14 h. ago George and Amal Clooney look smitten as they hold hands on a romantic weekend break in the South of France

George and Amal Clooney looked smitten as they walked hand-in-hand during a romantic weekend getaway in the South of France. 

Politics

3 d. ago George Clooney landed his wife Amal in hot water with joke about her 'work for Muslim Brotherhood'

On a US chat show, Clooney said his first date with now wife Amal Alamuddin was in London after her 'meeting at the Muslim Brotherhood' to 're-do' the Egyptian constitution.

Politics

3 d. ago When Edinburgh Rugby battled through tear gas to beat Toulon

Ben Toolis on a heady day for the capital club in the south of France

Events

5 d. ago Rockets, gold and the Foreign Legion: can Europe defend its frontier in the Amazon? | Alexander Hurst

It borders Brazil, but French Guiana is now a remote outpost of the EU. It is home to Europe’s only spaceport, some of the most biodiverse forest on the planet and a military mission that is testing the limits of western powerAbove me, a ceiling of rough wooden branches and tarp. To my right, an officer in the French Foreign Legion types up the daily situation report. In front of me a French gendarme named David is standing in front of a table full of large assault rifles, pointing out locations on a paper map. A generator hums. All around us, splotches of forest dot the hundreds of islands that make up the archipelago of Petit-Saut, a watery ecosystem three times the size of Paris.Except Paris is 7,000 kilometres away from where I am, in Guyane, or French Guiana, a department of France in South America, just north of the equator. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Maro Itoje eyes World Cup glory after England dodge big guns in 2027 draw

England ‘welcome whatever comes’ says bullish captainWales’ Tandy ‘unbelievably excited’ by England clashMaro Itoje has set his sights on Rugby World Cup glory in Australia in 2027 after England were handed a favourable potential path through the tournament when the draw was made in Sydney on Wednesday.Steve Borthwick’s side, who have risen to third in the world rankings after an 11-match winning streak, emerged on the other side of the draw from the reigning world champions South Africa, three-times winners New Zealand and France. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Marseille vs Newcastle United Champions League prediction, odds and betting offer

Fresh from their win against Man City, Newcastle travel to the south of France to face former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi and his Marseille side in the Champions League

Sport

2 w. ago The Breakdown | A November to remember: let’s celebrate the good in international rugby

We turn the dial towards whimsy and revisit some of the moments that made the autumn internationals irresistibleSouth Africa and Ireland played out a slugfest for the ages and the discourse has been dominated by yellow cards and flying shoulders to the head. England held off a spirited Argentina to claim their 11th consecutive Test win and it seems all anyone can talk about is some alleged after-the-whistle shoving. Wales and New Zealand traded 11 tries in a ding-dong encounter and yet the narrative is weighed down by caveats concerning fading empires.What, exactly, is the point of Test rugby? Beyond winning World Cups and regional crowns, does this chaotic sport hold any value? A bit of spice elevates almost every dish, sure, but it has felt as if this autumn’s brilliant rugby fare has been smothered in a sauce with a needlessly high Scoville count. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago George Clooney and wife Amal are mobbed by fans as they enjoy a night out at Le Royal Monceau in Paris

George Clooney and wife Amal are mobbed by fans as they departed Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris on Monday evening. 

Politics

2 w. ago Cop30 conference centre evacuated as fire breaks out – as it happened

UN secretary-general António Guterres earlier used speech at Belem summit to urge countries to find compromises in final hours of negotiationsInside the halls of Cop30 you see people from all around the world, and it can be easy to forget that there are many people who remain unrepresented.On Thursday morning, Magne Tony was standing with compatriots from French Guiana outside the entrance to the conference centre, trying to push pieces of paper into the hands of arriving delegates and observers headed: “Our Amazon is dying”.The main problem is that France are in 9,000 kilometres from Amazonia, from South America, and they’re taking decisions. [But] they don’t really know what is the problem really. They’re taking the decisions from their own mind and the problem is that they’re far from reality.That’s why we decided to alert the people in the world about [our] problems: water coming up, getting enough to eat, more heat – in some parts of French Guiana, people don’t have water.These...

