The head of state will arrive at the Louvre on Tuesday afternoon, the Elysee said in a statement.

“The Louvre is a symbol of France, it is a source of French pride,” a presidential official, who asked not to be named, told AFP.

“It would be wrong to remain deaf and blind to the risks affecting the museum today.”

Unlike most other Paris museums, which are closed every Monday, the Louvre is shut on Tuesday, meaning the president will not cross paths with the general public on his visit.

‘Poor condition’

The move was announced after it emerged this week that Laurence des Cars, the first woman head of the French landmark, had written a memo about her concerns to Culture Minister Rachida Dati earlier this month.

She warned about the “proliferation of damage in museum spaces, some of which are in very poor condition.

Louvre plagued by leaks and crumbling infrastructure, museum boss warns

Furthermore, some areas “are no longer watertight, while others experience significant temperature variations, endangering the preservation of artworks”, she added.

Despite the French government’s budget problems and the imminent closure of the Pompidou museum for renovations, des Cars said the Louvre required an overhaul that would likely be costly and technically complicated.

Double the crowds

A total of 8.7 million people visited its famed galleries last year – around twice the number it was designed for.

Des Cars expressed concern about the quality of the user experience.

The Mona Lisa, the most popular attraction in the museum, is displayed in its largest room, which frequently has long queues.

The memo stressed the need to “reassess” how Leonardo da Vinci‘s masterpiece is presented to the public. Des Cars said last year that it needed its own dedicated area.

Some 17,000 people are imprisoned in France for drug trafficking and organised crime offences.

The transfer of those deemed most dangerous will begin in March, with the renovated facility set to open by 31 July, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said on Wednesday.

Two more similar facilities are planned over the next two years.

“We are going to take a French prison, we will empty it… secure it with specially trained prison officers, and once isolated, we will put in the 100 biggest narco-traffickers,” Darmanin told Le Monde newspaper.

Darmanin said the inmates would be held in “an inviolable detention facility” where it will be “absolutely impossible” for them to receive phones or drugs, threaten officers, or communicate with the outside world.

The location of the facility has not been disclosed, but Darmanin stressed its goal: to stop inmates from orchestrating crimes from behind bars.

“What is unbearable is that prisons are no longer obstacles for most drug traffickers to continue their trafficking, assassinate, or threaten magistrates, prison officers, journalists, or lawyers,” he said.

French police hunt killers behind prison van ambush

Mixed reaction

The announcement has divided opinion.

The main prison unions expressed satisfaction. “It corresponds to a demand, we’ve been advocating for the creation of specialised establishments for 30 years,” said Wilfried Fonck, national secretary of the justice branch of Ufap-Unsa union.

But left-wing unions have voiced concerns.

“It looks more like a pressure cooker,” Samuel Gauthier, the general secretary of the CGT Penitentiary Union, told RFI.

“Grouping individuals involved in similar crimes into one single structure is, in our view, complicated in terms of management and will put the staff in difficult situations when dealing with this type of individual.”

Advocates of prison reform are also sceptical.

“What appears to be an innovation is, in fact, a revival of a concept abandoned in the 1980s: high-security quarters” Matthieu Quinquis, a lawyer from the International Prison Observatory, told RFI.

“They were discarded for a reason. The conditions there were a violation of the rights of detainees.”

Prisons for drug-traffickers already exist in other parts of the world, particularly in South America. But Quinquis said they were not a model to follow.

“France would be in violation of all the values and principles that we have agreed to in the European Convention on Human Rights and several UN pacts,” he said, citing “isolation, the crushing of individuals, and the negation of their rights”.

Billion-euro industry

France’s drug trade is a billion-euro industry, generating an estimated €3 to €6 billion annually, according to a parliamentary report.

The justice ministry has allocated €4 million to the new facility, which Darmanin said can be implemented without special legislation.

Earlier this week, Darmanin travelled to the United Arab Emirates to request the extradition of 27 individuals suspected of drug trafficking.

Assoumani was elected president for a third consecutive term a year ago, following a disputed election in which his opponents made accusations of voter fraud.

He cannot run again in 2029, but has already begun preparing his succession, telling his supporters on Thursday that when the time comes for him to leave power, “I will place my son to replace me as head of the state and the party”.

