Young people in Francewill have free access to condoms from January, in a bid to minimise the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
The French president announced the new health measure on Thursday at an event for young people’s health.
Emmanuel Macron said young people would be able to collect them from pharmacies, and described the move as a “small revolution in prevention”.
In 2020 and 2021 France experienced a 30% national increase in STI rates.
The new measure comes alongside other health initiatives targeting the spread of STIs and improving access to contraception.
In 2018 the French government started reimbursing the costs of condoms to individuals, if purchased in a pharmacy with a prescription from a doctor or midwife.
Earlier this year the government made contraception free for all women up to 26 years old – a move that affected three million women. Contraception had previously been free for women and girls 18 or younger.
Mr Macron added in a tweet that Thursday’s announcement comes alongside other health measures.
They include free emergency contraception for all women in pharmacies, and free STI screenings without a prescription, except HIV, to those under the age of 26.
When France plays England in the World Cup quarterfinals, Ibrahima Konate is eager to get a close-up view of Kylian Mbappe and Kyle Walker’s struggle.
Following their victory against Poland, Didier Deschamps’ team will now face one of the few remaining unbeaten teams in Qatar 2022 when they face Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions.
The tournament’s top performer thus far has been forward Kylian Mbappe, who leads the Golden Boot standings with five goals.
But in England right-back Walker, he will likely have his biggest test to date. Konate is eager to watch the two clash.
“Walker and Mbappe are two very great players,” he said. “Walker is one of the best right-backs in the world, I cannot wait to see this battle.
“[But] it’s complicated [to defend against Mbappe]. Kylian is impressive. Each year, he evolves and becomes even better.
“I don’t know where he will stop. We are lucky to have him in our team and not against us.”
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Mbappe missed team training on Tuesday, instead completing routines inside away from the rest of the squad, sparking fears of a potential injury knock.
But Konate shut down such talk, suggesting instead it was a preordained decision as part of his post-match recovery process.
“It was a little recovery session, the day before we had a day off,” he added. “I think he decided to stay indoors with the coach.
“There is nothing to worry about. We are counting on him as on all the players in the group. Everyone must be in good health to face England.”
FIFA has rejected France’s appeal about the disqualification of Antoine Griezmann’s goal in the shocking 1-0 World Cup loss to Tunisia last week.
In the eighth minute of stoppage time at Education City Stadium, Griezmann volleyed home, believing he had neutralized Wahbi Khazri’s goal.
Griezmann’s goal was disallowed by referee Michael Conger for an offside violation after the cheers subsided and the game reached its conclusion.
A Tunisia defender assisted Aurelien Tchouameni’s ball into the path of the Atletico Madrid forward, who was deemed to have been offside when he fired in.
However, the French Football Federation (FFF) believed that the goal should have been allowed because play had temporarily resumed when VAR intervened, which is against the rules.
“We are writing a complaint after Antoine Griezmann’s goal was, in our opinion, wrongly disallowed,” the FFF said last Wednesday.
The result would have changed to 1-1 if France had been successful in their appeal, but the group D standings would not have changed.
FIFA stated in a statement on Monday that they will not be looking into the situation any further.
“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has dismissed the protest submitted by the French Football Association in relation to the Tunisia v France match,” the statement read.
Khazri’s superb strike ended reigning world champions France’s nine-game unbeaten run in the competition stretching back to the 2014 quarter-finals.
Les Blues went on to beat Poland 3-1 in Sunday’s last-16 tie and will now face England in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
Before England’s match against France, Bukayo Saka rejected comparisons between his performance at the 2022 World Cup and Kylian Mbappe’s breakout campaign four years prior.
In Sunday’s last-16 match, England overcame a shaky beginning to defeat Senegal 3-0, setting up a heavyweight quarterfinal matchup with Les Bleus. Saka scored his third World Cup goal as England advanced.
The next time England plays, Saka would be expected to help limit Mbappe after the Paris Saint-Germain star moved onto five goals for the tournament in his side’s 3-1 victory over Poland. Saka started three of England’s four games in Qatar from the right.
Saka does not want to contrast his own rookie season with that of the Frenchman, Kylian Mbappe, who became just the second youngster to score in a World Cup final in 2018 after Pele.
Asked whether he could follow in Mbappe’s footsteps by being named young player of the tournament, Saka said: “Thank you for the compliment, but there’s only one Kylian Mbappe.
“At the same time, there’s only one of me. I just want to be myself and help my team in the best way I can.
“There are many young players in this tournament, I can name so many.
“Even in our team, alongside me there’s another young player doing unbelievably well in Jude Bellingham. I’m just happy that we’re all here and doing well.
“The priority is to try to win the tournament, rather than to be the player of the tournament or young player of the tournament.”
Asked about Bellingham’s displays in the England midfield, Saka added: “He’s a special player. I don’t really know the words to describe him.
“I just hope he can continue to keep progressing because, for sure, he has a massive, massive future.”
Saka’s previous major tournament campaign ended with him missing the decisive penalty in England’s Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy, but the Arsenal winger believes his World Cup displays have gone some way to helping him banish that memory.
“Personally, I feel like I’ve tried to move on from that moment,” Saka said. “I know I can never really forget about it, it’s going to be history, but at the same time, coming out here and scoring those three goals has lifted me a lot.
“And of course, the love from the fans that I keep receiving lifts me a lot as well. It gives me a lot of confidence and I love to see it.”
With the prospect of taking part in another penalty shoot-out if the France match is a tight one, Saka insisted he would have no qualms about stepping up once again.
“I have matured and progressed a lot since that moment – I wouldn’t have stepped up the number of times I have for Arsenal if I was not confident,” he said.
“If the moment comes and I am selected to take it, I will be more than happy to.”
England have “silenced” their pre-tournament critics with “faultless” performances on their way to the World Cup quarter-finals, says Declan Rice.
Gareth Southgate’s side comfortably beat Senegal 3-0 on Sunday to set up a quarter-final against reigning world champions France.
England have won three and drawn one of their four matches in Qatar.
“I don’t think we get the credit we deserve in our performances,” said West Ham midfielder Rice, 23.
“If you look at other teams, like the Netherlands and Argentina, they win their games comfortably and they get called ‘masterclasses’.
“With us, it always gets picked off. The negative things always come that way. If you look at the last couple of games, it’s been faultless. I think countries should be starting to fear us now because we’re a great team.”
England have scored 12 goals in four matches in Qatar – the country’s joint-most at a major tournament, level with their 12 goals at the 2018 World Cup.
They have also kept a clean sheet in their past three games at the World Cup – their best run of games without conceding a goal in the competition since 1982.
“Going into the tournament, there was a lot of talk that we don’t score enough goals. That’s another one we’ve kept people quiet on,” added Rice.
“There was a lot of scrutiny around the defence and conceding goals, but it’s been solid. We’re going to keep building and pushing.”
Faced with the prospect of coming up against Paris St-Germain and France superstar Kylian Mbappe in Saturday’s quarter-final (19:00 GMT kick-off), Rice said England have nothing to fear.
“These are the games we want to play in. They only come around once. England versus France, quarter-final – it doesn’t get bigger than that,” he added.
“I’m sure the world will be watching. We really want to progress. There’s no point buzzing [about victory over Senegal] if we can’t push on and beat France.”
Tottenham defender Eric Dier added: “When you get to the quarter-finals of the World Cup, everyone is going to be very good. It is to be expected.
“No-one will fear anyone. They’re a great team with very great players – but so are we.”
Burkinabe Prime Minister Apollinaire Kiélem de Tembela has asked France for “weapons and ammunition” for army auxiliaries who are helping him in his fight against jihadists, according to an article from his communications service.
During a meeting on Tuesday with Luc Hallade, French Ambassador to Burkina Faso, the Prime Minister “stressed that the partners’ efforts must focus on the deep aspirations of the people of Burkina Faso, a people committed to defending themselves for freedom, against barbarism and terrorism”, indicates this article consulted Thursday by AFP.
“This is what justifies the launch of the operation to recruit 50,000 Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP)”, the army auxiliaries, he explained, adding: “France could help this popular resistance by providing arms and ammunition and also taking into account the financial support of the brave fighters.
To Mr Hallade’s “concerns” “about the impossibility for French NGOs based in Burkina Faso to travel to the field for their activities “, Mr Kyelem de Tembela replied: “This is the reason why you must help us to have the necessary equipment to overcome terrorism”.
“The Burkinabè are looking for a lifeline for their country and if this lifeline must come from another country other than France, why not?”, he added.
The Burkinabè Prime Minister also affirmed during this meeting that “Burkina Faso has been cornered for six years and nobody is moved”. He considered that France “showed a different solicitude when it came to helping Ukraine in the recent conflict between it and Russia”.
At the end of his meeting with Mr Kyélem de Tembela, Luc Hallade felt that everyone had an “interest” in ensuring that Burkina, plagued by jihadist violence, “stays upright “.
This request for help to the VDPs “is made repeatedly, whether by him (the Prime Minister) or by other authorities” and “it is a complaint that remains on the table”, according to a French diplomatic source.
“But the question for us is: if you need help in the fight against terrorism, why don’t you call on the (French) special forces who are based in Kamboinsin (near Ouagadougou) and who are available to intervene? The only condition for intervention is that you ask us,” she added.
According to this source, “we accuse France of not helping, but when there is a tool which is immediately available and a priori effective for an intervention” which “we do not call on, it is very complex”.
The VDPs are paying a heavy price in the jihadist attacks by groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State which regularly strike Burkina Faso, particularly in the north and east.
Since 2015, Burkinabe civilians and soldiers have been regularly bereaved by increasingly frequent jihadist attacks, particularly in the north and east, which have killed thousands and forced some two million people to flee their homes.
Few things are more iconically French than the humble baguette.
After all, the country is said to produce 16 million people per day.
Nonetheless, the baguette has been on the decline in recent years, as traditional bakeries compete with the rise of large supermarkets and the growing popularity of sourdough.
But now there’s reason to rejoice, as Unesco has added the baguetteto its list of “intangible cultural heritage.”
The body announced it had added “artisanal know-how and culture of baguette bread” to its list of 600 other items, joining things like traditional tea making in China and a Korean mask dance known as “talchum” – both also included for the first time in 2022.
Its inclusion “celebrates the French way of life”, Unesco chief Audrey Asoulay said, adding: “The baguette is a daily ritual, a structuring element of the meal, synonymous with sharing and conviviality.
“It is important that these skills and social habits continue to exist in the future.”
‘Envied around the world’
The exact provenance of the baguette is not known: some suggest the bread was ordered by Napoleon because it would be easier for soldiers to carry, while others suggest it came along later – an easy bread for workers to tear and share without the need of a knife in Paris. Others still credit an Austrian baker in the 1830s for its shape.
However, the baguette as we know it today was only officially named just over 100 years ago, in 1920. It was then that strict rules about what classed as a baguette were put in place – standardised at 80cm (30ins) and 250g (8oz). It even had a fixed price until 1986.
By the middle of the 20th Century, the baguette had won over the country. But since 1970, 400 artisanal bakeries have closed down each year, with the total number across France dropping from 55,000 to 35,000 today, according to news agency AFP.
And yet it remains key to French identity, with President Emmanuel Macron saying the baguette was “envied around the world”. Mr Macron – who has long fought to get the baguette added to the list – noted after the announcement that the baguette was “250 grams of magic and perfection in our daily lives”.
IMAGE SOURCE,UNESCO Image caption, The French delegation celebrated the announcement by waving baguettes in the air
“The baguette is flour, water, salt, yeast – and the know-how of the craftsman,” Dominique Anract, president of the baker’s federation, said in a press release.
Parisian baker Priscilla Hayertz acknowledged to AFP that it was “a basic product” but one “that affects all socio-cultural categories, whether you’re rich, poor… it doesn’t matter, everyone eats baguettes”.
