In a private memo sent to Culture Minister Rachida Dati on 13 January, Louvre director Laurence des Cars warned of “the severe reality of our overstressed buildings”, with many areas reaching “a worrying level of obsolescence”.

The museum was originally designed to receive 4 million annual visitors but now handles more than double that number, recording 8.7 million guests in 2024. This surge has left the historic building struggling under unprecedented strain.

“The visitor has no space to take a break. Accessing the artworks takes time and is not always straightforward,” des Cars wrote. She also described the museum’s food options and restroom facilities as “falling well below international standards”.

Maintenance issues

The report outlined major maintenance issues, with des Cars pointing to “a proliferation of damage” across museum spaces, some of which are “no longer watertight”. She warned that “concerning temperature variations” now pose a threat to the preservation of priceless artworks.

Even the Louvre’s iconic glass pyramid, unveiled in 1989 as part of François Mitterrand’s Grand Louvre project, comes in for criticism.

Des Cars described it as “structurally outdated”, adding that its greenhouse effect and the fact that it amplifies noise “renders this space very inhospitable for the public who pass through and the staff who work there”.

Could Mona Lisa move into a private suite at Le Louvre?

Financial strain

With state finances under pressure, museum budgets have shrunk in recent years.

Des Cars has not specified costs for the Louvre’s proposed overhaul, but acknowledged the scale of the investment required. The Pompidou Centre, another landmark museum in Paris, is set to undergo a €262 million, five-year renovation.

Paris to close iconic Pompidou Centre for five-year facelift

To alleviate overcrowding, des Cars proposed creating a second entrance at the eastern end of the Louvre Palace near the Cour Carrée, facing Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois church.

She described this underused area as “majestic but neglected” and highlighted recent urban improvements, including the rehabilitation of department store La Samaritaine and the upcoming opening of the Cartier Foundation, as reasons to revitalise the zone.

The museum is also reconsidering the display of the Mona Lisa. Des Cars has suggested dedicating a gallery solely to Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, which often draws large crowds and long queues.

Government response

A source close to President Emmanuel Macron told Le Parisien: “Discussions are taking place between the presidency, the Ministry of Culture and the Louvre, and the head of state intends to address this issue soon.”

Macron, whose 2017 election victory was celebrated in front of the Louvre’s pyramid, is expected to weigh in on the matter.

“[We] can no longer accept the status quo,” des Cars concluded, urging “a new momentum” to secure the museum’s future.

“We will not raise taxes on households, retirees or salaried workers,” Lombard said on France 2 public television on Thursday, rejecting an idea put forward by Labour Minister Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet to have retirees with high pensions contribute more to funding social programmes.

Such a proposal is political poison in a country where seniors make up nearly a quarter of voters, and where pensions are a perennial subject of debate.

France’s new economy, budget ministers get to work on budget for 2025

The opposition far-right National Rally and hard-left France Unbowed immediately rejected the idea of taxing pensions. The prime minister’s office kept its distance, saying the idea was a “personal” proposal from Panosyan-Bouvet.

€60 billion deficit

The 2025 budget – introduced in October by then Prime Minister Michel Barnier, who lost a confidence vote after he pushed the legislation through without a vote in the National Assembly – must address a higher than expected €60 billion deficit, through taxes and cuts.

Prime Minister François Bayrou has tasked his government with proposing a budget that includes €32 billion in savings and €21 billion in revenue, to reduce the public deficit to 5.4 percent of GDP, down from 6.1 percent expected from 2024.

The long-term goal is to reach the Brussels-mandated deficit of 3 percent by 2029.

Lombard confirmed that a one-off corporate tax on the country’s largest companies, intended to bring in €8 billion, will be limited to one year instead of two, and said that a tax on high incomes was still under consideration.

France to consider corporate tax increase to lower budget deficit

Legislative marathon

The Senate is due to vote on the budget on Thursday, in the next step on its long path through the legislative process.

It is expected to pass with the right-of-centre majority, although the Socialist group in the chamber has warned it will vote against it.

The government has already made concessions to appease Socialist MPs, including backtracking on the elimination of 4,000 teachers’ posts and agreeing to a renegotiation of the 2023 pension reform.

French PM vows to reopen pension reform talks amid growing debt crisis

The Socialists say they are waiting for the joint parliamentary committee reading of the bill, which is expected on 30 January, to make a final decision on whether or not to support the final version of the budget.

The government insists that a budget must be in place by the end of February to avoid a shutdown in public services, which are currently running under a special emergency budget law passed at the end of last year.

(with AFP)

Between 2022 and 2023, Washington contributed $1.28 billion to the World Health Organization (WHO) – more than any other country. 

But hours after taking office on Monday, Donald Trump signed an executive order announcing that the United States was leaving the WHO and taking its funding with it, citing dissatisfaction over its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and the inequality of contributions.

“China, with a population of 1.4 billion, has 300 percent of the population of the United States, yet contributes nearly 90 percent less to the WHO,” the order read. 

The move has raised concerns on the African continent about how the loss of finance could impact the fight against HIV-Aids, and the growing mpox epidemic – which the African Union’s health watchdog (Africa CDC) has declared a public health emergency.

On Wednesday, the African Union expressed dismay over the withdrawal, urging the Trump administration to reconsider.

RFI spoke to Professor Yap Boum II, deputy coordinator of the CDC’s mpox response unit.

RFI: What are your thoughts on the decision announced by the new American president?

Professor Yap Boum II: The decision was anticipated, it had been in the air. Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, addressed it this week, so it’s not surprising.

However, it will have a significant impact. For instance, in responding to the mpox epidemic the WHO and Africa CDC are coordinating efforts, and out of the projected funding of $1 billion, the US contributes $500 million – half of the total. This withdrawal could have substantial consequences. We need to consider what the US’s exit from the WHO signifies. Does it imply a reduction in US support for global health? These are distinct issues. It’s crucial to understand the practical implications so that we can all adapt accordingly.

WHO regrets Trump move to pull US from organization

RFI: Historically, the US has been a significant contributor to public health emergency appeals.

YB: Yes. For instance, the US is the largest contributor to the fight against HIV-Aids in Africa and globally. In response to major epidemics like Covid-19 and now mpox, the US has provided half of the funding. The impact will be considerable, depending on how the situation unfolds.

Is the WHO all there is to health? That’s the key question. Could this open the door for other agencies, such as USAID or various organisations, to receive the funds. And, couldn’t this also be an opportunity for African philanthropists for example to contribute more to the Africa CDC? Couldn’t this lead to a reorganisation of the global health landscape? We’ll get more clarity on this in the coming weeks and months.

Number of African-born millionaires to skyrocket over next decade: report

RFI:  So you’re not dismissing the possibility of other players stepping in? 

YB: Absolutely not. As the saying goes, nature abhors a vacuum. If there are crises – and there will be – needs will continue to grow. We’ll need individuals, institutions and even nations to fill that gap. The current Davos summit presents an opportunity to discuss how certain philanthropists can take on the funding that the US might give up. I’m currently in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, focusing on how African entities, countries and member states can invest more in the health of their communities in response to mpox.

WHO reports 30,000 suspected mpox cases in Africa, mainly in DRC

RFI: Have you observed African governments being willing to increase their contributions to financing African structures, especially Africa CDC? 

YB: Absolutely. To kickstart the response to the mpox epidemic, member states were the first to invest. Here in the DRC, the government was quick to release funds to support the response efforts. There’s a strong desire for sovereignty that allows us to respond to epidemics.

However, we currently lack the critical mass to do this alone. So in some respects the pressure [stemming from the US’s withdrawal from the WHO] could act as a catalyst for member states, as well as for philanthropists and investors. We’ve never had so many African billionaires. Now is the time to invest more seriously to ensure national and even continental sovereignty.

This interview, adapted from the original in French, has been lightly edited for clarity.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Thursday ruled in favour of the 69-year-old French woman, whose husband had obtained a divorce on the grounds that she had stopped having sex with him.

The Strasbourg-based court said that a woman who refuses to have sex with her husband should not be considered “at fault” by divorce courts, and any concept of marital duties needed to take into account consent as the basis for sexual relations.

It ruled that France had violated article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, relating to the right to respect for private and family life.

The mother of four from the suburbs of Paris, who wished to remain anonymous and was identified only as HW, welcomed the ruling. “I hope that this decision will mark a turning point in the fight for women’s rights in France,” she said in a statement.

“This victory is for all the women who, like me, find themselves faced with aberrant and unjust court rulings that call into question their bodily integrity and their right to privacy.”

The ruling comes as French society debates the concept of consent, with women’s rights advocates saying it should be added to France’s legal definition of rape.

France urged to place consent at centre of rape law reform

Grounds for divorce

The woman did not complain about the divorce, which she had also sought, but rather about the grounds on which it had been granted, the court said.

“The court concluded that the very existence of such a marital obligation ran counter to sexual freedom, (and) the right to bodily autonomy,” a statement from the court said. “Any non-consensual act of a sexual nature constituted a form of sexual violence.”

France announces new measures to combat violence against women

It added: “The applicant’s husband could have petitioned for divorce submitting the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage as the principal ground and not, as he had done, as an alternative ground.”

The couple married in 1984 and had four children, including a disabled daughter who needed the constant presence of a parent, a role that her mother took on.

Relations between husband and wife deteriorated when their first child was born. The woman began experiencing health problems in 1992. In 2002, her husband began abusing her physically and verbally, the court said. In 2004, she stopped having sex with him and in 2012 petitioned for divorce.

In 2019, an appeals court in Versailles dismissed the woman’s complaints and sided with her husband, while the Court of Cassation dismissed an appeal without giving specific reasons. She turned to the ECHR, which acts as a court of last instance where all domestic legal avenues are exhausted, in 2021.

‘Sexual servitude’

“It was impossible for me to accept it and leave it at that,” the woman said.

