Unaccompanied migrant minors are children and teenagers who arrive in France alone, often after dangerous journeys, hoping for safety and a chance at a new life.

Instead of consistent help, they face what two NGOs – Utopia 56 and the Association for Youth Rights and Support Toward Adulthood (Aadjam) – say is a lottery, where their future depends on which department they end up in.

The NGOs carried out a survey between late 2024 and early 2025. They spoke with lawyers, migrant rights groups and other non-profits in 38 French departments.

Psychological trauma, they say, is often ignored and that some children’s ages are judged “at a glance”, adding to unfair treatment.

“Some of these young people have had to survive on the streets for more than a year before being provided shelter and gaining access to their rights,” Angelo Fiore, of Utopia 56, told RFI.

Police evict migrants from Paris theatre after months-long occupation

Unequal support

The level of care depends on each department’s budget and how local authorities choose to spend it.

“For example, some young people are housed in Rennes but have to leave the shelter during the day and rely on meal vouchers to eat,” said Fiore.

“In other facilities, the youth are accommodated 24/7 and supported by social workers. There are even sports activities organised.”

About 397,000 young people are under France’s child protection services, including 31,900 who are legally adults. Departments pay for housing, schooling and other costs but often say it is too expensive.

Unaccompanied minors can ask for protection when they arrive but the report says their “first difficulty” is to “understand where and how to access it”.

Many struggle to find someone to help, especially at night or on weekends.

When shelters are full and councils or charities cannot find a place, some minors are sent to a police station for the night. In other areas, there is no plan B, so they end up sleeping outside.

More than half of the 38 departments did not provide the health checkups these children are meant to have. When local authorities dispute a child’s age, juvenile judges often end up recognising they really are minors.

This story was adapted from the original version in French

Former president Ali Bongo, his wife Sylvia and their eldest son Noureddin, all of whom have French nationality, filed a complaint in Paris in May 2024 accusing the Gabonese authorities of “sequestration, arbitrary detention, acts of torture and barbarity” following Bongo’s ousting in a military coup on 30 August, 2023.

The three testified before judges from the war crimes unit of the Paris tribunal on Monday and Tuesday this week.

“On the eve of the August 30, 2023 military coup, our entire family – including a one-year-old child – was kidnapped and taken hostage,” Sylvia and Noureddin said in a joint declaration. “We were subjected to humiliation and staged propaganda designed to support a narrative fabricated by the new authorities to justify their seizure of power.”

Gabon military leader Oligui Nguema elected president by huge margin

They described 20 months of alleged mistreatment, including solitary confinement in the Libreville Central Prison and a basement office beneath the presidential palace, six floors below President Oligui Nguema’s residence.

They allege they were “repeatedly tortured by soldiers close to President Oligui Nguema – whipped, electrocuted, waterboarded, beaten and worse”.

Nguema’s transitional government denies all allegations of torture. 

‘We will not be silent’

The Bongos claim they were forced to sign documents silencing them about the abuses shortly before they were evacuated to Angola in May this year.

“We will not be silent,” Sylvia and Noureddin Bongo wrote in a statement released on Thursday.

Business, security on agenda as Gabon’s transitional president visits France

They also confirmed they had submitted video evidence to support claims that military pressure was used on the Gabonese judiciary to secure their conviction. It includes footage secretly recorded by Noureddin Bongo inside the office of the Gabonese investigating judge in which the latter allegedly acknowledges pressure from junta members to convict the Bongos.

Prosecutors have linked Ali Bongo to irregular transfers totalling approximately €406 million over a decade, with assets allegedly purchased through kickbacks from military equipment deals. Investigations are also focused on illegal sales of oil and other products under the previous regime.

Following the coup, Ali Bongo claimed to have been held under house arrest at his residence. But Gabonese officials highlighted videos showing him celebrating with family and receiving guests, including heads of state and journalists.

Wife of Gabon’s ousted leader Ali Bongo jailed for corruption

Bongo’s wife Sylvia was held in detention from October 2023, on charges of forgery, money laundering and falsifying documents. Her son Noureddin was also held, charged with treason and corruption. 

Both were released in May this year following the intervention of Angolan President João Lourenço, who currently heads the African Union. The Bongo family now lives in London.

Gabonese prosecutor Eddy Minang has said their release is provisional, owing to poor health, and that legal proceedings against them would continue.

The medical NGO, known by its French name Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), said a full-scale attack could lead to more bloodshed, as seen in the massacres that struck other parts of Darfur last year.

Its report, published on Thursday, documents killings, sexual violence, looting and attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allies.

“People are not only caught in indiscriminate heavy fighting between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces and their respective allies – but also actively targeted by the RSF and its allies, notably on the basis of their ethnicity,” said MSF head of emergencies, Michel Olivier Lacharité.

UN urges action on Sudan’s ‘forgotton war’ as humanitarian crisis takes hold

Food and water cut off

The conflict in North Darfur has worsened since May 2024. The RSF and its allies have surrounded El Fasher and the nearby Zamzam camp, a large settlement for displaced people just outside the city, blocking people from getting food, water or medical aid.

MSF’s report is based on its own field data, direct observations and more than 80 interviews carried out between May 2024 and May 2025 with patients and displaced people.

One man told MSF that in Zamzam, people sometimes went three days a week without eating.

Another woman said children died from malnutrition and families survived on scraps meant for animals. “We were eating ambaz [the residue of peanuts ground for oil], like everyone, although usually it’s used for animals,” she said.

Fuel shortages have shut down wells, leaving water scarce and expensive.

“Zamzam was completely blocked,” another displaced person said. “Water wells depend on fuel and there was no access to fuel, so all of them stopped working.”

RSF drone strikes pound Port Sudan, putting aid deliveries at risk

Fears of ethnic cleansing

Some witnesses said that RSF soldiers had spoken of plans to “clean El Fasher” – with the goal of removing its non-Arab community.

“In light of the ethnically motivated mass atrocities committed against the Masalit in West Darfur in June 2023, and of the massacres perpetrated in Zamzam camp in North Darfur, we fear such a scenario will be repeated in El Fasher,” MSF humanitarian affairs advisor Mathilde Simon said.

In April, the RSF and its allies launched a ground attack on the Zamzam camp, forcing an estimated 400,000 people to flee in less than three weeks. Many went to El Fasher, where they now remain trapped without aid.

Many who try to escape face huge risks. Roads are dangerous, and men and boys risk being killed or abducted, while women and girls face sexual violence. Witnesses say the danger is even worse for Zaghawa communities.

“Nobody could get out [of El Fasher] if they said they were Zaghawa,” one displaced woman said.

Another described fleeing to eastern Chad: “They would only let mothers with small children under the age of five through. Other children and adult men didn’t go through. Men over 15 can hardly cross the border [into Chad]. They take them, they push them aside and then we only hear a noise – gunshots – indicating that they are dead.”

World court opens hearings on Sudan case against UAE over Darfur war

Healthcare in ruins

Most health centres in El Fasher and Zamzam have been damaged or destroyed in the past year.

“Currently, there is only one hospital with surgical capacity that functions partially, for a population estimated at nearly 1 million people,” Simon said.

One woman told MSF the SAF bombed her neighbourhood by mistake, then came back to apologise. She said SAF planes sometimes struck civilian areas even when there were no RSF fighters. “I saw it in different places,” she said.

Repeated attacks forced the charity to shut down its work in El Fasher in August 2024 and in Zamzam in February this year. Recent promises of a local ceasefire have not changed conditions on the ground, MSF said, warning that time is running out for people trapped in El Fasher.

Goita, 41, burst onto the public scene as a young, relatively unknown military officer when he deposed president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in an August 2020 coup.

“We no longer have the right to make mistakes,” Goita said at the time, cutting a martial figure in fatigues with a khaki shemagh scarf around his neck, as he introduced himself to the public.

Less than a year later the special forces commander launched a second coup, removing the two civilians who had been appointed under international pressure to steer Mali back to democratic rule.

Promise broken

Then in June 2021, dressed in full military regalia, Goita took the presidential oath and promised to stand by Mali’s commitments.

He was now in charge of a country mired in almost a decade of violence by jihadist groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, as well as other criminal organisations.

But he was celebrated in some quarters as a hero who might bring salvation to his troubled west African nation, particularly as he insisted on Mali’s commitment to the anti-jihadist fight and initially pledged a return to civilian rule.

But Goita ultimately failed to make good on his promise to cede power to elected civilians, which was to occur by March 2024.

The prospect came crashing down further Thursday, when the country’s military-appointed legislative body granted Goita a five-year presidential mandate, renewable “as many times as necessary” and without election.

International investigation reveals Wagner Group’s secret prisons in Mali

Worsening crisis

Under Goita, Mali continues to sink into an economic and security crisis, while jihadists and other criminals have only intensified their offensives, staging bloody raids and incursions.

But there have been some successes: in November 2023, Mali’s army retook Kidal, a stronghold of separatists from the Tuareg ethnic group – a victory the junta presented as a decisive step in regaining territory.

However, the army and its Russian mercenary allies are regularly accused of abuses against civilians.

The junta has meanwhile suspended multiple media outlets, jailed opposition members and critics, and dissolved political parties.

Russian pivot

Goita’s rule has marked a turning point in Mali’s relationship with the West.

The country has broken ties with France and other former allies and pivoted toward Russia.

The junta pushed out France’s anti-jihadist force in 2022 and the UN peacekeeping mission Minusma in 2023.

Alongside Burkina Faso and Niger, which are also led by military juntas, Mali quit the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) earlier this year, accusing the regional bloc of being subservient to colonial ruler France.

The trio set up their own confederation called the Alliance of Sahel States.

Mali dissolves all political parties as opposition figures disappear

Hero or strongman?

The son of a former director of Mali’s military police, Goita studied at the country’s military schools.

In 2002, he went to Mali’s desert north for training, and was subsequently based in the northern cities of Gao, Kidal, Timbuktu, Menaka and Tessalit.

Goita saw action during a Tuareg independence rebellion in 2012, which was quickly commandeered by jihadists.

Mali has since struggled to quell their brutal insurgency, which has killed thousands of people and forced hundreds of thousands more from their homes.

Despite Mali’s multifaceted tumult, Goita remains popular with a segment of the population, which views him as an architect of reform and newfound sovereignty.

A colonel who requested anonymity said Goita is not bothered by how people see him.

“He’s a man of action – we saw that in the north,” he said.

A report by Addictions France on Thursday said nearly nine out of 10 supermarkets tested sold alcohol to customers under 18.

Despite long-standing rules and government promises to tighten checks, underage customers still find it easy to buy alcohol in 2025.

Tests were carried out in April and May in supermarkets in Nantes, Angers and Rennes. They showed that 86 percent of 90 stores sold alcohol to minors.

Big chains named include Auchan, Lidl, Leclerc, U Express, Intermarché, Carrefour, Monoprix and Franprix.

This is slightly better than 2021, when 93 percent of shops failed the check. But Addictions France said that is still far from good enough.

Posting on X, the group wrote: “From retail giants to neighbourhood bars, they’re all breaking the law by selling alcohol to minors.”

