Bejing - China on Wednesday blasted a huge planned US arms shipment to self-ruled Taiwan and threatened to sanction firms involved in the sale of F-16 fighter jets.

Bejing - An employee of Britain's consulate in Hong Kong who went missing earlier this month is being held in China, Beijing confirmed Wednesday.

Khartoum - Sudan was taking further steps in its transition towards civilian rule Wednesday with the swearing in of a new sovereign council and the appointment of a prime minister.

Kabul - The death toll from an Islamic State attack on a Kabul wedding at the weekend has reached at least 80, an official said Wednesday, as the Afghan capital still reels from the deadliest blast in more than a year.

Bejing - A employee of Britain's consulate in Hong Kong who went missing earlier this month is being held in China, Beijing confirmed Wednesday.

Fpo - China has deployed a three-pronged strategy to suffocate pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong -- propaganda, economic leverage and intimidation.Here is a look at Beijing's efforts so far to squash a movement that has refused to die.

Seoul - The United States is ready to sit down with North Korea to resume long-awaited working-level nuclear talks, a US envoy said Wednesday.

Melbourne - Disgraced Cardinal George Pell lost his appeal against child sex abuse convictions Wednesday, prompting relief from victims who fought to bring one of the Catholic Church's most powerful men to justice.

Autonomous vehicles of today are too dependent on decades-old computer architecture, a recipe for disaster, according to Orr Danon of the artificial intelligence company Hailo

Manokwar - Indonesia's Papua was hit by fresh unrest Wednesday as more than 1,000 security personnel were sent to the restive region after violent protests that saw buildings torched and street battles between police and demonstrators.

Srinagar - Rafiq Shagu's wife died shortly after Friday prayers in India's Muslim-majority Kashmir when tear gas smashed through a window in their home and filled the room.

Cox's Bazar - When hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fled Myanmar into Bangladesh two years ago, local communities were mostly welcoming.Today that welcome has worn thin, and resentment, anger and fear are creeping in.

Ithaca - A new method for detecting bioluminescence from exoplanets may be the way of the future for finding life on these planets and may have applications on Earth.

Srinagar - A suspected militant and a policeman were killed in the first gun battle since New Delhi stripped Indian Kashmir of its autonomy, police said Wednesday after US President Donald Trump offered to mediate the "explosive" situation.

Philly based singer-songwriter Mutlu released his latest EP "Good Trouble" on August 9 via his independent record label.

The new documentary "I Am Patrick Swayze" melts hearts for fans, followers, friends and family members of the beloved late actor. Adrian Buitenhuis did a brilliant job directing it.

Apo - Once a pioneer in cashless transactions, Japan is now lagging behind as the world's biggest economies increasingly embrace electronic payments -- because its ageing population still prefers physical money.

Berlin - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits Berlin on Wednesday to kick off a marathon of tense talks with key European and international leaders as the threat of a chaotic no-deal Brexit looms.

Sydney - Australia will join the US-led mission to protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions with Iran, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Wednesday.

A summit that was intended to form a new Yemeni government and was slated to take place in Saudi Arabia has not started and was postponed indefinitely.