Steve Borthwick’s side went into the game against the French with two wins in eight games – both of those against Japan last July and November. 

France entered on a high following November wins over Argentina, Japan and New Zealand as well as a 43-0 annihilation of Wales at the Stade de France on 31 January.

And Louis Bielle-Biarrey opened the scoring to give France the lead their play deserved. But by half-time, the sides were level at 7-7.

In the second half, Thomas Ramos kicked two penalties to give France a 13-7 advantage.

But the visitors, who smashed England 53-10 in March 2023 for their biggest win over their rivals in 117 years, could not surge away. Tommy Freeman’s try brought England to 13-12 after 58 minutes.

Three minutes later, Bielle-Biarrey set up Damian Penaud for his 37th try for France in 54 games and, more importantly for Fabien Galthié’s men, an 18-12 lead.

It went frenetic in the last 10 minutes

Riposte

To the delight of the partisans, Fin Baxter went over the line and fly-half Fin Smith, taking over kicking duties from Marcus Smith, converted the try to give England the lead for the first time at 19-18.

Bielle-Biarrey’s second score of the game looked to have settle proceedings at 25-19 but with the clock nearing full-time, Fin Smith set up Elliot Daly to bundle his way through the despairing tackle of France skipper Antoine Dupont and over the line.

Fin Smith added the two points to complete a remarkable victory and cap an astounding debut in the starting line-up.

“I felt like a rabbit in the headlights in the first half,” he conceded. “But I found my feet in the end and I am delighted with the win more than anything. But this is cool for a first start anyway.

“We have lost plenty of games and luckily this one went our way. It was far from perfect but the group fought for it.”

Smith’s skipper, Maro Itoje, concurred. “One thing I love is that we’ll fight for each other and we are going to believe in each other,” he told the British broadcaster ITV.

“For large parts of the game we weren’t as accurate as we wanted to be. But we were brave – that’s the foundation of what we want to be doing going forward. I am delighted for this team, for the fans.”

Dupont rued his side’s profligacy. “We should have scored more,” he lamented. “It’s a big disappointment but the championship is not over.”

Slump

In Rome, Wales continued their worst losing streak in their 144-year history when Italy beat them 22-15 at the Stadio Olimpico.

Warren Gatland, who has presided over the grim tally of 14 defeats on the trot, said: “Probably when you’re under pressure some of your decision-making goes a little bit off-cue in terms of making sure that you’re accurate.

“You’ve just got to keep working hard and know that at some stage, things are going to click and you’re going to get that bounce back, you’re going to get that call or decision that goes your way.”

Wales next take on defending champions Ireland on 22 February while Italy host France the next day.

England return to action in a fortnight when they entertain Scotland who play on 9 February against Ireland at Murrayfield in Edinburgh.

France is hoping the summit, to be attended by world leaders as well as tech experts, will reinforce its leading European position, in a battle that is for now largely being played out between the US and China.

The country also hopes to stoke public interest in real-world uses of artificial intelligence (AI). The French Cultural Ministry has put together a weekend programme of events in Paris, ahead of the summit, for the public to learn about the use of AI in various arenas such as art, cinema, history and music.

For law professor Alexandra Bensamoun, it’s vital for France to keep abreast of the latest developments in AI, regardless of the sector. “I believe that we must get on the AI ​​train, we must not stand on the platform and watch it go by,” she said.

Bensamoun is among the guest speakers at a discussion being held at the National Library of France, focusing on AI’s place in the cultural domain. She is part of a special task force informing the government on a legal framework for AI, at both a French and a European level.

Paris hosts AI summit, with spotlight on innovation, regulation, creativity

One of the biggest challenges artists face in the age of AI is having their work re-used or copied by AI tools and applications, without being properly credited – or indeed paid.

As an advisory member of a national committee set up by the Culture Ministry (CSPLA), she is dedicated to finding a suitable legal framework to protect intellectual property in creative fields.

Her role is to “reconcile” the growth potential of AI while remaining “consistent with European values”.

‘Fundamentally human’

For Bensamoun, AI is an important tool, but it should be viewed as just that: a tool, to be used by humans, rather than something that replaces human endeavour.

Artistic and literary creation is “fundamentally human and it is important to recognise the uniqueness of human creation and to protect it,” she said. “The objective is not to ban AI, the objective is to allow the deployment of AI in an ethical environment, in an environment that respects everyone.”

To reach this goal, Bensamoun says two measures related to protecting copyright in cultural fields were included in the European Union’s AI act – published in 2024.

The first states that suppliers of AI programmes must respect author copyright and so-called “neighbouring rights”, which regulate the republication of certain content.

AI steals spotlight from Nobel winners who highlight Its power and risks

The second measure stipulates that AI suppliers must provide the public with “a sufficiently detailed summary of the content which was used for training artificial intelligence models”.

Such transparency at each step of the process, Bensamoun says, is only possible if all players in the AI field sit down and negotiate fair rules from the outset, rather than play catch-up via expensive legal action after the fact.

However, she adds that there are still unchartered waters moving forward, as copyright issues are necessarily inter-connected with other laws covering competition, image rights and the treatment of personal data.

Exploitation and education

Aside from legal questions, the use of AI raises philosophical and ethical debate.

One recent example that garnered media attention was the case of the late actor Alain Dorval, the French “voice” of American action hero Sylvester Stallone.

While Dorval passed away in February of 2024, a company called ElevenLabs used artificial intelligence to recreate his voice in order to dub Stallone’s voice for the trailer of the film Armor, due for a French release in March 2025.

However, as Bensamoun explains, Dorval’s family had only given their consent for simple tests to be done using the actor’s voice, and not for its use for media exploitation. In the end, another actor was hired to dub the full film.

German artist provokes anger after refusing award for AI generated photograph

In the report Bensamoun and other experts submitted to President Emmanuel Macron in 2024, one key recommendation was the importance of education on the use of AI, particularly in times of social and economic upheaval.

“We need to raise awareness, educate about AI. Not everyone is going to use AI, but everyone needs to understand what it is about,” she said.

Macron’s special envoy for AI, Anne Bouverot, with whom Bensamoun collaborated, believes “science can help us think through this revolution” and “understand the societal impacts of AI”.

“AI must not be the source of new divisions,” Bensamoun added.

One thing experts including Bensamoun and Bouverot agree on is that France and Europe will need to invest if they want to remain credible contenders in the AI race.

Recent events “show us that the field is still very open in terms of global competition,” Bouverot told a packed lecture theatre at the Polytechnique engineering school in Paris on Thursday.

Hot on the heels of a US plan for a $500 billion AI investment scheme, France has also announced major investments running into the billions, including for new data centres on its territory.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not hold back on the hospitality when hosting Sharaa, sending one of his presidential jets to fly the new Syrian leader and his large delegation to Ankara.

The Turkish president was keen too to underline the significance of the meeting. “I see today’s historic visit as the beginning of a period of permanent friendship and cooperation between our countries,” he declared in a joint press statement with the Syrian leader.

Erdogan also announced that Turkey’s institutions and ministries are coordinating efforts to help with Syria’s reconstruction.

Sharaa was quick to praise this assistance, saying: “The significant support is still tangible through Turkey’s ongoing efforts to ensure the success of the current leadership in Syria politically and economically, ensuring the independence, unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria.”

Macron calls Syrian leader to discuss transition, terrorism, sanctions

Ties with Turkey

The new Syrian leader developed close ties with Ankara during the years of fighting the Assad regime. The Turkish military protected the Idlib enclave where Sharaa was based, while Turkey offered refuge to many Syrians fleeing the fighting. 

“Ankara will definitely be viewed as a positive outside contributor by these new Syrian rulers because of the fact that we here in Turkey are hosting over 5 million Syrians and that, also, Turkey helped protect Idlib,” said Aydin Selcen, a former senior Turkish diplomat who served in the region, now an analyst for the independent Turkish news outlet Medyascope.

However, Selcen cautions that Ankara should not overestimate its influence when it comes to dictating policy for its Syrian neighbour. “The centre of this Syrian endeavour, of this restructuring or this fresh beginning, will be Damascus. It will not be Doha, it will not be Ankara, it will not be Geneva,” he said.

Erdogan hails Syria leader’s ‘strong commitment’ to fighting terror

‘Islamic background’

While the Syrian and Turkish leaders meeting in Ankara lasted more than three hours and was followed by an exchange of warm words, no concrete announcements came out of it – only vague commitments to cooperation in security and development.

And despite Ankara’s strong support for the Syrian rebels, Syria’s new leader chose to make his first overseas visit as president to Saudi Arabia, one of Turkey’s main rivals in the region.

International relations professor Huseyin Bagci of Ankara’s Middle East Technical University says the Syrian president is sending a message to Ankara.

“He [Sharaa] is an Arab nationalist with an Islamic background, not a Turkish one,” said Bagci. “And that’s why many people expect that in the long run, there will be different opinions on certain regional issues [with Turkey].”

For several years, Saudi and Turkish leaders have been engaged in a competition for influence among Sunni Arab countries. But Ankara is at a disadvantage, with its economy in crisis. Unlike oil-rich Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States, it has little cash to offer to pay for Syria’s rebuilding.

‘Realpolitik’

Sharaa also appears ready to broaden his horizons further as he seeks to rebuild his country. “He has turned out to be such a realpolitik buff. He’s turning and negotiating with almost everyone, including the Russians,” observed Sezin Oney, an international relations commentator for Turkey’s Politikyol news outlet.

“They [Syria] will also be approaching Turkey with their own interests, and whether they’re aligned with Turkey’s interests is another question,” she added.

Turkey’s ongoing military presence in Syria as part of its war against a Kurdish insurgency by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) could become a point of tension between Ankara and Syria’s new rulers, experts predict.

Iran too – like Russia, also a key backer of the ousted Assad regime – is now seeking to reposition itself to reach out to the new Syrian regime.

Russia’s interest in Syria

“There are some pragmatic approaches,” said professor of international relations Bilgehan Alagoz, an Iran expert at Istanbul’s Marmara University. 

“The Iranian authorities have already started to label Assad as a person who didn’t act in accordance with Iran in order to have some new approach towards the new system in Syria.”

Ankara still has cards to play with Syria, being well positioned to offer support in helping to rebuild the country with its expertise in construction, energy and security. But experts warn Turkey faces a battle for influence in Damascus, as Syria seeks to widen its opportunities.

Both presidents were supposed to meet in December in Angola and sign a peace agreement, but the meeting was cancelled. Both parties blamed each other for failed talks as tensions escalated.

A source close to the Congolese presidency said: “From this summit, we expect an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional withdrawal of Rwandan troops and their auxiliaries, the reopening of Goma airport for humanitarian reasons, and the return of the city to the official administration.”

Tina Salama, the spokesperson for Félix Tshisekedi, added, “We also expect severe sanctions against Rwanda.” 

The situation is at a “pivotal moment” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, adding that the conflict “risks engulfing the entire region” and urged the parties to work together for peace.

The rebels seized Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, last week, then on Wednesday took another mining town – Nyabibwe – in the South Kivu province, in a push towards the provincial capital Bukavu, violating the ceasefire they had declared on Tuesday.

Region-wide discussions

Two regional organisations, East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), are organising the summit and have both expressed their desire to hold a joint meeting as soon as possible to align their positions and prevent the risk of a regional escalation.

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni and  Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud are also expected to attend the talks.

For Rwanda, a key issue is the role of the SADC mission in the DRC, according to RFI’s correspondent in Kigali, Lucie Mouillaud. Kigali describes this force as “offensive” and is calling for its withdrawal, along with that of the Burundian troops.

Different visions

But the EAC and the SADC have differing views on solutions to the conflict.

