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Canada's central bank held its key lending rate at 2.25 percent on Wednesday, but warned it may need to act if inflation caused by the Middle East war persists.

Unai Emery said he wanted to write a "new chapter" with Aston Villa as he prepares for a Europa League semi-final against fellow former European champions Nottingham Forest.

The US Supreme Court on Wednesday sharply limited the use of race in drawing electoral districts, in a landmark decision that could reshape congressional maps nationwide and boost Republican prospects ahead of midterm elections.

Dissident guerrillas from Colombia's defunct FARC rebel army took responsibility for a bomb attack that killed 21 people, claiming a "tactical error" during an electoral campaign marked by a surge in violence.

President Donald Trump warned Tehran on Wednesday that it should "get smart soon" and capitulate to Washington's demands for tight controls on its nuclear programme, as a US naval blockade turned the screws on Iran's economy.

UN rights experts on Wednesday urged Saudi Arabia to ditch their foreign labour system in the build-up to the 2034 football World Cup, citing abuse and exploitation concerns.

Oil prices shot higher Wednesday on concerns of an extended blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, while stocks slid as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of a US Fed rate decision and a slew of tech firm earnings.

The US Federal Reserve is widely expected Wednesday to keep interest rates unchanged for a third straight meeting, likely the last with chairman Jerome Powell at its helm.

King Charles III will attend a wreath-laying ceremony at the 9/11 memorial in New York on Wednesday, the third day of a state visit focused on healing strained ties between Britain and the United States.

Mali's Tuareg rebels told AFP Wednesday the country's ruling junta will fall and that they intend to conquer the north, just days after unprecedented large-scale attacks targeting the nation's military government.

German inflation jumped to its highest level in over two years in April as the Middle East war triggered a surge in energy costs, official data showed Wednesday.

Breathless, wild, and a thrilling display of what can happen when two teams packed with some of the world's best attacking players are encouraged to play without fear.

Swiss banking giant UBS on Wednesday reported that net profit rose a better-than-expected 80 percent to $3 billion in the first quarter, lifted by its investment banking arm.

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.

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.

Chelsea captain and former England international Millie Bright announced her immediate retirement from football on Wednesday.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Thailand's jailed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be released early from prison next month, the corrections department said on Wednesday.

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".

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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".

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 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.