Last October he put his son El Fath in charge of coordinating government affairs and granted him sweeping powers over the cabinet.

“Azali has handed his son presidential and constitutional prerogatives,” Said Larifou, a lawyer and politician in exile, told RFI at the time. “He has clearly concentrated all the powers and governance of the Comoros to his family.”

Comoros President sworn in for fourth term after disputed poll

El Fath has yet to respond to the latest announcement, but previously said that Comoros – a group of three islands in the Indian Ocean, off East Africa – is not a monarchy.

Assoumani’s ruling party decisively won parliamentary elections this month, however only 16 percent of registered voters turned out after opposition parties called for a boycott.

“With this statement, he has simply made official what we already knew,” said Abdallah Mohamed Daoudou, a spokesperson for the opposition coalition.

“But Azali is deluding himself, the Comorian people and politicians will not accept the installation of a dynastic power or a monarchy in the Comoros,” he told Reuters news agency.

Broad powers given to Comoros leader’s son fuels fears of dynastic control

Constitutional reform

Comoros has a population of around 860,000. The most recent World Bank report on the country found 45 percent of the population were living just below the national poverty line.

The archipelago has witnessed around 20 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France through a referendum in 1974.

Assoumani first came to power in 1999 through a coup and has won four elections since 2002. He left politics in 2006, but made a comeback with a presidential win in 2016.

Constitutional reforms in 2018 extended a requirement that the presidency rotate among the three main islands from every five years to 10.

El Fath would therefore not be eligible to replace his father at the end of the presidential term in 2029 without another change to the constitution.

Why are people being driven from the postcard paradise of the Comoros?

(with Reuters)

Serge Atlaoui, who was jailed in Indonesia in 2005, will return to France on 4 February, Law and Human Rights Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra announced.

Atlaoui, a 51-year-old father of four, was arrested near Jakarta in 2005 in a secret laboratory capable of producing 100kg of ecstasy per week. He was working there as a chemist.

He was sentenced to death two years later – the only one of the nine arrested to receive the death sentence.

Atlaoui has long maintained his innocence, saying he thought he was working in an acrylics factory.

In 2015, Atlaoui was about to be executed with seven other foreign prisoners but was granted a last-minute reprieve after Paris stepped up pressure. An Indonesian court then rejected his appeal against the death sentence, leaving him with no other legal options.

Yusril will sign the repatriation agreement with the French Minister of Justice Gerald Darmanin via video teleconference on Friday, said Yusril.

Atlaoui is suffering from an illness and receives weekly treatment at a hospital.

Paris submitted an official request for his transfer last month.

Indonesian court rejects French man’s appeal against death sentence

Fate in France to be decided

France has agreed several terms proposed by Indonesia, Yusril said, including respecting the Indonesian court ruling over Atlaoui.

“After the transfer, all depends on the French government, whether they want to give him clemency or giving sentences according to the French law,” he added.

Based on French law, the maximum punishment for a similar case is 30 years in jail.

In 2019, an Indonesian court commuted the death sentence for another Frenchman convicted of drug smuggling, to 19 years. The French foreign ministry had expressed its concern when he was convicted, reiterating France’s opposition to the death penalty.

Indonesia has some of the world’s toughest drug laws and has executed foreigners in the past.

At least 530 people were on death row in the Southeast Asian nation, mostly for drug-related crimes, according to data from rights group KontraS, citing official figures.

Indonesia’s Immigration and Corrections Ministry said more than 90 foreigners were on death row, all on drug charges, as of early November.

In recent weeks it has released half a dozen high-profile detainees, including a Filipina mum on death row and the last five members of the so-called “Bali Nine” drug ring.   

(with newswires)

Rodrigues bought two tickets at 400 euros apiece as a present for her husband’s 33rd last June.

“The seats are quite high up in the arena and not exactly the best,” said the 34-year-old nurse. “But it’s cheaper than going to America to watch a game,” Macedo smiled as they prepared to attend their first NBA game.

“Neither the Pacers nor the Spurs are my team,” said Macedo. “Kobe Bryant was my idol. I’m from kind of an older generation. The Spurs are a side with lots of young players.”