“The Court of Appeal’s decision condemning me was and is unworthy of a civilised society, because it denied me the right not to consent to sexual relations, depriving me of my freedom to make decisions about my body. It reinforced the right of my husband and all spouses to impose their will.”

Her case has been supported by two women’s rights group, the Fondation des Femmes (Women’s Foundation) and Collectif feministe contre le viol (Feminist Collective Against Rape).

In a joint statement in 2021, these groups said: “Marriage is not and must not be sexual servitude.”

While French criminal justice abolished the concept of conjugal duty in 1990, “civil judges continue to impose it through an archaic vision of marriage,” they said.

Delphine Zoughebi, a member of the woman’s defence team, said: “This decision is all the more fundamental given that almost one in two rapes is committed by a spouse or partner.”

The ECHR is part of the 46-member Council of Europe pan-European rights body. It enforces the European Convention on Human Rights and its rulings are legally binding and not advisory.

(with AFP, Reuters)

Trifluoroacetic acid was been found in the tap water of the majority of the cities where it was tested by the consumer protection group UFC-Que Choisir and the environmental NGO Générations Futures, which published their results on Thursday.

Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) is a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance, or PFAS – commonly known as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down naturally.

It was found in the water of 24 of the 30 cities tested, and 20 of the cities had levels higher than the 100 nanograms per litre limit that the European Union will put on 20 regulated PFAS by 2026.

Paris has the second highest concentration, with 6,200 nanograms per litre, behind the small rural town of Moussac, in the southeast, with 13,000 nanograms per litre.

Moussac is near Salindres, where a plant for the Solvay group was producing TFA for use in pesticides until September.

French water supply contaminated with untested toxic chemicals, NGO warns

‘Virtually indestructible’

Although TFA is not as dangerous as other “forever chemicals”, the study says its toxicity has not been disproved, and the chemical is “virtually indestructible in the environment”.

Furthermore, the presence of TFA is “rarely, if ever, checked by regional health agencies during drinking water controls”, according to the study.

The research involved testing for the presence of 33 PFAS in total and, other than TFA, their concentrations “remain in line with the standard chosen by France”, which is 100 nanograms per litre of the total, of 20 specific chemicals.

Study sounds alarm on toxic ‘forever chemicals’ used in EU pesticides

PFAS, because of their resistance to extreme temperatures and corrosion, are used in items as varied as automotive parts and wind turbines, cosmetics and non-stick cookware.

However, they accumulate over time in the air, soil, water sources and in the human body, and studies have found that long-term exposure can affect fertility, and cause certain cancers and other health risks.

The European Commission intends to propose a ban on the use of PFAS, a class of more than 4,700 molecules, in consumer products, with exemptions for essential industrial uses, but is facing pushback from industry groups.

How big industry ‘diluted’ the EU’s triumphant deal on packaging waste

(with AFP, Reuters)

The 21-year-old 7ft 3in (2.21m) centre was playing for the Metropolitans 92 on the edge of the French capital a year and a half ago before being chosen as the number one NBA draft pick, putting him on the path to global stardom.

In just his second year in the NBA, he returns home as a Spurs player and as one of the US league’s brightest stars for two regular-season games against the Indiana Pacers.

The towering Frenchman is also a big part of the US league’s efforts to project its reach beyond its borders – and basketball is growing fast in France.

Since stepping foot back on French soil, “Wemby” has visited his former teammates, opened an outdoor basketball court in his home town of Le Chesnay on the Paris outskirts and been guest of honour at an LVMH fashion show.

Wembanyama admitted on Wednesday it was a reassuring feeling being back in the Bercy Arena where he helped France to the Olympic silver medal in August, when they were beaten by the USA in the final.

“I can feel a different energy,” he said at a press conference. “It’s great to be back here. It’s a venue that’s close to my heart.

“All in all, I haven’t been out much in Paris. I haven’t had a chance to see it for myself yet.

“But yes, it’s different from last time. We know it’s a different fanbase. Fans who wait all their lives, all year, for the chance to see an NBA game. So it’s different.”

San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers strut their NBA stuff in Paris

Huge interest

The games in Paris – the second takes place on Saturday – have attracted spectators from 53 countries, reflecting the interest in Wembanyama, who is averaging 24.4 points and 10.8 rebounds a game this season.

Chris Paul, the 12-time All-Star guard recruited this season to bolster a Spurs team packed with young, raw talent, said playing with Wembanyana had been a revelation.

“Vic is so unique. Everybody expects him to dunk because he’s so tall, but that is not him by any means,” the 39-year-old said.

“He can dribble, he can pass, he can shoot, he does a little bit of everything. That’s why it has been so fun to play with him.”

As a rookie, Wembanyama generated 1.3 billion views on NBA social media channels, becoming the fastest player ever to one billion views.

He is currently the third most-viewed NBA player globally on social media with 735 million views, trailing only LeBron James and Steph Curry.

After the game in Paris on Thursday, he will learn whether he has landed a place in the starting five for this year’s the All-Star game. If he doesn’t make the cut, he is almost guaranteed a spot on the bench.

“Solar remained the EU’s fastest-growing power source in 2024, rising above coal for the first time. Wind power remained the EU’s second-largest power source, above gas and below nuclear,” the energy think tank Ember said in its European electricity review 2025 published Thursday.

Eleven percent of the EU’s electricity was generated from solar panels in 2024, up from 9.3 percent in 2023.

Coal fell to less than 10 percent for the first time since Ember began collating the figures in 2011.

Renewables on the rise

Less favourable wind conditions meant wind power was almost flat, compared to the previous year, but the two sources together boosted the share of renewables to 47 percent, up from 34 percent in 2019.

Fossil-fuelled power, meanwhile, dipped to a “historic low”, according to the report, with gas generation declining for the fifth year in a row, to a 15.7 percent share.

“The European Green Deal has delivered a deep and rapid transformation of the EU power sector,” the think tank said.

• EU members agree to nearly double renewable energy by 2030

While nuclear remained the dominant electricity source in the EU in 2024, contributing 23.7 percent of the mix, more than half of European countries have either eliminated coal, the most polluting fossil fuel, or reduced its share to less than five percent of their energy mix.

According to Ember, these trends are widespread across Europe, with solar power progressing in all EU countries.

Need for batteries

As a result, electricity system will need to increase its storage capacity, to make the most of intermittent renewable energies, which are only produced when the sun shines or the wind blows.

“A readily available solution is a battery co-located with a solar plant. This gives solar power producers more control over the prices they receive and helps them avoid selling for low prices in the middle of the day,” the report said.

But this capacity is concentrated in just a small number of countries, with 70 percent of existing batteries located in Germany and Italy at the end of 2023.

“More storage and demand flexibility is needed to sustain growth and for consumers to reap the full benefits of abundant solar,” Ember said.

The think tank suggested consumers could reduce electricity bills by shifting usage to periods of abundance, while battery operators could earn revenue from buying power when prices are low and selling it back when demand peaks.

(with Reuters, AFP)

“Sarkozy has exercised pressure on me through intermediaries several times,” Kadhafi told RFI in his first comments about the “Libyan financing affair” since 2011.

When RFI contacted a member of his inner circle to ask for an interview on 6 January, the response was hesitant: “I will ask the question, but it’s not certain.”

By late afternoon, however, Saif al-Islam had agreed to tell his version of what happened. He then sent a detailed, two-page statement in French, later supplemented with clarifications in Arabic.

His comments come as Sarkozy and 11 other defendants stand trial in Paris over alleged illegal Libyan funding.

His inner circle said that he has a deep distrust of the media, but agreed to speak now due to the opening of the trial.

Pressure to change testimony

Kadhafi described attempted pressure from Sarkozy that began after his 2018 testimony to investigating judge Serge Tournaire.

The first attempt allegedly came in 2021 through the Paris-based consultant Souha al-Bedri, who asked him to deny all claims of Libyan support for Sarkozy’s campaign in exchange for help resolving his case with the International Criminal Court (ICC), where he remains wanted.

Al-Bedri rejected these claims, calling them “absolutely not true”. She acknowledged past ties with Sarkozy, who acted as her lawyer in the 1980s, but said she no longer had contact with him.

In late 2022, a second approach allegedly came through Noël Dubus, an Ivorian national already implicated in both the campaign funding case and the Karachi arms contracts affair.

According to Kadhafi, Dubus visited his imprisoned brother Hannibal in Beirut, promising his release in exchange for altered testimony.

Hannibal Kadhafi has been detained in Lebanon since 2015 over the disappearance of Lebanese religious leader Moussa el-Sadr, who was last seen in Libya in August 1978.

Lebanon continues to demand information from Tripoli about his disappearance.

A third attempt came through an unnamed French person of Arab origin. who Kadhafi specified was neither Alexandre Djouhri nor Ziad Takieddine, two key figures already implicated in the investigation.

Kadhafi said he refused all attempts to alter his testimony. 

Hopes for peace as Libya marks 10 years since dramatic fall of Kadhafi

‘A suitcase full of cash’

According to Kadhafi, the Libyan regime made two separate payments to Sarkozy of $2.5 million each.

The first was meant to finance Sarkozy’s election campaign in exchange for promised “agreements and projects in favour of Libya”.

The second payment was allegedly intended to end legal proceedings over the 1989 UTA airline bombing that killed 170 people, including 54 French citizens.

The regime also sought to remove six Libyan names from Interpol notices, including that of Abdullah Senoussi, Kadhafi’s intelligence chief and brother-in-law.

“I personally supervised the money’s transfer,” Kadhafi said, alleging the money was transported in suitcases and deposited into a Geneva bank account.  

The money was allegedly handed to Claude Guéant, then Sarkozy’s chief of staff, by Bachir Saleh, Muammar Kadhafi’s trusted treasurer, with businessman Alexandre Djouhri acting as intermediary.  

