RFI: In the newspaper Der Spiegel, you compare today’s events to both the 1938 Munich meeting and the 1945 Yalta Conference, where Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin shaped Europe’s future. How do these historical parallels apply now?

Ralf Fücks: It’s always a little bit dangerous to slip into this kind of historical comparison. There is no fatalism to repeat history, but I think we have to be aware that we are now again in an extremely critical and dangerous situation in Europe.

Munich, after Hitler took power, is the reference for appeasement policy. But Donald Trump is even going further than Chamberlain went in Munich in 1938 with Hitler’s Germany. He is not only trying to appease Putin with concessions, but taking sides with neo-imperial and authoritarian Russia against Ukraine and against former European allies of the US.

The situation is more like Yalta, because Trump is sharing the idea of Putin and of Chinese leader Xi Jinping, about a new world order where the world is dominated by the big powers which can do what they want without being restricted by rules.

Smaller nations submit to the big powers which divide the world into spheres of influence, like big boys who are at the same time collaborating and competing with each other.

Russian President Vladimir Putin in his June 2020 essay on the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II, very clearly said that his vision was the one that came out of Yalta: the return to an agreement with the US about the division of the spheres of influence.

He does not believe in the idea of equality and shared sovereignty between all the nations. NOTE: Putin’s essay reads, “The major historic achievement of Yalta and other decisions of that time is the agreement to create a mechanism that would allow the leading powers to remain within the framework of diplomacy in resolving their differences.”

Trump also shares this view, notably that nations like Ukraine are to have only limited sovereignty and that they have to accept that Russia has a veto power over Ukraine’s future.

And this is a total contradiction of the European post-Cold War order. If we accept that, Europe will become a playground for China, the US and Russia.

RFI: What should Europe do?

Ralf Fücks: It is very hard to believe that the West as a political entity of liberal democracies is over and that we are entering a new political era, no longer relying on the US security guarantees, but one where the United States, at least under the presidency of Donald Trump, will turn on Europe and treat us not as friends, but as adversaries.

This moment is extremely critical, not only for Ukraine, but also for Europe. It is a litmus test as to whether Europe will stay relevant globally or if we will become a punching ball between China, Russia and the US.

As for Ukraine, the test is about our ability to defend the European security order, the principles on which this order was built, and if we can defend our values.

It is not just about solidarity with Ukraine, a country which is now suffering more than three years of war of destruction. It is also about defending Europe.

In the short term, the answer is weapons, weapons, weapons. We have to replace American military supply to Ukraine. Possibly for an interim period, the Europeans [could]  buy weapons in the US and send them to Ukraine. But then we have to build up our own military industries.

We must enable Ukraine to resist and to come into a better negotiation position with Russia, not from the defensive, but from a position of strength.

And we must build a common European Defence Union with Ukraine. Ukraine could be an asset for European security.

Europe scrambles to boost defence as US wavers on Ukraine support

RFI: You have mentioned the failures of the Minsk agreements. What lessons can we pull from those negotiations and what comes after in possible future negotiations with Russia?

Ralf Fücks: Ukraine should never again negotiate from a position of weakness. In Minsk 2014-2015, Ukraine was on the brink of military collapse. And this may never happen again. So if we want to have negotiations with Russia, we have to bring Ukraine into a position of military strength. The outcome of negotiations will depend on the military balance of force.

The second consequence from Minsk is that we cannot bring Russia into a position of brokering a deal. We have to treat Russia as an adversary. And the Europeans cannot be neutral in this conflict. We have to take sides with Ukraine. And we should not lift sanctions on Russia prematurely.

Sanctions go further than military support for Ukraine, our most effective tool to change Russia’s policy. Lifting sanctions wouldn’t only be about ending the war. We must raise other issues: the retreat of Russian nuclear arms from Belarus, from Kaliningrad, to reduce the nuclear threat to Europe. The release of political prisoners from Russian prison camps.

So we must build a package of political demands to Russia as a precondition for restoring economic relations.

RFI: Given all the changes in the US foreign policy, how do you feel that in the current situation the relationship can be saved?

Ralf Fücks: As long as Trump and his fellows are ruling in Washington, it only can be about damage control. We have to be strong economically, military, politically, in order not to be blackmailed by the US. 

We have to accept that with Trump you can only do transactional policies. So we have to define our interests and then negotiate with the US where we can strike deals in our interest.

One point of interest could be future policy towards China. If the US wants us to become tougher against China, especially in economic terms, reducing our economic dependency on China, not delivering critical technology to China, then we should ask the US in return to keep engaged in Europe.

The critical point is the nuclear guarantee. At the moment, even the combined French and British nuclear capacities will not be sufficient to deter Russia and to create a nuclear balance with Russia. So we have to increase our nuclear capacities. This is an issue we cannot avoid.

Ukraine to lead agenda during Washington talks between top EU and US diplomats

RFI: France and Germany together are the motor of the European Union. But the relationship has not been great, with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, differing in style and approach. Will the relationship get better under Friedrich Merz, who is likely to become Germany’s new Chancellor after the elections on 23 February?

Ralf Fücks: Let’s be realistic. I think there is no way back to this former exclusive French-German leadership in Europe. This is over. We have to recognise that the central eastern European nations, especially Poland, but also [the Czech Republic] the Baltic states, the Scandinavians, will play a much more self-assertive and important role.

So, we have to broaden the leadership board of the European Union.

But of course, a restart of Franco-German relations is absolutely crucial. We are almost in an all-time low. The same with Poland. And the designated new German Chancellor, Merz has already, before the elections, announced that his first visit will lead him to Warsaw and Paris.

And I think this is the right signal.

Stunned by Friday’s altercation in the Oval Office, which saw Zelensky depart the White House without signing an expected mineral deal, most European leaders rushed to his defense.

“You are not alone,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, fresh off his own visit to the White House, said he had spoken to both Trump and Zelensky following the clash and vowed “unwavering support” for Kyiv.

Representatives from more than a dozen European countries will convene in London for a summit Sunday, which according to Downing Street will focus on shoring up support for “securing a just and enduring peace” in Ukraine.

The gathering will also address the need for Europe to increase defence cooperation amid fears over whether the United States will continue to support NATO.

Trump has spoken dismissively of the transatlantic alliance and stunned many in Europe when he reached out to Russian President Vladimir Putin to seek a deal on Ukraine, which Moscow invaded three years ago.

France and EU move to secure Ukraine minerals, as US pushes for deal

Shouting match

Their concerns were exacerbated by the scene that played out in the White House on Friday, where the years-long US policy of massive support for Ukraine collapsed in a shouting match.

During the clash, in front of US and international media, Trump and Vice President JD Vance shouted at Zelensky, accusing him of not being “thankful” and refusing to accept their proposed truce terms.

Trump said Ukraine will have to make “compromises” in a truce with Russia, which has occupied swaths of the country.

Zelensky said there should be “no compromises with a killer on our territory”.

After he pointed out that previous Western-backed peace efforts had failed to deter Russian aggression, Vance interrupted and called him “disrespectful”.

Europe ready to ‘step up’ defence commitments in Ukraine: Macron

“You don’t have the cards right now,” Trump said. “You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out and I don’t think it’s going to be pretty”.

The session then boiled over into Trump and Vance loudly berating the Ukrainian leader. He sat in evident discomfort as his hosts talked over him.

Zelensky refused to apologise, telling Fox News, “I’m not sure that we did something bad”. He did, however, say he wished the exchange had not taken place in front of reporters.

Zelensky departed shortly after, with Trump posting on social media that “he can come back when he is ready for peace”.

‘Be brave, be fearless’

Following the clash, European Union chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa assured Zelensky that he was “never alone”.

“Be strong, be brave, be fearless,” wrote the European commission and council presidents in a joint statement on social media, telling Zelensky: “We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.”

The bloc’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas questioned the United States leadership of the transatlantic alliance between European powers and Washington.

Nato chief Rutte insists Trump and Putin peace plan must include Ukraine

“Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge,” she wrote on social media.

French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated that Russia was the “aggressor” in the Ukraine war.

“We were all right to help Ukraine and sanction Russia three years ago and to continue to do so,” he told journalists.

Hungary thanks Trump

Macron also said he is ready to “open the discussion” on a possible future European nuclear deterrent, following a request from Germany’s next leader Friedrich Merz.

Merz has stressed the need for the continent to move quickly to “achieve independence” from the United States on defence matters.

However, not all European leaders were ready to jump to Ukraine’s aid.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, one of the closest partners of both Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, thanked Trump for standing “bravely for peace”.

“Strong men make peace, weak men make war,” Orban posted on X.

(with AFP)

“Ultimately these cuts will remove food and healthcare from desperate people,” Dodds said in a letter to Starmer posted on X.

On Tuesday, Starmer pledged to raise UK defence spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2027 but ordered the overseas development budget to be cut from 0.5 percent to 0.3 percent of gross national income to pay for it.

Dodds said while she believed defence spending needed to be increased as “the post-war global order has come crashing down”, she had hoped for a collective discussion on finding the funding.

“Instead, the tactical decision was taken for ODA to absorb the entire burden,” she said, referring to overseas development assistance.

Starmer admitted in a reply to her letter that cutting aid funding was “a difficult and painful decision”.

“However, protecting our national security must always be the first duty of any government,” he added.

Starmer later announced that long-time ally Jenny Chapman would now fill the role of international development minister.

Fourth minister to step down

Dodds voiced fears that plans to help the people of Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan, as well as support climate change and vaccination programmes, would now fall by the wayside.

“It will be impossible to maintain these priorities given the depth of the cuts,” Dodds warned.

And she said it would “likely lead to a UK pull-out from numerous African, Caribbean and Western Balkan nations”.

Starmer sought to allay her concerns, saying his government would “continue to protect vital programmes, including in the world’s worst conflict zones”.

Dodds is the fourth minister to leave Starmer’s cabinet since his Labour party swept to victory in last year’s elections, ending 14 years of Conservative rule.

Earlier this month, the UK leader sacked junior health minister Andrew Gwynne for making anti-Semitic, racist and sexist remarks in a WhatsApp chat.

In January, anti-corruption minister Tulip Siddiq resigned after being named in probes in Bangladesh into graft accusations.

And in November, Louise Haigh stepped down as transport secretary after revelations that she pleaded guilty to a criminal offence before becoming a member of parliament.

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

Response from charities

Humanitarian charities have also criticised the UK’s decision to cut its international aid budget in favour of defence spending, warning it would damage British influence and have a devastating impact on those they support.

