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Raphinha scored a hat-trick as La Liga leaders Barcelona ripped Racing Santander to shreds in a spectacular 7-2 triumph on Wednesday.

Raphinha scored a hat-trick as Barcelona ripped Racing Santander to shreds in a spectacular 7-2 triumph in La Liga on Wednesday.

The US Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised interest rates for the first time since 2023, defying President Donald Trump's demand for cuts, as central bank chief Kevin Warsh stressed the need to combat inflation that has been "too high" for "too long."

AC Milan slipped to their first defeat under Ruben Amorim with a 2-0 home loss to Benfica as the Europa League got under way on Wednesday, while Sunderland won on their return to Europe after a 53-year absence.

Manchester United's problems mounted as they crashed out of the League Cup after blowing a two-goal lead in a stunning 3-2 defeat against Brighton on Wednesday.

Wall Street stocks fell while the dollar advanced Wednesday after the Federal Reserve lifted interest rates for the first time since 2023.

Turkish police released more than 100 protesters who had been detained a day earlier for demonstrating against a major weekend crackdown on the LGBTQ community, legal rights activists and an AFP journalist said late Wednesday.

Reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle will be without injured quarterback Sam Darnold when the Seahawks visit Arizona next weekend, coach Mike Macdonald said on Wednesday.

The US Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised interest rates for the first time since 2023, defying President Donald Trump's demand for cuts, as central bank chief Kevin Warsh stressed the need to combat inflation that has been "too high" for "too long."

Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe said on Wednesday that he wanted to make a gesture in support of immigrants who had lost their lives by not wearing a t-shirt in support of the people of Ceuta properly.

Thomas Tuchel said that England were "waiting for death" in their World Cup semi-final defeat against Argentina as the Three Lions boss mounted another defence of his controversial substitutions.

Yemen's Houthis reported fresh Saudi airstrikes on Wednesday, as Riyadh accused the group of launching a "cowardly" attack targeting Islam's holy city of Mecca.

Atletico Madrid thrashed Osasuna 4-0 on Wednesday to move third in La Liga and build some form ahead of Sunday's derby clash against rivals Real Madrid.

NFL player Azeez Al-Shaair was fined more than $11,000 for wearing the name of a Palestinian girl killed by Israeli forces on his face markings last weekend, a league spokesman said Wednesday.

A contender to lead the UN called Wednesday for artificial intelligence to be regulated like nuclear weapons, warning that a Third World War would be fought with the emerging technology.

Veteran midfielder Axel Witsel announced his retirement from international football on Wednesday, bringing an end to a Belgium career which saw him become their second-most capped player.

Martin O'Neill insists Celtic "will get ourselves right" following Sunday's embarrassing Scottish League Cup loss to arch rivals Rangers.

The US Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised interest rates in the world's largest economy by 25 basis points to tackle stubbornly high inflation, a move sure to anger President Donald Trump, who has demanded lower rates.

Manchester City director of football Hugo Viana believes Enzo Fernandez, Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi can replicate the remarkable impact made by Rodri and Bernardo Silva at the Etihad Stadium.

Former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick has expressed reservations about heading to Dubai for the season-ending DP World (European) Tour Championship due to the ongoing war in the Middle East.

The Canadian computer scientist considered one of the founders of AI, Yoshua Bengio, told AFP that humanity is "losing control" of the technology and that the world needs guardrails similar to nuclear arms controls.

Gaza authorities said Wednesday that 12 children were among the 21 people killed when an apartment building collapsed due to damage sustained in earlier Israeli strikes.

The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo is still spreading but appears to be showing "encouraging" signs of improvement, the head of the World Health Organization said on Wednesday.

Gaza authorities said Wednesday that 21 people including five children had died after an apartment building collapsed from damage sustained in earlier Israeli strikes.

La Liga president Javier Tebas criticised three Real Madrid stars, including Kylian Mbappe, on Wednesday for not properly wearing a t-shirt supporting the people of Ceuta, a Spanish territory in north Africa affected by a migration crisis.

The US House of Representatives is set to vote Wednesday on whether data centers should shoulder more of their own electricity costs, as the power-hungry engines of America's AI boom become a major issue in November's midterm elections.

The WTA Finals, the tournament which brings together the top eight players from the previous season, will take place from next year in Charlotte, North Carolina, the women's professional tour announced on Wednesday.

France's ex-culture minister Rachida Dati appeared in court Wednesday on corruption charges linked to dealings with the Renault-Nissan group, just months after her bruising defeat in the Paris mayoral race.

The hottest summer in France since 1900 marked by a succession of record heatwaves resulted in almost 8,000 excess deaths, health authorities statistics published on Wednesday showed.

Sian Heder's new film "Being Heumann" profiles an American activist fighting for the rights of people with disabilities, with the Oscar-winning director saying its message of inclusivity has renewed importance in today's society.

Saudi Arabia accused Yemen's Houthis on Wednesday of launching a "cowardly" attack targeting Islam's holy city of Mecca, sparking outrage across the Muslim world.

Kosovo's former president Hashim Thaci was sentenced to 25 years in prison by a tribunal in The Hague on Wednesday for war crimes, in a verdict that sparked shock and anger among many Kosovars.