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The early ancestors of humans deliberately made stones into spheres 1.4 million years ago, a study said on Wednesday, though what prehistoric people used the balls for remains a mystery.

Ukraine's newly appointed Defence Minister Rustem Umerov vowed on Wednesday to recapture all territory under Russian military control, in his first comments in the new role.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday confirmed a major policy reversal by backing his new economic team's decision to drastically hike interest rates to fight runaway inflation.

African leaders on Wednesday demanded sweeping changes to the global financial system and urged the international community to back a surge in renewable energy as they wrapped up a landmark climate summit in Kenya.

Massive demand for diabetes and weight loss drugs made by Danish pharmaceutical group Novo Nordisk have turned it into Europe's most valuable company, giving Denmark's economy a major makeover.

Playmaker Dennis Schroder said he had "probably the worst game I ever played" but Germany still booked their place in the Basketball World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday with a win over giant-killers Latvia.

Moderna said Wednesday its updated fall Covid booster, which is pending approval from the Food and Drug Administration, performed well against the highly mutated BA.2.86 variant.

The European Union's enlargement commissioner told Turkey on Wednesday to address issues around democracy and the rule of law if it wants to boost its drive to join the bloc.

Storms that unleashed torrential flooding in Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria have killed at least 11 people, authorities said Wednesday, as extreme heat gave way to heavy rain.

France head coach Fabien Galthie said on Wednesday it was "an honour" for the host nation to play New Zealand in the World Cup's opening match as he named a team including Yoram Moefana.

A Nigerian appeals court on Wednesday began ruling on an opposition bid to overturn President Bola Tinubu's election victory in an eagerly awaited decision.

Rustem Umerov, confirmed by parliament as Ukraine's new defence minister Wednesday, is known as a skilful and pragmatic negotiator with excellent connections in the Muslim world.

Chelsea defender Levi Colwill said Wednesday he hopes to add to an already "amazing year" by making his England debut.

A Norway court on Wednesday rejected US tech giant Meta's request to defer a ban on behavioural marketing based on users' personal information, which has landed it a heavy fine in the country.

The world's biggest music publisher Universal, whose catalogue includes artists from Taylor Swift to the Beatles, announced a deal on Wednesday it says will shake up the way artists are rewarded for streaming.

2023 is likely to be the hottest year in human history, and global temperatures during the Northern Hemisphere summer were the warmest on record, the EU climate monitor said on Wednesday.

The 50-over Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and Pakistan entered the Super Four stage on Wednesday.

European equities retreated Wednesday on fears of more interest-rate hikes, one day after oil hit a ten-month peak and stoked fresh fears about high inflation.

Centre Yoram Moefana will replace the injured Jonathan Danty in host nation France's side for the World Cup opener with New Zealand, head coach Fabien Galthie announced on Wednesday.

British head of state King Charles III's upcoming visit to France will underscore historic close relations between the two countries, London and Paris said on Wednesday.

Irish rugby legend Paul O'Connell's hopes his memories of this World Cup will be happier than his final one as a player in 2015 when Ireland once again failed to get past the quarter-finals.

Taiwan chip giant TSMC's planned factory in the United States was making "fast progress", the company's chairman said Wednesday, despite it facing a delayed start due to worker shortages and reported union disputes.

Germany ended Latvia's dream run at the Basketball World Cup on Wednesday with a nervy 81-79 win to squeeze into the semi-finals and a clash with the United States.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Kyiv Wednesday after another night of Russian strikes on Ukraine, with Washington set to unveil more than $1 billion in fresh aid to battle Russia.

England white-ball coach Matthew Mott has suggested rising star Harry Brook could yet feature at the World Cup, saying the defending champions' final squad is "still open for debate".

The European Union on Wednesday unveiled the list of digital giants -- including Apple, Facebook owner Meta and TikTok parent ByteDance -- that will face tough new curbs on how they do business.

Russia's central bank announced Wednesday it plans to sharply step up support for the ruble, which has weakened considerably after 18 months of Western sanctions following Moscow's military intervention in Ukraine.

The number of people under 50 diagnosed with cancer has surged worldwide in the last three decades but it is not fully clear why, a study said on Wednesday.

The toll from torrential rains and flooding on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast has climbed to three as the bad weather left tourists stranded, officials said Wednesday.

French actor Mathieu Kassovitz, director of the 1995 film "La Haine", on Wednesday thanked fans for their support following his serious motorbike accident which left him with a broken femur and ankle.

Sacked Spain women's coach Jorge Vilda says he has a clear conscience and his dismissal 16 days after La Roja's World Cup triumph was unjust.

Anthony "Ant-Man" Edwards doesn't wear a cape but he has emerged as the United States' superhero at the Basketball World Cup.