This Sunday, 23 February, polling stations opened at 08:00 AM. More than 59 million Germans are eligible to vote. Exit polls are expected soon after polls close at 6:00 PM.

An election worker, clad in a yellow vest, opens the door for incoming and outgoing voters at the polling station in Bülow Street, housed for the occasion in a home for the elderly.

He says there have been “quite some voters” coming in as soon as the station opened. “It’s an important election”.

Inside the building are two separate stations: no.102 and no.103, serving different areas in the neighbourhood. Voters have to show their identity card to get their ballot and disappear behind one of three polling booths.

Deadly attacks

The centre-right Friedrich Merz is the frontrunner. He has promised a radical shift to the right in an attempt to win back voters from the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD), which opinion polls indicate could win its biggest result in history after a series of deadly attacks blamed on asylum seekers.

If he takes the helm from the incumbent centre-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Merz said his party will stand for a “strong voice” in Europe in a time of international turmoil.

For Titus, a tall man with a red cap, is not so sure. He says he’s politically “very complex.” He voted “left” without specifying for which left-wing party, in order to keep “the (centre-right) CDU out.”

He says he’s a filmmaker and comes from a “diverse” family. “No AfD as far as I know, but very different opinions.

“But we respect love each other”.

Lina is the American wife of another voter. She’s from Baltimore, Maryland and thinks that – compared to the US – the election atmosphere in Germany is “rather calm”. 

She didn’t follow her husband inside the polling station but reflected on the global situation: “It’s been weeks of turmoil. No one knows what will happen next”.

Germany’s political crisis was sparked when Scholz’s coalition – SPD, Greens and the liberal FDP – collapsed on 6 November, the very day Donald Trump was re-elected as President of the United States.

Scholz’s SPD and his coalition partners failed to agree on financial policies. 

The SPD is poling at a record low – just over 15 percent according to a poll taken earlier this month – suggesting that Scholz is paying the price for policy gridlock and Germany’s abysmal economic performance, aggravated by the Ukraine war and massively inflated energy prices.

Frustration with the leadership fuelled the rise of the AfD, which has been polling at more than 20 percent.

However, chances that the party will rule are slim, as other parties say they will refuse any form of cooperation.

Germany’s pivotal election: rising AfD, struggling left, and Europe’s uncertain future

Immigrants blamed for attacks

The AfD is strongest in Germany’s ex-communist east and has capitalised on a series of attacks carried out by asylum seekers.

In December, a car rammed through a crowded Christmas market in the city of Magdenburg, killing six people and wounding hundreds.

A Saudi man was arrested at the scene.

Following the Magdenburg incident, a stabbing spree targeting kindergarten children and another car-ramming attack in Munich were blamed on Afghan immigrants.

And only last Friday, a Syrian man who police said wanted to “kill Jews” was arrested after a Spanish tourist was stabbed in the neck at Berlin’s Holocaust memorial.

“We are here today to demonstrate for law and order and against left-extremism and politically motivated violence,” Ferhat Sentürk told RFI.

He was one of the organisers of a rally of extreme right wing sympathisers and neo-nazis that got permission to march through the centre of Berlin on Saturday.

The group consisted of a few hundred, mostly young, people, clad in black, some with dead-head facemasks and caps. 

They planned to march 1.5 kilometers from Dorothea Schlegel-Platz, near Friedrichstraße U-Bahn station, to Berlin’s main railway station.

The demonstrators were surrounded by a massive police force, separating them from large groups of antifa protestors who were gathering in the streets at the other side of the station and at the opposite quai of the River Spree.

Despite the heavy police presence, one counter-protester managed to get through the cordon.

“These guys are racist and anti-semitic,” said Karoline Preisler, dressed in red and holding a bouquet of colourful tulips. 

“I hope my message is clear. Anti-semitism wasn’t defeated in Germany, it wasn’t defeated in the streets. We have to fight it”.

She explained she is worried about the upcoming elections: “Right-wing parties are becoming more popular. 

“In the past, democratic parties did not tackle one very important theme: migration. Migration belongs to everyday life, but the problems it generates are not being solved,” she told RFI.

Meanwhile, Sentürk – the organiser of Saturday’s rally – boasted that “Germany is finally standing up” and is happy that “the right or centre-right political discourse is finally ignited,” referring to recent attempts by the opposition CDU to cooperate with the hard-right AfD on a migration law.

The motion passed by 348 to 344 votes, but a second reading, on 31 January was narrowly rejected with 349 to 338 with five abstentions. 

The CDU-AfD joint move already led to massive demonstrations in Berlin and other cities earlier this month, but CDU leader Friedrich Merz was quick to distance himself from the temporary alliance, claiming the AfD is out to “destroy” the CDU.

But the seed of distrust between the CDU and potential coalition partners was sown.

The CDU-AfD deal broke the longstanding barrier between mainstream political parties and the AfD, thus complicating coalition negotiations that are set to begin after Sunday’s elections. 

Sentürk and his group welcome the broader shift to the right in both German and European politics. They also admire US President Donald Trump.

“We support Donald Trump and his policies. From his first day in office, he made an impact on Europe, dismantling the left-wing agenda in a single day—and we think that’s fantastic. We like it. Happily. I wish him all the best.”

By 11:30am on Saturday, a long line of police cars with blue flashlights started to move slowly, and hundreds of hard-right protesters followed, chanting “immigrants out” to a drumbeat.

Marchers at the front carried their name – the “Bürgerliche Allianz Deutschland” or German Civil Alliance – and their acronym: B.A.D.

The group then set to cross the Wiedammer bridge, but was faced with thousands of antifa protesters gathered on the other side of the river, beating drums and chanting “Nazis ‘Raus!” or Nazis! Out!

The groups were separated by police in full riot gear, wearing helmets, shields and guns. Members of the groups exchanged obscene gestures and yelled curses at each other. 

Along the way, different antifa demonstrators tried to intervene and block the progress of the far-right supporters. 

At key intersections, counter-protesters who had anticipated the far-right march’s route – sat down, blocking the progress of the group.

The group would then come to a standstill. In order to keep his followers from rioting, Sentürk would grab the microphone and hold speeches that would last several minutes, followed by marching music.

The police, consulting maps, would then plot an alternative route and guide the group around the blockades. 

By the end of the day, there were several standoffs between the groups and in some cases, police had to resort to pepper spray to disperse the protesters.

More demonstrations are planned for the remainder of the weekend.

Polling stations will open across Germany at 08:00am, Sunday. 

In the running for leader of Europe’s biggest economy are candidates from the ruling centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), Germany’s oldest political party; the opposition centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU); Alliance 90/The Greens, and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is fielding a candidate for the first time. 

Olaf Scholz (SPD)

The incumbent Scholz, 66, was elected Germany’s chancellor in September 2021. An experienced administrator, this Social Democrat served as the mayor of Hamburg and has held two ministerial positions – labour and finance. Scholz is married to fellow SPD politician Britta Ernst.

Upon being appointed chancellor, he had to deal with the aftermath of the Covid-19 crisis, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Under Scholz, Germany became the second biggest donor of military aid to Ukraine, after the United States. His government managed to prevent an energy crunch and fought growing inflation. But his three-party coalition collapsed in November over disputes about how to revitalise the economy, which has been shrinking for the past two years. 

On France:

As the current chancellor, Scholz has emphasised the importance of the Franco-German friendship, stating that it “remains essential”. He shares President Emmanuel Macron’s goal of a “geopolitical Europe”.

In January 2025, Scholz met with Macron in Paris to discuss the challenges Europe is facing and the Franco-German response, reaffirming the importance of the 1963 Élysée Treaty which “lays the foundations for close bilateral cooperation to support European integration”. However, Scholz and Macron have not always seen eye to eye on Ukraine, with Scholz taking a softer line on Russia.

Friedrich Merz (CDU)

Merz, 69, is Germany’s opposition leader and the front runner in the election campaign. His centre-right Union bloc is leading polls, albeit with historic lows.

Merz has steered the CDU in a more conservative direction, making the fight against illegal immigration his central campaign issue. He was elected to the European Parliament in 1989, becoming an MP in Germany five years later. In 2009, he took a break from active politics for several years, practising as a lawyer and heading the supervisory board of investment management firm BlackRock’s German branch. Merz is married to judge Charlotte Merz and they have three children.

On France:

Merz has accused Scholz of damaging the relationship between Germany and France, claiming it has been at its “lowest point” since Scholz took office. The CDU has always presented itself as “the European party” and Merz feels that the EU stability that is bolstered by a solid Franco-German relationship is faltering.

Robert Habeck (Greens)

Habeck, 55, is currently Germany’s vice chancellor, as well as federal minister for economic affairs and climate action. As co-leader of the Greens alongside Annalena Baerbock from 2018 to 2022, he presided over a rise in the party’s popularity.

The Greens nominated Baerbock as their candidate for chancellor in the 2021 election, the first time the party had nominated a single candidate instead of co-leaders. Habeck said the decision as to which of the pair should stand had come after years of difficult conversations, but displayed unity with Baerbock.

Habeck’s record as a minister has drawn mixed reviews, particularly over a plan his ministry drew up to replace fossil-fuel heating systems with greener alternatives, which deepened divisions in the government. Habeck is married to writer Andrea Paluch and has four children. 

On France:

Habeck, in his role as minister for the economy, has presented a strategy for German industrial policy that includes a focus on Europe. Along with the French and Italian ministers of economy, he has been pushing the EU to strengthen European industrial policy in order to stave off increasingly harsh competition from the US and China.

After last summer’s French election, Habeck expressed relief that the left ultimately triumphed over the far right, but said he still had concerns over what lay ahead, saying: “We cannot say this went well and tick the checkbox yet. We still need to pay close attention to what happens next in France.”

Alice Weidel (AfD)

Weidel, 46, represents the first attempt by Germany’s populist, anti-immigration AfD party to win the position of chancellor. An economist by training, she joined the party shortly after its founding in 2013. She has been its co-leader since 2022, alongside Tino Chrupalla. The party nominated her as their candidate for chancellor in December.

