All posts tagged: French

Who is Michael Olise – Mbappé’s wingman, as French captain chases Messi’s goal count

Who is Michael Olise – Mbappé’s wingman, as French captain chases Messi’s goal count

5 min readJun 23, 2026 09:00 AM IST There are 75 players at the 2026 FIFA World Cup who are born in France – representing around 10 nations. Michael Olise, the lynchpin of the French attack, the puppeteer pulling the strings from the right wing, while setting up Kylian Mbappé’s strikes – isn’t one. Olise was born in London. He has been called the ‘today and tomorrow’ of French football by Mbappé, after his assists first helped France steady early nerves and a ponderous first half against Senegal, when the French captain finally scored. Against Iraq in a rain-drenched game, Olise was quicker to get France going, when his pinpoint service to Mbappé took his captain to 15 World Cup goals in his 100th match. Roving on the right, well out of the defensive unit’s peripheral sights, Olise kept pinging in precise passes that the French forwards could convert, with Dembele receiving an Olise assist and scoring the French third in a 3-0 win. ALSO READ | Mbappé approaching Messi’s 18-goal record in World Cup’s …

Jeremy Doku row explodes as French presenter reportedly suspended over childbirth comments

Jeremy Doku row explodes as French presenter reportedly suspended over childbirth comments

Belgium and Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku has found himself at the centre of an emotional World Cup controversy after a French television presenter criticised his desire to leave the national camp for the birth of his first child. Jeremy Doku has been a centre of discussion in Belgium’s campaign. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters) Doku’s wife, Shireen, is expected to give birth in the second week of July, a period that could potentially clash with the latter stages of the FIFA World Cup if Belgium progress deep into the tournament. The 24-year-old has made it clear that, despite the magnitude of the competition, he wants to be present for the birth of his first child. “It depends on when it happens, but it’s my first child, so I would definitely want to be there,” Doku said, explaining the personal dilemma facing him during Belgium’s campaign. The winger also acknowledged the difficult balance between family and football, saying, “Nobody wants to miss the birth of their first child. But I also know that football involves many …

‘Priya mitra Narendra…’: French President Emmanuel Macron’s Hindi farewell message for PM Modi | Watch

‘Priya mitra Narendra…’: French President Emmanuel Macron’s Hindi farewell message for PM Modi | Watch

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday delivered a surprise farewell message in Hindi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the Indian leader wrapped up the final day of his multi-city visit to France. The warm exchange came at the end of Modi’s visit to Paris, the last stop of a France tour that began in Nice before moving to Evian for the G7 summit and the French capital. Emmanuel Macron speaks Hindi to thank PM Modi at end of France visit. (PMO) Macron said in Hindi, “Priya mitra Narendra, mujhe bohot khushi hui aapk Nice, Evian aur Paris mein swagat karke. France aur Bharat ki dosti amar rahe.” (“Dear friend Narendra, I was very happy to welcome you to Nice, Evian and Paris. Long live the friendship between France and India”). The French President then switched to English and added, “I hope it was correct. My dear Narendra Modi, I wanted to thank you so much for your friendship. France loves you. I am so happy you are with so many friends in Paris before …

Melinda French Gates calls Jeffrey Epstein ‘evil’ after Bill Gates’ closed-door Congress hearing

Melinda French Gates calls Jeffrey Epstein ‘evil’ after Bill Gates’ closed-door Congress hearing

Philanthropist Melinda French Gates described Jeffrey Epstein as “evil” in a new interview published days after her ex-husband, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, testified before Congress about his past connections to the convicted sex offender. Melinda Gates poses for photographers as she arrives for a meeting after a meeting on the sideline of the gender equality conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris, July 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) Speaking to The Guardian in an interview, Melinda reflected on meeting Epstein once and said the experience unsettled her. According to CNN and The Independent, she revealed she later had nightmares after the encounter and struggled emotionally while discussing him during the interview. “Have you ever in your life been around somebody that you just know is evil?” Melinda told The Guardian. She added, “We need to listen to our feelings about people.” At another point in the conversation, she described Epstein as “an abhorrent human being, a horrid man,” while expressing sympathy for his victims. “My heart goes out to the young girls,” she said, according …

Alpha teaser sparks plagiarism debate; fans spot similarities to French film La Femme Nikita and American Sniper

Alpha teaser sparks plagiarism debate; fans spot similarities to French film La Femme Nikita and American Sniper

The makers of Alia Bhatt and Sharvari-starrer Alpha unveiled the film’s much-awaited teaser on Wednesday, and the promotional video has received a mixed response from fans. Many have even accused the makers of copying scenes from the 1990 French film La Femme Nikita, while others pointed out that the wolf-sheep analogy featured in the teaser resembles one used in the Hollywood classic American Sniper. Fans find Alia Bhatt-starrer Alpha’s scene eerily similar to French film La Femme Nikita’s scene. Alpha scene copied from French film? In the Alpha teaser, Bobby Deol’s character is seen taking his daughter (played by Alia Bhatt), whom he has been training from a young age to be a spy, to a fancy restaurant on the occasion of her 18th birthday. It is at this restaurant that he gives her first mission — to carry out her first kill. The revelation initially leaves Alia’s character disappointed because she believed they were there to celebrate her birthday, but she eventually goes ahead and completes the mission. Fans have now drawn parallels between …

