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Bernadette Chirac, who has died aged 93, stood by her late husband and French president Jacques Chirac through thick and thin during 12 years as first lady, but also forged her own, more discreet, political career.

Bernadette Chirac, widow of former French president Jacques Chirac and known as the discreet companion of one of France's key postwar politicians, died at the age of 93, their daughter told AFP Saturday.

Pope Leo XIV on Saturday said sexual abuse within the Catholic Church remained "an open wound" as he began a trip to Spain that will include a meeting with victims.

Opener KL Rahul and Sai Sudharsan hit half-centuries as India reached 209-2 at tea on the first day of the one-off cricket Test against Afghanistan on Saturday.

The Waikato Chiefs and Canterbury Crusaders powered to handsome Super Rugby play-off wins on Saturday to ensure four New Zealand teams will contest the semi-finals.

In early June 2026 the world’s largest cryptocurrency suffered a dramatic sell‑off. Bitcoin plunged from roughly $71,000 to an intra‑week low near $60,028. This 17 % decline marked the lowest level since February and meant the price had dropped about a quarter since the beginning of the month. News agency Reuters reported on 3 June that Bitcoin had fallen to $64,721.39, its weakest level since 28 February.The sudden drop unsettled investors and triggered debates about whether Bitcoin – often touted as “digital gold” – is really nothing more than a speculative bubble. The following analysis explains the key drivers behind the decline and asks how long investors can still be sold an stupid empty bag of hot air.Reasons for the DropRecord ETF Outflows and Corporate SellingOne major reason for the downturn was persistent outflows from U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange‑traded funds (ETFs). Data from Farside Investors showed that in the 13 trading days through 4 June, funds shed about $4.33 billion – roughly 60,000 BTC. On a 20‑day rolling basis the outflows rose to $5.42 billion (about 73,000 BTC), the largest disposition ever recorded. Such redemptions signal that institutional investors are cutting exposure, removing a significant support for the price.Sentiment was further dented by a sale from corporate Bitcoin cheerleader Strategy. The software company sold 32 BTC between 26 May and 31 May, raising about $2.5 million. Although tiny relative to its huge treasury, the transaction broke Strategy’s long‑standing “never sell” narrative and raised fears that large holders might become forced sellers.Leveraged LiquidationsThe steep price move triggered a major deleveraging known as a “leverage flush.” Within a single day between $1.6 billion and $1.8 billion of crypto positions were liquidated, including $735–800 million tied to Bitcoin long positions. Over the full week, liquidations reached about $2.1 billion. Because most were bullish bets, forced selling accelerated the downward spiral.Macro Headwinds and Risk AversionThe sell‑off unfolded against a broader risk‑off mood in financial markets. U.S. stock indices like the Nasdaq slumped as investors rotated from high‑growth stocks into safer assets. Rising rate expectations and geopolitical tensions added uncertainty. Bitcoin fell below its 200‑day moving average, a technical break that signals weakening momentum. Crypto fear‑and‑greed gauges plunged into “extreme fear” territory (13 points), while futures open interest dropped almost 16 % to $45.38 billion.Media Narratives and Loss of any ConfidenceMedia commentary magnified the perception of a bubble. A Forbes report noted that Bitcoin was down roughly 5.5 % on the week and that Strategy’s sale shattered the “never sell” meme. Nic Puckrin of Coin Bureau warned that $2.8 billion of cumulative ETF outflows and the actions of major holders left Bitcoin in an extremely weak setup. Such narratives eroded confidence and prompted more selling.Is Bitcoin Just stupid Hot Air?Bitcoin is often marketed as a store of value akin to gold, yet unlike gold it generates no cash flows or dividends and relies purely on investors’ faith. The abrupt end of the rally therefore raises a fundamental question: how long can investors be sold an empty bag of hot air?Critics argue that the price is driven chiefly by FOMO (fear of missing out), scarcity and a compelling story. Once institutional inflows dry up and leveraged bets unwind, the price may collapse quickly. Proponents counter that the blockchain technology underpinning Bitcoin is revolutionary and that long‑term use cases could emerge. For now, however, the fundamentals look weak and investor sentiment is decisive.

Peru's leftist presidential candidate Roberto Sanchez could stand trial over alleged campaign finance violations, a judge ruled Friday.

Fullback Johnny McNicholl scored a hat-trick of tries as the Canterbury Crusaders beat the ill-disciplined Auckland Blues 52-31 on Saturday to book a place in the Super Rugby semi-finals.

Indian police tightened security in New Delhi on Saturday ahead of a protest by the satirical "Cockroach People's Party", over alleged irregularities in major examinations.

Farmer Annalisa Schembri is battling to save a wheat field from developers in Malta, where a construction boom is engulfing lands and villages, with even historic UNESCO sites in jeopardy.

Australian Rules bosses condemned racist and obscene social media messages targeting a Sudanese-born player as "vile" on Saturday, pledging to investigate them.

San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama could barely remember the details of the late-game miscues that cost the Spurs in their agonizing 105-104 loss to the New York Knicks in game two of the NBA Finals on Friday.

New attacks in the Middle East on Friday threatened to unravel an already fragile US-Iran ceasefire, even as American officials confirmed that Tehran's football players had received visas for the World Cup.

Jalen Brunson drilled the go-ahead free throw as the New York Knicks held off a furious San Antonio rally to beat the Spurs 105-104 on Friday and take a commanding 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals.

In front of L'industrie Pizzeria, as at many other New York restaurants and shops, customers line up behind barriers -- in this case, all to grab a prized pizza slice.

World Cup co-hosts Canada were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw with Ireland on Friday despite dominating their final warm-up friendly before the tournament kicks off next week.

Pope Leo XIV heads to Spain on Saturday for a visit focused on immigration and social justice at a politically turbulent time for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

Airline executives descend on Rio this weekend to weigh the prospects for an industry grappling with geopolitical turbulence, soaring fuel costs and travellers wary of chasing sky-high ticket prices.

ACT Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham has apologised after their "embarrassing" Super Rugby playoff capitulation to the Wellington Hurricanes, admitting the team let down their fans.

World number one Nelly Korda roared back into contention at the US Women's Open, shooting a four-under par 67 in Friday's best round to sit just two strokes off the lead.

Nearly three years after a catastrophic storm tore through eastern Libya's port city of Derna killing almost 4,000 people the city is getting back on its feet, but the trauma persists.

Two elephants trudged across a makeshift football field at Mexico's Guadalajara Zoo in a whacky attempt to predict the score of the 2026 World Cup's opening game.

Lionel Messi has taken a step forward in his injury recovery and could play a few minutes in Argentina's upcoming friendlies before their World Cup opener, coach Lionel Scaloni said Friday.

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FIFA said Friday it will allow fans to bring one "soft, plastic" disposable water bottle into World Cup venues after its ban on refillable bottles sparked an outcry.

JT Poston birdied six of the first eight holes and made two clutch putts late to grab a one-stroke lead after Friday's second round of the PGA Tour Memorial tournament.

The US CDC on Friday urged strong public health interventions against the current Ebola outbreak, citing their models that show it could otherwise rival the scale of the 2014 West Africa outbreak.