However, as other parties have repeatedly said that they would not enter a coalition with the AfD – and a coalition is the most likely outcome of these elections – her chances of clinching the top job are slim. Weidel is in a relationship with Sri Lankan-born filmmaker Sarah Bossard and they have two children.

Weidel’s grandfather, Hans Weidel, was a member of the Nazi party, joining in 1932 and later serving as a prominent military judge, appointed directly by Adolf Hitler. Heildel has claimed she had no knowledge of her grandfather’s role in the Nazi regime, saying he was estranged from her family. 

On France:

Weidel and the AfD promote an anti-European agenda. Weidel believes Macron is on the wrong track and that “more Europe” is the wrong response to scepticism in EU member states. She sees Macron’s ideas on Europe as moves towards a centralised European federal state.

In January 2024, she was sharply criticised by Marine Le Pen, leader of the French far-right National Rally party, over her plans for “mass remigration” of foreigners. “I totally disagree with the proposal,” said Le Pen, adding that she herself defends “all French people, regardless of the conditions under which they acquired their nationality”.

A man who went on a stabbing rampage in Mulhouse, Alsace on Saturday – killing one and wounding several others – was on a terrorism watchlist and subject to deportation orders.

The knife-wielding suspect is a 37-year-old Algerian-born man identified as Brahim Abdessemed.

President Macron has condemned the incident, unequivocally labelling it an “Islamist terrorist act” and reaffirming the nation’s commitment to eradicating terrorism.

Posting on X, Macron expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and the solidarity of the French people.  

The assault occurred around 4:00 PM local time near the Covered Market in Mulhouse, coinciding with a demonstration supporting the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Witnesses reported that the attacker shouted “Allahu Akbar” – “God is great” – multiple times during the rampage.

He first targeted municipal police officers, inflicting serious injuries on two – one officer sustained a wound to the carotid artery, while another was stabbed in the chest.

Three additional officers suffered minor injuries. A 69-year-old Portuguese national, who intervened to assist the officers, was fatally wounded.

The assailant was apprehended at the scene. 

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Assailant’s background

Brahim Abdessemed reportedly arrived in France illegally in 2014 and had been under scrutiny by French intelligence services for his radical Islamist views.

In December 2023, he was convicted for “glorifying terrorism” after posting a 15-minute video in which he recited verses from the Koran and called on Muslims to “take up arms and fight the infidels”.

He was sentenced to six months in prison and issued an order to leave French territory.

Despite being placed under house arrest, efforts to deport him were unsuccessful due to Algeria’s refusal to accept his repatriation.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau revealed that France had attempted to expel Abdessemed ten times, but each attempt was thwarted by Algeria’s non-cooperation.

Man jailed for knife attack aimed at French magazine Charlie Hebdo

Combatting terrorism

In the aftermath of Saturday’s attack, President Macron expressed his condolences to the victim’s family and emphasised the government’s determination to combat terrorism on French soil.

He stated, “Once again, Islamist terrorism has struck, and we are in mourning.”

Prime Minister François Bayrou echoed these sentiments, denouncing the act as fanaticism and extending sympathies to the affected families.

The attack has affected the residents of Mulhouse, a city of approximately 110,000 people near the German border.

Mayor Michèle Lutz expressed her shock at the incident, stating: “Horror has just seized our city”.

The local community has rallied together, holding vigils and offering support to the victims’ families and the injured officers.

Heightened security at Strasbourg Christmas market after attack in Germany

Investigation underway

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Retailleau visited Mulhouse to assess the situation and support local authorities.

France’s National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) has taken charge of the investigation, focusing on charges of murder and attempted murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise.

Authorities are probing Abdessemed’s history, including his radicalisation process and potential connections to extremist networks.

The incident has reignited debates over France’s immigration policies and the challenges associated with deporting individuals deemed security threats, especially when their countries of origin refuse repatriation.

It has also sparked discussion on the balance between civil liberties and security measures, as well as the effectiveness of France’s counter-terrorism strategies.

Speaking to French broadcaster BFMTV on Friday, education minister Elisabeth Borne said: “I want us to be able to organise, together with the prefect, the prosecutor and the representative of the education system, regular bag searches at the entrance of schools.”

The spot searches will begin in the spring, and will be carried out by police as teachers and school staff are not authorised to search pupils.

The new policy was prompted by stabbings becoming “much more common,” Borne said.

Macron condemns ‘Islamist terror’ after deadly Mulhouse knife attack

Schools under surveillance

She added she would also seek a rule change by which any pupil found with a bladed weapon at school would automatically have to appear before a disciplinary council. Any such case would also trigger a notification of prosecutors “without exception”. Currently such a procedure is at the discretion of heads of schools.

Minute of silence in memory of French teachers killed by jihadists

At the start of the month, a 17-year-old high school student was seriously wounded in a stabbing at his school in Bagneux, a southwestern suburb of Paris.

Seine-Saint-Denis, a region north of the capital with above-average crime rates, this month placed around 20 middle and high schools under police surveillance, with some 100 officers deployed.

The move was to help “prevent a repeat of violent acts” after a series of incidents, the authorities said.

French teen dies of heart failure after knife attack near school

(with AFP)

PSG followed up their 3-0 romp past Brest on 11 February at the Municipal Du Roudourou with a 7-0 annihilation on 19 February at the Parc des Princes.

“The scoreline hurt,” said Brest coach Eric Roy after the mauling which terminated with severe prejudice the club’s first foray into European club football’s most prestigious competition.

“We really didn’t want to end our adventure this way,” he added. “We were hoping to try and come back into the tie but PSG  were far superior.”

Gone are the Champions League days of eight pools of four teams where the top two progress to the last-16.

The new era offers a division comprising 36 teams who play eight matches against various opponents. The top eight qualify automatically for the last-16. Those from ninth to 24th battle home and away for the remaining eight slots.

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Roy’s charges reached the play-offs after finishing the group stages in 18th position. PSG completed their group stage campaign in 15th. 

It wasn’t supposed to be that way for PSG’s billion euro project. Poor marksmanship in the game against PSV Eindhoven and Atletico Madrid coupled with simple blunders against Bayern Munich left Enrique’s side outside the berths for the play-offs. After six games they had mustered seven points.  

But after coming back from 2-0 down against Manchester City to win 4-2 in their penultimate game and a straightforward 3-0 whirl in Stuttgart in the group stage finale, PSG managed to scramble up the table.

Draw

Drawn against their fellow travellers from Ligue 1, PSG’s place seemed assured in the last-16 from the moment Ousmane Dembélé scored their second goal in the first leg on the stroke of half-time.

“When you win the first leg, the second leg can be something of a banana skin,” Enrique said after his team’s progress. “But once we got the first goal at the Parc des Princes that put Brest on the back foot and that gave us an easier second-half.”

PSG were rewarded with a last-16 tie against Liverpool following the draw in the Swiss city of Nyon on Friday afternoon at the headquarters of the competition organisers Uefa.

Brest, who are ninth, return to Ligue 1 duties on Sunday afternoon against seventh-placed Strasbourg before entertaining second division Dunkerque on 26 February in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France.

Correa hits late winner for Atletico Madrid to punish wasteful PSG

“What’s important is what’s going to happen in the future,” said Roy. “We’ve got a lot of great things to do and we’re going to keep working. Sometimes we fall down, and then we have to know if we’re capable of getting back up again.

“What the players have experienced in the Champions League this season is quite unique, so it has to be positive, an extra motivation to get back there.

“If the boys want to get back to these kind of European jousts, they’re going to have to bounce back and that means good results from this weekend onwards in Ligue 1.”

Monaco boss Adi Hütter issued the same challenge to his players after they went out to Benfica at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon.

Challenge

Unlike Brest, Monaco do not have the distractions of the Coupe de France and, lying fourth after 24 games with 40 points, are in a better position to return to next season’s Champions League.

“We can learn a lot from this level of competition,” said Hütter following the 3-3 draw which furnished Benfica with a 4-3 aggregate success and a clash with Barcelona in the last-16.

Mbappé fights off-field drama buoyed by support of Madrid fans

“Against Benfica we made too many mistakes that are easy to avoid,” Hütter lamented. “But on the other hand we also put them under a lot of pressure. We were strong on that front and we must learn from this elimination.”

Hütter added: “For the youngsters in the team it’s a great experience. What I saw during the game in Lisbon makes me really proud, and it’s a promise for the future.”

A test of that mettle will come at Stade Pierre Mauroy on Saturday afternoon in the game against Lille who sit two points behind Monaco and are also pushing for one of the slots leading to next season’s Champions League.

Their prize for finishing seventh in the group stages in this season’s competition was a tie with the 2024  beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund.

Niko Kovac, the boss of the German outfit, reacted soberly to the draw with Bruno Genesio’s charges.

“Lille will be a serious proposition,” said the 53-year-old. “I know the French top flight and I know the quality of this club.

“When I was boss at Monaco, Lille won the title. Of course, some of those players have left but there are still good players there and they have a good coach.

“They beat some good teams in the group stages to qualify automatically. We’re not going to be in for two easy games.”

Just after scoring a hat trick to dispatch Manchester City from the competition, France skipper Kylian Mbappé said he would prefer his Real Madrid side to meet city rivals Atletico rather than Bayer Leverkusen in the last-16

“Both would be difficult games,” Mbappé told Spanish broadcaster Movistar. “So it’s better to have a difficult game without having to travel.”

And voilà. Mbappé’s wish was granted. Leverkusen will take on fellow Germans Bayern Munich. In other ties Arsenal will meet PSV Eindhoven, Club Brugge will play Aston Villa and Feyenoord will battle with Inter Milan in ties to be played during the first two weeks of March.

Nigeria is on a quest to repatriate thousands of intricate bronze sculptures and castings that were looted by British soldiers during a raid on the then-separate Kingdom of Benin, located in what is now southwestern Nigeria, in 1897.

The Dutch embassy said in a statement the Netherlands would return 119 artefacts, after an agreement signed between its education minister and the head of Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments.

The artefacts are expected to arrive in Nigeria later this year.

The collection includes 113 bronzes that are part of the Dutch State Collection. Six others will be returned by the Municipality of Rotterdam.