One of them, Victor Wembanyama, has dominated the prelude to the clashes on Thursday and Saturday at the Accor Arena in Bercy, south-eastern Paris.

The 21-year-old grew up in Le Chesnay, some 17 kilometres west of Paris, and turned out for the club Nanterre 92 in north-western Paris between 2014 and 2021 before before moving to ASVEL Lyon-Villurbanne.

He went to the Spurs in 2023 as the top young recruit.

The Spurs have returned with the Pacers to play two regular season games as part of the NBA’s international drive to boost the popularity of its teams.

Mexico has hosted pre-season and regular season NBA games for more than 30 years. NBA superstars have also played in Britain and Japan. France has been staging games since 2020.

Star return

On Monday, shortly after jetting in from the United States, Wembanyama limbered up with his teammates on his old stomping ground at the Palais des sports Maurice-Thorez in Nanterre.

He was the star turn the following day at the inauguration of two basketball courts in his home town.

“There is a bit too much about Wembanyama,” said Macedo on Thursday evening. “He is just starting out and has lots to learn. Everybody is expecting him to do big games all the time. I’m here to see the Spurs’ old stars like Chris Paul.”

Fatima Boudlali confessed she was heading to the game simply for the ambiance.

“I saw an NBA game in Los Angeles just over a year ago. I like it when everyone supports a team, when there’s a buzz. I love it.”

Flanked by Adime Toukourou, a pal from her college days, the 23-year-old happily declared: “I really don’t know anything about basketball, I just know that there are four quarters.”

Boudlali’s original plan had been to go with her boyfriend. “But we broke up,” she explained. “But I still wanted to go to the game. I thought of asking Adime because he’s never been to an NBA game and he’s mad about basketball.”

Passion

“Absolutely adore it,” beamed the 24-year-old. “I played for several years but I got an injury. I used to watch it on TV but with the time difference between France and the United States, it was a bit complicated but I watch when I can.”

His allegiances, he said, had switched from the Oklahoma City Thunder to Lebron James and his LA Lakers as well as the Phoenix Suns.

“I’m not particularly here to see Wembanyama,” he added. “But of course I’m interested because he is a rising star and French.”

Just before the game started, Wembanyama and the Pacers’ Bennedict Mathurin thanked the 16,000 fans for coming to the game.

“It’s an immense pleasure to be here in Paris,” added Wembanyama to raucous cheers. “I hope you have a lot of fun at the game.”

With the local lad in the line-up, every point of the Spurs was acclaimed boisterously. The decibels rose further when the returning son was the author.

Spurs win

In a nod to munificence, grudging cheers accompanied points for the Pacers who were level pegging with the Spurs until they took a double digit lead mid-way through the third quarter.

The Spurs went into the final 12 minutes leading 105-80.

Just before he departed the fray, Wembanyama threw the ball up against the board behind the hoop, caught the rebound and slammed it into the basket. Each replay of the exploit on the giant screens was gleefully greeted.

With an array of former NBA stars such as Tony Parker, Pau Gasol and Boris Diaw duly dusted off and sent out to soak up the applause and love, the game ended 140-110 to the Spurs.

Wembanyama, boasting personal statistics of 30 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and five blocks was accordingly anointed the man of the match for a performance that brought praise from Spurs coach Mitch Johnson and his Pacers counterpart Rick Carlisle.

“The Spurs played a great game,” said Carlisle. “Victor is a great player. France should be very proud. He’s one of a kind. It’s just breathtaking the things that he does.” 

When he carried out the attack, 29-year-old Zaheer Mahmood wrongly believed the satirical newspaper was still based in the building, which was targeted by Islamists a decade ago for publishing cartoons lampooning the Prophet Mohammed.

In fact, Charlie Hebdo had moved in the wake of the storming of its offices by two Al-Qaeda-linked masked gunmen, who killed 12 people including eight of the paper’s editorial staff.

The killings in January 2015 shocked France and triggered a fierce debate about freedom of expression and religion, fuelling an outpouring of sympathy in France expressed in a wave of “Je Suis Charlie” (“I Am Charlie”) solidarity.

Radicalised

Originally from rural Pakistan, Mahmood arrived in France illegally in the summer of 2019.