Only France, Brazil, and Portugal have already qualified for the World Cup knockout rounds, with many other teams facing a nerve-wracking penultimate matchday in their quest to advance to Qatar’s round of 16.
Favorites entering the tournament With victories over Serbia and Switzerland, Brazil easily advanced from Group G, while France became the first team to retain its global championship since the Selecao in 2006 to do so.
Portugal’s win over Uruguay on Monday in Group H ensured their place in the round of 16, but other teams like England, Spain, Germany, and Argentina still need results on matchday three to advance.
Another well-known team that hasn’t confirmed their participation in the FIFA World Cup’s latter rounds is the Netherlands, and Belgium must defeat Croatia in Group F to avoid an early elimination.
Here, we examine the potential outcomes depending on the final decision about group-stage action in the Middle East.
The Netherlands are essentially in charge of Group A and only need to avoid losing to Qatar, the group’s eliminated hosts.
If Ecuador defeats Senegal, who also needs to win, Louis van Gaal’s team will also go to the round of 16, but Aliou Cisse’s team will need Qatar to defeat the Netherlands to have any chance of competing.
Ecuador, who has performed admirably in their first two games, must defeat Senegal or draw to advance. However, if Qatar defeats the Netherlands, Gustavo Alfaro’s team may lose and not advance.
Group B
Against ferocious rivals Wales, England needs just to win or draw. However, as long as they avoid a four-goal loss against Wales, whose goal differential is six lower, the Three Lions would still advance.
Iran will automatically advance if they defeat the United States, who are aware that failure to defeat Carlos Queiroz’s team will result in their elimination from the competition.
Quieroz’s team might still finish first in Group B with a draw, but if Wales defeats Gareth Southgate’s England, goal differential would become important.
All four teams still have a chance to advance from the intriguing Group C, with Argentina—one of the pre-tournament favorites—necessitating a victory over Poland to ensure a spot in the round of 16.
The Albiceleste, though, might advance with a draw and would be eliminated in that scenario if Mexico and Saudi Arabia also shared the points.
However, Argentina will lose if Lionel Scaloni’s team is stopped and Herve Renard’s team defeats El Tri. Goal differential will decide the winner if Mexico wins and Argentina draws.
Poland would go through by avoiding defeat, but would be knocked out by a loss coupled with a Saudi Arabia victory over Mexico, who must win to have any chance of remaining in the tournament.
Goal difference will be used to divide the two teams if Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia tie and if Mexico triumphs and Czeslaw Michniewicz’s team loses.
Group D
As long as Australia doesn’t beat Denmark and France doesn’t lose to Tunisia, the French will win Group D; otherwise, the Socceroos would tie France on points with six. France is already in the round of 16 draw.
Even though a win would send Australia through, Graham Arnold’s team would still advance to the knockout round with a tie, barring Tunisia’s victory over France, which would allow Jalel Kadri’s team to advance on goal differential.
Unless Tunisia defeats France, Denmark would qualify with a victory over Australia. In that case, the difference between the Carthage Eagles and Kasper Hjulmand’s team would be determined by goal differential or goals scored.
Onto the next! France’s 2-1 win over Denmark moves them onto the round of 16.
Spain are the favourites to progress from Group E, requiring a win or draw against Japan. Defeat would see Luis Enrique’s side still go through on goal difference, unless Germany lose to Costa Rica.
Germany must pick up three points to stay in contention and would qualify as long as Spain defeat Japan, though a draw in the latter game or a win for Hajime Moriyasu’s men would see goal difference needed.
A win for Japan over Spain would take Moriyasu’s side through, while a draw – coupled with a stalemate for Germany – would also see the Samurai Blue make the knockout stage.
Costa Rica would earn a last-16 spot with victory and a point would also take them through if Spain overcome Japan. A draw in both games or a defeat for Fernando Suarez’s side sees them eliminated.
Group F
Croatia will pass through Group F if they avoid defeat against Belgium, who require victory against the 2018 runners-up to guarantee a place in the round of 16.
Such a win for Belgium would leave Croatia needing already eliminated Canada to overcome Morocco, with goal difference coming into play to separate Zlatko Dalic’s side from the Atlas Lions.
A draw is likely not enough for Belgium. They would need Morocco to lose to Canada and then rely on goal difference, though Walid Regragui’s men (+2) hold the advantage over Roberto Martinez’s side (-1) in the decisive metric.
Morocco would progress with victory over Canada, while a defeat would see Regragui’s side reliant on Belgium beating Croatia for goal difference to be decisive between Dalic’s men and the Atlas Lions for second.
Group G
Brazil have secured knockout football and will finish as Group G winners with anything other than defeat against Cameroon, who need victory against Tite’s side and results to go their way to make the last 16.
Rigobert Song’s men would be eliminated if they do not win, though victory is not guaranteed to secure progression as Switzerland could play out a high-scoring draw with Serbia to go through on goals scored, which is used if sides cannot be separated on goal difference – Cameroon are currently on -1 and Switzerland level in the latter metric.
The somewhat expected scenario of Cameroon losing to Brazil would see Serbia and Switzerland become a winner-takes-all clash.
Dragan Stojkovic’s side need victory to progress in that instance, while a draw would be enough for Switzerland. Goal difference would be required if Serbia (-2) and Cameroon (-1) both win their final encounters.
Portugal are already through and would top Group H by avoiding defeat against South Korea, who could still make a late charge for the round-of-16 stage should the result between Uruguay and Ghana go their way.
The permutations are straightforward for Uruguay and South Korea, who must win to avoid elimination, though qualification is not assured even with victory.
Both teams would be level on four points with victories, again leading to goal difference to separate. Yet, if Ghana beat Uruguay then South Korea’s result against Portugal will prove irrelevant for Paulo Bento’s side.
A draw for Ghana and a win for South Korea would also see goal difference required to split the two sides, with Bento’s men trailing the Black Stars by one in that metric, which could mean goals scored comes into it.
Following his outstanding performance against Australia, Hugo Lloris is certain Adrien Rabiot will be essential to France’s World Cup defense, while Didier Deschamps expects even more from Ousmane Dembele.
Rabiot took on a central role for Les Bleus in their 4-1 victory over the Socceroos in Qataras a result of the injuries to Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante.
Before halftime, the Juventus midfielder took control of the situation by equalizing Craig Goodwin’s earlier goal and helping set up the first of Olivier Giroud’s two goals.
Rabiot then became the first French player since Christophe Dugarry against South Africa in 1998 to both score and assist a goal in his World Cup debut.
Lloris said: “A lot has been said about the absences of Kante and Pogba, who have been vital engines for us for some years now.
“But you can forget that there are players who can step up and have the maturity and experience to take a leading role – Adrien has that.
“We know his qualities, there is an opportunity for him at this World Cup.
“The opportunity is coming at the right time and he has shown that against Australia.
“He stepped up and scored that goal and gave an assist to Olivier, it shows the impact he can have on the team.
“We know how talented he is, but he also is a very hard worker, he is very technically gifted, a very elegant player. I’m sure he’ll help us go as far as possible.”
Although Dembele contributed to Australia’s triumph, Deschamps thinks he still has to work on his game.
The Barcelona forward started France’s opening two games at the 2018 tournament, but he only made two more substitute appearances in Russia. His superb cross set up Kylian Mbappe.
After that, he did not play in the final victory.
But Deschamps insists Dembele has not arrived in Qatar with a point to prove, saying: “I don’t think he wants to make up for it or forget it; he was in 2018 squad, and it was successful.
“Four years ago, he was going through a difficult time with major injuries. Now, he is more mature, but he is still full of youthful exuberance. He is in a club that is very demanding, and maybe he is better at that club.
“He is always capable of creating problems for the opponent as he is so quick and skilful, but he needs to rule out any wastefulness and be as effective as he possibly can.
“He was pleased to be in first XI [against Australia], and he put in a good performance.”
The National Assembly of Francehas backed a proposal to enshrine the right to abortion in the country’s constitution, prompted largely by increased restrictions elsewhere.
A large majority of lawmakers voted to include a clause guaranteeing “the effectiveness and equal access to the right to end pregnancy voluntarily.”
The change, according to left-wing MP Mathilde Panot, is intended to protect against the “backsliding” seen in the United States and Poland.
However, the bill’s passage will be difficult.
Last month the upper house, the Senate, rejected a similar proposal and is thought unlikely to back the new amendment. Right-wing parties – which dominate the Senate – argue that abortion rights are not under threat in France.
A change of constitution would also have to go to a referendum, although opinion polls suggest more than 80% of French voters are behind it.
Ms Panot’s amendment went through after securing the support of MPs in Emmanuel Macron’s ruling Renaissance party, but a reference to the right to contraception was scrapped.
Macron MP Aurore Bergé had been due to present her own abortion amendment next week but withdrew it, telling MPs how her mother had endured an abortion without anaesthetic before it was legalised in 1974.
“The question of access to abortion and of protecting it isn’t a whim; it shouldn’t be politicised; it’s not a matter of party politics,” she said.
Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti also backed changing the constitution and praised the “historic” vote.
Last February, the French parliament voted to extend the legal timeframe for abortion from 12 to 14 weeks, similar to neighbouring Spain. It is lower than other European countries, including Sweden, the Netherlands, England, Wales and Scotland.
Ms Panot dedicated Thursday’s vote to women in the US, Poland and Hungary. Her push to change constitution was triggered by a vote in the US Supreme Court to end the national guarantee to abortion access, overturning the landmark Roe v Wade ruling in 1973.
Thirteen US states have since begun enforcing abortion bans, while voters in states including California backed proposals this month to enshrine the right to abortion in their constitution.
Poland has a near-total abortion ban and this year began enforcing a ruling that terminating pregnancies with foetal defects was unconstitutional.
Meanwhile, Hungary’s nationalist government recently tightened restrictions on abortion to require pregnant women to prove a foetus’s sign of life before requesting a termination.
The move by the Malian authorities to ban all organisations supported or financed by France has elicited mixed reactions.
The ban has added up on the tension that has existed between Mali and France following the withdrawal of all French forces from its territory.
A number of Malians have supported the move indicating that this will usher in a new begin for self dependence without foreign interference.
“On the contrary, it is us who are helping France, it is of no help here. I wonder in which sector France helps Mali. Not only with the NGOs, that they don’t set foot here again. We are autonomous,” a Bamako resident said.
“You have to get rid of the idea of addiction. The Malian has become hybrid here is the whole problem. We can indeed do without French funding. On the contrary, all the raw materials come from us, then these products are transformed at home and then come back to help us with them. If we manage to hold on, it will be up to France to come and ask for help,” another resident said.
Frances foreign minister had last week said they would maintain its humanitarian aid as well as financing for “civil society organisations” in Mali, a decision that now sits in limbo.
The West African nation’s interim Prime Minister Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga justified the move in a statement on social media, calling it a response to France’s recent halt to development aid for Mali.
The French foreign ministry said last week it had made the decision, which came three months after finalising its pull-out of anti-jihadist forces from the country, over Bamako’s alleged use of paramilitaries from Russian group Wagner.
Bamako denies this, acknowledging only the support of Russian military “instructors”.
Maiga spoke in his statement of “fanciful allegations” and “subterfuge intended to deceive and manipulate national and international public opinion for the purpose of destabilising and isolating Mali”.
“As a result, the transitional government has decided to ban, with immediate effect, all activities carried out by NGOs operating in Mali with funding or material or technical support from France, including in the humanitarian field,” it said.
Ousmane Dembelesays he has “matured” as a person and a player since France last the World Cup in 2018, following a victorious start to their title defence against Australia.
The Barcelona winger started as Didier Deschamps’ side bounced back from an early Craig Goodwin finish to win 4-1 in Al Wakrah, thanks to an Olivier Giroud double and goals from Adrien Rabiot and Kylian Mbappe.