“The Netherlands is returning the Benin Bronzes unconditionally, recognising that the objects were looted during the British attack on Benin City in 1897, and should have never ended up in the Netherlands,” the embassy statement said.

The statement quoted National Commission for Museums and Monuments director general Olugbile Holloway saying that, when completed, this will be the single largest return of the ancient antiquities to date

‘Historical injustice’

The artefacts are commonly called the Benin Bronzes because the objects originated from the Kingdom of Benin, in today’s Nigeria.

They are made of brass and bronze and include elaborately decorated cast relief plaques, commemorative heads, animal and human figures, items of royal regalia, and personal ornaments.

According to the British Museum, they were created from the 1500s onwards in the West African Kingdom of Benin by a specialist guild working for the royal court of the Oba, the King in Benin City.

In addition to the 113 bronzes displayed at the Wereldmuseum (World Museum) in Leiden, the municipality of Rotterdam will also return six other objects looted in the British raid.

“With this return, we are contributing to the redress of a historical injustice that is still felt today,” Dutch culture minister Eppo Bruins, said

“We hope that this will be a good example…for other countries worldwide,” Holloway, director of the Nigerian National Commission for Museums and Monuments, said in his statement.

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Legacy of colonialism

Since being looted in 1897 from the royal palace of the Oba by British colonial troops, the bronzes had been largely acquired by several European museums.

These remarkable artworks have come to symbolise the broader restitution debate.

Two British universities – Cambridge University and the University of Aberdeen – returned two of the artefacts in the early 2020s.

In mid-October 2021, Germany and Nigeria signed a memorandum of understanding setting out a timetable for the return of around 1,100 sculptures from German museums.

The UN’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) welcomed the return of Benin bronzes to Nigeria.

“Unesco welcomes this historic agreement as an example of successful international cooperation, allowing the African continent to reclaim its heritage,” Ernesto Ottone, Unesco Assistant Director-General for Culture, said.

European reluctance

Benin, Ghana, Ethiopia and Egypt are also demanding that France, Belgium, Germany, the US and the UK return of objects, artefacts, and royal items looted during the colonial period. 

In Ghana and Benin, progress has been made, with return of artefacts and royal items.

After Britain, the US sends looted royal artefacts to Ghana’s Ashanti King

However, dozens, possibly hundreds, of Bronzes from Nigeria remain in European museums, notably in France, Switzerland and the UK, where curators have only agreed to discuss loans of African artefacts to African museums. 

Museums in France alone store some 90,000 objects from sub Saharan Africa, according to a 2018 report.

The British Museum in London has refused to return any of its famed collection. A law passed in 1963 technically prevents the museum from giving back the treasures.

Late in January, during a Unesco conference in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, discussing the return of statues, paintings and other works to the continent, looted in colonial times, Ottone also reckoned that a new generation of young Africans is adding to the pressure on Western museums to return stolen artefacts,

“Over the past five or six years, we have seen pressure in the street,” Ottone said.

The decisions from Germany and the Netherlands might now open further conversation in Europe on these types of returns. 

 (with newswires)

The conflict in the eastern DRC has experienced a dramatic escalation recently.

Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf elected as AU commission chairman

The city of Goma, capital of the North Kivu province, fell to M23 fighters at the end of January.

The rebels are being supported by Rwandan soldiers, a claim that the government in Kigali continues to deny, despite evidence and reports of casualties among Rwandan troops.

Fighting resumes in DRC’s South Kivu ahead of crisis talks

The city has come to symbolise the conflict that has torn apart eastern DRC for more than three decades.

The M23 has launched additional attacks in South Kivu, and despite talks in Tanzania earlier in February and a brief ceasefire, the fighting persists. As a result, millions of Congolese have been displaced, with nearly 3,000 lives lost.

To explore the role of diplomacy in the country, as well as in other violent crises across the continent, my first guest is Liesl Louw-Vaudran from the International Crisis Group.

She joins us from Addis Ababa, where the African Union’s headquarters are located, following the release of the group’s annual report outlining the eight priorities the AU should focus on.

We will also hear from civilians fleeing Goma and from Paulin Nkwosseu, the Chief of Field Offices at UNICEF for the DRC.

Episode mixed by Erwan Rome.

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

Among the AI projects being showcased beneath the glass roof of the Grand Palais is a robot that could help to break down barriers in healthcare.

“Our AI will provide practical, tailored answers to questions about sexual health and HIV prevention, which are still very taboo subjects. Our users can ask all the questions they want, and our AI will guide them through self-testing and, if necessary, put them in touch anonymously with clinicians,” said Sarah Morris, marketing manager for South African-American company Audere, which produces this robot.

Why the African continent has a role to play in developing AI

AI diagnostics

While this week’s AI Action Summit in Paris is a showcase for future developments in the sphere, AI is already being used to support healthcare professionals.

One area in which it is widely used is medical imaging, where it helps to detect fractures and cancers – notably breast cancer. In a Paris radiology clinic, between the usual light panels and high-definition screens, a small computer equipped with AI software is now playing a crucial role in analysing mammograms.

“AI can detect suspicious microcalcifications on mammograms, ranking their severity on a scale of one to 10. If the AI classifies an anomaly as an eight, further tests are required,” explained Dr Grégory Lenczner, radiologist and president of the Radiological Society for the Île-de-France region.

But is AI better at detection than an expert radiologist? According to Dr Lenczner, studies show that AI does not detect more anomalies than a human expert. However, in everyday practice, the technology offers valuable confirmation.

“AI is not going to detect more things than an expert radiologist. But in everyday life, you can be disturbed by a phone call or visual fatigue, and the human side comes into play. So the AI confirms that we haven’t missed anything,” he said.

Creation must remain ‘fundamentally human’, says expert ahead of Paris AI summit

For Anne, a patient whose routine mammogram result was normal, this additional layer of analysis is reassuring. “It reassures me because, in fact, there are two opinions. For me, it’s complementary.”

There is a risk, however, that AI can raise unnecessary doubts by suggesting false anomalies. “It can waste our time and, above all, cause the patient to have to go for more X-rays and worry for nothing,” explains Dr Christine Salem. 

While the process is yet to be perfected, it is expected that the more AI is used in the medical field, the better it will perform.

New solutions for disabilities

The Paris summit coincides with the 20th anniversary of France’s Disability Act, and AI is raising hopes in this area too.

Blind since birth, Manuel Pereira uses Be My Eyes, an AI application which, among other functions, describes photos. Scanning the screen of his phone, he says AI is already transforming daily life for visually impaired people.

But, he says, we still need to go much further. “The dream would be to establish a natural dialogue with the everyday appliances we use – the fridge, the oven and so on. You’re standing in front of your oven, and you say to it, OK, I’ve just put in a veal roast, can you programme to cook it for 30 or 40 minutes.”

Macron announces €109 bn investments in AI as leaders, tech giants meet in Paris

He dreams of being able to use AI systems in which the user wears glasses that are connected to their mobile phone – something which is already in use in the United States but currently banned in France. “You’ll be able to walk down the street and ask artificial intelligence ‘tell me what you see’, which will make people more independent in their daily lives.”

However, Pereira also raises a paradoxical point – AI technology can be intimidating for older people, when they are the ones most often affected by the type of health problems it can help solve.

This article has been adapted from the original French version.

The applications, which the United Nations cultural arm will examine in July 2026, were developed in collaboration with the municipal and regional councils that administer the two sites, according to a Ministry of Culture communiqué.

The D-Day landings on beaches along the Normandy coast in 1944 turned the tide of the Second World War in Europe. The Ministry said the beaches represent a “place of gathering around a universal message” and carry “the memory of a fight for freedom and peace”.

The area proposed for Unesco World Heritage status is made up of the five sectors of the Landings as defined by the Allies in 1944: Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, Juno Beach, Gold Beach and Sword Beach, spanning more than 80 kilometres of coastline.

The coastline is littered with the legacy of the war, from the bunkers of the Atlantic Wall to the wrecks of French, English and German warships.

The application was initiated in 2014 and initially submitted in 2018 but its examination by the Unesco World Heritage Committee scheduled for 2019 was postponed, with the organisation saying it was considering “the evaluation of sites associated with recent conflicts”.

Cultural treasures in Africa and French Polynesia join Unesco heritage list

‘The logical next step’

The committee lifted this moratorium in January 2023, allowing memorial applications submitted before 2022 to be examined outside the quota of one application per year and per state, the Ministry said.

“We all hope that this application will succeed, it is the logical next step in the process of remembrance and commemoration,” Michael Dodds, director of the Normandy Regional Tourism Committee, told French news agency AFP.

Remembering D-Day’s heavy toll on French civilians

Unesco has adopted several guiding principles concerning the participation of all stakeholders potentially affected by a conflict.

Since then, five memorial sites have become World Heritage Sites, including 139 burial sites from the First World War located in France and Belgium, and four memorials commemorating the Tutsi genocide in Rwanda.

France’s second application concerns “the system of fortresses of the Seneschal of Carcassonne, built in the 13th to 14th centuries”.

This system is made up of eight monuments situated between the departments of Aude and Ariège: the ramparts of Carcassonne and the nearby castles of Lastours, Termes, Aguilar, Peyrepertuse, Quéribus, Puilaurens and Montségur, the Ministry said.

“Built on rocky peaks in grandiose landscapes,” these monuments “illustrate a pivotal period in history and offer a unique example of military architecture giving them exceptional universal value”.

(with AFP)

Naâman released his final song Mon Amour in December as a testament to life and love. “Life only dies in books”, he sang.

Born in Normandy, he fell in love with the music of Bob Marley aged 12 and went on to become a leading figure on the French reggae scene combining hip-hop and raggamuffin with more traditional beats.

His catchy hit Outta Road garnered some 29 million views online.

RFI’s World Music Matters met Naâman in 2015 for the release of his second album Rays of Resistance where, among other things, he talked about transcending the ego in music.

