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US President Donald Trump has stepped up his designs on taking over Denmark's autonomous territory Greenland, but questions abound about why he has taken an aggressive stance when the US already has extensive access to the Arctic island.

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone and captain Koke backed striker Julian Alvarez on Wednesday despite a poor run of form ahead of the Spanish Super cup semi-final derby clash against Real Madrid.

The United States on Wednesday seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic after pursuing it from off the coast of Venezuela, in an operation set to ratchet up tensions with Moscow.

Oil prices wavered Wednesday after President Donald Trump said Venezuela would turn over millions of barrels to the United States and seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said on Wednesday that he was "sad" to see rival boss Ruben Amorim sacked by Manchester United as he reflected on the brutal nature of their trade.

France on Wednesday officialised a ban on food imports containing traces of five pesticides currently banned in the EU, a move aimed at easing farmers' opposition to the Mercosur trade deal with four South American nations.

Snow, ice and high winds brought transport chaos to swathes of Europe for a third day on Wednesday, with hundreds of flights cancelled and passengers stranded.

Hiring in the US private sector bounced back in December, data from payroll firm ADP showed on Wednesday, but the figure still missed analyst expectations as the employment market cools.

Two-time Grand Tour winner Simon Yates announced on Wednesday that he was retiring from professional cycling, just seven months after winning the Giro d'Italia.

The United States has started an operation to seize a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic after it evaded a partial blockade around Venezuela, multiple US media said Wednesday.

The board of entertainment and news giant Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) urged shareholders Wednesday to reject an updated takeover bid by rival Paramount, saying it is inferior to Netflix's offer.

Well-wishers lined the streets in Brigitte Bardot's hometown of Saint-Tropez on Wednesday for the funeral of the French screen icon as her husband revealed she had died from cancer.

A Dutch court broke the hearts of a couple after ruling that their marriage, whose wedding vows were drafted with the help of artificial intelligence, was not valid.

Germany's greenhouse gas emission cuts slowed sharply in 2025 as the North Sea experienced its warmest year on record, piling pressure Wednesday on the conservative-led government to boost climate protection efforts.

Bordeaux-Begles's France scrum-half Maxime Lucu is at risk of missing the start of the Six Nations with a knee sprain, his club coach Yannick Bru said on Wednesday.

The White House has said President Donald Trump is discussing options including military action to take Greenland -- despite a warning from Denmark that an attack would spell the end of NATO.

Title-holder Yazeed Al-Rajhi was forced to pull out of the Dakar Rally due to mechanical problems, organisers said on Wednesday.

The United Nations on Wednesday said decades-long discrimination and segregation of Palestinians by Israel in the West Bank were intensifying, and called on the country to end its "apartheid system".

Washington and Kyiv teams in Paris were on Wednesday expected to tackle Ukraine talks' "most difficult issues" including territory following a breakthrough in European-led negotiations, Ukraine's leader said.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Venezuela will hand over tens of millions of barrels of oil to the United States, just days after a US raid toppled the country's anti-American president, leaving a more cooperative leader in charge.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot insists his reigning English champions can still do "special things" this season as they prepare to face Premier League leaders Arsenal following a faltering start to their title defence.

Well-wishers lined the streets in Brigitte Bardot's hometown of Saint-Tropez on Wednesday for the funeral of the French screen icon as her husband revealed she had died from cancer.

Oil prices extended losses Wednesday after President Donald Trump said Venezuela would turn over millions of barrels to the United States, while equities wavered after a record-breaking start to the year.

Iran on Wednesday hanged a man convicted of spying for its arch enemy Israel, the judiciary said, the latest such execution on espionage charges in a trend that has troubled rights groups.

Gary O'Neil has replaced Liam Rosenior as Strasbourg coach, the French club announced on Wednesday.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot insists his reigning English champions can still do "special things" this season as they prepare to face Premier League leaders Arsenal following a faltering start to their title defence.

Snow, ice and high winds brought transport chaos to swathes of Europe for a third day on Wednesday, with hundreds of flights cancelled and passengers stranded.

Bangladesh cricket said Wednesday it was in talks with governing body the ICC seeking a "practical" solution to its request to move its T20 World Cup matches out of India.

Well-wishers gathered in Brigitte Bardot's hometown of Saint-Tropez on Wednesday for the funeral of the French screen icon as her husband revealed she had died from cancer.

England's Jacob Bethell called it "very special" after cracking a flawless maiden century during the fifth Ashes Test against Australia on Wednesday in front of his family.

Jacob Bethell fulfilled his rich potential with a chanceless maiden Test century Wednesday as England built a fragile 119-run second-innings lead with two wickets remaining to give themselves a glimmer of hope in the final Ashes Test.

Lenovo, the world's top PC maker, unveiled its own AI assistant Tuesday at the CES tech show in Las Vegas, promising a tool that follows users seamlessly across laptops, smartphones and connected devices.

Coco Gauff pulled off double duty to drag defending champions the United States into the United Cup semi-finals on Wednesday while world number two Iga Swiatek did her bit for Poland.

Oil extended losses Wednesday after Donald Trump said Venezuela would turn over millions of barrels to the United States, while equities were mixed after a record-breaking start to the year.

Former world number one Daniil Medvedev extended his impressive start to the season ahead of the Australian Open with a straight-sets win over Frances Tiafoe in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Rock-solid Jacob Bethell plundered a chanceless maiden Test century Wednesday as England reeled in Australia then built a tenuous 119-run lead to leave the fifth and final Ashes Test on a knife edge.

The greeting "namaste" associated with yoga and the Pidgin word for trouble, "wahala", widely used across the world thanks to Afrobeats, speak to Indian and Nigerian influences on the English language.

The fourth edition of the Women's Premier League launches Friday with the popularity of women's cricket at an all-time high in India following their maiden World Cup triumph.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Wednesday he had urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to help him curb Pyongyang's nuclear programme and suggested a freeze in its development of weapons of mass destruction was "feasible" with the right conditions.