Having been an unused substitute four years ago as Les Bleus beat Croatia in the final in Russia, Dembele is looking to play his part in what he hopes to be a successive World Cup triumph.
With his Blaugrana form having turned a corner after a prolonged saga over his future at the club, he feels he is in a stronger place to contribute now for the national team at Qatar 2022.
“There has been three difficult seasons with Barcelona,” he stated. “When you look at the first two games [I played in] 2018 and this year there is a lot of difference.
“I have matured. I didn’t have a healthy lifestyle as you can imagine, [though] it wasn’t a party! But I’m a little older now, [at] 25.”
2 – France have scored 2+ headed goals in a World Cup game for the first time since the 1998 final against Brazil. Strong. #FRAAUSpic.twitter.com/mdIAahajfG
France’s recovery ensured they dodged an upset against Australia, but other heavyweight favourites have been less fortunate so far at the World Cup.
Argentina were stunned by lowly Saudi Arabia, while Germany, looking to recover from a chastening campaign in Russia, failed to stop a comeback from Japan.
Dembele says it leaves a warning that no match is easy at Qatar 2022, and that bigger sides write off theoretical underdogs at their peril.
“There are no small teams,” he added. “Everyone knows how to play football, how to work on tactics. We saw that with Saudi Arabia.
“When you lower the intensity, you get trapped. But with our team, if we put all the ingredients together, we will not have to worry.”
France are next in action when they play Denmark in Group D on November 26, before their final group stage match against Tunisia four days later.
Didier Deschamps has defended his decision to substitute Olivier Giroud in France’s World Cup win over Australia, delaying his bid to become France’s all-time leading goalscorer outright.
Giroud equalled Thierry Henry’s record of 51 goals for France with a brace on Tuesday, helping Les Bleus fight back to post a 4-1 win in their Group D contest.
However, the striker was replaced by Marcus Thuram in the closing stages, meaning he will have to wait until Saturday’s meeting with Denmark for another chance to seize the record for himself.
Deschamps was defensive when asked why he withdrew Giroud in his post-match press conference, responding: “Would you like to take my place and be the coach?
“Olivier Giroud did what he does best, he scored goals. You have to manage a lot of things as a coach.
“We have another match in four days and we’d already scored four goals, so sometimes it’s good to give someone else a chance and give him a rest.
“You tend to talk about records a lot, he tends to focus on what he does on the pitch.
“He was very effective tonight, which is great for him, he’s useful with the way he links up with the other attackers in our team.”
51 – Olivier Giroud has scored his 51st goal for France, joining Thierry Henry as France’s topscorer. Olive. #FRAAUSpic.twitter.com/mLwtMFr4ik
As well as claiming a slice of France history, Giroud – aged 36 years and 53 days – became the second-oldest player to score a World Cup brace, after Roger Milla did so twice at the 1990 tournament when 38 years old.
France initially looked unlikely to make a positive start to their World Cup defence, with Adrien Rabiot having to cancel out Craig Goodwin’s opener before Giroud took centre stage.
Deschamps was pleased with Les Bleus’ response to going behind after witnessing other sides fail to fight back in the tournament’s opening round of fixtures.
“I think we began the match well, we linked up well in the first few minutes but we let in a goal which we should have avoided,” Deschamps said.
“It was tough, but in the second half we showed a lot more confidence, we created a lot more chances and scored four goals, so of course that is good. We could have scored more, but it’s a very good beginning.
“The first match is always vital, so I have to congratulate the team. We saw some earlier games where teams were unable to respond, but we did. We showed strength of character.”
Tuesday began with one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history as Saudi Arabia beat Argentina 2-1, but Deschamps said that surprise result had no bearing on France’s approach.
“The players saw that match, but you have to focus on the opponent that’s in front of you,” he added.
1 – France 🇫🇷 is the first reigning champion to win its World Cup debut since Brazil 🇧🇷 in 2006, registering the biggest ever MD1 win by a reigning champion in the competition. Solid.#FRA#FIFAWorldCuppic.twitter.com/9HkuvxrBYm
Graham Arnold has refused to mention the names of France’s star players, including Kylian Mbappe, ahead of Australia’s clash against the World Cup holders.
The Socceroos meet Les Bleus for the second successive finals, with Paul Pogba’s deflected late strike sealing a narrow 2-1 win for Didier Deschamps’ side in Russia four years ago.
Australia head into their Group D opener having failed to register a clean sheet in 10 previous World Cup matches against European nations, with their only clean sheet at the finals against any opposition coming in a goalless draw against Chile in 1974.
But Arnold, who was the Socceroos’ assistant to Pim Verbeek at the 2010 tournament in South Africa, has tried to ease the pressure on his players.
“It’s not being disrespectful at all, but I’ve hardly mentioned the word France,” he said. “And I’ve hardly mentioned any of the players’ names because the players know who they are,
“It’s one against one, it’s 10 blue shirts against 10 yellow shirts, and it’s a fight. That’s what it is.”
Mat Ryan, who is set to become the first Australia goalkeeper to appear at three World Cups, was between the sticks for that 2-1 defeat in 2018.
But despite the reverse, the Socceroos captain believes the experience will serve his side well four years later.
“[We] felt like we almost got a great result there against France, and we felt were quite unlucky,” he reflected.
“Something that I learned that day, you’ve got to have the right amount of respect for the opposition, but don’t be in awe of them or be overwhelmed too much.
“We’re playing some very good players in a good team, but we’re all human out there, and we’ve got a real good chance to win.”
As the daughter of actor Johnny Depp and singer Vanessa Paradis she grew up fully aware of celebrity, though she told Elle magazine in a recently published interview “my parents protected my brother [Jack] and me from it as much as possible.”
Now, as a model and an actress set to star in forthcoming series, “The Idol,” the 23-year-old is sharing why she didn’t publicly speak out during her father’s high profile trial with his ex-wife, Amber Heard.
“When it’s something that’s so private and so personal that all of a sudden becomes not so personal…I feel really entitled to my secret garden of thoughts,” the younger Depp told Elle. “I also think that I’m not here to answer for anybody, and I feel like for a lot of my career, people have really wanted to define me by the men in my life, whether that’s my family members or my boyfriends, whatever. And I’m really ready to be defined for the things that I put out there.”
Paradis is a star in her native France and Depp talked about how much she idolized her mom growing up.
Now she’s carving her own path, having appeared in several productions like the 2019 film, “The King.”
Depp said she finds celebrity “a weird thing to navigate.”
“It’s different experiencing it firsthand rather than by proxy,” she said. “I guess it’s something that I’ve had to make my own way with.”
“The Idol” is set to air next year on HBO, which is owned by CNN’s parent company.
Christian Eriksen’s love for football brings joy to Kasper Hjulmand, who believes Denmark must set out to win the World Cup.
Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest during Denmark’s first game of Euro 2020 against Finland in Copenhagen last year.
Denmark’s players shielded their team-mate from the eyes of the crowd and cameras as Eriksen received emergency medical treatment.
The midfielder made an incredible recovery and six months later returned to action when he signed for Brentford, having been unable to play for Inter after having a cardioverter defibrillator device fitted.
Eriksen was superb for the Bees and earned a move to Manchester United, where he has made a strong start to the season and is back to spearhead Denmark’s bid to go deep into the World Cup.
“Before the Euros, before everything happened with Christian I said he was the heart and heartbeat of the team,” Hjulmand said in a press conference.
“When he plays he has a fantastic way of taking the rhythm of the game, feeling and controlling the game with his passing, intelligence, his vision and also his work ethic.
“It’s great to have Christian back. He’s a fantastic player but an even better person and on and off the pitch he gives us so much.
“I remember when he came back in March, in the first minutes he scored against the Netherlands in Amsterdam, and after that we had him back.
“It’s just a pleasure to work with Christian, you have to drag him off the pitch every day. He just loves playing. The love for the game is the most important thing for Christian.”
Denmark went on to reach the semi-finals of the European Championship without Eriksen, losing to England.
They face Tunisia in their opening match on Tuesday, with France and Australia their other opponents in Group D.
Asked by Stats Perform what targets Denmark had set for the tournament, Hjulmand replied: “I’m not very good at goal-setting like that. Our dream is to win something.
“So when you go into a tournament I think this group of players has the quality to win, and I mean win everything.
“Are we the favourites? No. I think still we have something to improve in our squad, our game, but we can beat everyone on the day.
“We have a very strong self-confidence, a very good group of players working well together and the best way of winning is to dream big and actually say that we go into a tournament to win it and then focus what’s right in front of you.
“The first thing is a very difficult game against Tunisia. We will see from there. We have a very good feeling, we are ready to attack.”
Pheasant Island is a tiny islandon the border between Spain and France that alternates ownership status between the two countries every six months.
Located on the Bidasoa River, the natural border between Spain and France, Pheasant Island is a deserted patch of land with a rather fascinating history and political status. It might not look like much today, but hundreds of years ago it was where the Thirty Years’ War between Spain and France finally ended.
The two countries sent a couple of their most important dignitaries to the island to negotiate, with their respective armies gathered on both sides of the Bidasoa, in case things went wrong. 11 years and 24 summits later, a deal was struck, and Pheasant Island became the world’s smallest condominium, under the joint sovereignty of the two nations.
When France and Spain decided to end their long war, Pheasant Island became a metaphor for long-lasting peace. French King Louis XIV married the daughter of King Philip IV, Maria Theresa of Spain on the tiny island, a monument to commemorate the historic agreement was built in the center of it, and most importantly, it was decided that, from that point on, both countries would have joint custody of the territory for six months out of a year.
Since 1660, when the landmark agreement was struck, Pheasant Island has belonged to Spain from 1 February to 31 July of each year, and to France for the other half of the year. Visitors are only allowed onto the island on rare occasions, like the bi-annual handover ceremony, or on rare heritage tours. Other than that, employees of the municipal governments of Irun, in Spain, and Hendaye, in France, will venture onto Pheasant Island every six months for cleaning and gardening work.
The Naval Commands of both Spain and France are responsible for monitoring Pheasant Island, so during their six months of annual ownership crews will land on it every five days.
Didier Deschamps has asked for “more understanding” as France adjust to their latest injuries, but Les Bleus intend to go “full steam ahead” with the same objectives as before.
France were already without Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante for the World Cup and have now lost Christopher Nkunku and Karim Benzema on the eve of the tournament.
Deschamps’ defending world champions head into their opener against Australia with uncertainty around much of their line-up, although the coach has “no worries at all” about Eduardo Camavinga’s fitness and confirmed Raphael Varane is fit to start.
Asked on Monday if France would have to reconsider their approach to the finals, Deschamps disagreed, although he asked the assembled media for their support.
“It is full steam ahead with the team we have available to us,” he said.
“Less ambition and less desire to do everything to get to the end? I don’t think so. But if we could have more understanding from the media, if you could cut us a little more slack, that would be great.
“But we know what is asked of us. We are not counting our chickens before they are hatched, we know our three opponents ahead of us.
“We know Australia very well, but you haven’t asked me anything about Australia. That’s perfect.”
Despite their difficulties, Deschamps says France have “no apprehension” and “no anxiety”, even with the past three World Cup holders exiting in the first round.
“This is based on statistics, probability, facts, but I think each team has undergone their own journey to get where they are today,” he said.
“It is up to us to have a squad that is aware of the objective of the first game. We’re not going to think about what could have been.
“What is important is to focus on the first game against Australia. Everything before is on the sideline now.
“There is analysis that can be made, do with them what you will, but we will be ready for tomorrow.”
In the absence of Benzema, Kylian Mbappe is set to have an even more prominent role, having starred in France’s Russia 2018 success.
“[Mbappe] played an important role four years ago on the pitch,” Deschamps said. “He was very mature at the time and is even more mature now because of what’s gone on over the course of the past four years. There’s been more global recognition, more responsibility.
