Paris Soir - News from Paris, France, Europe and the world – 24/7

Dutch farmers dealt a blow to Prime Minister Mark Rutte's environmental plans Wednesday, ploughing up the political landscape to win elections that will shape the upper house of parliament.

Victor Osimhen made sure Napoli reached the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in their history with a brace in Wednesday's 3-0 stroll past Eintracht Frankfurt.

A second group of 2,000 inmates were moved on Wednesday amid tight security to a new prison built in El Salvador to accommodate more than 40,000 suspected gangsters targeted in President Nayib Bukele's "war" on crime.

A Chinese tycoon wanted in China and closely tied to president Donald Trump's former political advisor Steve Bannon was arrested in New York Wednesday and charged with bilking some $1 billion from supporters of his anti-Beijing activities.

Karim Benzema struck for Real Madrid to clinch a 1-0 win over Liverpool and qualification for the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday 6-2 on aggregate.

Victor Osimhen made sure Napoli reached the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in their history with a brace in Wednesday's 3-0 stroll past Eintracht Frankfurt.

Banking shares in Europe and the United States suffered another walloping Wednesday as reverberations from the financial sector's troubles dented oil prices and lifted the dollar.

Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka overpowered US teenager Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-0 on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals of the WTA and ATP Masters 1000 at Indian Wells.

Brighton bolstered their bid to qualify for Europe with a 1-0 win in their Premier League derby against Crystal Palace, while Brentford pushed Southampton deeper into relegation trouble on Wednesday.

A move by the R&A and US Golf Association to change balls to limit driving distances was greeted with scorn Wednesday by players at the US PGA Valspar Championship.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu on Wednesday that US aircraft will fly "wherever international law allows" after one of Moscow's jets allegedly caused an American drone to crash.

The Swiss central bank said on Wednesday that capital and liquidity levels at embattled Credit Suisse were adequate but stressed it was ready to make liquidity available to the institution if needed.

American Frances Tiafoe reached the first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final of his career on Wednesday, downing former champion Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-4 to make the last four at Indian Wells.

World number one Scottie Scheffler said Wednesday that he expects some of golf's greatest legends will put aside the PGA Tour-LIV Golf feud at next month's Masters Champions Dinner.

Credit Suisse customers in Geneva were not spooked by the bank's plunge on the stock exchange Wednesday, believing the Swiss government would ride to the rescue before it could ever collapse.

Teachers, London Underground train drivers and civil servants joined striking doctors Wednesday in a mass stoppage, just as Britain's finance minister Jeremy Hunt unveiled his tax and spending plans.

Uncollected rubbish mounted in the streets of Paris on Wednesday and hundreds of thousands of people marched in last-gasp protests against French President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform which is set to go before parliament.

A Brazilian court ruled Wednesday ex-president Jair Bolsonaro has five days to hand over pricey jewelry he received as a present from Saudi Arabia, and ordered an audit of all official gifts during his presidency.

NASA and the private aerospace company Axiom Space unveiled a prototype on Wednesday of the next-generation spacesuit that astronauts will wear on the next walk on the Moon.

Malawi's president appealed Wednesday for global support to tackle "a national tragedy" after Cyclone Freddy pummelled the southeast African nation, causing flooding and mudslides that have killed hundreds.

England flanker Alex Matthews on Wednesday said she expects the upcoming women's Six Nations to be the highest quality edition so far as more teams become professional.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant was suspended eight games without pay by the NBA on Wednesday after streaming a video of himself holding a gun while intoxicated at a nightclub.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has promised to ensure there will never be a repeat of the chaotic scenes that marred last season's Champions League final in Paris.

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) director general Olivier Niggli has told AFP that Russian competitors "are being tested now" despite their disappearance from global view after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Olympic women's shot put silver medalist Raven Saunders has been issued an 18-month suspension for not being available for doping tests, the US Anti-Doping Agency said Wednesday.

Credit Suisse customers in Geneva were not spooked by the bank's plunge on the stock exchange Wednesday, believing the Swiss government would ride to the rescue before it could ever collapse.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday urged Ethiopia to ensure accountability over the brutal Tigray conflict but voiced guarded optimism at preserving peace, on a trip that marked an easing of a wartime rift between the longtime allies.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said Wednesday that he intends to play for the New York Jets in the 2023 NFL season.

Mikel Arteta said on Wednesday that Gabriel Jesus's return is perfectly timed for Premier League leaders Arsenal as Eddie Nketiah is still several weeks away from recovering after his ankle injury.

Gio Reyna, whose parents tried to have US coach Gregg Berhalter removed over a lack of World Cup playing time, was selected for the American squad on Wednesday by interim coach Anthony Hudson.

The South by Southwest arts and tech festival was just moving into high gear when news spread that Silicon Valley Bank had collapsed -- throwing even the most starry-eyed tech believers into shock.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under heavy fire at home over planned legal reforms, was due to arrive Wednesday in Berlin where Germany's leaders will also urge him to reconsider the overhauls.