“This is a short-sighted and appalling move,” said Romilly Greenhill, CEO of London-based Bond, a network for humanitarian organisations. “Slashing the already diminished UK aid budget to fund an uplift in defence is a reckless decision.”

The UK previously devoted 0.7 percent of its gross national income to overseas development, before this was cut by the previous Conservative government to 0.5 percent in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Starmer’s government had pledged to restore the aid budget to 0.7 percent 

ActionAid described it as a political choice that could have devastating consequences for people affected by humanitarian crises, such as those in Gaza, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ukraine.

South Africa faces HIV crisis as Trump’s aid freeze halts treatment and research

David Miliband, a former foreign secretary of the governing Labour Party and now head of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) charity, called the move “a blow to Britain’s proud reputation as a global humanitarian and development leader”.

The UK is the fifth largest international aid donor, giving more than €18 billion in 2023, according to data from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The United States tops the ranking, followed by Germany, the European Union and Japan.

Nick Dearden, director of campaign group Global Justice Now, said: “To appease Trump, [Starmer] will cut aid to its lowest level in a generation. It is a day of shame for Britain.”

The United Nations children’s agency Unicef said the British aid cut would “undoubtedly risk lives” and Oxfam accused Starmer of “bending to populist pressures”.

US trade deal on the table 

Starmer also this week met with United States President Donald Trump, to discuss Ukraine truce talks and other issues.

In a press conference following the meeting, the US president spoke positively of a trade deal with the UK, which could see the latter avoid threatened US tariffs, and said such a deal could happen “very quickly”. 

UK firms cautiously optimistic on US trade deal prospects

For his part, Starmer handed Trump a letter from King Charles III inviting Trump to the UK for an unprecedented second state visit.

Since his return from the US, Starmer has invited more than a dozen European leaders to a summit on Sunday to “drive forward” action on Ukraine and security, his office said.

Ahead of the summit, Starmer will also chair a morning call with Baltic nations, before welcoming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Downing Street to discuss the war with Russia.

 (With newswires)

As global competition intensifies for the resources powering modern technology, Ukraine’s vast mineral wealth has become a critical bargaining chip in deals concerning its security.

United States President Donald Trump has framed mineral agreements as a way for Ukraine to repay military aid it has received, turning access to these resources into a focal point of negotiations.

But Washington is not the only interested party. The race to secure Ukraine’s rare earth minerals has been in motion for several years, and France has stepped up its efforts to carve out a role for itself in Ukraine’s resource sector, seeking to strengthen its supply chains, reduce its reliance on China and the US and bolster Europe’s industrial independence.

Europe ready to ‘step up’ defence commitments in Ukraine: Macron

Supply chain vulnerabilities

Ukraine’s mineral resources include lithium, which is critical for battery production, and uranium, essential for nuclear power.

As the world moves toward cleaner energy, advanced defence systems and high-tech manufacturing, such materials are increasingly valuable.

These minerals are key to driving the European Union’s green energy transition, advancing medical technology and securing defence capabilities. Reducing dependency on imports – particularly from China, which dominates the market – is a priority for the bloc.

Supply chain vulnerabilities have also been exposed in recent years, making it clear that Europe must secure alternative sources of critical resources – such as Ukraine.

A minerals deal with Kyiv could not only enhance Europe’s industrial competitiveness, but also shield it from geopolitical disruptions and trade restrictions.

France’s strategy

On Thursday, French defence minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed that negotiations with Ukraine have been ongoing for months.

Unlike the US – which has tied mineral access to military aid – France’s approach is rooted in long-term economic and defence planning. “We are not looking for payback,” Lecornu stated.

President Emmanuel Macron has long championed the idea of European strategic autonomy and reducing Europe’s reliance on external powers for critical resources.

Europe scrambles to boost defence as US wavers on Ukraine support

China’s near-monopoly on rare earth extraction and processing gives it tremendous influence over supply chains worldwide. Meanwhile, the US is aggressively diversifying its sources, with Ukraine emerging as a crucial supplier in Washington’s strategy.

A minerals deal between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Trump would further cement Washington’s presence in Ukraine’s resource sector.

However, Lecornu has insisted that talks between Ukraine and France are still in their early stages, describing the negotiations as “the beginning of the story”.

“Thank you for finding me!” declared 72-year-old Audiard, after receiving his prize from the hands of French director Justine Triet, crowned last year for Anatomy of a Fall.

Audiard’s musical, Emilia Perez, about a Mexican drug cartel boss who transitions to life as a woman, has had a winning streak on the awards circuit, but not without a dose of controversy.

Praised at the Cannes Film Festival where it was awarded the jury prize and a collective award for its four leading actresses, the film then earned a record for a non-English-speaking production of 13 Oscar nominations. Its fate will be decided in Hollywood on Sunday.

Bought by Netflix prior to Cannes, it won big at the Golden Globes earlier this year and picked up two Bafta awards last week in London.

But award prospects were jeopardised when racist tweets from lead trans Spanish actress Karla Sofia Gascon emerged, compounding criticism of the movie’s Mexican cliches and use of artificial intelligence.

French musical Emilia Perez wins Spanish film prize amid rising scandal

Gascon, who was nominated for the César for best actress, like Zoé Saldana, was present at the César ceremony on Friday night.

“I loved working with you, I love you,” declared Audiard to his team. The director is now one of the most awarded filmmakers in the history of the César, after his trophies for Of Rust and Bone, The Sisters Brothers, A Prophet or The Beat of My Heart Stopped.

Emilia Perez’ composers Camille and Clément Ducol were rewarded for the film’s music score.

Dedicated to Ukraine

The 50th edition of the ceremony was dedicated to Ukraine by its president, Catherine Deneuve, who wore a badge in the colours of Kyiv on her dress.

European leaders will convene in London on Sunday to shore up support for “securing a just and enduring peace” in Ukraine, after the US warned it would pull back on military aid.

Among the happy César winners was the Guinean Abou Sangaré, who scored best upcoming actor for his role as a bicycle deliveryman in L’histoire de Souleymane (The Story of Souleymane). The low-budget film, directed by Boris Lojkine won four Césars, including best original screenplay and best supporting actress for Nina Meurisse.

23-year-old Sangaré, who only just recently was able to obtain a temporary visa to stay in France, thanked the audience.

“Thank you for your integration into humanity,” he said, adding that after arriving in France, “I almost had no more life, I no longer considered myself a human being”.

The double life of Abou Sangaré, undocumented migrant and Cannes award winner

Maïwène Barthélémy, a young farmer, was selected for the prize of best upcoming actress in Vingt Dieux (Twenty Gods), by Louise Courvoisier, who also won best first feature film.

However, there were some surprises. One of the most popular hits of the year, The Count of Monte Cristo was originally in the lead for the 2025 Césars with 14 nominations.

Directed by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patellière, it was a box-office hit, drawing 9.4 million spectators in France last year.

However, it only walked away with two awards for best costumes and decor.

Life as a dream

Karim Leklou won best actor for his role as a fragile man and adopted father in Le Roman de Jim (Jim’s novel) by Arnaud and Jean-Marie Larrieu. He paid tribute to “all the nice guys, all the guys who usually don’t get to hold a Cesar”.

Best actress went to Hafsia Herzi for her role in Borgo by Stéphane Demoustier.

Best foreign film went to Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest.

American star Julia Roberts brought a touch of glamor to the evening. “Today, my life is a dream!”, said the 57-year-old star, with her trademark smile, after being presented with her honorary César by Clive Owen, who starred with her in the Mike Nichols film Closer, in 2005.

A second honorary award was given to Greek-French director Costa-Gavras, who at 93, has just released his 20th film Le Dernière Souffle (The Last Breath).

(with AFP)

Shea butter is widely used in the cosmetics industry, as well as by chocolatiers as a substitute for cocoa butter.

Diongoma was founded by Mariama Sylla in 2007. Located in Salemata, in the southeast of the country, its product has been certified “organic” by the Ecocert organisation since 2016.

This certification was hard-won, as according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the marketing of organic products in Senegal faces a number of constraints, including the high cost of certification processes.

From harvest to production, Sylla currently works with 3,000 women. She has enabled more favourable valuation of shea, which is a source of income for up to a third of households in Senegal.

RFI went to the Paris Agricultural Show to meet Diongoma to find out more.

The body of a man was found trapped under one of thousands of trees ripped up by winds of up to 230 kilometres (143 miles) per hour that tore across the island of some 900,000 people on Friday, authorities said giving the new toll.

The other victims, two women and a man, were carried away by flash floods, trapped in a mudslide or killed by an electrical fire sparked by the storm, according to the prefecture.

More than 180,000 people were left without electricity and more than 170,000 without water, authorities said.

The island’s international airport was to reopen late Saturday.

The nearby tourist island of Mauritius shut its main airport on Wednesday, while Reunion shut down to flights on Thursday.

Mayotte sends back-up

About 200 firefighters and civil aid workers were to be sent from Mayotte – a French territory nearly 1,500 kilometres away – and mainland France, the government said. Troops have also been put on standby.

Residents posted pictures online of uprooted trees, torn-off roofs and flooded homes. Entire streets were inundated and cars washed away.

Patrice Latron, the central government representative on the island, said “a lot of work” would be needed with many roads blocked by fallen trees.

“Roads are flooded, roads are cut off and some washed away. Bridges have come down,” he added.

Latron said Garance was fiercer than cyclone Belal that killed four people on Reunion in January 2024.

(with AFP)

In a studio near Paris, in a dark room with walls covered with blue fabric, a screen shows excerpts from the Japanese animated series Dragon Ball. Standing at a microphone, actor Bruno Méyère is dubbing several characters in French.

“You can go as far as ‘raw’… There, that’s perfect,” applauds artistic director Brigitte Lecordier, also a well-known French voiceover actor, who that day is working with her son Louis, the production director.

“I am mostly known for my cartoon voice, Oui-Oui [Noddy], and especially Dragon Ball,” says Lecordier, who is the voice of young Son Goku in the long-running series.

‘Our voices are stolen’

Despite her success, the rise of artificial intelligence in the sector has her worried. “We are not against AI. It can bring things from a technical point of view and in terms of tools,” she told RFI. “But we are very concerned. We want to continue creating and being artists, not be replaced by something that only creates by stealing from us. Our voices are stolen to generate AI and make us say things we did not choose to say.”

The French dubbing industry was recently shocked by an excerpt from the latest Sylvester Stallone film, Armor, in which the French VoiceOver of the American actor was made using AI.

Not only was the end result considered poor quality by the industry, it had been produced using the voice of Alain Dorval, the French voice actor who had previously dubbed Stallone’s voice – but passed away in February 2024.