“Obviously he has what it takes to stand out from the crowd, to score; his aura is second to none. This was the case four years ago, it still is the case now.”
According to captain Hugo Lloris, Mbappe is “involved, relaxed, concentrated, focused”.
Lloris was also asked about the OneLove captain’s armband – a campaign that promotes “inclusion and sends a message against discrimination of any kind”.
The France skipper had already confirmed he would not be wearing the armband, and it emerged shortly after his news conference other countries were backing out of the campaign following the threat of FIFA sanctions.
“FIFA is organising this competition,” Lloris said. “It is therefore up to FIFA to put into place a regulatory framework.
“As players, we’re here to play football and represent our teams to the best we can on a sporting front. I would prefer to stay in my box. I am a player and a competitor of this competition.
“Yes, there are many causes that are important and should be supported. They’re commendable. But it’s up to FIFA to take decisions with the organisation of the competition.”
France will not call up a replacement for Karim Benzemaafter the Ballon d’Or winner was ruled out of the World Cup with a thigh injury, head coach Didier Deschamps has confirmed.
Deschamps’ side are looking to become the first team to retain the trophy since Brazil in 1962, but they have suffered several injury blows ahead of the tournament in Qatar.
Having already seen midfielders Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante ruled out, France lost Presnel Kimpembe and Christopher Nkunku after naming their 26-man squad for the competition, but the most severe blow was still to come as Benzema was forced to leave their camp after failing to complete Saturday’s training session.
With Benzema facing three weeks on the sidelines, reports suggested France would decide whether to call up another attacker on Sunday, but Deschamps is content with his existing options.
“It’s obviously a big blow. Karim had done everything, so had we. He was in the session and with an almost innocuous gesture, he felt muscle pain on the other leg,” Deschamps told Telefoot.
“The exams unfortunately confirmed too much damage compared to the deadlines that await us.
“Will he be replaced? No. We have seven to eight attacking players.”
De ma vie je n’ai jamais abandonné mais ce soir il faut que je pense à l’équipe comme je l’ai toujours fait alors la raison me dit de laisser ma place à quelqu’un qui pourra aider notre groupe à faire une belle Coupe du Monde. Merci pour tous vos messages de soutien 🙌🏼❤️ pic.twitter.com/SBalX0juAH
Alongside 2018 World Cup winners Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and Ousmane Dembele, France can call upon Kingsley Coman, Randal Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram as attacking options.
Benzema has endured a frustrating season, missing several of Real Madrid’s games after sustaining a knee injury in September before being plagued by muscle fatigue in the build-up to the World Cup.
Deschamps insists France’s medical staff should not shoulder the blame for his latest injury, adding: “I know that you are looking for controversy, but everything has been done [for Benzema to be fit].
“It happened in the game, not even on an acceleration or a strike. It can happen, it’s never the right time, it’s not a relapse.
“He has a concern on the other side, which prevents him from staying with us. It’s never fun, it doesn’t make you smile.
“We had already lost Christopher, but we have a goal, the group knows very well what awaits us. We have a quality group. I am convinced of it, I have confidence in them.”
Deschamps offered a more positive update on the fitness of Raphael Varane, saying the Manchester United defender “will be available” for Tuesday’s Group D opener against Australia.
Varane had been a doubt for the tournament after suffering a leg injury in the Red Devils’ Premier League draw with Chelsea last month, but he completed his first collective training session since meeting up with Les Bleus on Saturday.
Youssouf Fofana says he “will do everything” possible to earn a place in France’s starting line-up at the World Cup in Qatar.
Fofana only made his Francedebut against Austria in September, but his impressive form in Ligue 1 for Monaco was enough to earn him a spot in Didier Deschamps’ 26-man squad for the tournament.
Injuries to fellow midfielders Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante mean he may even start for the reigning world champions, potentially alongside former team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni.
The 22-year-old says he will do all he can to receive a place among France’s starters for their opening match against Australia on Tuesday.
“As a newcomer [to the squad], we come to discover this great competition,” Fofana told reporters. “Whether you are 23 or 30, the first World Cup is always important.
“As a competitor, I will do everything to earn my place in the 11, like the 26, but always with respect for my teammates.”
Fofana’s late charge into the squad may induce questions of whether he is up to the required standard to play at a World Cup for France, but the 22-year-old feels his performances speak for themselves.
“As I said, it’s on the field that speaks,” Fofana added. “The coach validated me. After the first game [debut against Austria], everyone validated me too!
“I no longer have time to tell myself whether I am happy or proud. The competition starts in two days.
“Two major players are absent [Pogba and Kante], but they also started in the France team one day. There is a beginning for everything.”
France received a boost on Saturday as Raphael Varane returned to full training on Saturday.
After their match with Australia, Deschamps’ men will take on Denmark and Tunisia in Group D as they look to retain their World Cup crown.
France have been dealt another injury blow as Karim Benzema is out of the World Cup.
Benzema will become the first reigning Ballon d’Or winner to miss a world finals since Allan Simonsen’s Denmark failed to qualify for the 1978 tournament.
The ‘holders’ curse’ is now well established – Benzema had been hoping to help France end a sequence of three consecutive defending champions exiting in the first round – but Ballon d’Or victors have been no more fortunate.
In fact, stars entering a World Cup recognised as the world’s best player have never gone home with the trophy.
While Alfredo Di Stefano’s Spain, like Simonsen’s Denmark, did not qualify in 1958, Benzema is the first player to be absent through injury.
But plenty of all-time greats have suffered World Cup heartache at their peak.
Karim @Benzema has pulled out of the World Cup with a thigh injury.
Eusebio lived up to his billing of being the best player in the world at the time by finishing as top scorer in the 1966 World Cup with nine goals. Thanks to the form of their star man, Portugal made quite the impact in their maiden tournament as they eliminated Brazil, who were without the injured Pele, but his penalty against England was not enough as the Selecao suffered semi-final heartbreak. The photo of a crestfallen Eusebio being led off the Wembley pitch remains iconic to this day, with the game being dubbed ‘Jogo das Lagrimas’ – the Game of Tears.
Roberto Baggio (1994)
After initially struggling to get going at USA 94 in an underwhelming group stage for Italy, Baggio finally came to life and showed why he was the world’s best in the knockout rounds. The Juventus star scored late on against Nigeria to take the game to extra time and then netted the winning goal in the additional period to set up a quarter-final with Spain, against whom he also bagged the winner. That hot streak continued with two more goals against Bulgaria in the semis, yet the tournament would ultimately end in heartbreak as he skied the decisive penalty for the Azzurri against Brazil – a miss that he has had to relive over and over since that day.
😄 Brazil’s joy
💔 Baggio’s heartbreak
The penalty that decided the 1994 #FIFAWorldCup final 🇧🇷🇮🇹
Entering the World Cup as a true global superstar O Fenomeno – The Phenomenon – dealt with the intense pressure by scoring three times in Brazil’s run to another final, where hosts France awaited at the Parc des Princes. The showpiece is arguably best remembered more than two decades on for events prior to the match, with Ronaldo being left out of the starting line-up only to be reinstated 45 minutes before kick-off. The tale has been told countless times, though Ronaldo himself confirmed he was left out of the initial XI due to suffering a convulsion. While he won his battle to start, he could not make the impact he would have wanted as France ran out 3-0 winners in Saint-Denis.
Cristiano Ronaldo (2014 & 2018)
On the back of winning his second Champions League trophy, and the first of four with Real Madrid, Ronaldo looked in the mood to fire Portugal to a first World Cup crown. However, to say the tournament did not quite go Ronaldo and Portugal’s way would be a huge understatement. The Selecao lost 4-0 to eventual competition winners Germany in their opening match and then required a 95th-minute goal to salvage a 2-2 draw against the United States. A 2-1 win over Ghana in their final match, with Ronaldo at least getting off the mark in that game, failed to prevent Portugal from crashing out in the group stage. Portugal, European champions at the time, only fared marginally better four years later with the world’s best player in their ranks as they fell to Uruguay in the first knockout round.
Karim Benzema insisted it was not in his nature to “give up” as he was forced to concede his World Cup dream with France was over.
A quadriceps problem in his left thigh has flared up and left the 34-year-old resigned to packing his bags rather than contributing for Les Bleus in Qatar.
He won the highly prized Ballon d’Or award last month, recognition of his spectacular form last season, but Benzema will be on the outside looking in on football’s biggest show after suffering a setback in France’s training session on Saturday.
It had been his first full on-pitch activity with the France squad during the pre-tournament camp, with Benzema having been determined to prove his fitness before the team’s opening game against Australia on Tuesday.
He had been bothered by muscular fatigue in the left quadriceps while with Real Madrid in recent weeks, missing several games, and this latest blow may be a recurrence of that problem.
France have the option to call in a replacement for Benzema, who faces around three weeks of recovery. That time span suggests Benzema could have been fit in time to contribute before the end of the World Cup, but it was agreed he should be withdrawn from the squad.
Reports said France would decide whether to summon an additional player on Sunday.
Benzema wrote on Twitter and Instagram: “In my life I never give up but tonight I have to think about the team like I always do, so reason tells me to leave my place to someone who can help our team to have a great World Cup. Thank you for all your messages of support.”
De ma vie je n’ai jamais abandonné mais ce soir il faut que je pense à l’équipe comme je l’ai toujours fait alors la raison me dit de laisser ma place à quelqu’un qui pourra aider notre groupe à faire une belle Coupe du Monde. Merci pour tous vos messages de soutien 🙌🏼❤️ pic.twitter.com/SBalX0juAH
International team-mate and fellow superstar striker Kylian Mbappe replied by writing “Force”, which translates to “Strength”.
France and Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele was another to send a message of support, as was Presnel Kimpembe, the defender who withdrew from the squad at the start of the week due to his own injury.
Benzema’s Real Madrid team-mate Rodrygo, a member of Brazil’s squad, wrote: “The best must compete in the best. You will be missed in the World Cup… Good recovery KB9!”
Karim Benzema will miss the World Cup after the France striker suffered an injury blow on the eve of the tournament.
The Real Madrid captain, who missed Les Bleus’ triumph at Russia 2018 while out of favour amid an ongoing blackmail investigation, was set to play a big part this time for Didier Deschamps’ team.
Benzema won the Ballon d’Or last month after a spectacular 2021-22 season that saw him score 44 goals in 46 games for Madrid, helping the Spanish giants win LaLiga and the Champions League.
However, he has been troubled by physical setbacks this term and the most untimely and crushing of all blows for the 34-year-old came on the day before Qatar 2022 was set to get underway.
Benzema only resumed full training with France on Saturday, after recent muscle trouble, but he could not complete the squad session due to injury.
He underwent tests that produced results ruling him out of the tournament.
The French Football Federation said in a statement: “Karim Benzema has pulled out of the World Cup with a thigh injury. The whole team shares Karim’s disappointment and wishes him a speedy recovery.”
Karim @Benzema has pulled out of the World Cup with a thigh injury.
The former Lyon frontman was troubled by a knee blow earlier this season before missing further fixtures for Madrid after suffering from muscular fatigue in his left quadriceps, with Saturday’s blow seemingly a recurrence of that.
World Cup holders France begin their defence on Tuesday against Australia, before also tackling Denmark and Tunisia in Group D on November 26 and 30 respectively.
Benzema’s absence from the tournament is the latest in a line of major setbacks for France, even though coach Deschamps also has the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud as forward options.
RB Leipzig’s prolific Christopher Nkunku was forced to pull out of the squad this week after suffering knee ligament damage in a training collision with Eduardo Camavinga.
They also lost star midfielders Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante, who would have been central to Deschamps’ plans.
Adrien Rabiot says France must “stay united” if they are to avoid the failures that saw them crash out of Euro 2020 at the round-of-16 stage.
France went into that tournament as world champions and advanced as group winners from a tricky pool that included both Germany and Portugal.
