Sports

During the final stage of the 16th Tour du Rwanda on February 25, 2024, in Kigali. GUILLEM SARTORIO / AFP When the world's best cyclists arrive in Kigali for the UCI Road World Championships, which take place from September 21 to 28, they will experience the thrill of competition, the beauty of our landscapes and the warmth of our people. But they will also, whether they realize it or not, be participating in a carefully choreographed image-laundering operation. The other reality of Rwanda − which President Paul Kagame is desperate to hide − is one of silenced journalists, disappeared opposition figures and millions of Congolese who have been victims of a conflict in which Rwanda plays a major role, even while refusing to admit it. As a Rwandan journalist w...

France's flanker Axelle Berthoumieu in the blue jersey tackles England's number 8 Alex Matthews at Twickenham, London on April 29, 2023. ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP France's Axelle Berthoumieu will miss the rest of the Women's Rugby World Cup after an appeal panel upheld a ban for biting during last weekend's quarter-final against Ireland. French coach Gaelle Mignot then confirmed that fly half Lina Queyroi had not recovered from a concussion against Ireland and, like banned pair Berthoumieu and captain Manae Feleu, would miss the semi-final in Bristol against top seeds England. Berthoumieu had appealed a 12-match ban for biting against Ireland, and while the panel reduced her suspension to nine games, she cannot play on Saturday. The 25-year-old will...

French Alps 2030 Olympics President Edgar Grospiron speaks in Costa Navarino, Greece, on March 20, 2025. FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP Opponents of the 2030 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in France have launched legal action to demand a public debate on the Games planned for the French Alps. A citizens' group named Collectif Citoyen JOP 2030 ("2030 Olympic and Paralympic Games Citizen Collective"), joined in its action by some regional elected officials, members of parliament and civil society groups, said it has filed cases before the administrative courts of Paris, Lyon and Marseille "to defend citizens' right to information and to obtain the organization of a genuine public debate." The French project is centered on Alpine ski r...

Paris Saint-Germain's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia celebrates after scoring PSG's second goal against Atalanta at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on September 17, 2025. FRANCK FIFE / AFP Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored a superb goal as Paris Saint-Germain began the defense of their Champions League crown with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Atalanta at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday, September 17. Marquinhos opened the scoring inside three minutes as PSG made a fast start in front of their own fans, with Kvaratskhelia bursting through to blast home a second before the interval. Nuno Mendes added another early in the second half and substitute Gonçalo Ramos then wrapped up the victory at the death. Bradley Barcola also had a penalty saved in the fi...

Achraf Hakimi, the Paris Saint-Germain defender, at a press conference at the club's training center in Poissy, in the Paris region, on May 6, 2025. FRANCK FIFE / AFP In the Uber taking her to Boulogne-Billancourt, in the outskirts of Paris, on the night of February 24 to 25, 2023, Emma (whose name has been changed) was consumed by nerves. Throughout the ride, she exchanged messages on WhatsApp with her friend Jade (whose name has also been changed), who tried to reassure her: "You go there in femme fatale mode," "It'll be fine don't worry." Emma, who was 24 at the time and recently separated from her first love, had finally agreed to meet that night with a man who was only a few years older than her and had been courting her for a month on Instagram. She h...

Deciding to bungy jump can be daunting. Shifting your mindset from “I’d never do that” to “I’m going to do this” is the first big step, but it gets even tougher when you’re standing at the platform’s edge, looking down at the rushing water, your heart pounding in your chest. Read emotive, first-person accounts inspired by real customer experiences from People Who Said They'd Never Bungy

A first for New Zealand squash player Ella Lash as she scored her maiden PSA Challenger title to assist her young professional career.  The title came in almost the most unlikely of locations on the international glass court in Temuka at the Trust Aoraki Midlands PSA as the top seeded Lash ranked 117 in the world and aged 19 accounted for third seed Jena Gregory from the Hawkes Bay who is ranked 211 and aged just 21.  Lash cruised through the first two games, dropping just three points in the process as Gregory struggled to find her shots. But Lash started the third with a number of unforced errors and Gregory took the initiative taking the score through to a game point, however the fight of Lash showed through as then starved off numerous game balls to win 13-11 and take the match...

Young talent highlights the 2025 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Squash Open with a couple of New Zealand's best teenage players taking further steps into their professional careers. Top seed at the PSA Challenger tournament which runs Thursday 22 - Sunday 25 May is 18-year-old Ollie Dunbar from Wellington who has had an amazing 2025 already. Currently ranked at 145 in the world Dunbar recently won the Australian and New Zealand junior titles. He was a semifinalist at the professional World Championship qualifying event plus reached the second round at the 2025 New Zealand Open after beating world No54 Rui Soares of Portugal. There was also a title at the Scottish Junior U19 Open and a quarterfinal appearance at the British Junior U19 Open as well.  Dunbar, who is coached by former Auc...