The EAC advocates direct negotiations between the Congolese government and the M23, a solution that Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi has so far refused to consider.

This led him to replace the EAC’s peacekeeping force in the DRC with that of the SADC, which is calling on Rwanda to first withdraw from Congolese territory, as the government in Kinshasa wants.

“We should not have too high expectations,” Sematumba told RFI, for whom simply holding this summit with all the announced participants would already be “a diplomatic success” in itself.

Ongoing fighting

Reports of rebel advance towards Bukavu on Thursday sparked panic in several towns and villages including in Bukavu, where the Catholic university suspended academic activities scheduled for Friday, a statement said.

M23 rebels advance towards second DR Congo regional capital

The rebels, signalling their intent to govern seized areas, assembled hundreds in a Goma stadium to introduce newly appointed administrators and urge a return to work and school.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that hundreds of thousands are displaced in Goma, with former displacement sites north of the city looted, destroyed, or abandoned. He added that healthcare facilities are overwhelmed, and essential services such as schools, water, electricity, and communications are severely disrupted.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Wednesday estimated that at least 2,800 people died in Goma.

 (with newswires)

Bayrou’s call for a national discussion French identity comes in response to comments from Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin who said that the constitution should be changed to end end current citizenship rights granted to people born in France, known as “jus soli” or “right of soil”.

The prime minister said discussion on that topic alone would be “too narrow”, calling instead for a wider debate about citizenship.

“It’s obvious that this question has been fermenting for years,” Bayrou told broadcaster RMC on Friday. 

“What does it mean to be French?” Bayrou said. “What rights does it give you? What duties does it demand of you? What advantages do you get? What do you commit to when you become a member of a national community?”

Bayrou said details of how to organise such a debate needed to be worked out but it should not be “postponed forever”.

French PM in hot water over migrant ‘flooding’ gaffe

Late last month, Bayrou came under heavy criticism for remarks about a feeling of immigrants “flooding” France that he said was growing across the country.

This sparked an outcry from the leftist opposition, and rebukes from centrist allies, after he said that immigration was “a positive” so long as it remained “proportionate” to the size of the population.

But his remarks also drew praise, from some conservative and far-right deputies.

His latest call for a debate on identity and citizenship have been slammed by the Socialist Party, who posted on X that there is no question about birthright in France and they will “defend this founding principle of our Republic”.

Children ‘will be French’

The “jus soli” question has come into sharp focus in French politics recently because of mass immigration into Mayotte – the French overseas territory in the Indian Ocean – from the neighbouring Comoros islands.

After parliament voted on Thursday to restrict that right in Mayotte – but not elsewhere – Darmanin said “jus soli” rights enshrined in the French constitution should come under review entirely.

“Today I would be in favour of French people deciding on this question during the 2027 presidential election, or in a referendum,” Darmanin told the National Assembly.

In Mayotte and Guiana – another French overseas territory in South America – “thousands and thousands of people arrive with the idea that, if they have children there, they will be French,” the minister said.

“All this needs to be reconsidered,” he added.

French government faces no confidence vote as Socialists mull allegiance

Darmanin’s move was backed by immigration hardliners, with Les Republicains boss Laurent Wauquiez saying Mayotte’s restrictions should be extended “to the rest of France’s territory”.

But Education Minister Elisabeth Borne – a former prime minister – rejected her colleague’s initiative, saying “what French people expect from us are acts, and not references to constitutional change in the future”.

Bayrou’s debate initiative itself came in for criticism, with the Le Monde daily accusing the premier of mixing up issues.

“François Bayrou himself has added to the confusion by referring to the [Mayotte] archipelago when raising the question of migration in general,” the paper said in an editorial.

“He has fallen into the double trap of considering Mayotte as a laboratory, and of mixing up immigration policies and ‘national identity’,” Le Monde added.

(With newswires)

The 11th century statue, part of the collection of the National Museum of Cambodia, depicts the Hindu god Vishnu reclining on the ocean of eternity. It was discovered in 1936 by French archaeologist Maurice Glaize, then the curator of Cambodia’s Angkor archaeological site.

In May 2024, the statue arrived in France for technical studies and last November was taken to a laboratory in Nantes for restoration.

Cleaning and conservation

In a room at the Arc’Antique laboratory, the statue sits on a cart. Originally more than five metres tall, only the upper part of the statue remains – the head, both right arms (Vishnu has four arms), and the upper torso, which still measures more than 2.2 metres in length.

The first step is cleaning. White tape marks the areas that need attention. Stéphane Lemoine, a metal specialist, who is involved in the restoration told RFI: “We can already see there is localised encrustation on the corroded surfaces, which trap burial sediment and hinder the overall clarity of the work’s details.

“We can choose to remove these encrustations to varying degrees, especially through mechanical means, in order to try to recover the surface the object had at the time of its abandonment in the mid-15th century..

“At the time, the entire surface of the Vishnu was gilded. Today, it is green because the fine gold leaf – applied with mercury – disappeared very quickly during burial. Some fragments remain, but you have to imagine that this statue, now green, was entirely gilded at the time.”

There was also polychromy on the eyebrows, eyes and moustache, and the statue’s lips would have been red.

‘As symbolic as the Mona Lisa’

The reclining Vishnu masterpiece is unmatched in Khmer art according to Yannick Lintz, president of the Guimet Museum in Paris, where the statue will go on display following its restoration.

“Vishnu, as a figure, was obviously one of the great deities in the religious pantheon of Cambodia and all of south-east Asia, meaning he was spiritually and religiously of great importance. And then, as is often the case in art history, great religious works are also great works of art,” she explained.

Paris museum accused of ‘erasing’ Tibet under pressure from China

“This monumental bronze of the reclining Vishnu, which resided in the middle of the temple known as the Mebon Temple in Angkor, is as symbolic as the Mona Lisa at the Louvre.”

The statue will go on display at the Guimet Museum from 30 April until 8 September as part of an exhibition of Khmer bronzes, after which it will return to its home at the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh.

Speaking in Madrid during an event organised by Spain’s Vox party under the banner “Make Europe Great Again”, Le Pen said that Trump’s election triumph in November gave Europe a chance to change course.

“The election of Donald Trump cannot be analysed solely as a simple changeover in a democratic country,” Le Pen said.

“Nor even just as the patriotic awakening of a nation that would rightly dismiss the forces of decline. We are facing a truly global tipping point.”

She told around 2,000 delegates at the meeting that the EU had left the continent at the margins of technological revolutions in artificial intelligence and other realms.

Le Pen, whose National Rally party emerged from last July’s elections as the third largest force in the Assemblée Nationale, said that it was the European leaders at the gathering via their Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament, who had the best chance of communicating and working with Trump.

“Since Donald Trump’s return to the White House, everyone understands that something has changed,” she said. “The European Union seems to be in a state of stupefaction. We are the only ones that can talk with the new Trump administration,” Le Pen added.

Hungary’s Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, said: “The Trump tornado has changed the world in just a few weeks. Yesterday we were heretics, today we are the majority.”

Tariffs

Italy’s Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini and the Vox president Santiago Abascal downplayed Trump’s threat to slap higher tariffs on European imports. They claimed that the EU’s taxes and regulations were a bigger danger to Europe’s prosperity.

“The great tariff is the Green Deal and the confiscatory taxes of Brussels and socialist governments across Europe,” said Abascal.

Salvini said German electors faced a historic opportunity when they vote on 23 February in a general election. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is running second in the polls behind the centre-right opposition leader Friedrich Merz.

“The engine of Europe has come to a halt in the face of the most disastrous government of the post-war period,” Salvini said of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s administration.

During the opening sessions of the two-day event, each of the speakers touched on the defence of Europe’s borders against illegal immigration.

Last month, data collected by the bloc’s border control agency Frontex, showed that irregular border crossings into the EU fell 38 percent in 2024 to 239,000 – the lowest number registered since 2021 when migration plummeted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Spain’s ruling Socialist Party described the meeting as a clan of ultras. A statement added: “They will not succeed in making their black-and-white vision of the world prevail in this country.”

Despite the Patriots’ aim of uniting Europe’s nationalist conservatives, some of the EU’s most influential groups such as the Italian Brothers of the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni , the AfD and Poland’s Law and Justice party have refused to join them.

The Parisian exhibition, titled Dennis Morris – Music + Life, offers a glimpse into Morris’s black-and-white photographs, capturing the Jamaican and Sikh communities in London’s Hackney during the 1970s, as well as the white working-class, “The Happy Breed”.

Morris’s passion for photography began at an early age – his first photograph was published on the front page of the Daily Mirror when he was just 11. He met Bob Marley in the early 1970s at the age of 16 and went on to capture some of the most iconic images of the reggae legend, both on and off stage.

The photographer who describes himself as always “sharp, stylish and cool” didn’t just capture images, he worked as a stylist for various Jamaican musicians and played a role in transforming Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols into John Lydon for his next venture, Public Image Limited (PiL).

More recently, Morris worked with the band Oasis, drawing comparisons to the Sex Pistols, describing it as “absolute chaos”.

RFI: You had an exhibition at La Fab in Paris last year, and now at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie. What is your connection to Paris?

Dennis Morris: I’ve been and worked in Paris many times. I used to do a lot of work for Rock&folk magazine and I have many connections here. I’ve worked with quite a few French bands such as The Rita Mitsouko, Telephone, FFF.

Paris is a very creative place. It’s a place where I think artists can come to find themselves. You know, sometimes artists reach a point in their career where they are looking for something, a new direction or they feel stagnated.  

Artists will come to Paris to find themselves and then to recreate themselves in that sense.  

And Paris is a beautiful city, architecturally, spiritually in that way.

RFI: At the MEP, there is a dedicated space showcasing your photographs of Bob Marley, both on and off stage. When did you first meet him?

Dennis Morris: The first time I met Bob Marley, it was my last year at school and I was very much into photography and music.

I had read in one of the music papers that he was coming over to do his first tour of England. I decided I wanted to meet him and take some photos of him.

So I went to the first venue he was to play on the tour in London, a place called the Speakeasy Club.

I didn’t go to school that day and went to the club, maybe at 10am in the morning. I didn’t know anything really about the music, how bands operated. I was there at 10am and they didn’t turn up till around 3 or 4pm to do their sound check.

I just waited and waited and eventually he arrived, and I walked up to him and said: “Can I take your picture? He said: “Yeah man, come in.” I went into the club with him, and while they were doing their sound check when they had a break, he was asking me what it was like to be a young black kid in England. And I was asking him about Jamaica.

He really liked me and said: “Would I like to come on the tour?” And I said, yes. So the next day I packed my bag as if I was doing sports and went to the hotel.

In those days, there wasn’t a tour bus. It was a van. And the very famous picture, one of my most iconic images of Bob. I was sitting in the row of seats behind, and he turned round and said: “You ready, Dennis?” And I said, yeah. And took the shot.

It’s become one of my most iconic images.

RFI: Are you a musician yourself? 

Dennis Morris: Yes, I had a stage in my career as a photographer where I decided I wanted to make my own music. A band was formed with Basement Five. 

I was the lead vocalist and very funny story was basically we were like a black punk band. But it was basically my influences from photography was punk and reggae, and I sort of fused the two together. 

It was very difficult for us because no one really understood us… Because we were black, people expected us to play reggae or to play funk or soul, and we weren’t like that at all. 

And so what was really strange about it was at the time our support was U2, we went on to bigger things. But we had a very big following, but we had very bad management. U2 had a brilliant manager. 

RFI: You’ve mentioned overcoming significant challenges in your life to become a photographer.How important is this achievement for you?

Dennis Morris: My ambition as a photographer was to be seen or recognised as one of the great photographers. If I have achieved that, I’m not sure. That’s not for me to say. That’s for the public to say. 