But their campaign was derailed in stunning fashion, as Switzerland scored two late goals to force extra-time from 3-1 down.
Kylian Mbappe then missed the crucial penalty in the shootout, as France were knocked out amid rumours of dressing room discontent.
Rabiot’s family were reportedly involved in dissension too, with his mother allegedly clashing with the relatives of Paul Pogba and Mbappe after the Switzerland defeat.
Their disappointing tournament sparked memories of France’s spectacular capitulation at the 2010 World Cup, where Les Bleus were blighted by a number of controversial incidents and failed to make it out of the group stage.
Rabiot acknowledged France cannot afford to self-destruct as they have in the past if they are to retain their World Cup crown.
“We have to stay united,” Rabiot told reporters. “[We need to] try to have as few things as possible that interfere with the group.
“It is essential to have a serene climate. We have the potential to do much better than at the Euros.”
The Juventus midfielder was not selected to France’s squad for their 2018 triumph and he wants to make an impression at his first World Cup in Qatar.
“The [2018] World Cup was a big disappointment,” Rabiot explained. “I worked a lot to be there in 2022.
“I take this as a chance and I’m going to be able to express myself.”
France kick off their tournament against Australia on Tuesday, before also facing Denmark and Tunisia in Group D.
France has suspended development assistance to Mali after finalising its move to end its 10-year military presence in the country, a foreign ministry source told the AFP news agency.
French media quoted the foreign affairs ministry as saying it had suspended aid over “the attitude of the Malian junta allied to the Russian Wagner mercenaries”.
The decision was said to have been taken “two to three weeks ago”.
A group of French NGOs are said to have denounced the decision in a letter sent to President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday, calling on him to review the position.
According to the NGOs, the suspension of aid jeopardises dozens of development projects that are under way or planned in the country over the coming years.
This suspension comes amid the increasing isolation of Mali.
The UK on Monday said it would withdraw its 300 troops deployed in support of the UN peacekeeping mission there, a decision prompted by the junta’s partnership with the controversial Russian group Wagner.
Real Madrid team-mate Eduardo Camavinga says KarimBenzema is “doing so much better” as he battles to be 100 per cent fit for France’s World Cup campaign, according to his
Benzema won his first Ballon d’Or last month after leading Real Madrid to glory in LaLiga and the Champions League in the 2021-22 season, but has endured an injury-hit campaign to date.
The striker has started 11 games in all competitions this season, scoring six goals, but he spent time on the sidelines with a knee injury before missing further fixtures after suffering from muscular fatigue in his left quadriceps.
However, with less than a week remaining until France begin their Group D campaign against Australia, Camavinga is enthused by his team-mate’s recovery.
“He’s getting better. He’s doing so much better,” Camavinga told RMC Sport. “I have a very good relationship with him, he helps me a lot at Real Madrid.
“He is a very great player who deserves what is happening to him. I hope he will be ready for the World Cup.
“Sometimes in a match he comes to see me and tells me, ‘If I have the ball you are going to do this run or this run’, so he gives me advice at the right moment.
“He also tells me when to stay in position. He is very good at communicating, he is a leader.”
France are looking to become the first nation to retain the World Cup since Brazil in 1962, but Didier Deschamps’ team have been beset by bad luck on the injury front, with N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba missing the tournament.
With those two veterans of the 2018 World Cup win absent, Camavinga could partner Madrid team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni in a new-look France midfield, but he has no reservations over their lack of experience.
“Critics are part of life. We don’t have the same experience, but we are keen to show what we are worth,” Camavinga added.
“With our enthusiasm and the experience of the elders, it can make a good mix.”
Meanwhile, Deschamps has called up Eintracht Frankfurt forward Randal Kolo Muani after Christopher Nkunku suffered an injury on Tuesday.
Nkunku was ruled out of the World Cup after limping out of training with a leg injury, but his absence has given Muani – the scorer of eight goals for Eintracht this term – the opportunity to feature at his first major tournament.
Christopher Nkunkuhas been ruled out of the World Cup after the France striker suffered a knee injury in training on Tuesday.
The RB Leipzig frontman took a knock in a challenge with Eduardo Camavinga as they contested a 50-50 ball and he had to be helped off the field.
It was later confirmed Nkunku will not travel to Qatar after tests revealed he had sprained his left knee.
The French Football Federation sent Nkunku’s medical file to FIFA in order for the defending champions to call up a replacement.
He is expected to be replaced by either Wissam Ben Yedder, Moussa Diaby, Morgan Terrier or Randal Kolo Muani.
Head coach Didier Deschamps and the squad are due to depart for their Doha base on Wednesday.
Les Bleus begin their World Cup Group D campaign against Australia on November 22, before tackling Denmark and Tunisia.
Injured in training, Christopher Nkunku drops out of the World Cup. The whole group shares Christopher’s sadness and wishes him a speedy recovery 💙 @c_nk97 #FiersdetreBleuspic.twitter.com/cnpEtH4476
Among players from Europe’s top five leagues – the Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Serie A – only France team-mate Kylian Mbappe has managed more combined goals and assists since the beginning of 2022 than Nkunku.
The 25-year-old has achieved a total of 48 goal involvements (37 goals and 11 assists) in the calendar year, with Mbappe leading the way on 57 (43 goals and 14 assists).
Home Secretary Suella Braverman will fly to Paristo sign a revised agreement in an effort to discourage individuals from navigating the English Channel in small boats.
According to the amended agreement, the sum that the UK pays France to cover the expense of extra patrols at their end will climb from approximately £55 million year to £63 million.
The number of officers patrolling the French coast to try to stop people setting off will rise from 200 to 300.
In recent weeks, Ms Braverman has come under growing pressure over the issue.
So far this year, more than 40,000 people have made the perilous crossing, the highest number on record.
BBC News home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford said that while the expanded deal would further disrupt the people smugglers operating in France it was unlikely to end their trade.
The British government has always stressed that there is no single solution to the problem of thousands of migrants risking their lives crossing the Channel in small boats.
But one approach tried in recent years has been to try to stop migrants leaving French shores. There are thousands of people in coastal towns there, who have travelled from other countries and are waiting for their opportunity to cross the Channel to claim asylum in the UK.
As well as extra officers and patrols, the British money will allow more use of drones and night vision equipment, and will also be spent on boosting reception and removal centres in France.
French ports will receive investment to increase the use of CCTV and detection dog teams to prevent illegal entry to the UK via lorries. UK observers will be embedded in French control rooms, and French observers embedded in UK control rooms – to help inform each other’s deployments.
The deal had been close for several months but the French government were reluctant to finalise it until there was a stable government in the UK, our correspondent says.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman will travel to Paris to sign the deal with her French counterpart
It comes after weeks of criticism aimed at the government for severe overcrowding at the migrant processing site in Manston, Kent, and for its spending on housing for those waiting for their asylum applications to be completed.
Last month, the Home Affairs Committee heard that the UK is spending almost £7m a day on hotels for asylum seekers.
MPs also heard that only 4% of asylum claims by migrants who crossed the English Channel in 2021 had been processed.
Ms Braverman has previously admitted the system was “broken” and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said not enough asylum claims were being processed.
The home secretary will hope a new agreement with the French can ease pressure on the process.
More than 40,000 people applying for asylum have waited between one and three years for a decision on their claim, according to a Refugee Council Freedom of Information request, reported in The Guardian.
It also reported that a further 725 migrants have been waiting for more than five years to have their claim processed.
Once people who cross the English Channel in small boats reach UK shores, those who are detained are sent to Manston Airport in Kent where they undergo security and identity checks.
They are only meant to be held there for a short period before moving into the Home Office’s asylum accommodation system while their claims are processed.
However, last month it emerged there was severe overcrowding at Manston, with 4,000 people staying there rather than the 1,600 for which the site was intended.
Numbers have since been reduced to less than 1,600, according to immigration minister Robert Jenrick.
On Saturday it emerged people at Manston centre are to be vaccinated against highly contagious and sometimes fatal diphtheria after an outbreak.
The higher numbers of migrants making the crossing this year has been partly blamed on a big rise in the number of Albanian nationals making the journey.
So far this year 12,000 Albanians have arrived in the UK using small boats, compared to just 50 in 2020.
France,who won the 2018 FIFA World Cup, has announced their final 26-man roster for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Without the three star midfielders they relied on for the 2018 edition in Russia (Ngolo Kante, Paul Pogba, and Blaise Matuidi), coach Didier Deschamps will have to place his hopes in the young French players who are rising through the ranks.
In the absence of Paul, Kante, and Matuidi, Didier Deschamps has invited Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco), Mattéo Guendouzi (Marseille), Jordan Veretout (Marseille), Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid) as his midfielders for the World Cup.
His goalkeepers2018 FIFA World Cup champions are Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Alphonse Areola (West Ham), and Steve Mandanda (Rennes).
Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), Jules Koundé (Barcelona), Raphaël Varane (Manchester United), Presnel Kimpembe (PSG), William Saliba (Arsenal), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Théo Hernandez (Milan), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool) and Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich) will be the defensders for France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
2022 Ballon D’or winner, Karim Benzema, returns to the squad after missing out on the 2018 edition due to a national team ban.
Ousmane Dembélé (Barcelona), Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain), Olivier Giroud (Milan), Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid), and Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig) will be the other attackers for France.
The North Americans were the second nation to release their squad. Joel Campbel, Kaylor Navas, and Bryan Ruiz are the key names on the list.
Brazil
Brazil head coach, Adenor Leonardo Bacchi popularly known as Tite, named a star-studded squad on Monday, November 7.
Arsenal duo, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli, who missed the last call-ups in September, were included in the final list this time.
Some constants like Thiago Silva, Marquinhos Alisson, Ederson, Casimero, and Vinicius Jr were also named in the squad.
Meanwhile, Dani Alves made a shocking appearance in the squad at age 39.
Australia
The Socceroos named their squad on Tuesday, November 8. Matthew Ryan and Aaron Mooy lead the Australian squad.
Sengal
The Tarenga Lions of Senegal are the first African to announce their squad. Head coach Aliou Cisse has named a star-filled squad for the tournament.
Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, Sadio Mane, Idrissa Gueye, Cheikou Kouyate, Ismaila Sarr all made the squad.
Demark
Denmark have also announced their 26-man squad. Christain Eriksen, Christensen, Simon Kjaer, Kasper Schmeichel, and Emile Hojbjerg are the key men leading the Dens’ list.
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Luka Modric will lead Croatia’s 26-man squad in Qatar. Modric won the best player at the last edition and will hope he leads his Country to clinch the ultimate this time after finishing second in 2018.
England head coach, Gareth Southgate has named his final squad with some suprises misses.
Tammy Abraham, Fikao Tomori, and Jadon Sancho are the big misses in the squad. Whereas Kalvin Philips, and Kyle Walker who are nursing injuries made the cut.
Robert Lewandowski, Kamal Glik, Aljkadiuz Milik and Zielinski lead the Polish 26-man squad for the tournament.
They announced their squad on Thursday, November 10, 2022.
Uruguay
Ghana’s World Cup Group opponent, Uruguay, have named their final 26-man squad for the upcoming 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Barcelona centre-back, Ronald Araujo, who was said to be a major doubt for the tournament due to an adductor longus avulsion injury in his right thigh, made the list, which was released on Thursday, November 10, 2022.
Some key names like Luis Suarez, Edison Cavani, Darwin Nunez, and in-form Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde were all named in the big squad.
In a meticulously-planned appearance on tonight’s evening news on French channel TF1, Didier Deschamps has unveiled the provisional squad he is taking to Qatar for France’s World Cup defence.
The final squad will have to be sent over to FIFA by Monday night, at which point Deschamps and his staff will have made their decision on a number of injury doubts which have been included in tonight’s announcement.
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Alphonse Areola (West Ham), Steve Mandanda (Rennes).
Rishi Sunak promised “more details in the coming weeks” while promising to “grab this challenge” with his French counterpart.
