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First Robot: Melania Trump brings droid to White House event

US First Lady Melania Trump brought a surprise guest to a White House event on Wednesday -- a walking, talking, humanoid robot.

Oldest dog DNA suggests 16,000 years of human companionship

The discovery of the oldest ever dog DNA suggests they have been our best friends for nearly 16,000 years -- 5,000 years earlier than had previously been thought, new research said Wednesday.

Iran media casts doubt on US peace plan

State media in Iran said Wednesday that Tehran had rejected a US plan to end fighting, as the head of the United Nations warned that the Middle East war was spiralling out of control.

Rare mountain gorilla twins born in DR Congo: park authorities

In a rare occurrence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, twin mountain gorillas were recently born in the Virunga National Park, renowned for its biodiversity but threatened by conflict.

Ex-midwife enthroned as first female Archbishop of Canterbury

A former nurse made history Wednesday when she was enthroned as Archbishop of Canterbury, the first woman to lead the centuries-old mother church of the world's 85 million-strong Anglican community.

AC Schnitzer: When Iconic Tuners Fall Silent

The announced end of AC Schnitzer by the close of 2026 is far more than the disappearance of a well-known tuning brand. It is a warning signal with meaning far beyond the BMW enthusiast scene. When a company that for decades stood for sporty BMW refinement, forged wheels, suspension upgrades, exhaust systems and a distinctly German form of engineering passion can no longer operate its manufacturing and tuning business economically in Germany, the issue is no longer just about one brand. It becomes a question about Germany as an automotive business location. AC Schnitzer therefore turns into a symbolic case: one that reflects weakening competitiveness, a cost structure that has become increasingly hard to carry and a growing public impression that politics is reacting too slowly, too cautiously and too late.That is why the topic strikes such a deep emotional nerve. AC Schnitzer was never merely a supplier of aftermarket parts. The company represented an entire culture of refinement, balancing factory-like elegance with a more rebellious edge. For many BMW fans, it was part of the national automotive landscape: Aachen, BMW, motorsport associations, complete vehicle programs, distinctive forged wheels, aerodynamic components, performance kits and memorable special builds. In that sense, the end of AC Schnitzer is not simply a balance-sheet story. It is also the loss of a piece of industrial identity.The reasons behind the closure are revealing because they expose exactly the chain of problems that German industry has been discussing for years. At the core lies a toxic mix of rising development and production costs, slow approval procedures, intensifying international competition and shifting demand. The most striking point is the complaint about the length of the German approval system. If aftermarket parts reach the market many months after foreign competitors have already launched theirs, a specialist niche player loses precisely what matters most: timing, visibility and margins. On top of that come more expensive raw materials, volatile exchange rates, supplier disruptions, tariffs in important export markets, hesitant consumer spending and the gradual decline of the combustion-engine culture that once fueled large parts of the tuning scene. AC Schnitzer is therefore not describing a single isolated problem, but a concentration of structural burdens.

Senegal lodge appeal to Court of Arbitration for Sport over AFCON final decision

Senegal have lodged an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over the decision to strip them of the Africa Cup of Nations title and hand the trophy to Morocco, the Swiss-based tribunal confirmed Wednesday.

South Africa seal T20 series win in New Zealand

South Africa completed a 3-2 series win over New Zealand on Wednesday as Connor Esterhuizen smacked 75 off 33 balls to set up a 33-run victory in the fifth T20 in Christchurch.

Study links major polluters to big climate damages bill

The economic cost of carbon emissions is far higher than previously estimated, said a new study Wednesday that links big polluters to tens of trillions of dollars in climate-related damages worldwide.

Ex-Google chief Matt Brittin made new BBC director-general

The BBC named a former Google executive with no television or journalism experience as its next director-general Wednesday.