The court had earlier heard how Mahmood was influenced by radical Pakistani preacher Khadim Hussain Rizvi, who had called for the beheading of blasphemers.

Mahmood was convicted of attempted murder and terrorist conspiracy and he will be banned from France when his sentence is served.

The 2015 bloodshed, which included a separate but linked hostage-taking that claimed another four lives at a Jewish supermarket in eastern Paris, marked the start of a dark period for France.

In the years that followed extremists inspired by Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group repeatedly mounted attacks, setting the country on edge and inflaming religious tensions.

Jewish leaders warn of rising hate as France remembers supermarket victims

‘Avenge the Prophet’

To mark the opening of the trial into the 2015 massacre, Charlie Hebdo republished its cartoons of Mohammed on 2 September, 2020.

Later that month, urged by the extremist preacher to “avenge the Prophet”,  Mahmood arrived in front of Charlie Hebdo‘s former address.

Armed with a butcher’s cleaver, he gravely wounded two employees of the Premieres Lignes news agency.

Throughout the trial, his defence argued that his actions were the result of a profound disconnect he felt from France, given his upbringing in the fervently Muslim Pakistan countryside.

“In his head he had never left Pakistan,” Mahmood’s defence lawyer Alberic de Gayardon said on Wednesday, conceding that “each of his blows aimed to kill”.

“He does not speak French, he lives with Pakistanis, he works for Pakistanis,” Gayardon added.

‘I saved human beings’, says Muslim man who hid Jews in Paris siege

Angry protests

Charlie Hebdo‘s decision in 2020 to republish the Mohammed lampoons triggered a wave of angry demonstrations in Pakistan, where blasphemy is punishable by death.

Five other Pakistani men, some of whom were minors at the time, were on trial alongside Mahmood on terrorist conspiracy charges for having supported and encouraged his actions.

The French capital’s special court for minors handed Mahmood’s co-defendants sentences of between three and 12 years.

None of the six in the dock reacted to the verdict.

Both victims were present at the sentencing, but did not wish to comment on the trial’s outcome.

Earlier in the trial one of the two, alias Paul, told the court of the long rehabilitation he undertook after his near-death experience.

“It broke something within me,” the 37-year-old said.

Neither he nor the other victim, named only as Helene, 32, have accepted Mahmood’s pleas for forgiveness.

Mahmood’s lawyers have yet to indicate whether their client will appeal the verdict.

The legislation, which would legalise assisted dying and improve palliative care, followed years of public consultation including a citizens’ convention that recommended comprehensive changes to both areas.

The original single bill reached parliament in early 2024 but stalled when the National Assembly was dissolved in June.

Bayrou, a devout Catholic, now wants to separate the two issues into distinct laws, a move that has exposed divisions both within parliament and the governing coalition.

Mounting criticism

“This is a way of abandoning the project to legalise assisted dying,” said left-wing lawmaker Éric Coquerel.

The move has drawn particular anger from opposition parties who see it as a tactical maneuver rather than a genuine attempt at reform.

“We know François Bayrou’s convictions on this subject. The position of a minority prime minister in a very precarious political context cannot be imposed on the National Assembly,” said Socialist MP Jérôme Guedj.

French lawmakers open tense two-week debate on assisted dying

Even within the government coalition, the plan has caused unease. Former minister Prisca Thevenot questioned the change.

“I was minister when the bill was presented as a single block. Perhaps we should also respect this desire, which is not just the will of some people but of a citizens’ convention, with citizens who worked on it for several months,” Thevenot said.

Right-wing backing

However, conservative politicians have welcomed splitting the legislation.

“The aspect everyone agrees on is the need to strengthen palliative care. On the rest, there are debates,” said Éric Ciotti from the Union of the Right for the Republic – a party aligned with the far-right National Rally.

Meanwhile government spokesperson Sophie Prima underlined assisted dying reforms would not be abandoned.

“This issue will be on the agenda as soon as possible. It’s a question of parliamentary votes on subjects that are distinct in nature,” she said.

Sources close to Bayrou said both palliative care and assisted dying would be examined in the “same parliamentary timeframe”, though no specific schedule was provided.

The lack of a clear schedule has fuelled concerns among critics that assisted dying reforms could face lengthy delays.

“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)

“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. 

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)

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.