A deal between the UK and France to deal with people crossing the Channel in small boats is in its “final stages,” according to Downing Street.
Rishi Sunak met with French President Emmanuel Macron earlier today at the COP27 climate talks in Egypt to discuss the issue, and the prime minister said he left “with renewed confidence and optimism.”
Mr Sunak said there would be “more details in the coming weeks”.
Pressed on those details later, his official spokesman revealed a deal was close to being done and talks on the specifics were taking place separately, indicating they would involve Home Office officials.
Mr Sunak reportedly wants to agree targets with Mr Macron for stopping boats, and a minimum number of French officers patrolling beaches, and to be able to deploy Border Force officers in France.
The prime minister said he was “determined to grip” the situation, but added there was “not one simple solution that’s going to solve it overnight”, pledging to work with other European leaders on the “shared challenge”.
Speaking after the meeting, the French president also said he wanted better coordination between the two countries to cope with the issue.
Earlier, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he would “work upstream” with Mr Macron “to stop the smugglers in the first place” if he were prime minister, adding: “Before I was a politician, I was director of public prosecutions, I know how these cross-border operations work.
“That is the discussion I would have, I hope it is the discussion that our prime minister will have.”
‘Challenge far from over’
The migrant crisis was brought into focus last week by overcrowding at the Manston processing centre in Kent, where 4,000 people who had made the crossing were packed into a space designed to hold 1,600.
It led to growing pressure on Mr Sunak over his reappointment of Home Secretary Suella Braverman, with claims she ignored legal advice and blocked people being moved to hotels, accusations she denies.
Speaking in the Commons this afternoon, Sir Roger Gale, the veteran Tory MPwho had described the Manston situation as “a breach of humane conditions”, said: “We are now nearly back to where we need to be with the Manston processing centre operating efficiently.”
He asked for assurance from Robert Jenrick, the immigration minister, that “Manston is a processing centre and not an accommodation centre”.
Mr Jenrick said the numbers were now down to less than 1,600 and that it was not the government’s “intention that Manston is turned into a permanent site for housing migrants”.
He said: “The population is now back at an acceptable level and that is a considerable achievement. It’s essential that it remains so and he is right to say that the challenge is far from over… we have to be aware of that and to plan appropriately.”
Conservative MP for North Thanet Sir Roger Gale told Sky News last week that the situation in the Manston migrant centre was a ‘breach of humane conditions’.
During the debate Lee Anderson, a Tory MP in Nottinghamshire, said that sourcing accommodation for “illegal immigrants” left him a “bitter taste” in his throat.
“I’ve got 5,000 people in Ashfield who want to secure council housing and they cannot get one. Yet, we’re here debating this nonsense once again,” he said.
“The blame lies in this place right now – when are we going to go back and do the right thing and send them straight back the same day?”
Mr Jenrick said the government “should be guided by both our common desire for decency because those are our values, but also hard-headed common sense”.
Grégoire de Fournaswill be suspended in addition to losing half of his parliamentary allowance for two months.
The National Assembly of France has banned a far-right MP for 15 days for yelling “they should go back to Africa” as a black colleague discussed immigration.
According to Grégoire de Fournas of National Rally (RN), his remark was not directed at Carlos Martens Bilongo, but rather at migrants attempting to reach Europe by sea.
Mr. Bilongo stated that he was born in France and that the remark was “shameful.”
MPs voted on Friday to suspend him and dock half his allowance.
The decision is described as the harshest sanction available to the Assembly.
Mr Bilongo had been questioning the government about a request by the SOS Méditerranée non-governmental organisation for help in finding a port for 234 migrants rescued at sea in recent days.
The exact meaning of the National Rally MP’s remark is disputed, because theoretically he could have referred to more than one person. The official account of the session recorded his off-microphone remark as Qu’il retourne en Afrique – “he should go back to Africa” – but the plural Qu’ils retournent en Afrique sounds exactly the same.
When Mr de Fournas made his remark, the Speaker, Yaël Braun-Pivet, demanded to know who had spoken. Then, as MPs chanted “Out! Out! Out!”, she suspended the session, declaring, “This is not possible.”
Mr Bilongo, an MP from the the left-wing party France Unbowed (LFI), said: “Today it’s come back to the colour of my skin. I was born in France, I am a French MP.” Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said there was “no room for racism” and Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said the MP should resign.
Mr de Fournas was adamant he had been referring to the “boat transporting migrants to Europe”, and party leader Marine Le Pen accused her political opponents of fabricating a vulgar outcry.
He later apologised to Mr Bilongo for “the misunderstanding” his comments had caused and if he had been hurt by them.
LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon tweeted that theMP’s comments were “beyond intolerable” and he should be kicked out of the National Assembly.
Immigration featured prominently in the RN’s presidential and parliamentary election campaigns this year, with party leader Marine Le Pen proposing a referendum on major reductions in immigration if she became president.
In the parliamentary election in June, the party increased its presence in the National Assembly tenfold, winning 89 seats.
It’s 5 o’clock somewhere — and boy, could the executives at Warner Bros. Discovery and Lionsgate use a drink. But first, they’ve got to get through these earnings conference calls. Perhaps we should refer to this round as “losses conference calls.”
On Thursday afternoon, within a span of 15 minutes, Warner Bros. Discovery revealed it lost $2.3 billion in the July-September quarter of 2022 and Lionsgate reported an operating loss of $1.8 billion from the same time period. Better make it a double.
The good news for Warner Bros. Discovery is that a loss of $2.3 billion is better than a loss of $3.4 billion, which is the unfortunate figure it posted last quarter. It’s pricey to merge two major media companies, and so far, not so good.
WBD ended the third quarter with 94.9 million combined direct-to-consumer subscribers. That all-in number includes linear HBO and streaming services HBO Max and Discovery+, and represented an additional 2.8 million subs from the end of the prior quarter. The timeline to combine HBO Max and Discovery+ has been moved up from Summer 2023 to Spring 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery’s president and CEO David Zaslav said on his company’s Q3 conference call.
Before the call, in a prepared statement accompanying the disappointing financials, Zaslav again touted his company’s content. He also found another $500 million in synergies between WarnerMedia and his former Discovery, Inc.
“At Warner Bros. Discovery, we have one of the strongest portfolio of assets and IP across sports, news, and entertainment, and the best leadership team in media executing against the right strategy and financial framework to drive profitability, generate meaningful shareholder value, and ultimately position us for long-term success,” Zaslav said. “We are reimagining and transforming the organization for the future while driving synergy enterprise-wide, increasing our target to at least $3.5 billion, and making significant progress on our combined DTC product. While we have lots more work to do, and there are some difficult decisions still to be made, we have total conviction in the opportunity ahead.”
There was no way to spin company revenue. Warner Bros. Discovery suffered an 11 percent decline in Q3 ad sales and saw an 8 percent drop in overall revenue, posting $9.82 billion vs. a market forecast of $10.36 billion. After sharing an already rough Thursday with the rest of the stock market, shares in WBD declined a few percentage points more in after-hours trading.
“Clerks III”
Lionsgate/courtesy Everett Collection
Here we should admit that it’s a bit unfair to lump Lionsgate’s second (fiscal) quarter in with Warner Bros. Discovery. Lionsgate’s wasn’t so bad — it beat on both revenue estimates and adjusted earnings per share — and its stock is moving in the right direction following the market close. (Before the market closed, shares in both companies sank 6 percent.) But still.
Lionsgate will exit seven Lionsgate+ (the former StarzPlay International) territories — France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Benelux, the Nordics, and Japan — to “streamline the business,” in their words. That streamlining cost Lionsgate $218.9 million in content write-offs. Tack that on to the $1.48 billion (non-cash) write-off from the Starz acquisition, reflecting changes to future free cash-flow projections, and boy would they have liked to sell that thing.
The Lionsgate earnings call has yet to begin — it’s set for 6 p.m. ET. In the interest in fairness, we’ll give CEO Jon Feltheimer his say.
“We reported another strong library performance and continued growth in Lionsgate Television series deliveries as our studio businesses continued to perform in line with expectations in the quarter,” Feltheimer said in a prepared statement included in the financials. “Economic and industry headwinds are having the greatest impact at Starz, where we are exiting seven international territories. This will allow us to streamline Starz’s international business and return it to profitability more quickly while continuing to build on the opportunities created by a strong Starz original series slate and focused content strategy domestically.”
Lorry drivers in Brazil loyal to President Jair Bolsonaro have blocked roads across the country, after his poll defeat to leftist rival Lula.
Blockages were reported in all but two states, causing considerable disruption and affecting food supply chains.
With all the votes counted, Lula had 50.9% of the valid votes against Mr Bolsonaro‘s 49.1% in Sunday’s run-off.
The incumbent far-right president has neither conceded defeat nor challenged the results that divided the nation.
There are concerns that the outgoing president could complicate the two-month transition period before Lula (full name Luíz Inácio Lula da Silva), a former president, is due to be sworn in on 1 January 2023.
Pro-Bolsonaro lorry drivers started setting up roadblocks across the vast country soon after the election results were announced.
By Monday night, the federal highway police reported 342 such incidents, with the biggest protests going on in the country’s south. Some of the blockages were later cleared by police.
Many lorry drivers have benefited from lower diesel costs during the Bolsonaro administration.
Jair Bolsonaro is yet to publicly comment on the election results
Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes on Monday ordered the police to disperse the roadblocks immediately.
He warned that all those still blocking the roads on Tuesday would be each fined 100,000 Brazilian reals (£16,700: $19,300) per hour.
Mr Bolsonaro, 67, is said to have gone to sleep after he narrowly lost to his arch rival.
Combative statements from Mr Bolsonaro in the past – such as that “only God” could remove him from office – mean there is a tense wait for him to appear in public. Before the election, he had repeatedly cast unfounded doubts on the voting system.
In his victory speech soon after the results were made public, Lula, 77, touched on the political rift running through Brazil which further deepened during a bitterly fought and often acrimonious election campaign.
“This country needs peace and unity. This population doesn’t want to fight anymore,” he said, promising to govern for all Brazilians and not just for those who had voted for him.
Congratulations have poured in from across the world, including from the leaders of the UK, China, France, India and Russia. US President Biden said the win came “following free, fair and credible elections”.
It is a stunning comeback for Lula, a politician who could not run in the last presidential election in 2018 because he was in jail and banned from standing for office.
Paul Pogba will miss France’s World Cup campaign, the Juventus midfielder’s agent has confirmed.
The 29-year-old, who was a member of Didier Deschamps’ triumphant squad at Russia 2018, had been expected to figure once more for Les Bleus if fit.
But having returned to Turin from Manchester United during the close season, Pogba has struggled with a knee injury, with delayed surgery keeping him stuck on the sidelines.
Now, the player’s agent Rafaela Pimenta says he will not return to either domestic duty with Juventus, nor make the plane to Qatar with France, in what is one of the biggest injury blows ahead of the tournament.
“Following yesterday and today’s medical review in Torino and Pittsburgh, it is extremely painful to [say] Paul Pogba will still need recovery time from his surgery,” Pimenta told Telefoot on Monday.
“For this reason, Paul will not be able to join [the] Juventussquad before the World Cup break, nor the French national team in Qatar. If wishful thinking would change things, Paul would be playing tomorrow.
“But what changes things are hard work, resilience and discipline, all of which are the only things in Paul’s mind [during] these challenging times.
“Paul will continue working [and] giving his very best to be back on the pitch for the fans and his team as soon as possible.”
Less than three weeks out from the World Cup, Juventus also provided an update on the fitness of injured United States midfielder Weston McKennie.
“Weston McKennie underwent radiological examinations at J|Medical which showed muscular overload in the rectus femoris of the right thigh,” the statement read. “His condition will be evaluated daily.”
France begin their World Cup defence against Australia on November 22, before facing Denmark and Tunisia in their other two Group D matches.