His daughter, Aurore Bergé – currently a minister in French government – says the family agreed to her father’s voice being used for a test, but did not authorise it beyond that.

It’s a scenario that has raised questions over ethics in the industry, in the face of new technology.

“AI is taking the work of artists. Can we do without artists in society?” Lecordier asks. “AI does not create. It merely reproduces what has already been done, to a mediocre level,” she adds.

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

Preparation and post-recording

On the studio side, away from the microphone, one professional in the industry believes that the actors’ fears are legitimate, but that although AI cannot faithfully reproduce emotion, it can be useful in speeding up the processes of preparation and post-recording, or to modify a word in case of error.

The economic stakes are significant for clients: in France, one minute of dubbing can cost Between €280 and €400.

Negotiations are under way between unions, studios, major American companies, TV channels and streaming platforms to establish a more protective framework for French dubbing professionals.

The Hollywood actors and screenwriters’ strike of 2023 looms large, although industrial action is not yet on the table in France.

French voiceover actors hard at work as Covid boosts demand for dubbed content

Biometric data

Some actors say they have already seen their workload decrease due to AI.

For example, “mock-ups or other elements that are not broadcast but were recorded and for which we were paid,” especially in the advertising sector, says Patrick Kuban from Lesvoix.fr and a member of United Voice Artists, which brings together organisations from 35 countries on the issue of AI and voicing work.

There have also been instances of AI companies, based outside France, cloning the voices of animation actors without their consent.

“We ask that our work is not exploited and that our voice and our face are protected. These are biometric data. We must be asked for our consent. However, platforms based in Dubai, the United States or Israel are circumventing the European General Data Protection Regulation [GDPR] to offer audiobook or dubbing services in France with ‘stolen’ voices,” Kuban explains, echoing complaints that have already been made by the union groups involved in the negotiations in France.

The discussions are progressing, slowly, and a petition entitled “For dubbing created by humans for humans”, launched in January last year, has garnered more than 160,000 signatures.

Workers in the sector still have a strong position in the negotiations: almost 9 out of 10 viewers in France watch films and TV shows dubbed with French voices.

► This report was produced by Justine Fontaine for the RFI podcast Reportage en France.

His first comments as the go-to face of the impending winter extravaganza were as assured as yesteryear’s surge to glory. 

“The challenge ahead of me is like a long field of bumps,” quipped Grospiron, who embarked on a career as a motivational speaker after hanging up his skis. “So you’re going to need strong knees … don’t worry, I’m used to it.

“We’re going to encounter bumps, but our mission is going to be to overcome them, to face them. The bigger the obstacle, the greater the opportunity behind it, and that’s what we’re going to be working on together with the organising committee.”

Top of the list will be the selection of a chief executive to help share the load. Around €600 million worth of sponsorship will also need to be secured to pad out the two billion euros allocated for the 26th Winter Olympic Games.

The egos of local, regional and national political leaders will have to be flattered and pampered while adhering to the icy demands of national and international Olympic administrators.

Global warming – leading to the amount and quality of the snow – will be a likely concern.

In the flurry of interviews after his anointment, Grospiron maintained his composure. 

Former skiing champion Grospiron takes on role as face of 2030 Winter Olympics

Task

“I don’t see it as a nightmare at all,” Grospiron told RFI. “On the contrary, I see it as a big challenge. And big challenges lead to big victories, and small challenges to small victories.

“What’s interesting about this project is that in France, we have extraordinary resources and we’re going to be able to mobilise them.

“They are already well mobilised to serve this project. It is a magnificent project that should also help to provide answers to the climate challenges we face”. 

Sports administrators in France are basking in the glow of a successful Summer Olympics and Paralympics.

The three-time Olympic canoeing champion, Tony Estanguet, headed that organising committee with drive and panache and French athletes then harvested record hauls of medals to justify the financial investments in their bids for personal and national kudos.

In the wake of those coups, regional government officials gleefully parade their savoir-faire during tours with delegations from future Olympic cities such as Los Angeles and Brisbane.

“It’s all about teamwork and synergy,” said Grospiron. “Managing to unite all the energies that will enable us to get there. Obviously, Paris 2024 leaves a legacy in terms of human resources, that are, shall we say, plug and play. And that’s a real opportunity”.

Grospiron emerged as a candidate after former biathlete Martin Fourcade quit at the beginning of February. Fourcade, France’s most successful Winter Olympian with six golds and a silver from Vancouver, Sochi and Pyeonchang between 2010 and 2018, fell out with local politicians and clashed over the siting of the organising committee’s headquarters. The 36-year-old preferred a base in Grenoble, Chamonix, Albertville or Aix-les-Bains rather than Lyon.

French Alps the only bidder to host 2030 Winter Olympics

Chance

His withdrawal was a huge blow to the prestige of the project a few months after President Emmanuel Macron described him as the Estanguet of the Alps.

Though unable to boast a dazzling array of Winter Olympic hardware – Grospiron took bronze in the moguls in 1994 – a sense of pragmatism emerges from the 55-year-old’s experiences as chef de mission for the France team at the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics and as head of Annecy’s bid to stage the 2018 Winter Olympics.

“The only politics I’m going to have is knowing what’s good for the project and how the elected representatives are going to be able to help me deliver these Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Grospiron insisted. “Because that’s really what’s at stake.

“Tony [Estanguet] was faced with the same thing and he succeeded. He managed to get people on board the project”.

After an opening ceremony along the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, the ice sports, except for the speed skating, will be staged in the city.

Some 600km away to the north, La Clusaz and Le Grand-Bornand in the Haute-Savoie section will provide the venues for the cross country skiing and biathlon. La Plagne, Courcheval and Méribel in the Savoie cluster will host inter alia the bobsleigh, luge and the alpine skiing. Serre Chevalier and Montgenèvre in the Briançon cluster will stage the freestyle skiing and snowboarding.

“On the basis of the budgetary realities and the environmental realities we face, we have to find solutions that will enable us, that must enable us to deliver games,” said Grospiron.

“The concept of these Olympic Games is a fragmented one that would have made purists howl 30 years ago,” he added.

“And I understand that. But this concept is an opportunity to spread the load, particularly of spectators. And that’s an opportunity”.

“Foreign contributions are a positive for a people, so long as they remain proportionate,” Bayrou said in a television interview in late January. “But as soon as you get the feeling of being flooded, of no longer recognising your own country, its lifestyle and its culture, there is a rejection.” He added that France was “approaching” this threshold.

With his use of the word “flood” Bayrou employed terms more commonly used by the anti-immigration far-right National Rally (RN) – now the largest single party in parliament.

French PM in hot water over migrant ‘flooding’ gaffe

The RN, formerly known as the National Front, has long maintained that such a migrant “flood” (soumission migratoire) is a reality in France. This echoes the notion of the “great replacement” – a term coined by author Renaud Camus, which claims that immigrants, and those from Africa in particular, will gradually replace Europe’s white, Christian populations.

Official data from France’s national statistics agency (Insee) does not support such a claim. In 2023, immigrants accounted for 7.3 million of France’s population of 68 million – or 10.7 percent. In 1975, they made up 7.4 percent.

The proportion of foreigners rose from 6.5 percent to 8.2 percent in the same 50-year period. Around 3.5 percent are from the European Union and the rest from non-EU countries. An estimated 0.25 percent entered the country illegally.

“If you look at the numbers, it’s hard to say that there is an overwhelming crowd of foreigners,” says Tania Racho, a researcher on European law, who also works for an NGO fighting disinformation on migration issues.

There has been a steady progression in the proportion of foreigners, she says, with an increase of “about 2 percent in the past 10 to 15 years,” while the annual number of new arrivals to France – 300,000 – has remained fairly stable. 

This increase reflects a global trend, and several other countries have higher proportions of foreign residents than France, says Racho – 16 percent of Sweden’s population are foreigners, and in Germany the figure is 15 percent. The United States, United Kingdom and Turkey also have a higher percentage of foreign residents than France.

Meanwhile, demographer François Heran’s research has found the increase in France was largely thanks to economic and student migration, and that family reunification had declined.

Listen to our conversation with Tania Racho on the Spotlight on France podcast, episode 124.

A post-truth society

However, Racho points out, the debate is not necessarily rooted in figures. “It’s not about the numbers really, it’s about the feeling of considering there are a lot of foreigners in France. And it’s more complicated on a scientific level to measure a feeling.”

Research shows the French tend to overestimate the number of foreigners in the country – putting the number at 23 percent rather than the real figure of 8.2 percent. 

“We’re in a changing world, where scientific reality is no longer the foundation of political decisions,” the researcher says. “It’s true in the US and unfortunately, it’s also coming in France.”

She cites an example from France’s interior minister Bruno Retailleau. When recently questioned about the claim by CEPII, a public institute for research in global economics, that “studies were unanimous in concluding immigration had no impact on delinquency” the minister replied: “Reality belies this study.”

Economic research on migration issues is clearly struggling to be heard, said Racho.

French Senate backs bill to stop undocumented immigrants from getting married

An online poll for French TV channel BFMTV in the wake of Bayrou’s remarks, which surveyed 1,005 people, found that nearly two out of three French people (64 percent) thought he was right to refer to a “feeling of a migrant flood”. But broader, more in-depth surveys paint a more nuanced picture.

The recently published long-term European Social Survey 2023-2024 – which spoke to 40,000 people in 31 countries – on attitudes towards immigration found that 69 percent of French people do not have a sense of migratory flooding and agreed that “many or some immigrants from a different ethnic group [than the majority] should be allowed to come and live in the country”. 

Another study by Destin Commun, the French branch of the UK’s More in Common think tank, found that around 60 percent of French people said they had no opinion on migration whereas 20 percent thought it was linked to national identity.

“The truth is those 20 percent speak out more,” Racho notes. “They are more [active] on social networks, there’s more media coverage of the people that have a strong opinion on the question, [rather than] the 60 percent that don’t.”

Debating identity

Bayrou has called for a national debate not just on migration, but on what it means to be French. “What’s been fermenting for years is [the question], what does it mean to be French?” he told broadcaster RMC. “What rights does it give you? What duties does it demand of you? What advantages do you get? What do you commit to when you become a member of a national community?”

“It could be useful on some level to be sure that the reality of migration is better known,” Racho said. “It could be interesting to have a real, deep debate if it’s possible. It really depends on the way it’s treated.”

PM Bayrou calls for national debate on immigration after controversial ‘flooding’ comments

A previous debate on national identity, launched in 2009 under former right-wing president Nicolas Sarkozy, saw some 350 public debates held over three months, from which no concrete measures emerged.

