Getty Images The French scientist who created the abortion pill has died at the age of 98. Étienne-Émile Baulieu helped develop the oral drug RU-486, also known as mifepristone, which has provided millions of women across the world with a safe and inexpensive alternative to a surgical abortion. Dr Baulieu died at his home in...
Unlike some of Brazil’s sporting superstars, Fonseca’s story is not one of humble beginnings in the Rio favelas. Fonseca grew up in a wealthy family and started playing tennis at the Rio de Janeiro Country Club – one of Brazil’s most exclusive private venues. His father, Christiano, is a businessman who founded his own hedge...
The French Open night sessions – which were introduced in 2021 – feature just one singles match on Court Philippe Chatrier. A women’s singles match, played over three sets, has not been put in this primetime slot since 2023 – meaning the past 19 night-time sessions have been men’s singles matches, which are played over...
Over the past year, Draper has developed into a leading player with genuine ambitions of landing the biggest prizes in the sport. The way the Englishman, 23, overcame Monfils was another example of his growing maturity. After two chastening previous experiences on the Paris clay, Draper has returned with a point to prove. Patience was...
France’s National Assembly has voted to abolish low-emission zones, a key measure introduced during President Emmanuel Macron’s first term to reduce city pollution. So-called ZFEs (zones à faibles émissions) have been criticised for hitting those who cannot afford less-polluting vehicles the hardest. A handful of MPs from Macron’s party joined opposition parties from the right...
The victims of prolific French paedophile Joel Le Scouarnec have expressed their dismay that the former surgeon’s 20-year prison sentence does not include preventive detention – meaning he could be released from jail in the early 2030s. The 74-year-old was found guilty on Tuesday of sexually abusing hundreds of people, most of them underage patients...
Neither Kartal nor Bouzkova began with fluency, with the Briton broken in the first service game of the match. Kartal could not convert a break back point in the next game and quickly found herself 4-0 down before she finally held serve. Bouzkova, a talented doubles player, dictated the action and a double fault from...
When Britain’s Jack Draper faces Gael Monfils at the French Open on Thursday, it will once again highlight an eye-opening statistic. It’s one that raises the question of whether the clay-court Grand Slam should do more to promote the women’s game. Not since 2023 has a women’s singles match occupied the primetime night session slot...
Emma Raducanu’s miserable record against Iga Swiatek continued as she was outclassed by the defending champion in their French Open second-round meeting. The British number two was beaten 6-1 6-2 on the Paris clay and has now lost all five of her matches against the five-time Grand Slam winner. It was another reminder of the...
Reuters French ex-surgeon Joel Le Scouarnec has admitted sexually abusing hundreds of patients A verdict is expected on Wendesday in the case of Joel Le Scouarnec, the former surgeon who has admitted sexually abusing hundreds of patients, mostly under age, between 1989 and 2014. Le Scouarnec, 74, has been dubbed France’s most prolific paedophile. He...
French police have arrested more than 20 people following a number of kidnapping plots targeting cryptocurrency entrepreneurs and their families. Authorities said the arrests were in connection with investigations into a recent abduction attempt in Nantes and the attempted kidnapping of a woman and child in Paris in May. The incidents have raised concerns about...
Draper’s trips to Roland Garros have been memorable for the wrong reasons. The left-hander retired during his main-draw debut two years ago and lamented being known as “the guy who is injured a lot”, before struggling with his serve in a miserable defeat against 176th-ranked Jesper de Jong last year. This year, he has returned...
Raducanu has had little joy against Swiatek. The 2021 US Open champion has lost all four of their previous meetings – twice on indoor clay in Stuttgart, and twice on hard courts at Indian Wells and this year’s Australian Open. The 6-1 6-0 defeat in Melbourne was particularly chastening, with Swiatek’s groundstrokes proving too powerful...
French MPs have voted to allow some people in the last stages of a terminal illness the right to assisted dying. The National Assembly approved the bill, which is backed by President Emmanuel Macron, by 305 votes to 199. It will now go to the upper house, the Senate, before a second reading in the...
Medvedev will say at almost every available opportunity that clay is not his favourite surface – but that takes nothing away from Norrie, who was outstanding. Hitting with depth and pummelling his forehand in particular, he stuck in the rallies with the defensive Medvedev and returned serve well. He went a break down in the...