Countries are looking for sovereignty in artificial intelligence and at a major AI summit in Paris this week, France and the EU backed a “third path” approach to AI – midway between the US’ private tech firm-dominated model and China’s state-controlled technology. With a focus on regulation to ensure trust, France is creating public/private partnerships, and encouraging companies to develop home-grown products. Linagora, an open-source software developper, recently released a large language model (LLM) trained on French and European content, in contrast to American LLMs like ChatGPT that are trained on mainly US content. While chatbot Lucie got off to a rocky start, Linagora’s General Manager Michel Maudet says there’s a clear need for technology focused on Europe, able to address the nuance of the continent’s languages and culture. (Listen @0′)

French MPs recently voted a controversial draft bill to end birthright citizenship on the overseas department of Mayotte to discourage illegal immigration from neighbouring Comoros. Prime Minister François Bayrou supports the proposed measure and has called for a wider debate on immigration and what it means to be French. His earlier remarks that there was a feeling immigrants were “flooding” France have caused outrage on the left in particular.  We talk to Tania Racho, a researcher on European law and who also works for an association fighting disinformation on migration issues, about the reality of immigration in France. While the data does not support claims France is overwhelmed with foreigners, people’s perceptions – nourished by a fixation on migration by both politicians and media – tell a different story. (Listen @18’40”)

Twenty years after the 11 February 2005 law on disability and inclusion, daily life for France’s 12 million people living with disabilities has improved. But since the law underestimated the timelines and costs of accessibility, there’s still a lot of work to be done. (Listen @14’30”)

Episode mixed by Vincent Pora. 

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).

This anniversary fell on Saturday, 8 February, and on Monday Google announced that it had changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” for those using its Maps application inside the United States, complying with an executive order by President Trump.

The tech giant wrote in a blog post that users outside the US will continue to see both the original and the new name, created by the Trump administration, for the Gulf of Mexico, as is the case with other disputed locations.

“People using Maps in the US will see Gulf of America, and people in Mexico will see Gulf of Mexico. Everyone else will see both names,” Google wrote.

Following another of Trump’s orders, Denali – the highest mountain peak in North America, located in Alaska – will revert back to its former name of Mount McKinley, honouring former US president William McKinley. This is a reversal of a decision made by former president Barack Obama in 2015 to give the mountain back its traditional Alaskan native name (meaning “the high one”) which had been in use in Alaska for centuries.

Trump’s renaming of the mountain has sparked criticism from indigenous groups in Alaska, who have long advocated for maintaining the Denali name

As Trump declares ‘Gulf of America,’ US enters name wars

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Google wrote: “We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources.”

It added that the changes are made once the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) – a database of names and locations of cultural and geographical features in the US – has been updated.

“When official names vary between countries, [Google] Maps users see their official local name,” Google said. “Everyone in the rest of the world sees both names.”

Claudia Sheinbaum, the president of Mexico, wrote to Google to ask it to reconsider. She also sardonically suggested that the company could rename the United States “Mexican America”, pointing to a map from before a third of her country was seized by the US in 1848.

Territorial disputes

The naming of places, like the drawing of maps, is an unavoidably political consideration, particularly when it comes to territorial disputes, and Google Maps has juggled toponymy and cartography over its 20 years of existence.

In the midst of the Arab Spring in August 2011, as rebel troops took over Tripoli, RFI reported that Google Maps had erased the name of the city’s Place Verte (“Green Square”) and replaced it with Place des Martyrs (“Martyrs’ Square”) – its previous name before Muammar Gaddafi’s regime changed it. This despite the fact that Gaddafi was still alive at this time. 

Google rivals join forces in online maps

However, in the previous month South Sudan had been recognised by the United Nations following its independence from Sudan – but not by Google Maps.

In 2016, the tech company found itself in the crosshairs of the government of India, the world’s second most populous country. The Indian administration launched a bill to impose strict controls – on pain of fines or even imprisonment – on how the country was represented on all online mapping tools.

Google maps thus had to adapt to New Delhi’s preferences regarding territorial disputes with Pakistan over Kashmir, claimed by Islamabad, and with China over Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing wanted to make an independent state.

Middle East conflict

The same year, the US company found itself at the centre of a social media storm, particularly in the Arab-Muslim world, when a union of Palestinian journalists pointed out that neither the word “Palestine” nor the designation “Palestinian Territories” appeared on Google Maps. Nor, at that time, did the words “Gaza” or “West Bank”.

Palestinian towns were indicated, and the 1967 borders were drawn in dotted lines. But as for the disappearance of the terms “Gaza” and “West Bank”, Google blamed a “bug”. Still today, “Palestinian Territories” does not appear.

NGOs on both sides of the Israel-Palestine conflict continue to keep a tally of West Bank villages not mentioned or “wiped off the map”. The Avaaz Foundation, a non-profit organisation, launched a campaign aimed at the Silicon Valley giant named #ShowTheWall, to have Israel’s controversial separation barrier shown on Google Maps.

‘We do our best’

Google Maps has been known to play it safe and attempt to keep both parties of a conflict on side. Following the 2014 annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea by the Russian Federation, to avoid incurring the wrath of either Kyiv or Moscow – and for fear of being banned in either territory – the company created three maps of the location that year.

For Russian users, Crimea was shown as separated from Ukraine by a border. For the Ukrainians, the map remained as before, showing Crimea attached to their territory, without a border. For the search engine’s users in the rest of the world, Crimea was shown bordered with two dotted lines, reflecting a conflict.

This is also the current state of affairs on the application with Georgia and Kosovo, although not currently with eastern Ukraine.

Germany opens anti-cartel probe into Google Maps

“We do our best to represent disputed borders,” explained a spokeswoman for Google Maps at the time. “Where appropriate, the borders of these disputed areas are drawn in a special way.”

In a divided world, and with those divisions played out in the digital sphere, such ability to adapt is increasingly crucial.

This article was adapted from the original French version.

Speaking at the Paris Agricultural Show on Saturday, President Emmanuel Macron said that France is ramping up its efforts to form a “blocking minority” within the European Union to prevent the implementation of a trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur.

The agreement, announced in December by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, aims to establish a vast free trade zone encompassing more than 700 million people across the EU and Mercosur nations – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

However, it has faced strong resistance from France, particularly among farmers and political groups.

Taking to social media, Macron posted on X: “I will always defend the French agricultural model, so that our farmers continue to produce and feed us, as they know so well how to do, with heart”.

More than 600 French parliamentarians have signed a letter to Ursula von der Leyen, arguing that the conditions for approving the Mercosur deal have not been met.

They have cited concerns over massive deforestation in the Amazon, the widespread use of pesticides in Brazil, and significant disparities in animal welfare regulations.

Lawmakers warn that this agreement could result in unfair competition for European producers, endanger food security, and contradict the EU’s climate goals.

Mercosur deal in sight as EU chief von der Leyen pushes past French objections

Oppostion to Mercosur

During his visit to Argentina in November, Macron reiterated his opposition to the deal in its current form, stating that it would be “very bad for our agriculture”.

He also emphasised that several Mercosur countries, along with other EU member states, share similar reservations about the treaty.

Opposition to the agreement extends beyond political circles.

The FNSEA – France’s largest agricultural union – has launched a series of protests since November, arguing that the agreement would put European farmers at a disadvantage.

French farmers protest EU-Mercosur deal, block motorways in southern France

Demonstrations have included gatherings outside government offices and road blockades, reflecting the growing dissatisfaction among French farmers regarding what they see as unfair competition.

Despite French opposition, the European Commission – backed by Germany and Spain – is pushing for the deal’s finalisation by the end of the year.

Should the agreement be ratified despite France’s resistance, however; it would be a blow to the country’s influence within the bloc and could fuel Eurosceptic sentiment on a domestic level.

The “Salon de l’Agriculture” showcase is a major annual event in France, attracting some 600,000 visitors over nine days, and for the first time in more than 60 years, the fair will welcome a foreign country as guest of honour.

“I looked at the European level, and at all the fairs, the international aspect of exchanges is emphasised. We cannot remain closed off from the world,” Jérôme Desprey, president of the show, said on Friday. 

“We see this with the deterioration of our trade balance, which weighs on our agriculture. The Agricultural Show is also business, with the presence of interprofessional organisations and sectors,” Desprey added.

When asked about this choice in the context of tensions between France and Algeria, French Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard explained earlier this month that it was the decision of the show organisers, while asserting that it was a “good choice,” which “continues the visit” of President Emmanuel Macron in October to Morocco.

France and Algeria have been embroiled in a deep diplomatic crisis since Paris announced, at the end of July, its support for Morocco’s autonomy plan in Western Sahara, a territory with an undefined status at the UN and the site of a decades-long conflict between Morocco and the Sahrawi independence movement, the Polisario Front, supported by Algeria.

Macron renews French support for Moroccan rule in disputed Western Sahara

“We are within the framework of the International Agricultural Show. I want us to stay as much as possible within the agricultural field,” added Genevard.

In addition to geopolitical issues, the tensions between French and Moroccan cherry tomato producers were also raised.

Cherry tomato production

Last year, French farmers singled out Moroccan tomatoes, like Ukrainian sugar, as a symbol of unfair competition.

The French Producers of tomatoes and cucumbers organisation also denounced “environmental and social absurdities,” arguing that the irrigation of this crop in Morocco exacerbated the “overexploitation of most underground water resources,” while the country was experiencing its sixth consecutive year of drought.

During Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Rabat, “we agreed on the principle of relaunching the Franco-Moroccan tomato committee […] French and Moroccan producers must find their rightful place,” said Genevard.

Morocco’s booth in the international pavilion will be expanded and will feature products from “Moroccan terroir,” including argan oil, olive oil, saffron, and dates, listed the General Director of the Agency for Agricultural Development (ADA), El Mahdi Arrifi.

In return, France will be the guest of honour at the next International Agricultural Show in Morocco in April.

(with AFP)

Jordan Bardella  – president of France’s National Rally (RN) – had been scheduled to speak at the CPAC meeting in Maryland on the relationship between the United States and France, as well as the rise of nationalist movements in Europe.

However, after learning of Bannon’s controversial salute gesture, he announced his immediate cancellation.

“Yesterday, while I was not in the room, one of the speakers out of provocation allowed himself a gesture alluding to Nazi ideology. I therefore took the immediate decision to cancel my speech,” Bardella said in a statement.

An adviser confirmed to AFP that Bardella was referring to Bannon, a former adviser to US President Donald Trump.

