Latest news with #L'Equipe
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Anthony Joshua rival reveals potential location for heavyweight fight
Joshua could take on Tony Yoka in his next fight but the Frenchman is behind Jake Paul in the pecking order Tony Yoka has revealed he could fight Anthony Joshua in Ghana if he beats Jake Paul to the punch and lands a clash with the former heavyweight world champion. Joshua has not fought since her was knocked out by Daniel Dubois at Wembley last September and recently underwent surgery on his elbow. He is expected to return to the ring before the end of the year with YouTuber Paul the frontrunner following talks between the respective teams in New York. But Yoka is also in the frame for a fight with Joshua, with the Brit recently claiming he will take on his fellow Olympic champion. And the Frenchman has now revealed Joshua's team have gone to Ghana to scout out potential venues for the showdown. "His team has just left for Ghana to see what the sports facilities are like," Yoka told L'Equipe. "There is a possibility that the fight will take place in Africa. A lot of people are talking about it, and it could revive boxing in France. If it comes to fruition, it will indeed generate enormous interest." But Joshua's promoter Hearn believes Paul is more likely to land the bout. He told Sky Sports News: "This bizarre world that we live in, I think Jake Paul is absolutely the front-runner to fight Anthony Joshua next. I'm here in New York for a meeting about that fight. There's open dialogue between myself and Nakisa [Bidarian, Paul's manager] and MVP [Most Valuable Promotions]. "The boxing world are saying, 'please AJ, go in and evaporate this young man from the boxing world so we can all get on as normal'. You got Jake Paul fans thinking, bizarrely, they can beat Anthony Joshua, and the most bizarre thing out of everything is that Jake Paul genuinely believes he will beat Anthony Joshua. "I think it's the only reason we're going to see this fight because Jake Paul and his merry men are telling him that AJ's punch resistance is gone, 'this is a great time to fight him'. "I'm telling you, be careful for what you wish for because this is the most dangerous thing. This is like tuning in to watch [magician] David Blaine. "You know when he's in a box and you're wondering whether he's going to get out in time, I've told Nakisa, this ain't David Blaine. This is going in with one of the fiercest punchers of our generation and if you go in there thinking you're going to win, that's even more dangerous. "I know commercially this fight breaks all kinds of records and I don't even know what's going on to know that we're sitting there negotiating this fight, but I truly believe you're going to see it at the beginning of 2026. For AJ, he says to me, 'you want me to go and knock Jake Paul out? No problem'. That's where we sit."
Morocco World
6 days ago
- Sport
- Morocco World
Achraf Hakimi Facing France's Independent, Upright Justice
While nothing suggested it would happen, and in the middle of summer, French justice decided to prosecute Achraf Hakimi for rape. The prosecutor's office in Nante indeed requested last weekend that the PSG player be sent before the criminal court of Hauts-de-Seine, for alleged rape that would have been committed in February 2023. But no panic for our national champion, he will be judged by independent and upright justice. It's the prosecutor's office that decided on the referral. However, in France, the prosecutor's office is considered a judicial authority, but remains under the hierarchical supervision of the Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice. The question here is simply to know whether or not the current minister, Gérald Darmanin, is informed of this referral decision. Given Achraf Hakimi's status as a key PSG player and captain of the Moroccan national team, we can suppose: yes, Darmanin is well informed. However, if we suppose yes, it would be surprising by such an attitude coming from a man who says of himself a friend of Morocco, and it's not about discharging a guilty person, but simply being fair. Alas…Even the state channel France24 sponsored a Facebook post with an explicit title: 'Trial for rape requested against Hakimi.' No nuance, nothing! If there is unanimity or almost unanimity of Moroccan public opinion around this Hakimi affair and on a possible manipulation of justice to discredit the footballer, it's because the timing of this decision is quite strange; indeed, the Ballon d'Or award for which the Moroccan is nominated occurs in a few weeks, and people quickly thought that this whole affair is 'staged' to favor Achraf Hakimi's teammate, namely Ousmane Dembélé. Moroccans are right to wonder: what happened since February 2023, the month this affair occurred, to convince the prosecutor to refer the player to the criminal chamber, where he risks 15 years in prison? Not much, and according to L'Equipe, the text messages exchanged by the alleged victim point toward an extortion attempt conducted against the Moroccan footballer. This is what makes his defense say that the prosecutor's requisitions are 'incomprehensible and senseless in light of the case file elements.' We remember that for another affair, that of Saâd Lemjarred, Moroccan public opinion was divided between the fans and unconditional supporters of the