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South African Formula 4 driver speaks about the mental health
The life of a racing driver involves far more than speed, podium finishes and the cheers of spectators. Behind the helmet, athletes often face emotional pressure, disappointment and the constant challenge of remaining mentally strong in a sport where results can change in seconds. South African karting champion and Formula 4 competitor Gianna Pascoal is speaking openly about the mental health challenges associated with competitive motorsport, particularly when a race does not go according to plan.
France accuses Musk of ‘online harassment’ of Europe leaders
France’s foreign minister has accused billionaire Elon Musk of running “online harassment” campaigns against European leaders in an attempt to influence national debates. Jean-Noel Barrot made the accusation on Tuesday during a conference in Paris, where he warned about foreign interference ahead of France’s presidential election in April and May 2027.
Formula One returns to Africa as Rwanda secures race deal
Formula One will return to Africa in the early 2030s after signing a 10-year deal with Rwanda, bringing the sport back to the continent after a 40-year absence. The East African nation secured the agreement on Tuesday, marking a major victory in its years-long campaign to land a Grand Prix. Rwanda joins the F1 calendar once construction finishes on a new purpose-built circuit in Bugesera. The last F1 race in Africa took place in 1993, when Alain Prost won the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami.
Teenager loses hand picking up grenade in France school protests
A 15-year-old student lost a hand on Monday picking up a police grenade as part of nationwide protests in France over classroom conditions that have disrupted lessons at hundreds of schools since last week. Some students returned to classrooms but others maintained actions outside their schools, ahead of a day of larger demonstrations expected on Tuesday. Authorities said the teenager was injured in the northern town of Lens.
Indian police probe sexual harassment allegations during protests
NEW DEHLI, INDIA – Indian police launched an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against officers during protests against the country’s election commission in the capital city, New Dehli on Sunday 4 October. According to an AFP report, protests began on Friday 2 October, demanding the Election Commission of India (ECI) chief Gyanesh Kumar step down, alleging wrongdoing during a large-scale voter-roll revision that has struck millions of names from the lists.
WATCH | UAE investigators say flydubai co-pilot was planning ‘terrorist act’
UAE investigators have said the co-pilot of a flydubai flight to Israel this week was planning a “terrorist act” and used the cockpit’s emergency axe to attack the captain, but they did not reveal his motive. Initial findings from the UAE’s investigation into the attack also did not confirm his nationality, according to a report Saturday from the country’s state news agency WAM, but a Saudi source has confirmed to AFP that he was Omani.
Airline pilot safety checks explained after flydubai cockpit attack
A co-pilot’s attack on his captain during a flight to Israel has brought airline safety measures back into focus. The incident, which saw the attacker stab his colleague and attempt to crash the plane, raises questions about how carriers screen their crew members. The flydubai Boeing 737 was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the co-pilot launched his attack over northwestern Saudi Arabia. Israeli officials said the assault happened as the aircraft neared Israeli airspace.
Women athletes condemn ‘sexualised’ Sydney Sweeney sports betting advert
Leading women athletes have condemned actor Sydney Sweeney (29) for appearing in various states of undress in a sports betting advert they say sexualises women’s sport. The American star, known for her role in TV series Euphoria, posed with sports equipment in the commercial for US betting company Novig, which allows users to predict the outcome of sports matches. Sweeney has an equity stake in the firm.
Scorching summer pushes French wine harvest to new historic low
France will produce less than 34 million hectolitres of wine this year, the agriculture ministry announced on Monday, marking the lowest harvest in roughly 70 years. The world’s second-largest wine producer after Italy expects production to fall 6% from 2025 levels. The ministry’s statistics service attributes the decline to shrinking vineyards and lower yields following drought and summer heatwaves.
Shocking Putin biography by exiled Russian journalists wins French literary award
Two Russian journalists living in exile have won a major French literary prize for their investigative book exposing Vladimir Putin’s rise to power and private life. Roman Badanin and Mikhail Rubin received the Prix Strasbourg on Tuesday for “The Tsar in Propria Persona: How Vladimir Putin Deceived Us All”, which draws on more than 20 years of investigative reporting.
