Madras Times - Stay Informed with Madras Times: Round-the-clock Coverage of Chennai, India, and Global Affairs in Six Languages

World number one Aryna Sabalenka said she hopes there are "no more upsets" at Wimbledon after reaching the third round with a hard-fought 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 win over Marie Bouzkova on Wednesday.

Palestinian militant group Hamas said on Wednesday it was discussing proposals for a Gaza ceasefire received from mediators, after US President Donald Trump said Israel backed a 60-day ceasefire in the war-ravaged territory.

An 18-year-old French man suspected of planning attacks on women has been charged in the country's first case of a terror plot linked to the misogynist "incel" movement, officials said on Wednesday.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka overcame a tough test to beat Marie Bouzkova 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 and progress to the Wimbledon third round on Wednesday, avoiding the fate of many of her title rivals.

Stock markets were stuck Wednesday as US President Donald Trump ruled out a fresh tariffs delay and the US private sector unexpectedly lost jobs in June while rumours abounded in Britain over the future of the country's finance minister.

Skipper Charith Asalanka hit a fighting century as Sri Lanka posted 244 all out against Bangladesh in the first one-day international in Colombo on Wednesday.

The British government said Wednesday that finance minister Rachel Reeves was "going nowhere" after she appeared visibly upset in parliament as rumours swirled around her future.

The US private sector unexpectedly lost jobs in June, according to data from payroll firm ADP on Wednesday, a potential sign of labor market weakness amid uncertainty from President Donald Trump's tariffs.

Chelsea signed Brazil striker Joao Pedro from Brighton in a deal worth a reported £60 million ($79 million) on Wednesday.

British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell said his players need to work on their slow starts, despite demolishing Queensland Reds in Brisbane on Wednesday.

A French court sentenced three former Ubisoft executives on Wednesday to suspended prison terms for enabling a culture of sexual and psychological harassment at the gaming giant.

English wing Tommy Freeman scored two tries as a slick British and Irish Lions crushed the Queensland Reds 52-12 on Wednesday to make it two wins from two on their Australia tour.

Yashasvi Jaiswal once again took a toll of England's bowlers before the hosts hit back on the opening day of the second Test at Edgbaston on Wednesday.

Centre-half Jarell Quansah has joined Bayer Leverkusen from Premier League champions Liverpool for a reported club record fee, the Bundesliga side announced on Wednesday.

Carlos Alcaraz will aim to avoid one of Wimbledon's greatest upsets against British amateur Oliver Tarvet on Wednesday after a record-breaking number of seeds crashed out at the All England Club.

English wing Tommy Freeman scored two tries as a slick British and Irish Lions crushed the Queensland Reds 52-12 on Wednesday to make it two wins from two on their Australia tour.

Iran on Wednesday officially suspended its cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, a move triggered by the unprecedented Israeli and US strikes on its nuclear facilities.

Australia's right-back Ellie Carpenter has left Lyon to join Chelsea, the English champions announced on Wednesday.

As cuts by rich donors decimate aid budgets for the world's most vulnerable, private financing has been touted as the sector's saviour -- but not everyone is convinced.

Stock markets diverged and the dollar rose Wednesday as US President Donald Trump ruled out a fresh delay to reciprocal tariffs.

The EU on Wednesday unveiled its long-delayed target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, but with contested new flexibilities built in to win over the most sceptical member states.

A punishing heatwave loosened its gripped on western Europe Wednesday and rolled eastwards, with Germany expected to record some of its hottest temperatures of the year so far.

Hong Kong is expected to lead the world in IPO financing this year despite uncertainty from geopolitical tensions and trade tariffs, accountancy giant PwC said on Wednesday.

Iran on Wednesday formally suspended its cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, a measure drawn up in the wake of unprecedented Israeli and US strikes on the Islamic republic's nuclear sites.

Israel's top diplomat on Wednesday said any chance to free hostages held in Gaza "must not be missed", after US President Donald Trump urged Palestinian group Hamas to agree to a 60-day ceasefire that he said had Israel's backing.

Australia has cancelled US rapper Kanye West's visa over his song glorifying Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, the government said Wednesday.

Israel's top diplomat called on Wednesday not to miss any chance to free hostages held in Gaza, after US President Donald Trump urged Palestinian group Hamas to agree to a 60-day ceasefire that he said had Israel's backing.

A fire at an electrical substation that forced a shutdown at London's Heathrow Airport in March was likely caused by moisture entering electrical components, a problem first flagged in 2018, a report said Wednesday.

Gaza's civil defence agency said that Israeli strikes killed at least 14 people on Wednesday, as US President Donald Trump urged Palestinian group Hamas to agree to a 60-day ceasefire.

Asian markets swung Wednesday amid trade war worries after Donald Trump said he would not push back next week's tariff deadline, with Tokyo taking a hit from threats to ramp up Japanese levies.

The exiled spiritual leader of Tibet confirmed Wednesday that he will have a successor when he dies, reassuring Buddhist followers around the globe that the 600-year-old institution of the Dalai Lama will continue.

There were so many mines on Larisa Sysenko's small farm in Kamyanka in eastern Ukraine after the Russians were pushed out that she and her husband Viktor started demining it themselves -- with rakes.

At the foot of Sainte Victoire, the mountain in Provence immortalised by Impressionist painter Paul Cezanne, a palaeontologist brushes meticulously through a mound of red clay looking for fossils.

As dawn broke, fisherman Viktor Kocaj hauled his net on board his battered skiff, but after a whole night in the Adriatic, the catch was too small to even feed his family.

Jurors in the trial of music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs head back into deliberations Wednesday, aiming to reach a unanimous decision on the case's most serious charge of leading a criminal organization.

Donald Trump is seeking final approval Wednesday in the US Congress for his marquee tax and spending bill, with Republicans pinning their hopes on a narrow victory that will help seal the president's legacy.

Five best-loved classics from the bad boys of 1990s Britpop Oasis, who make their long-awaited comeback with a reunion tour kicking off in Cardiff on Friday.

Fans of all ages from around the world are gearing up for the Oasis reunion tour that many doubted would ever happen, with just two days to go until the opening concert in Cardiff.

The EU will present its delayed 2040 emissions-reduction target Wednesday, sticking to its climate goals but with new flexibility to answer the concerns of member states that must greenlight the plans.