Bayrou opposed the initiative at the time, saying: “Nothing is worse than turning identity into a subject of political confrontation and partisan use… The nation belongs to everyone.”

In African embassies, few voices are willing to speak out on the war in Ukraine. Many of the diplomats contacted by RFI were reluctant to discuss the subject – a silence that reflects a posture widely adopted by African states since the Russian invasion three years ago: that of strategic neutrality.

This reticence can be largely explained by economic considerations. “A number of African countries are dependent on deliveries of Russian and Ukrainian cereals and fertilisers. They can’t afford to break with either side,” explained Emmanuel Dupuy, president of think tank the Institute for European Perspective and Security Studies (IPSE) and a lecturer in geopolitics.

Diplomatic balancing act

Some states have adopted a pragmatic approach. Morocco, for example, is torn between expressing support for Ukraine – as a way of bolstering its own position on the Western Sahara – and adopting a cautious attitude towards Russia, so as not to jeopardise its veto on this issue in the United Nations Security Council.

S.Africa wants ‘inclusive’ talks on ending Ukraine war, invites Zelensky

Dr. Serigne-Bamba Gaye, a consultant in geopolitical issues, calls this “African pragmatism”. “Africa maintains an open dialogue with all its partners. The example of South Africa is particularly revealing: although a member of BRICS alongside Russia, Pretoria continues to maintain relations with Ukraine, while consolidating its strategic partnership with Moscow,” he said.

The African battleground

The continent has in turn become a diplomatic battleground for Moscow and Kyiv, with the two capitals redoubling their efforts to rally support, using both strategic and symbolic arguments.

In its search for allies, Ukraine is positioning itself first and foremost as the target of an illegal invasion, a narrative that has particular resonance in African countries that have themselves suffered under colonisation.

Kyiv is seeking to generate solidarity by emphasising the right of a people to self-determination. On the diplomatic front it is stepping up its initiatives, notably through the Summit on Peace in Ukraine in Switzerland, in June 2024, which was attended by several African leaders.

Rejection of colonialist discourse

For its part, Russia is exploiting its network of historic alliances, while playing on an anti-Western rhetoric that resonates with certain African states. Former Malian ambassador Oumar Keita sums this up as follows: “The Western bloc really wants to impose, above all, human rights. Africans are very wary of this colonialist rhetoric. And Africa is in tune with Russia’s policy. We can’t say that Russia is a truly democratic country, but since Europe imposes democracy, it’s a bit complicated.”

African troops ‘forced to Ukraine frontlines’ while Russians stay in camp

Senegal too is navigating Western pressure to condemn Russian aggression and the need to preserve its ties with Moscow. Macky Sall, in his role as then-chairman of the African Union, discussed the Grain from Ukraine programme – a humanitarian initiative under which Ukraine would supply grain to the poorest countries in Africa – with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in December 2022, but refrained from any outright break with Russia, a key player in energy and military exports to the continent.

Sahel alignment with Moscow

While many African countries have sought to maintain such strategic neutrality, some have changed their position. Mali is a striking example: after abstaining from voting on UN resolutions concerning Ukraine in 2022, in 2023 Bamako rallied to Russia’s position and voted against a resolution calling for an end to the war and demanding that Russia leave Ukrainian territory, in line with the growing rapprochement between the two countries.

This change in position was accompanied by a clear diplomatic break with Kyiv. Maliand Niger ceased relations with Ukraine on 4 and 6 August last year respectively, accusing Kyiv of “supporting international terrorism”.

This decision was precipitated by comments from Andriy Yusov, spokesman for Ukrainian Military Intelligence, who claimed Malian armed groups had used Ukrainian information during an offensive against the Malian army and Wagner Group mercenaries in Tinzaouaten in July 2024.

“Everything was fine between the two countries until Ukrainian officials made subversive remarks,” said Oumar Keita, a former Malian ambassador. For Bamako, these statements amounted to unacceptable interference, and reinforced the junta’s desire to strengthen its ties with Moscow.

“Wagner is still in Mali, close to the Malian army, fighting the terrorists. That says it all,” Keita added, in justification of the rapprochement with Moscow.

Russia eyes Libya to replace Syria as Africa launchpad

Burkina Faso has joined its Alliance of Sahel States partners in aligning itself with Russia. The trio have asked the UN to take measures against Ukraine, illustrating a clear break with Ukraine.

According to Keita, this change of heart is also rooted in a feeling of disappointment with the West: “Mali was really disappointed because it was not supported in its fight against terrorism. That same position is still [the case] today.”

Africa on the international stage

“What has changed in three years is not so much Africa’s position, but the unity of the Western bloc,” according to Dr. Gaye. “The arrival of Donald Trump has upset the global balance, undermining unconditional support for Ukraine and paving the way for unilateral initiatives to try to resolve the conflict.”

He believes that while the African continent has demonstrated a pragmatic approach by refusing to align itself with or apply Western sanctions, it is still struggling to impose a common strategy in the face of the many crises that affect it. From instability in the Sahel to conflicts in Central Africa and Sudan, these internal security situations are limiting its diplomatic influence.

Niger embraces Russia for uranium production leaving France out in the cold

“The resurgence of conflicts in Central Africa, Sudan and the Sahel illustrates a persistent strategic weakness,” he said. “Africa must adopt a more assertive pragmatism, not only to carry weight on the international stage, but above all to resolve its own crises. Otherwise, it will remain on the sidelines of major global decisions.”

This article has been adapted from the original French version.

Hundreds of people have gathered in the Glass House of the Berlin Arena, an old bus factory located at the bank of the river Spree that now hosts techno parties and other events.

The atmosphere is one of exaltation and speeches are received with thunderous applause, happy shouting and whistles.

They are celebrating the fact that the Die Linke party (“The Left”) garnered 8.5 percent of the votes in Germany’s national elections held on Sunday.

During the previous elections in 2021, it did not make the 5 percent threshold needed to enter the Bundestag (parliament).

Scholz’s SPD suffers historic election loss, as Germany’s far-right AfD doubles in size

This time the heated campaign energised voters, with a turnout of 84 percent, the highest level since Germany‘s reunification in 1990.

“I’m absolutely enthusiastic about it. It is absolutely amazing. And nobody expected it,” Tess, one of the Die Linke supporters tells RFI. 

Die Linke is an offspring of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) that ruled communist East Germany for seven decades.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the SED morphed into the Democratic Socialist Party (PDS) and, in 2005 changed its name to Die Linke, which reached its biggest success in 2009 with 11.9 percent of the votes.

Its popularity faded, and in 2021, the party disappeared from the Bundestag due to lack of support. 

Some of the older members trace their current membership back to the days of the SED, the party that became notorious for its iron rule, complete subordination to the USSR’s Communist Party and its regime of Stasi secret police that monitored and persecuted the population of East Germany.

But today, the party wants to radiate youthfulness and enthusiasm.

Commentators on German radio, say that Die Linke is now a “youthful party” that cares, among other things, about ecology – something that used to be the monopoly of the Green party.

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

Die Linke is also gaining ground in response to the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party which came second in the polls with a record 20 percent, driven by fears over immigration and with strongest gains in its heartland in the ex-communist east.

“Of course it is very frightening to see that the far-right party is the second most successful party.” says Nico, another Linke supporter who is at the election night event at Berlin Arena. “But still we are very happy that we are back as a party,” he tells RFI.

Friedrich Merz, whose CDU/CSU alliance claimed victory with 28 percent of the vote, now has to form a coalition.

He is most likely to side with the vanquished Social Democrats (SPD) of the outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz but has pledged not to include the AfD in the future composition.

But both Tess and Nico think that Die Linke should not form a part of the government either.

“Die Linke is an opposition party,” says Tess, laughing away the idea of Die Linke governing. 

Nico agrees: “The promises that were made by the other parties are not going to be upheld. And that’s why there has to be a social opposition in the parliament. And that’s going to be the Left Party,” he says confidently.

In a packed conference hall in an Istanbul hotel, Ahmet Turk, a leading member of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Dem Party, read a statement by Ocalan calling for the organization, which he founded, to disarm and dissolve itself, declaring an end to the decades-long conflict.

 The PKK, designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union and the United States, has been fighting for autonomy and Kurdish minority rights in Turkey since the 1980s.

Ocalan, imprisoned in a Turkish jail since 1999, made his disarmament call after the PKK suffered significant military setbacks in recent years.

 “The PKK is almost finished within the borders of Turkey,” explained Mesut Yegen, a political scientist at the Istanbul-based Reform Institute.

However, Yegen claims with the PKK now primarily based in northern Iraq on Turkey’s frontier, while its affiliate in Syria, the SDF, controls a large swathe of territory bordering Turkey all sides still have an interest in peace.

“We know that the Turkish state needs a peace process because it’s worried about the future development in the region in Syria and Iraq,” added Yegen.

Turkey looks for regional help in its battle against Kurdish rebels in Iraq

Cautious response

The Turkish government gave a cautious response to Ocalan’s statement, saying it’s waiting for the PKK to disarm. The PKK leadership based in Iraq, ahead of Ocalan’s statement, declared it is looking for gestures from the government before any disarmament.

“The peace process in Turkey will largely depend on what emerges, what kind of a deal emerges inside Syria,” Asli Aydintasbas, a visiting senior fellow with the Brookings Institution in Washington, said.

“So we’re also seeing Turkey be more cautious. That doesn’t mean, you know, Turkey won’t reverse course if it feels there’s no room to go with Syrian Kurds or inside the peace process in Turkey.”

Turkish armed forces are massed on the Syrian border with Ankara, demanding the SDF merge with the Syrian army under the control of Syria’s new rulers, with whom the Turkish government has close ties.

For now, the SDF leader Mazloum Abdi declared his force is not bound by Ocalan’s disarmament call while demanding Ankara end its ongoing attacks on its troops.

Turkey’s Saturday Mothers keep up vigil for lost relatives

Scepticism

Analyst Mesut Yegen adds that ending the PKK conflict will come at a price for Ankara.  “They’re (PKK) expecting that in return for that, the state promises that at least a kind of autonomy or status for Syrian Kurds is going to be recognised by the Syrian regime, the new regime, and that the Turkish state also supports this kind of solution.

“In addition to this, of course, the expectation is that some reforms will be implemented in Turkey with regards to the Kurdish question.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has distanced himself from the current efforts to end the conflict, other than saying a historic opportunity exists for Kurds and Turks to live in peace but offering no concessions.

For months, a crackdown on Turkey’s legal Kurdish movement continues, with the removal of elected mayors and arrests of journalists and human rights activists. 

