctor Saniya Jafri consults from home in Karachi with a patient on the other side of Pakistan via her laptop.
Sports
Wembanyama's Spurs advance in NBA playoffs, 76ers stay alive
The San Antonio Spurs punched their ticket to the second round of the NBA playoffs on Tuesday, leading wire to wire in a 114-95 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Nature
Tropical forest loss eases after record year: researchers
The pace of tropical forest destruction slowed in 2025 after record losses the year before but remained at worrying levels equivalent to 11 football fields per minute, researchers said Wednesday.
Sports
Tigres edges Nashville in CONCACAF Champions Cup first leg
Angel Correa's goal in the 33rd minute delivered Mexico's Tigres UANL a 1-0 victory over host Nashville of MLS in Tuesday's CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-final first leg match.
Politics
New Zealand officials reject statue remembering Japan's sex slaves
New Zealand officials rejected on Wednesday an application to install a statue commemorating so-called "comfort women" enslaved by Japan before and during World War II after Tokyo suggested it could harm diplomatic relations.
Politics
King Charles, Trump toast ties despite Iran tensions
Britain's King Charles and Donald Trump hailed their countries' longstanding ties at a White House state dinner Tuesday -- despite the US president claiming the monarch agreed with him on Iran's nuclear weapons.
Culture
Japan cleaner goes viral with spa-like service for plushies
A worn-out Pikachu plushie, tired teddy bear or stained stuffed animal can all get a new lease on life at a Japanese laundry service making beloved toys squeaky clean again.
Sports
What we learned from cycling's Spring Classics
As attention turns to the build-up to the Giro d'Italia, the first of the year's Grand Tours, AFP looks back at a thrilling set of Spring one-day classics and what we learned about the main protagonists.
Sports
Villa, Forest revive European glory days in semi-final showdown
Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, two clubs rich in European history, are one step from a first continental final in decades as they meet in the last four of the Europa League.
Sports
Remarkable, ramshackle Rayo chasing Conference League dream amid chaos
After a quarter of a century away from European football, the prospect of modest Spanish side Rayo Vallecano making their first ever final must rank as one of the season's bigger surprises.