Epstein accomplice Maxwell loses bid to overturn US conviction
A US federal judge has rejected Ghislaine Maxwell’s attempt to overturn her sex trafficking conviction, ruling on Tuesday that her claims of constitutional violations were without merit. Maxwell (64) is serving a 20-year prison sentence and remains the only person convicted of crimes linked to Jeffrey Epstein, who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 whilst awaiting trial.
France records more than 7 300 excess deaths during heatwaves
France has recorded more than 7 300 excess deaths during heatwaves this year, health authorities said on Wednesday. Excess deaths are the number of deaths above what would normally be expected for the time of year. The country has been hit by three heatwaves in quick succession: a 14-day spell in June, 16 days in July, and another lasting 22 days that began in late July and has yet to be officially declared over as of August 18.
Belgium battles biggest wildfire in modern history as blaze engulfs 3 000 hectares
BELGIUM – The wildfire has been raging across the High Fens nature reserve near the German border since Friday, with authorities warning on Sunday that conditions remained difficult and the blaze was still out of control. The area affected increased dramatically from about 80 hectares on Friday to 850 hectares by Saturday morning before reaching approximately 3 000 hectares by early Sunday. The cause of the fire remains unknown.
France’s constitutional authority approves assisted dying law
France has taken a major step towards legalising assisted dying after its highest constitutional authority approved new legislation on Friday. The Constitutional Council upheld the law in its entirety, which grants adults suffering from incurable conditions the right to assisted dying. However, the council said some provisions require clarification. The approval means France will join countries like the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada, which have already legalised the practice.
Funny old world: the week’s offbeat news
From jellyfish shutting nuclear plants to Korean soup with a bite, your weekly roundup of offbeat stories from around the world. A radio station volunteer fled his post in panic when he accidentally broadcast a tape declaring Britain’s King Charles dead. Former pirate station Radio Caroline had its knuckles rapped by the UK watchdog Ofcom after suspending normal programmes in May “as a mark of respect following the passing of His Majesty King Charles III”.
32 nations condemn Iran’s execution of protesters
More than 30 countries have publicly condemned Iran for executing protesters, accusing the Islamic republic of using the death penalty to silence opposition and instil fear among its citizens. The joint statement, released on Wednesday, included France, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Italy, Germany and numerous other European nations, alongside the European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
Two firefighters killed in Greece as Europe battles deadly wildfire season
ATHENS, Greece – Two firefighters died while battling a forest blaze on the Greek island of Crete on Wednesday as wildfires continued to ravage southern Europe, fuelled by the continent’s fourth major heatwave of the summer. The men were trapped by flames in their fire engine in the foothills near the western city of Rethymno, state television ERT reported. “Two firefighters fell in the line of duty,” deputy fire department spokesman Yiannis Artopios confirmed.
Infantino hits back at World Cup critics for ‘spreading hate’
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has lashed out at World Cup critics, accusing them of “spreading hate and false rumours” while defending the tournament as a success that delivered “only joy and happiness”. In a lengthy open letter published on Monday, Infantino told detractors to “take a moment to reflect, meditate, pray” after a tournament marked by controversies ranging from ticket pricing to visa problems.
Massive wildfires force evacuations across France, Spain and Italy
Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes as wildfires continue to rage across southern Europe, with France deploying thousands of emergency personnel to battle blazes in the southwest. French President Emmanuel Macron called an emergency cabinet meeting on Monday morning to address the crisis, as authorities confirmed that 115 000 hectares have burned across France since the start of the year.
Wildfires rage across western Europe as evacuation numbers climb
EUROPE – Wildfires across Spain and France have forced more than 200 000 people from their homes, with authorities deploying military aircraft and hundreds of additional troops to combat the blazes. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu ordered the armed forces to deploy an A400M military transport aircraft as early as Saturday to help combat fires in the southwest.
Two wildfires merge near Madrid, 19,000 people evacuated or confined
Madrid, Spain – Two major wildfires merged west of Madrid on Friday, where some residents could smell smoke drifting in from blazes burning out of control near the Spanish capital. Strong winds were expected to hamper efforts to contain the wildfires, which authorities said were the worst in the region’s history and had forced the evacuation and confinement of 19,000 people so far. “The smoke was incredibly thick.
