
-
Author of explosive Meta memoir stars at US Senate hearing
-
King Charles addresses Italian parliament, greets pope on visit to Rome
-
Dominican Republic ends search for nightclub collapse survivors
-
Trump stuns with tariff backtrack but punishes China
-
King Charles jokes, cites Monty Python at Italian state banquet
-
Strength in numbers: Latin America urges unity in face of Trump tariffs
-
France could recognise Palestinian state 'in June': Macron
-
Tariff war could cut US-China goods trade by 80 percent: WTO chief
-
Europa League success 'massive' for Man Utd, says Amorim
-
Scheffler tunes out talk of history in Masters title defense
-
Turkey opposition to fight Erdogan 'until the end': leader tells AFP
-
Argentina braces for 24-hour strike as it awaits news on IMF loan
-
Volkswagen says first-quarter profits impacted by Trump tariffs
-
Hope fades as deaths mount in Dominican Republic nightclub disaster
-
Herd of animal puppets treks from Africa to Europe in climate action
-
Trump stuns with tariffs reversal but hits China harder
-
Amazon to launch first batch of satellites rivaling Musk
-
Sudharsan, Krishna lead Gujarat to top of IPL table
-
Settlement champion Huckabee confirmed as US Israel envoy
-
Trump pauses tariffs for 90 days but hits China harder
-
US federal judges halt deportations of Venezuelans under wartime law
-
No direct LIV path to Masters but Ridley wants one elite tour
-
UK cinemas fight viral 'chicken jockey' trend
-
Nepal fights wildfires and pollution amidst drier winter
-
Jamaican speed merchant Thompson seeks fast progress in 2025
-
'Horrible' Djokovic falls in Monte Carlo, first win for Alcaraz
-
Masters chief defends Cabrera invite after domestic violence convictions
-
Pentagon chief in Panama vows to counter China 'threat'
-
Trump's NASA chief pick says will 'prioritize' Mars mission
-
Europe's first Universal theme park to bring 'joy to Britain': PM
-
Trump tells US to 'be cool' as China, EU strike back
-
Djokovic crashes out in Monte Carlo, first win for Alcaraz
-
Over 120 dead in Dominican Republic nightclub disaster
-
Delta to trim capacity in light of weakening travel demand
-
Pressure builds on Afghans fearing arrest in Pakistan
-
From Freddy Kruegers to Peaky Blinders: a look at Ecuador's drug gangs
-
Postecoglou says 'general sentiment' points to Spurs exit
-
French group gets death threats over renaming of 'Negresse' district
-
Beijing rejects Ukraine claim 'many' Chinese fighting for Russia
-
Germany 'back on track' says Merz, unveiling new coalition
-
France struggles to find new home for two orcas after park closes
-
Alcaraz recovers from sluggish start to move into Monte Carlo last 16
-
Trump trade war escalates as China, EU counterattack
-
Stocks volatile, oil plunges as trade war cranks higher
-
US Treasury chief defends tariffs, warns against aligning with China
-
Beijing consumers mull spending habits as 'worrying' tariffs kick in
-
Stocks, oil plunge as US, China crank up trade war
-
Onana 'one of worst goalkeepers in Man Utd's history': Matic
-
Tata Steel to cut jobs at Dutch plant by 15%
-
Tata Steel to cut jobs at Dutch plant by 15 pct

France bids final farewell to Olympics with Champs-Elysees parade
France bid a final and reluctant farewell to the Paris Olympics on Saturday with a parade on the Champs-Elysees followed by a concert featuring artists from the opening and closing ceremonies.
The final event of an acclaimed summer of sport saw tens of thousands of fans gather on the French capital's most famous avenue to applaud and cheer the nation's new sporting heroes.
Around 70,000 people gathered for the parade featuring athletes, volunteers and public sector workers, which was followed by a multi-artist concert on a spectacular stage around the Arc de Triomphe.
"Saying thanks, not just to the athletes but to everyone who made these games magic, I think it's fabulous," said France's most-decorated track athlete, Marie-Jose Perec, who lit the cauldron at the start of the Games on July 26.
"It's a beautiful way of saying goodbye because everything must come to an end and tonight it will all be over," the visibly emotional 200m and 400m triple gold medallist told reporters as she arrived.
Around 4,000 police were called out for a final test, having won almost almost unanimous praise for the way they kept around 12 million ticket holders for the Olympics and Paralympics safe.
After months of gloom and self-doubt in the run-up to the start of the Olympics, Parisians and the country at large threw themselves into the spirit of the Games once the sport began.
They embraced new champions such as triple gold medal-winning swimmer Leon Marchand while finding fresh reasons to celebrate veterans such as judoka Teddy Riner who won his fourth Olympic title.
"Thank you, thank you, it's been incredible!" Riner shouted to the cheering crowd.
He, Marchand and Rugby Sevens star Antoine Dupont were among more than 100 French medal winners who were awarded the Legion d'Honneur, France's highest civilian award, in a ceremony at the foot of the Arc de Triomphe led by French President Emmanuel Macron.
The French team finished the Olympics with a record medals haul of 64, including 16 golds, securing fifth place on the international table.
The Paralympic Games from August 28-September 8 were hailed as "the most spectacular ever" by the head of the International Paralympic Committee, Andrew Parsons.
- Escapism -
Analysts say the Games served as a form of escapism for many French people worried about the direction of the country as well as generating a rare form of national union and pride
"Everything worked, everything functioned and French people rediscovered the virtues of national cohesion," the head of the French Olympic Committee, David Lappartient, told reporters.
Macron is seeking to take advantage of this more positive mood, having faced widespread criticism for his decision to call snap parliamentary elections in June which blindsided Paris 2024 organisers.
The vote resulted in a hung parliament and historic gains for the far-right National Rally party.
Instead of making a speech, he recorded a poetic voiceover over images of the Olympics and Paralympics, saying it was "a summer that had already become part of French sporting legend."
The 46-year-old was the main instigator of Saturday's event, which was not originally part of the Olympic or Paralympic programme.
The centrist has also announced his intention to create an Olympics-inspired "national day of sport" every year on September 14.
"We need to spend time together at a day of sport, which would take place in the street, schools, in dedicated sports centres," he told the Parisien.
Saturday night's concert featured singer Chris, formerly of Christine & the Queens, who performed at the Paralympics opening ceremony, as well as blind Malian duo Amadou & Mariam among others.
V.Dantas--PC