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World number two Alexander Zverev kept his Australian Open title charge on track Wednesday with a straight-sets victory over Spain's Pedro Martinez.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti on Wednesday demanded a rapid reaction from his team after their capitulation against rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final.

Coco Gauff extended her unbeaten start to the year on Wednesday but admitted she will need to serve better if she is to stay alive at the Australian Open.

The long-awaited grudge match between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr is set to finally take place in London in April after a delay of several years, it was announced Wednesday.

Germany's economy shrank for a second straight year in 2024, official figures showed Wednesday, with little hope of a speedy recovery as Europe's traditional powerhouse is also mired in political crisis.

A record 94 million foreign tourists craving for sun, sand and culture flocked to Spain in 2024 as the sector drives the country's bullish economy, the tourism minister said on Wednesday.

Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra almost fell victim to a phone scam using AI to impersonate a foreign leader's voice, she said Wednesday.

European stock markets rose Wednesday as traders focused on inflation data in Britain and the United States.

Three-time Grand Slam finalist Casper Ruud was sent tumbling out of the Australian Open in the second round by fast-rising Czech teenager Jakub Mensik on Wednesday, the highest men's seed to fall.

Powerful winds forecast for Wednesday threatened to whip up massive fires still burning around Los Angeles, possibly worsening an inferno that has killed at least 25 people.

Russia launched dozens of missiles and drones at the Ukrainian energy sector, Kyiv said Wednesday, ramping up a months-long bombing campaign at a precarious moment of the war for Ukraine.

Sean Dyche said Wednesday he had left Everton at "the right time" after managing the club during "one of its toughest periods in its history".

Australia said Wednesday that "all options are open" in its response to the reported killing of one of its citizens after his capture by Russian forces in Ukraine.

Novak Djokovic created a slice of Grand Slam history on his way into the Australian Open third round on Wednesday but last year's women's finalist Zheng Qinwen was knocked out in the biggest shock so far.

Coco Gauff extended her unbeaten start to the year on Wednesday but had to survive a second-set wobble in a 6-3, 7-5 win over Jodie Burrage at the Australian Open.

Iraq and British oil giant BP are set to finalise a deal by early February to develop four oil fields in Kirkuk and curb gas flaring, Iraqi authorities announced Wednesday.

Mozambique's new president Daniel Chapo took the oath of office Wednesday in front of a heavily guarded audience of dignitaries in the capital Maputo following weeks of violent demonstrations over the fiercely disputed election results.

In a Damascus courtyard, Syrian activists brainstormed strategies to ensure their country does not return to authoritarianism, in a scene unimaginable under president Bashar al-Assad's rule.

For pilgrims at the largest gathering of humanity, ritual bathing in India's holy rivers includes a key challenge -- finding your family and clothes after the chilly dip.

Thousands of islanders are set to be evacuated after a volcano erupted in eastern Indonesia, spewing a towering column of smoke and ash into the atmosphere, officials said Wednesday.

Novak Djokovic said Wednesday he was "blessed" and "very thrilled" after surpassing Roger Federer for the most Grand Slam singles matches played on his way into the Australian Open third round.

Carlos Alcaraz tipped giant-killing teenager Joao Fonseca to "really soon" be one of the best players in the world while Novak Djokovic said Wednesday he saw shades of his younger self in the Brazilian.

Cocaine use in France has nearly doubled, with 1.1 million people having taken the illicit drug at least once in 2023, according to a study published on Wednesday.

Beijing on Wednesday said it "firmly opposes" a US move to effectively bar Chinese technology from smart cars in the American market, saying alleged risks to national security were "without any factual basis".

Stock markets were mixed Wednesday as traders assess the economic outlook ahead of Donald Trump returning to the White House next week, with focus now on the release of key US inflation data.

Britain's annual inflation rate unexpectedly fell to 2.5 percent last month, official data showed Wednesday, easing some pressure on the Labour government faced with economic unrest.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Wednesday the launch of two Indian-made warships and a submarine was key to its "quest towards self-reliance" as New Delhi bolsters defence against regional rivals.

Ex-Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper is coming out of retirement to play for Japan's Toyota Verblitz after receiving a call from former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, he said Wednesday.

As Donald Trump's looming return to the White House promises to boost cryptocurrencies, a German stock exchange is on a mission to anchor them firmly in the staid world of traditional finance.

Record numbers of tourists flocked to Japan last year, figures showed Wednesday, as the weak yen bolstered the appeal of the "bucket list" destination despite overcrowding complaints in hotspots like Kyoto.

Donald Trump's policies are not likely to cause inflation to reignite as many analysts fear, one of the president-elect's longtime economic advisors told AFP Tuesday, less than a week before Trump returns to the White House.

Germany's far-right AfD party has aimed fire at the Bauhaus movement, just as the hallowed school of architecture and design nears its centenary milestone.