French modelling scout with links to Epstein found dead, prosecutors say
A French modelling scout with close ties to late US financier Jeffrey Epstein has been found dead at his home outside Paris, prosecutors said on Wednesday. Daniel Siad (69), who was under investigation in France, was one of several French men accused of aiding Epstein to traffic and abuse women. Siad had not yet been questioned by investigators but had denied the allegations, saying he wanted to be heard and give his version of events.
Macron vows zero tolerance on arson as France battles worst fires since WWII
NOISY-SUR-ÉCOLE, France – French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged zero tolerance for arson following devastating wildfires that have scorched thousands of hectares across the country, including a historic forest near Paris. Dozens of people have been arrested nationwide for starting fires either deliberately or by accident as France endures multiple intense heatwaves since May that have created dangerously dry conditions.
France passes law allowing assisted dying for terminally ill adults
PARIS – France has taken a significant step towards allowing assisted dying for adults with terminal illnesses, following a contentious parliamentary vote on Wednesday that divided lawmakers and religious groups. The legislation, championed by President Emmanuel Macron, was approved by the National Assembly despite opposition from the Senate.
World Cup semi-final to honour victims of Nice terror attack
A minute of silence will be held before tonight’s (14 July) World Cup semi-final between France and Spain to mark 10 years since the Nice terror attack that claimed 86 lives. French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday that the tribute will take place at the match in Dallas, which falls on the tenth anniversary of the 14 July 2016 attack.
The week’s offbeat news from around the world
From Turkey’s president gifting world leaders with handguns to fans purchasing rubbish from Taylor Swift’s wedding, here are this week’s strangest stories from across the globe. Taylor Swift fans proved they will buy anything connected to their idol after paying $25 for cigarette butts, water bottle tops and even a pregnancy test discarded near her New York wedding venue. The pop star married NFL player Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden in a ceremony that drew global attention.
Paris landmarks close early as France endures third heatwave since May
The Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum and other iconic Paris attractions shut their doors early this weekend as a quarter of mainland France sweltered under the country’s highest heat alert. Tour de France organisers shortened Sunday’s stage for the first time in the race’s history. PARIS – France’s most famous landmarks closed early over the weekend as the country faced its third heatwave since May, with authorities placing 24 departments under maximum heat alert.
France and South Africa strengthen ties during Ramaphosa state visit
PARIS, France – President Cyril Ramaphosa is in France for a three-day state visit combining diplomatic talks and a solemn commemoration of South African soldiers who fell during World War I. The visit centres on Sunday’s ceremony marking the 110th anniversary of the Battle of Delville Wood in Longueval, northern France, where several hundred South Africans were killed during one of the bloodiest engagements of the Great War.
Late drama sends Spain through to face France in World Cup semi-final
LOS ANGELES – Spain booked their place in a blockbuster World Cup semi-final against France after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Belgium at SoFi Stadium on Friday night, with substitute Mikel Merino scoring a late winner following a costly goalkeeping error. The European champions will now face tournament favourites France in Arlington, Texas on Tuesday in what promises to be a mouth-watering clash between two of football’s powerhouses.
Tragedy and violence mar France’s World Cup victory over Morocco
France’s 2-0 quarter-final victory over Morocco at the FIFA World Cup was overshadowed by tragedy and violence as celebrations turned deadly in France and descended into chaos on the streets of London. A 17-year-old girl died in northern France after falling from a truck during post-match celebrations, while British police clashed with football fans in central London, leaving one officer hospitalised.
Thousands evacuate as wildfires rage across southern Europe
FRANCE – Wildfires have torn through southern Europe, forcing thousands from their homes and prompting authorities to take the unprecedented step of banning spectators from a Tour de France stage. More than 19 000 hectares of land — an area twice the size of Manhattan — has been consumed by flames across Portugal, Spain, France and Greece since the weekend. Hundreds of firefighters are battling the blazes as temperatures are forecast to climb back to 40°C in the coming days.
Europe heatwave intensifies as nearly 200 million face extreme temperatures
At least 193 million people across Europe are expected to experience temperatures above 35 °C this weekend as a deadly heatwave shifts eastward, shattering records and overwhelming emergency services. Almost 200 million people across Europe faced temperatures exceeding 35 °C on Saturday as an unprecedented heatwave continues to break records and move eastward, according to AFP analysis.
