As a former colony of France in Africa, Gabon does not only have state structures based on the French model but the two economies are closely interwoven too.

The 10th edition of the Rugby World Cup opens this Friday, September 8 with a blockbuster match. Hosts France will face New Zealand in one of the most powerful match-ups in the sport's history. This year, organisers are also expecting record attendance for the tournament, highlighting how professionalisation has transformed the sport in recent years.

The Camargue is a breed of domestic cattle native to the Camargue marshlands of the river delta of the Rhône in southern France. It is used for the traditional sport of course camarguaise, a kind of bloodless bull-fight, but not for the corrida, Iberian-style bull-fighting.

Raised for traditional bullfights or to export to Spain, they are a big part of the daily life of the Camargue. Unlike Spanish bullfights, where spectators watch the fight between a bull and its matador, the bullfights of the Camargue – Course Camarguaise – are all about agility.

Niger's coup leaders have tried to expel France's ambassador, but Paris says it doesn't recognize their authority to order him out. Macron said on TV he was "literally" a "hostage," stuck in the French Embassy in Niamey.

Three West African countries ruled by military juntas have signed a mutual defense pact. Mali and Burkina Faso had previously promised to come to Niger's aid in the event of an attack.

King Charles III's first state visit to France this week will include echoes of his mother's many trips across the English Channel. Like Queen Elizabeth II did in her day, he will process through the streets of Paris, plant a tree at the British ambassador's residence and dine at the Palace of Versailles.

Its grapes are twice fermented, which is the same as the process used to make prosecco. However, prosecco is fermented in stainless steel vats and champagne is twice fermented in glass bottles. The result is two very different sparkling wines. Champagne retains a dryness and develops a very complex flavour profile.

Deep in France's southern Lubéron mountains lies a stunning red and orange landscape reminiscent of the vast plains of America: the Colorado provençal. This spot of wild nature is in fact a former open-cast ochre quarry. Every year, some 300,000 visitors venture through these 30 unusual hectares, between fairy chimneys and strange sculptures, to discover the remains of the site's industrial past.

Germany and France decided to jointly develop key weapons systems, but several have been abandoned. And now, the MGCS battle tank prestige project is meeting a lot of resistance.

The French president said military cooperation with the West African nation would end and France's soldiers stationed there would return home by the end of the year.

The German and US defense ministers have said they see no immediate need to leave Niger, following France's decision to withdraw troops. Niamey's junta has been more focused on the former colonial power's presence.