Bardella’s decision is seen as an effort to maintain the RN’s attempt at mainstream legitimacy, as Marine Le Pen – his predecessor and political ally – has worked to distance the party from its historically controversial associations.

Bardella, 27, suceeds Le Pen as head of France’s National Rally party

Bannon’s Reaction

Bannon reportedly reacted with fury, calling Bardella “a little boy, not a man” in an interview with French magazine Le Point.  

He insisted his gesture – briefly extending his arm with a stiff palm-down motion – was a simple wave that he frequently uses at conferences.

“If he cancelled over what the mainstream media said about the speech, he didn’t listen to it. If that’s true, he’s unworthy to lead France,” Bannon stated.

He further mocked Bardella, adding, “If he’s that worried about it and wets himself like a little child, then he’s unworthy and will never lead France”.

Fears of far-right takeover spur widespread protests across France

Context and Controversy

The incident follows a similar controversy last month when billionaire Elon Musk made a gesture that drew comparisons to a Nazi salute.

Musk dismissed the criticism on his platform, X, saying, “Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired”.

Bannon – a longtime supporter of nationalist movements including the RN – has a history of provocative rhetoric.

He spent nearly four months in federal prison last year for contempt of Congress in connection with the 2021 US Capitol riots. 

The US Anti-Defamation League did not directly address Bannon’s gesture but criticised his history, stating: “Bannon has a long and disturbing history of stoking antisemitism and hate, threatening violence, and empowering extremists. We are not surprised, but are concerned about the normalisation of this behavior”.

Greece is reacting furiously against France over the potential sale of the Meteor air-to-air missile to Turkey. The missile sale and the Turkish bid to procure Europe’s Eurofighter threatened to erase Greece’s military edge over its rival Turkey.

Despite France and Greece recently signing a defence pact, French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly rejected Greek calls to block the missile sale, which is made by a European consortium headquartered in France.

“I think that France’s decision is related to what is going on in Ukraine,” claims international relations Professor Federico Donelli of Trieste University in Italy

“Turkey and European countries have the same geo-strategic interest,” adds Donelli. “If you ask Turkey and Turkish policymakers, for them, the main threat to the security and stability of the country and integrity of the country remain Russia. So I think that on this point that France, Turkey, even other European countries converge”.

Turkey’s Erdogan sees new Trump presidency as opportunity

Force

With more than 800,000 personnel in its armed forces, including reservists, Turkey is Nato’s second-largest army.

The importance of the Turkish military to European security could be ascending with the looming threat of Russia and Washington demanding Europe take more responsibility for its defence.

“We think it’s an important part of being in a shared alliance together that the Europeans step up while America focuses on areas of the world that are in great danger,” warned United States Vice President JD Vance at this month’s Munich Security Conference.

Turkey’s poor human rights record has strained relations with the European Union, along with the authoritarian reputation of the Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan. But such concerns are being trumped by security fears.

“After the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Turkey is starting to be perceived by Nato members as an important ally,” explains Donelli.

“Maybe it’s not the best ally ever because we know that Turkey’s not an easy partner, but at the same time it is the most useful one”. 

Turkish President Erdogan ready to rekindle friendship with Trump

Threat

European leaders met this month to discuss Ukraine and the security threat facing the continent. With the Turkish army dwarfing its European counterparts, Ankara says it can play a key role in Europe’s defence.

“European allies understood that without Turkey, we cannot continue the defence of the European continent and Euro-Atlantic security,” claims Turkish presidential advisor Mesut Casin. “And is Turkey ready to support this European security and defence capability? The answer is: ‘Yes.'”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, too, is eyeing Turkey’s military. During his visit to Turkey on Tuesday, Zelenskyy underlined the importance of Ukraine’s allies deploying soldiers to guarantee any peace agreement reached with Russia.

“Two issues that are very, very important: a strong Ukrainian army, and the deployment in Ukraine from other armies like from Europe, and the United States, our partners,” declared Zelensky at a joint press conference with Erdogan.

Zelensky said he had discussed the issue with Erdogan but that it was too early to reveal the outcome of the talks. While Erdogan has close ties with his Ukrainian counterpart, the Turkish leader has also maintained good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Casin insists if all agree, Ankara is well placed to assist. “Turkey, maybe we send our troops to peacekeeping operations. Why do I say it like this? Turkey joined many UN peacekeeping operations, and the Turkish army is very powerful,” said Casin.

The Turkish military has participated in some of the world’s most difficult UN peacekeeping operations, from Kosovo to Somalia.

However, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov ruled out any Nato peacekeepers in Ukraine. Nevertheless, the importance of Turkey’s large and capable army could still play a key role in Europe as European concerns grow over the reliability of their American ally.

“We are on strike, because we want to earn more money,” says Claudia Kitz, a Berlin tramdriver.

Kitz, and hundreds other transport workers are gathered under the shadow of Berlin’s iconic television tower. A loud band and sausages keep the spirits up. 

“We earn less than any other drivers in the whole of Germany,” she says, telling RFI that she earns “less than €2,000 per month.”

Public transport systems in six German länder have come to a standstill with some 53,000 transport workers taking part in strike action.

The organising union Ver.di said in a statement published this Friday, that “striking is a fundamental right,” stressing that freelancers have the right to strike as well, and employers are “forbidden” to take measures against people participating in industrial action.

Ver.di wants a pay rise of €350 per month, as well as three additional days of paid leave. 

The strikes coincide with a transport shutdown in the German capital Berlin, organised by labour unions associated with the Berlin Transport Company BGV, which lasted 48 hours until this Saturday morning.

Kitz doesn’t think the elections will do much change to her situation. “These are national elections. It is another level,” she says, but adds that she’s “hopeful” that the transport workers’ demands will meet with some success.

“We are connected with other public services, and that’s why I am hopeful that we will reach our aim,” adding that those in power “have to accept that the prices in Berlin are higher.

“We have to say something. Not only for the people who people who work with us now, but also for people who want to work with us next year and after. They need the money if we want them to come to us. 

Asked about his French collegues, Silan – a bus driver – says that he “admires the French”.

According to the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) which measures average days not worked due to industrial action per 1,000 employees, France tops the list with an average of over 77 days from the period 2020 to 2023, while German strikers only scored just under 21 days.

“They strike good … they strike in the right way. Not us, unfortunately,” he says.

But according to Gernot Wolfer, a retired metal worker who is active in the splinter Marxistisch-Leninistische Party Germany (MLPD) – himself a staunch labour organiser – the low appetite for strikes in Germany may be caused by a relatively high percentage of unionised workers.

German labour statistics show that some 15 percent of German workers are unionised, against just more than 10 percent in France, as cited by Eurofound, an EU agency that monitors labour relations. 

“In France, there’s more room for spontaneous strikes,” Wolfer maintains.

Although strikes are rarer in Germany, Wolfer  admits that if they happen, “they are very big”.

His own union, connected to industry giant IG-Metal “has two million people. That is a very strong force”. 

The strikes come to an end this Saturday, just in time for Berliners to use public transport and attend several demonstrations planned in the German capital, where adherents of the different political parties want to give a last push to convince voters to cast their ballots for their cause. 

The German transport strikes may not be over, however, as unions may call for more disruption ahead of a second round of negotiations mid-March unless an agreement is reached before then. 

The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced via the state-run Sudan News Agency (SUNA) that the Sudanese authorities recalled their ambassador from Kenya on Thursday.

The diplomatic row began when the Founding Alliance for Sudan was created in the Kenyan capital on Tuesday. This coalition is built around General Hemedti’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and aims to establish a parallel government to the one in Port Sudan, which is led by the Sudanese army.

The move came despite Hemedti being under United States sanctions, as he and his soldiers are accused of committing genocide in Darfur.

In Kenya, members of the political sphere and civil society have struggled to understand how Kenyan President William Ruto could have allowed such an event to take place in Nairobi.

Sudan war is world’s ‘worst humanitarian crisis’, the African Union says

Former vice-president Rigathi Gachagua posted on social media: “We are welcoming warlords. We are making headlines for discovering a new way to embarrass the nation.” And lawyer and activist Willis Evans Otieno wrote: “Kenya cannot afford to become a breeding ground for foreign insurgencies.”

‘Hostile move’

In a statement, Sudan’s foreign ministry accused Ruto of adopting a “disgraceful position by embracing and encouraging a conspiracy” that it says violates Sudan’s sovereignty.

The ministry summoned its envoy “for consultations in protest against Kenya hosting the meetings of the rebel militia and its allies in another hostile move against Sudan,” SUNA reported on Thursday.

The paramilitary RSF, which has been at war with the army in Sudan for nearly two years, said at the event in Nairobi this week that they would sign a founding charter that would lead to the formation of a “peace and unity government”.

A source close to the organisers of the RSF meeting told news agencies that the signing of the charter, originally planned for Tuesday, had been postponed until the weekend.

A country torn in two

The war between the army and the RSF broke out in April 2023 and has killed tens of thousands of people, and uprooted more than 12 million.

It has torn the country in two, with the army in control of the north and east, while the RSF holds nearly all of the west and large areas of the south.

In a series of offensives this year, the army has retaken parts of greater Khartoum as well as the Al Jazirah state to its south.

The RSF’s preparations to form a rival government in territories it controls come as it seeks to consolidate its hold on the Darfur region of western Sudan, where only the city of Al-Fashir and its environs are held by the army.

A spokesman for United Nations chief Antonio Guterres warned on Wednesday that the move could “increase the fragmentation of the country and risk making this crisis even worse”.

On Thursday, the Arab League condemned “any steps that would undermine the unity of Sudan or expose it to division or fragmentation”.

Drone strike on Darfur hospital kills 30 as Sudan conflict persists

‘Commercial interests’

The Kenyan foreign ministry defended its hosting of the RSF event, saying this was “compatible with Kenya’s role in peace negotiations”.

The Sudanese military-led government responded by accusing President Ruto of acting on “his commercial and personal interests with the militia’s regional sponsors” – alluding to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has been widely accused of arming the RSF, despite its repeated denials.

Last month, Kenya and the UAE signed an economic agreement, which Ruto’s office hailed as “a historic milestone” and “the first agreement of its kind”.