I’m also very grateful for what photography has given me in terms of it’s opened many doors for me. I’ve travelled the world through my photography and my work is recognised worldwide.  

For instance, in Japan, they call me “living legend”. Dennis Morris is a living legend, you know… So I am very proud of what I’ve been able to achieve.  

RFI: What does ‘punk’ mean for you? Are you a punk? 

Dennis Morris: I am a punk. Punk is a state of mind, a way of thinking. It’s not really about the way you dress. 

What punk really means is the ability, the desire to achieve what you want against all the odds, to go against the grain in that sense.

Working with Bob Marley…I learned how to be positive within myself, to recognise myself as a as a black man, as being equal to anyone. I learned my history. And more importantly, it gave me a sense to ground myself. 

With punk, I learned how to kick down the door to take what I want. And through Bob Marley, I learned how to ground myself through spirituality in that sense and positivity. 

► The exhibition Dennis Morris – Music + Life runs until 18 May, 2025 at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris.

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.

RFI English listeners have been very generous with their wonderful graphics for World Radio Day that they have posted on the RFI English Listeners Forum Facebook page – there’s even a World Radio Day quiz from Anand Mohan Bain, the president of the RFI Pariwer Bandhu SWL Club in Chhattisgarh India – so don’t miss out!

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!

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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 11 January, I asked you a question about France’s ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy. That week, Sarkozy’s trial on charges of accepting illegal campaign financing from the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi began.

You were to refer to Melissa Chemam’s article “France’s ex-president Sarkozy on trial over alleged Gaddafi pact”, and send in the answer to this question: What was former French president Nicolas Sarkozy convicted of on 18 December, and what was his penalty?

The answer is, to quote Melissa: “This new trial is starting barely half a month after France’s top appeals court on 18 December rejected Sarkozy’s appeal against a one-year prison sentence for influence peddling, which he is to serve by wearing an electronic tag rather than in jail.”

In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question: “What do you remember about the first time you caught a fish?” It was suggested by Ratna Shanta Shammi from Naogaon, Bangladesh.

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

The winners are: RFI English listener Shahanoaz Akter Ripa, the president of the Sonali Badhan Female Listeners Club in Bogura, Bangladesh. Shahanoaz is also this week’s bonus question winner.

Congratulations Shahanoaz, on your double win !

Also on the list of lucky winners this week are RFI Listeners Club members Mogire Machuki from Kisii, Kenya; Najimuddin, the president of the RFI International DX Radio Listeners Club in West Bengal, India; Nasyr Muhammad from Katsina State, Nigeria, and Hans Verner Lollike from Hedehusenen in Denmark.

Congratulations, winners!

Here’s the music you heard on this week’s programme: “Preparation” from the film The Little Prince, written by Hans Zimmer and Richard Harvey; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; “The Cakewalk” from Children’s Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer, and Histoire de Melody Nelson by Serge Gainsbourg and Jean-Claude Vannier, performed by Serge Gainsbourg and orchestra.  

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 “French PM pushes through budget, faces second no-confidence vote”, which will help you with the answer.

You have until 3 March to enter this week’s quiz; the winners will be announced on the 8 March 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

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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.   

Bringing together the work of 40 international artists, After the End – Cartographies for Another Time seeks to question Western narratives rooted in old colonial systems.

To do this, it offers stories that are new or ancestral, popular or modern, while promoting a better appreciation of the world’s diversity.

The exhibition is curated by the Spanish art historian Manuel Borja-Villel and is organised around artists who explore the diaspora and question our so-called modernity, with the aim of imagining “other worlds beyond the end of time, beyond our own time,” as the team describes it, while highlighting the importance of communities.

Cyclical times, connected areas

Borja-Villel, who was director of the Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid between 2008 and 2023, said he wanted to avoid presenting the artworks in a linear, chronological order.

Instead, he chose to reflect on the Mayan concept of cyclical time, exploring the past, present, and future.

“The exhibition is organised like a loop,” Borja-Villel told RFI. 

“So you have here a junction between two movements. You could go one side or the other. You can choose to go to the end and then go back. And there are many elements that repeat.”

In terms of exhibition spaces, it proposes a dialogue between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, between the Caribbean and the Middle East, and between water and land, he added.

Exhibition celebrates Marseille as ‘gateway to the Global South’

The highlights include Cuba, Guadeloupe, Mexico, the USA, and Brazil on one side, and Morocco, the Canary Islands, and Palestine on the other.

“All those elements are interlinked. Time for us is not progressive, not linear,” Borja-Villel said. “It’s not one sequence that goes into the other, but … a spiral.”

He wanted to show western audiences that they live in terror of what is outside their zone of experience, things that are designated as ‘other’.

“We need somehow to liberate our frame of thinking. And the only way to liberate ourselves of our way of thinking is together with others. So this is more or less what we are proposing here in this exhibition,” he said.

Connecting different parts of world history, and different sides of the globe, the show aims to demonstrate that all these parts are related, and that the border is a colonial structure.

In doing so, the curator aims to challenge colonialist thinking – the notion that some individuals arrive at a so-called “empty” land, and conquer it. If there are people already living there, they regard them as uncivilised.

Multiple conversations

Among the featured artists are Wifredo Lam and Belkis Ayón from Cuba, Olivier Marboeuf from Guadeloupe, and the Algerian painter Baya.

For Nadir Bouhmouch and Soumeya Ait Ahmed, part of the Tizintizwa collective in Casablanca, Morocco, it was an occasion to show their most recent film, on the disappearance of the indigenous people of Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, when  Spanish conquistadors arrived.

“It is a remnant of a trace, of a linguistic trace of a people that lived there before the Spanish came,” Bouhmouch told RFI.

“The people were our distant cousins from 5,000 years ago, who decided to cross the ocean and go to the Canary Islands from what is now Morocco.”

The film shows how the islands on the shores of Africa are connected to the Caribbean and the Americas, through the Spanish conquests.

Finally, Brazilian artists are also featured, as part of the 2025 Brazil’s cultural season in France.

Artistic exchange between Brazil and Angola aims to reclaim colonial ties

The artist Aline Motta presents her film and performance titled Water is a Time Machine. She met Borja-Villel in Brazil at the Sao Paulo Biennial, and he invited her to be part of the exhibition at the gallery which was opened in May 2010 in north-eastern France as a sister museum to its better-known Paris counterpart,

“After The End, for me, can mean many things”, Motta told RFI. “It can be like after the pandemic. It can be after a world that we imagine that doesn’t exist anymore. So, we need new tools. And I think this exhibition can offer some alternatives, to deal with the present moment.”

AFTER THE END CARTOGRAPHIES FOR ANOTHER TIME

Pompidou Centre in Metz,

From 25 January to 1 September 2025 

PSG emerged with the spoils. Their 4-1 victory took them 16 points clear of third-placed Monaco and 13 ahead of Marseille who will attempt to consolidate second place when they play on Sunday night at Angers.

Monaco endured a terrible two minutes early in the opening exchanges. First, Takumi Minamino shot straight at the PSG goalkeeper Gigi Donnarumma with the whole goal at his mercy and then, within seconds of the glaring miss, Donnarumma’s opposite number, Radoslaw Majecki, allowed Vitinha’s free-kick to squeeze into the net at his near post.

But in the 17th minute, Donnarumma was equally negligent. Monaco skipper Denis Zakaria surged into the penalty area and shaped to pass the ball across the box but instead fired in at the near post.

And it was a case of déjà vu for Monaco just after the pause.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who signed from Napoli last month, scored his first goal to give PSG a 2-1 lead in the 54th minute. And three minutes later, Ousmane Dembélé added the third. The 27-year-old France international bagged his brace in stoppage time to complete the rout and notch up his 10th goal in five matches.

“I think we played a very good first-half,” PSG boss Luis Enrique told the club’s TV station. “But in the second-half, it was even better. We created a lot of chances and did a good job to finish them.

“It was good for Khvicha to get his first goal and I hope it is the first of many.”

Champions League

On Tuesday night, PSG play at Brest in the first leg of their play-off tie for a place in the last-16 of European football’s most prestigious competition.

Brest prepared for the Champions League challenge with a 2-0 win at Nantes on Friday night.

Pierre Lees-Melou set up Ludovic Ajorque for the ninth minute opener at the Stade De La Beaujoire and Lees-Melou wrapped up the points in second-half stoppage-time. 

PSG will be favourites to advance from the clash. On 1 February in Ligue 1, Dembélé hit a hat trick and Portugal striker Gonçalo Ramos bagged a brace in a 5-2 win at Brest.

“We’re going to have to be a lot better when we play them in the Champions League,” Brest coach Eric Roy remarked drily after the defeat.

Improvement

Monaco play on Wednesday night against Benfica at the Stade Louis II hoping to reach the last-16 of the Champions League for the first time since 2017 when they reached the semi-finals. 

“It’s up to us to turn our minds to the Champions League and be ready for Benfica,” Zakaria told the club website after the defeat at PSG.

“It’s a very important match against Benfica and it will be up to us to do things well. We lost against them during the group stages and obviously we want to do better and win. It will be up to us to be perfect because it will not be easy.”

Both Brest and PSG remain on course in the Coupe de France. On Tuesday night, goals in each half from Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola allowed PSG past third tier Le Mans to reach the last eight.

Brest advanced to the quarter finals following a 2-1 win at second division Troyes. Ligue 1 counterparts Lille fared less well. They lost in a penalty shoot-out to second division Dunkerque while Nice went down 2-1 at fourth division Stade Briochin.

The minnows wiil take on PSG on 26 February while Dunkerque will run out at Brest the same evening. The other ties on 25 February pit Angers against Reims and Cannes against Guingamp.

France’s international solidarity mechanism helps finance development projects around the world on everything from health, food, education, water, to human rights and the fight against inequality. Many programmes are angled in favour of women and girls.

While global warming and conflict mean needs are greater than ever, France’s austerity budget for 2025, if passed,  would reduce public development assistance (PDA) by more than €2 billion – close to 40 percent of its annual funding. 

Rolling back development aid

Coordination Sud – a collective representing some 180 French non-profits working on international solidarity programmes – gathered outside the National Assembly last week to protest the cuts.

“We understand everyone has to make an effort” says Elodie Barralon, the group’s advocacy officer, but the cuts are “huge compared to compared to any other public service budget.”

The cuts follow a growing trend worldwide to roll back development aid.

American president Donald Trump has announced that the US  – the world’s largest international aid donor  – is freezing almost all foreign aid.

“We’re in a very difficult context because all countries are stepping back on their commitments, especially at the UN level,” Barralon says. “And now we have very strong opposition, especially over the Atlantic.

“So France stepping back on the budget will create more crises and send the wrong message internationally. In terms of political commitments, we’re tapping into the wrong budget.”

Global aid in chaos as Trump proposes to slash funds and dismantle USAID

Listen to a conversation with Elodie Barralon in the Spotlight on France podcast episode #123

Reneging on France’s commitments

Critics say the cuts fly in the face of France’s commitments to international solidarity.

In 2021, France signed into law a pledge to reach the UN’s target of spending 0.7 percent of gross national income (GNI) on aid by 2025.

Only Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg and Sweden achieved that goal in 2023, but France was heading in the right direction devoting 0.55 percent of its GNI in that year.

By 2023, France had become the fifth largest international donor behind the US, Germany, Japan, and the UK, according to the OECD. 

If the proposed cuts go through, France’s contribution will slump to 0.45 percent of GNI. “We’ll go back seven years,” Barralon says.

It would be a blow to France’s image internationally,  Coordination Sud’s president Olivier Bruyeron adds.

“The proposed policy shows France withdrawing into itself, [it’s] an irresponsible abandonment of international solidarity.” 