Binge drinking still a worry in France despite drop in daily consumption

ID checks not enforced

“Despite the formal ban and public commitments, alcohol is still widely accessible to minors,” said Myriam Savy, advocacy manager at Addictions France. She called for State-led checks and tough penalties to force change.

For the tests, minors with a bailiff tried to buy alcohol in stores, including some that had been reported before.

Only 8 percent of shops asked to see ID.

The law – Article L.3342-1 of the Public Health Code – says staff must always check a customer’s age, not just when they look young.

To avoid excuses, all tests were done on quiet weekday afternoons when staff were not under pressure.

Some chains did worse than others. Of 25 Carrefour stores tested, only two refused to sell.

Lidl was similar, with just two out of 11 shops doing the right thing. Monoprix and Auchan did worst – none of their stores passed.

One chain stood out. All seven shops tested from Coopérative U refused to sell to minors.

Could the drop in France’s alcohol sales be due to ‘Dry January’?

Tougher measures required

This is not the first time rules have been ignored. Last summer, only one out of 42 bars, cafés and fast food outlets in Loire-Atlantique refused to serve minors.

Addictions France said its 2023–2024 checks have led to 37 legal cases. But with first hearings not due until December 2025, the group warned that long delays let offenders off the hook.

They want random checks and tough fines: up to 2 percent of turnover for small firms and 10 percent for large ones. They also want licences suspended after repeat offences, and cases heard within six weeks.

Right now, the maximum fine for selling alcohol to a minor is €7,500, which doubles for repeat offenders. But Addictions France said these fines are rare and the top level is almost never used.

Decline in alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use continues among French 17-year-olds

Retailers respond

A Carrefour spokesperson told AFP that most stores follow the rules and staff will be reminded.

Dominique Schelcher, CEO of Coopérative U, promised a “very strong re-sensitisation” push, saying: “We must be exemplary.”

Switzerland’s firmer approach – which mixes prevention, random checks and real deterrents – has seen better results.

By 2023, 65 percent of Swiss retailers checked ID, up from 54 percent in 2014.

In France, a Lidl store was recently fined €5,000 for selling vodka to a 16-year-old who later died in a scooter crash in the Basque Country.

Lidl is appealing the fine.

The estimated reduction of less than one percent extends a slowdown seen in recent years, said Citepa – a non-profit organisation tasked by France’s ecology ministry with tallying the country’s greenhouse gas inventory.

It comes just a day after France’s top climate advisory body warned that recent setbacks and a slowdown in decarbonisation efforts risk undermining the country’s environmental goals.

France, a major economy seen as a leader in transitioning to a low-carbon future, slashed its output of planet-heating emissions by 6.8 percent in 2023.

But the rate of decline slowed sharply to 1.8 percent in 2024 and is tipped to slip even further in 2025 to just 0.8 percent, said Citepa’s latest progress report.

“This slight decrease in greenhouse gas emissions would confirm the slowdown in momentum observed in recent years,” it said.

France’s emissions for the first quarter of  2025 actually rose slightly, partly due to higher gas and electricity use for heating school and residential buildings, the report found.

The use of carbon-free nuclear power, France’s main source of energy, remains at a historically high level, Cipet said. Fossil fuel use, already low, is likely to stabilise, limiting further gains.  

France falling short of climate targets as emissions dip slows

European trend

France aims to cut emissions by at least 40 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, although a plan in develoment would raise this goal to 50 percent.

To achieve that, emissions need to be cut by around five percent each year between 2022 and 2030 – well above the current pace.

France’s trend mirrors broader struggles across Europe, with Germany and Britain also struggling to sustain the momentum after posting impressive cuts in recent years.

The US managed just a 0.2 percent cut in 2024.

The slowdown comes amid global pressure for stronger climate commitments in line with international efforts to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels.

On Wednesday, the EU announced a long-delayed goal of cutting emissions by 90 percent by 2040 compared to 1990 levels, but with contested new flexibilities built in.

EU emissions fell by 8.3 percent in 2023 compared to 2022, and are now 37 percent below 1990 levels.

(with newswires)

European Council president António Costa and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will meet with Moldova’s President Maia Sandu and other senior officials for talks on Friday afternoon.

The summit will reaffirm European Union political and financial support for the country’s EU accession path, amid ongoing regional challenges linked to Russia’s war against Ukraine and its attacks targeting Moldova – including disinformation and interference – which leaders are expected to condemn.

Ways to strengthen Moldova’s resilience in the face of these threats is expected to be on the agenda. 

Moldova applied for EU membership in March 2022, received candidate status in June 2022 and formally opened accession negotiations in June 2024.

The EU will commend Moldova’s efforts to strengthen its rule of law and fight organised crime, while pledging up to €1.9 billion in financial support through the Moldova Growth Plan for 2025-2027 — the largest aid package since Moldova’s independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Trade cooperation under the EU-Moldova Association Agreement, effective since 2016, will also be highlighted, alongside discussions on energy security, digitalisation, infrastructure and regional development.

Security and defence cooperation will be reviewed, with the EU having allocated €197 million since 2021 to modernise Moldova’s armed forces and support crisis management and cybersecurity.

The summit programme also includes an official welcome by Sandu, a leaders’ meeting and a plenary session, followed by a joint press conference in the evening and an official dinner.

‘Foreign agents’

Meanwhile, Russia said last week that it had arrested two Moldovan citizens on suspicion of being foreign agents, and accused the country’s pro-EU authorities of attempting to “undermine” its security.

Chisinau did not immediately comment, but has in turn accused Moscow of espionage.

Relations between the two countries have deteriorated dramatically in recent years. Moldova has repeatedly accused Russia of trying to destabilise it, including by interfering in government institutions and elections.

The Kremlin has dismissed the allegations as anti-Russian “hysteria” and accused Chisinau of deliberately trying to sabotage bilateral relations.

France strengthens support for Moldova as Russian destabilisation efforts persist

In a statement, Russia’s FSB security service said it had arrested two men on suspicion of illegally working for Moldova’s Security and Intelligence Service.

The pair allegedly arrived in Moscow using fake identity documents and attempted to carry out tasks “directed against the security of the Russian Federation”, the FSB said, without elaborating.

It later published a video showing the two suspects apparently confessing and accused Moldova of “intensifying activities aimed at undermining Russia’s security,” Russian state media reported.

The men face up to eight years in prison if found guilty.

The Kremlin has ramped up its criticism of Moldova in recent years as the country seeks to join the EU and align its foreign policy interests with the West.

Transnistria, an area of Moldova bordering Ukraine, declared itself independent in 1990 after the fall of the Berlin Wall, and is still occupied by a contingent of some 1,500 Russian troops.

EU officals have indicated that the Transnistria situation would not hamper Moldova’s bid to join the bloc, with then EU vice-president Josep Borrell declaring at a 2023 press conference that: “Moldova’s path is independent of what is happening in Transnistria. Cyprus became a member of the European Union having a territorial problem. Moldova can do it.”

(with newswires)

The summit followed a familiar script. Between calls for bigger defence budgets pushed by US President Donald Trump and talks on threats from Russia and Iran, climate change did not make the priority list.  

But military and civilian researchers working with NATO say warming seas could deeply change underwater warfare. 

In 1989, The Hunt for Red October hit cinemas. Based on Tom Clancy’s novel, the film told the story of a nearly invisible Soviet nuclear submarine tracked by the US Navy. Sean Connery played the rebel captain, Alec Baldwin the CIA agent trying to find him. 

It felt like fiction, but the idea came straight from the US Navy. Finding stealthy submarines has always been a top job for big navies. Now climate change is making that hunt harder. 

US – Europe partnership must remain strong, says visiting US Senator

Sound as a weapon 

Submarines are tracked mainly by sonar. Some sonar sends out sound waves and waits for echoes. Others just listen for noise in the water. Both depend on how sound moves under the sea. 

The problem is that sound speed and reach change with temperature, pressure and salt levels.

As the planet warms, oceans heat up, ice melts and billions of tonnes of fresh water mix with salt water. These shifts mess with sonar – the systems cannot “hear” as far as they used to. 

A study by the NATO Defence College, led by Andrea and Mauro Gilli in March tested how bad this could get. They used old ocean data from 1970 to 1999 and compared it to climate forecasts for the end of the century, from 2070 to 2099. 

They looked at two key places: the North Atlantic, which is vital for NATO, and the Western Pacific, where China is growing its navy. 

Turkey steps into EU defence plans as bloc eyes independence from US

Dramatic detection drops 

Their results, the study says, are clear and worrying. In the North Atlantic, sonar could lose much of its reach.  

Right now, a submarine might be picked up from 60 kilometres away. By the century’s end, that could drop to just 35 kilometres. In the Western Pacific, the drop is smaller but still real – from 10 kilometres to seven kilometres. 

These numbers matter for strategy. The study says if submarines get harder to find in the Atlantic, Russia could use that advantage to boost its underwater patrols.

NATO might then have to redeploy more ships and planes back there, at the expense of the Pacific where its focus has been growing. 

War in Ukraine shifts France’s weapons industry into high gear

A threat multiplier 

NATO has already called climate change a “threat multiplier” and has committed to take into account in its activities the necessity of mitigating it. But this is the first time its effect on the core of military operations has been modelled in such detail. 

There will be new costs and tech headaches. The NATO Defence College study says navies may need new sonar, more underwater drones or different patrol zones. All of this needs careful planning and more funding. 

The researchers call for more teamwork between ocean experts, military engineers and climate scientists – crossing oceanography, military engineering and climatology, a field still little explored. 

At the summit last week, Trump and others pushed NATO countries to spend more on defence. But the study says extra money might not just pay for tanks or jets. It could go towards ocean research, smarter sonar and better underwater drones. 

For now, navies are only starting to grasp how climate change could reshape underwater warfare. As the seas keep warming, that learning curve could decide how hard it is to find the next real-life Red October lurking beneath the waves. 

This story was adapted from the original version in French by RFI’s Simon Roze. 

France is falling behind on its climate promises as extreme weather claims lives, hits food supply chains and strains public budgets, the country’s top climate advisory council warned on Thursday.

In its annual report, the High Council for the Climate (HCC) painted a bleak picture of France’s fight to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Political instability and stop-start funding are holding back the changes needed to adapt to a fast-warming world, it said.

France’s climate plan has “stalled” this year, the HCC added, blaming a lack of clear leadership and poor coordination between government ministries.

“Is there still a pilot on this plane while the turbulence is getting worse?” the report asked. The HCC, created in 2018, was renewed for five years last year.

It comprises 12 independent experts and is chaired by Jean-François Soussana, an agronomist and the vice-president of France’s national research institute for agriculture and the environment.

Europe is world’s fastest-heating continent, report warns

France warming faster than average

The council’s seventh annual report landed during a heatwave that has swept across France and the rest of Europe – the fastest-warming continent. It shows the country is not on track to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, and that it is heating up faster than the global average.

Over the last 10 years, mainland France has warmed by 2.2°C. If the global average rises by 1.5°C, on the current trajectory that will means a rise of around 2°C for France.