In December 2024, the UAE became the largest backer of new business projects in Africa, raising concerns about human rights and environmental protection.

The positioning of Kenya’s officials continues to cause concern. Martin Mavenjina of the Kenya Human Rights Commission said: “Nairobi has not only become a haven for persona non grata but also the capital of transnational oppression.”

Kenya probes alleged police involvement in abduction of government critics

The abduction of foreign political opponents appears to be on the rise in Kenya. In November, Uganda‘s opposition figure Kizza Besigye was kidnapped in Nairobi and reappeared a few days later before a military court in his home country.

Otsieno Namwaya of Human Rights Watch questioned the country’s future standing on the regional and international stage, as he believes: “The Kenyan government no longer respects any international law.”

 (with newswires) 

Following their last-minute loss to England at Twickenham on 8 February, Galthié dropped winger Penaud and fly-half Jalibert for the third game in this season’s competition.

Penaud returned to the international fray from injury on the back of scintillating form for his club side l’Union Bordeaux Bègles. He had scored 15 tries in 12 games to help his team to top spot in the French Top 14.

Jalibert appeared the logical choice following the three-week suspension of Romain Ntamack for a poor tackle on Ben Thomas in the game against Wales.

Penaud scored a try – his 37th to take him one shy of Serge Blanco’s record – but was guilty of missing several tackles during the game against England. Jalibert paid the price for poor game management.

Théo Attissobge will replace Penaud and Thomas Ramos will be deployed as play-maker alongside skipper Antoine Dupont.

Léo Barre is scheduled to step in to cover Ramos’ redeployment.

“It was disappointing to lose because I had the feeling that we created a lot of chances to score tries,” said Galthié after the 26-25 setback against England.

“We simply didn’t score enough and we let them believe that they were still in the game.”

France travel to the Stadio Olimpico in second place in this season’s competition. They are ahead of England on points thanks to a 43-0 annihilation of Wales on the opening day of the tournament while England lost in Dublin to Ireland who will start the weekend’s games in Cardiff against Wales.

2025 Six Nations: England edge past France as Wales droop in Italy

Quest

The Irish – seeking to become the first nation to win three titles on the trot since Italy joined the Five Nations in 2000 – inflicted a 15th straight defeat on Wales on Saturday afternoon. They won 27-18 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

France’s Jalibert and Penaud return for rugby Six Nations clash with England

For the second game on the trot, England won by a point. Against France, Elliot Daly scored a try in the 78th minute and Fin Smith converted to make it 26-25.

Fast forward a fortnight and Scotland’s Finn Russell missed a conversion which enabled England to sneak home 16-15 and end a run of four consecutive defeats against the Scots.

“Our physical intensity needed to go up and it did in the second half,” England coach Steve Borthwick told British broadcaster ITV. “Our bench had a really good impact again. It’s the 23-man effort.

“Whilst there were bits in that game that weren’t pretty, it’s edge-of-the-seat finales.”

Lille reached the knockout phase after finishing the eight-game group stages in seventh place in the 36-team division.

PSG completed the initial section in 15th and were forced to contest two play-off games.

Luis Enrique’s men negotiated the obstacle with a 10-0 aggregate destruction of Ligue 1 counterparts Brest.

They will host the Premier League leaders at the Parc des Princes before travelling to Anfield for the return leg a week later.

“With a bit more luck we could have finished with five points more and in the top eight automatic qualifying places for the last-16,” said Enrique before the draw.

“But we had to do it the slightly longer way. But no matter, it has prepared us and made us better for what lies ahead. 

“We’ve played teams like Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich so it’s not exactly going to get more difficult. We are ready.”

Bid

Lille, who entertain fourth-placed Monaco on Saturday afternoon in Ligue 1, will take on Dortmund in an attempt to the reach the last eight of European club football’s most prestigious competition for the first time.

Elsewhere, holders Real Madrid play city rivals Atletico and there is an all-German showdown as Bayern Munich take on Bayer Leverkusen.

The two Dutch teams Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven take on Inter Milan and Arsenal respectively while Club Brugge pit their wits against Aston Villa and Benfica vie with Barcelona.

The paths to the final in Munich on 31 May were also outlined during the draw at the headquarters in the Swiss city of Nyon of the competition organisers Uefa.

Should PSG eliminate Liverpool, they will take on Club Brugge or Aston Villa in the last eight. Benfica or Barcelona await Lille in the quarter-finals if they can dispose of last season’s finalists.

Lyon, the sole French representative in the Europa League, play the Romanian side FCSB. A visit to Real Sociedad or Manchester United follows for the winners of that clash.

Arcom, France’s audiovisual regulator, excluded both channels in July from the shortlist of selected candidates for the reallocation of digital terrestrial television frequencies which expire at the end of the month. Arcom confirmed its decision on 12 December.

Arcom pulled up C8 for a lack of editorial control over its programming following a series of incidents on the Touche pas à mon poste show of star presenter Cyril Hanouna that have led to fines of 7.5 million euros.

NRJ12 was upbraided for having too many repeats and too few original programmes.

Canal+ Group, which owns C8, along with NRJ12 – the TV arm of the NRJ Group – launched an appeal against Arcom’s decision.

Decision

“The regulator was legally justified in considering the repeated violations by C8, particularly regarding respect for individual rights, the protection of minors, and control over its programming,” ruled the Council of State in a 16-page document.

“Arcom did not act unlawfully in excluding C8 and NRJ12 in favour of other candidates, based on its assessment of each application and comparison of their respective merits,” the panel added.

Hanouna, 59, hit out at the decision. “It was rigged from the start,” he said. “It’s all scheming and manipulation.”

The Canal+ Group branded the Council of State’s move as incomprehensible. The group, which is owned by French tycoon Vincent Bolloré, said it would endanger the jobs of 400 people.

NRJ12 called the ruling a deep injustice. “NRJ Group and NRJ12 remain fully mobilised to have the irregularity of the decisions taken against them declared at European level and to obtain compensation for the significant damage caused to them,” said a statement.

The impending shutdown of C8 has drawn criticism from right-wing and far-right politicians.

National Rally boss Marine Le Pen said: “The decision is a terrible regression and a troubling move that validates the ayatollahs of single-minded thought.”

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said on social media: “C8 had found its audience. Its disappearance from the audiovisual landscape deprives it of a platform for expression.”

Appearing on C8’s set, Éric Ciotti, founder of the Union of the Right for the Republic, denounced the move as a purely political decision.

Possibility

C8 and NRJ12 will be replaced by two new channels: T18, launched by the CMI France group of the Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky and OFTV, backed by the Ouest-France group.

The Council of State left a small opening for a reprieve. It asked Arcom to consider a new call for applications for four vacant frequencies starting in June.

In theory, this could allow C8 and NRJ12 to reapply.

(With newswires)

After seizing control of the town of Kamanyola, about 45 kilometres from Bukavu in South Kivu province, M23 fighters are continuing their advance further south, towards Uvira, on the shores of Lake Tanganyika.

Sporadic gunfire, looting and panic have been reported in several surrounding areas all week, including Uvira.

The United Nations warned on Wednesday that the M23 “continues to advance towards other strategic areas” in the provinces of North and South Kivu.

South Kivu’s provincial capital Bukavu, home to one million people and bordering Rwanda, is roughly 50 kilometres from Burundi, which is dealing with its biggest influx of refugees in 25 years.

Some 42,000 people fled eastern DRC to Burundi in two weeks, according to the UN.

Fleeing shootings

Families are fleeing the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the United Nations refugee agency said.

“This is the largest number of refugees that Burundi has seen since the beginning of the 2000s,” Brigitte Mukanga-Eno, representative for the UN refugee agency UNHCR in Burundi, told RFI on Thursday.

“Over the past few days and weeks, we have received thousands of people here in Burundi,” she also told a press conference in Bujumbura, on Wednesday, estimating roughly 30,000 people had crossed.

“People are still pouring in by the thousands every day.”

The Burundian government said last Monday that around 10,000 people had crossed the country’s western border, fleeing the violence in the DRC.

Interior minister Martin Niteretse said the government intended to relocate the refugees to eastern Burundi, “in order to guarantee their safety”. He added they would be granted refugee status.

Some 500 Congolese soldiers and police arrived in the border town of Gatumba on Wednesday, witnesses and a security source said.

The security source said they were disarmed and searched.

Amid the crisis, Congolese Catholic and Protestant leaders have launched efforts to mediate between the parties.

Donatien Nshole, Secretary General of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO), told RFI that war is not a solution. “We need to find a national consensus about all our issues sitting around a table,” he said.

France says Rwanda’s offensive on DR Congo ‘must stop’ as rebels capture Goma

Fear of regional war

The UN is also worried about wider consequences for the whole region.   

Bintou Keita, head of the UN’s DRC peacekeeping mission (Monusco), expressed concern to the UN Security Council over M23’s advance. She said on Wednesday that the group was approaching the “the junction of the three borders between the DRC, Rwanda and Burundi.”

Huang Xia, the UN Secretary-General’s special envoy for the Great Lakes region, told the Security Council that M23 and its allies were continuing their advance towards “other strategic areas” in North and South Kivu, warning “the risk of a regional conflagration is more real than ever”.

African Union Summit opens as conflicts rage on the continent

Since October 2023, Burundi has sent more than 10,000 soldiers to help the Congolese army against the M23 and other armed groups.

Late Wednesday military and official sources said some Burundian troops were staging a “tactical withdrawal”, although the army’s spokesman denied any retreat.

Nshole hopes to see an international conference on peace in the Great Lakes region.

The UN Security Council acknowledged the urgency of the situation and once again condemned the actions of the M23 rebels and Rwanda’s involvement. 

 (with newswires)

As a curtain-raiser to the G20 summit in November 2025, the foreign ministers of the group members gather for talks over two days in Johannesburg.

The meetings started at 2pm local time (1200 GMT) on Thursday with a keynote from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

South Africa, the first African country to lead the forum, took over the G20 presidency in November last year in a move meant to be an opportunity to get wealthy nations to listen to their counterparts from the global south.

The group currently consists of 19 countries – from Brazil to South Korea, Russia and China, including the members of the G7 – as well as the European Union and the African Union.

