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

Protesters denounced late Australian cardinal George Pell for his "bigoted" views on Thursday, as the Catholic Church remembered his "remarkable legacy" with a grand funeral mass in Sydney.

The United States and the Philippines are expected to announce a deal Thursday that will give US troops access to another four military bases in the Southeast Asian nation, as the longtime allies seek to deter Chinese aggression in the region.

Peru's congress on Wednesday voted down another bid to advance elections from April 2024 to this year, a move sought by President Dina Boluarte to calm unrest that has left dozens dead in seven weeks of anti-government protests.

Former England captain Andrew Strauss forecast Wednesday the Indian Premier League would eclipse American football's NFL to become "the biggest domestic sporting event in the world" as he praised it for sparking one of cricket's "great steps forward".

Jamaica is ready to participate militarily in an international force in Haiti, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said, an intervention the UN has been calling for without success for months to counter record violence by criminal gangs.

Wall Street stocks rallied and the dollar retreated Wednesday after the Federal Reserve enacted a smaller interest rate hike while acknowledging progress in the fight against inflation.

A lawmaker backed by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was reelected the leader of Brazil's Senate Wednesday, fending off a challenge from a rival supported by far-right ex-president Jair Bolsonaro.

A leading US maker of advanced military surveillance drones announced Wednesday that it was willing to sell two to Ukraine for just $1, and called on the US government to approve the deal.

Facebook and Instagram owner Meta on Wednesday reported its first annual sales drop since the company went public in 2012, but the fall was less brutal than expected, sending its share price soaring.

The United States took a small step back from the risk of a catastrophic debt default Wednesday after the new Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, said talks with President Joe Biden went well -- even if a deal has yet to be reached.

Paris Saint-Germain extended their lead at the top of Ligue 1 with a 3-1 win at Montpellier on Wednesday but their evening was overshadowed by an injury to Kylian Mbappe, who had earlier missed a penalty.

California has submitted a rival plan for use of the Colorado River, after six other states accused it of refusing to cooperate in the battle over usage of a dwindling major US watercourse.

Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski's strikes helped Barcelona move eight points clear at the top of La Liga with a 2-1 win at Real Betis on Wednesday.

Dawid Malan and captain Jos Buttler hit centuries to set up a 59-run win for England in the third and final one-day international against South Africa at the Diamond Oval in Kimberley on Wednesday.

Manchester United will meet Newcastle at Wembley on February 26 in the League Cup final after a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest sealed a 5-0 semi-final aggregate victory.

New Bayern Munich signing Joao Cancelo set up a first-half goal to help his side secure a first win of 2023 with a 4-0 triumph at 10-man Mainz in the German Cup on Wednesday.

Russian police seized a protest artist's work in a raid on an anti-war exhibition in Saint Petersburg on Wednesday, organisers said.

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele on Wednesday defended a newly-unveiled mega-prison built to house 40,000 alleged gangsters rounded up in his campaign against violent crime.

A senior Ukrainian lawmaker called Wednesday for the United States to impose secondary sanctions on China and India if they keep buying Russian energy, urging total solidarity against Moscow's invasion.

The excitement around ChatGPT - an easy to use AI chatbot that can deliver an essay or computer code upon request and within seconds - has sent schools into panic and turned Big Tech green with envy.

The United States called Wednesday on Tunisia to show greater democratic inclusion after just 11.4 percent of voters took part in a second round of elections for a toothless legislature.

Video that appears to show the moments before police officers shot dead a double amputee as he ran away from them on his stumps has emerged in California, as the United States grapples with high-profile episodes of police brutality.

Neanderthals may have lived in larger groups than previously believed, hunting massive elephants that were up to three times bigger than those of today, according to a new study.

Hundreds gathered in a Memphis church Wednesday to bid farewell to Tyre Nichols, an African American man who died after being brutally beaten by police, with civil rights leaders Al Sharpton leading the high-profile service attended by Vice President Kamala Harris.

United States midfielder Sam Mewis has been ruled out of July's Women's World Cup after underdoing a second knee surgery, head coach Vlatko Andonovski said on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia would not object to Russia joining the Asian Football Confederation, its sports minister told AFP on Wednesday, as Russian officials search for ways to return to international competition.

Former Chelsea striker Timo Werner scored late to help German Cup holders RB Leipzig beat Hoffenheim 3-1 on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals.

Germany's defence minister on Wednesday showed off the tanks Berlin is preparing to send to Kyiv, but recognised a "bitter loss" for the under-equipped Bundeswehr.

America's Federal Reserve slowed its pace of interest rate hikes Wednesday, tempering an aggressive campaign to rein in costs as inflation cools while signaling the battle is not yet over.

Choirs have been told they can no longer sing the Tom Jones hit 'Delilah' while performing during Wales rugby international matchdays at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.

Tom Hoge's maiden PGA Tour title at Pebble Beach last year opened up a wealth of opportunities, but he opted for the events he'd long cherished over the high paying LIV Golf series.

British Open champion and LIV Golf rebel Cameron Smith claimed Wednesday that the world golf rankings are becoming "obsolete" as a consequence of the sport's civil war.