If the world reaches 2°C, France could see 2.7°C, and a global rise of 3°C would mean a 4°C rise in France, the HCC said.

France rolls out plan to prepare for 4C temperature rise by end of century

It warned that the occurrence of heatwaves could triple in the next five years, and become five times more common by 2050 compared with the late 20th century.

Pointing to the consequences of rising temperatures, the report said: “In recent years, impacts have reached levels never seen before.”

In 2024, heat caused more than 3,700 deaths during the summer in France. Cereal harvests fell to their lowest in 40 years. The cost of floods last winter reached €615 million.

Cuts in emissions too slow

Although France did meet its second carbon budget, from 2019 to 2023, progress has declined sharply since then. France’s greenhouse gas emissions fell by 6.7 percent between 2022 and 2023, but only dropped 1.8 percent between 2023 and 2024.

Next year’s drop is likely to be just 1.3 percent – a figure which needs to be doubled to reach the 2030 target.

The building sector, which contributes 15 percent of emissions, needs to cut emissions nine times faster than it currently does. But sales of gas boilers rose by 15 percent this year, while sales of heat pumps have fallen by 40 percent.

The waste sector has increased its emissions, and must cut them by a factor of 29.

The HCC also said that only one third of emissions cuts came from climate policies this year, with the rest due to temporary factors such as increased nuclear energy, fewer cattle, a mild winter and good rainfall which benefited hydropower.

Global warming accelerating at ‘unprecedented’ pace, study warns

Policy rollbacks

“The strengthening of existing policies would help restart the drop in emissions,” the HCC wrote. But this will need “strong political support” and steady funding, both of which were lacking last year.

The council listed a series of rollbacks: social leasing for electric cars was paused, support for home insulation was cut, low-emission zones were scrapped and rules to protect soil from construction were weakened.

Agriculture too remains a sticking point. The HCC said the French government’s response to farmers’ protests at the start of the year had weakened efforts to cut farm emissions.

“The political response to the farmers’ protests has slowed the sector’s agro-ecological transition,” the report said, adding that new laws risk locking agriculture into high-emission models instead of shifting to greener, more sustainable methods.

Threatened by climate change, France’s forests need billions of euros to adapt

Key plans delayed

In addition, France’s climate plans are behind schedule. The third National Adaptation Plan came out in March but the new Low Carbon Strategy will not be ready before the end of this year, while the new energy plan is expected by the end of summer.

“Without these, France risks missing its 2030 and 2050 targets,” the HCC warned. Diane Strauss, a member of the council and an expert on transport and energy, said: “Government uncertainty weighs on the survival of public policies.”

France’s main planning office for climate action, the SGPE, lost its head in February. Antoine Pellion, who had led the office since it was set up in 2022, resigned over cuts to green policies and lack of political support.

EU confirms 90 percent emissions cut by 2040, with some concessions

Public trust at risk

The Climate Action Network, which brings together 40 environmental groups, released its own list of “more than 43 environmental rollbacks” by the government or parliament over the last six months.

It added a 44th when President Emmanuel Macron said he wanted to revisit the EU’s goal to cut emissions by 90 percent by 2040. “Where is the compass of the French government?” the group asked.

Soussana warned that climate policies must benefit everyone to maintain public support, as climate change worsens social divides.

“There is a temptation to polarise the debate on climate and ecology, which could threaten targets and budgets,” he said. “Some people feel policies have not helped everyone equally, so there is some support for tearing them down. But all French people suffer during heatwaves, so we need policies that help everyone.”

The new rules, which came into effect at the weekend, prohibit smoking on beaches during bathing season, in public parks, and at bus stops during operating hours.  

Smokers are also barred from lighting up near schools, libraries, swimming pools and sports grounds. Anyone caught breaking the ban faces a fine of €135, which can rise to €750 for serious cases. 

Tonnes of waste 

Each year French smokers toss away up to 25,000 tonnes of cigarette butts – more than twice the weight of the Eiffel Tower. 

The filters are made of plastic, not cotton, and break apart into tiny fibres that leach chemicals into soil and water. 

By stopping cigarette litter at the source, the ban should make a noticeable difference, said Chris Dorsett, vice president of conservation at Ocean Conservancy. 

The US-based non-profit, which works to protect the world’s oceans, has run its International Coastal Cleanup – a global network of volunteers who collect rubbish from beaches and waterways – since 1986. 

Calls for France to follow UK with generational tobacco ban

In that time more than 63 million cigarette butts have been collected worldwide. In Europe alone, more than 320,000 were picked up from coasts and waterways last year. 

“Cigarette butts are unfortunately a problem across the globe in terms of the number we find,” Dorsett said.  

“The two big problems are that they are made up of microplastics that break down into smaller pieces and pose a problem for marine wildlife.  

“Microplastics can interfere with the digestive systems of fish species.”  

The butts also leak nicotine, heavy metals and other toxic chemicals into sand and water. According to the French Ministry of Ecological Transition, a single cigarette butt can contaminate up to 500 litres of water. 

Single-use plastic 

The filters in cigarette butts are classed as single-use plastics under EU rules.  

While the EU has not banned cigarette filters outright, it does make tobacco companies pay for clean-ups under the “polluter pays” rule.  

France was the first EU country to force this cost onto the industry, but local councils still spend about €100 million each year clearing up discarded butts. 

Environmental groups say many smokers still see filters as harmless waste rather than plastic pollution – something Ocean Conservancy wants to change. 

Cigarette butts, the plastic pollution that’s hiding in plain sight

Few people realise that filters are plastic waste, said Anja Brandon, Ocean Conservancy’s director of plastics policy. 

“Many people are surprised to learn that cigarette butts are also single-use plastics. In fact, they are the most common single-use plastic found polluting beaches and waterways worldwide,” Brandon said. 

Bans can be an effective tool – especially when combined with other awareness measures, she added.

“When it comes to preventing plastic pollution, we know that bans work. A recent study that analysed plastic bag bans showed these policies lead to a 25 to 47 percent reduction in plastic bag pollution on beaches and waterways where they are implemented.” 

‘Smoke-free generation’ 

France wants to create a “smoke-free generation” by 2032 – meaning fewer than 5 percent of 18-year-olds smoking daily. The main aim of the ban is to protect children from second-hand smoke, said French Health Minister Catherine Vautrin.  

France has one of the highest smoking rates in Europe, with about 23 percent of adults lighting up every day and around 15 percent of 17-year-olds smoking regularly.  

In Paris alone, about two billion cigarette butts end up on the streets each year. Despite the “polluter pays” rule, clean-up costs remain high and awareness is still lacking.  

French smokers give up on quitting as 12 million people light up daily: study

“It’s easy to toss a cigarette butt on the beach or into the water,” Dorsett explained. “But when people know these generate microplastics, leach chemicals and that children play on the beach, that’s when we see changes in behaviour.” 

Environmental groups, however, want France to go further. Café terraces are not included in the new ban and electronic cigarettes are still allowed. 

Dorsett said he hopes France’s move will push other countries to act too.  

“When countries or municipalities have the courage to take these kinds of measures, you tend to find that others will as well,” he said. 

Every morning, Mama Evans places a plastic chair outside her mabati house in Kayole and waits. It’s the same spot where her 22-year-old son, Evans used to sit before he vanished during last year’s protests driven by Gen Z (generation of people born between 1997 – 2012).

“One year. No answers. No body. Just silence,” she says, gripping a worn photograph of him in a graduation gown. “If he’s gone, let them give me his body. I just want to bury my son.”

The 2024 finance bill was the spark that set off what was already an explosive social situation.

It proposed sweeping tax hikes on essential goods and digital services burdens falling squarely on a young population already grappling with unemployment and rising living costs.

‘Fearless’

By June 2024, thousands of young Kenyans, many in their early 20s, had taken to the streets, organised not by political parties or unions, but by spontaneous online coordination, carried by hashtags and influencers.

“Gen Z did what older generations feared: they called out the system with no apologies,” Dr. Samora Mwaura, a youth policy expert based in Nairobi tells RFI.

“They were the heartbeat of a new kind of politics: raw, informed, and fearless.”

The protests quickly spread from Nairobi to Kisumu, Eldoret, Mombasa, and Nakuru. But what began as peaceful marches soon turned deadly.

A trail of trauma

In Mathare, Kevin Otieno is learning to walk again. A year ago, the 25-year-old boda boda (motorcycle taxi) rider was caught in police crossfire on his way to make a delivery.

“They shot me in the leg. I wasn’t even part of the protest that day,” he says, lifting his jeans to show the metal brace screwed into his thigh. “Since then, I’ve lost my job, my independence, and my peace.”

Kevin’s story is echoed in hospitals, homes, and informal settlements across the country.

According to local human rights groups, at least 39 protesters were killed, hundreds injured, and scores went missing during the police crackdown.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights called for investigations, but prosecutions have been slow or nonexistent.

“We’ve documented arbitrary arrests, disappearances, and excessive force,” says Mary Wanjiku, a legal officer. “Yet accountability remains elusive.”

Kenya protests reignited by custody death, but ‘Gen Z’ movement remains divided

From protests to political power

Despite the pain, the protests ignited something lasting. For the first time in decades, youth particularly Gen Z became a decisive force in shaping national discourse.

Their activism led to the recall of several tax proposals and forced President William Ruto’s administration into dialogue.

Politicians, once dismissive of social media activism, began hosting X (formerly Twitter) Spaces and TikTok forums to engage young voters.

“Something shifted,” explains Lydia Wanjiru, a professor at the University of Nairobi. “Gen Z became both a moral and political voice. They know their power now and the country knows it too.”

Grassroots movements born in the protests have since evolved into civic tech platforms, voter registration drives, and online watchdog groups. A year later, Gen Z’s presence remains visible not just in protests, but in policy.

Can Kenyan youth protests spark real police reform one year on?

Cry for justice

Yet for families like Mama Evans’, the political wins offer little comfort.

“People move on. But for me, every day is July 2024,” she says, brushing a tear from her cheek. Her home is now a shrine of sorts Evans’ clothes folded neatly, his phone untouched, his slippers by the door.

Authorities initially promised DNA testing of unclaimed bodies at City Mortuary. She submitted samples. Months passed. Still nothing.

“Just tell me the truth. I can take it,” she whispers. “This waiting is the hardest part.”

Then, after a pause, her voice hardens: “For years we’ve cried for justice and they’ve given us more coffins.”

What Next?

As Kenya marks the one-year anniversary of the Gen Z uprising, the country stands at a crossroads. The youth movement has cracked open the political conversation but the state’s reluctance to deliver justice threatens to undo the trust it inspired.

“There can be no healing without accountability,” says Dr. Mwaura. “Otherwise, we are just postponing the next eruption.”

One year on, the fire has not gone out. Across Nairobi, Kisumu, and parts of the coast, small pockets of protests have flared again, this time against ongoing extrajudicial killings and police brutality, particularly in connection to the death of teacher Albert Ojwang in custody.

From placards to petitions, Kenya’s youth continue to demand an end to state violence.