Trial of alleged PKK figures accused of financing terror begins in France

Turkish commentator on Turkey’s Politikyol news portal, Sezin Oney, warns unless the causes of the conflict are addressed, there’s little hope of a permanent peace.

 “Probably, any disarmament or any disbanding of PKK would be a gimmick,” warns Oney.

“It wouldn’t be a real actual disbanding, and it might just appear in a year under a different name. Because they would still have the pretext to argue that armed struggle is necessary because the Kurds in Turkey don’t have their democratic rights.”

With previous peace efforts failing, opinion polls indicate that the public remains sceptical of this latest effort. But for 75-year-old Ocalan, analysts warn it may be his last chance of any hope of freedom.

Should the form book be followed, it will be an all-Ligue 1 showdown at the Stade de France on 24 May.

But though the manual has been shredded throughout the 2024/2025 Coupe de France campaign, PSG adroitly negotiated their quarter-final hazard in north-western France.

Luis Enrique’s men emerged from their tie against fourth division Stade Briochin on Wednesday night unscathed to prepare for tougher assignments in the shape of Lille on Saturday night in Ligue 1 and then Liverpool in next Wednesday night’s first leg of the Champions League last-16.

Portugal international Joao Neves opened the scoring against the minnows in the 16th minute at the Roazhon Park in Rennes. His compatriot Gonçalo Ramos added the second on 36 minutes to imbue the tie with a tad of intrigue at the pause.

“At half-time, I told my players to believe and that the third goal could be for us … but that wasn’t the case,” said Stade Briochin boss Guillaume Allanou.

The third went to PSG as Ramos grabbed his second goal of the night from the penalty spot soon after the restart. Désiré Doué lashed in the fourth in the 55th minute and Ramos completed his hat trick three minutes later to make it 5-0.

Champions League: PSG boss Enrique warns against complacency in Brest clash

Rout

In the closing quarter, Senny Mayulu and Ousmane Dembélé supplied the gloss for the 7-0 rout.

“I wasn’t just waiting for their mistakes,” said Allanou. “My players were trying to be proactive.”

But after a cup run that had taken them five rounds past lower league opposition and top flight Nice, PSG were a reality check for the Breton band of brothers.

“What they do is lovely to watch,” said Allanou. “They’re talented players. They’re quick and technical. What I find very respectful – and this is the Luis Enrique touch – is that even at 6-0, they give us nothing.

“They defend like dogs. That’s the beauty of it, they’re in steamroller mode. It’s like they’re showing everyone –  France and the whole of Europe – that we want to dominate everything. And that’s the best sign of respect for us.”

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Adventure

Brest, however, succumbed to the romance of the cup. They led Dunkerque 2-0 at the Stade Francis Le Blé in their last eight clash and seemed set fair for the semi-final to the delight of the home faithful.

But Eric Roy’s men crumbled and shipped three goals to complete a miserable week for them after their elimination from the Champions League.

“It’s a huge disappointment,” said Roy. “Probably the biggest one since I’ve been here. We had a really good chance to make it 3-0. It didn’t happen. Football is often cruel and this defeat is really tough to take.”

A team from Dunkerque will play in the last four for the first time since 1929 after Opa Sangante came off the bench to bag a brace in the last 10 minutes.

“The players never gave up,” beamed the Dunkerque boss Luis Castro. “They believe in what the coaching team is trying to do.”

Fourth tier Cannes, who like Stade Briochin started their Coupe de France run last November, beat second division Guingamp 3-1 to reach the semi final of the competition for the first time since 1992 when a spry teenager named Zinedine Zidane was starting his ascent. 

Ramos shines in Mbappé’s absence as PSG romp past Lyon to go 11 points clear

Touch of class

The man Zidane deployed his prodigious skills to reap he full collection of medals with Juventus, Real Madrid and the France national team.

During Cannes’ coup, Cédric Gonçalves showed a Zidanesque flash of brilliance on the half hour mark when he noticed the Guingamp goalkeeper Babacar Niasse off his line and lobbed him from 45 metres out to double the hosts’ advantage.

Though Jacques Siwa halved the deficit seconds into the second-half at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin, Julien Domingues restored the two-goal advantage and Cannes held on for a famous feat.

“The idea was to play for the pleasure of it,” Cannes midfielder Cheik Ndoye told L’Equipe TV.

“Guingamp are in the hunt for promotion to Ligue 1 and we’re fighting to go up to the third division,” added the 38-year-old former Senegal international. “We did everything we could to win and it worked for us.”

Destination

Reims’ victory over Angers on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the Stade Raymond Kopa in Angers appeared prosaic in comparison to the pyrotechnics in the other quarter-finals.

And with PSG still in the fray, the ultimate destination of the trophy – rather like the Ligue 1 title – would appear to be PSG’s trophy cabinet at the Parc des Princes.

Enrique’s steamroller – to cite said Allanou – go into the 24th round of games 13 points clear of second-placed Marseille in the hunt for an 11th Ligue 1 championship in 13 seasons.

Only the grandmother of all meltdowns will prevent top flight title number 13 to move three clear of traditional rivals Marseille who hogged the headlines during the week for the unsporting behaviour of its president Pablo Longoria.

The 39-year-old Spaniard was banned for 15 games for calling the officiating corrupt following Marseille’s 3-0 defeat at Auxerre on 22 February.

Punishment

Fabrizio Ravanelli, Longoria’s sporting advisor, waded in with the epithet “scandalous” to describe Jérémy Stinat’s refereeing and was slapped with a three-match suspension.

Longoria will not be allowed access to the touchline, nor the players‘ and officials’ changing room. He will also be barred from the pitch, the tunnel to the field as well as all the corridors leading to those areas. Ravanelli’s movements at venues will also be restricted.

The defeat at Auxerre, coupled with PSG’s 3-2 success at Lyon the following evening, allowed PSG to extend their lead and open up Marseille to challengers for one of the three berths leading to automatic qualification for next season’s Champions League.

Nice hover three points behind Marseille and fourth-placed Lille are five points away.

Marseille, who play on Sunday night at the Vélodrome against Nantes, will have to hope PSG do them a favour and beat Lille on Saturday at the Parc des Princes.

Marseille will also have to dispose of their opponents. 

And not complain about the referees.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau and his British counterpart Yvette Cooper met Thursday at the northern coastal town of Le Touquet where some migrants set off to try and reach the UK.

Retailleau announced he was seeking a change to the law to allow migrants to be tackled out of boats in shallow water.

The change would also allow police to use their own boats for the first time to take on people smugglers transporting migrants to Britain’s shores in often flimsy and overloaded vessels.

The idea is to counter a tactic involving “taxi-boats” whereby people smuggling gangs remain in the water and collect migrants from beaches in Northern France, without setting foot on land thereby avoiding police checks and arrests.

“We need to rethink our approach so that we can intercept the boats,” Retailleau said. “We have to be able to intercept them within 300m of the coast.”

Last year, 36,816 migrants crossed the Channel to the UK. At least 73 deaths were recorded, according to local French authorities.

France rescues over 100 migrants from Channel, capping deadly year for crossings

 ‘Illegal stay’ offence

In November Retailleau had mentioned the possibility of a “showdown” with London, but the two ministers found common ground.

“Our discussions are a bit tough when it comes to money,” Retailleau said during a joint press conference, but “we agree on the objectives, and in the end, we always manage to find common ground.”

Cooper called for strengthening the fight against illegal migration, “both here in northern France, between the UK and France, but also by enhancing actions across Europe”.

Retailleau said he hoped to reinstate the offence of an “illegal stay”, abolished in 2012, which would allow the police to arrest migrants and smugglers before they attempt the Channel crossing. 

Currently, migrants who try and cross the Channel are considered to have committed an offence only when they launch the boat.

Bilateral cooperation

While migration issues have long been a source of friction between London and Paris, the two ministers also announced an agreement to extend the Sandhurst Treaty through to 2027.

Under the 2018 agreement, the UK helps fund security at the border in France, where checks are conducted. 

Sandhurst meeting proves bilateral relations are alive and well

The two ministers visited security facilities and units partly funded by the British, including a barrier installed on a waterway to prevent access to the sea.

Among the projects set to be co-financed by 2027 are an additional administrative detention centre (CRA) in Dunkirk, barracks for riot police deployed as reinforcements, and training programmes for drone operators.

During a bilateral summit in Paris in March 2023, London agreed to give France more than €500m over three years to help stop migrants crossing the Channel in small boats.

In return, France was expected to increase the interception rate of boats attempting to cross the Channel and significantly reduce the number of illegal crossings.

Crossings reached a record in 2022 when more than 45,000 people arrived in the UK, dropped in 2023 before rising again in 2024, with around 36,800 arrivals – a  25 percent increase from the previous year.

Migrants crossing Channel to Britain in 2024 soar by 25 percent

Le Touquet accords

In November, Retailleau urged London to do more to combat illegal immigration, regretting the lack of legal routes to England since Brexit.

The Labour government has pledged to reduce immigration. However, faced with ongoing labour shortages in agriculture, it announced Tuesday a five-year extension of the rules allowing the employment of foreign seasonal agricultural workers.

On the eve of Thursday’s meeting, Xavier Bertrand, the conservative president of France’s northern Hauts-de-France region that includes Le Touquet and Calais, criticised the UK for allowing migrants to cross and then “work for peanuts” on the black market.

Bertrand told broadcaster TF1: “We have to be prepared to say listen, Britons, if things don’t change we’re going to hand your border back”, referring to the 2003 Le Touquet treaty under which France and the UK carry out immigration controls in each other’s seaports.

Retailleau had evoked ending the Le Touquet accords in November, but concluded it would be “the best way to rebuild the jungle”, a huge makeshift migrant camp near Calais dismantled in 2016, and “to clog up cross-Channel traffic”.

Congo filed criminal complaints against Apple subsidiaries in France and Belgium in December, accusing them of “illegal and even criminal export and delivery” of minerals from the country via Rwanda.

Apple said at the time that it strongly disputed the allegations and had told its suppliers they must adhere to the “highest industry standards” and not use the minerals in question, sourced from Congo or Rwanda.

The Paris public prosecutor’s office dismissed the complaint on February 18 saying allegations of money laundering and deceptive business practices were “not sufficiently well-founded” and closed the case. This means it will not proceed with the complaint.

The complaints filed in France and Belgium were prepared on behalf of Congo’s justice minister.

The prosecutor’s office invited Congo to contact a different office “with jurisdiction over war crimes”.