Kadhafi described a scene that he said “made everyone present laugh” – where Guéant reportedly struggled to close a suitcase full of cash, resorting to standing on it.

Guéant, who spent two months in prison in 2022 after being convicted in a separate case for the misuse of public funds, has denied any involvement, and Sarkozy has dismissed the claims as baseless. 

Tripoli meeting

In his exchange with RFI, Kadhafi repeated claims he first made to French investigators in 2018 about a key meeting in Tripoli.

He said that on 6 October, 2005, Sarkozy and Muammar Kadhafi discussed campaign financing.

Kadhafi also said that during this 2005 Libya visit, Sarkozy personally called Abdullah Senoussi, promising to remove his name from Interpol’s wanted list upon becoming president.

“There are recordings of this conversation,” Kadhafi told RFI. “Senoussi still has them.”

However, despite repeated claims by Libyan officials about such evidence, French investigators have never received any recordings or documents to support the allegations.

Bygmalion, Libya, Bismuth: the trials and tribulations of Nicolas Sarkozy

Sarkozy denials 

Sarkozy has consistently denied receiving any Libyan funding for his presidential bid. During this month’s trial, he described the accusations as baseless and rooted in a decade-long smear campaign. 

“Not a single centime of Libyan money” funded the campaign, Sarkozy insisted, adding: “If anyone has the slightest evidence, I would like them to give it to me. It’s exhausting having to respond to allegations that rest on nothing.” 

When asked by RFI about Kadhafi’s latest claims, Sarkozy’s lawyer Christophe Ingrain called them “not only fanciful statements, but also very opportunistic”.

Ingrain argued that the accusations stem from a “vengeful narrative”. He linked the family’s grievances to Sarkozy’s pivotal role in initiating NATO’s intervention in Libya in 2011, which led to the Kadhafi regime’s downfall after 42 years in power.

This intervention, strongly advocated for by then-president Sarkozy, involved airstrikes and the enforcement of a no-fly zone.

“Since the Arab Spring and NATO’s intervention in Libya, Kadhafi’s family has lost everything. We are truly in the context of objective revenge,” Ingrain told RFI.

He rejected the allegations of a deal over the UTA bombing case, saying that: “French justice doesn’t work like that.” He explained that arrest warrants issued by a criminal court can only be cancelled if suspects present themselves for trial.

Money transfers

In their order referring the case to trial, French investigating magistrates compiled extensive evidence of alleged money transfers.

The document describes a network that extends beyond the role Saif al-Islam Kadhafi claims to have played, pointing to numerous networks used to move money.

It also mentions several instances of pressure being exerted on witnesses.

Kadhafi first mentioned these financing allegations in March 2011 during an interview with Euronews, and at a press conference in Tripoli before the regime’s fall.

Following NATO’s intervention, he demanded that Sarkozy return the money to Libya.

RFI verified Kadhafi’s identity before publishing his claims. He communicated through an intermediary to avoid using international phone lines, which could reveal his location.

*All persons named in this article are presumed innocent. 

This story has been adapted from the original version in French, written by Houda Ibrahim

More money, equipment and personnel are needed for the Kenya-led international force, Guterres said, adding that any further delays risk the “catastrophic” collapse of Haiti’s security institutions and “could allow gangs to overrun the entire metropolitan area” of Port-au-Prince.

The UN secretary-general lamented that the mission is “still not deployed to full strength,” limiting its capacity to support the Haitian national police.

Haiti‘s Foreign Minister Jean-Victor Harvel Jean-Baptiste, speaking at a meeting of the UN Security Council, said that the country faced “major difficulties” that threaten not just the population but also “the very survival of the state.”

The Security Council gave the green light in October 2023 to the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission designed to support Haiti’s authorities in their fight against gang violence.

But since then, just under 800 of the 2,500 police officers hoped for have been deployed.

More than 5,601 people in Haiti were killed in Haiti last year as a result of gang violence, about a thousand more than in 2023, the UN said.

In the report, Guterres said setbacks in Haiti’s political process have “contributed to a climate in which these atrocities have become possible.”

Haiti currently has no president or parliament and is ruled by a transitional body, which is struggling to manage extreme violence linked to criminal gangs, poverty and other challenges.

The UN also recorded 315 lynchings of people allegedly affiliated with gangs as well as 281 cases of alleged summary executions by police.

More than a million Haitians have been forced to flee their homes, three times as many as a year ago.

A history of violence: Haiti’s revolution, collapse and descent into anarchy

‘Timidly hopeful’

The Caribbean nation has suffered from decades of instability but the situation escalated last February when armed groups launched coordinated attacks in the capital to overthrow then-prime minister Ariel Henry.

Unpopular and unelected, Henry stepped down in April, his resignation eventually giving way to a transitional government — which had by November fired its interim prime minister and replaced him with current Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime.

The UN Special Representative in Haiti, Maria Isabel Salvador, criticized the “increasing fragmentation” of the temporary council.

“While there is progress on the political front and reason to be timidly hopeful, the transition framework remains fragile,” she told the UN Security Council on Wednesday.

Salvador said the humanitarian situation had reached “alarming levels,” saying that over six million people — nearly half the population — required humanitarian assistance.

The United States had, under former president Joe Biden, backed a request by Haitian authorities to transform the security mission into a UN peacekeeping force, but faced opposition from China and Russia.

So far, the mission has had limited impact on the frequency of attacks by armed groups, who are accused of committing numerous murders, rapes and kidnappings for ransom.

The attacks have also targeted key buildings and infrastructure, which forced the closure of the capital’s airport to commercial flights in November.

The intervention ensures the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) remains fully operational despite the US halting its contributions, which typically account for 22 percent of the secretariat’s budget.

“From 2017 to 2020, during a period of federal inaction, cities, states, businesses, and the public rose to the challenge to uphold our nation’s commitments – and now, we are ready to do it again,” said Bloomberg, who serves as the UN Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions.

Global commitment

The UNFCCC’s operating costs for 2024-2025 are projected at €88.4 million.

The US had already paid its required 7.2 million euro contribution for 2024 and cleared €3.4 million in arrears for 2010-2023 before Trump’s announcement.

This marks the second time Bloomberg has stepped in to maintain US climate commitments.

In 2017, following the Trump administration’s first withdrawal from the Paris accord, he pledged up to $15 million to support the UNFCCC and launched “America’s Pledge”, an initiative tracking climate commitments from US non-federal actors.

How bolder targets, treaties and talks will steer a defining year for climate

The UNFCCC, established under a 1992 treaty, coordinates international efforts to reduce climate-warming emissions and stages regular summits where countries can hold one another accountable.

UN climate chief Simon Stiell welcomed the move, saying “contributions like this are vital in enabling the UN Climate Change secretariat to support countries in fulfilling their commitments under the Paris Agreement and advancing a low-emission, resilient, and safer future for all.”

Bloomberg’s organisation will continue supporting local leaders, strengthening emissions tracking and fostering coalitions across public and private sectors to maintain climate action in the US.

The report, published on Tuesday by the National Assembly’s delegation for women’s rights, described the case in which Gisèle Pelicot was drugged and raped repeatedly by both her husband and strangers he recruited online as a watershed moment. 

Dominique Pelicot was found guilty of rape, and 50 other defendants of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault. However, the trial also served to highlight flaws in how French law addresses sexual violence, with the defence relying on outdated stereotypes and questioning the victim’s credibility. 

“Now that the Mazan [the village in which the offences took place] rape trial has concluded, which has in many ways been a trial of rape culture itself, it is time to act,” the parliamentary mission said. 

The report’s co-authors, MPs Véronique Riotton and Marie-Charlotte Garin, argue that the law needs urgent reform.  

“The new definition must specify that consent is specific, must be given freely and can be withdrawn at any time,” the report said. 

Mass rape trial revives question of consent within French law

Redefining rape 

French law currently defines rape as “any act of sexual penetration, of whatever nature, or any oral-genital act committed upon another person or upon the person of the perpetrator through violence, coercion, threat or surprise”. 

While these existing criteria would be preserved, the addition of non-consent would help address cases involving paralysis, coercive control or exploitation of vulnerable situations, which currently fall outside the scope of the law.

“By modifying the law, what we want to do is reaffirm that for something to qualify as a sexual relationship, there must be freely given consent. Otherwise it’s an act of violence, of domination – it’s rape,” Garin told RFI.  

“We need to clarify the law, to remind people what constitutes sexuality and what constitutes violence and domination. And the best way to do this is to include the notion of consent.” 

The pivotal 1970s trial that rewrote France’s definition of rape

Consent ‘weaponised’ 

The parliamentary mission highlighted flaws in how rape cases are handled, stating that “without a clear definition” consent is “often weaponised by attackers”.

This, they said, fuels harmful stereotypes about rape, discourages victims from filing complaints, and results in many cases being dismissed. 

“The current definition reinforces societal prejudices about what makes a ‘good’ victim – someone who resists, fights back and behaves ‘exemplarily’ – and what constitutes a ‘real’ rape, involving violence and coercion by a monstrous or foreign attacker,” the report argues. 

Rallies across France in support of woman who was drugged, raped

Divided response 

The proposal has sparked widespread debate in France.  

While President Emmanuel Macron supports the reform, critics argue it could complicate legal proceedings. Some warn it might shift the burden of proof on to the accused, while others fear it could lead to what they call the “contractualisation of sexual relations”. 

Even feminist organisations are divided. Some view the reform as a crucial step toward implementing the Istanbul Convention, which France ratified in 2014. Others express concern that the law may still fail to address situations where consent is coerced or manipulated. 

France’s Council of State is reviewing the draft legislation to ensure it meets legal standards before it is formally introduced. 

European lawmakers convened in Strasbourg this week for two critical debates – the first examining controls on American social media companies, followed by discussions on how to respond to the new US administration.

Several far-right members were notably absent, having left to attend Trump’s inauguration in Washington.