Mama Evans agrees. But for now, her revolution is quiet, a candle burning next to Evans’ photo, a prayer whispered every night, a hope that somehow, one day, someone will knock on her gate with the truth.

The exhibition brings together 275 objects and works of art from across the Mediterranean region, loaned by more than 70 French and international institutions such as the Quai Branly Museum in Paris, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Glyptothek in Munich, and the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in Kyiv.

Organised into thematic chapters, the exhibition draws on art history, gender studies, and postcolonial research to explore the Mediterranean’s cultural exchanges.  

RFI talked to Nicolas Misery, curator of the exhibition and director of the museums of Marseille.

RFI: Has tattooing been used in the Mediterranean more than elsewhere?

Nicolas Misery: Actually, it’s mostly about identifying these tattooing practices, which have remained relatively unknown and largely unnoticed among specialists.

There have been projects dedicated to tattooing, but they focused more on Oceania, the Americas, sometimes on Russia and Eastern Europe.

In fact, what specifically dealt with the Mediterranean has remained somewhat neglected in research – even though many Mediterranean cultures have been practising tattooing in various forms and with specific characteristics for several millennia. It was time to highlight this for the public.

RFI: What is the link between tattooing and the city of Marseille?

NM: It turns out that Marseille plays a central role in the art of tattooing.

Today, in Marseille – perhaps more than anywhere else – people get tattoos to evoke a person they love, a friend, family, or a romantic attachment. People also get tattoos to celebrate their city. Perhaps also to celebrate their football club.

I believe this is the sign of a unique relationship to the body. It reflects the light and the warmth of Marseille by the sea.

It is also a sign of how cosmopolitan Marseille is, since the bodies in Marseille tell us, through tattooing, about the movement of individuals and communities from antiquity to today. They ultimately come together and engage in a dialogue on the skin of individuals.

RFI: Why is this exhibition being held at the Vieille Charité in Marseille?

NM: The Vieille Charité centre is more than just a museum – it’s a cultural hub where heritage collections come together, notably those of the Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology and the Museum of African, Oceanian, and Amerindian Art.

It’s also a place that, in recent years, has been dedicated to contemporary creation. Right now, we’re presenting an exhibition by Laure Prouvost in the Chapel of the Vieille Charité.

It’s a space where we host concerts, talks, film screenings – and I believe tattooing fits perfectly within this transdisciplinary approach.

RFI: A section of the exhibition is dedicated to the practice of tattooing in North Africa – particularly in the Amazigh culture.

NM: We wanted to discuss these ancient tattooing practices in North Africa, notably among the Amazigh societies and cultures who practised tattooing and still do, especially among women. It was for protection but also for identification, a sign of social status, or the age of an individual for example.

It is an extremely complex practice but one that exists in all countries of the Maghreb and allows for the identification of ancient traditions passed from one generation to the next.

RFI: Is there a particular room in the exhibition that speaks to you personally?

NM: I would like to highlight a section dedicated to creation in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia.

Since the 1960s, following decolonisation, many artists have been inspired by the graphism of tattoos to invent a new art form.

They are fully engaged in the artistic questions of that time, notably with regards to abstraction, while simultaneously breaking away from Western models in favour of the traditional North African practices.

This has resulted in marvellous and original creations by artists such as Choukri Mesli, Baya, Samta Benyahia and Farid Belkahia – artists rarely shown in France.

We were even fortunate to welcome the artist Denis Martinez who created an unprecedented work for this exhibition.

Denis Martinez is one of the founders of the Avant-Garde in Algeria in the 1960s, notably of the group Aouchem, an avant-garde group whose name means “tattoo”.

► “Tattoo – Histories of the Mediterranean” runs until 28 September, 2025 at the Vieille Charité in Marseille.

“The future of the world depends on the United States and Europe being partners in everything,” according to Chris Murphy, a Senator representing the US Democrats from Connecticut, speaking to RFI ahead of a crucial two-day NATO summit held in the Netherlands last Tuesday. 

“Partners in the defence of democracy, partners in trying to stop China from controlling the piping of the international economy, partners in technological development and advancement.”

Murphy, who visited Paris earlier this month, met President Macron’s top national security advisor Emmanuel Bonne.

He also lectured at Paris’ prestigious Sciences-Po and attended the Paris air show before heading to Romania for a meeting with the newly elected, pro-EU president Nicusor Dan. 

‘Picking fights’

Worried that US President Donald Trump is estranging the US’s EU partners, Murphy’s is keen to smooth over any concerns harboured by European policy makers.

“It’s painful to watch President Trump pick fights with Europe, to look to our adversaries like Russia as his closest companions,” he told RFI.

Trump has clearly divided the European, with Hungary’s Viktor Orban and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni both vocally supportive of him – while others are more wary.

“It’s an open secret that Trump’s political infrastructure has been working with Orban,” Murphy says.

“Trump doesn’t want American democracy to persevere. He wants to transition America to some form of quasi-democracy, quasi-autocracy. He’s learned lessons from people like Viktor Orban and [Turkey’s Recep Tayyip] Erdogan, who have engaged in this transition. He’s copying what they have done.”

Meloni positions herself as Europe’s ‘trump card’ on visit to White House

Despite this political shift, and Trump’s threats to pull away from certain partnerships, Murphy says “there are still a lot of folks in Congress, mostly Democrats, but Republicans too, who really want to grow this partnership” with the EU.

He admits that “Europe and the United States aren’t going to agree on everything,” but stressed that there is ” just no way to solve any of the big challenges today that confront the globe without the United States and Europe being partners.”

‘Underlying tensions’

One of the main pillars symbolising the US-EU relationship is the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

The alliance’s summit in The Hague resulted in a historic defense spending pledge, with member countries agreeing to invest 5 percent of GDP annually by 2035 – 3.5 percent for core defense capabilities and 1.5 percent for related infrastructure and innovation.

This marks a significant increase from the previous 2 percent target, aiming to strengthen NATO’s collective defense and support for Ukraine amid ongoing security challenges.

Despite this financial commitment, the summit revealed underlying tensions, notably the alliance’s dependence on US leadership under Trump and differing views on burden-sharing.

NATO backs defence hike as Trump claims victory, but doubts linger

Some members, like Spain, rejected the new spending target, while others sought exemptions, highlighting challenges in maintaining unity.

The summit prioritised economic investment over detailed strategic planning, reflecting a shift in NATO’s approach to security amid evolving geopolitical dynamics.

Looming tariffs deadline

On the economic front, Trump’s administration could extend a 9 July deadline when higher tariffs on imports from dozens of countries are set to kick in, the White House said last week.

While Trump has imposed a sweeping 10 percent tariff on most US trading partners this year, he unveiled – then halted – steeper rates on dozens of economies while negotiations took place.

The EU has put a zero-percent tariff proposal on the table – but it’s widely seen as a non-starter in talks with Washington.

 According to several diplomats, the goal at this point is rather to let Trump claim victory without agreeing a deal that would significantly hurt Europe.

Trump’s first 100 days: Trade, diplomacy and walking the transatlantic tightrope

One diplomat suggested leaders would be happy with a “Swiss cheese” agreement – with a general US levy on European imports, but enough loopholes to shield key sectors such as steel, automobiles, pharmaceuticals and aeronautics.

This would be less painful than the status quo with European companies currently facing 25-percent tariffs on steel, aluminium and auto goods exported to the United States, and 10 percent on a majority of EU products.

 If no agreement is reached, the default tariff on EU imports is expected to double to 20 percent or even higher – Trump having at one point threatened 50 percent.

Unlike Canada or China, which hit back swiftly at Trump’s tariff hikes, the EU has consistently sought to negotiate with Trump – threatening retaliation only if no agreement is reached.

“We will not allow ourselves to be provoked, we will remain calm,” said Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever last week, urging the EU to avert an all-out trade war with Washington.

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), launched in 2011 with a $4-billion budget, is considered Africa’s largest hydroelectric project stretching 1.8 kilometres (wide and 145 metres.

Addis Ababa says it is vital for its electrification programme but it has been a source of tensions with downstream nations Egypt and Sudan who worry it will affect their water supply.

Speaking in parliament, Abiy said GERD “is now complete, and we are preparing for its official inauguration”.

“To our neighbours downstream – Egypt and Sudan – our message is clear: the Renaissance Dam is not a threat, but a shared opportunity,” he added.

“The energy and development it will generate stand to uplift not just Ethiopia.”

The country first began generating electricity at the project, located in the northwest of the country around 30km from the border with Sudan, in February 2022.

At full capacity the huge dam can hold as much as 74 billion cubic metres of water and could generate more than 5,000 megawatts of power – more than double Ethiopia‘s current output.

The east African nation is the second most populous on the continent with a rapidly growing population currently estimated at 130 million and has growing electricity needs.

Around half of its people live without electricity, according to estimates earlier this year by the World Bank.

Ethiopia, an unlikely outpost for France’s beloved game of ‘petanque’

Opposition

Egypt and Sudan have voiced concerns about GERD’s operation without a three-way agreement, fearing it could threaten their access to vital Nile waters. Negotiations have failed to make a breakthrough.

Egypt, which is already suffering from severe water scarcity, sees the dam as an existential threat because it relies on the Nile for 97 percent of its water needs.

Earlier this week, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Sudan’s de facto leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan met and “stressed their rejection of any unilateral measures in the Blue Nile Basin”.

According to a statement by Sisi’s spokesman, the two are committed to “safeguard water security” in the region.

But Abiy said Addis Ababa is “willing to engage constructively”, adding that the project will “not come at the expense” of either Egypt or Sudan.

“We believe in shared progress, shared energy, and shared water,” he said.

“Prosperity for one should mean prosperity for all.”

France just experienced its hottest June since 2003, with several days of extreme heat at the end of the month that left two people dead and slowed the country down – halting work outdoors and closing schools. The heatwave is a taste of what the future might hold, as global warming leads to more extreme weather conditions. The Human Adaptation Institute has created an immersive experience of what life at 50C would be like. Jeanne Richard reports from the mobile lab as it tours France to raise awareness over the need to mitigate and adapt to climate change, one hot individual at a time. (Listen @0′)

France is Europe’s largest egg producer, yet it’s struggling to meet growing demand from people looking for a cheap source of protein. Eggs are now being imported from Ukraine where environmental, health and animal welfare norms are far lower. Alice Richard, head of the National Egg Promotion Committee (CNPO), talks about the need to increase home-grown production and make it easier for farmers to start or expand their farms. Cyril Ernst, campaign manager with Anima, whose mission is to put an end to laying hens in cages, insists any easing of regulations for new farms mustn’t be at the expense of animal welfare. (Listen @16’45”)

The first line of the Paris metro opened on 19 July 1900, after decades of wrangling between the capital and the state slowed down its development. Today the metro system is 245kms long, with 16 lines covering the entire city and beyond. (Listen @10’30”)

Episode mixed by Cécile Pompeani

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

A strike by French air traffic controllers is causing widespread disruption across the country, with cancellations rippling through airports from the sunny Mediterranean coast to the bustling Paris region.