It makes up more than 80 percent of global GDP and two-thirds of the world population.

Africa’s changing diplomacy as G20, Ecowas divisions and new global alliances loom

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced he would not attend, accusing Pretoria of an “anti-American” agenda. Instead, the US presence was limited to Dana Brown, the deputy chief of mission at the American embassy in Pretoria.

G20’s diminishing role 

“It’s not a complete boycott of South Africa’s G20,” South Africa’s foreign minister Ronald Lamola reassured a press conference on Wednesday.

Carlos Lopes, the former executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa and a lecturer at the University of Cape Town, told RFI that “the G20 is losing momentum” however.

He believes the failure of Rubio to appear is not only a blow for South Africa, but for the whole group.

“It will be really hard for the G20 to keep trying to deal with world affairs,” he added. 

It is also bad news for global discussions, as the group is currently the most multilateral, according to Lopes, much more than the G7.

Earlier this month, the US froze desperately needed aid to Africa, sending many governments scrambling to find funds for services including health.

And South Africa has particularly been the target of Washington which cut off financial support to the country over a contentious land policy and a case against US-ally Israel at the International Court of Justice.

South Africa unites against Trump as US freezes aid over land reform

US Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent also announced this Thursday that he would not attend the G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors, scheduled to be held in Cape Town next week.

Global participation

Meanwhile, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as well as his Chinese and Indian counterparts turned up.

European diplomats were also present, including France’s Jean-Noel Barrot, the UK’s David Lammy and Ireland’s Tánaiste / Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Harris.

The President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, in charge of Foreign Affairs for the EU, emphasised the quality of the partnership with South Africa. The guest were also able to “discuss ways to transform the global order for greater inclusivity,’ she said from South Africa.

Wars and conflicts in both Africa and Europe dominated the discussion, as Xolisa Mabhongo, South Africa’s Ambassador to the United Nations, predicted on Wednesday.

Ramaphosa told G20 foreign ministers that multilateralism and international law were key to solving world crises.

“It is critical that the principles of the UN Charter, multilateralism and international law should remain at the centre of all our endeavours. It should be the glue that keeps us together,” he said at the opening of a meeting.

His other key priority for further G20 talks remains discussions on climate change and a fairer deal for the global south.

But the tensions between Ukraine and US President Donald Trump, who appeared to blame Kyiv for Russia’s invasion three years ago, risks “derailing” South Africa’s ability to push through a “common developmental agenda” at this stage, according to Priyal Singh, senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Pretoria.

 (with newswires)

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.

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 25 January, I asked you a question about our article “French NGOs to quit social media platform X following Trump inauguration”. Earlier that week, more than 80 French NGOs and organizations said they would stop using the social media platform X – formerly Twitter – owned by Elon Musk. Musk, a close ally of US President Donald Trump, is considered by these NGOs as: “a “danger” to freedom of expression and democratic values.”

You were to send in the names of four NGOs who will no longer use X as of the 20th of January, the day of Donald Trump’s inauguration.

The answer is, to quote our article: “The signatories include La Ligue des droits de L’Homme, (The Human Rights League), France Terre d’asile – a non-profit organisation that supports asylum seekers – the charity Emmaüs France, and Greenpeace.”

In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question, suggested by Helmut Matt from Herbolzheim, Germany. Helmut’s question was: “Are you religious and do you believe in God – and how do you see and define God or the divine in the world?”

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

The winners are: RFI English listener Maryam Nawaz, a member of the Sungat Radio Listeners Club in Muzaffargarh, Pakistan. Maryam is also the winner of this week’s bonus question. Congratulations Maryam, on your double win !

Also on the list of lucky winners this week are Naved Raiyan, the president of the RFI Fan Club in West Bengal, India, and RFI English listeners Mehedi Hasan from Chittagong, India; Noor Alam from Jessore, Bangladesh, and Sultana Begum from Sirajganj, also in Bangladesh.

Congratulations, winners!

Here’s the music you heard on this week’s programme: “Liebesleid” by  Fritz Kreisler, performed by Itzhak Perlman and Samuel Sanders;  “Manhã de Carnaval” by Luiz Bonfá and Antônio Maria, performed by Luiz Bonfá; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; “The Cakewalk” from Children’s Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer, and “Helter Skelter” by Paul McCartney, performed by The Beatles.

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: “Claudel bronze sculpture found by chance fetches €3 million at France auction”, which will help you with the answer.

You have until 17 March to enter this week’s quiz; the winners will be announced on the 22 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.   

Macron also robustly defended Volodymyr Zelensky, the embattled leader of war-torn Ukraine, speaking ahead of a planned visit to the White House to meet Trump next week.

European response

Macron has sought to coordinate a European response to Washington’s shock policy shift in US-Russia relations, hosting this week two emergency meetings with leaders of EU and non-EU nations including Germany, Britain, Canada and Norway.

He said he wanted the French to grasp the magnitude of the threat coming from the Kremlin, calling Russia “an existential threat to Europeans.”

On Thursday, Macron, 47, said in a question-and-answer session on social media that France was entering a “new era.”

“We are entering an era in which each of us must ask what we can do for the French nation and the Republic,” Macron said after discussing Ukraine with party leaders earlier in the day.

Macron expected to meet Trump as Europe scrambles to respond to US shift on Ukraine

Trump has sent shock waves around Europe by saying he is ready to resume diplomacy with Putin to end Russia’s war against Ukraine, over the heads of European countries and Kyiv.

Trump will meet in Washington with Macron on Monday and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday next week, the White House said.

“I’m going to tell him: ‘You can’t be weak with President Putin. That’s not who you are, it’s not your trademark, it’s not in your interest'”, Macron said.

Macron to meet France’s top politicians to thrash out line over Ukraine

‘Strategic mistake’

“I will tell him: ‘If you let Ukraine be taken, Russia will not stop,” he said.

“Not only will it be even stronger, it will continue to invest, but it will take over Ukraine and its army, which is one of the largest in Europe, with all our equipment, including American equipment'”, he added, saying it would be a “huge strategic mistake.”

Macron insisted it was in Trump’s interest to work with Europeans, pointing to Europe’s “capacity for growth” and economic potential.

But he also sought to put a brave face on days of head-spinning US declarations, saying that the “uncertainty” generated by the US president should be “used” against Putin.

Macron also said France and Europe needed to beef up security and that the threat from Russia “will force us to make very strong choices for ourselves, for our defence and our security.”

“We Europeans must increase our war effort,” he added.

Macron stressed he did not plan to send troops to Ukraine “tomorrow” but indicated that France was considering providing security guarantees to Ukraine following a ceasefire deal with Russia.

“I have not decided to send troops to Ukraine tomorrow, no,” he said.

“What we are considering instead is sending forces to guarantee peace once it has been negotiated,” he said.

European fears mount at Munich conference as US signals shift on Ukraine

Speaking to French news agency AFP on Thursday, a French source familiar with the discussions said France was working with European countries to ensure security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire agreement

 Macron threw his weight behind Zelensky after Trump branded the 47-year-old Ukrainian leader a “dictator.”

Tensions between Zelensky and Trump have exploded this week in a series of escalating barbs traded in press conferences and on social media.

 “He is a president elected in a free system,” Macron said, referring to the Ukrainian president.

“This is not the case for Vladimir Putin, who has been killing his opponents and manipulating his elections for a long time.”

 Alexei Navalny, the charismatic leader of the Russian opposition, died on February 16, 2024 in an Arctic penal colony in unclear circumstances. His family and supporters say his murder was sanctioned by the Kremlin.

The plea for new legislation was taken to the Senate – France’s upper house of parliament – by Stéphane Demilly with the support of the Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau and the Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin.

“How is it possible to marry someone who is not legally resident in France?” Demilly asked senators in his bid for the bill’s approval.

“Is it conceivable to read the articles of the Civil Code in the town hall of the Republic to someone who has no right to be there? These are the reactions and questions from the people I talk to about it. And yet, our law, as it stands, does not allow us to oppose the marriage of a person in an irregular situation.”

France reinstates border checks as immigration policies tighten

Demilly, the senator for the Somme region in northern France, started his campaign in 2023 following an incident in which Stéphane Wilmotte, the mayor of Hautmont, also in northern France refused to officiate the marriage of a man who had been ordered to leave the country.

A court case was brought against Wilmotte before it was eventually dropped and the man, the imam at a mosque, was deported.

“How is it possible to place an elected representative of the Republic in such a situation?” Demilly said. “How can mayors  risk months of litigation, sometimes compounded by personal and family stress, when they are acting for the good of the region?

“The current legislation against marriages of convenience is not enough, and places civil registrars in situations that are surreal.”

The bill was approved at its first reading with 227 votes in favour and 110 against. It will go back through the National Assembly – the lower house of parliament.

If it passes successfully, the new law will mean that any foreigner wanting to marry must provide the documents to the registrar proving that they have a right to be in France.

If the mayor or registrar remains unconvinced about the validity of the papers, they can pass their concerns to the public prosecutor who can suspend the wedding for two months while authenticity checks are carried out.

“The aim is to give the public prosecutor more time to conduct an investigation,” say papers submitted to the Senate.

“In addition, the text [of the bill] provides that the public prosecutor is deemed to have decided to suspend the celebration of the marriage if he or she has not made a decision within 15 days of the matter being referred to him or her.”

French government to table new immigration law in early 2025

Change

However, opponents say the legislation runs counter to a 2003 decision by the French Constitutional Council, which said that a foreigner’s irregular status cannot in itself be an obstacle to the marriage.

“This draft law is contrary to the constitution,” said the Socialist senator Corinne Narassiguin. “The irregular situation of one of the bride and groom cannot prevent the celebration of the marriage.

Rounding on backers of the bill, she added: “You are confusing the issue by citing sham marriages, which are prohibited by law. In your imagination, it would therefore be impossible to love a foreigner without having the ulterior motive of marrying them just to regularise their situation.

“So, according to you, anyone in an irregular situation who wishes to marry must be presumed to have fraudulent intent. Behind your prejudices and obsessions, there are men and women.”

