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China's Asian Cup hopes are on a knife edge after they were held 0-0 for the second game in a row against an unlucky Lebanon on Wednesday.

Novak Djokovic survived a huge test Wednesday to stay on track at the Australian Open but sixth seed Ons Jabeur and former champion Caroline Wozniacki fell victim to exciting young Russians.

British annual inflation unexpectedly picked up in December, data showed Wednesday, dashing hopes of an early cut to UK interest rates and prolonging a cost-of-living squeeze before an election.

Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro said Wednesday he had been left "confused" by reports that striker Umar Sadiq was set to return to action for his club Real Sociedad just days after pulling out of the Africa Cup of Nations due to injury.

Novak Djokovic survived a huge scare to reach the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday, beating home favourite Alexei Popyrin to stay on track for a historic 25th Grand Slam title.

Protesters in a small town in Russia's central Bashkortostan region clashed with riot police Wednesday after a court sentenced an activist to four years in prison.

British oil giant BP on Wednesday named veteran employee Murray Auchincloss as chief executive officer following a period as interim boss in the wake of Bernard Looney's sacking.

Three Paris Olympics sites face slight delays and are being monitored, but all the sporting infrastructure is expected to be delivered on time for the start of the Games in July, the event's top infrastructure official said Wednesday.

Stefanos Tsitsipas said the adrenaline rush he got in a titanic struggle to battle past home hope Jordan Thompson at the Australian Open on Wednesday was "insane".

Pakistan recalled its ambassador from Iran Wednesday and blocked Tehran's envoy from returning to Islamabad after an Iranian air strike killed two children in the west of the country a day earlier.

Jamie George "accepted with huge gratitude and enthusiasm" the offer from head coach Steve Borthwick to captain England in the upcoming Six Nations.

Veteran US diplomat and politician John Kerry said Wednesday he planned to keep working to address climate change including by encouraging the private sector as he steps away from his envoy role.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Wednesday his country's priority for 2024 was to gain control over its skies, as Russia's full-scale assault enters its third year.

Opposition leaders in the Comoros demanded Wednesday that this week's presidential election be declared void, as police fired tear gas on protesters angered at the re-election of President Azali Assoumani.

Stock markets and oil prices slumped Wednesday as investors reacted to weak Chinese growth data and an unexpected rise in UK inflation.

More than 20 humanitarian groups have expressed serious concern about the military escalation in Yemen, warning it will delay shipments and push up prices in the heavily aid-dependent country.

Jamie George will captain England in the Six Nations, the Rugby Football Union announced Wednesday.

Season-ending crashes for two of the biggest names in alpine skiing have laid bare the "brutal strain" of World Cup downhill racing, with organisers facing criticism for packing rescheduled speed events into an already-charged calendar.

Kfir Bibas, with his red hair and pink stuffed elephant, was less than nine months old when Hamas militants snatched him from his bed in an Israeli kibbutz on October 7.

Young Chinese are increasingly hesitant to start families, citing economic concerns exacerbated by rigid social norms around child-rearing, even as their government grows desperate to boost the birth rate and stave off a demographic crisis.

Lee Kang-in has been called "a joy" and "a flower" by South Korea coach Jurgen Klinsmann and his performance in their Asian Cup opener showed why the German is so smitten.

Israel stepped up strikes on the south of war-torn Gaza Wednesday, ahead of the expected delivery of medicines for hostages in exchange for humanitarian aid under a newly brokered deal.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka pummelled her second straight teenage qualifier into submission Wednesday to ease into the Australian Open third round.

Gregory Alldritt will captain France in the Six Nations with regular skipper Antoine Dupont away on Olympic sevens duty, the French Rugby Federation announced on Wednesday.

Palestine coach Makram Daboub said his players must be "fully focused" against the United Arab Emirates at the Asian Cup on Thursday after defeat to Iran in an emotional opening game.

Igor Stimac says that India's massed ranks of vocal fans can be the difference when his underdogs face a tough Uzbekistan test at the Asian Cup in Qatar on Thursday.

Pakistan said Wednesday that Iran carried out an air strike on its territory that killed two children, after Tehran launched attacks in Iraq and Syria against what it called "anti-Iranian terrorist groups".

Asian markets fell further Wednesday as hopes for an early interest rate cut by key central banks faded and data confirmed China's economy last year grew at its slowest pace in more than three decades.

Debutant Shamar Joseph gave the West Indies some hope after taking two top-order wickets during Australia's reply to the visitors' first innings total of 188 in the opening Test in Adelaide Wednesday.

The rich and famous are paying top dollar for a place at this week's Davos summit but heiress Marlene Engelhorn is on the other side of the fence at the glitzy Swiss resort, demanding that they pay more in taxes.

Caroline Wozniacki said Wednesday that Saudi Arabia will inevitably host more tennis tournaments but believes there is a chance to push for positive change after Rafael Nadal became an ambassador for the country.

Caroline Wozniacki said losing still "sucks just as much" even though she now has another life off court as a mum after her Australian Open defeat by Russian qualifier Maria Timofeeva on Wednesday.