Karim Benzema will need to perform well for France at the upcoming World Cup to “justify his status” as Ballon d’Or winner, claims Michel Platini.
Benzema finished a career-best 2021-22 season with 44 goals, while adding 15 assists as he helped fire Real Madrid to a LaLiga and Champions League double.
The 34-year-old’s stunning campaign was enough to see off the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Sadio Mane to win his first Ballon d’Or, having previously been nominated 10 times without taking home the trophy.
But Platini, who won Ballon d’Or awards in three consecutive years between 1983 and 1985, believes there is now more pressure on Benzema to perform at the World Cup in Qatar, starting next month.
“He reached the grail with the Ballon d’Or,” Platini told RMC Sport. “He has a big responsibility being the best player in the world and the World Cup is coming up.
“He will have to be on top to justify his status.”
Benzema returned from a six-year exodus with the national team for Euro 2020, scoring four goals in four appearances as France crashed out at the round of 16 stage.
He will hope to help Les Blues defend their World Cup crown, beginning with their opening group match against Australia on November 22, though Platini believes Benzema is already well on his way to becoming a France footballing icon.
“Benzema is becoming a legend of French football,” Platini added. “Winning a Ballon d’Or brings you into the ranks of great footballers.”
N’Golo Kante will miss France’s World Cup campaign after undergoing an operation on his hamstring, Chelsea have confirmed.
Kante suffered the injury in his Chelsea’s 2-2 home draw with Tottenham in August and has not featured for club or country since.
Chelsea have now established Kante will play no part in France’s defence of their World Cup crown, which starts with their opening group game against Australia on November 22.
In a statement on the club website, Chelseasaid: “N’Golo Kante has undergone an operation on his hamstring injury.
“The midfielder visited a specialist with the club’s medical department to explore the options for his rehabilitation approach and it was mutually agreed for N’Golo to have surgery to repair the damage.
“Following a successful operation, N’Golo is now expected to be sidelined for four months.”
Kante was a key member of the France side that won the 2018 World Cup, playing a part in all seven games as Les Bleus lifted the biggest prize in international football for the second time.
Reece James, Kante’s Chelsea team-mate, faces a race against time to make England’s squad for the tournament after suffering a knee injury against Milan.
Angry demonstrators in Burkina Fasoattacked the French embassy in the capital, Ouagadougou on Saturday, 1 October.
They were protesting in support of the country’s new military leader, Ibrahim Traore and accused France of harbouring interim president Lt Col Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who was ousted on Friday.
Uncertainty continued in Ouagadougou on Saturday evening after a statement by the army said it did not recognise the seizure of power the previous day by soldiers.
The whereabout of Damiba is unclear but French authorities have denied any involvement and condemned the violence.
In a statement, France said the security of its compatriots was its priority following the military coup.
Meanwhile, protesters shouted angry, anti-France slogans including: “We don’t want France anymore. We no longer want France to be in Africa” and “Down with France.”
Some added: “We call on Russia” and suggested Russian intervention was preferable to any involvement by their former colonisers.
One demonstrator said: “We want frank cooperation with Russia. That’s why we hold the three flags. The Russian, Malian and Burkinabe flags.”
Another explained: “Damiba has failed and the people are not happy. And we are indeed going out today to show the whole world that we do not want this man anymore.
“At the moment, we have very seasoned soldiers who have taken power and we will support them until terrorism is driven out of our country.”
Damiba had promised to tackle jihadist violence but critics accused him of being too close to France which maintains a military presence in the region.
French spokeswoman Anne-Claire Legendre said condemned the violence against the embassy and said the protests were “the work of hostile demonstrators, manipulated by a campaign of disinformation against us.”
She added: “Our nationals have been instructed to exercise the utmost vigilance and to remain at home.”
Why is France’s contribution to the war effort in Ukraine so minimal if it aspires to lead Europe into a new era of military independence?
Some of the nation’s leading strategic thinkers are pressing President Emmanuel Macron to decide quickly whether to send more armaments to Kyiv, and they are asking him this hard question.
Recent analysis conducted on the ground in Poland and Ukraine shows that the French share of foreign arms deliveries is less than 2%, way behind the US on 49%, but also behind Poland (22%) and Germany (9%).
“I was concerned about the reliability of the statistics which showed France low on the list of contributing countries,” says François Heisbourg, who is perhaps France’s most influential defence analyst.
“So I went out to the main distribution hub in Poland to see how much in tonnage was actually being delivered, rather than just promised.
“Unfortunately the figures bore out my fears. France is way down the list – in the ninth position.”
The official reaction to this in Paris is: “Yes, but…”
Yes, the aid statistics are unflattering, but there are other factors at work.
First, defense officials say the true measure of military help is quality, not quantity. Some countries are delivering masses of outdated equipment. France has given 18 Caesar self-propelled artillery units, which are now celebrated along the Ukrainian front line.
France, they add, is like other Western countries in having run down military stocks as part of the post-Cold War peace dividend
Ukraine’s Caesars are fully one-quarter of France’s entire mobile artillery. It cannot offer much more without making itself vulnerable in regions where it is already committed, like the Sahel and the Indo-Pacific.
“It might look like we are behind other countries, but France has every intention of playing its part,” says Gen Jérome Pellistrandi, editor of the National Defence Review.
These arguments are not without merit, says Mr Heisbourg. The problem is that by not being more present in the theatre, France risks writing itself out of the plot.
“When I was in Kyiv, everyone was very polite. I had no sense that the Ukrainians disapproved of us,” he says. “In a way, it was worse. I had the distinct feeling we were becoming irrelevant.”
For Mr Heisbourg the equation is simple. Ukraine will talk to countries that it knows are likely to deliver the weapons it needs. France at the moment is not one of them.
IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERS Image caption, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna discussed the supply of defence equipment with President Zelensky in Kyiv
But there is another danger for France. Its relative absence in Ukraine undermines its bid for leadership in the cause of European defence.
Already many countries of eastern Europe are wary of President Macron, who they believe was far too indulgent towards Russia’s Vladimir Putin in the first months of the war. A narrative has taken root according to which France still feels ambivalent about an outright Ukrainian triumph.
For Pierre Haroche, who lectures on international security at the Queen Mary University of London, this narrative is unfair – and is not the reason for France’s low levels of arms deliveries to Ukraine.
However, he is firm of the view that France should beef up its contribution as early as possible, in order to reassure eastern European countries like Poland that “we are all on the same page”.
“France’s goal of strategic autonomy for Europe is focused primarily on building up our defence industries via joint procurement. But if you want joint procurement, you have to demonstrate to other countries that you have the same vision about our common security,” he says.
“In order to make our objective of European co-operation viable, we need to show eastern European countries thatco-operating with France and buying the idea of strategic autonomy is not a strategic risk.”
Dr Haroche is calling for France to send 50 Leclerc main battle tanks. Mr Heisbourg would prefer air defense systems, which he says Ukraine is more in need of.
“It is like a fire extinguisher,” says Dr Haroche. “If there is a fire in a neighbour’s house it is better to offer your extinguisher straightaway, and not wait till the fire reaches your own home.
“It’s not just generosity. It’s also for your own protection.”
Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe has stated that he was acting with the assistance of his France team-mates after prevailing in an image rights dispute with the French Football Federation (FFF).
Mbappe had been involved in a disagreement with the FFF since March, after he refused to show up to a photo shoot organised for the French men’s team.
The striker desired greater control of his image rights to avoid being associated with certain brands, and pledged to continue his refusal to engage in sponsorship activities after meeting up with Les Bleus for their Nations League fixtures this month.
After a meeting of FFF officials, the governing body said it would “work on the outlines of a new agreement” concerning players’ image rights on Tuesday.
Speaking after opening the scoring in a 2-0 win over Austria on Thursday, Mbappe insisted he was not alone in the dispute.
“The squad has always been behind me, maybe you didn’t know it,” he said.
“From the start, it was a team initiative, it’s just that I have no issue with going into the spotlight to fight for my team-mates.
“It doesn’t matter if I get criticised, it won’t change the way I play or live my life. If it can allow the squad to get what it wants, that’s the main thing.”
France will conclude their Nations League group campaign with a trip to Denmark on Sunday, having overtaken Austria in the Group A1 standings following the win over Austria.
France’s squad for their trip to Denmark has reduced as Jules Kounde and Mike Maignan have withdrawn after sustaining injuries.
This has compelled Didier Deschamps to call up Rennes’ Steve Mandanda.
A statement issued by the French Football Federation on Friday read: “Mike Maignan had to give up his place to Alphonse Areola at half-time in France-Austria on Thursday evening at the Stade de France, due to pain felt in the left calf.
“The Milan goalkeeper will not be able to play against Denmark on Sunday in Copenhagen. To replace him, Didier Deschamps called on Steve Mandanda.
“Maignan will leave the group during the day, as will Jules Kounde, who is suffering from a left hamstring injury. Both players will take exams in the morning before being released to their club.
“Kounde will not be replaced in the group that will arrive in Copenhagen on Saturday.”
Goals from Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud ensured Francepicked up the first win of their Nations League campaign against Austria on Thursday, but their injury crisis worsened at the Stade de France.
Deschamps’ team were already without Karim Benzema, Kingsley Coman, N’Golo Kante, Paul Pogba and others for their final Nations League fixtures, and Juventus midfielder Pogba is a doubt for the World Cup after undergoing knee surgery.
They were further depleted when Barcelona new boy Kounde was withdrawn after 23 minutes against Austria, and it has now been revealed Maignan was in pain before his own half-time exit.
Mandanda has won 34 senior caps since making his France debut in 2008, and was part of the squad which won the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
France could still be relegated from the top tier of the Nations League and cannot progress to the competition’s finals, with Croatia and Denmark locked in a battle for top spot in Group A1.
The Deputy Mayor of the city of Deauville Philip Behuet has visited the Black Stars at their training ground ahead of Friday’s International friendly against France. He was in the company of the Director of Sports for Deauville Sebastien Delanoe and other key managers of the city.
The visit was to officially welcome the Black Stars to Deauville and to wish the team well in the two friendlies against Brazil and Nicaragua.
“We are blessed to have all of you visiting us. I hope the visit brings us a lot of luck in our games,” President Kurt Edwin Simeon Okraku said.
For his part, Mayor Philip Behuet said the city has been very hospitable to visiting teams in the past.
“You are welcome to the city of Deauville, this place is peaceful and hospitable so feel free, enjoy your stay and good luck to the team,” he said.
“It’s a big secret that I am going to tell you: you have to know that all the teams that come here have great results.
“We had Croatia coming in 2016 and we all know where they are now, we had the four finalists of the 14th FIFA Women’s World Cup train here and we had a basketball team going all the way in the World Cup and so we are sure with Ghana it will be the same.
“It’s a big honour to have you here, thank you for choosing Deauville,” Mayor Behuet added.
Deauville is a seaside resort on the Côte Fleurie of France’s Normandy region. An upscale holiday destination since the 1800s and it’s known for its grand casino, golf courses, horse races and American Film Festival.
The Black Stars have been training at Stade du Commandant Herbert in Deauville since Monday, September 19, 2022.
Ghana will play Brazil in Le Harve on Friday, September 23 before facing Nicaragua on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, in another friendly in Lorca- Spain.
Adrien Quatennens of France Unbowed (LFI) resigned from his position as party coordinator on Sunday after admitting to assaulting his wife.
After being accused of psychologically abusing his ex-partner, Green MP Julien Bayou was relegated to co-leader of his party’s parliamentary caucus and suspended a few days later.
The charges are being looked into by his party.
The left-wing alliance has been accused of “total hypocrisy” by the far-right National Rally (RN) for its stance on gender-based violence.
The two parties form part of an alliance of far-left, left, and green parties which came together to form the New Ecological and Social Popular Union (Nupes) and secured more than a quarter of the votes in June’s parliamentary elections, depriving President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist government of its majority in the National Assembly.