The debates highlighted widespread unease over Trump’s policies, with most members expressing grave misgivings about his approach to global alliances and digital governance.

Trade threats and tariffs

Trump announced plans on Tuesday for new tariffs targeting the European Union.

“The European Union is very, very bad to us,” he told reporters at the White House. “So they’re going to be in for tariffs. It’s the only way… you’re going to get fairness.”

Trump also proposed a 10 percent duty on Chinese imports, citing fentanyl trafficking as a major concern.

Valérie Hayer, who leads the parliament’s centrist Renew Europe group, condemned the president’s isolationist stance.

“Listen to Trump’s speech. Withdrawal from the Paris accords, withdrawal from WHO… Not a word about Europe, not a word about NATO, not a word about Ukraine,” she said.

“For Trump, it’s national withdrawal: America First, pure and simple.”

Greens MEP Madjouline Sbaï condemned Trump’s climate policy, specifically his decision to pull the US out of the Paris climate agreement.

“When you attack justice, when you attack the press and when you attack science – notably with the decree taking the United States out of the Paris Agreement – we are seeing what [political philosopher] Hannah Arendt described: the origins of totalitarism,” Sbaï said.

Trump’s return sharpens Macron’s bid for a stronger, united Europe

Social media regulation

During Tuesday’s initial debate on digital policy, lawmakers focused on concerns over Trump allies Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg’s control of social media platforms.

“Deregulation gives way to hate speech, pedophile content, terrorist content, misogynistic and racist content,” said Renaissance MP Fabienne Keller.

“Make no mistake, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are not defending freedom of expression. They only want to convey their own ideology.”

Greens MEP David Cormand, a member of the parliament’s Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, described Trump’s administration as “another step in what I consider an imperialist attack by American interests against the European Union”.

Speaking from Davos, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen struck a more conciliatory tone, saying she would take a pragmatic approach to the new US administration after earlier expressing hope for “close collaboration” with Trump on “global challenges”.

Her stance sparked criticism from some lawmakers who viewed it as overly submissive to American interests.

Belgian lawmaker Marc Botenga sharply criticised von der Leyen’s approach, suggesting it undermines the EU’s independence.

“We are going to buy more energy and more weapons from the Americans. What kind of Stockholm syndrome is this? It’s an incredible submission,” Botenga said during the debate.

EU ‘ready to defend’ interests after Trump tariff vow

Digital policy rift

The parliament’s divide over digital policy was also clear.

While most MEPs called for stronger enforcement of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) to counter the influence of tech giants, far-right members opposed tighter controls.

Supporters of tighter regulations argued that unchecked platforms allow hate speech, disinformation and harmful content to flourish, threatening democratic processes.

However, far-right lawmakers, including Virginie Joron of the Patriots for Europe group, opposed increasing restrictions on tech companies.

Joron accused EU leaders of targeting Musk unfairly.

“The obsession of many leaders in France and Europe against Musk and his supposed influence over our democracies speaks volumes about what we have become,” she said.

“This desire to strengthen the DSA isn’t to protect European consumers, but to control voters’ ballots.”

On his first day back in office Donald Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border with Mexico “to repel the disastrous invasion of our country,” saying he would deploy US troops to tackle illegal immigration.

His administration said it would reinstate a “Remain in Mexico” policy that prevailed under Trump’s first presidency, under which people who apply to enter the United States from Mexico must remain there until their application has been decided.

Another of Trump’s moves was to halt the “Humanitarian Parole” program. Under the Joe Biden administration, it was specifically designed for migrants from Haiti, Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela fleeing hardship or persecution in their countries.

Once approved, migrants were allowed to stay in the country for up to two years, get a work permit and be shielded from deportation. 

The programme has been credited with helping to reduce the number of unlawful crossings by migrants from those countries particularly at the US-Mexico border.

Trump vows to act with ‘historic speed and strength’ via executive orders

Thousands in limbo

Trump also took aim at the “Customs and Border Protection (CBP One)” – an asylum application platform used by migrants to enter the United States.

“Existing appointments have been cancelled,” the service said on its website on Monday, leaving thousands of people from different nationalities in limbo.

In the Mexican border town of Ciudad Juarez, Carly Fernandez received an email cancelling her meeting scheduled for February.

“We fought so hard to get here”, she told RFI correspondent Gwendolina Duval, “My sister wants to go back, she is tired of everything we endured to get here… for nothing…”

Photographs capture heart-rending journey of migrants trying to reach the US

Since 2023, 531,690 people have been granted humanitarian parole, according to Department of Homeland Security. The majority have come from Haiti.

In Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, locals reacted to the announcements with a mixture of despair and resignation.

Séphora, a student at the University of Haiti, believes that these decrees will harm exiles who are looking for a better life.

“This decision is a real blow to migrants, in particular Haitians who, faced with the difficult situation in their country, are looking for a better life elsewhere,” she told RFI’s correspondent Peterson Luxama.

“We cannot say anything: it is his country, and he makes the decisions that he considers to be in the interest of the American people,” she says.

More Kenyan police arrive in Haiti to boost mission against gang violence

Bedson, a resident in Pétion-Ville in a suburb of Haiti, is also disappointed at the lack of humanity behind the decrees.

“These kinds of decisions are not good for us because the hope of many Haitians is to go to other countries to protect ourselves and help our families. I find that these decisions really hurt,” he told RFI.

Castène, for his part, says he is not surprised, because “these decisions were predictable.

“With Donald Trump in power, we couldn’t expect better. Just hours after taking office, he eliminated the CBP-One program, which leaves thousands of migrants unable to set foot on American soil,” he notes.

“These migrants, who sacrificed everything for a better future, now find themselves without resources or prospects facing an uncertain future.”

Massive displacement

Meanwhile, criminal gangs still control some 85 percent of Port-au-Prince, the United Nations estimates, despite the deployment last June of the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) under UN auspices.

Gang violence killed at least 5,601 people in Haiti last year, about a thousand more than in 2023, the UN said. More than a million Haitians have been forced to flee their homes, three times as many as a year ago.

Most of those displaced have flooded out of the capital and sought refuge in Haiti’s provinces, overwhelming host communities and straining limited resources.

“Last year alone, 200,000 people were returned to Haiti, to communities that are already struggling to basically survive,” United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) spokesman Kennedy Okoth Omondi said.

Port-au-Prince sees ‘unprecedented’ displacement as gang violence escalates

UN rights chief Volker Turk condemned these deportations saying “the acute insecurity and resulting human rights crisis in the country simply do not allow for the safe, dignified and sustainable return of Haitians”.

In a further move aimed at curbing immigration, Donald Trump issued an order eliminating the automatic granting of citizenship to anyone born on US soil, a right guaranteed by the 14th Amendment of the country’s constitution.

If implemented, the order would prevent the federal government from issuing passports, citizenship certificates or other documents to children whose mothers are in the country illegally or temporarily, and whose father is not a US citizen or permanent resident.

18 states, including California and New York as well as human rights groups immediately filed a lawsuit to block the order.

(With newswires)

Four goals in 10 second-half minutes took the mood of the PSG faithful from gloomy to giddy as City, despite being under the cosh for the first-half, bundled their way to a 2-0 lead with goals from Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland in the 50th and 53rd minute respectively.

It was harsh on the hosts who had Achraf Hakimi’s first-half stoppage time goal ruled out for an offside in the build-up.

On the hour mark, it was all square. First, Bradley Barcola surged down the left and cut the ball back for substitute Ousmane Dembélé to sweep home past the Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson after 56 minutes.

Finish

City were the architects of their own demise for the equaliser. Mateo Kovacic was muscled off the ball in midfield, Fabian Ruiz pushed it on to Désiré Doué on the left hand side of the City penalty area and the 19-year-old curled a shot towards the top right hand corner over Ederson. But the ball cannoned off the crossbar and Barcola stabbed home as Ederson lay stricken on the deck. 

City’s famed control freakery under boss Pep Guardiola that has taken them to six English Premier League titles in seven years and the Champions League crown in 2023 could not stem the tide. 

To the elation of a crowd that included the San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers basketball teams who are in town for the NBA Paris Games, PSG moved ahead in the 78th minute. Vitinha whipped over a free-kick from the right and Joao Neves stooped to head in past Ederson.

Return

It was redemption for the Portugal international who missed an easier header at the start of the encounter and inadvertently deflected the ball towards Haaland for City’s second.

PSG boss Luis Enrique sent on the defender Lucas Hernandez for Barcola in the 81st minute to shore up the rearguard ahead of the anticipated City onslaught.

But it failed to materialise. And PSG inflicted the coup de grace in stoppage-time when Gonçalo Ramos thrashed in the fourth from the edge of the box.

As the video referees reviewed whether the Portugal international was onside, the fans, confident that victory had been secured, revelled in the theatre. Validation of the goal was the icing on the cake and more raucous singing.

“The fans didn’t stop supporting us even when we were losing,” said Enrique. “We were able to give them a victory after a very special comeback in the second-half. This success is for them and, of course, I congratulate my players.”

The win takes PSG to 10 points and into one of the 16 play-off slots for a place in the last-16 knockout stages.

Reality

City, with eight points, fall to 25th and just outside those berths. However, should they beat Club Brugge at home next week in their final game of the group stages, City will progress to the play-off slots.

“I told the players after the game that PSG were simply better,” said Guardiola. “In football it’s like that. We have to accept it and learn from it. PSG were intense and aggressive. We must move on because we have a tough game against Chelsea on the weekend.” 

PSG, who host Reims on Saturday in Ligue 1, require a draw next week at Stuttgart in their final fixture of the Champions League group stages to advance.

Brest, the other Ligue 1 team in Champions League action on Wednesday night, fared less well.

They lost 2-0 at Shakhtar Donetsk to drop to 13th in the table with 13 points. Brest play their final game in the group stages next Wednesday against Real Madrid.