It’s all the more surprising, he notes, given that during the 2023 global climate finance summit in Paris, “France brought together a whole host of heads of state and high-level leaders to do exactly the opposite, saying public and private funding for international solidarity needed to be stepped up”.

The cuts will also have a major impact on France’s Development Agency (AFD) – a public funded body that grants loans to low income countries. As well as being forced to drop some existing projects, loans will be diverted away from the neediest countries.

“We won’t be able to lend at preferential rates, only to countries capable of taking on debt at certain rates, and therefore probably those that need it least,” says Gilles Maduit, AFD’s Asia coordinator.

“So we’ll certainly have to redirect loans towards emerging countries rather than the least developed countries – those with the least infrastructure and who need the most help to achieve sustainable development objectives.”

He cites the examples of Haiti, countries in the Sahel and small island nations in the Pacific.

France halts development aid to Mali

Development aid to curb migration?

France’s Senate voted the cuts on 16 January, and the 2025 budget was approved in a joint parliamentary committee last Friday.

While the foreign ministry argues that hefty increases to the development aid budget between 2017 and 2022 will allow the cuts to be offset, Max Brisson, a senator with the conservative right Republicans (LR) says savings can be made by choosing beneficiaries more carefully.

“In friendly countries, development aid is essential,” he told RFI, citing Cote d’Ivoire and Benin. “But we should question whether development aid should continue to be directed toward countries that have become adversaries of France, such as China and Algeria.”

Socialist Senator Rachid Temal regrets the impact on all beneficiaries, but also points to “fewer opportunities for French companies operating in these regions”.

Others argue that France’s solidarity policy has to be maintained to help curb migration.

“On the one hand, we want to prevent people from coming, to restrict asylum and migration. On the other, we don’t want to help them stay in their countries and develop their own economies,” noted Green Party Senator Akli Mellouli. “It’s contradictory.”

He cited the French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, which is struggling to cope with a large number of undocumented migrant families from neighbouring Comoros.

“Some political figures talk a lot about reducing illegal immigration to Mayotte. But the Comoros must be developed,” Mellouli argued. “When people want to leave their country, they will.”

Unicef sounds alarm over child poverty in French overseas departments

Shrinking civic space

Coordination Sud is wary of the political debate linking development aid to migration, preferring to find a way out of the financing conundrum.

“We have the solution,” says Barralon, referring to solidarity taxes on airline tickets and financial transactions introduced under rightwing presidents Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy in 2006 and 2012 respectively.

“”They were put in place to support and fund development assistance but [their use] was not specified. According to our estimations, the taxes could raise up to €1.6 billion this year – that’s nearly want they want to cut in the development aid yearly budget.”

NGOs are also concerned over what the budget cuts mean for France’s non-profit sector, which employs around 50,000 staff and many thousands more as volunteers.

“Some of the member organisations of Coordination Sud are already considering redundancy plans in 2025 and perhaps closing down if it goes that far,” Barralon says.

For her, the cuts are “very political”, with the government under pressure from the far-right, anti-immigration National Rally –  the largest single party in parliament.

“These cuts are also in a wider context of shrinking civic space and far-right populist movements having more of a say”, notably pushing for more France-centered politics. Civil society, she says, is no longer seen as “a counter-power and a partner in implementing development aid, but more of a burden and something we have to keep quiet.

“One way of keeping us quiet is to cut the funding.” 

“We were caught off guard. This is a big, big blow for us. No funds from the United States government means 40 percent of our budget gone,” said Donald Makwakwa, executive director of the Family Planning Association of Malawi (FPAM).

“It means that a quarter of our staff had to stop work immediately, thousands of people seeking health care had to be sent back.”

Malawi is one of the numerous countries hard hit by Trump’s decision to slash foreign aid when he took office in January.

The United States is the world’s largest donor, contributing $63 billion (60 billion euros) in 2023. An amount which represents around one percent of its federal budget.

African healthcare at a crossroads after United States pulls WHO funding

“President Trump is no longer going to dole out money with no return for the American people,” the State Department outlined.

Trump ordered all foreign assistance to be paused for 90 days while being reviewed to ensure they align with his America First agenda.

“Every dollar we spend, every program we fund, and every policy we pursue must make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”

An immediate stop-work order fell on 24 January for all recipients of US foreign aid. Exceptions include “life saving humanitarian aid”, emergency food aid and military funding for Israel and Egypt.

“The order said stop everything you are doing globally right now. No matter the human consequences,” former USAID administrator, Samantha Power, told Stephen Colbert on the Late Show in Washington.

“We have stories of kids who were going in for their TB medicine. The first three kids in a long, long line waiting in the hot sun got the TB medicine. Everybody else was told to go home.”

USAID vilified

Last Sunday, Trump said that USAID, the US agency for international development, is “run by radical lunatics and we’re getting them out”.

The Trump administration argues that USAID programmes are “illegal, immoral and wasteful”.

South African tech billionaire, Elon Musk, who heads the department of government efficiency (Doge) – created by Trump to streamline the government – described USAID as “a criminal organisation”, “a viper’s nest of radical left-marxists who hate America”, adding that it is “time for it to die”.

Musk said on 3 February on a live X spaces conversation with US Senator Joni Ernst and Republican politician, Vivek Ramaswamy that USAID has got to go.

“In regard with the USAID, he [Trump] agreed that we should shut it down. I actually checked with him a few times: are you sure?” Musk said on X, adding that the president replied: “Yes!”

Nearly 60 senior executives at USAID were placed on administrative leave effective immediately, on 27 January. They were instructed not to enter USAID premises or access its systems. Hundreds of contractors for agency were fired at the end of January, hundreds more are being furloughed

The administration’s objective is to move what is left of USAID – until recently, an independent agency – into the Department of State so that it is answerable to elected representatives of the public.

On Monday, during a visit to San Salvador, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that he is now the acting director of USAID.

“USAID is involved in programs that run counter to what we’re trying to do in our national strategy with that country or with that region. That cannot continue,” Rubio said.

Pete Marocco, the Department of State’s head of foreign assistance, has been placed in charge and will review all the work done by the agency.

Democrats fight back

Meanwhile, in Washington, Democrats from both Senate and Congress were denied entry to the USAID headquarters. They addressed a crowd of employees and public protesting outside the building on Monday.

“Musk and his acolytes at Doge have thrown the agency into chaos through a concerted campaign of harassment and intimidation of its employees. This is a case of the very worst amongst us attacking the very best of us,” said Congressman Don Beyer.

“What Trump and Musk have done is not only wrong, it is illegal. USAID was established by an act of Congress and can only be disbanded by an act of Congress.”

Established by President John Kennedy in 1961, USAID employs 10,000 people with two thirds stationed outside the US.

In 2023, according to the Congressional Research Service, the agency managed over $40 billion (38 billion euros), providing assistance to some 130 countries, much of it spent on health programmes. The top five recipients were Ukraine, Ethiopia, Jordan, Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia.

USAID’s website has been pulled down and its X account no longer exists.

“There is now so many inventions about USAID. The people doing the distortion have taken down the website where we list all of our programmes and projects. So, it’s not even possible for people to fact-check against this misinformation that is being put out,” Power said.

Effects on the ground

“In many countries where we operate, the US is our only support. In Afghanistan, over nine million people will no longer receive health and protection services,” said Klaus Simoni Pedersen, chief of public funding and financing for the UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency.

“We will have to suspend 600 mobile clinics and immediately terminate the contracts of 1,700 female health workers,” he told RFI.

Funding for UNFPA comes from the US State Department and USAID. In 2024, the US provided an estimated $285 million (272 million euros) to UNFPA, which is17 percent of its total budget.

“We do not have the money to cover the expenses borne by US funds. Very little we can actually do for the women and girls depending on these programmes,” Simoni Pedersen added.

USAID having been reduced to a skeleton agency, it is very challenging for the various organisations to get answers.

“There are few people to talk to, most of them have left or have been sacked,” declared Simoni Pedersen. “So, we don’t clearly know what, for example, the waiver for life saving humanitarian assistance entails. We are, however, sending waiver requests because we consider that our work in preventing maternal deaths is life saving.”

In Malawi, the FPAM family planning had no time to look for alternative solutions because the US decision was so sudden.

“Nobody anticipated the immediate stop-work order or the 90-day foreign aid freeze.,” Makwakwa told RFI.

With no clarity on what the aid suspension entails, he does not know whether the staff currently at home are to be sacked or not, how they are going to be paid while at the same time having to observe the labour laws of Malawi.

Wake-up call for Africa

Kenya’s former president, Uhurru Kenyatta reacted to the American aid freeze while attending the East Africa region global health security summit in Mombasa last week.

“I saw some people the other day crying [because] Trump is not giving us anymore money. Why are you crying? It is not your government, it is not your country! He has no reason to give you anything. You don’t pay taxes in America. This is a wake-up call to say what are we going to do to help ourselves,” Kenyatta said.

He insisted that Trump’s stance was an opportunity for African leaders to support their population and use the continent’s resources for the right things instead of the wrong things.

Serah Melaba, chief impact officer at Nairobi-based NGO, Tiko, said that African governments must and can step in to fill in the gap left by US aid withdrawal.

“They owe it to their citizens,” she told RFI. “This crisis gives us an opportunity to work with our governments and rethink co-financing. We need to think outside the box.

“Either we put the money together and re-think how we can finance domestically or risk millions of girls becoming pregnant before the age of 18, continuous rise in HIV infection and rampant sexual violence.”

Tiko is not impacted by Trump’s foreign aid policy as it is does not receive funds from the US government.

Tiko works in Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Nigeria in providing sexual and reproductive health services to more than one million marginalised girls.

Europe’s response

“We are happy to note that France has been a champion of our work and we hope that we can continue to rely on its support,” Simoni Pedersen said.

“The United Nations member states attending UNFPA’s executive board meeting, last Friday, came out in full force to express their support.”

However, Europe’s political and economic landscape has changed since Trump’s first mandate in 2017.

Last year, the right-wing government in the Netherlands announced that it will cut development aid by more than two thirds. Germany will cut its humanitarian aid budget. France said it will reduce its global development assistance.

France’s proposed budget cuts set to slash overseas development aid

“We expect the US to enact a legislation to defund us. We don’t know when it will happen exactly, maybe in three months. This is when we think other governments and partners might step up but not before,” Simoni Pedersen added.

The European Union, another major supplier of foreign aid, is closely watching what is unfolding in the aid sector.

“Our position remains firm. We will not retreat from our humanitarian commitments as we believe that our aid saves lives and alleviates suffering around the world,” a European Commission spokesperson told RFI.

“In the face of increasingly severe and widespread crises, we have allocated this year a budget of 1,9 billion euros for humanitarian aid.”

The decisions of the Trump administration during its opening days should come as no surprise since they are detailed in Project 2025, a conservative blueprint – its latest version released in 2023 – detailing the agenda of the next Republican president.

Project 2025’s Mandate for Leadership calls, for example, for “an immediate freeze on all … foreign assistance … pending a review to ensure that such efforts comport with the new administration’s policies”.

France has delivered a first consignment of Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine to help Kyiv defend its airspace against Russia, Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Thursday.

Posting on X, Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Thursday: “The first of these aircraft have arrived in Ukraine today,” without specifying how many had been delivered. 

EU leaders in Brussels to push for more security, defence funding

After France helped train Ukrainian pilots over recent months, “they will now help defend Ukraine’s skies”, he added.

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the delivery, which comes amid fears of decreasing support from Washington since US President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

“France’s president [Emmanuel Macron] keeps his word and we appreciate it. This is another step in strengthening Ukraine’s security,” he said.  

