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Arteta says Arsenal reaping rewards for 'sacrifices and commitment'
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes his side are starting to see the benefits of their hard work as the Gunners head into 2026 at the top of the Premier League.
China says live-fire drills around Taiwan 'completed successfully'
China "successfully completed" military drills around Taiwan that included live-fire exercises aimed at simulating a blockade of key ports and assaults on maritime targets, its military said on Wednesday.
Nancy adamant he's still the man for Celtic job after Motherwell defeat
Wilfried Nancy insists he can oversee a revival in Celtic's fortunes following a 2-0 defeat by Motherwell that represented his fifth loss in seven game since taking charge of the Scottish champions.
Hoping for better year ahead, Gazans bid farewell to 'nightmare' of 2025
As 2025 draws to a close, Palestinians in Gaza are marking the new year not with celebration, but with exhaustion, grief and a fragile hope that their "endless nightmare" might finally end.
Queen Camilla recalls fighting back against train attacker
Queen Camilla has spoken for the first time publicly about fighting off an attacker on a train when she was a teenager, in an interview broadcast Wednesday.
Stocks drop at end of record year for markets
Stock markets mostly fell Wednesday in thin trading, following a year of record gains for key assets as central banks cut interest rates and the tech sector boomed on growth of artificial intelligence.
Amorim still 'really confident' about Man Utd potential despite Wolves draw
Ruben Amorim is still optimistic about Manchester United's prospects this season despite ending a torrid 2025 with a lacklustre 1-1 draw at home to strugglers Wolves.
Berlin says decision postponed on European fighter jet
Efforts to break a deadlock in 2025 over plans for a new European fighter jet have been unsuccessful, a German government spokesman told AFP on Wednesday.
Iran prosecutor pledges 'decisive' response if protests destabilise country
Iran's prosecutor general said on Wednesday that economic protests that had gripped the country were legitimate, but any attempt to create insecurity would be met with a "decisive response".
Emery defends failure to shake hands with Arteta after Villa loss to Arsenal
Unai Emery said his failure to shake hands with opposing manager Mikel Arteta was because it was "cold" at the Emirates following his Aston Villa side's thumping 4-1 loss to Premier League leaders Arsenal.
China says to impose extra 55% tariffs on some beef imports
China said on Wednesday it will impose additional 55 percent tariffs on some beef imports from countries including Brazil, Australia and the United States that exceed a certain quantity from January 1.
Japanese women MPs want more seats, the porcelain kind
Nearly 60 women lawmakers in Japan, including Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, have submitted a petition calling for more toilets in the parliament building to match their improved representation.
Silver slips lower in mixed end to Asia trading year
Silver slipped further as Asian markets presented a mixed picture in the the final trading day of 2025 on Wednesday, with some stocks tracking Wall Street losses as investors eyed a New Year break.
Guinea junta chief Doumbouya elected president: election commission
Guinea's junta chief Mamady Doumbouya, who had pledged not to run for office after seizing power four years ago, has been elected president after securing a sweeping majority of the vote, according to initial results by the country's election commission published on Tuesday.
Pistons pound Lakers as James marks 41st birthday with loss
Cade Cunningham scored 27 points as the Detroit Pistons spoiled LeBron James' 41st birthday with a 128-106 drubbing of the depleted Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.
Taiwan coastguard says Chinese ships 'withdrawing' after drills
Chinese warships and coastguard vessels are withdrawing from waters around Taiwan, the island's coastguard said Wednesday, with Beijing's military drills appearing to be "over".
France's homeless wrap up to survive at freezing year's end
In the biting cold, homeless friends Danish and Sylvain walked briskly in the dark towards a hot meal distribution point, rubbing their hands together, their huge backpacks weighing down on their shoulders.
Leftist Mamdani to take over as New York mayor under Trump shadow
Zohran Mamdani, young upstart of the US left, was readying Wednesday to take over as New York mayor for a term sure to see him cross swords with President Donald Trump.
Eurostar says full service to resume after power glitch sparks travel chaos
Eurostar said it plans to run a full service on Wednesday but warned of possible knock-on disruptions after a power supply issue halted Channel Tunnel train trips connecting London to the European mainland.
French duo stripped of Sydney-Hobart race overall win
A French crew were on Wednesday stripped of overall victory in the prestigious Sydney to Hobart yacht race over a rule infringement.
Thailand releases 18 Cambodian soldiers held since July
Thailand on Wednesday released 18 Cambodian soldiers captured in July, both governments said, after a fresh ceasefire between the neighbours held for more than three days following weeks of deadly border clashes.
Tiny tech, big AI power: what are 2-nanometre chips?
Taiwan's world-leading microchip manufacturer TSMC says it has started mass producing next-generation "2-nanometre" chips.
Libyans savour shared heritage at reopened national museum
In a historic building in central Tripoli, Libyans wander past ancient statues and artefacts, rediscovering a heritage that transcends political divides at their national museum which reopened this month after a 2011 uprising.
Asia markets mixed in final day of 2025 trading
Asian stocks were mixed at the start of the final trading day of 2025 on Wednesday, with some tracking Wall Street losses as investors eased towards the New Year break.
Global 'fragmentation' fuelling world's crises: UN refugee chief
The outgoing United Nations refugee chief fears an increasingly fragmented world is fuelling global conflicts and crises, and inflaming hostility towards people desperately fleeing for safety.
Difficult dance: Cambodian tradition under threat
Cambodian master classical dancer Penh Yom walks between her teenage students, painstakingly adjusting a bent-back finger here and the tilt of a head there, as she passes on a centuries-old art form.
Regional temperature records broken across the world in 2025
Central Asia, the Sahel region and northern Europe experienced their hottest year on record in 2025, according to AFP analysis based on data from the European Copernicus programme.
'Sincaraz' set to dominate as 2026 tennis season kicks off
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are set for more world domination in 2026, starting at the Australian Open, while Aryna Sabalenka is bubbling with confidence as she chases further Grand Slam success.
Bulgaria readies to adopt the euro, nearly 20 years after joining EU
Bulgaria was preparing to switch to the euro on Wednesday night to become the 21st eurozone member, amid concerns the move could usher in higher prices and add to political instability rattling the Balkan country.
Trump v 'Obamacare': US health costs set to soar for millions in 2026
Iowa farmer Aaron Lehman was already paying a hefty price for health insurance, but his premium is set to skyrocket in January when major government subsidies expire, after US President Donald Trump's Republican party declined to extend them.
Isiah Whitlock Jr., 'The Wire' actor, dies at 71
American actor Isiah Whitlock Jr., who played a corrupt politician on HBO crime drama "The Wire" and had roles in numerous films directed by Oscar winner Spike Lee, died at age 71 on Tuesday, his manager said.
SoftBank lifts OpenAI stake to 11% with $41bln investment
Japanese tech investor SoftBank said Wednesday that its stake in OpenAI is now around 11 percent after completing the second stage of a $41-billion investment in the maker of ChatGPT.