Football frenzy takes hold of Paris with France jerseys selling like hot cakes

At Thoiry park, in the Yvelines region outside Paris, there are many surprises in store. Thoiry is not a typical zoo, since the animals live in semi-freedom. The safari is the main attraction. Visitors get around in their own cars or on board a so-called bush truck to discover 180 different species of animals up close, including lions and elephants. FRANCE 24 takes you behind the scenes of the park, which attracts half a million visitors a year.

Carbon consumption by the world's richest individuals is set to continue driving high carbon emissions, according to a new Oxfam report.

Stories of courage, specifically about women, are the theme of a special festival organised this weekend by Amnesty International in Paris. For three days, the curtain will go up on the 12th Cinema and Human Rights Festival. The event invites moviegoers and activists to watch a series of short and longer films and then debate their content. In Perspective, we spoke to coordinator Ievgeniia Sokova.

The French press discusses the new Covid-19 rules and policy changes in President Emmanuel Macron's address to the nation. We also see how French papers are covering the Paris visit of US Vice President Kamala Harris. Finally, the British and Pakistani press are celebrating Malala's happy news.

Labourers on World Cup projects being given more protection, needs to extend to all workers says human rights group.

FIFA held an official ceremony on Sunday (November 21) to mark one year to go until the opening match of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with the tournament, played for the first time in a northern hemisphere winter, rapidly taking shape. The opening match will take place on Nov. 21 in the 60,000 capacity Al Bayt Stadium. Kickoff will no doubt come as some relief to organizers as the football takes centre stage, shifting the limelight away from the numerous off-pitch issues, such as labour rights for migrant workers, that have surrounded the event.

The Empire State building was lit up with the colours of the French flag this week, in honour of the American-French performer Josephine Baker, who was inducted into France's Panthéon mausoleum on Tuesday. In the US, Josephine Baker is just as beloved as she is in France, and nowhere more so than in Harlem, in New York City. Our correspondents Jessica Le Masurier, Yves Schaeffner and Fanny Chauvin met with New Yorkers to explore Baker's legacy.

France is hosting an international conference to help Libya prepare for elections at the end of 2021. The oil-rich nation is ruled by a fragile unity government put in place after nearly a decade of civil war. European leaders are especially keen to stabilize the country.

Architects from Spain have completed a novel design for the upcoming FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Named the 974 Stadium, the 40,000-seater facility it's designed to be relatively easy to disassemble and rebuild, and was constructed using almost 1,000 shipping containers.⁣

For Parisians, the metro ticket is a familiar feature, but one that's gradually disappearing. Public transport authorities in the French capital have started withdrawing the books of 10 cardboard metro tickets known as "le carnet". While the physical paper metro ticket that many Parisians are attached to will not vanish overnight, it's a shift towards a more modern and eco-friendly paperless future. It's not the first time the ticket has evolved. In many ways, the history of the metro ticket mirrors evolutions in French history. We take a closer look in this edition of French Connections.

Archery is becoming one of the interesting, competitive games and recreational activities in the country. Introduced officially in Nigeria in 1997 after the Nigerian Archery Federation was founded, it got affiliated to the World Archery in the same year. Since then, professional archers and team coaches in Nigeria have been training new archers in order to get the country represented at international championships. Currently, the organisation has its eye set on the 2024 Olympics game in Paris.

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami was berated by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) over plans to deduct about $418 million from the federal account to pay private contractors and firms allegedly owed by the 36 states and local governments over the Paris Club refund.⁣