On Thursday, holidaymakers at Nice Airport – France’s third busiest – faced a frustrating start, as half of all flights were grounded.

A similar fate met passengers in Bastia and Calvi, while airports in Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Ajaccio and Figari saw around 30 percent of flights cancelled.

In Paris, where Charles de Gaulle and Orly typically handle up to 350,000 passengers daily during peak summer, a quarter of flights were cancelled, with Beauvais Airport – popular with low-cost carriers – facing the same fate.

More staff, better conditions

The disruption stems from industrial action launched by Unsa-Icna, France’s second-largest air traffic controllers’ union, backed by Usac-CGT.

Together, they represent a third of the workforce and are demanding better working conditions and more staffing.

By Thursday, around 270 of the country’s 1,400 air traffic controllers had downed tools.

In response, the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) took preventative measures, ordering airlines to cut flights to ensure safety in the skies.

But the turbulence isn’t over yet – Friday is expected to bring even more severe disruptions, especially at Paris airports and Beauvais, where the DGAC has mandated a 40 percent reduction in flights.

France reforms strike rules for air traffic controllers after year of turbulence

European destinations impacted

The knock-on effects are expected to be felt across Western Europe, given France’s key geographical role in European airspace.

Airlines for Europe – representing industry giants such as Air France-KLM, British Airways, Lufthansa, EasyJet and Ryanair – didn’t hold back, calling the strikes “intolerable” and warning of widespread impact on holiday plans.

Business travel isn’t immune either, with high-traffic hubs like Nice and Le Bourget also bearing the brunt.

French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot has taken a firm stance, rejecting the unions’ demands.

“The timing of this strike, just as families head off on their holidays, is simply unacceptable,” he said.

At the heart of the dispute is a government-led reform introducing check-in systems for air traffic controllers – a safety measure prompted by a near-miss incident at Bordeaux Airport in 2022.

Tabarot insists this change is non-negotiable: “This is about flight safety. I won’t compromise on such a critical issue.”

Air France cancels more than half of flights as controllers strike

Rescheduling and refunds

In the meantime, airlines are doing their best to cushion the blow.

Air France and its low-cost sibling Transavia are notifying affected passengers individually, offering options to reschedule flights at no extra cost or receive full refunds.

Unions, however, argue that the problems run deeper.

Unsa-Icna cited “chronic understaffing,” outdated systems, and poor management as key concerns affecting both safety and working conditions.

Despite the current turmoil, the largest union, SNCTA – which represents 60 percent of controllers – has opted not to join the strike.

Kohler, a 40-year-old literature teacher, and Paris, her 72-year-old partner, were arrested on 7 May 2022 at the end of a tourist trip.

For years, their exact situation was unclear.

Their families have now been told – through diplomatic sources and a consular visit – that Iranian authorities have formally charged the pair.

“We have been informed of these charges,” a French diplomatic source said to AFP. The source called them “completely unfounded”.

No trial date or sentence has been announced. Tehran has not yet confirmed the charges in public.

The pair have been denied access to independent lawyers, adding to the distress of their families in France.

Posting on X on Thursday, the “Free Cécile” group wrote: “Cécile & Jacques are innocent. These accusations are absurd. They are teachers, a daughter, a sister, a father, friends, colleagues.

“Simple, generous people, whom we love and miss. They do not deserve what they have been enduring for over 3 years.”

French diplomat visits jailed couple in Iran after families demand proof of life

Israel strike on Tehran prison 

Cécile’s sister, Noémie Kohler, spoke after a rare visit by the French chargé d’affaires in Tehran.

“They still don’t have lawyers they can trust,” she said. “All we know is they saw a judge who listed these charges.”

Their situation has become even more precarious after recent violence.

On 23 June, Evin Prison – where Kohler and Paris were held – was bombed in a strike Iran blames on Israel. Iranian officials said 79 people died.

Though unharmed, the couple were badly shaken and then moved to unknown locations.

“Cécile hasn’t slept since the bombing,” said her sister. “She’s terrified it will happen again.” After a short stay at Qarchak prison, she was blindfolded and moved again. Her current whereabouts are unknown, even to her.

Jacques Paris is said to be sleeping on the floor of a bare cell. He still does not have proper glasses for his failing eyesight.

His condition, both physical and mental, is a growing concern for his family.

Israeli strike on Tehran jail was ‘irresponsible’: French prisoner’s sister

Couple’s release ‘top priority’

The French government has reiterated that securing the couple’s release remains a top priority.

Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot recently confirmed that a French diplomat was able to visit the pair – albeit under heavy surveillance – for 35 minutes in a facility south of Tehran.

For the first time in months, the couple were able to see each other during that visit.

French and European diplomats increasingly suspect the couple are being used as pawns in what many now call Iran’s “hostage diplomacy” – a tactic to gain leverage in stalled nuclear negotiations and pressure for the lifting of economic sanctions.

(with AFP)

Since 2000, the frequency of heatwaves has doubled in France, according to the country’s meteorological agency Météo France.

A record number of heat alerts have been put in place across France in the past few days, with 16 regions, including Paris, placed on red alert for Tuesday, when temperatures topped 40C. Almost 1,900 schools were closed that day, and ecological transition minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher announced that 300 people had been given emergency treatment at hospitals.

She also announced there had been two heat-related deaths in France this week. 

For workers exposed to extreme heat – such as roofers, bakers, landscapers and construction workers – this brings significant health risks. In addition to dehydration and heat stroke, conditions including hypertension, kidney disease and cardiovascular diseases are exacerbated by heat.

France prepares for peak temperatures amid Europe-wide heatwave

On Monday, trade unions attributed the death of a construction worker near the Italian city of Bologna to the heat. Outdoor work was banned in some Italian regions during the hottest hours of the day as Italy issued heatwave red alerts for 17 cities, including Milan and Rome.

In Barcelona, Spanish authorities are investigating whether the death of a street sweeper at the weekend was heat-related.

Protective measures

To better protect outdoor workers and those exposed to extreme heat, France’s labour ministry implemented a new decree on 1 July. In the case of a heatwave, employers are now required to strengthen protective measures, including providing three litres of fresh water per day per person, more frequent breaks, changing work hours and suspending strenuous tasks.

Almost 70 percent of the world’s workforce – 2.4 billion people – is exposed to excessive heat every year. According to estimates by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), this damages the health of more than 22 million people. 

Scorching weather grips France as southern Europe faces first heatwave of summer

“Workplace safety legislation has long provided for protection against extreme temperatures. But it’s clear that, regarding the intensifying heat due to climate change, these provisions often remain too general and no longer correspond to current realities,” Dafne Papandrea of the ILO told RFI.

She added that African countries too have begun taking protective measures. “Tunisia, Namibia and Mauritius have officially recognised certain heat-related illnesses as occupational diseases. South Africa and Mozambique have set temperature thresholds above which measures must be taken, such as stopping certain types of activity.”

(with newswires)

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky was invited to attend the official start of Denmark‘s six-month turn at the rotating EU helm, which comes as the United States announced it would stop supplying some weapons to Ukraine.

“It’s a clear message to step up our own support, ramping up our European defence capacities, not only at the level of the European Union, but at the continental level,” von der Leyen told a press conference in Aarhus, Denmark alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

Frederiksen meanwhile stressed that the Nordic nation would push for Ukraine membership in the EU.

“Ukraine is a part of our European family, and it has been very important for us that President Zelensky has been able to join us here today… Our European family would not be complete without his presence,” Frederiksen said.

Ukraine launched its bid to become an EU member in the aftermath of Russia‘s 2022 invasion, but it has stalled because of opposition from Hungary.

“We must strengthen Ukraine. And we must weaken Russia,” Frederiksen said in a statement earlier Thursday announcing Zelensky’s attendance in Aarhus, Denmark’s second largest city.

Frederiksen has stressed the importance of European security, which she has linked to a strict migration policy, and the country has promised to push the agenda and champion Ukraine during its EU presidency.

Russian strikes have intensified in the absence of progress on resolving the conflict, and the US moves have severely hampered Kyiv, which has relied on Western military support since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

“Ukraine is essential to Europe’s security. Our contribution to Ukraine is also a protection of our freedom,” Frederiksen said.

“Ukraine belongs in the European Union. It is in both Denmark’s and Europe‘s interest. Therefore, the Danish EU presidency will do everything we can to help Ukraine on their way towards EU membership.”

US – Europe partnership must remain strong, says visiting US Senator

Working ‘behind the scenes’

Denmark’s Europe minister Marie Bjerre told reporters earlier on Thursday that Ukraine’s EU membership bid was “very important for us”.

“We are still trying to lift the resistance from Hungary,” she said.

Using its veto power, Hungary has effectively frozen the accession process.

Ukraine has insisted it still hopes Budapest can be brought around, claiming intensive work is being done “behind the scenes”.

US President Donald Trump has effectively nixed Ukraine’s attempts to join the NATO military alliance.

As Zelensky arrived in Denmark, he announced that Ukraine has signed a deal with US company American company Swift Beat to produce drones for Ukraine’s military.

In a post to X, Zelensky said the company “foresees hundreds of thousands of drones this year alone, with the potential to significantly scale up production in the coming year.”

The Danish government said Thursday’s discussions in Aarhus with von der Leyen and Zelensky would include increased military support, cooperation with the Ukrainian defence industry and new sanctions against Russia.

The Nordic nation has also made repeated calls for Europe to boost defence spending.

Denmark wants to move forward on a European plan presented in March to increase the defence capabilities of EU countries using simplified procedures and loans to finance investments in the European defence industry.

It has already begun increasing its own defence spending, which now exceeds three percent of GDP.

In a landmark move towards climate neutrality, the European Commission on Wednesday formally announced its long-awaited 2040 emissions-reduction target – specifically a 90 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels.

This legally binding objective marks a key stepping stone toward the EU’s ultimate goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

Unveiled amid sweltering early-summer temperatures sweeping across Europe – temperatures scientists confirm are worsening due to human-driven climate change – the plan reinforces the EU’s commitment to climate leadership.

But it also introduces new flexibilities aimed at easing tensions among member states, some of which have pushed back against the scale and speed of the transition.

Posting on X, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote: “As Europeans increasingly feel the impact of climate change, they expect Europe to act … Today we show that we stand firmly by our commitment to decarbonise Europe’s economy by 2050.”

France key as policy architect

France has played a leading role in shaping the framework of the 2040 goals, working closely with Brussels to strike a balance between ambition and pragmatism.

French President Emmanuel Macron, while voicing concerns over the path to decarbonising European industry, has championed strong EU-wide standards with a key focus on ensuring nuclear energy has a place in the bloc’s clean energy future.

France’s diplomatic efforts helped move the conversation forward after months of negotiations, with Macron consistently calling for safeguards that would protect European industry, particularly in sectors critical to France’s economy, while aligning with climate ambitions.

Countries urge tripling of nuclear energy to hit net-zero emissions by 2050

A target with ‘wiggle room’

To appease more reluctant member states, the Commission introduced a controversial measure – starting in 2036, up to 3 percent of the emissions target can be met through international carbon credits.