singer accused of rape and others, who support that justice must prevail. In that affair, the rape was established and the Moroccan public, despite the irreducible and intractable admirers, accepted the judges' verdict. For Hakimi, things are different. Nothing is established, apart from doubtful behavior from the person who presents herself as a victim. But let's reassure ourselves, French justice is independent and suffers neither pressure nor passion, in its affairs with Morocco, with the world, or with France… Eric Laurent and Catherine Graciet Case. Two proven blackmailers, recorded, caught red-handed, who confessed their blackmail enterprise against the King of Morocco, were condemned to a light sentence. Eight years after the facts, despite all the evidence. The case is on appeal. Independent and upright justice will rule in October 2025. Moroccan State Case against French press organizations. In 2021, several French media and NGOs had accused Morocco of using Pegasus software to spy on practically the entire earth, including Emmanuel Macron, European dignitaries… Obviously, they provide no other proof than their usual offended condescension. Morocco goes to court and is dismissed in criminal court, on appeal, and in cassation. The reason? It's drawn from a law from… 1881, which stipulates that a State cannot be assimilated to a private individual and therefore cannot initiate a defamation action against press organs. Independent and upright justice has ruled… Omar Raddad Case. He did nothing other than being Moroccan, a gardener, and barely literate. Everything — absolutely everything — shows and substantiates his innocence, but he remains condemned, not rehabilitated, despite the doubts, DNA, and the assaults by Raddad's lawyers. Independent and upright justice 'killed him.' …without counting the numerous 'little judges' who worked and tried to make a name for themselves by 'taking down a Moroccan,' some having plunged into the Benbarka affair, others in the curious summons of Abdellatif Hammouchi in 2014… François Fillon Case. Very complex, this case made its main protagonist say it was an 'institutional coup d'état,' where the National Financial Prosecutor's Office, presented as the armed wing of political power, would have been instrumentalized to prevent the former prime minister from conducting, and perhaps winning, the 2017 presidential election. He was very opportunely accused one month before the election. Since then, independent and upright justice has been maneuvering, tackled by the Constitutional Council and mistreated by François Fillon's scandalized lawyers. Marine Le Pen Case. This somewhat recalls the Fillon file…While a third of the French electorate demands her, justice very heavily condemns Marine Le Pen, prison, ineligibility, fine…Even the prosecutor, in a moment of inattention and according to National Rally people, would have recognized having nothing real to reproach her for. But the independent and upright judges don't see Marine Le Pen at the Élysée, that's all. Tarik Ramadan Case. The Swiss theologian had been prosecuted for several rape accusations, based on text messages exchanged between him and his alleged victims, 10 years earlier. Simple question: how, who has an interest, and who can bring out text messages that are a decade old? In the end, Ramadan had been cleared of all rape accusations, but adultery, although consensual, definitively tainted Tarik Ramadan's reputation as a prudish man. Independent and upright justice passed, Ramadan (morally) passed who pursued, hunted, mistreated, humiliated a former President of the Republic, who had certainly qualified them one day of wandering as 'petits pois' (insignificant), and condemned him solely for money questions. Very well, but then why don't these same judges even dare to think of going after genociders like Netanyahu or Gallant, Ben Gvir, or Smotrich, to name only the current ones? French justice must have forgotten for a moment that it is independent and upright. Foreign Heads of State and dignitaries. French justice, in all ethics and independence, multiplies trials for ill-gotten goods or crimes against humanity… against Africans. But nothing against Tony Blair and George Bush, who nevertheless recognized their lies in 2003 before attacking Iraq, and even less against Israeli killers or others too, who maintain good diplomatic relations with their country; Netanyahu, sought by the International Criminal Court, even flew over French territory, but the independent and upright judges must have been thinking of something else…Would French justice only be independent and upright with variable geometry, with specific geography? Does it function on juridical logic or according to an ideological approach? We could fill entire pages with cases like these, but things are sufficiently clear. In short… Let's return to La Fontaine: 'Depending on whether you are powerful or miserable, court judgments will render you white or black.' Concretely, according to French researchers, in 'the penal response' (Presses universitaires de Rennes, 2013), 'the least favored are more heavily condemned,' and this goes back to Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, and was also confirmed later during the Dreyfus affair. For Achraf Hakimi, the 'victim's' text messages are clear and show an extortion intent, and her behavior is doubtful. We can therefore only be optimistic and reassured, or not, for our national champion, faced with the guarantees presented by independent and upright French justice… But he remains our national champion, smiling, empathetic and upright… and his file for this rape is as devoid of evidence as the independent and upright French judges are of remorse. Tags: Achraf HakimiHakimi France justiceHakimi rape case