Ukrainian pilots trained in France

In June, Macron announced that France would transfer Mirage 2000-5 aircraft to Ukraine and train their Ukrainian pilots as part of military cooperation with Kyiv.

Of the 26 Mirage 2000-5 aircraft owned by the French air force, six were to be transferred to Ukraine, according to a budget report published by France’s National Assembly 

The French defence ministry neither denied nor confirmed the figure for security reasons.

Russia says hypersonic missile strike on Ukraine was a warning to ‘reckless’ West

Ukrainian pilots and mechanics have been trained in eastern France to use the jets, which have undergone modifications that include jamming Russian combat Russian communications. 

France announced the delivery of the first fighter jets at a time when talk of a negotiated end to the nearly three-year war has increased – with Donald Trump back in the White House and Ukraine’s troops struggling on the battlefield in the east.  

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara announced the planned withdrawal in December, making it the latest country in the region to dismantle military ties with former colonial power France.

“The scheduled date is 20 February. Côte d’Ivoire is ready,” according to an AFP source in the country, with sources on the French side confirming the date.

French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu is expected to attend the official ceremony with his Ivorian counterpart Tene Birahima Ouattara.

Cote d’Ivoire announces French military exit after decades-long stay

Reorganisation’ of military relations

France has spent years preparing a “reorganisation” of military relations after the forced departure of its troops from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, where military-led governments hostile to the ex-colonial ruler have seized power in recent years.

In November, Senegal and Chad also announced – within hours of each other – that they would bring to an end to France’s military presence.

France and Côte d’Ivoire have worked together on the handover of the base at Port-Bouet in commercial capital Abidjan – where French troops from the 43rd BIMA marine infantry battalion are stationed.

French military exit leaves Ivorian traders facing an uncertain future

About 1,000 French soldiers were deployed there to help in particular with the fight against jihadists, who launch regular attacks across the wider region.

Some 80 French troops are expected to remain at the Abidjan camp to carry out training exercises.

Côte d’Ivoire – the world’s biggest cocoa producer which also has huge deposits of natural resources including oil, gas and gold – remains an important ally of France.

Ramaphosa did not mention Trump by name in his address, but spoke of growing geopolitical tensions.

“We are witnessing the rise of nationalism, protectionism, the pursuit of narrow interests and the decline of common cause,” he said.

“We will stand together as a united nation, and we will speak with one voice in defence of our national interests.”

Trump had said on Sunday, without citing evidence, that “South Africa is confiscating land and treating certain classes of people very badly,” alluding to a new law which aims to even racial disparities in land ownership.

He then threatened to cut off funding to the African country.

A cornerstone for G20 members

South Africa was also criticised this week by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said he would not attend an upcoming G20 summit in Johannesburg because “South Africa is doing very bad things” such as “using G20 to promote solidarity, equality, and sustainability.”

The meeting of foreign ministers of the G20 group of countries is set for 20 -21February in Johannesburg.

South Africa took over the G20 presidency in December (until November 2025), becoming the first African country to do so, and Ramaphosa has said he would use the opportunity to advance the interests of Africa and the Global South.

Africa takes centre stage as South Africa maps ambitious G20 agenda

Promise of growth

Pretoria is just over seven months into a coalition government that was formed after the African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority in an election last year, forcing it to team up with its biggest rival, the Democratic Alliance.

Ramaphosa said the government would launch a second wave of reforms to try to lift economic growth above percent.

Cyril Ramaphosa: from anti-apartheid activist to leader of South Africa’s coalition government

Ramaphosa also promised to focus on boosting struggling state companies like power utility Eskom and logistics group Transnet, and on investing in infrastructure.

The central bank’s most recent forecast is that Africa’s most industrialised economy will grow 1.8 percent this year.

 (with Reuters)

In the first call to Sharaa from a western leader, Macron on Wednesday congratulated the leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Islamist group, which lead the overthrow of former president Bashar al-Assad, for his appointment at the end of last month as interim president of the transition period in Syria.

Macron spoke of France’s commitment to a transition process that meets “the aspirations of the Syrian people,” as well as the “full integration” of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the process, according to the Elysée, in a statement.

The Kurdish-lead SDF has worked with European and US forces to fight against the Islamic State armed group.

Macron spoke with Sharaa of the need to continue “the fight against terrorism”, which he said is “for the benefit of the Syrian people as well as for the security of the French nation”.

The power vacuum caused by the fall of Assad has raised fears of a resurgence of the Islamic State. France is concerned about several dozen radicalised French nationals who are in Syria, held in Syrian prisons overseen by Kurdish forces.

France welcomes fall of Syria’s Assad, calls for peaceful transition

Sanctions

For Syria, the heart of the discussions involved economic sanctions imposed by the European Union and other western countries.

Macron spoke to Al-Sharaa about “the efforts of his country to lift the sanctions on Syria and open the path towards growth and recovery,” according to the Syrian presidency.

The European Union has already agreed to begin easing some sanctions on Syria.

On a visit to Damascus in early January, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock indicated that some sanctions “could be lifted quickly”.

The Syrian president’s office also said that Macron invited Sharaa to visit France in the coming weeks.

An international conference on Syria is to be held in Paris on 13 February.

(with AFP, Reuters)

“Our positions have been attacked,” the spokesperson for the Congolese government, Patrick Muyaya, told RFI, adding that the M23 has broken the ceasefire it had unilaterally declared on 3 February 2025.

The latest clashes began in the early hours of the morning on Wednesday in the Kalehe territory, near Nyabibwe, in South Kivu province, a commercial hub and home mines producing gold, coltan and other metals.

According to the Congolese government, Rwandan reinforcements are said to have crossed the border at Goma during the night to support this offensive against government FARDC positions.

Goma is the capital of North Kivu province, fell into rebel hands last week.

The capture of Nyabibwe on Lake Kivu brings the rebels a step closer to the provincial capital Bukavu some 70 kms south, a city the rebels said last week they had no intention of capturing.

Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance rebel coalition that includes M23, confirmed the group moved into Nyabibwe. “They attacked us and we defended ourselves,” he said.

A Congolese military court issued an international arrest warrant for Nangaa on Tuesday accusing him of war crimes and treason.

M23 rebels advance as efforts to contain DRC crisis intensify

‘Staggering’ human toll   

Meanwhile, the scale of the civilian toll was still emerging in the city of Goma where people last week were caught in the crossfire and fighting destroyed buildings, overwhelmed hospitals and left bodies strewn in the streets.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Wednesday estimated at least 2,800 people died in Goma.

“The human toll is staggering. We and our partners are struggling to assess the full extent of the situation,” spokesperson Jens Laerke said via email.

International Criminal Court prosecutors said they were closely monitoring events after reports of possible war crimes in the battle for Goma.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said its medical warehouse in Goma was looted last week and would take months to restore.

The city’s bishop, Willy Ngumbi, on Wednesday deplored damage to a maternity ward from explosives and called for talks with neighbouring countires to prevent an escalation of the conflict.

Regional summit

In Congo’s capital Kinshasa, lawmakers in the National Assembly held a lengthy closed-door extraordinary session to discuss the crisis ahead of a weekend meeting.

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and his DRC counterpart Felix Tshisekedi are due to attend the summit of the eight-country East African Community (EAC) and 16-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) in the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam on Saturday.

Congo accuses Rwanda of using the M23 to pillage valuable mineral deposits. Rwanda says it is acting in self-defence and to protect ethnic Tutsis.

Kagame, who denies backing the M23, has called for a “de-escalation” in the region.

On Friday, the UN Human Rights Council will convene a special session on the crisis, at Kinshasa’s request.

 (With newswires)

Events in anticipation of the 2025 AI Action Summit kick off in Paris this week – ahead of what is being billed as a landmark meeting of world leaders and tech giants on Monday and Tuesday, aimed at positioning France as a central hub for AI partnerships.

The gathering is designed to catalyse a “European awakening” in artificial intelligence, following a recent declaration from the United States that it will channel some $500 billion worth of investment into artificial intelligence. 

Co-chaired by India, the Paris summit aims to ensure that AI development aligns with ethical values, accessibility and sustainability, while also fostering global cooperation in governance.

It marks a pivotal moment for France, as the country looks to put itself at the forefront of global AI governance and raise some €2.5 billion for AI development over the next five years.

India to co-chair Paris AI summit in February

Following on from UK and South Korean AI Summits – in 2023 and 2024 respectively – the Paris showcase aims to take the conversation further, by expanding the focus beyond safety to innovation, inclusivity and practical implementation.

The goal is to foster “trustworthy AI” through the development of artificial intelligence as a force for good.

Rémi Rostan, editor-in-chief of LHC magazine, told RFI that if AI is to be truly useful, it must be accessible to everyone.

“AI must not be a toy for experts or a black box that decides for us… As long as a part of the population sees AI as something vague or threatening, it will remain a subject of mistrust, rather than a lever for emancipation,” he said.

The summit will bring together leaders from nearly 100 countries, as well as major figures from the tech industry, including Elon Musk, Sam Altman of OpenAI, Sundar Pichai of Google, and Demis Hassabis of DeepMind.

EU regulations kick-in

France’s push for AI leadership comes as the European Union has positioned itself as the vanguard of AI regulation.

The first provisions of the European AI Act came into effect on the even of the summit, marking a significant milestone in global AI governance.

Initial measures include banning unacceptable uses such as social scoring, predictive policing based on profiling, and emotion recognition in workplaces and schools.

By August, transparency obligations for AI models like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini will come into force across the EU, requiring greater disclosure about training data and technical specifications.

The broader framework of the regulations will be implemented in phases, with full enforcement expected by 2027.

However, these regulations face a major pushback from tech companies, and ongoing debates about intellectual property and data transparency put a question mark over the use of the large language models the new generation of AI is built with.

One key objective of this week’s gathering is to explore European perspectives on the sovereignty of AI and its autonomy, with a view to countering the hegemony of US developers with very deep pockets, and Chinese innovators who are slashing the cost of hosting data centres, a key element of AI development.

At present, only seven countries in the world are “stakeholders” in AI initiatives, meaning that some 119 states have no direct involvement in the AI revolution. 

Clashing with creativity

Over the next six days, AI workshops and seminars have been structured to balance policy discussions with public engagement and technical exploration.

Running from 6 to11 February, AI Week features a series of events, beginning with a scientific conference at the Polytechnique engineering school, where Nobel laureates and leading AI researchers will discuss the latest developments.

Cultural discussions on AI’s impact on arts and media will take place at the Bibliothèque nationale de France and the Conciergerie, showcasing AI’s potential beyond just business and governance.

AI steals spotlight from Nobel winners who highlight Its power and risks

As the impact of AI becomes apparent, the question arises as to what happens to humans in the world of work and arts.

For Rostan, the answer is clear: “It’s another brush in the box, not the hand that paints… It’s the human being who provides the breath, the intention, the subversion. 

“Innovation and tradition are not opposites. They must dance together, with AI serving as a catalyst for new forms of expression, without ever replacing the human voice.”

Only a few days ago, the US Copyright Office issued a ruling that AI-assisted work can be protected, provided that it contains a sufficient amount of human creativity.

“Clearly, the tool does not make the artist,” Rostan says. “It is the intention and human intervention that count.” 

The main summit on 11 February will gather global policymakers, business leaders, and experts at the Grand Palais, where discussions will focus on investment, infrastructure, and the strategic direction of AI.

Prime Minister François Bayrou conceded MPs had adopted an imperfect budget but added: “It is an urgent step because our country cannot live without a budget.”

Bayrou’s administration, which has no overall majority in the 578-seat Assemblée Nationale, used the 49.3 constitutional power to ram the budget bill through the chamber without a vote by lawmakers.

The move triggered the no-confidence motion.