These credits – earned by investing in projects such as forest restoration or renewable energy in developing countries – would count towards national emissions reductions.

Critics argue, however, that this undermines the integrity of the target. 

Neil Makaroff of the Strategic Perspectives think tank has warned that “three percent is not insignificant,” and fears the scheme could funnel investment abroad rather than funding Europe’s own green transition.

The proposal has drawn fierce opposition from environmental groups and climate scientists, who have repeatedly questioned the environmental credibility of some international carbon offset schemes.

The Commission insists strict criteria will be set to ensure only high-integrity credits qualify, but doubts remain over enforcement and effectiveness.

More killer heat and rising seas likely in next five years, UN warns

Political balancing act

The 2040 target must still, however, pass through several political hurdles.

EU environment ministers will take up the discussion in mid-July, ahead of a vote scheduled for 18 September.

It must also win the approval of the European Parliament before becoming law.

The Commission hopes to finalise the package before Cop30 – the UN climate summit set for November in Belém, Brazil.

While Europe is only required to submit a 2035 milestone to the United Nations, the Commission sees the 2040 target as central to shaping that interim goal.

Still, political divisions persist, with Italy, Hungary, and the Czech Republic raising alarm bells over the cost of decarbonising heavy industries, particularly during a time of mounting economic competition from the US and China.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has even floated a lower target of 80 to 85 percent, arguing that overburdening European industries could backfire.

Germany, meanwhile, has played a key role in pushing for the three-percent flexibility, echoing commitments made in its domestic coalition agreement.

France rolls out plan to prepare for 4C temperature rise by end of century

Europe at a climate crossroads

Wednesday’s announcement, nevertheless, sends a strong signal that the EU remains committed to its climate promises, even amid rising political headwinds.

As EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra noted, decarbonisation is not just an environmental imperative, but a driver of long-term economic resilience.

Still, the new plan illustrates the difficult balancing act between ambition and realism, unity and flexibility. It’s a compromise that some see as necessary – and others as risky.

One thing is clear – as Europe is now the world’s fastest-warming continent and extreme weather events are becoming the new normal, there is no time to waste.

In France, fieldwork has been banned during the hottest hours to protect workers and cut fire risks. Farm operations were halted as temperatures soared past 39C in parts of the country. 

Spain and Portugal recorded some of their highest June temperatures ever, with El Granado hitting 46C and Mora reaching 46.6C. Italy placed 21 cities, including Rome and Milan, on red alert as heat topped 38C. 

Wildfire warnings remain in place in southern France, Spain and Greece. 

From ruin to revival as Malawi’s banana growers plant a new future

Potato sector under strain 

The European potato sector is bracing for lower yields if the heat continues.  

Extreme heat can damage tuber growth, reduce yields and disrupt harvest schedules. Farmers in Spain, Italy and southern France are relying heavily on irrigation to prevent crop failure. 

Meteorologists cited by the farming website Wikifarmer warn that if the marine heatwave in the Mediterranean pushes sea temperatures up to 9C above normal, inland weather could stay unstable well into July, putting additional pressure on already struggling farms. 

The heat comes on top of what is already a costly challenge for Europe’s farmers.  

A European Commission study found that droughts and heatwaves already cost EU farms and livestock producers around 28 billion euros a year.  

That is about 6 percent of total agricultural production. The commission expects this to rise to 10 percent by 2050 if extreme weather events become more frequent. 

African cotton producers rally against climate shocks and low prices

Water and health strain 

French hospitals are treating more cases of heat exhaustion and dehydration, especially in rural areas. Meanwhile the government brought in driving restrictions in big cities to cut air pollution and shut a nuclear plant to prevent its cooling system from overheating. 

People this week were urged to stay indoors during peak heat, drink plenty of water and check on elderly neighbours. 

Farmers face a double challenge – crops need more water, but extreme heat makes it harder for plants to use what little moisture remains in the soil. 

New normal? 

The UN has warned the extreme heat is “no longer unusual – it’s the new baseline”. 

Climatologists say the “heat dome” trapping hot air over Europe is part of a wider trend of longer, hotter spells linked to climate change. Dry soils and shifting weather patterns are making future heatwaves more likely. 

Forecasters warn the heat could stick around for the first half of July.  

For farmers, the damage may stretch well beyond this summer, with lower harvests adding to the strain. 

New Caledonian elected officials, along with economic and civil society representatives, have agreed to join the talks at the president’s invitation.

Macron said last week the discussions would last “as long as necessary” to deal with major issues.

“Beyond major institutional topics, I would like our discussions to touch on economic and societal matters,” Macron said.

New Caledonia has been ruled by France since the 1800s. Many indigenous Kanaks still resent Paris’s control and want more autonomy or independence.

Key dates in New Caledonia’s history

Unrest broke out in May 2024 after Paris planned to give voting rights to thousands of non-indigenous, long-term residents – something Kanaks fear would leave them in a permanent minority, crushing their chances of winning independence. 

The riots – the most violent since the 1980s – led to the death of 14 people and caused billions of euros in damage. 

The president’s decision to host talks alongside the overseas minister Manuel Valls comes after a French court freed independence leader Christian Tein in June. 

Tein, who is a Kanak, had been held in custody in eastern France since June 2024 over the rioting.

Investigating magistrates concluded there was no proof that Tein was preparing an armed uprising against the government, according to a source close to the case. 

The last independence referendum in New Caledonia was held in 2021, and was boycotted by pro-independence groups over the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Kanak population. 

The referendum was the last of three since 2018, all of which rejected New Caledonian independence.

Anniversary of French occupation exposes rifts over New Caledonia’s future

‘Future of the territory’

Since the 2021 referendum – which pro-independence campaigners had wanted to be rescheduled – the political situation in the archipelago has been in deadlock. 

Valls led negotiations in May between pro-independence and anti-independence groups, but they did not reach an agreement about the institutional future of the territory. 

The president declared in early June that he wanted a “new project” for New Caledonia. 

(with AFP)

The 330-page report, released on Wednesday, says children at the Notre-Dame de Bétharram school suffered violence “in the absence of action that the former education minister had the means to take”, Violette Spillebout and Paul Vannier, the two co-rapporteurs, wrote.

Bayrou, who served as education minister from 1993 to 1997, has denied any wrongdoing and called the accusations a campaign of “destruction” against him.

His office told BFMTV he ordered an inspection “the day after a complaint for a slap” appeared. They said the inspection “resulted in a positive report for the school” and claimed “all documents are online on Bayrou.fr”.

French PM Bayrou denies covering up sexual abuse at Catholic school

‘Absolute sadism’

Fatiha Keloua Hachi, who led the commission of inquiry, said lawmakers heard shocking testimony over three months from 135 people, including survivors of abuse at schools across France.

“This commission of inquiry was a thorough investigation into the unthinkable – children, all over France, subjected to monstrous acts,” Keloua Hachi said.

She said survivors described sexual violence and “physical violence too, sometimes of an unprecedented severity, of absolute sadism”.

Since February last year, around 200 legal complaints have been filed accusing priests and staff at Bétharram of abuse between 1957 and 2004. Some former boarders said priests visited boys at night.

Bayrou’s eldest daughter, Hélène Perlant, has said a priest beat her at a summer camp linked to Bétharram when she was 14. She said her father did not know about the incident.

French clergy acknowledge responsibility in school sexual abuse scandal

Systemic failings

The report found the violence at Bétharram could not be reduced to isolated incidents and said it was – at least in part – kept in place by influential supporters, including some in government.

The co-rapporteurs said Bétharram was far from unique and that similar violence still happens in other schools, especially private Catholic ones, where a strong culture of silence remains.

Lawmakers described France’s system of checks as virtually non-existent and said efforts to prevent abuse remain inadequate.

The report said many victims were ignored for decades and left with lasting anger because so few adults took action while abusers went unpunished.

French former Catholic priest convicted of raping and sexually abusing four boys

Proposals for reform

The commission recommended 50 measures to address the violence. These include creating a compensation fund for victims and recognising the state’s failings that allowed the abuse to continue.

It also proposed annual inspections of boarding schools, stricter checks in private schools at least every five years and a nationwide hotline for staff and parents to report abuse outside the usual school channels.

Other ideas include a clear ban on corporal punishment and humiliating treatment, criminal checks for all staff every three years and lifting the secrecy of confession when priests hear of abuse against children under 15.

The commission called for better training for teachers, nurses and school counsellors and regular reminders that staff must report suspected violence.

Bayrou survived a vote of no confidence on Tuesday. His position could come under more pressure as France’s minority government faces tough budget talks later this year.

The suspect, identified as Timothy G., was arrested near a high school in the Saint-Étienne region carrying two knives in his bag. Sources close to the case told the French press agency AFP that he intended to target women and openly identified with the “incel” ideology.

“Incel” is an English acronym for “involuntary celibates” — men who believe they are rejected by women and harbour resentment towards them and feminism, which they blame for their personal failures.

The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) confirmed on Tuesday that an investigation has been opened against the 18-year-old, who self-identifies with the incel movement.

Timothy G. has been charged with terrorist criminal conspiracy with intent to commit one or more violent crimes against persons and has been remanded in custody, the PNAT said.

French government to ban knife sales to minors after deadly school attack

Described as youthful and shy, with a nearly clean-shaven face and slender build, Timothy G. appeared before a judge on Tuesday evening and was detained, AFP journalists reported.

‘Not a militant’

His lawyer, Maria Snitsar, told AFP: “I met a suffering adolescent, not a militant preparing for action. The investigation will put this case into its proper perspective regarding the charges and the personality of the accused.”

Sources indicate that Timothy, who aspired to be an engineer, had consumed misogynistic videos online, particularly on TikTok.

This is the first time the PNAT has handled a case solely involving the incel movement, which had previously appeared marginally in two other terrorism-related cases.

One involved a young man from northern France linked to the far right, charged in September 2023 with plans for violent acts. He was described by sources as “an unstable, frustrated young adult rather than an ideologue.”

Another case involved four young men, one planning to travel to Syria, two glorifying Hitler and Nazism, and three communicating with a woman who dreamed of bombing a church.

Two admired “great replacement” conspiracy theories and mass killers associated with the far right, including Anders Breivik, Brenton Tarrant, and Dylan Klebold. Timothy G. had also shown interest in some of these incidents.

The Netflix series “Adolescence,” which aired this spring to wide acclaim, highlighted the toxic and misogynistic influences young men encounter online. Among prominent figures in these online circles is the male influencer Andrew Tate, who has nearly 11 million followers on X and faces rape allegations.

The incel movement has been claimed by several mass killers, and attacks targeting women motivated by this ideology have occurred before. Notably, in 1989, a 25-year-old self-declared antifeminist opened fire at Montreal’s École Polytechnique, killing 13 female students and a secretary before taking his own life — one of Canada’s deadliest mass shootings.

(With newswires)

“We obtained a visit today from our charge d’affaires in Iran,” Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told lawmakers.

A French foreign ministry spokeswoman confirmed the visit had taken place earlier in the day.

