France, the eurozone’s second-biggest economy, is banking on the Games to shore up its meagre growth, with its statistics office predicting a 0.3 percentage point boost from ticket and TV rights sales and more tourism.

Visa said its data showed that small businesses in Paris reported a 26 percent rise in sales to Visa cardholders during the first weekend of the Olympic Games compared with a year earlier.

“Our latest data shows a significant increase in consumer spending among Visa cardholders during the opening ceremony weekend,” said Visa Europe CEO Charlotte Hogg.

French media outlet BFMTV has reported that the windfall is primarily due to “a surge in spending in local shops.”

• Public auditor warns France’s national finances are in ‘worrying state’
• France makes multibillion-euro gamble on Olympic gold

Visa, which is one of the corporate sponsors for the Olympics, said its US cardholders accounted for the biggest slice of foreign Olympics-related spending, with their spending 29 percent higher than a year earlier.

The Olympics had also resulted in big increases in spending from Brazilian and Japanese Visa cardholders, it said in a report released earlier this week. 

Lucie Castets, the New Popular Front’s candidate for Prime Minister, announced that she was married to a woman and mother of a young child in an interview with Paris Match magazine, published Tuesday.

“I want to say who I am,” she told the magazine, anticipating attacks on her sexuality for which she said she has already received “messages from far-right haters”, even before the publication of the article.

“I want to find a balance between protecting my family, my wife and our child, and saying who I am,” she explained.

If appointed by Prime Minister, the economist who works for Paris City Hall who was unknown to the general public until recently, would become the second openly gay person to hold the post, after Gabriel Attal.

Macron, who as President appoints the Prime Minister, has dismissed the NFP’s demands to form a government, saying that it lacks the parliamentary majority needed to govern.

Macron dismisses left-wing demand for new PM, urges post-Olympics unity

Parliamentary deadlock

The NFP, which won the most seats in June’s snap parliamentary elections, has maintained it should be given the chance.

Castets said that she was ready to work with other lawmakers and “find compromises and work, text by text, with the parliamentarians of the Assembly and the Senate”.

France has been in a state of parliamentary deadlock since the election and Macron said he would keep his outgoing government in place until mid-August, after the Olympic Games.

Less female, older, split: What will France’s new parliament look like?

This has not stopped speculation about who would be appointed. Xavier Bertrand, of the conservative Republicans party and president of the Hauts-de-France department is one such name, which Castets dismissed.

“How can you appoint a Prime Minister who does not have a majority and who only represents himself?” she said in an interview with the daily Sud Ouest, pointing out that Bertrand’s party only won 47 of 577 seats in parliament.

“This Bertrand hypothesis is, from a democratic point of view, an aberration,” she said.

Up in the air

Aleksandra Miroslaw from Poland can go up a 15-metre wall which is leaning back – 5 percent incline if we want to be technical – very fast. She broke her own world record earlier in the Olympics with a new one of 6.06 seconds. She won the gold medal on Day 12 with a time of 6.10 seconds. Her slow-coach Chinese opponent, Lijuan Deng, finished in 6.18 seconds. Honestly. After the introduction of sports climbing at the Tokyo Games in 2021, Paris is the first time that sports climbing had had its own separate men’s and women’s speed  event. Miroslaw, 30, says she’s not that interested in going faster. “What I need to see is the green light showing that I’ve won. After that? Well, I don’t know how fast I can go. The sky’s the limit,” she deadpanned.

So farewell Nikola Karabatic

Born in Serbia 40 years ago, Nikola Karabatic played handball for France. At club level he won 22 titles in France, Germany and Spain. With the France national team, he claimed Olympic gold in Beijing in 2008, London in 2012 and in Tokyo in 2021. There were also four world titles and four European crowns. No one has done better in major international tournaments. But there won’t be an Olympic gold this time around. France lost their last eight game against Germany.