On Tuesday night in the Champions League, Monaco ended their dismal run of form with a 1-0 win over Aston Villa.

Defender Wilfried Singo scored early in the first half to secure the team’s first victory in the four games since beating fifth division Union St Jean in the last-64 of the Coupe de France on 22 December.

Ahead of their trip to Italy to take on Inter Milan on 29 January in their final game of the group stages, Monaco have 13 points.

A draw will give them one of the 16 play-off spots. A similar result for Lille, who host the Dutch outfit Feyenoord on 29 January, will also send them into the play-offs.  

The warrant, issued on 20 January, names Assad as “commander-in-chief of the armed forces” in connection with a 2017 bombing in Deraa that killed Salah Abou Nabout, a 59-year-old Franco-Syrian and former French teacher. 

Nabout’s home was reportedly struck by Syrian army helicopters.  

“This case represents the culmination of a long fight for justice, in which I and my family believed from the start,” said Omar Abou Nabout, the victim’s son.  

Legal action 

This is the second French arrest warrant targeting Assad, who fled to Russia after being overthrown by forces led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in December 2024.  

The first, issued in November 2023, concerned chemical attacks in 2013 that killed more than 1,000 people. 

While prosecutors had appealed the first warrant citing Assad’s head of state immunity, his recent ouster has changed his legal status. 

Omar Abou Nabout expressed hope that “a trial will take place and that the perpetrators will be arrested and judged, wherever they are.” 

Six senior Syrian army officials are also wanted by French authorities in connection with the former teaher’s killing. 

Time to go home? Assad’s demise brings dilemmas for Syrian refugees in Turkey

Broader implications 

French authorities also accuse Assad of complicity in crimes against humanity.  

Syria’s civil war, which began in 2011 with Assad’s crackdown on protesters, has killed more than half a million people and devastated the country’s economy. 

The French judicial system has now issued 14 arrest warrants for Syrian officials since investigations began in 2018. 

International efforts for justice continue, with the International Criminal Court (ICC) seeking to address abuses committed under Assad’s rule.  

Last Friday, ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan met Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of Syria’s new administration, raising hopes for accountability. 

The Assad regime consistently denied using chemical weapons against civilians during the war. 

A four-week ban on commercial fishing aimed at protecting dolphins in France’s Bay of Biscay comes again into force on Wednesday.

It was ordered by the Council of State, France’s top administrative court, and will run until 20 February. 

The initiative, which helped reduce accidental dolphin captures by fourfold last winter, will see about 300 fishing boats from the west of Brittany, all the way down to the Spanish border, remain docked until 20 February.

The French government will cover 80 percent of the fishermen’s revenue.

For over a decade, accidental dolphin captures in the region have exceeded sustainable levels, with up to 4,900 dolphin deaths, according to the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). 

In response to an infringement procedure from the European Commission and pressure from environmental groups, France is to impose a fishing ban for most vessels over eight meters long for 2025 and 2026.

This unprecedented measure, aimed at protecting fish species threatened by overfishing, is the largest of its kind in the Bay of Biscay since World War II.

French fishing ban great news for dolphins, less so for industry

The number of dolphin deaths from accidental captures dropped significantly, from an average of 6,100 between 2017 and 2023 to just 1,450 between December 2023 and March 2024, according to non-profit Pelagis marine observatory.

“This is effective. The numbers prove it,” said Jérôme Spitz, co-director of Pelagis. 

He explained that dolphins are often captured while feeding, and the fishing closure was a key factor in reducing accidental captures. He also noted that mortality levels remained low during non-closure periods.

However, Spitz warned that the situation might change in the coming year due to potential “spikes” in strandings, which can lead to high mortality rates at different times, such as December or March.

Surge in number of dolphin deaths sparks call for halt to Atlantic fishing

Long-term solution?

“I don’t think the current closure is a long-term solution,” he added, calling it an “emergency measure” while awaiting more sustainable structural solutions that would allow both fishing activities and dolphin populations to thrive.

Julien Lamothe, director of the FROM Sud-Ouest fishermen’s organisation, agreed that the closure is a “simplistic solution” to limit interactions, but he also welcomed government support for continued compensation. 

Lamothe is eager to develop large-scale experiments to explore alternative solutions to the closure, including testing repellents.

Over half of the 300 boats receiving compensation are already equipped with “pingers” or acoustic buoys designed to warn or repel dolphins from the danger zone. 

“We now need to prove scientifically that this works,” said France’s Minister of Ecological Transition Agnès Pannier-Runacher, whose goal is to reopen the Bay of Biscay by February 2027.

Yet, Pelagis’ co-director remains cautious, stressing that no solution has yet shown universal effectiveness. “A combination of different approaches will be necessary for long-term success,” he said, highlighting the value of cameras onboard ships to better understand the circumstances behind accidental captures.

Meanwhile, David Le Quintrec, a fisherman from Lorient in Brittany and president of the French Union of Artisinal Fishermen, expressed frustration over the second fishing closure, which he believes could have been avoided. 

He filed a lawsuit last week with the Council of State against the decree mandating cameras on board about 100 vessels.

(with AFP)

Larry Gbevlo-Lartey has been appointed to liaise with the three-nation Alliance of Sahel States (AES) which includes Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

The presidency also said that Mahama named former minister of communication Edward Omane Boamah as defence minister.

Military coups

Emmanuel Kwesi Aning, an Accra-based security consultant, believes this appointment signals Ghana’s willingness to improve its relationship with junta-led countries in the region.

Speaking to Reuters news agency on Tuesday, Aning said that the retired lieutenant colonel has “credentials and speaks a language the AES leadership understands.”

He added: “His appointment is the first in Ecowas and it’s an attempt to rebuild trust… and start the process of reengagement and the return of the AES to the Ecowas family.”

Between 2020 and 2023, juntas seized control in a series of coups in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. All three severed military and diplomatic ties with regional allies and Western powers.

Fears for the future in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso over Ecowas withdrawal

The three countries created the alliance last July, underscoring their determination to chart a joint course outside Ecowas, the Economic Community of West African States bloc.

Diplomatic relations between Ghana and Burkina Faso broke down in 2022 after former president, Nana Akufo-Addo, alleged it had hired Russian Wagner mercenaries, saying their presence on Ghana’s northern border was distressing.

John Mahama takes oath as Ghana’s president amid severe economic crisis

Need for strong responses

Ghana faces tough regional security problems as almost the whole West African region has become increasingly volatile.

The region has seen six successful coups and several attempted ones in the last four years, not only in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, but also in Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Benin and Sierra Leone. Since 2015, there have been at least 17 coups and attempted coups in the region.

Terrorism and insurgencies have also become visible security threats, in the Sahel, in Nigeria, and recently affecting Benin as well.

The Sahel has become the epicentre of global terrorism, as both Islamic State (Isis) and Al Qaeda have established strong footholds in the region.

Meanwhile, the geopolitical landscape is changing in West Africa, as the US, France, Russia and China are vying for influence, putting the region at the centre of cold war-style rivalries.

African security researcher Muhammad Dan Suleiman, Research Fellow at Curtin University, says Mahama is uniquely positioned to champion regional stability. “This is because he has played a pivotal role in the region over the past decade, particularly within ECOWAS,” he wrote in The Conversation.

During his first term as president of Ghana from 2013 to 2017, Mahama was elected Ecowas chairman in March 2014, then his chairmanship was extended for another term in recognition of his leadership and successes.

These included the creation of a multinational task force which assisted in the reversal of the Boko Haram insurgency in 2015, and his handling of the Ebola crisis.

 (with Reuters)

How will 2025 shape up for African nations and their global partnerships? Will Africa secure a more central role in the global diplomatic landscape?

To understand what’s at stake on the continent, the Spotlight on Africa podcast consulted three experts in African politics and diplomacy.

Cameron Hudson from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CISC) in Washington DC discusses priorities for South Africa as it takes on the rotating presidency of the G20 group, and in particular its relationship to the United States. 

Michael Dillon from King’s College, London, UK, looks at China’s new strategy that aims to deepen its influence in Africa.

Thierry Vircoulon from IFRI in France analyses the legacy of France in Africa, notably in the Sahel where French troops have been pushed out by military juntas of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

These countries have since established their own Alliance of Sahel States and made the decision to withdraw from the West African bloc Ecowas. Set to take effect on 29 January, security experts and members of the diaspora have voiced concern over what lies ahead.

Episode mixed by Erwan Rome.

Spotlight on Africa is produced by Radio France Internationale’s English language service.

Speaking in Cesson-Sevigne in northwestern France on Monday, Macron emphasised the need to build up the army reserves by encouraging more young people to join.

Macron asked the government and the armed forces to submit proposals by May on how to mobilise more young volunteers to “back up the armed forces” in case of need, seeming to acknowledge the end of the universal national service project that he had long championed.

France wants to have 210,000 active servicemen and 80,000 reservists by 2030.

“In order to build up this reserve, the Defence and Citizenship Day will be revamped,” he added without providing more details about the proposal.

France requires all citizens to participate in a one-day “Defence and Citizenship” course when they turn 18, which includes a presentation of the country’s military forces and a French language test.

“We will have to do a better job of identifying volunteers,” Macron said.

France ‘massively upgrading’ its nuclear weapons: report

France’s last conscripts were demobilised in 2001.

During his presidential campaign in 2017, Macron promised to introduce a month-long compulsory national service, saying he wanted to give young French people “a direct experience of military life”.

The proposal received a cool response from the army, prompting the government to come back with proposals for a compulsory civic service instead.

In 2019, France began a trial project and French authorities planned to eventually make the “Universal National Service” (SNU) compulsory but the country’s political crisis has put the brakes on the development of such a plan.

EU to face ‘responsibilities’

Turning to France’s position in international affairs, Macron again called on Europe to assume more responsibility for its own defence.

“There can be no peace and security in Europe without Europeans,” Macron said, referring to the Ukraine war and to European involvement in the negotiations.