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

‘Very partial dismissal’

William Bourdon and Vincent Brengarth – lawyers representing the plaintiffs in France – described the decision as a “very partial dismissal” and said they would immediately challenge it at the Paris Court of Appeal. They cited the “extreme seriousness of the facts denounced and the need to identify and prosecute those responsible”.

Congo is a major source of tin, tantalum and tungsten, so-called 3T minerals used in computers and mobile phones. Some artisanal mines are run by armed groups involved in massacres of civilians, mass rapes, looting and other crimes, according to UN experts and human rights groups.

Apple said it in 2024 it had informed its suppliers that their smelters and refineries must suspend sourcing tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold from the DRC and Rwanda“.

Rwanda also rejected these allegations.

Since the 1990s, Congo’s mining heartlands in the east have been devastated by waves of fighting between armed groups, some backed by Rwanda or the Congolese military.

Tensions have escalated since 2021 with the resurgence of the Rwanda-backed M23. The group recently took control of Goma in North Kivu, followed by Bukavu in South Kivu.

(with newswires)

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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 1 February, I asked you a question about our article “African nations set to light up the homes of 300 million people by 2030”.

Nearly 600 million Africans live without access to electricity, which is higher than any other continent. The World Bank and the African Development Bank have a plan: Dubbed “Mission 300”, it’s meant to connect half of those homes to power by 2030.

You were to send in the names of four African countries that have committed to reform their electricity utility companies, push renewable energy integration, and raise targets to improve access to national electricity. The World Bank grant will only be available to countries once these reforms have been carried out.

The answer is, to quote our article: “In Nigeria, an estimated 90 million people, 40 percent of the population, don’t have access to electricity. The country, along with Senegal, Zambia and Tanzania is one of a dozen that committed as part of the Mission 300 Plan.”

The other countries are Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, DRC, Niger, Liberia, Madagascar, and Malawi. 

In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question: “What item have you held on to as a remembrance of something?”

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

The winners are: RFI English listener Radhakrishna Pillai from Kerala State, India. Radhakrishna is also this week’s bonus question winner. Congratulations, Radhakrishna, on your double win !

Also on the list of lucky winners this week are Ahsan Ejaz, a member of the RFI Fans Club in Sheikhupura, Pakistan, and Sharmin Sultana, a member of the Shetu RFI Listeners Club in Naogaon, Bangladesh. Rounding out the list are two RFI English listeners: Subhas Paul, a member of the RFI Students Radio Club in West Bengal, India, and Christian Ghibaudo from Tende, France.

Congratulations, winners!

Here’s the music you heard on this week’s programme: The “Vivace” from Serenade for Small Orchestra by Jean Françaix, performed by the Cleveland Orchestra conducted by Louis Lane; “Djourou”, performed by Ballaké Sissoko and Sona Jobarteh; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; “The Cakewalk” from Children’s Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer; “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, and “Baul Song” by Lalan, performed by Torap Ali Shah.

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

This week’s question … you must listen to the show to participate. After you’ve listened to the show, re-read our article “French president Macron set to brief EU leaders over details of Trump talks”, which will help you with the answer.

You have until 24 March to enter this week’s quiz; the winners will be announced on the 29 March podcast. When you enter be sure to send your postal address with your answer, and if you have one, your RFI Listeners Club membership number.

Send your answers to:

english.service@rfi.fr

or

Susan Owensby

RFI – The Sound Kitchen

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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.   

Representatives of 196 rich and developing countries hammered out a compromise on Thursday to raise and deliver the billions of dollars needed to protect species in some of the world’s poorest countries.

After three days of tense discussions, countries were able to overcome deep divisions which had led to the collapse of negotiations at last year’s UN biodiversity summit (COP16) in Cali, Colombia.

COP16 President Susana Muhamad of Colombia had earlier urged delegates to work together for something that is “probably the most important purpose of humanity in the 21st century – our collective capacity to sustain life on this planet”.

She hailed the fact that countries worked together for a breakthrough, enabling progress “in this very fragmented and conflicted world”. 

The deal should help countries reach their goal of raising $200bn by 2030 to preserve biodiversity, as agreed in a 2022 landmark agreement to protect 30 percent of the world’s land and seas.

However, only $15bn of the funding has been raised so far according to the OECD.

Scientists have warned that action is urgent. A million species are threatened with extinction, while unsustainable farming and consumption destroys forests, depletes soils and spreads plastic pollution to even the most remote areas of the planet.

Wildlife populations plunge 73 percent amid warnings of biodiversity crisis

New strategy agreed

The Cali talks broke down largely over disagreement on how to deliver funding to poor nations in particular. Developing countries, led by Brazil and the African Group wanted a new fund, while wealthy nations led by the EU, Japan and Canada did not and pushed for more accountability on spending.

The compromise strategy agreed in Rome allows for a five-year review of the existing mechanisms so that countries can decide by 2030 whether a new fund is necessary or if improvements to the existing ones will suffice.

The plan also includes boosting monitoring to ensure countries are held accountable for their progress towards meeting biodiversity targets, a commitment to having a permanent fund for nature, and dedicated funding for indigenous groups.

One achievement in the COP16 summit in Cali was the creation of a new fund to share profits from digitally sequenced genetic data from plants and animals with the communities they come from.

The fund, officially launched on Tuesday, is designed for large firms to contribute a portion of their income from developing things like medicine and cosmetics using this data. 

France leads charge in UN talks to tackle global plastic pollution crisis

International cooperation

The agreement provides a much-needed boost to international environmental cooperation, as talks on plastic pollution, desertification and climate finance faced setbacks in recent months.

“This is a great signal for the rest of the year, including upcoming negotiations on plastic pollution and climate,” said Norway’s Environment Minister Andreas Bielland Eriksen.

Talks in Rome were also seen as a measure of international cooperation as countries face a range of challenges – from trade disputes to the slashing of overseas aid, particularly by US President Donald Trump. 

Washington, which has not signed up to the UN’s Convention on Biological Diversity, was not represented at the meeting.

Ousseynou Kasse of Senegal, chair of the Africa Group, said multilateralism had prevailed. “We believe that this is the way that can save the world, and we must continue down this path,” he said. 

“We will have a mechanism dedicated exclusively to biodiversity, something that has never existed before under this convention. That is a reason for satisfaction.”

An estimated half of global GDP is dependent on nature, and as much as 4 billion people depend on the world’s ocean resources and forests.

Ecosystems hang in the balance as Colombia hosts crucial biodiversity talks

In a landmark decision, Europe’s top human rights court has called on France to rethink its policing methods after a ruling on Thursday condemned the country for a 2014 law enforcement operation that led to the death of 21-year-old environmental activist Rémi Fraisse.

Fraisse – a passionate botany student – was killed during protests against a planned dam in Sivens, near the southern French city of Toulouse.

He was struck by a stun grenade during clashes between demonstrators and police, sparking widespread unrest in several French cities.

France bans police use of grenades that killed dam protester

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) determined that France had violated Article 2 – the right to life – of the European Convention on Human Rights, citing inadequate safeguards against the use of potentially lethal force.

The ruling highlighted the dangers of the OF-F1 grenade – an explosive device unique to France at the time – which was ultimately banned in 2017.

‘Inappropriate use of force’

Recognising the challenges law enforcement faces in handling tense situations, the court nonetheless emphasised the need for greater protection in crowd control operations.

In response, France will compensate Fraisse’s family with payments ranging from €5,600 to €16,000.

For many – including Jean-Pierre Fraisse, Rémi’s father – the ruling is a long-awaited acknowledgment of responsibility.

“It has taken more than ten years and the support of the European Court of Human Rights for the French state’s responsibility in the death of Rémi Fraisse to be finally recognised. What a waste of time,” said lawyer Patrice Spinosi, representing Jean-Pierre Fraisse.

“The inappropriate use of force during the demonstrations against the Sivens dam is now established. To avoid further condemnation, France must now draw all the consequences of this decision and thoroughly review its policy on maintaining order,” he added.

Government still grappling with controversial Sivens dam project

The verdict from the Strasbourg-based court also reaffirmed that the criminal investigation into the incident was conducted independently and impartially.

However, with the inappropriate use of force now officially established, legal experts and activists alike are urging France to take decisive action in reforming its policing strategies.

Algeria’s Council of the Nation said Wednesday it had decided to “immediately” suspend all ties with the French Senate, including a parliamentary cooperation protocol signed between the two chambers in 2015.

The council was reacting to a visit to Western Sahara by French Senate speaker Gérard Larcher on Monday. The Algerian council described the visit as  “irresponsible, provocative and ostentatious”.

Tensions over Western Sahara

Last year Algeria recalled its ambassador to Paris after France recognised Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara. Algeria backs the Polisario Front that is seeking an independent state.

The council said it was surprised by France’s decision to allow Larcher’s visit, as it is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, which is “supposed to defend the right of self-determination of colonised people, rather than trying to cancel and deny them”.

The UN recognises neither Morocco’s nor the Polisario Front’s claims on Western Sahara, which Morocco took over in a 1975 agreement with Spain and Mauritania.

Immigration accord

The suspension of relations between the legislative bodies is another sign of the increased tension between France and Algeria.

On Wednesday French Prime Minister François Bayrou said France would review the 1968 Franco-Algerian pact, which exempts Algerians from some French immigration laws, making it easier for them to move to France, unless Algeria agrees to take back its citizens who have been deported by French authorities.

This comes after an Algerian citizen whom France had long tried, unsuccessfully, to send back to Algeria, killed a person and injured three in a knife attack in the city of Mulhouse on Saturday.

Bayrou told reporters that Algeria’s refusal to take back its citizens was “a direct attack on the agreements we have with the Algerian authorities and we will not accept it”, adding that his government would spend four to six weeks reviewing Algiers’ implementation of the 1968 pact.

(with AFP)

The French anti-terrorism prosecutor, Pnat, has charged the attacker, identified as Brahim Abdessemed, with murder and attempted murder, and violence against public officials for using weapons against police officers who pursued him, on his stabbing spree in the covered market in Mulhouse on Saturday.

In court, the magistrate agreed with the prosecutor’s request to keep Abdessemed in custody.

Macron condemns ‘Islamist terror’ after deadly Mulhouse knife attack

Born in Algeria, Abdessemed was in France illegally, had been the subject of a deportation order after being convicted of supporting terrorism in the past, but Bayrou said Wednesday that Algeria refused “10 times” to take him back.

This has been the case for other cases in recent weeks, amid mounting tensions between France and Algeria after France last year recognised Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, where the Algeria-backed Polisario Front is seeking an independent state. 

Detention

The prosecutor said that Abdessemed, who shouted Allahou akbar (God is the greatest, in Arabic) during the attack, had partially admitted to the facts, but “disputed any adherence to jihadist theories”.