But the ministry did not specify where the visit occurred, amid uncertainty over the couple’s whereabouts.

The fate of Kohler and Paris had been unknown since Israel targeted Tehran’s Evin prison in an air strike last week, before a US-proposed ceasefire between the Middle East foes came into force.

Israeli strike on Tehran jail was ‘irresponsible’: French prisoner’s sister

Iran‘s judiciary said the Israeli strike on the prison had killed at least 79 people.

It has also said the Iranian prison authority transferred inmates out of Evin prison, without specifying their number or identifying them.

Several women prisoners have been transferred to Qarchak prison for women outside Tehran, which has a notorious reputation for its conditions.

‘Proof of life’

On Friday, the families of Kohler and Paris demanded “proof of life”, while a lawyer denounced their “forced disappearance”.

Kohler, 40, and Paris, her 72-year-old partner, have been held in Iran since May 2022 on espionage charges their families reject.

Family of French couple jailed in Iran pleads for humanitarian evacuation

Iran is believed to hold around 20 European nationals, many of whose cases have never been publicised, in what some Western governments including France describe as a strategy of hostage-taking aimed at extracting concessions from the West.

Three Europeans, who have not been identified, have also been arrested in the wake of the current conflict, two of whom are accused of spying for Israel, according to the authorities.

(with AFP)

According to the Polish press agency PAP, Court President Krzysztof Wiak said that a huge number of election protests filed with the court against the election result “had not strengthened the significance of their charges” adding that “confirmed irregularities had not affected the overall voting result.”

In the country’s highly polarised political landscape, concerns have also been voiced over the legitimacy of the court chamber which will issue the verdict.

Karol Nawrocki, backed by the Law and Justice (PiS) party, scored 51 percent of votes to win the June 1 runoff election, according to official results – a major blow for the pro-EU government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk and LGBTQ rights campaigners.

Nawrocki took 369,000 more votes than his rival, Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, the candidate put forward by the government.

Prosecutors allege the vote count was falsified in Nawrocki’s favour at some polling stations, fuelling calls for a national recount.

Conservative Nawrocki narrowly wins Poland’s presidential election

PiS has dismissed doubts about the vote as an attempt to “steal the election”.

According to the Polish constitution, the Supreme Court must validate the ballot before the winner can be sworn in at a joint session of parliament — a ceremony planned for August 6.

However, European courts and legal experts have questioned the legitimacy of the Exceptional Supervision and Public Matters Chamber, the Supreme Court body which will issue the ruling on Tuesday.

The European Court of Human Rights said in 2023 the Chamber does not fulfil the definition of “an independent and impartial tribunal established by law”.

Tusk has criticised the Chamber, but recognised Monday that “it is the Supreme Court’s responsibility to rule whether an election is valid or not”.

“It is not possible…for the Supreme Court to be replaced in this matter… by the Prosecutor General or the government,” the prime minister said.

‘Paralyse the Supreme Court’

The Supreme Court has received around 56,000 election protests since the second round of voting.

Judges have already dismissed, without taking further action, over 50,000 complaints, many of which were based on protest templates shared on social media.

Supreme Court chief justice Malgorzata Manowska decried sending template-based protests as an “operation meant to… paralyse the Supreme Court”.

Still, the court ordered the results from 13 polling stations to be recounted earlier this month.

National prosecutors later said that in some of those polling stations votes were transferred from one candidate to another, mainly in Nawrocki’s favour.

Government coalition lawmaker Roman Giertych authored one of the protest templates, claiming votes had been reassigned to Nawrocki and alleging ballot rigging.

Giertych and several experts have demanded a national recount and called for the presidential inauguration to be postponed in order to clarify the alleged irregularities.

These experts assert that the previous nationalist government and outgoing president Andrzej Duda introduced reforms which have undermined the rule of law in Poland.

The reforms have long put Poland at odds with the European Commission, but the victory of a pro-EU coalition in October 2023 parliamentary elections mitigated the conflict.

Parliament speaker Szymon Holownia, like other members of the ruling coalition, has so far firmly rejected the idea of postponing the presidential oath ceremony

Independently, Justice Minister Adam Bodnar, who is also the prosecutor general, has ordered a group of prosecutors to examine “irregularities” in the vote counting.

“It is the prosecution’s role… to inquire everywhere, where there is a suspicion of crime,” Tusk said.

(With newswires)

One week after a ceasefire ended Israel‘s 12-day war with Iran, the two men on Tuesday also discussed Tehran’s nuclear programme, with Macron suggesting Moscow and Paris work together to de-escalate tensions.

Fighting still raged on the ground in Ukraine more than three years after Russia’s full-scale February 2022 invasion of its neighbour sparked the war, with efforts to agree a truce at a standstill.

Ukrainian drones hit the Russian city of Izhevsk on Tuesday, killing three people and wounding dozens in one of the deepest strikes inside Russia of the conflict, authorities said.

The talks lasted for more than two hours and Macron and Putin agreed to hold more contacts on Ukraine and Iran in the future, the French presidency said.

Macron “emphasised France‘s unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” and “called for the establishment, as soon as possible, of a ceasefire and the launch of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia for a solid and lasting settlement of the conflict”, said the Elysee Palace.

A Kremlin statement said Putin reminded Macron that “the Ukrainian conflict is a direct consequence of the policy of Western states”.

Putin added that Western states had “for many years ignored Russia’s security interests” and “created an anti-Russian bridgehead in Ukraine”.

The Kremlin said Putin told his French counterpart that any peace deal should be “comprehensive and long-term, provide for the elimination of the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis and be based on new territorial realities.”

Macron had alerted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of his plans to speak with Putin, and talked to him afterwards, Macron’s office said without providing further details.

‘Coordinate efforts’ on Iran

On Iran, “the two presidents decided to coordinate their efforts and to speak soon in order to follow up together on this issue”, the French presidency added.

Macron has previously urged Iran to ease tensions by moving to “zero enrichment” of uranium in its nuclear programme.

Russia, which like France is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has a cordial relationship with Iran’s clerical leadership and has long urged a diplomatic solution to the standoff over the Iranian nuclear programme.

“He expressed his determination to seek a diplomatic solution that would allow for a lasting and demanding settlement of the nuclear issue, the question of Iran’s missiles and its role in the region,” the Elysee said.

The Kremlin said Putin emphasised “the lawful right of Tehran in developing a civilian” nuclear programme.

It said both presidents agreed that the conflict over Iran’s nuclear activities and other Middle Eastern conflicts should be solved “exclusively” by diplomatic means and that the two leaders would “continue contacts” on this.

Macron tried in a series of calls in 2022 to warn Putin against invading Ukraine and travelled to Moscow early that year.

He kept up phone contact with Putin after the invasion but talks then ceased, with the last call between the presidents dating back to September 2022.

Macron has over the last year toughened his line against Russia, saying its expansionism is a threat to all of Europe.

In April 2024, Russia’s then defence minister Sergei Shoigu and French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu, a close confidant of Macron, held talks focused on security in the run-up to the Olympic Games in Paris.

That was the last official high-level contact between the two countries.

Stalled peace efforts

Izhevsk, more than 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from the front line, has arms production facilities including factories that make attack drones and the Kalashnikov rifle.

A Ukraine security services source said Kyiv had targeted an Izhevsk-based drone manufacturer and that the attack had disrupted Moscow’s “offensive potential”.

Russian forces in turn struck the town of Guliaipole in Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk region, causing “casualties and fatalities”, Ukraine’s southern defence forces said, without specifying numbers.

Macron’s call with Putin comes as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have stalled in recent weeks.

Pressed by US President Donald Trump to find a solution, the two sides held direct talks almost a month ago but Moscow has since stepped up deadly strikes on Ukraine.

Russia’s army has ravaged parts of east and south Ukraine while seizing large swathes of territory.

An AFP analysis published Tuesday found that Russia dramatically ramped up aerial attacks in June, firing thousands of drones to pressure the war-torn country’s stretched air defence systems and exhausted civilian population.

That month, Moscow made its biggest territorial gain since November while accelerating advances for a third consecutive month, according to another AFP analysis based on data from US-based Institute for the Study of War.

France just experienced its hottest June since 2003, with several days of extreme heat at the end of the month that left two people dead and slowed the country down – halting work outdoors and closing schools. The heatwave is a taste of what the future might hold, as global warming leads to more extreme weather conditions. The Human Adaptation Institute has created an immersive experience of what life at 50C would be like. Jeanne Richard reports from the mobile lab as it tours France to raise awareness over the need to mitigate and adapt to climate change, one hot individual at a time. (Listen @0′)

France is Europe’s largest egg producer, yet it’s struggling to meet growing demand from people looking for a cheap source of protein. Eggs are now being imported from Ukraine where environmental, health and animal welfare norms are far lower. Alice Richard, head of the National Egg Promotion Committee (CNPO), talks about the need to increase home-grown production and make it easier for farmers to start or expand their farms. Cyril Ernst, campaign manager with Anima, whose mission is to put an end to laying hens in cages, insists any easing of regulations for new farms mustn’t be at the expense of animal welfare. (Listen @16’45”)

The first line of the Paris metro opened on 19 July 1900, after decades of wrangling between the capital and the state slowed down its development. Today the metro system is 245kms long, with 16 lines covering the entire city and beyond. (Listen @10’30”)

Episode mixed by Cécile Pompeani

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

“We welcome the news that an agreement has been reached on the establishment of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, which came late last night,” Erdogan said before departing for the NATO summit in The Hague.

Israel’s war on Iran had put Erdogan in a tricky spot – maintaining his hostility towards Israel without damaging his ties with Trump.

On Saturday, Erdogan slammed Israel, calling it a “terrorist state”, while warning that the war on Iran threatened to plunge the region into chaos. The speech, delivered in Istanbul at a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, was just the latest in what has become an almost daily verbal assault on Israel.

But the United States bombing of Iran just a few hours after Erdogan spoke drew little reaction from Ankara beyond a short statement expressing its “concern” over the attack.

Turkey’s rivalry with Iran shifts as US threats create unlikely common ground

Words versus actions

Erdogan’s actions have also not always matched his rhetoric.The Turkish leader resisted opposition calls to close the US-operated NATO Kurecik radar base near the Iranian border.

“Turkey is not interested once again in going into conflict with America because, if you close Kurecik, then it is a NATO issue, and Israel has close relations also with NATO,” said international relations professor Huseyin Bagci of Ankara’s Middle East Technical University.

The Kurecik radar station, Bagci said, is important to Israeli security.

“Turkey signed the acceptance (agreement) that Israel should take information from Kurecik,” Bagci added. “There is no in an article in the case of war that Turkey would not provide the information. So, this is why Erdogan, based on this fact, is not undertaking any steps against Israel.”

Earlier this month, Erdogan lobbied Baghdad not to follow Tehran’s calls to intercept Israeli warplanes using Iraqi airspace to strike Iran. All moves that are likely to play well with Trump. Erdogan values what Trump has called a “great friendship”.

The two leaders are expected to meet for the first time since Trump’s re-election on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague, where Erdogan will likely be seeking an invitation to Washington.