“Let us not delude ourselves. This conflict will not end tomorrow or the day after,” Macron said, speaking as Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th American President.

“The challenge tomorrow, when hostilities cease, will be to give Ukraine guarantees against any return to war on its territory, and assurances for our own security,” Macron pointed out.

Europe has ‘avoided bearing burden of its own security’, says Macron

Trump promised over the summer to end Russia’s war against Ukraine “in 24 hours”, although he did not explain how he planned to do that.

He has also questioned Washington’s commitment to defend NATO allies and the possible slashing of support to Ukraine.

Trump’s return to the White House is a renewed spur to Europeans, long used to conventional and nuclear protection from the US military, to re-examine their own defence.

“What will we do in Europe tomorrow if our American ally withdraws its warships from the Mediterranean? If they send their fighter planes from the Atlantic to the Pacific?” Macron asked his audience.

“The answer will have to come from us.”

In 2023, France adopted a 413-billion-euro military budget for 2024-2030, its most significant spending increase in decades.

  (with AFP)

Marseille had displayed a large portrait of him in front of the town hall while Watson was imprisoned in Greenland for 149 days.

“Being in prison was an opportunity to focus international attention on Japan’s crimes, the fact that they are killing whales in the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary. This is not my opinion; it is the opinion of the International Court of Justice,” Watson said during a press conference in Marseille.

“And I would like to thank the mayor of Marseille and the people of Marseille for the incredible support I received while I was in prison,” he added.

‘Prison helped our cause’: Sea Shepherd’s Paul Watson plans next steps in France

Watson’s detention by Denmark followed the country’s response to an Interpol Red Notice from 2012, following an arrest warrant issued by Japan.

“We will confront Interpol, politically and legally […] Not just for me but for hundreds of others. Countries use Interpol as a political weapon against whistleblowers and activists,” Watson said.

The environmental activist did not say if he would return to the sea immediately.

He stated that his priority was to prevent Japan from returning to the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary, as well as stopping Iceland from killing whales this summer. He also plans to halt the illegal slaughter of pilot whales in the Danish Faroe Islands archipelago.

(with newswires)

“I’ll revoke nearly 80 destructive and radical executive actions of the previous administration,” Trump told a crowd in Washington after his inauguration on Monday.

“I will implement an immediate regulation freeze, which will stop Biden bureaucrats from continuing to regulate,” Trump went on, adding he will also “issue a temporary hiring freeze to ensure that we’re only hiring competent people who are faithful to the American public.”

Among the executive orders signed, several have caught the world’s attention, in particular, leaving the World Health Organization and the Paris climate agreement and pardoning rioters who ransacked Congress in January of 2021.

Trump also rescinded sanctions imposed by the former Biden administration on far-right Israeli settler groups and individuals for allegedly committing violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, the new White House website said.

The White House adds that Trump will “take bold action to secure our border and protect American communities,” declaring drug cartels as “terrorist organisations” and stressing his old mantra of “cleaning the swamp,” in Washington DC by streamlining the federal bureaucracy.

Wrath of God

Earlier in the day, thousands of the president’s supporters wearing Trump hats, shawls, trousers or even branding orange wigs reminiscent of Trump’s hairdo, queued up outside hoping to get a glimpse of their hero.

The inaugural parade was originally to take place in different locations along the length of Pennsylvania Avenue, with groups of performers and musicians from 30 states taking part. 

But just three days before the event, icy temperatures saw all activities moved indoors.

Trump withdraws US from Paris climate agreement for second time

Religious preachers standing along the queue with banners and loudspeakers blasting about the “wrath of God” and demanding the passers-by to “repent” made for a surreal atmosphere.

“We’re excited,” Nelissa Hayes, sporting a white Trump baseball hat, told RFI. “We’re happy.

“(Trump) will turn our country around in the right direction, protect our children, protect our citizens, protect our border, put America back on track and make America great again,” using the mantra of the Trump campaign. 

“He said that he will fulfil all his promises. We’re happy we are here, we’re in line,” says Jason Blechennel, another Trump fan.

Lori from Oregon, who had been queueing since 7am planning to get a glimpse from Trump, who had promised to come to the Capitol One Arena, had given up hope to enter.

Thousands march in Washington DC to protest Trump’s presidency

Frustrated

“I just follow these people. The atmosphere is great,” adding that “it is a very special day for me. Because I love President Trump. And I love (Vice-President) JD Vance. And I love America. And they represent the America that I love.”

Temperatures dropped on Sunday from around freezing point to -11C on Monday prompting Trump to express concern that people might get “sick or hurt” if they stood outside too long.

Yet thousands braved the cold anyway hoping, often in vain, to get into the Arena, which could house only one tenth of the 200,000 people that had come down to Washington to watch the parades.

One distinguished looking gentleman from Boston, wearing a red ski-cap says that he is “Very frustrated. I have a VIP pass, and then I tried to get into it, and it was all over, due to bad weather.”

Nelissa doesn’t mind. “I was a little disappointed,” she told RFI. “But you know what: I think I care more about the safety of our new incoming President.”

In a Starbucks not far from the Arena, enjoying a hot coffee with her mother, Maria from California rejoices. “Look, before last November it was kind of embarrassing to say that you would vote for Trump. You didn’t really want to talk about it. You thought you were a minority. But now it appears we are not.”

Others join in with agreement, and the group ends with chanting “USA! USA!”

On Tuesday, Trump will still go to an interfaith National Prayer Service at 11 am at the Washington National Cathedral, after which life in the US capital will turn to a new political page under Donald J. Trump’s second presidency.

How will 2025 shape up for African nations and their global partnerships? Will Africa secure a more central role in the global diplomatic landscape?

To understand what’s at stake on the continent, the Spotlight on Africa podcast consulted three experts in African politics and diplomacy.

Cameron Hudson from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CISC) in Washington DC discusses priorities for South Africa as it takes on the rotating presidency of the G20 group, and in particular its relationship to the United States. 

Michael Dillon from King’s College, London, UK, looks at China’s new strategy that aims to deepen its influence in Africa.

Thierry Vircoulon from IFRI in France analyses the legacy of France in Africa, notably in the Sahel where French troops have been pushed out by military juntas of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

These countries have since established their own Alliance of Sahel States and made the decision to withdraw from the West African bloc Ecowas. Set to take effect on 29 January, security experts and members of the diaspora have voiced concern over what lies ahead.

Episode mixed by Erwan Rome.

Spotlight on Africa is produced by Radio France Internationale’s English language service.

Erdogan was quick to congratulate Trump on his election victory, making clear his desire to work with him again.

“Donald Trump is a man who acts with his instincts, and Erdogan is too,” explains Huseyin Bagci, a professor of international relations with Ankara’s Middle East Technical University. 

“They are not intellectuals as we used to have, big political leaders after World War II. They are tradespeople. They are very pragmatic ones, and they are political animals. In this sense, they like transactional policies, not value-based policies.”

Syria a key focus

Erdogan’s top priority is expected to be securing the withdrawal of US forces from Syria, where they support the Kurdish militia YPG in the fight against the Islamic State.

Ankara views the YPG as a terrorist group linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged an insurgency in Turkey for decades.

During his first presidency, Trump promised to pull US forces out of Syria, though this move faced strong resistance from American officials.

Sezin Oney, a commentator with Turkey’s independent Politikyol news portal, said new challenges in Syria make an early withdrawal unlikely.

“Not to have the ISIS resurgence again or this HTS presenting a threat to the United States, the Trump administration would be interested in protecting the YPG and the Kurds, their alliance with the Kurds,” said Oney.

“We already have the (US) vice president, JD Vance, pointing out the ISIS resurgence.”

Turkey steps up military action against Kurds in Syria as power shifts

Israel and Iran

The ceasefire between Hamas and Israel could ease another potential point of tension between Erdogan and Trump, as Erdogan has been a strong supporter of Hamas.

Meanwhile, both Ankara and Washington share concerns over Iran’s regional influence, which could encourage cooperation between the two leaders.

“Trump administration is coming in with a desire to stabilise relations with Turkey,” said Asli Aydintasbas, an analyst with the Brookings Institution.

“We are likely to see more and more of a personal rapport, personal relationship, which had been missing during the Biden administration,” she added. “President Erdogan and President Trump will get along famously. But it does not mean Turkey gets all of its policy options.”

Success of rebel groups in Syria advances Turkish agenda

Fighter jets and Ukraine

Erdogan is also hoping the Trump administration will lift a Congressional embargo on advanced fighter jet sales. Experts suggest Turkey could play a key role in any Trump-led efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in the Ukraine war, given Erdogan’s ties with both Russia and Ukraine.

“If Trump is pushing for a ceasefire in Ukraine between Russia and Ukraine, in this case Turkey could be very helpful as a potential mediator,” said Ozgur Unluhisarcikli, head of the German Marshall Fund’s Ankara office.

But Unluhisarcikli warned of potential challenges.

“What happens in Syria could be a test for the US-Turkey relationship very early on. Turkey is actually preparing for a new intervention in northeast Syria against what Turkey sees as a terrorist organisation, and what the United States sees as a partner on the ground.”

Economic risks

Trump’s previous presidency saw tensions with Erdogan peak after Trump threatened to destroy Turkey’s economy over its plans to attack US-backed Syrian Kurdish forces. This move triggered a sharp drop in the Turkish lira.

With Turkey’s economy now weaker than before, analysts say Erdogan will need to proceed cautiously in his dealings with the new Trump administration.

Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound Kitchen weekly podcast, published every Saturday – here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. You’ll hear the winner’s names announced and the week’s quiz question, along with all the other ingredients you’ve grown accustomed to: your letters and essays, “On This Day”, quirky facts and news, interviews, and great music … so be sure and listen every week.

WORLD RADIO DAY is coming up – it’s on 13 February. As we do every year, we’ll have a feast in The Sound Kitchen, filled with your voices.

