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Jonas Vingegaard climbed into a rock-solid lead in the Tour de France on Wednesday as his main rival Tadej Pogacar lost almost six minutes on the toughest climb on the 21 stages.

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi granted a pardon Wednesday to researcher Patrick Zaki, state media said, a day after Zaki's three-year jail term sparked an outcry from local rights groups and Western governments.

Goldman Sachs reported a dive in profits Wednesday on weak merger and acquisition activity, but shares rallied as executives said an improvement could be near.

The extreme heat in the northern hemisphere is putting an increasing strain on healthcare systems, hitting those least able to cope the hardest, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.

England's Stuart Broad became just the fifth bowler to take 600 Test wickets when he dismissed Australia's Travis Head in the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

A road crash in Algeria killed 34 people when a passenger bus collided head-on with a pickup truck carrying fuel cans and burst into flames Wednesday, deep in the southern Sahara region, officials said.

Indian conglomerate Tata Group announced Wednesday that it will build a gigafactory in Britain to manufacture batteries, as nations accelerate away from fossil fuel vehicles.

Pakistan lost three wickets in a tricky 131-run chase on day four of the rain-hit opening Test on Wednesday to give Sri Lanka a glimmer of hope in the contest.

Stock markets mostly rose Wednesday as UK inflation slowed more than expected in June and investors grew increasingly optimistic that the US Federal Reserve would soon end its interest-rate hiking cycle.

Brendan Rodgers said he was "assessing everything" about his Celtic squad after beginning his second stint at the club with a 6-4 pre-season defeat to J-League champions Yokohama F-Marinos in Japan on Wednesday.

Ukraine accused Russia on Wednesday of deliberately striking its Black Sea grain facilities -- and destroying tonnes of food -- since Moscow quit an export deal meant to stave off a global crisis.

Pakistan lost three wickets in a tricky 131-run chase on day four of the rain-hit opening Test on Wednesday, after spinners Noman Ali and Abrar Ahmed helped bowl Sri Lanka out for 279.

Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith held firm after England's Stuart Broad closed in on 600 Test wickets in the fourth Ashes Test on Wednesday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend a BRICS nations summit in South Africa next month, the country's presidency said on Wednesday, ending months of speculation he could be detained.

Goldman Sachs reported a steep drop in second-quarter profits Wednesday as it continued to struggle with an anemic merger and acquisition market and weakness in trading.

The European commissioner overseeing the digital market on Wednesday urged Chinese video-sharing platform TikTok to accelerate its adoption of new EU standards.

British Open organisers the R&A warned on Wednesday that golf cannot jeopardise its financial future by ever increasing prize money for players after the influx of cash to the sport from the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Celtic lost 6-4 to J-League champions Yokohama F-Marinos on Wednesday as Brendan Rodgers began his second spell in charge of the Glasgow giants in a pre-season tour of Japan.

Spinners Noman Ali and Abrar Ahmed took three wickets each as Pakistan bowled out Sri Lanka for 279 on Wednesday, leaving the visitors needing 131 runs to win the rain-hit opening Test.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend a BRICS nations summit in South Africa next month, the country's presidency said on Wednesday, ending months of speculation.

Stock markets mostly rose Wednesday as investors grew increasingly optimistic that the US Federal Reserve would soon end its interest-rate hiking cycle as inflation cools.

Chinese divers claimed another gold medal at the world championships in Japan on Wednesday, taking their tally to nine out of nine at the competition so far.

Thai reformist leader Pita Limjaroenrat's bid to become prime minister ended Wednesday, despite his party winning the most votes in May elections, after the military and pro-royalist establishment blocked his bid for power.

Beijingers baked under crippling summer heat on Wednesday as China's capital kept up a record-breaking streak of four weeks of highs above 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit).

Hundreds of Filipino Barbie fans dressed in pink expressed joy and relief Wednesday at the opening of the film about the famous doll that many had feared would be banned.

Burnley signed Switzerland striker Zeki Amdouni from Basel for an undisclosed fee on Wednesday.

Benjamin Mendy signed for French club Lorient on Wednesday after the former Manchester City and France defender was acquitted in a sex offences trial in England last week.

Pakistan's spinners took regular wickets but a stubborn fifty by Dhananjaya de Silva helped Sri Lanka take a 61-run lead in their second innings of the opening Test on Wednesday.

England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to field first in the fourth Test against Australia at Old Trafford on Wednesday which his side must win to maintain their hopes of an Ashes series victory.

Andre Onana said that he couldn't the resist the chance to play at Manchester United as the Cameroon goalkeeper prepares to join the Premier League giants after one season at Inter Milan.

A sustained spell of dangerous heat was impacting the lives of millions of people across three continents on Wednesday as fires raged and health worries mounted.

Captain Sam Kerr on Wednesday said Australia were treating their opening game at the World Cup against Ireland like a final, vowing not to be overawed by playing in front of 80,000 fans in Sydney.