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French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday said he favoured granting Robert Badinter, who as justice minister ended capital punishment in 1981, one of France's top honours.

Prabowo Subianto is accused of rights abuses while serving as a military chief during the dying days of the Suharto dictatorship a generation ago, but now appears headed for a convincing win in Indonesia's presidential election.

Soaring romantic melodies reverberated among the homes and office blocks of Zimbabwe's capital Harare on Wednesday, as squads of saxophonists became surprise messengers of love.

Former general Prabowo Subianto claimed victory in Indonesia's presidential election Wednesday as preliminary results put him well ahead of his two rivals to lead Southeast Asia's biggest economy.

Manu Tuilagi was recalled to England's 36-strong training squad on Wednesday ahead of their Six Nations match against oldest rivals Scotland.

British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe's purchase of a 25 per cent stake in Manchester United has been approved by the Football Association.

Pakistan's newly declared coalition government echoes the 2022 alliance that ousted Imran Khan, analysts say, demonstrating the military's enduring influence, but also Khan's unspent opposition power.

British energy group Shell on Wednesday forecast that world demand for liquefied natural gas would jump more than 50 percent by 2040, fuelled by China dumping coal.

Lewis Hamilton admitted it felt "emotional" and "surreal" to take part in the final Formula One car launch of his Mercedes career on Wednesday.

The funeral for Kenya's world marathon record-holder Kelvin Kiptum, who died in a car crash at the weekend, will be held on February 24, an athletics federation official told AFP on Wednesday.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal on Wednesday warned train controllers against disrupting travel during school holidays as ticket inspectors geared up to strike this weekend.

The line of tractors stretches nearly far as one can see -- thousands of protesting Indian farmers heading to the capital New Delhi, determined to bring their anger and woes to politicians.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday 18 of the alliance's 31 countries are set to hit its defence spending target this year, after Donald Trump threatened to encourage Russia to attack members not coughing up enough.

French captain Gregory Alldritt is set to miss the Six Nations match at home to Italy next weekend due to a cut in his left thigh, a source close to the player told AFP.

European stock markets rebounded Wednesday from the previous day's sharp losses, as dealers went fishing for bargains, digested lower-than-expected UK inflation and shrugged off equity losses elsewhere.

Tourists and Parisians have long been accustomed to the sight of wild rabbits frolicking around the lawns of the historic Invalides memorial complex, one of the French capital's great landmarks.

Dozens of same-sex couples were joined in the bonds of mock matrimony in ceremonies across Thailand's sprawling capital on Wednesday, in a dress rehearsal for official unions expected later this year if a change in the law goes ahead.

A Dutch court sentenced former Ajax and international winger Quincy Promes to six years in prison Wednesday, convicting him of smuggling more than one thousand kilogrammes of cocaine.

Calls grew in Turkey on Wednesday to shut down a controversial gold mine as hopes dimmed of rescuing nine workers trapped by a massive landslide that rolled over their open pit.

Britain's main Labour opposition vowed Wednesday to act decisively over allegations of anti-Semitism, after suspending a second prospective MP over "unacceptable comments" about Israel.

Tottenham Hotspurs captain Son Heung-min injured his finger in a brawl with a teammate on the eve of South Korea's humiliating loss to Jordan at the Asian Cup, the Korean football body said, with one player involved issuing an apology on social media Wednesday.

The UK arm of The Body Shop, the near 50-year-old cosmetics company renowned for ethical hair and skin products, has entered administration, administrators said Tuesday, placing thousands of jobs at risk.

Young men and women flocked to an ancient pagoda in central Hanoi on Wednesday hoping a Valentine's Day offering would help them find a partner -- a major priority for many Vietnamese.

Japan's Sony upgraded its annual net profit forecast on Wednesday but trimmed its PlayStation 5 unit's sales target, with the flagship console currently in its fourth year on the market.

Calls grew in Turkey on Wednesday to shut down a controversial gold mine as hopes dimmed of rescuing nine workers trapped by a massive landslide that rolled over their open pit.

Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto has a strong lead in the race for the presidency of Southeast Asia's biggest economy, preliminary results from pollsters showed Wednesday after polls closed.

Pep Guardiola is sweating over Jack Grealish's fitness after the Manchester City winger limped off during his side's Champions League win against FC Copenhagen.

Ukraine's new army chief said Wednesday the situation on the front line was "extremely difficult" as delays to much-needed US military aid cast a shadow over how long Kyiv's troops can hold out.

Tottenham Hotspurs captain Son Heung-min injured his finger in a brawl with a teammate on the eve of South Korea's humiliating loss to Jordan at the Asian Cup, the Korean football body told local media, confirming earlier reports.

Britain's annual inflation rate remained unchanged in January from the previous month, confounding expectations for an acceleration, official data showed on Wednesday.

Counting was underway in Indonesia Wednesday after millions of people voted for a new president, with Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto the frontrunner to lead Southeast Asia's biggest economy despite concerns over his human rights record.

Indian riot police fired tear gas Wednesday at columns of farmers on tractors seeking to breach heavily guarded roadblocks and march on the capital to demand guaranteed crop prices.