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Report – Inter Milan Put Off By €70M Price Tag For Monaco Star
Inter Milan are reportedly put off by the €70 million price tag from Monaco to sign forward player Maghnes Akliouche. This according to French outlet L'Equipe, via FCInterNews. Right now, Inter Milan are still all-in on signing Ademola Lookman. However, the Nerazzurri are accepting the possibility that their pursuit of the Nigerian could fail. Inter see Lookman as a perfect opportunity to bolster their attack with a proven commodity from within Serie A. However, they will not break the bank to sign the 27-year-old. And if Inter cannot sign Lookman for what they consider a reasonable fee, they will sign a different attacker. Inter Milan Put Off €70M Monaco Asking Price For Maghnes Akliouche France's midfielder #21 Maghnes Akliouche celebrates his team's sixth goal during the U23 friendly football match between France and Dominican Republic at Mayol Stadium in Toulon, south-eastern France, on July 11, 2024, in preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. France won over Dominican Republic. (Photo by CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU / AFP) (Photo by CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU/AFP via Getty Images) According to French outlet L'Equipe, another target that has emerged for Inter has been Monaco forward Magnes Akliouche. The 23-year-old certainly impressed in a recent friendly match against Inter. He scored the opening goal within a minute. Therefore, it was not necessarily a surprise to see the Nerazzurri approach Monaco with an interest in signing Akliouche. According to L'Equipe, however, the price tag proved to be prohibitive. Monaco want a fee of €70 million for Akliouche. And that is more than Inter are able to spend.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Wayne Gretzky's daughter Paulina Gretzky's unexpected role in Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka feud rumours
The 2018 Ryder Cup witnessed Europe's triumph and a rumour involving Paulina Gretzky, Dustin Johnson, and Brooks Koepka (Getty Images) The 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris is remembered for many things — Europe's strong comeback, heated competition, and, behind the scenes, a story that swirled through corridors and tabloids. One of the most persistent rumours that autumn involved Paulina Gretzky and an alleged falling-out between teammates Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka. Although never proven, the saga became part of the event's off-ice narrative and offered a glimpse into how gossip can shape perceptions during high-pressure team events. How the rumours started and what outlets reported at the time Reports from Golf Digest and L'Equipe carried whispers of a 'heated' squabble aboard the flight to Paris, with an unnamed insider telling L'Equipe the mood on the plane was 'horrible.' That kind of detail — sourced, but anonymous — is exactly the sort of fuel that turns a private spat into a public story. For fans and media, the idea of inter-player tension made the Ryder Cup drama feel larger than the scores. Ultimately, the American side fell to a cohesive European outfit, 17.5-10.5, a result commentators linked to on- and off-ice dynamics. Brooks Koepka pushed back against the gossip when questioned after the tournament, dismissing the claims of a fight and insisting the relationship with Johnson was intact. He said: "This Dustin thing, I don't get. There was no fight, no argument. He is one of my best friends. "We talked on the phone on Monday and yesterday so tell me how we fought? I don't know. People like to make a story and run with it and it is not the first time a story has come out that is not true." Why the episode mattered — team chemistry, media and perspective years later From a throwback viewpoint, the episode highlights how fragile team chemistry can seem under media pressure. Johnson publicly sought to extinguish breakup chatter, writing: "Every relationship goes through its ups and downs, but most importantly, we love each other very much and are committed to being a family. Thank you for your love and support." Whether the rumours affected results is impossible to quantify, but they show how off-ice narratives can overshadow performance. Also Read: Wayne Gretzky's silence on Donald Trump's anti-Canada rhetoric still sparks debate years later Looking back, the 2018 Ryder Cup reminder is simple: big events amplify small stories, and athletes often must manage both competition and the headlines that follow. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Indian Express
09-08-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Shuttlecock prices spiral and stocks drop in India as China's tastes shift from fowl to pork