Events

2 w. ago Cop30 live: current climate pathway ‘a death sentence for many’, says UN secretary

António Guterres uses speech at Belem summit to urge countries to find compromises in final hours of negotiationsInside the halls of Cop30 you see people from all around the world, and it can be easy to forget that there are many people who remain unrepresented.On Thursday morning, Magne Tony was standing with compatriots from French Guiana outside the entrance to the conference centre, trying to push pieces of paper into the hands of arriving delegates and observers headed: “Our Amazon is dying”.The main problem is that France are in 9,000 kilometres from Amazonia, from South America, and they’re taking decisions. [But] they don’t really know what is the problem really. They’re taking the decisions from their own mind and the problem is that they’re far from reality.That’s why we decided to alert the people in the world about [our] problems: water coming up, getting enough to eat, more heat – in some parts of French Guiana, people don’t have water.These crises, a consequence of Wes...

Society

3 w. ago Bone Lake review – holiday rental house of horror is fun for everyone

You don’t need to be a fright flick aficionado to enjoy this smart and witty tale of a romantic weekend break going gruesomely wrongIt is certainly unusual to see in closeup an arrow fired into a naked scrotum before the title of a film has even been shown, but this is that rare film. The scrotum in question belongs to a man fleeing unclothed through the woods from an unseen assailant, together with an equally naked female companion who also comes swiftly to a sticky end. As opening salvoes go, it hits the spot, as it were.Then the film proper begins. A couple arrive at a bougie rental home only to find themselves facing the ultimate millennial nightmare: you’ve shelled out your hand-earned cash on a place for the weekend but find another couple have also booked it. This is the problem of listings on multiple platforms! Or is something more sinister going on? (If the ballsack shish kebab didn’t tip you off, another clue lies in the fact that the movie is called Bone Lake, not Airbnb...

Society

3 w. ago South Africa overcome Franco Mostert red card in show of strength against Italy

Italy 14-32 South Africa: For a second week in a row, the Springboks survived a red card to triumph

Politics

3 w. ago Franco Mostert red card: Why was South Africa lock sent off against Italy?

Mostert was controversially shown a permanent red card during the first half in Turin

Politics

3 w. ago More than 150 Palestinians held on plane in South Africa for 12 Hours

Passengers included a woman who was nine months pregnant

Politics

3 w. ago Vogue accused of Facetuning Amal Clooney: 'I thought it was someone else'

The publication shared images of Clooney, 47, speaking at the Prix Suisse over the weekend, with furious fans accusing them of digitally altering the human rights lawyer.

Politics

3 w. ago British & Irish Lions plan ban on R360 players to stop Red Roses jumping ship

Eight of 12 tier-one unions already plan to ban rebelsLions hope to sway stars lured by league’s salary offersThe British & Irish Lions are planning to follow the example of the biggest unions by banning players who join R360 in a move designed primarily to prevent an exodus of England’s Red Roses stars to the rebel league.Eight of the 12 tier-one unions, led by England and New Zealand, announced last month that they would not select R360 players, and the Guardian has learned that the Lions will follow suit. Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa also came out in support of a ban, but Wales and Argentina did not due to smaller player pools and weaker domestic leagues. Continue reading...

Sport

3 w. ago 'We moved from Hampshire to the south of France and found one big problem'

Rachel Hosie and her husband moved to the Côte d'Azur shortly after getting married, hoping to make a home for themselves in the popular holiday region - but made an irritating discovery

Politics

4 w. ago Springboks lock Lood de Jager handed ban after red card against France

De Jager will miss the remainder of South Africa’s Quilter Nations Series campaign

Politics

4 w. ago France v South Africa moment leaves viewers in stitches after what star says to referee

Despite their on-field rivalry, a classic rugby moment was captured after the game between Thomas Ramos and Cobus Reinach

Politics