In previous cases Abdessemed had been found to be schizophrenic, although a psychiatric examination this week concluded “that he had not acted in a delirious state” and that his state of health did not keep him from being held in custody.

His two brothers and the person who he was living with, who had also been detained for questioning, were found not to have been involved in the attack, and were released.

(with AFP)

Macron’s comments follow confirmation that Franco-Israeli hostage Ohad Yahalomi seized in Hamas’s October 2023 attack was among four bodies returned to Israel.

Macron posted on X that he shared the “immense pain” of Yahalomi’s family and that “Hamas’s barbarism must end”, adding that “France lost 50 of its children in the October 7 abomination”.

Yahalomi – who was 49 years old at the time of his abduction from the Nir Oz kibbutz – was the last known French citizen held by Hamas.

His son, Eitan, had been released in November 2023 as part of an earlier hostage exchange.

The announcement of Yahalomi’s death has intensified France’s diplomatic stance, with Prime Minister François Bayrou also expressing profound grief, stating, “Our pain is immense”.

Bayrou further emphasised the need for a concerted international effort to bring an end to such tragedies and hold those responsible accountable.

Two French-Israeli hostages to be among first freed by Hamas under truce

Israel – Hamas exchange

The return of Yahalomi’s remains came as part of a broader exchange in which Hamas released the bodies of four hostages in return for over 600 Palestinian prisoners.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum confirmed that the other three victims were Itzhak Elgarat, Shlomo Mantzur, and Tsachi Idan.

Their deaths have further exacerbated tensions in an already fragile ceasefire, with Israel and Hamas still struggling to agree on the terms of a second phase of negotiations.

Israel’s refusal to withdraw from the Philadelphi corridor – a crucial border zone between Gaza and Egypt – has added another layer of uncertainty to the truce.

As Israel cites the strategic importance of the corridor in preventing arms smuggling, their stance threatens to derail mediation efforts led by Egypt, which has played a key role in brokering past agreements.

Israel-Hamas ceasefire must lead to ‘political resolution’ in Gaza, Macron says

In response, Hamas has insisted that adherence to the ceasefire deal is the “only way” to secure the release of remaining hostages.

With 59 captives still being held in Gaza – 32 of whom are believed to be dead – the militant group maintains significant leverage in the ongoing negotiations.

Hamas also warned that any Israeli backtracking could prolong the suffering of hostages and their families.

According to Palestinian health officials, over 48,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel’s military offensive began.

As the first phase of the ceasefire nears its expiry date, the road ahead remains uncertain.

While Israel insists on dismantling Hamas’ military and governing capabilities, the group has little incentive to release its remaining hostages without securing major concessions.

(With newswires)

French prosecutors said Wednesday that two employees of France’s main state CNRS research agency admitted to throwing improvised explosive devices at the Russian consulate in Marseille, southern France, saying they acted because of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Three plastic bottles were lobbed into the consulate gardens on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Monday.

The bottles – two of which exploded – contained nitrogen and other chemical substances. No one was injured and no damage was reported.

EU leaders in Ukraine to mark third anniversary of Russia’s invasion

Moscow denounces ‘terrorist’ attack

One of the researchers is an engineer, the other a chemist, and both will appear before a judge on Thursday.

According to Marseille prosecutor Nicolas Bessone, the two “have justified their action in the context of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine”.

The researchers are charged with damaging property “by a means dangerous to persons” and “unauthorised manufacture of explosive or incendiary devices,” Bessone added.

The CNRS conducts research in various scientific fields and has more than 1,100 laboratories across French territory, employing some 33,000 people including researchers from the former Soviet Union.

Moscow called the incident a “terrorist attack”, while the French government condemned “any infringement of the security of diplomatic compounds“.

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

Russia launches investigation

Regional newspaper La Provence reported that the two men – in their forties and fifties – were identified during a pro-Ukraine protest at Marseille town hall on Monday.

The Russian embassy in Paris said it had asked French authorities before the incident to tighten security around Russian diplomatic missions “in view of possible provocations”.

“Nevertheless, such attacks occurred,” the embassy said.

Russia’s Investigative Committee, which looks into major crimes, said on Tuesday it had launched its own probe and was preparing “an international request for legal assistance”.

The two-day G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bankers in Cape Town failed to come up with a joint communique. However a “chair’s summary” issued by the host said participants “reiterated the commitment to resisting protectionism.”

G20 summary

The summary added they had “supported a rules-based, non-discriminatory, fair, open, inclusive, equitable, sustainable and transparent multilateral trading system,” using several words the Trump administration has already strongly objected to.

But the talks were overshadowed by the absence of several key finance chiefs – such as from the United States, China, India and Japan – and foreign aid cuts by major economies like the United States and Britain, against a backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions.

However, finance ministers and central bank governors from the world’s leading economies pushed ahead at the Cape Town gathering just a week after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio snubbed a meeting of G20 foreign ministers, complaining of its “anti-Americanism.”

During the meeting, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa encouraged participants to keep investing in cooperation, despite the absence of US government representatives.

“The erosion of multilateralism presents a threat to global growth and stability,” he said in his opening address.

“At this time of heightened geopolitical contestation, a rules-based order is particularly important as a mechanism for managing disputes and resolving conflict.”

The G20, a grouping of 19 countries plus the European Union and the African Union, is divided on key issues, from Russia’s war in Ukraine to climate change, with world leaders scrambling to respond to drastic policy shifts from Washington since the return of US President Donald Trump.

Climate priorities

South Africa’s G20 presidency this year will prioritise efforts to help developing countries finance their shift to low-carbon economies, Ramaphosa also said, even as the United States radically scales back its support.

Vumile Senene, is the country lead for the Clean Air Fund, based in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

“I am indeed worried that the momentum that has been gained over the years may begin to wane because of other pressing global issues. And I believe that would definitely have a significant impact on the agenda of climate change, whether it be mitigation or adaptation,” he told RFI from Cape Town.

He also fears losing the  progress on climate action in recent years. “We are undoubtedly living in a very peculiar time, he said, adding that he remains hopeful that optimism and decisive action will prevail, 

“There is a clear link between climate, air pollution, and public health,” he explains, as well as their broader impact on the economy and environment.

From a South African perspective, the Clean Air Fund is committed to ensuring that key decision-makers have access to the necessary information to drive policies that support both sustainability and public well-being.

“And we feel that the G20 summit provides an opportunity for this particular topic not to be left off the table, but to be taken into account,” he added.  

The data currently available shows that in Africa the majority of people, especially in urban areas, are breathing air quality that is harmful to their health and well-being. The air pollution levels are above the World Health Organization standards and guidelines (WHO).  

“I believe that the appreciation of air pollution as a threat to health and the economy is beginning to be understood in the African continent. But having said that, I also believe that there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to heighten awareness around the impacts of air pollution.”

Similar efforts are needed for all the impacts due to climate change, according to Senene.

Looking ahead

South Africa is also pushing G20 members to spearhead the drive to set ambitious targets for climate action for the next round of UN climate talks in Brazil later this year, Ramaphosa said.

“We continue to advocate for greater concessional and grant funding to support the energy transition in developing economies,” he said.

He also called for more funding to cushion the least-polluting countries from the worst impacts of climate change, and further development of carbon markets.

(With newswires)

The 15 United Nations (UN) members gathered at the Security Council in New York on Wednesday, 26 February expressed “deep concern, trouble, and worry” about the continuing violence

The Security Council was reacting to a charter signed by the militia group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and its allies, which aims to establish a government in the territories they control in Sudan.

Led by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (known as Hemeti), the RSF controls most of Darfur and parts of the south. One of its allies, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, governs areas in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

The alliance between the SPLM-N and RSF has resulted in greater control over southern Sudan and grants access to borders with Libya, Chad, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, and Ethiopia.

Council members react

The United States representative, John Kelley, said that attempts to create a government in RSF-controlled territory “risks a de facto partition of the country”.

US sanctions Sudan’s RSF leader over genocide claims but critics say it is not enough

The British Ambassador, Barbara Woodward, added, “Deepened divisions risk even further destabilisation in Sudan and the region.”

Elsewhere, Chinese Ambassador Fu Cong warned that the charter “increases the risks of Sudan’s fragmentation,” while Joonkook Hwang, the Republic of Korea’s representative, highlighted a contradiction between the RSF’s stated aim of forming a peaceful, unified government and its actions on the ground. Algeria’s representative, Toufik Laid Koudri, described the move as “a dangerous step”.

France, meanwhile, is supporting calls by the African Union and the UN for a ceasefire across Sudan during the month of Ramadan.

Last January, the US affirmed that RSF committed genocide in western Darfur.

Foreign interests

The UN Council stressed the “imperative” need to preserve Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity after RSF and its allies signed the charter in Nairobi on last Saturday, 22 February. The Sudanese government, for its part, has accused Kenya of supporting RSF and in protest, recalled its ambassador from Nairobi last week.

Sudan recalls ambassador from Kenya, as Nairobi hosts meeting with rivals RSF

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has repeatedly been accused by both the UN and the United States of supplying weapons to the RSF, claims that Abu Dhabi has denied.

Both Kenya and the UAE signed an economic agreement, on 14 January, which they described as the first of its kind signed between the UAE and an African country.

Edem Wosornu, OCHA’s operations director, told  SC members yesterday that the UN requires $6 billion to support close to 21 million people in Sudan and up to five million others in neighbouring countries.

“The already catastrophic situation in Sudan has worsened in recent weeks,” Wosornu added.

Intensified fighting in North Darfur forced the World Food Programme to suspend food aid in Zamzam displacement camp of half a million people.

Longoria launched his rant against the referee Jérémy Stinat after Marseille lost 3-0 to Auxerre on Saturday night at the Stade Abbé-Deschamps.

The 39-year-old Spaniard was aggrieved that Stinat had refused Marseille’s appeals for a penalty and also sent off the team’s defender Derek Cornelius for two bookable offences.

Longoria’s sporting advisor Fabrizio Ravanelli labelled the performance scandalous. He was banned for three games from next Tuesday.

Two days after the rant, Longoria apologised for his behaviour in an interview with the French news agency AFP.

“The form wasn’t appropriate and I regret using that word,” he said.

French football chiefs to decide fate of Marseille boss over ‘corruption’ slur

Apology

“I’m very self-critical, and I can’t accept this type of image. A club president can’t behave like that. Nothing justifies the form and I’m not happy with myself.