Record-breaking heatwave kills scores as more than 1oo million Europeans face soaring temperatures
More than 100 million Europeans endured temperatures exceeding 35°C on Thursday, as a deadly heatwave continued to grip the continent, claiming scores of lives and overwhelming emergency services. France and Spain bore the brunt of the extreme weather, with authorities beginning to count the human toll. Among the victims was a three-year-old boy found dead after becoming trapped in his family’s car in the Paris suburbs, where temperatures topped 40°C on Wednesday.
Two children die in France as heatwave blasts Europe
Two children were found dead in a car in France on Monday as much of Europe sweltered through an intense heatwave, with national authorities issuing danger warnings and taking special measures to reduce the impact of the high temperatures. The youngsters, aged two and four, were found in their family car in a residential parking lot in the southern town of Carpentras, where investigators said they believed the heatwave was the most likely reason for the deaths.
Dangerous heatwave grips Europe as temperatures threaten records across continent
PARIS – A severe heatwave is sweeping across Europe, prompting authorities in multiple countries to issue their highest-level heat warnings as temperatures threaten to break long-standing records and claim lives. Scientists have shown that recurring heatwaves are a clear marker of global warming, and warn they are set to become more frequent, longer and more intense.
PSG sign Benfica teenager Cher Ndour
Paris Saint-Germain announced the arrival of Benfica teenager Cher Ndour on Wednesday on a five-year deal. The 18-year-old Italian midfielder is the French champion's sixth signing since Luis Enrique replaced Christophe Galtier as coach last week. Ndour moves to the Parc des Princes after winning the Portuguese league title with Benfica, and is currently on duty for Italy at the Under-19 Euros in Malta.
Why carbon capture and storage tech is booming
Humanity's failure to draw down planet-heating carbon dioxide emissions – 41 billion tonnes in 2022 – has thrust once-marginal options for capping or reducing CO2 in the atmosphere to centre stage in climate policy and investment. Carbon capture and storage and direct air capture are complex industrial processes that isolate CO2 but these newly booming technologies are fundamentally different and often conflated.
Indian designer Rahul Mishra shines at star-studded Paris Haute Couture Week 2023
Greek goddesses at Christian Dior, mermaids at Iris Van Herpen and fine-art inspiration at Schiaparelli, the fashion world brushed aside concerns about riots in France – with violence ebbing around Paris over the weekend – as haute couture week launched on Monday. Indian designer Rahul Mishra also put on an opulent display, with dresses featuring tigers, orchids and artisans, which he called an homage to “the imagination and craftsmanship of embroiderers”.
'I was crazy': 50 Cent on 20 years of Get Rich or Die Tryin
As 50 Cent heads out on a world tour marking the 20th anniversary of hip-hop classic Get Rich or Die Tryin', he says it's probably his last on this scale. "I won't be able to tour like this again. My film and TV production stuff doesn't allow me," says the rapper, who will soon be seen alongside Sylvester Stallone in Expendables 4. He took "a huge pay cut" to shift from music to TV a decade ago – most notably with hit show Power – but saw it as a strategic business decision. "My audience is older.
AI, Do My Homework! How ChatGPT Pitted Teachers Against Tech
By AFP Paris Know-it-all chatbots landed with a bang last year, convincing one engineer that machines had become sentient, spreading panic that industries could be wiped out, and creating fear of a cheating epidemic in schools and universities. Alarm among educators has reached fever pitch in recent weeks over ChatGPT, an easy-to-use artificial intelligence tool trained on billions of words and a ton of data from the web.
Des dizaines de pays ont annoncé vouloir mettre fin aux " atteintes à la nature " d’ici 2030
Plus de 60 pays se sont engagés lundi 28 septembre à des « actions immédiates » pour protéger la nature et mettre un terme à la disparition galopante de la biodiversité d'ici 2030. Cela vous intéressera aussi [EN VIDÉO] Biodiversité : quand la cupidité anéantit des espèces magnifiques Si la Terre abrite nombre d'espèces incroyables, elle a également vu naître une espèce dont la cupidité et l'arrogance pourraient venir à bout des autres terriens : l'humain.
