44 rugby matches in 5 weeks, soon the semi-finals, only 4 teams remaining, France & Ireland eliminated, only one team from the northern hemisphere, still in the tournament, England.  Probably the Springboks will meet the All Blacks in the final.

Today Kevin, in South Africa, looks back at the quarter final matches and explains why the Southern hemisphere so dominate the competition and why France don't win.

After 44 rugby matches in 5 weeks, we are now down to the last 4 teams in the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup.  Even if the former top rated 2 teams in the world until this weekend, Ireland and France, have just been eliminated., there is still one team from the northern hemisphere, still in the tournament, England.  In all likelihood, however, it is the Springboks and the All Blacks who will face off in the final in 10 days time. Today Kevin, our rugby correspondent in South Africa, looks back at the quarter final matches and shares his thoughts on why the Southern hemisphere so dominate the competition and why France was never likely to win.

An historic World Cup victory by the Spanish women's soccer team, in August this year, was overshadowed by Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish Football Federation during the medal ceremony when he kissed striker Jenny Hermoso on the mouth. 

An exuberant if regrettable display of masculine joy and or a political red-line that has been crossed all too often?

What’s the story, why it matters and what should happen next is the subject of our first podcast, in the company of our colleague Emma, who gives us her take on the kiss that has rocked Spanish football.

Our colleague Emma tells us today about what happened to the Spanish wome n’s football because of a very controversial kiss.   

FLY ON ZE WALL - Ecseptional, Ecsiting, Ecsentric!

The Toronto international film festival (or TIFF for short) jury will be announcing the winners for the 2023 season this weekend and our colleague Phoeby gives us an insight into what makes the TIFF the artistic, cultural and economic equivalent of the Cannes festival here in France. 
Along with festivals like Sundance & Tribeca this is of THE top film festivals to follow in the late summer, featuring many of future Oscar-winning movies before they hit theatres.  Today our colleague Phoeby from Toronto, shares with us her thoughts and feelings about what is one of the most prestigious festivals of cinema in north America.

Creativity: according to the Cambridge dictionary, it's the ability to produce or use original and unusual ideas. But how and when do you express your creativity? Do you consider yourself a creative person? Most of us would probably answer "yes". But when you're asked to take part in a brainstorming session, does your brain freeze or does your heart clench at the thought of coming up with new ideas out of the blue? In either case, in this last podcast of the season, our super coach Inger, based in Southern Africa, is going to offer us some simple recipes for unleashing the creative genius in all of us.

If you love travelling and enjoy exotic destinations, then you are no doubt aware of the ethical choices your globe-trotting involves.  Today we hear from Tazmin about the plight of working elephants in Thailand which have played such a substantial role in the social and economic development of the country over the centuries, participating in manual labor, armed conflicts, as tourist attractions and royal mascots. In particular, we learn about The Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai and the inspiring work of one woman, who has dedicated her life to rescuing these majestic animals. 

We often associate national parks in Africa with unique wildlife and capturing what are known as the big five on camera; the big five are amongst the most famous of Africa's large animals and often feature in popular culture.  In today's episode we hear from our colleague Desiree who shares a childhood encounter with one of the big five in a surprising story that took place in the enormous Kruger National Park in South Africa, an animal reserve  the size of Wales in the United Kingdom or a region like Brittany in France.

Australians call them crocs and last month alone there were 3 reports in the news of the dangers of getting too close to Crocodiles, including one holidaymaker who was attacked while out snorkeling.  He only managed to escape by prising the predator’s jaws off his head.