“Everyone has explained to me the meaning of the word corruption in French, because in Spanish it has a broader meaning. Mind you, that doesn’t justify anything. But I’ve never in my life thought about something like exchanging money or financial transactions, and I’d never allow myself to do that”.

The mea culpa came 24 hours after the French Football Federation’s ethics council said he would be appear before the disciplinary committee of the Ligue de Football Professionnel, which organises the top two divisions in France.

“Barely a month ago, the ethics council had warned Mr Longoria after he made comments that discredited refereeing during the Marseille-Strasbourg match on 19 January,” said the council’s statement.

Marseille chief says sorry for ‘corrupt officiating’ barb after loss at Auxerre

Chance

“Mr Longoria took no notice of the warning and, on the contrary, went one step further by shouting: “Corruption, real corruption'”.

Just before Longoria’s hearing in Paris on Wednesday afternoon, the body which oversees refereeing in the French game, said it found nothing wrong with Stinat’s decisions on Saturday night.

Six hours after Longoria had appeared before the disciplinary panel, he was hit with the suspension that will start immediately and carry over into the 2025/2026 Ligue 1 season.

Longoria will not be allowed access to the touchline, nor the players‘ and officials’ changing room. He will also be barred from the pitch, the tunnel to the field as well as all the corridors leading to those areas.

The loss at Auxerre – Marseille’s fifth of the season – left them 10 points adrift of pacesetters Paris Saint-Germain who capitalised on the defeat with a 3-2 victory at Lyon on Sunday night to surge 13 points clear with 11 games remaining.

The win allowed Auxerre to climb to 11th in Ligue 1 with 28 points after 23 games.

Less than an hour after the Marseille executive was censured, PSG continued the defence of their Coupe de France crown with a 7-0 win at fourth tier Stade Briochin.

The holders will meet either Reims from Ligue 1, fourth division Cannes or Dunkerque who play in Ligue 2.

In a packed conference hall in an Istanbul hotel, Ahmet Turk, a leading member of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Dem Party, read a statement by Ocalan calling for the organization, which he founded, to disarm and dissolve itself, declaring an end to the decades-long conflict.

 The PKK, designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union and the United States, has been fighting for autonomy and Kurdish minority rights in Turkey since the 1980s.

Ocalan, imprisoned in a Turkish jail since 1999, made his disarmament call after the PKK suffered significant military setbacks in recent years.

 “The PKK is almost finished within the borders of Turkey,” explained Mesut Yegen, a political scientist at the Istanbul-based Reform Institute.

However, Yegen claims with the PKK now primarily based in northern Iraq on Turkey’s frontier, while its affiliate in Syria, the SDF, controls a large swathe of territory bordering Turkey all sides still have an interest in peace.

“We know that the Turkish state needs a peace process because it’s worried about the future development in the region in Syria and Iraq,” added Yegen.

Turkey looks for regional help in its battle against Kurdish rebels in Iraq

Cautious response

The Turkish government gave a cautious response to Ocalan’s statement, saying it’s waiting for the PKK to disarm. The PKK leadership based in Iraq, ahead of Ocalan’s statement, declared it is looking for gestures from the government before any disarmament.

“The peace process in Turkey will largely depend on what emerges, what kind of a deal emerges inside Syria,” Asli Aydintasbas, a visiting senior fellow with the Brookings Institution in Washington, said.

“So we’re also seeing Turkey be more cautious. That doesn’t mean, you know, Turkey won’t reverse course if it feels there’s no room to go with Syrian Kurds or inside the peace process in Turkey.”

Turkish armed forces are massed on the Syrian border with Ankara, demanding the SDF merge with the Syrian army under the control of Syria’s new rulers, with whom the Turkish government has close ties.

For now, the SDF leader Mazloum Abdi declared his force is not bound by Ocalan’s disarmament call while demanding Ankara end its ongoing attacks on its troops.

Turkey’s Saturday Mothers keep up vigil for lost relatives

Scepticism

Analyst Mesut Yegen adds that ending the PKK conflict will come at a price for Ankara.  “They’re (PKK) expecting that in return for that, the state promises that at least a kind of autonomy or status for Syrian Kurds is going to be recognised by the Syrian regime, the new regime, and that the Turkish state also supports this kind of solution.

“In addition to this, of course, the expectation is that some reforms will be implemented in Turkey with regards to the Kurdish question.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has distanced himself from the current efforts to end the conflict, other than saying a historic opportunity exists for Kurds and Turks to live in peace but offering no concessions.

For months, a crackdown on Turkey’s legal Kurdish movement continues, with the removal of elected mayors and arrests of journalists and human rights activists. 

Trial of alleged PKK figures accused of financing terror begins in France

Turkish commentator on Turkey’s Politikyol news portal, Sezin Oney, warns unless the causes of the conflict are addressed, there’s little hope of a permanent peace.

 “Probably, any disarmament or any disbanding of PKK would be a gimmick,” warns Oney.

“It wouldn’t be a real actual disbanding, and it might just appear in a year under a different name. Because they would still have the pretext to argue that armed struggle is necessary because the Kurds in Turkey don’t have their democratic rights.”

With previous peace efforts failing, opinion polls indicate that the public remains sceptical of this latest effort. But for 75-year-old Ocalan, analysts warn it may be his last chance of any hope of freedom.

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 1 February, I asked you a question about our article “African nations set to light up the homes of 300 million people by 2030”.

Nearly 600 million Africans live without access to electricity, which is higher than any other continent. The World Bank and the African Development Bank have a plan: Dubbed “Mission 300”, it’s meant to connect half of those homes to power by 2030.

You were to send in the names of four African countries that have committed to reform their electricity utility companies, push renewable energy integration, and raise targets to improve access to national electricity. The World Bank grant will only be available to countries once these reforms have been carried out.

The answer is, to quote our article: “In Nigeria, an estimated 90 million people, 40 percent of the population, don’t have access to electricity. The country, along with Senegal, Zambia and Tanzania is one of a dozen that committed as part of the Mission 300 Plan.”

The other countries are Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, DRC, Niger, Liberia, Madagascar, and Malawi. 

In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question: “What item have you held on to as a remembrance of something?”

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

The winners are: RFI English listener Radhakrishna Pillai from Kerala State, India. Radhakrishna is also this week’s bonus question winner. Congratulations, Radhakrishna, on your double win !

Also on the list of lucky winners this week are Ahsan Ejaz, a member of the RFI Fans Club in Sheikhupura, Pakistan, and Sharmin Sultana, a member of the Shetu RFI Listeners Club in Naogaon, Bangladesh. Rounding out the list are two RFI English listeners: Subhas Paul, a member of the RFI Students Radio Club in West Bengal, India, and Christian Ghibaudo from Tende, France.

Congratulations, winners!

Here’s the music you heard on this week’s programme: The “Vivace” from Serenade for Small Orchestra by Jean Françaix, performed by the Cleveland Orchestra conducted by Louis Lane; “Djourou”, performed by Ballaké Sissoko and Sona Jobarteh; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; “The Cakewalk” from Children’s Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer; “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, and “Baul Song” by Lalan, performed by Torap Ali Shah.

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

This week’s question … you must listen to the show to participate. After you’ve listened to the show, re-read our article “French president Macron set to brief EU leaders over details of Trump talks”, which will help you with the answer.

You have until 24 March to enter this week’s quiz; the winners will be announced on the 29 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 United States’ military presence in Syria has been called into question, as President Donald Trump faces conflicting pressure from Turkey and Israel over the 2000-strong US force supporting a Syrian Kurdish-led coalition.

The US force is supporting an Arab-Kurdish coalition of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in its war against the Islamic State (IS) group.

Thousands of IS militants are currently being held in SDF prisons, but the US military presence now hangs in the balance. 

Turkey analyst Sinan Ciddi, of the Washington-based research institute, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies says Trump is in a dilemma because he ran on this promise of putting America first. “Getting out of foreign entanglements, not committing US troops and US money to parts of the world in which the US doesn’t have any interest,” he tells RFI.

However, Ciddi warns a quick withdrawal would not be without risk: “The dilemma for Trump is that in a theatre such as Syria, if he were to pull back 2,000 troops, then you’ve got this major security threat.”

Turkey’s Erdogan sees new Trump presidency as opportunity

Turkey labels SDF ‘insurgents’

However, a US pullout would be welcomed by its NATO ally Turkey. Ankara strongly opposes Washington’s military support for the SDF, which it accuses of being linked to Kurdish insurgents fighting Turkey.

International relations expert Bilgehan Alagoz, of Istanbul’s Marmara University, maintains the US deployment has poisoned relations between the two allies, but says a withdrawal by Trump would offer a reset in ties.

“I believe that there is going to be a new ground between Turkey and the United States,” Alagoz said. “And Turkey will guarantee the safety of US soldiers and a successful withdrawal from Syria. So it is all going to be a kind of new negotiation between Turkey and the United States.”

Until now, US soldiers in Syria have prevented the Turkish military – massed on the Syrian border – from overwhelming the SDF, but time may be running out for the Kurdish-led forces.

“Assuming that the US withdraws at one point from Syria … this will mean the end of the diplomatic umbrella for the SDF that the US was able to put over them,” according to Aydin Selcen, a former Turkish diplomat and now foreign policy analyst for Turkey’s Medyascope independent news outlet.

Selcen warns that the SDF has only a small window to secure its future: “Time is of the essence for the SDF to get their act together and join forces with Damascus… to fold their forces into the Syrian armed forces, which would also satisfy Ankara’s security concerns.”

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

Israel sees SDF as key against IS

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has close ties with Syria’s new leaders, and is demanding that the SDF disband or face a Turkish assault.

However, the Israeli government is voicing support for American backing for the SDF, given the risk posed by the Islamic State.

“We know that the SDF controls prisons in which there are around 10,000 Islamic State fighters and families,” explains Gallia Lindenstrauss, a foreign policy specialist at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv.

“Nobody wants to see the resurgence of the Islamic State. And I think in this respect, the US understands this is a small number of troops [and] they are effective. So why pull them out?”

Paris hosts global conference on shaping Syria’s future

Lindenstrauss told RFI: “Israel has voiced that it does want to see the West continue supporting the Kurdish presence in northeast Syria, so there will be Israeli diplomatic efforts to keep the [US] troops there.”

Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, recently underlined the importance of the Syrian Kurds as an ally to Israel – a message that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to have delivered to Trump during his visit to Washington this month, Ciddi believes.

“We’ve seen an increase in moves by the Israeli government to provide more formal and government support for non-state actors, such as the Syrian Kurds,” he said. “Because they understand that hitherto they’ve been entirely reliable in thwarting some of the major security concerns that the Israelis hold close to their heart.”

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.

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.