Only 128 lawmakers approved the motion, far from the 289 votes needed for it to pass.

Both the Socialists and far-right National Rally lawmakers refused to support it.

Under France’s constitution, the motion’s failure automatically turns the 2025 budget into law.

Disputes

French politics have been in disarray since President Emmanuel Macron called snap elections last year that left no party with a parliamentary majority.

Bayrou, a veteran centrist, was appointed in December amid a political crisis prompted by budget disputes that led to the collapse of Michel Barnier’s rule as prime minister.

French lawmakers oust Prime Minister Barnier after just three months in office

France has been under pressure from the European Union to reduce its huge debt and deficit, which in 2024 reached 6.1 percent of GDP.

The government has argued the country needs an operational budget at a time when the American President Donald Trump is threatening to impose new tariffs on the EU.

The budget is meant to reduce France’s deficit to 5.4 percent of gross domestic product this year via spending cuts and tax increases worth a total of €50 billion.

Talks

During discussions meant to seek a compromise in parliament, Bayrou agreed to provide an additional €1 billion for hospitals and agreed not to cut 4,000 jobs in national education.

He also said last month he was open to renegotiating a plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.

French PM Bayrou saves 4,000 teaching jobs in budget cuts reversal

The government said it intends to use its special powers next week to pass the social security budget, allowing key financial measures to be implemented by the end of the month.

In December, a no-confidence motion forced Barnier to step down after only three months in power as parties across the political spectrum joined forces to derail the veteran statesman’s proposals.

Barnier, 74, had been drafted in to solve the political impasse created by last year’s elections. But his proposed austerity budget deepened divisions.

The Foreign Affairs ministry asked the ICRC to leave the country after denouncing certain agreements, a civil society source in Niger told RFI.

Some foreigners working with the NGO in Niger have already begun to leave the country, and the delegation’s office has been closed since Tuesday, according to the AFP news agency.

No official reason was given for the decision to shut down the ICRC. The French NGO ACTED and its Nigeran partner APBE had a similar experience in November.

Red Cross in Niger for 35 years

The ICRC, which published a report on its activities in Niger during the first half of 2024 on Tuesday, the day its expulsion was announced, has not yet reacted publicly,

In the report, the ICRC says it has been present in Niger since 1990, and highlights its provision of healthcare to over 120,000 victims of armed conflict last year.

Niger’s current regime, which came to power in July 2023 through a military coup, has made national sovereignty one of its priorities, and it has notably expelled French and American soldiers engaged in anti-terrorism operations, and it joined other Sahel countries in withdrawing from the Ecowas regional bloc. 

Threats to sovereignty

At the end of January, Interior Minister General Mohamed Toumba said he was taking “important measures to monitor and supervise NGOs and development organisations”.

He added that the junta has found that “many NGOs are involved with these partners who are waging war against us… through the support they often give to terrorists”.

(With newswires)

Heat has lingered since the warming El Nino event peaked in January 2024, and January 2025 hit a record at 1.75 degrees Celsius hotter than pre-industrial times, the Copernicus Climate Change Service said Thursday.

Climate scientists had expected the historical high temperatures in 2024 to drop as the cooling La Nina took over from El Nino, so there is now debate about what other factors could be driving the rising temperatures.

La Nina is expected to be weak and Copernicus said temperatures in parts of the equatorial Pacific Ocean suggested “a slowing or stalling of the move towards” the cooling phenomenon.

Why is the heat persistent?

Scientists are unanimous that burning fossil fuels have largely driven long-term global warming, but there are questions about which human activities are impacting year-to-year natural variability.

One theory about the current continuing heat is that a global shift to cleaner shipping fuels in 2020 accelerated warming by reducing sulphur emissions that make clouds more reflect more sunlight.

Last month, Copernicus said that global temperatures averaged across 2023 and 2024 had exceeded the warming target set by the Paris climate accord of 1.5C for the first time.

While not a permanent breach of the limit, persistent high temperatures are a clear sign that it is being tested.

Focus on oceans

Scientists warn that every fraction of a degree of warming above 1.5C increases the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events like heat waves, droughts and heavy rainfall.

Copernicus said it would be closely monitoring ocean temperatures throughout 2025 for hints about how the climate might behave.

Oceans are key to regulate the climate and they are a carbon sink, with cooler able to absorb greater amounts of heat from the atmosphere, helping to lower air temperatures.

They also store 90 percent of the excess heat trapped by humanity’s release of greenhouse gases.

(with AFP)

US President Donald Trump’s proposal to transform the war-ravaged Gaza Strip into a luxurious “Riviera of the Middle East” has sent shockwaves through the diplomatic world, drawing swift and fierce criticism from European leaders.

Trump’s plan involves the resettlement of Palestinians across the Middle East marks a dramatic departure from long-standing US policy, which has traditionally supported a two-state solution.

Unveiling his proposal at a White House press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, Trump painted a picture of Gaza as a thriving coastal paradise, where international communities could live in peace.

He insisted that regional powers such as Jordan and Egypt would ultimately support resettling Gaza’s two million residents elsewhere, despite their initial refusals.

“We’re going to help people live in harmony,” Trump stated, though he provided no concrete details on how such a massive relocation would unfold.

‘Violation of international law’

However, Trump’s ambitious and controversial idea has been met with widespread rejection, particularly in France and across Europe.

French officials were among the first to respond, slamming the proposal as reckless and legally indefensible.

France’s foreign ministry emphasised that the forced displacement of Palestinians would violate international law and undermine peace efforts.

French Foreign ministry says forced displacement of Gazans would be ‘unacceptable’

“The legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people must be respected,” a spokesperson stated, warning that Trump’s plan would further destabilise an already volatile region.

“The future of Gaza lies in a future Palestinian state, not in the control of a third country”.

Europe stands firm

Other European nations quickly echoed France’s concerns.

Germany, Spain, Ireland, and the UK reaffirmed their commitment to the two-state solution, underlining that Gaza’s future must be tied to a sovereign Palestinian state.

Spain’s foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, was unequivocal: “Gaza belongs to the Palestinians. They must remain in their land.”

The reaction from the Middle East was equally severe.

Saudi Arabia – a key US ally – flatly rejected the idea, reaffirming that it would not establish ties with Israel without the creation of a Palestinian state.

Turkey dismissed the plan as “unacceptable,” while China condemned any forced displacement of Palestinians.

Macron says ‘Palestinian governance’ needed in Gaza as ceasefire enacted

‘We are going nowhere”

Hamas – the group that has ruled Gaza since 2007 – called Trump’s idea “ridiculous and absurd,” warning that such proposals could ignite further conflict.

Palestinian civilians also expressed outrage, with one Gaza resident declaring, “Trump can go to hell with his money and his ideas. We are going nowhere”.

Whether Trump intends to pursue this reimagining of Gaza or is staking out an extreme position as a negotiating tactic remains unclear.

The former president has offered no specific timeline or actionable steps for the implementation of his vision.

(With newswires)

French prosecutors announced Tuesday that no criminal investigation will be launched regarding the numerous accusations of sexual assault against anti-poverty campaigner Abbé Pierre, as the priest passed away in 2007 and the statute of limitations applies to any failure to report these alleged crimes.

The French Bishops’ Conference (CEF)  – which had urged the Paris public prosecutor’s office to explore legal avenues – expressed disappointment at the move while acknowledging the reasoning behind the decision.

“We regret this outcome, though we understand it,” the CEF told AFP.

Despite this, the CEF reaffirmed its commitment to supporting victims and uncovering the full truth about Abbé Pierre’s actions.

French charity turns its back on founding father accused of sexual abuse

Fall from grace

Once revered for his dedication to social justice, Abbé Pierre – born Henri Grouès – has faced posthumous scrutiny, with 33 accusations of sexual violence brought against him by the end of January 2024.

The allegations came to light through three separate reports released since July 2024 by the Egaé consultancy.

Commissioned by the Emmaüs movement and the Abbé Pierre Foundation, the reports shed new light on the priest’s troubling past.

The first report, detailing instances of sexual harassment and assault, sent shockwaves through France, tarnishing the reputation of a man once hailed as a champion for the poor.

When the latest findings were made public in mid-January, Emmaüs condemned its founder as a “predator,” revealing further allegations, including the rape of a minor and misconduct involving a member of his own family. The accusations span from the 1950s to the 2000s.

Following these revelations, the Catholic Church – through CEF President Éric de Moulins-Beaufort – formally requested an inquiry in January.

The case was referred to prosecutors for potential charges related to the failure to report sexual crimes against minors and vulnerable individuals.

French charity turns its back on founding father accused of sexual abuse

Legal Dead End

However, in a letter dated 24 January, the Paris public prosecutor’s office concluded that no legal action could proceed.

Since Abbé Pierre is deceased, any case against him will be automatically dismissed.

Furthermore, any potential prosecution for failure to report crimes was deemed beyond the statute of limitations.

The prosecutor’s office emphasised that judicial investigations serve to determine whether crimes can and should be prosecuted.

While authorities occasionally investigate historical child abuse cases to identify other possible victims, no further legal steps could be taken in this instance.

“If more recent, unexpired offenses had been identified, the prosecution could have initiated proceedings,” the prosecutor explained. “But that is obviously impossible when the accused is no longer alive”.

Under French law, failure to report a crime is considered a separate offence. However, after analysing the Egaé reports, prosecutors found no case where legal action was still possible.

For Aurore Bergé, Minister for Equality between Women and Men, the Abbé Pierre case highlights how statutes of limitations prevent survivors from seeking justice.

“This is exactly why I have introduced a bill that would establish a civil statute of limitations for sexual violence against minors,” she stated on X.

Legacy Rewritten

In response to the revelations, the institutions built around Abbé Pierre’s legacy have taken decisive action.

The Abbé Pierre Foundation, originally established in 1987 to fight homelessness, officially changed its name on 25 January to the “Foundation for Housing the Disadvantaged“.

Emmaüs France – the organisation founded by the priest in 1949 – has severed links to his image, permanently shut down a memorial dedicated to him in the town of Esteville and advised affiliated groups to remove all visuals of Abbé Pierre.

(with wires)

“The Prince Aga Khan devoted his life to the promotion of peace, tolerance and development,” said Macron who in 2018 awarded him the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour – France’s highest national medal in recognition of his philanthropic work.

“His commitment to dialogue between cultures will remain a source of inspiration for us all.”

Symbol of peace

UN Secretary-General António Guterres described him as a symbol of peace, tolerance and compassion in our troubled world.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hailed him as a very good friend. “He was an extraordinarily compassionate global leader,” he added.

Prince Karim al-Husseini was regarded as a direct descendent of the Prophet Mohammed and given nearly divine status as the 49th hereditary imam of the Ismaili sect of Shia Islam.

Born in Geneva on 13 December 1936 to Prince Aly Khan and the former British socialite Joan Yarde-Buller, he was bequeathed the title of Aga Khan in 1957 at the age of 20 by his grandfather, Sultan Mahomed Shah, who wanted the honour to skip a generation. Shah said he wanted a young man as Aga Khan to cope the new age.

The prince, a student at Harvard University in the United States at the time of his elevation, traversed that landscape on a dazzling array of luxury jets and yachts.

He represented Iran in the skiing event at the 1964 Winter Olympics and five years later married the British model Sarah Croker Poole with whom he had three children.

After they divorced in 1995, he had another child with the German lawyer and equal rights campaigner Gabriele Renate Thyssen.

Leave a ‘better world’

Fuelled by his enormous wealth derived from tithes paid by Ismailis around the world, he launched an apolitical secular development foundation in 1967 credited with raising literacy levels in 18 countries across South and Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

“Leaders and staff of the Aga Khan Development Network offer our condolences to the family of His Highness and to the Ismaili community worldwide,” said the network on its website.