With Turkey and Iran long-time regional rivals, competing for influence from the Caucasus to Central Asia and the Middle East, Ankara also shares the West’s concerns over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

“Turkey definitely doesn’t want a nuclear-armed Iran, because that is going to trigger a proliferation process in the Middle East,” said Serhan Afacan, head of the Center for Iranian Studies, a research organisation in Ankara.

Interim president Sharaa weighs up Ankara and Riyadh in power struggle for Syria

Refugee fears and regional risks

The United States bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities – which Washington claims has ended Tehran’s atomic programme – drew no condemnation from Ankara. But the risk of a wider conflict has raised fears of growing instability and the possibility of a refugee wave into Turkey from Iran.

Trump’s surprise move to broker a ceasefire between Iran and Israel will come as a relief to Ankara, said regional expert Professor Zaur Gasimov of the German Academic Exchange Service in Istanbul. He warned the ceasefire came just as signs were emerging of a refugee exodus.

“What we see now is already now is the mobility of people within Iran, leaving Tehran and other bigger cities, going to different directions, that is a challenge for the entire region. And maybe Turkey is a country that is about to observe a refugee influx coming from Iran by the border,” said Gasimov.

He warned Ankara is likely not prepared for such an exodus.

“That is a challenge. So, Turkey is currently observing the situation with great attention, and certain answers to this challenge is not ready yet,” said Gasimov.

Azerbaijan and Turkey build bridges amid declining influence of Iran

Economic toll

Turkey, which borders Iraq and Syria, has struggled for decades with chaos on its southern frontier. It currently hosts as many as five million refugees and has paid a heavy economic price through the loss of valuable regional markets.

Ankara will likely be eyeing the potential rewards of a weakened Tehran in the long-running competition for regional influence.

“A weak Iran is good for Turkey always, but not a dead Iran,” said Bagci.

“Iran is important for connectivity. They [Iran] have many neighbours like Turkey. They are close to Russia, Central Asian republics, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, you name it. And the destabilisation of the region is in nobody’s interest.

“That is why China and Russia are very careful in their statements, and everybody is trying now for a diplomatic solution.”

How long Trump’s brokered ceasefire will last remains to be seen. But for Ankara, the hope is that wider regional chaos has been avoided – and that it has managed, at least for now, to balance its competing interests.

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 winners’ 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.

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!

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

Go to our website and get started! At the top of the page, click on “Test level” and 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.

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This week’s quiz: On 24 May, I asked you a question about our article “EU and UK reunite in London for talks on diplomacy and defence” – that week, talks were held between France’s President Emmanuel Macron and the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer – after five years of rather tense relations between the two countries, following Britain’s exit from the EU in 2020.

I asked you to send in the answer to this question:  Which three issues – aside from defense and security partnerships – were also discussed – issues which are still quite politically sensitive?

The answer is: Fishing rights, food checks, and youth mobility.

In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question, suggested by Rafiq Khondaker: “What is your favorite animal, and why?”

Do you have a bonus question idea? Send it to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr

The winners are: RFI Listeners Club member Nasyr Muhammad from Katsina State in Nigeria, who is also this week’s bonus question winner. Congratulations on your double win, Nasyr.

Also on the list of lucky winners this week are Debakamal Hazarika, the president of the United RFI Listeners Club in Assam, India, as well as RFI Listeners Club members Sharifa Akter Panna from Kishoreganj, Bangladesh; Zenon Teles, the president of the Christian – Marxist – Leninist – Maoist Association of Listening DX-ers in Goa, India, and last but assuredly not least, RFI English listener Rodrigo Hunrichse from Ciudad de Concepción, Chile.

Congratulations, winners!

Here’s the music you heard on this week’s programme: The overture to L’Italiana in Algerie by Giacchino Rossini, performed by Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic; “Round Midnight” by Thelonius Monk, performed by the Thelonius Monk Quartet; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; “The Cakewalk” from Children’s Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer, and the Act I finale of L’Italiana in Algerie by Giacchino Rossini, sung by Marilyn Horne and Paolo Montarsolo with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra conducted by James Levine.

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 Alison’s article “From Goma to Cape Town, the young Congolese athlete pedalling for peace”, which will help you with the answer.

You have until 21 July to enter this week’s quiz; the winners will be announced on the 26 July 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.

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This week, we go to East Africa where Kenyans are protesting to denounce police brutality, exactly a year after a wave of protests organised against an unjust tax, that led to police violence.

This year’s protests were triggered by the killing by the police of a teacher and blogger in his cell. Albert Ojwang, 31, had been arrested for criticising a policeman online.

On Monday (23 June), Kenyan prosecutors said they were charging six people, including three police officers, with murder over his death.

To better understand the issues surrounding this incident, Spotlight on Africa podcast spoke to Douglas Lucas Kivoi, Principal Policy Analyst, Governance Department, Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA).

Africa Basel 

We also head to Switzerland for a new artistic event known as Africa Basel.

This first edition of a contemporary African art fair was created to coincide with the largest fair in the world, Art Basel, in Switzerland. It was held from 17 to 22 June, with over 30 galleries and dozens of artists.

Spotlight on Africa spoke with the two co-founders of the event, as they opened the first days of the event in Basel: Benjamin Füglister, artist and cultural entrepreneur born in Switzerland, and now the director of the Africa Basel and Sarah Hachi-Duchêne, curator at unx.art.

Episode mixed by Melissa Chemam and Cecile Pompeani.

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

Earlier this month, EU and Turkish officials met under the bloc’s Common Security and Defence Policy for the first time in three years.

The talks are part of a push to develop a more independent European defence system, amid concerns that a second Donald Trump presidency might weaken NATO’s guarantee to protect Europe.

Many see Turkey as well-placed to help meet the EU’s defence goals.

“We have huge potential for cooperation with Turkey,” said Federico Donelli, an international relations expert at Trieste University.

He pointed out that Turkey has the second-largest army in NATO, and that “many European defence systems are in some way compatible with Turkish military hardware because the majority of EU members are NATO members”.

Donelli said Turkey’s fast-growing defence sector could help the EU’s efforts to rearm.

“Turkey is one of the emerging players in the security market. One of Turkey’s key assets is producing efficiently at a lower cost compared with American or Israeli companies.”

Ankara’s expanding military

Turkey was recently admitted to the EU’s €150 billion Safety Assistance for Europe arms procurement programme.

While Turkey is not yet one of the top 10 global weapons producers, it has made major advances in certain areas. It is one of the world’s biggest producers of military drones and has developed a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet.

Last year, Turkish company Repkon built a munitions factory in the United States using technology designed to speed up production.

And this month, Turkey’s drone maker Baykar signed a deal with Italy’s Leonardo to develop drones together. The deal is expected to help Baykar meet EU rules that require 65 percent of the value of any arms contract to go to an EU firm.

Sinan Ciddi, of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington, said Turkey brings valuable assets to the table.

“Turkey has a vast ability not only to procure and manufacture but also to supply these, that’s readily available. So, on the physical side, it’s great,” said Ciddi.

Concerns over Turkish politics

But Turkey’s position on the war in Ukraine has raised eyebrows. Ankara has kept ties with both Kyiv and Moscow, and Ciddi said this creates a dilemma for the EU.

“On the political side, it puts the EU in a rather precarious position of having to rely on a country like Turkey simply because, you know, Turkey has been playing both sides of this conflict, so it’s a double-edged sword,” he said.

Greece and Cyprus are also worried about closer defence ties between the EU and Turkey. Both have territorial disputes with Ankara.

While relations between Athens and Ankara have improved, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis insists that any defence deal with Turkey must include a clear promise to drop threats of war.

Turkey has said for 30 years it might use force if Greece extends its territorial waters in the Aegean Sea. Athens says it has a legal right to do so under a UN maritime convention.

Turkey has rejected the demand, saying the issue should be resolved through talks. Mitsotakis is due to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the sidelines of this month’s NATO summit.

Greek, Cypriot objections sidelined

Greece and Cyprus still have veto powers in the EU and have used them against Turkey in the past. But Federico Donelli said Russia’s actions have changed the mood in Europe.

“Nowadays, I think the priority of European countries – and the European Union as a whole – is more important than any concerns from Cyprus and Greece,” said Donelli.

“I don’t think they will be able to halt this process,” he added. “Honestly, the priority for European countries is security: to increase production and to cooperate with all actors who can help in the defence sector.”

In a move widely seen as a way to get around Greek and Cypriot opposition, the EU has now made decisions on arms procurement subject to majority voting.

Even so, Greece and Cyprus could still slow things down diplomatically. But with France and Germany pushing hard to boost Europe’s defences, deeper ties with Turkey are likely to move ahead.

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 winners’ 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.

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” and 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: Brother 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 Brother 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 17 May, I asked you about the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival, which opened that week.  RFI English journalist Ollia Horton was there, and I asked you a question about her article “Ukraine, Gaza and #MeToo in the spotlight as Cannes Film Festival opens”. You were to send in the names of the three documentaries about the Ukraine conflict – as well as the names of the filmmakers – that were screened on the opening day.

The answer is: Zelensky, made by Yves Jeuland, Lisa Vapné, and Ariane Chemin; Notre Guerre (“Our War”) by Bernard-Henri Lévy and co-director Marc Roussel, and 2,000 metres to Andriivka by Mstyslav Chernov and Alex Babenko.

In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question, suggested by Khondaker Rafiq Ul from Naogaon, Bangladesh: “What was your happiest moment in your radio – or your DXing – history?”

Do you have a bonus question idea? Send it to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr

The winners are: RFI English listener Hijab Abid, a member of the Sungat Radio Listeners Club in Muzaffargarh, Pakistan. Hijab is also the winner of this week’s bonus question. Congratulations, Hijab!

Also on the list of lucky winners this week are Paresh Hazarika, a member of the United RFI Listeners Club in Assam, India, and RFI Listeners Club members Ataur Rahman Ranju, the president of the Alokito Manush Cai International Radio Listeners Club in Rangpur, Bangladesh, and Samir Mukhopadhyay from West Bengal, India. Last but not least, there’s RFI English listener Rabiul Awal from Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Congratulations, winners!

Here’s the music you heard on this week’s programme:  “Gente Humile” by Garota, played by Baden Powell; “Stairway to Heaven” by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, played by Tetiana Mazur and Serhii Shamra; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; “The Cakewalk” from Children’s Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer, and “Cities in Dust” by Susan Ballion, Peter Edward Clarke and Steven Severin, performed by Siouxsie and the Banshees.

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 “Togo suspends French broadcasters RFI, France 24 for three months”, which will help you with the answer.

You have until 14 July to enter this week’s quiz; the winners will be announced on the 19 July podcast. When you enter, be sure to send your postal address with your answer, and if you have one, your RFI Listeners Club membership number.

Send your answers to:

english.service@rfi.fr

or

Susan Owensby

RFI – The Sound Kitchen

80, rue Camille Desmoulins

92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux

France

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In partnership with Madhya Pradesh’s tourism board.

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

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

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

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

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

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