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The White House on Wednesday launched a competition offering millions of dollars in prize money for creating new artificial intelligence systems that can defend critical software from hackers.

Authorities said they had mistakenly posted online the names and ranks of police officers in Northern Ireland, sparking fears the release could jeopardise their security.

There is "no evidence" that the growth in using Facebook led to "widespread psychological harm", the largest independent scientific study on the topic concluded Wednesday, contradicting previous analyses and widespread perceptions.

NASA's Curiosity rover has discovered the first evidence that Mars once had a climate which alternated between wet and dry seasons similar to Earth, a study said on Wednesday, suggesting the red planet may have once had the right conditions to support life.

Spanish football legend Andres Iniesta on Wednesday became the latest marquee name to commit his career finale to the Gulf by signing for Emirates FC despite having already turned 39.

Pakistan will have a new interim government in days after parliament concluded its last session late Wednesday, with an upcoming election that will not include the country's most popular politician, Imran Khan.

Luton have signed former England midfielder Ross Barkley on a free transfer, the promoted Premier League club announced Wednesday.

World number one Nelly Korda said recent performances have given her a "confidence boost" following a back injury, ahead of the start of the Women's British Open on Thursday.

The teenage son of British cycling great Bradley Wiggins hopes he can forge a track career independent of his famous father.

Niger's new military rulers on Wednesday accused France, the country's traditional ally, of having released captured jihadists and breaching a ban on air space on the eve of a key summit on the Sahel's latest crisis.

The Ethiopian government said on Wednesday that major cities in the Amhara region had been "freed" after days of fighting between army troops and militia fighters.

Nations from Brazil to Indonesia met Wednesday to seek a plan to save the world's tropical rainforests, a day after South American leaders drew criticism for failing to adopt a pledge to protect the Amazon.

Sixto Rodriguez, the once obscure American singer-songwriter who found a career renaissance after his music developed a cult following abroad, has died at the age of 81, according to his website.

Greek police were accused Wednesday of having ignored warnings about a convoy of Croatian football "hooligans" heading for Athens days before a Greek supporter was killed in clashes between fans.

Wildfires whipped by hurricane winds triggered evacuations in parts of Hawaii on Wednesday with the Coast Guard rescuing some residents forced into the ocean to escape the smoke and flames, officials said.

UK artist Jamie Reid, whose distinctive designs for the covers of several Sex Pistols records made them instant art classics, has died at the age of 76, his gallerist said on Wednesday.

A new study offers a glimmer of hope in efforts to save the world's coral reefs, which play a vital role in underwater life but have been put under threat by rising ocean temperatures.

Gary O'Neil has been appointed as the new head coach of Wolverhampton Wanderers on a three-year contract, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday.

Eleven people were killed in eastern France on Wednesday when a fire tore through a holiday lodging being used by a group of adults with learning disabilities, officials said.

In central Moscow, retired businessman Igor Inkin is preparing to turn down simple pleasures like dessert as the value of the ruble in his pocket continues to slide.

Gary O'Neil has been appointed as the new head coach of Wolverhampton Wanderers on a three-year contract, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday.

Forty-one migrants including three children are feared dead after being shipwrecked last week in the Mediterranean, UN agencies said, citing four survivors brought to the Italian island of Lampedusa Wednesday.

Wildfires whipped by hurricane winds triggered evacuations in parts of Hawaii early Wednesday with some residents forced into the ocean to escape the smoke and flames, officials said.

Celebrated Argentina-born pianist Martha Argerich has cancelled concerts in Germany and Switzerland in the coming days due to illness, organisers of the shows said Wednesday.

Artificial intelligence firms must ask for permission before using copyrighted text and images to generate content, a consortium of news groups said on Wednesday.

Global stock markets were mixed Wednesday with Wall Street opening flat after European bourses rebounded with a mixed showing by Asia.

West African nations and the United States gave priority to diplomacy to end the crisis in coup-stricken Niger ahead of a regional summit on Thursday to consider options that include military intervention.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday offered 400 million euros from the bloc's solidarity fund as part of a package to help flood-hit Slovenia.

Nine bodies were found and two people were missing Wednesday after a fire in France tore through holiday lodging for a group of adults with learning disabilities, an incident the president called a "tragedy".

Ethiopian troops appeared to be pushing back militia fighters in two cities in the conflict-hit Amhara region, residents said Wednesday, after local authorities reported that "relative peace" was being restored.

Kenya's government and the opposition launched fresh talks Wednesday aimed at resolving a bitter political feud following a spate of violent protests over the high cost of living and calls for electoral reforms.

Temperatures are expected to hit 44 degrees Centigrade (111 Fahrenheit) in Spain and Portugal on Wednesday as the two countries boil under their third heatwave of the summer.