Earlier this week, prosecutors summoned the mayor of the Béziers in southern France for refusing to officiate a wedding between a French woman and an undocumented Algerian man in 2023. Robert Ménard faces up to five years in prison and a 75,000 euro fine for his stance.

“This draft law will be used to fuel false polemics,” Narassiguin added: “We need to remind ourselves of a few facts. Marriage does not automatically, let alone immediately, lead to regularisation. These procedures are lengthy and offer no guarantee of success.

“Marriage offers no protection against an obligation to leave the country or a deportation order. So, beyond the law, let me tell you that your vision of marriage seems to be a very sad one. This text is ultimately a text against love.”

Greece is reacting furiously against France over the potential sale of the Meteor air-to-air missile to Turkey. The missile sale and the Turkish bid to procure Europe’s Eurofighter threatened to erase Greece’s military edge over its rival Turkey.

Despite France and Greece recently signing a defence pact, French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly rejected Greek calls to block the missile sale, which is made by a European consortium headquartered in France.

“I think that France’s decision is related to what is going on in Ukraine,” claims international relations Professor Federico Donelli of Trieste University in Italy

“Turkey and European countries have the same geo-strategic interest,” adds Donelli. “If you ask Turkey and Turkish policymakers, for them, the main threat to the security and stability of the country and integrity of the country remain Russia. So I think that on this point that France, Turkey, even other European countries converge”.

Turkey’s Erdogan sees new Trump presidency as opportunity

Force

With more than 800,000 personnel in its armed forces, including reservists, Turkey is Nato’s second-largest army.

The importance of the Turkish military to European security could be ascending with the looming threat of Russia and Washington demanding Europe take more responsibility for its defence.

“We think it’s an important part of being in a shared alliance together that the Europeans step up while America focuses on areas of the world that are in great danger,” warned United States Vice President JD Vance at this month’s Munich Security Conference.

Turkey’s poor human rights record has strained relations with the European Union, along with the authoritarian reputation of the Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan. But such concerns are being trumped by security fears.

“After the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Turkey is starting to be perceived by Nato members as an important ally,” explains Donelli.

“Maybe it’s not the best ally ever because we know that Turkey’s not an easy partner, but at the same time it is the most useful one”. 

Turkish President Erdogan ready to rekindle friendship with Trump

Threat

European leaders met this month to discuss Ukraine and the security threat facing the continent. With the Turkish army dwarfing its European counterparts, Ankara says it can play a key role in Europe’s defence.

“European allies understood that without Turkey, we cannot continue the defence of the European continent and Euro-Atlantic security,” claims Turkish presidential advisor Mesut Casin. “And is Turkey ready to support this European security and defence capability? The answer is: ‘Yes.'”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, too, is eyeing Turkey’s military. During his visit to Turkey on Tuesday, Zelenskyy underlined the importance of Ukraine’s allies deploying soldiers to guarantee any peace agreement reached with Russia.

“Two issues that are very, very important: a strong Ukrainian army, and the deployment in Ukraine from other armies like from Europe, and the United States, our partners,” declared Zelensky at a joint press conference with Erdogan.

Zelensky said he had discussed the issue with Erdogan but that it was too early to reveal the outcome of the talks. While Erdogan has close ties with his Ukrainian counterpart, the Turkish leader has also maintained good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Casin insists if all agree, Ankara is well placed to assist. “Turkey, maybe we send our troops to peacekeeping operations. Why do I say it like this? Turkey joined many UN peacekeeping operations, and the Turkish army is very powerful,” said Casin.

The Turkish military has participated in some of the world’s most difficult UN peacekeeping operations, from Kosovo to Somalia.

However, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov ruled out any Nato peacekeepers in Ukraine. Nevertheless, the importance of Turkey’s large and capable army could still play a key role in Europe as European concerns grow over the reliability of their American ally.

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.

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 25 January, I asked you a question about our article “French NGOs to quit social media platform X following Trump inauguration”. Earlier that week, more than 80 French NGOs and organizations said they would stop using the social media platform X – formerly Twitter – owned by Elon Musk. Musk, a close ally of US President Donald Trump, is considered by these NGOs as: “a “danger” to freedom of expression and democratic values.”

You were to send in the names of four NGOs who will no longer use X as of the 20th of January, the day of Donald Trump’s inauguration.

The answer is, to quote our article: “The signatories include La Ligue des droits de L’Homme, (The Human Rights League), France Terre d’asile – a non-profit organisation that supports asylum seekers – the charity Emmaüs France, and Greenpeace.”

In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question, suggested by Helmut Matt from Herbolzheim, Germany. Helmut’s question was: “Are you religious and do you believe in God – and how do you see and define God or the divine in the world?”

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

The winners are: RFI English listener Maryam Nawaz, a member of the Sungat Radio Listeners Club in Muzaffargarh, Pakistan. Maryam is also the winner of this week’s bonus question. Congratulations Maryam, on your double win !

Also on the list of lucky winners this week are Naved Raiyan, the president of the RFI Fan Club in West Bengal, India, and RFI English listeners Mehedi Hasan from Chittagong, India; Noor Alam from Jessore, Bangladesh, and Sultana Begum from Sirajganj, also in Bangladesh.

Congratulations, winners!

Here’s the music you heard on this week’s programme: “Liebesleid” by  Fritz Kreisler, performed by Itzhak Perlman and Samuel Sanders;  “Manhã de Carnaval” by Luiz Bonfá and Antônio Maria, performed by Luiz Bonfá; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; “The Cakewalk” from Children’s Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer, and “Helter Skelter” by Paul McCartney, performed by The Beatles.

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: “Claudel bronze sculpture found by chance fetches €3 million at France auction”, which will help you with the answer.

You have until 17 March to enter this week’s quiz; the winners will be announced on the 22 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 conflict in the eastern DRC has experienced a dramatic escalation recently.

Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf elected as AU commission chairman

The city of Goma, capital of the North Kivu province, fell to M23 fighters at the end of January.

The rebels are being supported by Rwandan soldiers, a claim that the government in Kigali continues to deny, despite evidence and reports of casualties among Rwandan troops.

Fighting resumes in DRC’s South Kivu ahead of crisis talks

The city has come to symbolise the conflict that has torn apart eastern DRC for more than three decades.

The M23 has launched additional attacks in South Kivu, and despite talks in Tanzania earlier in February and a brief ceasefire, the fighting persists. As a result, millions of Congolese have been displaced, with nearly 3,000 lives lost.

To explore the role of diplomacy in the country, as well as in other violent crises across the continent, my first guest is Liesl Louw-Vaudran from the International Crisis Group.

She joins us from Addis Ababa, where the African Union’s headquarters are located, following the release of the group’s annual report outlining the eight priorities the AU should focus on.

We will also hear from civilians fleeing Goma and from Paulin Nkwosseu, the Chief of Field Offices at UNICEF for the DRC.

Episode mixed by Erwan Rome.

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

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.

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 18 January, I asked you a question about our article “’Exhausted’ Frenchman held in Iran since 2022 reveals identity in plea for help”. It was about Olivier Grondeau, a 34-year-old French national, who was arrested and sentenced to five years behind bars for “conspiracy against the Islamic Republic”.

In the article, you learned that there are two other French nationals currently in Iran’s prisons. You were to send in their names, as well as the crime with which they’ve been charged.

The answer is, to quote our article: “The other two French nationals – teachers Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris – were detained in May 2022 on charges of seeking to stir up labour protests. Their families strongly deny the accusations.” 

In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question, suggested by Sabah binte Sumaiya from Bogura, Bangladesh: “Which profession do you find is the best, and why?”

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

The winners are: RFI Listeners Club member John Yemi Sanday Turay from Freetown, Sierra Leone. John Yemi is also this week’s bonus question winner. Congratulations John Yemi, on your double win !

Also on the list of lucky winners this week are M. N. Sentu, a member of the RFI Amour Fan Club in Rajshahi, Bangladesh, and RFI Listeners Club members Habib Ur Rehman, the president of the International Radio Fan and Youth Club in Khanewal, Pakistan; Sharifa Akter Panna from Kishoreganj, Bangladesh, and Rahematun Nesan from Odisha, India.

Congratulations, winners!

Here’s the music you heard on this week’s programme: “Slap Bass” by Paul Mottram; “Rose of Tehran” by E. Dozor; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; “The Cakewalk” from Children’s Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer, and the traditional Kanak chant “Lue ixoe wael qa kiki”, sung by the Wetr Dance Troupe.  

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 Paul Myer’s article: “Namibian independence leader Sam Nujoma dies aged 95”, which will help you with the answer. 

You have until 10 March to enter this week’s quiz; the winners will be announced on the 15 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.   

Countries are looking for sovereignty in artificial intelligence and at a major AI summit in Paris this week, France and the EU backed a “third path” approach to AI – midway between the US’ private tech firm-dominated model and China’s state-controlled technology. With a focus on regulation to ensure trust, France is creating public/private partnerships, and encouraging companies to develop home-grown products. Linagora, an open-source software developper, recently released a large language model (LLM) trained on French and European content, in contrast to American LLMs like ChatGPT that are trained on mainly US content. While chatbot Lucie got off to a rocky start, Linagora’s General Manager Michel Maudet says there’s a clear need for technology focused on Europe, able to address the nuance of the continent’s languages and culture. (Listen @0′)

French MPs recently voted a controversial draft bill to end birthright citizenship on the overseas department of Mayotte to discourage illegal immigration from neighbouring Comoros. Prime Minister François Bayrou supports the proposed measure and has called for a wider debate on immigration and what it means to be French. His earlier remarks that there was a feeling immigrants were “flooding” France have caused outrage on the left in particular.  We talk to Tania Racho, a researcher on European law and who also works for an association fighting disinformation on migration issues, about the reality of immigration in France. While the data does not support claims France is overwhelmed with foreigners, people’s perceptions – nourished by a fixation on migration by both politicians and media – tell a different story. (Listen @18’40”)

Twenty years after the 11 February 2005 law on disability and inclusion, daily life for France’s 12 million people living with disabilities has improved. But since the law underestimated the timelines and costs of accessibility, there’s still a lot of work to be done. (Listen @14’30”)

Episode mixed by Vincent Pora. 

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).

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.

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.