“As we honour the legacy of our founder, we continue to work with our partners to improve the quality of life for individuals and communities across the world, as he wished, irrespective of their religious affiliations or origins.”

The Aga Khan also pursued a goal of educating the world about the richness of Muslim culture.

“I was born with Islamic ethics in a Muslim family. There is nothing wrong with being well off as long as money has a social and ethical value and is not the object of one’s own greed,” he told the French news agency AFP in 2008.

“One of the principles of Islam is that on his deathbed every person must try to leave behind a better world.”

Alongside the philanthropic ventures, the Aga Khan IV also oversaw the racehorsing empire built up by his grandfather and his father.

Racing empire

“The idea of entering into an activity that was in no way central to the Ismaili Imamat, an activity in which no member of my family – neither my brother nor my sister nor I – had any understanding, in itself raised a major question mark,” he said in a book published in 2011 celebrating 50 years in the racehorse business.

But the neophyte adapted. By the time he died, his horseracing and breeding operations at the Aiglemont estate near Gouvieux in northern France along with other stud farms in the area had helped him to become one of France’s most influential owner-breeders.

Products of his stables won a record seven titles at the Prix de Diane, one of the most prestigious races on the international racing circuit.

Shergar, the 1981 winner of the Derby at Epsom, was also one of his star breeds. The horse was kidnapped on 8 February 1983 from his Ballymany Stud in Ireland.

Negotiations were conducted with the thieves who broke off all communication after four days when the syndicate of owners did not accept that the horse was still alive. 

After years of living in France, the Aga Khan moved to Portugal. He was with his family when he died.

His successor, chosen from among his male progeny or other relatives, will be revealed to his family and religious leaders in Lisbon before the name is made public.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to welcome top European Union leaders to Britain in May for the first in a series of annual summits aimed at revitalising the UK’s partnership with the bloc.

Downing Street confirmed on Tuesday that Starmer will host European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on 19 May for high-level discussions on deepening cooperation and unlocking new opportunities for both sides.

“This first UK-EU summit is a fantastic opportunity to make real progress on issues that benefit people across the UK and Europe,” a UK government spokesperson said. “It will strengthen the unique relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union.”

The announcement comes fresh off Starmer’s visit to Brussels, where he became the first UK prime minister since Brexit to attend a major gathering of all 27 EU leaders, signalling that the UK is ready for a new era of constructive and pragmatic collaboration.

Five years on, has Brexit put Britain at a disadvantage in EU talks?

No backtrack on Brexit

Determined to boost Britain’s economic prospects, Starmer is eager to strike fresh agreements with the EU while maintaining key commitments.

He has been clear that the UK will not rejoin the single market or customs union, nor will it reinstate freedom of movement.

However, he is keen to enhance the current Trade and Cooperation Agreement, set for renewal in 2026, with practical improvements.

Among the potential breakthroughs are a new veterinary pact to ease British agricultural exports and a deal on mutual recognition of professional qualifications – both seen as game-changers for businesses and workers on both sides.

The EU has floated the idea of a youth mobility scheme, though the UK government has ruled it out for now.

EU and UK clash in first post-Brexit legal battle over North Sea fishing ban

Trade and security

However, there is openness to joining a broader European-North African customs arrangement that could facilitate tariff-free trade for certain goods.

Fisheries, nevertheless, remain a bone of contention, with European access to British waters long being stumbling bloc, and negotiations on this front are expected to be challenging.

Topping the summit’s agenda is a proposed defence and security pact – an area where both sides see clear mutual benefits and a relatively straightforward path to agreement.

With Starmer pushing for a more cooperative and forward-looking approach, the May summit could mark the beginning of a new, more productive chapter in UK-EU relations. 

M23 is a member of the political-military coalition known as the Alliance Fleuve Congo (River Congo Alliance). In a statement released late on Monday, the group announced it would implement a ceasefire from Tuesday “for humanitarian reasons.”

It further stated that it had “no intention of taking control of Bukavu or other localities,” despite having declared last week its intention to “continue the march” towards the Congolese capital, Kinshasa.

M23 began attacking Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu, last week, with the support of some Rwandan troops.

While fighting has ceased in the city, home to over a million people, clashes have spread to the neighbouring province of South Kivu, raising concerns of an M23 advance towards its capital, Bukavu.

Over the past four years of conflict, half a dozen ceasefires and truces have been declared, all of which have been systematically violated.

M23 rebels advance towards second DR Congo regional capital

Call for truce

The DRC’s Communications Minister, Patrick Muyaya, told RFI that Rwanda’s claims of non-involvement are not credible, accusing President Paul Kagame of lying.

“Who could fail to recognise that just a few days ago, he mobilised nearly a third of his army – 10,000 men – at the gates of a city full of civilians, where crimes and massacres were then committed, with his services deployed to cover up the bodies from his own camp? His people are not allowed to know that their children have died in a senseless war,” Muyaya stated.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday morning, a UN spokesperson announced that the DRC has requested an emergency session of the UN Human Rights Council to address the situation in Goma.

Congo has requested that the session take place on 7 February in Geneva, though this is still subject to approval.

In South Africa, one of the DRC’s allies, President Cyril Ramaphosa stated, “A ceasefire is a necessary precondition for peace talks that must include all parties to the conflict, whether state or non-state actors, Congolese or non-Congolese.”

He also pledged on Monday to continue supporting President Tshisekedi.

Pretoria had sent troops to North Kivu as part of an armed force deployed to eastern DRC in 2023 by the SADC bloc, but 14 South African soldiers were killed in the recent fighting.

“Diplomacy is the most sustainable path to achieving lasting peace for the DRC and its people,” Ramaphosa added.

Difficulties setting talks

The Kenyan presidency announced on Monday that Tshisekedi and Kagame would attend a joint extraordinary summit of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam on Saturday.

Amid fears of a regional conflagration, the 16 member countries of the southern African regional organisation had called for “a joint summit” with the eight countries of the EAC, of which Rwanda is a member.

Nairobi currently holds the presidency of the EAC, and hopes to get the authorities of the DRC to finally talk face to face to their counterparts in Rwanda, accused of supporting the M23 rebellion.

“Given the race against time following the verbal and military escalation, the fact that it has been announced so quickly is a positive sign,” Onesphore Sematumba, an analyst for the Great Lakes region at the NGO International Crisis Group, told RFI.

Disagreements

The aim of the new talks is to “reignite diplomacy and bring an end to the cycle of clashes” in eastern DRC, Sematumba added.

Participants are expected to include regional leaders, such as the presidents of Uganda, Somalia, and South Africa.

However, the two groups hold differing views on how to resolve the conflict.

The East African Community (EAC) advocates for direct negotiations between the Congolese government and the M23, a solution that Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi has thus far refused to consider.

This disagreement led him to replace the EAC’s peacekeeping force in the DRC with that of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which is calling for Rwanda to first withdraw from Congolese territory, as the government in Kinshasa demands.

“We should not have too high expectations,” said an analyst to RFI, adding that simply holding this summit with all the announced participants would already be “a diplomatic success” in itself.

In Kigali, Paul Kagame’s participation has already been confirmed, so he will be attending the meeting in Dar es Salaam on Saturday. However, a source close to the Congolese presidency stated that Félix Tshisekedi has yet to decide whether to attend in person or join remotely.

A UN expert report last year indicated that Rwanda had up to 4,000 troops in the DRC, seeking to profit from mineral mining, and that Kigali has “de facto” control over the M23.

Eastern DRC is rich in deposits of coltan, a crucial metal for the production of phones and laptops, as well as gold and other valuable minerals.

DRC takes on Apple: can conflict mineral mining be stopped?

Rwanda has however never admitted to military involvement in support of the M23 group. It alleges on the contrary that the DRC supports and shelters the FDLR, an armed group created by ethnic Hutus who massacred Tutsis during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

 (With newswires)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not hold back on the hospitality when hosting Sharaa, sending one of his presidential jets to fly the new Syrian leader and his large delegation to Ankara.

The Turkish president was keen too to underline the significance of the meeting. “I see today’s historic visit as the beginning of a period of permanent friendship and cooperation between our countries,” he declared in a joint press statement with the Syrian leader.

Erdogan also announced that Turkey’s institutions and ministries are coordinating efforts to help with Syria’s reconstruction.

Sharaa was quick to praise this assistance, saying: “The significant support is still tangible through Turkey’s ongoing efforts to ensure the success of the current leadership in Syria politically and economically, ensuring the independence, unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria.”

Macron calls Syrian leader to discuss transition, terrorism, sanctions

Ties with Turkey

The new Syrian leader developed close ties with Ankara during the years of fighting the Assad regime. The Turkish military protected the Idlib enclave where Sharaa was based, while Turkey offered refuge to many Syrians fleeing the fighting. 

“Ankara will definitely be viewed as a positive outside contributor by these new Syrian rulers because of the fact that we here in Turkey are hosting over 5 million Syrians and that, also, Turkey helped protect Idlib,” said Aydin Selcen, a former senior Turkish diplomat who served in the region, now an analyst for the independent Turkish news outlet Medyascope.

However, Selcen cautions that Ankara should not overestimate its influence when it comes to dictating policy for its Syrian neighbour. “The centre of this Syrian endeavour, of this restructuring or this fresh beginning, will be Damascus. It will not be Doha, it will not be Ankara, it will not be Geneva,” he said.

Erdogan hails Syria leader’s ‘strong commitment’ to fighting terror

‘Islamic background’

While the Syrian and Turkish leaders meeting in Ankara lasted more than three hours and was followed by an exchange of warm words, no concrete announcements came out of it – only vague commitments to cooperation in security and development.

And despite Ankara’s strong support for the Syrian rebels, Syria’s new leader chose to make his first overseas visit as president to Saudi Arabia, one of Turkey’s main rivals in the region.

International relations professor Huseyin Bagci of Ankara’s Middle East Technical University says the Syrian president is sending a message to Ankara.

“He [Sharaa] is an Arab nationalist with an Islamic background, not a Turkish one,” said Bagci. “And that’s why many people expect that in the long run, there will be different opinions on certain regional issues [with Turkey].”

For several years, Saudi and Turkish leaders have been engaged in a competition for influence among Sunni Arab countries. But Ankara is at a disadvantage, with its economy in crisis. Unlike oil-rich Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States, it has little cash to offer to pay for Syria’s rebuilding.

‘Realpolitik’

Sharaa also appears ready to broaden his horizons further as he seeks to rebuild his country. “He has turned out to be such a realpolitik buff. He’s turning and negotiating with almost everyone, including the Russians,” observed Sezin Oney, an international relations commentator for Turkey’s Politikyol news outlet.

“They [Syria] will also be approaching Turkey with their own interests, and whether they’re aligned with Turkey’s interests is another question,” she added.

Turkey’s ongoing military presence in Syria as part of its war against a Kurdish insurgency by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) could become a point of tension between Ankara and Syria’s new rulers, experts predict.

Iran too – like Russia, also a key backer of the ousted Assad regime – is now seeking to reposition itself to reach out to the new Syrian regime.

Russia’s interest in Syria

“There are some pragmatic approaches,” said professor of international relations Bilgehan Alagoz, an Iran expert at Istanbul’s Marmara University. 

“The Iranian authorities have already started to label Assad as a person who didn’t act in accordance with Iran in order to have some new approach towards the new system in Syria.”

Ankara still has cards to play with Syria, being well positioned to offer support in helping to rebuild the country with its expertise in construction, energy and security. But experts warn Turkey faces a battle for influence in Damascus, as Syria seeks to widen its opportunities.

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.

