At a workshop in Seine-Saint-Denis on the outskirts of the French capital, some 20 costume designers and milliners were hunched over their creations during a recent visit by AFP. It is just one of around 20 workshops dotted around France, humming with the sound of sewing machines and piled high with rolls of fabric and props a month ahead of next month's Games. Costumes were hung on the racks but were covered with a tarpaulin to preserve the surprise. "We are creating the biggest party in the world," said Daphne Burki... Читать дальше...
Son Woong-jung, a former footballer who shot to prominence in South Korea thanks to the success of his striker son, runs a training academy for aspiring players. Son senior has also authored a best-selling memoir, outlining his football philosophy and detailing how he helped his son become one of the best strikers in the English Premier League. South Korean media reported Wednesday on allegations of physical and verbal abuse made by one of his football academy's students, who claimed a coach hit him with a corner flag during training... Читать дальше...
The country is home to a large majority of the world's rhinos and as such is a hotspot for poaching driven by demand from Asia, where horns are used in traditional medicine for their supposed therapeutic effect. At the Limpopo rhino orphanage in the Waterberg area, in the country's northeast, a few of the thick-skinned herbivores grazed in the low savannah. James Larkin, director of the University of the Witwatersrand's radiation and health physics unit who spearheaded the initiative, told AFP... Читать дальше...
Pro-Israel centrist George Latimer on Tuesday defeated Rep. Jamaal Bowman, one of the most outspoken critics of Israel in Congress, in a contentious Democratic primary in suburban New York. The vote put a spotlight on the party’s divisions over the Israel-Hamas war. Bowman has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, where thousands of Palestinians have died in military strikes.
New Zealand will play their first game of the year when they host England on July 6 in Dunedin before the teams meet again the following Saturday at Auckland's Eden Park. The All Blacks haven't beaten the touring visitors since 2018. England forced them into a 25-all draw when the sides met in 2022 at Twickenham, three years after New Zealand were stunned 19-7 in the semi-finals of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, when Savea scored the All Blacks' only try against the English. "We understand what they bring and if we don't match up or front up... Читать дальше...
Australia's prime minister said Wednesday he was "very pleased" by the plea deal that ended WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's long legal "saga". Assange is on a flight home to Australia after spending more than five years in London's high-security Belmarsh prison fighting extradition to the United States for revealing US state secrets. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective on the Assange 'saga', François Picard is joined by Andrew Fowler. Investigative journalist, former ABC Four Corners reporter.
Norway's largest pension fund said Wednesday it had divested from US industrial group Caterpillar because of the risk its equipment was being used by the Israeli army in Gaza.Follow our liveblog for all the latest developments.
Iranians vote on Friday to elect a new president from six candidates, including a lone reformist who hopes he can challenge the dominance of conservatives in the Islamic republic.
Victory for the 21-year-old Spanish crowd-pleaser will give him back-to-back Grand Slam crowns after his French Open triumph and a fourth major. Djokovic, the seven-time champion, is an injury doubt as is 2013 and 2016 winner Andy Murray. AFP Sport looks at three talking points ahead of the tournament which starts at the All England Club on Monday. Sun setting on golden generation? Eight-time champion Roger Federer is retired, Rafael Nadal, a two-time winner, is sitting out the tournament to focus on the Olympics... Читать дальше...
De Minaur was selected Wednesday to spearhead a four-pronged Australian medal assault in the men's singles alongside Alexei Popyrin, Chris O'Connell and Rinky Hijikata -- who will all be taking part in their first Olympics. "Obviously last time round I got a little bit unlucky to not be able to play in Tokyo," said De Minaur. "But I've had my eyes set on Paris and I am super excited to now be officially part of this team. "I am really looking forward to just immersing myself in what it means... Читать дальше...
Lionel Messi hit the post for Argentina in the first half but the World Cup winners had their goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to thank for keeping them on level terms before Lautaro's late strike settled a pulsating clash in front of 82,000 fans at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. There were enough openings for the 15-times Copa America champions to get the breakthrough much earlier but a combination of poor finishing and an inspired performance from Chile's 41-year-old goalkeeper Claudio Bravo left the score deadlocked. Читать дальше...
US journalist Evan Gershkovich will face the start of a closed-door trial on espionage charges in Russia on Wednesday, more than a year after he became the first Western journalist since the Soviet era to be detained on such accusations.
