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US President Donald Trump said a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could come as soon as Wednesday but warned Iran it would get "hit very hard" if negotiations fell through.

South Korean police raided the Starbucks national headquarters Wednesday, the chain's local operator told AFP, following allegations an advertising campaign defamed activists slain in 1980 pro-democracy protests.

Garment worker Mosammat Aklima found out in a text message that she had become one of thousands laid off in the latest wave of cuts to hit Bangladesh's once-booming export industry.

Asian equities climbed again Wednesday, tracking another record on Wall Street, as tech firms continued to enjoy a revival after a month-long rout, with confidence also boosted by the prospect of an imminent deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday accused Japan of "transformation into a war state" as Tokyo beefs up its military stance in the Pacific.

Scientists plan to use a total solar eclipse that will be visible in Spain next week as a rare chance to learn more about the stormy, unpredictable nature of our star.

Glinting in the night, halfway up a hill in Japan, the greenhouse-like "Ku-An" test lab is lit by electricity harnessed from 1,500 wooden boxes of soil and compost.

Day will briefly turn into night across a swathe of northern Spain on August 12, when the Moon will completely cover the Sun during a rare total solar eclipse.

The Trump administration on Tuesday met with tech leaders to finalize a security review process for advanced AI models before their release, though it will apply only to "closed" models, US media reported.

Suddenly, the world is plunged into an eerie, violet darkness. The temperature drops. Birds and other animals, bewildered by unforeseen night, start behaving strangely. Stars and planets appear in the sky next to the blotted-out Sun.

Alex de Minaur blew through the opening set but needed some good luck in the second to emerge with a 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) opening win over James Duckworth on Tuesday at the ATP Montreal Masters.

Taiwan's largest military drills of the year began Wednesday as the island democracy attempts to prepare its population for a potential Chinese invasion.

Edwin Salas watched as the first of 20 solar panels was installed on the roof of his home, joining a Philippine solar energy boom sent into overdrive by the Middle East war.

Upstairs, Nazi generals enjoyed wine and lounged in elegant rooms. Downstairs in the basement, a team of covert listeners followed their chatter, gleaning vital insights into Germany's war plans.

Russian strikes on Ukraine's capital and surrounding region killed at least two people and wounded dozens more, authorities said Wednesday, after fresh overnight missile and drone attacks.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka returned to her hard court comfort zone with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Japanese qualifier Moyuka Uchijima in the WTA 1000 in Toronto on Tuesday.

World number two Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the ATP Cincinnati Masters with the wrist injury that has sidelined him since April, organizers said Tuesday.

Star striker Thembi Kgatlana scored as South Africa edged Burkina Faso 1-0 on Tuesday to squeeze into the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarter-finals in Morocco.

SpaceX's revenue jumped 92 percent in the second quarter, beating analyst expectations by around $1 billion in its first post-IPO earnings report, but shares tumbled as investors remained skeptical about the company's ability to deliver on lofty promises.

Pakistan's spinners put their team on course for a series-levelling victory as the West Indies stumbled to 103 for six -- a lead of just 60 runs -– on an eventful third day of the second and final Test in Trinidad on Tuesday.

A top US official said Tuesday that a deal with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could be struck "today or tomorrow", sending oil prices tumbling on hopes of increased shipments through the vital waterway.

Paramount CEO David Ellison said Tuesday that the legal battle over his proposed multibillion-dollar takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery was fueled by politics rather than concerns over market share.

SpaceX's revenue jumped 92 percent in the second quarter, beating analyst expectations by around $1 billion in its first earnings report since going public in June, the company announced Tuesday.

US President Donald Trump's move to charge for early access to his often market-moving Truth Social posts is raising eyebrows a year and a half into an administration that has already seen unprecedented enrichment for the First Family.

Larry Berg, who will succeed Don Garber as Major League Soccer commissioner next year, said Tuesday the league is poised to reach the "next level" and he's excited to try to get it there.

A SpaceX rocket's upper stage is set to unintentionally crash into the Moon on Wednesday, a collision that poses no danger to Earth but will leave behind a lunar crater.

Lovers and ex-guerrillas Derlis Aizama and Daniel Paredes recently laid down arms to start a family, but Colombia's incoming hard-right administration might upend their improbable attempt at civilian life.

The United States was hopeful that a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz would be done "today or tomorrow", a top official said Tuesday, sending oil prices tumbling on optimism for increased shipments in the vital waterway.

Former world number three Stefanos Tsitsipas regained some of the touch lost during a recent rankings slump, with the high-profile qualifier dispatching Martin Damm 6-4, 6-4 on Tuesday at the Montreal Masters.

US Democrats voted Tuesday in their marquee primary in Michigan, choosing between a left-wing insurgent and an establishment-backed congresswoman in a contest that has become a proxy war over Israel, electability and the future of the national party.

Former world number one Iga Swiatek survived some nervy moments to launch her US Open build-up with a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Sara Bejlek in her second-round opener at the Toronto WTA 1000 on Tuesday.

South Africa flanker Siya Kolisi will make his first Test appearance of the season when he captains the world champions against Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday.