16 h. ago Natural entertainer Rayan Cherki ready for test of maturity at Manchester City

France international impressed with his flicks and tricks from a young age at Lyon. Now City hope he can fire their creative rebuild“To win the Ballon d’Or and the Champions League,” came the response from Rayan Cherki to the Lyon academy director Jean-François Vulliez’s question. Even as a 15-year-old the playmaker was ambitious, knowing his talent would take him to the top. He might have expected to reach the Premier League earlier but he is ready to take the next steps at Manchester City.Vulliez worked at Lyon for 12 years and from the moment he witnessed an eight-year-old Cherki he knew the club had a glorious talent on their hands. This week City paid £30.5m for the France international, who could make his debut against Wydad AC on Wednesday at the Club World Cup. Lyon’s academy coaches were soon gossiping about the two-footed generational talent who dribbled past opponents, created chances and plundered goals in the youth setup. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Ruthless people smuggler who charges £1,200 to transport migrants to the UK boasts: 'French gendarmes do nothing. Do not worry. I am the police'

The Syrian trafficker was demanding £1,200 for a place on an inflatable boat leaving from northern France on Tuesday.

Events

7 d. ago Intrepid Geoff Thomas geared up for another crack at Tour de France route

Former Crystal Palace captain aims to complete the entire course for seventh time to raise funds for Cure LeukaemiaWhen Geoff Thomas was forced to abandon his seventh attempt to complete Tour 21 at the age of 58 after an unforgiving day on the cobblestones, the former Crystal Palace captain thought his days in the saddle were over. “My bike sort of disintegrated underneath me,” remembers Thomas. “That’s when the issues with my knees started so I’d not really been on the bike since then.”But, two years on and having celebrated his 60th birthday earlier this year, he will join the group of amateur riders in tackling the entire Tour de France route a week before the pros, a ride of nearly 3,500km to raise money for Cure Leukaemia. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago ‘This is my mission, my destiny’: a treacherous Amazon journey in the footsteps of Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira

Three years after the deaths of the British journalist and Brazilian activist, the Guardian joined the Indigenous peoples continuing their dangerous and often gruelling work to protect the rainforestPhotographs by João LaetTataco grimaces and braces for impact as his canoe hurtles towards the banks of Brazil’s Jordan River into a blizzard of branches, vines and leaves. In the bow of the boat, his Indigenous comrade, Damë Matis, shields his face with his arms as he is swallowed by the vegetation, twigs gouging his muscular shoulders.“Get down! Get down!” Tataco yells, battling to control the vessel before its occupants are skewered by the lance-like boughs jutting out from the shore. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago ‘This is my mission, my destiny’: a treacherous Amazon journey tracing the steps of our murdered colleagues

Three years after the deaths of the British journalist Dom Phillips and Brazilian activist Bruno Pereira, the Guardian joined the Indigenous peoples continuing their dangerous and often gruelling work to protect the rainforestPhotographs by João LaetTataco grimaces and braces for impact as his canoe hurtles towards the banks of Brazil’s Jordan River into a blizzard of branches, vines and leaves. In the bow of the boat, his Indigenous comrade, Damë Matis, shields his face with his arms as he is swallowed by the vegetation, twigs gouging his muscular shoulders.“Get down! Get down!” Tataco yells, battling to control the vessel before its occupants are skewered by the lance-like boughs jutting out from the shore. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago France finally agrees to intercept migrant boats at sea – months after deal to stop crossings agreed

A furious row erupted at the weekend after French authorities were accused of standing by as people smugglers acted like a ‘taxi’ service

Economics

1 week ago Home Office accused of 'dog ate my homework' excuse as it blames good weather for record migrant crossings

Home Office report links the mild, calm start to 2025 to the dramatic rise in small boat crossings

Society

1 week ago Migrant crossings could hit 50k this year as minister voices ‘frustration’ at French police watching boats go

Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard said the government wants to see ‘French police take more action’

Events

1 week ago BBC Breakfast fans fume 'it's beyond a joke' as they slam news report

BBC Breakfast viewers were left furious as the latest report on migrant crossings was shared

Politics

1 week ago Migrant crossings could hit 50,000 this year as minister expresses 'frustration' at French police

Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard said the government wants to see ‘French police take more action’

Events

1 week ago New 2025 record as nearly 1,200 migrants reach UK in small boats in one day

Defence Secretary says scenes of hundreds boarding boats are ‘pretty shocking’

Events

1 week ago Moment jubilant Emmanuel Macron invites wife Brigitte to stand by his side during Champions League celebrations with PSG squad after tense week following 'slap' video and riots in France

The French president and First Lady Brigitte Macron welcomed the team back to Paris this evening (pictured) after they beat Inter Milan 5-0 at the final in Munich, Germany, last night.

Sport

1 week ago Watch: Migrants cling to overloaded small boat as over 1,000 cross Channel in one day

Scores of migrants were filmed clinging to dangerously overloaded small boats on Saturday (31 March) on Saturday morning, as over 1,000 reportedly crossed the Channel in a single day.

Events

1 week ago Smuggler boats pick up Channel migrants ‘like taxi service’ while French police stand by, minister fumes

Labour’s John Healey hits out after small boats leave beaches near Calais – and authorities in France fail to intervene

Politics

1 week ago From DJing and folk to songwriting and salsa: 10 of the best music and singing holidays

Combine beautiful locations with musical creativity on these perfectly pitched learning breaks from Somerset to MarrakechThe Kora Workshop is a small UK company that makes beautiful, high quality koras (a type of West African harp) and teaches people how to play them. UK festivalgoers may have bumped into its staff at Womad or Tribal Earth, but it also offers week-long immersion workshops in the Aveyron in southern France. They include seven days of tuition (both individual and group sessions), as well as shared accommodation and the loan of a kora. The first week got booked up quickly, so move fast if you’re interested. 14-21 Sept, £510, thekoraworkshop.co.uk Continue reading...

Culture

2 w. ago Saoirse Ronan prepares for next major role as a new mum as she is spotted taking a stroll in London with husband Jack Lowden for the first time since announcing pregnancy

The Irish actress debuted her baby bump on the red carpet in France last week, and these exclusive pictures show her stepping out in London with her husband

Politics

2 w. ago French police stand back and watch as migrant families including small children pack themselves onto small boats heading across the Channel to the UK

It is thought six migrant boats left France in the first attempt to cross the English Channel in days on Saturday.

Events

2 w. ago Small boats leave France after week of no migrant crossing arrivals

Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to crack down on small boat crossings including with measures targeting smuggling gangs.

Events

3 w. ago Kim Kardashian's Paris robbers won't be jailed despite guilty verdicts over armed heist

Kim Kardashian was targeted by armed robbers whilst in France during Paris Fashion Week in 2016 and the case was the subject of a trial recently, with the group found guilty

Events

3 w. ago Netanyahu accuses leaders of Britain, France and Canada of ‘emboldening Hamas’

The Israeli prime minister made the statement after the leaders called for a halt to the Gaza offensive and an end to restrictions on humanitarian aidBenjamin Netanyahu has accused Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Mark Carney of “emboldening Hamas”, after they called for a halt to Israel’s military offensive and an end to restrictions on humanitarian aid in Gaza.Earlier this week, the leaders of the UK, France and Canada condemned the Israeli government’s “egregious” actions in Gaza, warning that the UK and allies will take “concrete actions” unless Netanyahu changes course. Continue reading...

Politics