Send your SHORT recorded WRD greetings to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr by 1 February. This year’s theme is “Radio and Climate Change”, but you don’t have to talk about the theme – if you just want to say “hello!”, that’s fine, too.

Be sure you include your name and where you live in your message.

Most importantly, get under a blanket to record. This will make your recording broadcast quality.

Bombard me with your greetings !!!!

The RFI English team is pleased to announce that Saleem Akhtar Chadhar, the president of the RFI Seven Stars Listening Club in District Chiniot, Pakistan, won the RFI / Planète Radio ePOP video contest, in the RFI Clubs category. Bravo Saleem! Mubarak ho!

Erwan and I are busy cooking up special shows with your music requests, so get them in! Send your music requests to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr  Tell us why you like the piece of music, too – it makes it more interesting for us all!

Facebook: Be sure to send your photos to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr for the RFI English Listeners Forum banner!

More tech news: Did you know we have a YouTube channel? Just go to YouTube and write “RFI English” in the search bar, and there we are! Be sure to subscribe to see all our videos.

Would you like to learn French? RFI is here to help you!

Our website “Le Français facile avec RFI” has news broadcasts in slow, simple French, as well as bilingual radio dramas (with real actors!) and exercises to practice what you have heard.

Go to our website and get started! At the top of the page, click on “Test level”. According to your score, you’ll be counselled to the best-suited activities for your level.

Do not give up! As Lidwien van Dixhoorn, the head of “Le Français facile” service told me: “Bathe your ears in the sound of the language, and eventually, you’ll get it.” She should know – Lidwien is Dutch and came to France hardly able to say “bonjour” and now she heads this key RFI department – so stick with it!

Be sure you check out our wonderful podcasts!

In addition to the news articles on our site, with in-depth analysis of current affairs in France and across the globe, we have several podcasts that will leave you hungry for more.

There’s Spotlight on France, Spotlight on Africa, The International Report, and of course, The Sound Kitchen. We also have an award-winning bilingual series – an old-time radio show, with actors (!) to help you learn French, called Les voisins du 12 bis. 

Remember, podcasts are radio, too! As you see, sound is still quite present in the RFI English service. Please keep checking our website for updates on the latest from our journalists. You never know what we’ll surprise you with!

To listen to our podcasts from your PC, go to our website; you’ll see “Podcasts” at the top of the page. You can either listen directly or subscribe and receive them directly on your mobile phone.

To listen to our podcasts from your mobile phone, slide through the tabs just under the lead article (the first tab is “Headline News”) until you see “Podcasts”, and choose your show. 

Teachers take note! I save postcards and stamps from all over the world to send to you for your students. If you would like stamps and postcards for your students, just write and let me know. The address is english.service@rfi.fr  If you would like to donate stamps and postcards, feel free! Our address is listed below. 

Another idea for your students: Br. Gerald Muller, my beloved music teacher from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, has been writing books for young adults in his retirement – and they are free! There is a volume of biographies of painters and musicians called Gentle Giants, and an excellent biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., too. They are also a good way to help you improve your English – that’s how I worked on my French, reading books that were meant for young readers – and I guarantee you, it’s a good method for improving your language skills. To get Br. Gerald’s free books, click here.

Independent RFI English Clubs: Be sure to always include Audrey Iattoni (audrey.iattoni@rfi.fr) from our Listener Relations department in your RFI Club correspondence. Remember to copy me (thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr) when you write to her so that I know what is going on, too. N.B.: You do not need to send her your quiz answers! Email overload!

This week’s quiz: On 7 December, I asked you a question about the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which had just begun to hear evidence from 98 countries and 12 organizations about climate change, and how to establish rules for rich nations to support poorer ones, who are on the frontlines of climate change.

It’s a landmark case: brought by students in 2019 from the University of Vanuatu – the Pacific Island nation heavily impacted by climate change – led to a UN General Assembly resolution in 2023, asking the ICJ for a formal opinion on the legal obligations of states to protect the climate system. The court will also consider whether large polluting nations can be held liable for damages to vulnerable countries like small island states.

You were to re-read Paul Myer’s article “Small island nations lead fight for climate justice at UN’s top court”, and send in the answer to this question: In addition to the small island states and developing countries, who else will the ICJ hear from?

The answer is, to quote Paul’s article: “The court will also hear from the United States and China – the world’s top two emitters of greenhouse gases. The oil producer group OPEC will also give its views.

The 15 judges at the ICJ will hear submissions until 13 December and deliver their decision next year.”

In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question, suggested by Liton Ahamed Mia from Naogaon, Bangladesh: What do you remember about your first boat journey, and how did you feel when you were back on land?

Do you have a bonus question idea? Send it to us!

The winners are: Fatematuj Zahra, the co-secretary of the Shetu RFI Listeners Club in Naogaon, Bangladesh. Fatematuj is also this week’s bonus question winner

Congratulations on your double win, Fatematju!

Also on the list of lucky winners this week is A. K. M. Nuruzzaman, the president of the RFI Amour Fan Club in Rajshahi, Bangladesh, and two RFI Listeners Club members from India: Babby Noor al Haya Hussen from Baripada, and Radhakrishna Pillai from Kerala State.

Rounding out the list of this week’s winners is RFI English listener Liton Islam Khondaker from Naogaon, Bangladesh.

Congratulations, winners!

Here’s the music you heard on this week’s programme: Hungarian Folk Dances by Bela Bartok, performed by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra; “Dance With Pennons” from Three Japanese Dances by Bernard Rogers, performed by the Eastman Wind Ensemble conducted by Frederick Fennell; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; “The Cakewalk” from Children’s Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer; “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, and “The Intrepid Fox” by Freddie Hubbard, performed by Hubbard and the Freddie Hubbard Quintet.

Do you have a music request? Send it to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr

This week’s question … you must listen to the show to participate. After you’ve listened to the show, re-read our article “’Exhausted’ Frenchman held in Iran since 2022 reveals identity in plea for help”, which will help you with the answer.

You have until 10 February to enter this week’s quiz; the winners will be announced on the 15 February podcast. When you enter be sure to send your postal address with your answer, and if you have one, your RFI Listeners Club membership number.

Send your answers to:

english.service@rfi.fr

or

Susan Owensby

RFI – The Sound Kitchen

80, rue Camille Desmoulins

92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux

France

Click here to learn how to win a special Sound Kitchen prize.

Click here to find out how you can become a member of the RFI Listeners Club, or form your own official RFI Club.   

The often fraught relations between France and its former colony Algeria have hit an all-time low after a series of disagreements over Western Sahara, the detention of a French-Algerian writer and an Algerian blogger accused of inciting violence. Both countries have spoken of “humiliation” and “dishonour”. Arab world specialist  Adlene Mohammedi talks about bilateral relations being polluted by internal affairs – notably Algiers’ lack of democratic legitimacy and the increasing influence of the far right in France. And while the sorely needed level-headed diplomacy  is more needed than ever, it’s been run down in both countries.   (Listen @2’05”)

France’s remarkable geological diversity means the country is prime dinosaur territory – home to fossils from all three periods of the dinosaur age.  The first dinosaurs were discovered in France in the 19th century, but as paleontologist Eric Buffetaut explains, many of the major finds have been in the last 40 years, thanks to amateur paleontologists around the country. (Listen @21’25”)

France enacted a law decriminalising abortion on 17 January 1975. Ollia Horton talks about the legacy of that right and how despite being  enshrined in the constitution, access 50 years later is still not guaranteed. (Listen @14’40”)

Episode mixed by Cecile Pompeani. 

Spotlight on France is a podcast from Radio France International. Find us on rfienglish.com, Apple podcasts (link here), Spotify (link here) or your favourite podcast app (pod.link/1573769878).

Syrian refugee Hasan Sallouraoglu and his family have carved out a new life in Istanbul with a thriving pastry shop in Istanbul‘s Sultanbeyli district, home to around 60,000 Syrians.

With Assad gone, the question of whether to return to Syria now looms. “It’s been 10 years, and my shop has been open for the last eight years. We can start a shop there in Syria, too,” explained Sallouraoglu.

However, Sallouraoglu, with an ironic smile, acknowledges returning to Syria is a hard sell for his family. “There is not much excitement in my family. We see the news and we see that our country is completely destroyed on the ground. Ninety percent of it has been destroyed, so we need time to think,” said Sallouraoglu.

Across the road from Sallouraoglu’s pastry shop, the owner of a clothes shop, Emel Denyal, is considering returning to her home in Aleppo but says such a move could mean breaking up her family.

Nostalgia

“We are all thinking about returning. But the children aren’t interested. They love being here. They want to stay here,” said Denyal.

 ‘We still feel nostalgic for our land. We are still missing Syria because we were raised in Syria,” added Denyal, “The Syrian generation growing up in Turkey doesn’t think about going back. The elderly and my husband are considering returning, but my children aren’t. Can we find a solution?”

Since Assad fled Syria, Turkish authorities claim about 35,000 Syrians out of the nearly four million living in Turkey have gone home.

The Refugee Association in Sutlanebeyli provides assistance to some of Istanbul’s 600,000 Syrian refugees. Social welfare director Kadri Gungorur says the initial euphoria over Assad’s ousting is making way to a more pragmatic outlook.

“The desire to return was very strong in the first stage but has turned into this: ‘Yes, we will return, but there is no infrastructure, no education system, and no hospitals,’ said Gungorur.

Gungorur says with only 12 families from Sultanbeyli returning to their homes, he worries about the consequences if Syrians don’t return in large numbers. “If the Syrians do not return, the general public may react to the Syrians because now they will say that ‘Syria is safe. Why don’t you return?'”

Over the past year, Turkish cities, including Istanbul, have witnessed outbreaks of violence against Syrians amid growing public hostility towards refugees.