Sécheresse : l'été 2020 bat le record en France
L'été qui vient de s'achever a été le plus sec depuis le début des mesures des précipitations en France en 1959, selon Météo-France qui souligne qu'il s'agit du troisième été consécutif record en la matière. « L'été (21 juin au 20 septembre) a été le plus sec depuis le début des mesures en France. Ces étés record se succèdent: c'est la troisième année consécutive que la période estivale atteint des niveaux de sécheresse jamais mesurés précédemment », indique Météo-France.
La France a connu son été le plus sec depuis les premières mesures météo
L'été qui vient de s'achever a été le plus sec depuis le début des mesures des précipitations en France en 1959, selon Météo-France qui souligne qu'il s'agit du troisième été consécutif record en la matière. « L'été (21 juin au 20 septembre) a été le plus sec depuis le début des mesures en France. Ces étés record se succèdent: c'est la troisième année consécutive que la période estivale atteint des niveaux de sécheresse jamais mesurés précédemment », indique Météo-France.
Sécheresse : la France a connu son été le plus sec jamais mesuré
L'été qui vient de s'achever a été le plus sec depuis le début des mesures des précipitations en France en 1959, selon Météo-France qui souligne qu'il s'agit du troisième été consécutif record en la matière. « L'été (21 juin au 20 septembre) a été le plus sec depuis le début des mesures en France. Ces étés record se succèdent: c'est la troisième année consécutive que la période estivale atteint des niveaux de sécheresse jamais mesurés précédemment », indique Météo-France.
L’été 2020 a été le plus sec jamais mesuré en France
L'été qui vient de s'achever a été le plus sec depuis le début des mesures des précipitations en France en 1959, selon Météo-France qui souligne qu'il s'agit du troisième été consécutif record en la matière. « L’été (21 juin au 20 septembre) a été le plus sec depuis le début des mesures en France. Ces étés record se succèdent: c'est la troisième année consécutive que la période estivale atteint des niveaux de sécheresse jamais mesurés précédemment », indique Météo-France.
Killing Charlie: the attacks that heralded France’s year of terror
By Clare Byrne, AFP Paris “Nothing will ever be as before,” predicted Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo after two gunmen massacred cartoonists at the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine in Paris five years ago. The attack on the weekly – with its long history of mocking religion – was the first in a series of assaults that have claimed more than 250 lives since January 7, 2015, mostly at the hands of young French-born extremists.
The first transatlantic flight 100 years ago
By Olivier Thibault, AFP Paris When two British pilots steered a biplane across the vast Atlantic 100 years ago, battling frozen sleet and thick fog for more than 16 hours, they were making aviation history. With their harrowing 3,000km (1,860-mile) crossing, Captain John Alcock and navigator Lieutenant Arthur Whitten Brown completed the world’s first non-stop transatlantic flight.
Serena Williams joins No. 1 Osaka on way out of French Open
Serena Williams joins No. 1 Osaka on way out of French Open PARIS: Serena Williams’ quest for a 24th Grand Slam title ended with her earliest loss at a major tournament in five years. Williams was outplayed in the third round of the French Open by 20-year-old American Sofia Kenin, who used clean, deep groundstrokes to put together the 6-2, 7-5 upset Saturday.
Nadal, Djokovic have it easy at Roland Garros
PARIS: Defending champion Rafael Nadal got his bid for a record-extending 12th French Open title off to the perfect start by brushing aside German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann, while world No. 1 Novak Djokovic was also a comfortable victor in the first round at Roland Garros on Monday. Nadal, a 17-time Grand Slam champion, cruised to a 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 victory on the rebuilt Court Philippe Chatrier to set up a clash with another German qualifier — world No. 114 Yannick Maden — in round two.
Investigators rule out as ‘improbable’ theory that exploding phone caused EgyptAir crash
PARIS: It is improbable that an exploding smartphone or tablet caused the crash of an Airbus jet operated by EgyptAir three years ago, according to an expert report commissioned by French authorities and seen by AFP on Sunday. The plane, flying from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport to Cairo, crashed over the Mediterranean between Crete and the northern coast of Egypt on May 19, 2016 killing all 66 people on board.
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