The health ministry said that transgender people will instead be described as having "gender discordance" to ensure universal access to mental health treatment. The move came after the government last month updated its list of insurable health conditions -- which since 2021 has offered benefits for mental health treatment -- to include services for transgender people. In that decree, the health ministry described transgender people -- those who reject the sex they were assigned at birth -- as... Читать дальше...
Lille striker David – who is reportedly being targeted by Premier League sides Manchester United and Chelsea – once again demonstrated his eye for goal with a cool finish to secure all three points for Canada against 10-man Peru at the Children’s Mercy Park Stadium. A game played in scorching afternoon sunshine – with on-pitch temperatures nudging towards 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) – saw one of the two referee's assistants collapse with apparent heat exhaustion just before half-time. Читать дальше...
Five more police officers allegedly placed bets on the UK general election date, a force spokesperson said Tuesday, as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak withdrew support from two Conservative candidates over the escalating scandal.
An armed group killed 20 troops and one civilian in jihadist-plagued western Niger on Tuesday, the defence ministry said, announcing three days of national mourning.
More than 31 percent of adults -- 1.8 billion people -- did not get the recommended amount of physical exercise in 2022, an increase of five percentage points from 2010, according to a study by the World Health Organization and other researchers. "Physical inactivity is a silent threat to global health, contributing significantly to the burden of chronic diseases," said Ruediger Krech, director of the WHO's health promotion department. "Unfortunately the world is not going in the right direction," he told an online press conference. Читать дальше...
Southgate's side finished top of Group C despite a third successive underwhelming performance that was greeted with disdain by their fans in Cologne. While Slovenia's players and fans celebrated wildly at the other end of the stadium after reaching the knockout stage, Southgate and his players were greeted with jeers when they trudged towards the England supporters. Southgate was targeted by beer cups that missed the Three Lions boss but clearly left an impression on his psyche. Coming after several... Читать дальше...
Kek's men are now unbeaten in nine games and qualified for the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams after drawing all of their Group C matches. Slovenia only missed out on second place in the section due to Denmark's superior disciplinary record. "I didn't expect to be going into the knockout phase," said Kek. "But we showed with our play we deserved to be here and go into the knockouts against one of the favourites for the tournaments." England were booed off in Cologne despite... Читать дальше...
Phelps and Schmitt issued their calls in written testimony released ahead of their appearances before a US Congressional oversight and investigations subcommittee hearing in Washington to be held later Tuesday. Both Phelps and Schmitt, along with US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) chief executive Travis Tygart, who is also due to testify at the hearing, took aim at WADA over the recent revelations concerning 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for banned prescription heart medication trimetazidine (TMZ) in early 2021. Читать дальше...
England manager Gareth Southgate was met with boos and thrown beer cups by his own fans despite topping Group C as Slovenia also progressed to the knockout stages thanks to a 0-0 draw in Cologne.
Denmark drew 0-0 with Serbia in Munich on Tuesday but qualified second in the group after the parallel England-Slovenia Group C match finished with the same scoreline. With Denmark and Slovenia equal on points along with goals scored and assisted -- and even disciplinary records -- the Danes progressed due to having a higher European qualification ranking. As a result, Denmark -- who reached the semi-finals of the most recent Euros -- will face hosts Germany in Dortmund on Saturday. "Everything... Читать дальше...
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and the chief of the main far-right party Jordan Bardella clashed in an ill-tempered debate Tuesday that exposed fierce tensions less than a week ahead of the most polarising election in decades.
The 0-0 stalemate finished with the same scoreline as England and Slovenia's parallel group match, with England emerging group winners. With Denmark and Slovenia both finishing on the same points total and goal tally, second-place -- and a meeting with hosts Germany -- was decided on the basis of European qualifiers ranking. While Denmark face Germany in Dortmund, England will return to Gelsenkirchen for a meeting with a third-placed side. Slovenia will take on a group winner while Serbia were eliminated as last in the group. Читать дальше...
The Three Lions were already assured of a place in the last 16 but were booed off in Cologne and can expect more criticism after failing to improve on underwhelming performances in edging past Serbia and drawing with Denmark. England will have to wait until Wednesday's final group games to find out which of the four best third-placed teams they will face in the last 16. But more questions will be asked over one of the favourites' ability to end a 58-year wait for major tournament glory as a star-studded... Читать дальше...