 Turkish authorities have removed Arabic from shop signs in a move aimed at quelling growing resentment made worse by an ailing economy.

Concerns for women

Turkish presidential adviser Mesut Casin of Istanbul’s Yeditepe University claims the government is aware of the Turkish public’s concern.   

“We all saw the civil war in Syria. Four million immigrant people in Turkey and that has brought a lot of problems in Turkey …even criminal actions. There’s also the problem of border security. Turkish public opinion is opposed to the Syrian people today,” said Casin.

Erdogan is promising to facilitate the quick return of Syrian refugees. However, such aspirations could well be dependent on the behaviour of Syria’s new rulers,

“The Syrians you have in Turkey are mostly women and children. So it has to be a government and administration friendly to women and children, specifically women,” says analyst Sezin Oney of the independent Turkish news portal Medyascope. 

“But we don’t know with these, Islamist, jihadist groups. Will they be really friendly towards these othe groups? So I don’t see the return of the Syrians who are in Turkey, really,” added Oney.

Erdogan is pledging that the return of the Syrians will be voluntary. However, analysts suggest more decisive action may be necessary, as the Turkish leader knows if the refugees do not return home quickly, it could have political consequences.

Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound Kitchen weekly podcast, published every Saturday – here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. You’ll hear the winner’s names announced and the week’s quiz question, along with all the other ingredients you’ve grown accustomed to: your letters and essays, “On This Day”, quirky facts and news, interviews, and great music … so be sure and listen every week.

WORLD RADIO DAY is coming up – it’s on 13 February. As we do every year, we’ll have a feast in The Sound Kitchen, filled with your voices.

Send your SHORT recorded WRD greetings to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr by 1 February. This year’s theme is “Radio and Climate Change”, but you don’t have to talk about the theme – if you just want to say “hello!”, that’s fine, too.

Be sure you include your name and where you live in your message.

Most importantly, get under a blanket to record. This will make your recording broadcast quality.

Bombard me with your greetings!!!!

The RFI English team is pleased to announce that Saleem Akhtar Chadhar, the president of the RFI Seven Stars Listening Club in District Chiniot, Pakistan, won the RFI / Planète Radio ePOP video contest, in the RFI Clubs category. Bravo Saleem! Mubarak ho!

Erwan and I are busy cooking up special shows with your music requests, so get them in! Send your music requests to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr  Tell us why you like the piece of music, too – it makes it more interesting for us all!

Facebook: Be sure to send your photos to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr for the RFI English Listeners Forum banner!

More tech news: Did you know we have a YouTube channel? Just go to YouTube and write “RFI English” in the search bar, and there we are! Be sure to subscribe to see all our videos.

Would you like to learn French? RFI is here to help you!

Our website “Le Français facile avec RFI” has news broadcasts in slow, simple French, as well as bilingual radio dramas (with real actors!) and exercises to practice what you have heard.

Go to our website and get started! At the top of the page, click on “Test level”. According to your score, you’ll be counselled to the best-suited activities for your level.

Do not give up! As Lidwien van Dixhoorn, the head of “Le Français facile” service told me: “Bathe your ears in the sound of the language, and eventually, you’ll get it.” She should know – Lidwien is Dutch and came to France hardly able to say “bonjour” and now she heads this key RFI department – so stick with it!

Be sure you check out our wonderful podcasts!

In addition to the news articles on our site, with in-depth analysis of current affairs in France and across the globe, we have several podcasts that will leave you hungry for more.

There’s Spotlight on France, Spotlight on Africa, The International Report, and of course, The Sound Kitchen. We also have an award-winning bilingual series – an old-time radio show, with actors (!) to help you learn French, called Les voisins du 12 bis. 

Remember, podcasts are radio, too! As you see, sound is still quite present in the RFI English service. Please keep checking our website for updates on the latest from our journalists. You never know what we’ll surprise you with!

To listen to our podcasts from your PC, go to our website; you’ll see “Podcasts” at the top of the page. You can either listen directly or subscribe and receive them directly on your mobile phone.

To listen to our podcasts from your mobile phone, slide through the tabs just under the lead article (the first tab is “Headline News”) until you see “Podcasts”, and choose your show. 

Teachers take note! I save postcards and stamps from all over the world to send to you for your students. If you would like stamps and postcards for your students, just write and let me know. The address is english.service@rfi.fr  If you would like to donate stamps and postcards, feel free! Our address is listed below. 

Another idea for your students: Br. Gerald Muller, my beloved music teacher from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, has been writing books for young adults in his retirement – and they are free! There is a volume of biographies of painters and musicians called Gentle Giants, and an excellent biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., too. They are also a good way to help you improve your English – that’s how I worked on my French, reading books that were meant for young readers – and I guarantee you, it’s a good method for improving your language skills. To get Br. Gerald’s free books, click here.

Independent RFI English Clubs: Be sure to always include Audrey Iattoni (audrey.iattoni@rfi.fr) from our Listener Relations department in your RFI Club correspondence. Remember to copy me (thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr) when you write to her so that I know what is going on, too. N.B.: You do not need to send her your quiz answers! Email overload!

This week’s quiz: On the 23rd of November, I asked you a question about the legislative elections in Senegal, which were won by a comfortable margin by Pastef, the ruling party.

The win came just a few months after President Bassirou Diomaye Faye secured the presidency, pledging economic transformation, social justice, and a fight against corruption, so now the way is cleared for Faye and Pastef to carry out ambitious reforms. May they succeed!

You were to re-read our article “Senegal’s ruling Pastef party on track to get large majority in elections”, and send in the answer to these questions: How many registered voters are there in Senegal, how many members are there in the Parliament, and for how long do those MPs serve?

The answer is, to quote our article: “Senegal’s roughly 7.3 million registered voters were called to elect 165 MPs for five-year terms.”

In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question: “What is the best thing to wake up to?”

Do you have a bonus question idea? Send it to us!

The winners are: RFI Listeners Club member Kashif Khalil from Faisalabad, Pakistan, who is also this week’s bonus question winner.

Congratulations on your double win, Kashif!

Also on the list of lucky winners this week are Nafisa Khatun, the president of the RFI Mahila Shrota Sangha Club in West Bengal, India, and Nahid Hossen, a member of the Shetu RFI Listeners Club in Naogaon, Bangladesh. There’s RFI Listeners Club member Sunil Dhungana from Braga, Portugal, and last but not least, RFI English listener Renu Sharma from Rajasthan, India.

Congratulations, winners!

Here’s the music you heard on this week’s programme: Slavonic Dance op. 46 No. 6 by Antonin Dvorak, performed by the Cleveland Orchestra conducted by George Szell; “Jarabi”, written and performed by Toumani Diabaté and Sidiki Diabaté; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; “The Cakewalk” from Children’s Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer, and “La Musette” by Léojac and René Flouron, performed by Berthe Sylva with the Orchestre des Concerts Parisiens conducted by André Cadou.

Do you have a music request? Send it to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr

This week’s question … you must listen to the show to participate. After you’ve listened to the show, re-read Melissa Chemam’s article “France’s ex-president Sarkozy on trial over alleged Gaddafi pact”, which will help you with the answer.

You have until 3 February to enter this week’s quiz; the winners will be announced on the 8 February podcast. When you enter be sure to send your postal address with your answer, and if you have one, your RFI Listeners Club membership number.

Send your answers to:

english.service@rfi.fr

or

Susan Owensby

RFI – The Sound Kitchen

80, rue Camille Desmoulins

92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux

France

Click here to learn how to win a special Sound Kitchen prize.

Click here to find out how you can become a member of the RFI Listeners Club, or form your own official RFI Club.   

Madhya Pradesh is often referred to as the Heart of India. Located right in the middle of the country, the Indian region shows everything India has to offer through its abundant diversity. The IFTM trade show, which took place in Paris at the end of September, presented the perfect opportunity for travel enthusiasts to discover the region.

Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Managing Director of Madhya Pradesh’s tourism board, sat down to explain his approach to sustainable tourism.

“Post-covid the whole world has known a shift in their approach when it comes to tourism. And all those discerning travelers want to have different kinds of experiences: something offbeat, something new, something which has not been explored before.”

Through its UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Shukla wants to showcase the deep history Madhya Pradesh has to offer.

“UNESCO is very actively supporting us and three of our sites are already World Heritage Sites. Sanchi is a very famous buddhist spiritual destination, Bhimbetka is a place where prehistoric rock shelters are still preserved, and Khajuraho is home to thousand year old temples with magnificent architecture.”

All in all, Shukla believes that there’s only one way forward for the industry: “Travelers must take sustainable tourism as a paradigm in order to take tourism to the next level.”

In partnership with Madhya Pradesh’s tourism board.

Also known as the Land of the Beautiful Islands, Malaysia’s landscape and cultural diversity is almost unmatched on the planet. Those qualities were all put on display at the Malaysian stand during the IFTM trade show.

Libra Hanif, director of Tourism Malaysia, explained the appeal of the country as well as the importance of promoting sustainable tourism today: “Sustainable travel is a major trend now, with the changes that are happening post-covid. People want to get close to nature, to get close to people. So Malaysia being a multicultural and diverse [country] with a lot of natural environments, we felt that it’s a good thing for us to promote Malaysia.”

Malaysia has also gained fame in recent years, through its numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which include Kinabalu Park and the Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley.

Green mobility has also become an integral part of tourism in Malaysia, with an increasing number of people using bikes to discover the country: “If you are a little more adventurous, we have the mountain back trails where you can cut across gazetted trails to see the natural attractions and the wildlife that we have in Malaysia,” says Hanif. “If you are not that adventurous, you’ll be looking for relaxing cycling. We also have countryside spots, where you can see all the scenery in a relaxing session.”

With more than 25,000 visitors at this IFTM trade show this year, Malaysia’s tourism board got to showcase the best the country and its people have to offer.

In partnership with Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board. For more information about Malaysia, click here.