A badminton coach running a mid-sized academy in Bengaluru has just booked a consignment of reasonably high quality feather shuttlecocks, the AS-2, at `2,700 per 12-piece tube. By the end of the year, he expects prices for the premier shuttles of the top brand to hit Rs 3,000, though 2024 had ended with the same shuttles costing Rs 1,200. Word trickling out from China, and reported by the French media, attributes this price rise to a change in the Chinese palate — they are increasingly preferring pork to the age-old staple, duck meat. This alteration, it is said, means fewer ducks are being raised, resulting in a shortage of feathers to make badminton shuttles. India national coach Pullela Gopichand says the issue is broader than just the immediate price rise, even existential. 'The dependency on goose feathers, which we have, is a problem we need to address as a sport. The growth of the sport across three populous nations, India, China and Indonesia, has ensured that there is demand for raw material of goose feathers, which has gone up a lot. We need to find alternatives for it,' he said. While researchers have long been looking for alternatives, the aerodynamics of feather shuttles make them unique and problematic at the same time. 'We were hoping that the (feather) cloning mechanism could help or other material could help, but definitely it's an issue that needs to be addressed by the federation or other badminton lovers,' said Gopichand. Duck feathers are used to make relatively cheaper shuttles. Geese feathers are reserved for the elite ones because of their stronger stem, durability and lack of wobble. China's cost-efficient factories harvest these feathers after the meat is consumed. But birds only reared for meat are unlikely to be reared exclusively for feathers. The prices of imported shuttlecocks have steadily escalated over the last 16 months. The last stocks in Bengaluru came in for Rs 2,250, but a breach of the Rs 3,000-mark seems imminent. The last two-three months have been particularly brutal on academies across the country. 'It's been substantial in the last two-three months. It kept rising 10, 20 percent, and is now 50 per cent,' says Aravind Samiappan, coach at the Chennai Fireball academy where Sankar Muthusamy Subramaniam trains. The shuttle costs, he says, were equal to the salaries of all coaches last month. 'These are middle-level shuttles, and we were buying for about Rs 1,200, but it sharply went up to Rs 1,700, and for no reason. On top of that, they keep changing prices. I told them, just quote me an amount, I was ready to pay more. But even stocks are scarce,' he says, lamenting the suddenly rising running costs and uncertainty. French newspaper L'Equipe recently reported on how a growing preference for pork (and red meat) in China, was leading to fewer ducks and geese being farmed in poultries. Thailand, Malaysia are other duck-consuming nations, but Chinese cost-efficiency and availability of ducks led to a near-monopoly of production. Almost 90 percent of the factories of the top companies, Yonex and Li Ning, are based in China. 'I am not entirely convinced about the reason that all Chinese have suddenly stopped eating ducks, quite a delicious staple there,' laughs a Bengaluru coach. 'But let's just say, you can't fault the Chinese for hoarding the shuttle stocks for their own centres first, if the raw material is indeed in shortage.' Upfront immediate payments by the Chinese also mean they are prioritised by manufacturers, rather than delayed invoices from exports. At the Ajit Wijettilek School of Badminton in Bengaluru, the rising shuttle prices are threatening to increase academy costs exponentially, and the coach calls the situation a 'mighty headache'. While the numbers of youngsters picking the sport is through the roof (routinely above 1,000 entries for junior meets), the shuttle costs are the latest curveball thrown the sport's way. A recent under-17 meet had 1,650 entries, while junior nationals routinely attract a number in the range of 4,000. The mid-sized academy, which trains 32 shuttlers, needs four tubes at a go, at a minimum, and though they have been sourcing it from Lingmei, one of the third-rung Chinese shuttle makers, they have been hit equally hard as the academies sourcing Yonex or Li Ning products. 'We are all gone if this continues,' rues Prashanth, who runs a dealership in Karnataka. 'Prices have increased by Rs 500, 600 in one go, and extra monthly costs are around Rs 50,000. In the last year and half, the price has increased ninefold. Even if we want, there's no stock.' AS-2s are the most basic among high-end shuttles. The best feathers, used at international meets, are tagged AS-30, 40 and 50. ACPTR shuttles are used in academies. 'It is going to affect badminton big time. Even the middle class won't be able to afford it,' says Mumbai coach Uday Pawar, where Chirag Shetty started. 'It will be impossible for organisers to hold junior tournaments that go on for 9 days, with 5 days of qualifying.' A 12 per cent GST gets imposed on all imported shuttles, which is substantial given the increased cost price. Pawar reckons there's little to be achieved by figuring out just what is going on in China. 'The most we can do is request our own government to reduce import duties and subsidize shuttles for us. The raw material shortage is a problem for the whole world, but India can at best not make it impossible for Indians to play by persisting with duties,' he says. 'Before the sport goes out of everyone's reach…'