Mr Mélenchon’s response to the allegations against his colleague has sparked anger. He saluted the “dignity and courage” of Mr Quatennens in a social media post on Sunday, saying the MP had his “confidence and affection”. Only later did he expressly acknowledge the experiences of his wife, saying in a subsequent post that a slap was unacceptable in all cases.
The allegations against Mr Bayou first emerged in July, but he was only suspended from his leadership role in the Greens after his party colleague Sandrine Rousseau was asked about them in a television appearance on Monday. Women’s rights activists had taken to Twitter to demand that action be taken.
She said Mr Bayou’s ex-partner had been very depressed and referred to behavior that would be likely to “break” the mental health of a woman.
Another Green MP, Sandra Regol, said it had been a collective decision by the party in response to “legitimate questions” from women, feminists, and victims.
Both parties came under fire from their political opponents. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said in response to Mr Mélenchon’s comments that it was “extremely shocking” to have someone minimizing domestic violence, while Jordan Bardella of the far-right RN criticized the left for “setting itself up as a model of virtue” while being caught up in such allegations.
IMAGE SOURCE, REUTERS Image caption, Julien Bayou has stepped back from his leadership role within the French Greens
Hugo Lloris and Theo Hernandez will not be a part of France’s squad for this week’s Nations League matches with Austria and Denmark.
France are already without a number of key players for the double-header. Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante, Karim Benzema, Lucas Hernandez and Kingsley Coman have all been sidelined.
Adrien Rabiot withdrew from the squad last week and Didier Deschamps is now without two more players for the visit of Austria on Thursday and trip to Denmark three days later.
France confirmed on Monday that Tottenham goalkeeper Lloris and Milan defender Theo Hernandez are nursing thigh and groin injuries respectively.
Nantes keeper Alban Lafont has earned a first call-up to provide cover for captain Lloris, while Aston Villa’s Lucas Digne has been summoned as Theo Hernandez’s replacement.
France have posted two draws and two defeats in their opening four Group A1 matches and are battling relegation from the top tier.
The Juventus midfielder is recovering from a knee surgery after suffering an injury in July this year.
Due to the injury, he has not played this season.
Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri said “We will realistically get him back in January.”
He revealed that “This morning Pogba trained for the second time, but then stopped, and it was then decided that he undergo surgery.”
Juventus later said the surgery – selective external arthroscopic meniscectomy – was “a complete success”.
The Serie A season will pause after games on 13 November for the first winter World Cup and restart again in January.
Asked if Pogba would be ready for France’s World Cup defence, Allegri added: “The World Cup is not my problem, Juventus’ problem is that he comes back in January.”
Pogba rejoined the Serie A side this summer after his contract with Manchester United expired.
He scored in the 4-1 win over Croatia in 2018 as France won the World Cup for a second time.
The news comes amid growing fears that families in the EU will not be able to afford the cost of heating this winter.
Energy prices have soared since Russia invaded Ukraine and scarce supplies could push up the cost even further.
Europe is attempting to wean itself off Russian energy in an effort to reduce Moscow’s ability to finance the war, but the transition may not come quickly enough.
EU Council President Charles Michel said the Russian move was “sadly no surprise”.
“Use of gas as a weapon will not change the resolve of the EU. We will accelerate our path towards energy independence. Our duty is to protect our citizens and support the freedom of Ukraine,” he tweeted.
It has blamed the sanctions for holding up routine maintenance of Nord Stream 1, but the EU says this is a pretext.
Germany’s network regulator, the Bundesnetzagentur, said the country was now better prepared for Russian gas supplies to cease, but it urged citizens and companies to cut consumption.
Gazprom’s announcement came shortly after the G7 nations agreed to cap the price of Russian oil in support of Ukraine.
The G7 (Group of Seven) consists of the UK, US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan.
Their introduction of a price cap means countries that sign up to the policy will be permitted to purchase only Russian oil and petroleum products transported via sea that are sold at or below the price cap.
However, Russia says it will not export to countries that participate in the cap.
The gas pipeline stretches from the Russian coast near St Petersburg to north-easternGermany and can carry up to170 million cubic metres of gas a day.
It is owned and operated by Nord Stream AG, whose majority shareholder is Gazprom.
Germany had also previously supported the construction of a parallel pipeline – Nord Stream 2 – but the project was halted after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Gazprom said the fault had been detected at the Portovaya compressor station, with the inspection carried out alongside workers from Siemens, the German firm that maintains the turbine.
It said that fixing oil leaks in key engines was only possible in specialized workshops, which had been hindered by Western sanctions.
However, Siemens itself said: “Such leaks do not normally affect the operation of a turbine and can be sealed on site. It is a routine procedure within the scope of maintenance work.”
This is not the first time since the invasion that the Nord Stream 1 pipeline has been closed.
In July, Gazprom cut off supplies completely for 10 days, citing “a maintenance break”. It restarted again 10 days later, but at a much-reduced level.
Speaking to the BBC from the Swiss capital Bern, an economist and energy analyst, Cornelia Meyer, said the gas shutdown would have a major impact on employment and prices.
“That really has huge ramifications for gas in Europe which is about four times more expensive than it was a year ago and this cost of living crisis will really soar because it’s not just gas,” she said. “Gas becomes fertilizer and it’s used in many industrial processes, so that will affect jobs, and it will affect costs.”
The flow of gas through Nord Stream 1 had already been reduced to a relative trickle. Now, once again, it has been halted completely.
An oil leak, claims Gazprom – which has previously attributed reduced flows through the pipeline to technical issues related to sanctions.
Europe, though, believes President Putin is weaponizing gas supplies – deliberately limiting flows through the pipeline to push up prices, in order to test the resolve of Russia’s critics.
The result, as we’ve already seen, is soaring energy costs – with businesses and consumers paying a heavy price.
The timing of Gazprom’smove is certainly interesting. It comes on the same day the G7 announced moves to cap the price of Russia’s oil exports.
But it also comes shortly after Germany – which is heavily reliant on Russian gas – revealed that its winter storage was filling up faster than expected.
A cynic might say this was the last opportunity to tighten the screw, in order to inflict maximum damage over the colder months.
Germany and France have issued a joint warning against a ban on tourist visas for Russians, saying such a step, advocated by other European Union member states, would be counter-productive.
The split on tourist visas will be at the heart of a meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers in Prague on Tuesday and Wednesday, as they discuss what further steps they can take to sanction Russia for its six-month old invasion of Ukraine.
Defence ministers meeting in Prague are likely to agree in principle on the less controversial step of organising joint military training missions for Ukrainian troops.
“We caution against far-reaching restrictions on our visa policy, in order to prevent feeding the Russian narrative and trigger unintended rallying-around the flag effects and/or estranging future generations,” France and Germany said in the joint memo seen by Reuters.
The bloc’s two leading countries argue for close scrutiny of visa applications for security risks, but believe visas should still be issued.
“We must not give up on supporting pro-democratic elements with Russian society,” they said. “Our visa policies should reflect that and continue to allow for people to people contacts in the EU with Russian nationals not linked to the Russian government.
“We should not underestimate the transformative power of experiencing life in democratic systems at first-hand, especially for future generations,” they added.
Clear Message
Others, in particular eastern and Nordic member states, have argued strongly for a ban. “It is very provocative to me that you see Russian men on European beaches in Southern Europe and at the same time Ukrainian men between 18 and 60 years cannot even leave their country but have to fight for their freedom,” Denmark’s Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said last week.
“We think it is right that we together in Europe can limit and cut off tourists from Russia and it would send a clear message to (President) Putin.”
An EU diplomat said the foreign ministers might agree in principle to suspend a visa facilitation agreement with Russia, which would mean Russians face a longer procedure and pay 80 euros instead of 35 for EU visas, but that divisions over tourism visa bans were too deep for any agreement on that.
Russians mostly enter the EU via the land borders of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Finland, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said last week, adding that these countries may act on their own if the EU does not agree on a union-wide ban.
Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he hoped defence ministers would give him a green light to start working on an EU military training mission for Ukraine.
“A number of EU countries are already hosting training facilitation for Ukrainians but I think it would be good to … ensure that the EU collectively is doing that in an organised way that can last for some time,” Ireland’s Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said in Prague.
The Netherlands also backed the idea, saying it was working on de-mining training along with Germany.
The discovery of thousands of undeclared private swimming pools in France has provided an unexpected windfall for French tax authorities.
Following an experiment using artificial intelligence (AI), more than 20,000 hidden pools were discovered.
They have amassed some €10m ($9.9; £8.5m) in revenue, French media is reporting.
Pools can lead to higher property taxes because they boost property value, and must be declared under French law.
The software, developed by Google and French consulting firm Capgemini, spotted the pools on aerial images of nine French regions during a trial in October 2021.
There were more than 3.2 million private swimming pools in France in 2020, according to data website Statista, with sales already booming before the Covid pandemic.
But as more employees worked from home, there was a further surge in pool installations.
According to Le Parisien newspaper, an average pool of 30 sq m (322 sq ft) is taxed at €200 ($200; £170) a year.
The tax authorities say the software could eventually be used to find undeclared home extensions, patios or gazebos, which also play a part in property taxes.
Antoine Magnant, the deputy director general of public finances, told Le Parisien: “We are particularly targeting house extensions like verandas.
“But we have to be sure that the software can find buildings with a large footprint and not the dog kennel or the children’s playhouse,” he added.
The crackdown comes after Julien Bayou, of France’s Europe-Ecology Greens party, did not rule out a ban on new private pools.
Speaking to BFMTV, he said that France needs a “different relationship to water” and that the ban would be a “last resort”.
“The challenge is not to ban swimming pools, it is to guarantee our vital water needs,” he said.
His comments come as France tackles with its worst recorded drought that has left more than 100 municipalities short of drinking water.
In July, France had just 9.7mm (0.38 inches) of rain, making it the driest month since March 1961, the national weather service Meteo-France said.
Irrigation has been banned in much of the north-west and south-east of France to conserve water.
Mali says France has violated its airspace and delivered arms to Islamist militants in an attempt to destabilize the West African country, the latest in a barrage of accusations that have marked the bitter end to their once close relations.
In a letter to the head of the United Nations Security Council dated Monday, Mali’s foreign affairs minister, Abdoulaye Diop, said its airspace has been breached more than 50 times this year, mostly by French forces using drones, military helicopters, and fighter jets.
“These flagrant violations of Malian airspace were used by France to collect information for terrorist groups operating in the Sahel and to drop arms and ammunition to them,” the letter said.
Mali provided no evidence to show that France had supplied arms to Islamist groups. France has spent a decade and billions of dollars to stamp out Islamist militants, some with links to al Qaeda and Islamic State, in its former colony.
“France has obviously never supported, directly or indirectly, these terrorist groups, which remain its designated enemies across the planet,” said the French Embassy in Mali, in a Twitter thread.
It said that 53 French soldiers had died during its nine-year mission in Mali and that France had killed hundreds of Islamist fighters in order to improve security for Malians. France has also suffered Islamist attacks at home, it added.
The accusations mark a new low in relations just as France pulls the last of its troops out of Mali and Russian mercenaries hired by Mali’s military government expand their reach. The swap worries western powers who see their influence slipping in the Sahel.
Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed possibly supplying food, fertilisers and fuel to Mali in a call with the country’s interim president last week.
German U.N. soldiers said they saw Russian forces landing at the airport and unloading equipment on Monday in the northern town of Gao, the day the last French soldiers left.
French forces were welcomed as heroes in Mali in 2013 when they beat back Islamist groups that had taken over the north, including the fabled city of Timbuktu.
But a series of setbacks and prolonged attacks by the militants have soured relations, which became worse since a military junta overthrew the government in 2020 and later overthrew an interim civilian cabinet.