French luxury brand Diptyque’s ₹6,500 scented spirals remind desi internet of Kachua Chaap mosquito coil

French luxury brand Diptyque’s ₹6,500 scented spirals remind desi internet of Kachua Chaap mosquito coil

International brands have been drawing inspiration from India for many years. Be it Prada releasing Kolhapuri chappals, the Scandinavian scarf debacle, or even taking credit for embroideries mastered by Indian craftsmen over the centuries, brands have had India on their mood board forever. But the backlash comes when, after stealing the ideas, they sell them for exorbitant prices, even though you can get the same thing for half the price or less. Diptyque is selling scented spirals for ₹6,500. Also Read | Kangana Ranaut turns Marathi mulgi in gorgeous paithani saree at Bharat Bhagya Vidatha Delhi screening for Rekha Gupta The latest brand to give everyday Indians items a luxury makeover is the French luxury fragrance house Diptyque. The brand recently released a home incense spiral as part of its limited summer collection, and it has Indians in stitches. Is Diptyque selling mosquito coils? We have all grown up using mosquito coils at night, and they cost less than ₹50. But the version Diptyque is currently selling on its website is called “scented spirals”. The …

French singer Patrick Bruel in police custody over alleged rape and sexual assault | Music News

French singer Patrick Bruel in police custody over alleged rape and sexual assault | Music News

2 min readParisJun 9, 2026 05:33 PM IST French singer and actor Patrick Bruel is in police custody over allegations by at least 13 women of rape, attempted rape and sexual assault, the prosecutor’s office in Nanterre said on Tuesday. Bruel, 67, who has been in police custody since Monday, denies the allegations. The singer became a major star across the French-speaking world in the 1980s and 1990s with a string of hit songs that became part of French popular culture. He has also appeared in more than 40 film and television productions. The Nanterre prosecutor’s office said in a statement that the investigation began after three women accused Patrick Bruel of sexual assault and attempted rape allegedly committed in 1997, 2000 and 2001. During the investigation, additional women were identified and interviewed. They reported allegations of rape or attempted rape, sexual assault and harassment, according to the statement. Separately, an investigation opened in western France over an alleged rape in 2012 in Dinard, in the Brittany region, was transferred to the Nanterre prosecutor’s office. …

Zverev after French Open win

Zverev after French Open win

3 min readJun 8, 2026 04:48 PM IST The Sunday evening in Paris ultimately brought solace for Germany’s Alexander Zverev, who finally became a Grand Slam winner after defeating Italy’s Flavio Cobolli in a five-set thriller to win the French Open 2026 men’s singles title. Zverev overcame Cobolli 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 in the summit clash to become the first German man to win a Grand Slam since Boris Becker’s Australian Open triumph three decades ago. An emotional Zverev said he would forever be a Grand Slam champion, adding that no one could take that away from him. “Now no matter what happens, I will always be a Grand Slam champion, and nobody can take that away from me. Maybe that does give me some freedom. It does give me some – maybe my mind will just be a little bit calmer when I play a final, meaning that even if I lose it, I will still be a Grand Slam champion,” he said in a press conference after the win. “I think this …

How Andreeva turned a mother’s dream into a French Open title

How Andreeva turned a mother’s dream into a French Open title

4 min readUpdated: Jun 6, 2026 09:08 PM IST Mirra Andreeva was on a tennis court by the age of 2. She was putting balls back into play by the time she was six. At 12, she had already come to the notice of IMG, the influential global sports and entertainment agency. As she turned 16, she and her sister Erika, three years her elder, were already being mentioned in the same breath as the Williamses. Successful tennis sisters always make for a feel-good story. Forgive her, then, if relief accompanied joy in equal parts as she fell to the red dirt of Court Philippe Chatrier on Saturday. Life as a prodigy can be hectic. Realising one’s potential, matching the hype, can be a burden. With laser-eyed focus and consistency that was on show throughout the tournament, Andreeva firmly did so at this year’s French Open. The Russian 19-year-old defeated unlikely opponent Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska 6-3 6-2 to win her first Major title in her first final. The victory had been decades in the …

Mirra Andreeva defeats Maja Chwalinska to clinch maiden French Open title

Mirra Andreeva defeats Maja Chwalinska to clinch maiden French Open title

1 min readUpdated: Jun 6, 2026 08:23 PM IST Mirra Andreeva defeated Maja Chwalinska in the French Open final in straight sets to clinch her maiden Grand Slam title on Saturday. The Russian beat her opponent 6-3 6-2 in a match that lasted almost one and a half hours. At 19, eighth-ranked Andreeva became the youngest player to win the women’s singles title since Monica Seles was 18 when she landed her third straight French Open in 1992. Andreeva arrived at Saturday’s showpiece as the overwhelming favourite after bulldozing her way through the draw, dropping only 12 games in her last three matches and looking every inch a future Grand Slam champion. Andreeva, who reached the Roland Garros semi-finals as a 17-year-old two years ago, believes her growing maturity has helped ​transform ​her from a precocious talent into a genuine title contender. The Russian’s relentless baseline power and ability to dictate rallies have overwhelmed opponents throughout the tournament and she has looked increasingly comfortable with the expectations that accompany her rapid rise. (More to follow) …