RFI English listeners have been very generous with their wonderful graphics for World Radio Day that they have posted on the RFI English Listeners Forum Facebook page – there’s even a World Radio Day quiz from Anand Mohan Bain, the president of the RFI Pariwer Bandhu SWL Club in Chhattisgarh India – so don’t miss out!

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 11 January, I asked you a question about France’s ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy. That week, Sarkozy’s trial on charges of accepting illegal campaign financing from the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi began.

You were to refer to Melissa Chemam’s article “France’s ex-president Sarkozy on trial over alleged Gaddafi pact”, and send in the answer to this question: What was former French president Nicolas Sarkozy convicted of on 18 December, and what was his penalty?

The answer is, to quote Melissa: “This new trial is starting barely half a month after France’s top appeals court on 18 December rejected Sarkozy’s appeal against a one-year prison sentence for influence peddling, which he is to serve by wearing an electronic tag rather than in jail.”

In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question: “What do you remember about the first time you caught a fish?” It was suggested by Ratna Shanta Shammi from Naogaon, Bangladesh.

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

The winners are: RFI English listener Shahanoaz Akter Ripa, the president of the Sonali Badhan Female Listeners Club in Bogura, Bangladesh. Shahanoaz is also this week’s bonus question winner.

Congratulations Shahanoaz, on your double win !

Also on the list of lucky winners this week are RFI Listeners Club members Mogire Machuki from Kisii, Kenya; Najimuddin, the president of the RFI International DX Radio Listeners Club in West Bengal, India; Nasyr Muhammad from Katsina State, Nigeria, and Hans Verner Lollike from Hedehusenen in Denmark.

Congratulations, winners!

Here’s the music you heard on this week’s programme: “Preparation” from the film The Little Prince, written by Hans Zimmer and Richard Harvey; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; “The Cakewalk” from Children’s Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer, and Histoire de Melody Nelson by Serge Gainsbourg and Jean-Claude Vannier, performed by Serge Gainsbourg and orchestra.  

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 “French PM pushes through budget, faces second no-confidence vote”, which will help you with the answer.

You have until 3 March to enter this week’s quiz; the winners will be announced on the 8 March 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.   

Since its launch in 2013, and even more so since 2018, the 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair has grown into one of the most significant cultural events for African art, drawing gallery owners and artists from across the continent and beyond.

The galleries represent artists from all over the continent, from Ghana to South Africa, Tunisia to Angola.

The fair took place in the iconic events’ venue La Mamounia, in the heart of Marrakesh.

Since 2024, the art fair has also had exhibition spaces for younger artists in Dada, a gathering space for art, food and music near La Medina.

This year’s fair was held from 30 January to 2 February, during which the entire city hosted various art events, including exhibitions at the El Badi Palace and MACAAL, a museum dedicated to contemporary African art and artists from the African diaspora.

To understand how the fair built a platform for African art, RFI spoke to the fair’s founder and director, Touria El Glaoui on the opening day in Marrakesh.

El Glaoui shared how she frequently travels to African countries to discover new artists, events, and galleries. She also noted that new participants from across the African continent—and now even from Japan and Korea—are coming to the fair seeking representation.

We also visited other sites that make the event special, including art galleries, like Loft. 

“We opened the gallery sixteen years ago and we are a Moroccan gallery based in Morocco but with a real openness to the international scene,” Yasmine Berrada, co-founder of the gallery, told RFI.

“We’re open to Africa. We represent African artists from its diaspora. We’ve also worked with European artists,” she added. “We’re not closed off at all because, for me, there shouldn’t be any separation in art. I think that, on the contrary, we need to open up perspectives and integrate the Moroccan art market into the international stage.”

Our guests this week:

–Touria El Glaoui, founder and director of the 1:54 contemporary African art fair;

–Mous Lamrabat, Moroccan-Belgian artist;

-Yasmine Berrada, co-founder of the Loft art gallery.  

Episode mixed by Melissa Chemam.

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

Turkish and Azerbaijani foreign ministers met in January in both Baku and Istanbul as part of efforts to deepen economic and trade cooperation.

Key to those goals is the plan to create a route dubbed the Zangezur corridor that would link Azerbaijan to the autonomous region of Nakhchivan bordering Turkey.

The corridor, which would go through Armenian territory, is part of a Turkish-Azerbaijani vision to develop a trade route between China and Europe.

Iran strongly opposes the proposed 40-km corridor because, observers say, it fears it would cut a vital route it uses to circumvent sanctions.

Iran’s ally Armenia also opposes the corridor as an imposition on its territory. But with Iran weakened by setbacks in Syria and Lebanon, Baku and Ankara see an opportunity to push ahead.

“A weaker Iran is a huge opportunity for Turkey in the Caucasus,” said Atilla Yesilada, a Turkey analyst for GlobalSource Partners.

“The only reason why Armenia resists the establishment of the Zangezur corridor is because of promises by Iran to defend it militarily.”

But with Iran coming under pressure from the administration of US President Donald Trump, Azerbaijan or Turkey might be less likely to take Iran’s threats seriously, argues Yesilada.

Iran softens its stance

However, given Iran’s regional setbacks and the threat of increased pressure from Washington, Tehran needs friends in the region.

“It would be good for Iran if the Zangezur corridor is opened. It then has much better and closer relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan,” argues Huseyin Bagci, a professor of international relations at Ankara’s Middle East Technical University.

It will depends on “whether they want two countries which are not friendly or two friendly countries,” Bagci adds.

In January, Iran appeared to soften its opposition, with one senior Iranian diplomat declaring opposition to the Zangezor corridor no longer a priority. Tehran’s apparent softening coincides with its deepening ties with Moscow. 

Since Turkey and Azerbaijan don’t enforce many sanctions against Russia, Moscow supports the Zangezor corridor as a way to bypass international sanctions by creating new trade routes through countries that don’t impose them.

US position unclear 

“Russia is basically rebuilding its whole logistical network and this corridor is a potentially important part of this new network from north to south,” says Tatiana Mitrova, a research fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy at New York’s Columbia University. 

“Therefore, Russia is saying: ‘It matters. It’s part of a new plan of diversification of our export and import routes.'”

US and Armenia launched joint military exercises last year in a sign of their closer ties. Analysts suggest that Washington has, until now, contained Turkey and Azerbaijan’s intentions.

However, the new Trump administration has not yet positioned itself on the corridor project. Armenian political consultant Eric Hacopian warns Baku and Ankara could try to exploit the uncertainty.   

“Trump creates chaos, and chaos is an opportunity for bad actors to do things that they normally wouldn’t do when there’s no one on the watch,” said Hacopian.

Turkey’s Erdogan sees new Trump presidency as opportunity

In 2023, Azerbaijan’s army, supported by Turkey, defeated Armenian-backed forces over the disputed Nagorno Karabakh enclave.

A final peace agreement has yet to be secured. But if Ankara focuses its efforts on reviving the stalled Azerbaijani-Armenian peace talks, then diplomatic gains could outweigh the economic benefits of the Zangezur corridor, says Asli Aydintasbas of the Washington-based Brookings Institution says . 

“Turkey can actually make itself a very significant partner (with Trump),” Aydintasbas argued, citing the Armenian-Azerbaijan peace deal.

If Turkey positions itself on that issue “it would be very interesting to President Trump, who wants to position himself as an international peacemaker,” said Aydintasbas. 

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking to foster close ties with Trump. At the same time, the Turkish leader is committed to supporting his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev in their shared goal of turning their countries into a bridge between Europe and China.

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.

As you know, World Radio Day is coming up on 13 February, and we’ll have the annual WRD Sound Kitchen feast next Saturday, 8 February, to get you ready for your upcoming festivities.

Be sure and take a look at the RFI English Listeners Forum Facebook page – there are oodles of wonderful graphics posted by your fellow Sound Kitchen listeners – there’s even a World Radio Day quiz from Anand Mohan Bain, the president of the RFI Pariwer Bandhu SWL Club in Chhattisgarh India – so don’t miss out!

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 21 December, I asked you a question about that week’s International Report podcast, produced by RFI English journalist Melissa Chemam. It was really interesting – Melissa reported on a series of 22 short films produced by Gazan filmmakers.

As Melissa noted: “The films aim to share the voices of people living through the conflict in Gaza, offering a glimpse into their fears, dreams, and hopes.”

Entitled From Ground Zero, the 112-minute collection is presented as a feature film in two parts and has been selected to represent Palestine at the Oscars in March 2025.

The project was made possible by the Masharawi Fund for Gaza Filmmakers, created in 2023 by Palestinian filmmaker Rashid Masharawi.

You were to listen to Melissa’s 15 December International Report podcast – “Gaza’s powerful war narratives make their way to the Oscars” – and answer me this: What are the names of three of Masharawi’s films, and in which years were they produced? 

The answer is, to quote Melissa: “Masharawi, who is from Gaza, is one of the first Palestinian filmmakers to have directed cinema projects in the occupied Palestinian territories.

His first film, Travel Document, was released in 1986, followed by The Shelter in 1989 and Long Days in Gaza in 1991.”

In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question: What would your fantasy road trip be like?

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

The winners are: Ali Shahzad, a member of the RFI Seven Stars Listening Club in District Chiniot, Pakistan. Ali is also this week’s bonus question winner – congratulations on your double win, Ali!  

Also on the list of lucky winners this week are RFI Listeners Club members Father Steven Wara, who lives in the Cistercian Abbey in Bamenda, Cameroon, and Zenon Teles, the president of the Christian – Marxist – Leninist – Maoist Association of Listening DX-ers in Goa, India. There’s Bithi Begum, a member of the Shetu RFI Listeners Club in Naogaon, Bangladesh, and RFI English listener Amara, who belongs to the International Radio Fan and Youth Club in Khanewal, Pakistan.

Congratulations, winners!

Here’s the music you heard on this week’s programme: “The Courtly Dances” from Gloriana by Benjamin Britten, performed by Julian Bream and the Julian Bream Consort; “Bulbul Al-Afrah” by Dede Effendi Bayati Husseini-Muhayyer Maqam, performed by Nidaa Abou Mrad and the Classical Arabic Music Ensemble; “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 “Green Chimneys” by Thelonious Monk, performed by Thelonius Monk with the Thelonius Monk Quartet.  

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 “African nations set to light up the homes of 300 million people by 2030”, which will help you with the answer.

You have until 24 February to enter this week’s quiz; the winners will be announced on the 1 March 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 government’s budget for 2025, if passed, will see public spending slashed by €32 billion. While most ministries are impacted, funding for public development assistance (PDA) is facing cuts of more than €2 billion – 35 percent of its budget. Coordination Sud, an umbrella group for 180 French non-profit organisations working internationally, say they’re being disproportionately hit at a time when international solidarity efforts are needed more than ever. Elodie Barralon, the group’s advocacy officer, talks about the impact of such cuts and concerns that civil society is being rolled back in France. (Listen @0′)

As a three-year experiment with medical marijuana comes to an end, instead of generalising its use, as intended, authorisation has been stalled. Nadine Attal, head of the pain centre at the Ambroise-Paré hospital in Boulogne near Paris addresses the sticking points, which include France’s current government chaos and the lack of political will to move forward. She sounds the alarm over the hundreds of patients enrolled in the experiment who have benefited from medical cannabis but whose health is now being ignored. (Listen @20’20”).

French humourist Pierre Dac came to fame in the 1930s with a winning brand of absurdist humour that managed to get everyone laughing while ridiculing no one. When WWII broke out he turned his talents to fighting anti-semitism, Hitler, and the collaborationist Vichy regime, joining Free France’s Radio Londres in 1943. He also founded a political party that defended the place of laughter and flabbiness in politics.  Fifty years after his death, on 9 February 1975, he remains one of France’s most popular, and humanist of humourists. (Listen @14’20”)

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).

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.