And it was tough

France were a goal up with six seconds to go in the handball quarter-final but Dika Mem’s pass was intercepted and Germany levelled. And then went on to win in extra-time. “Cruel, yes, but that’s part of sport,” Nikola Karabatic told the French broadcaster France TV. “I’ve won a lot in my career, I’ve been very lucky, I’ve worked hard. That’s just the way it is. It’s terrible to have a twist of fate like that, but you have to accept it.”

And it is tough

The review was very impressed with the master of ceremonies at the sports climbing venue in Le Bourget. As the athletes prepared for the quarter-finals in the women’s speed event, the MC outlined the import to the 8,000 fans. “Four years of training can go in the slip of a foot … the world is watching.” It’s up there with the line we heard just before the women’s team final in the archery: “The place is here. The time is now.” Is someone writing these scripts? The review is rarely jealous but that job should be ours.

Chasing history

 It’s a great concept, the 3,000m steeplechase. Stick some hurdles on the track, one of them with water around it and get runners to go over them. The 2024 final was a tight affair right up until the end. The Ethiopian world record holder Lamecha Girma fell at the penultimate hurdle and eventually Soufiane El-Bakkali won it in eight minutes, 06.05 seconds. The 28-year-old Moroccan is only the second man to retain the steeplechase title in its 104 years in the Olympic Games. Volmari Iso-Hollo was the last back-to-back champion in 1932 and 1936. Kudos Mr El Bakkali.

New Zealand triathlete Hayden Wilde, who won silver in the triathlon last week, said that he and another teammate fell ill with E.coli symptoms in the two days after swimming in the River Seine during last week’s men’s triathlon.

“There was a bit of sickness within the team 48 hours after the race,” Wilde told New Zealand’s 1News after Monday’s mixed triathlon relay, in which the team came in 14th after Wile collided with a French athlete at the start of the cycle leg.

Belgian triathlete Claire Michel, who withdrew from the relay because of illness, said that E.coli was not to blame.

“Blood tests showed that I contracted a virus,” she wrote on Instagram Tuesday adding that she needed “significant medical attention” at the Olympic Village’s medical clinic.

Regular testing

Organisers have been testing the Seine regularly for levels of bacteria.

The IOC said it was “not aware of any particular case” where athletes had fallen ill and said some symptoms being talked about are “not completely unusual for competing triathletes”.

France has spent 1.4 billion euros on upgrading the city’s waste water systems to make the Seine clean enough for residents to swim in by next summer, but for the Games, athletes are forced to juggle cancelled test runs and last-minute race delays.

Huge River Seine stormwater basin opens ahead of Paris Olympics

The individual triathlon races were delayed last week because of unsafe levels of bacteria and familiarisation runs have been cancelled.

Athletes competing in Thursday and Friday’s marathon swimming event were able to familiarise themselves with the route, the water temperature and currents Wednesday morning, as World Aquatics allowed a test run of the course to move forward as scheduled.

The water sport federation had cancelled a similar session planned for Tuesday because E.coli and enterococci levels were above its standards.

Niger said Tuesday it was cutting ties with Ukraine “with immediate effect”, accusing Kyiv of supporting “terrorist groups”.

“The government of the Republic of Niger, in total solidarity with the government and people of Mali, decides in complete sovereignty to sever diplomatic relations between the Republic of Niger and Ukraine with immediate effect,” government spokesman Amadou Abdramane said in a televised statement.

He added that Niger would ask the UN Security Council to debate Ukraine’s “aggression”.

On Monday Mali cut ties with Ukraine after the Ukrainian intelligence agency admitted that it had been involved in providing information to Tuareg separatists during a military engagement in the north of Mali at the end of July.

Series of coups

Among those killed were dozens of Malian soldiers and several members of Russia’s Wagner paramilitary group, in what appeared to be Wagner’s heaviest defeat since it stepped in two years ago to help Mali’s military authorities fight insurgent groups.

Niger and Mali, both run by military governments that took power in recent coups, have turned to Russia for military help after ending defence agreements with France.

Ukraine, which has been at war with Russia since its invasion in May 2022, has condemned Mali’s decision to sever relations, calling it short-sighted and hasty, and asserting that Kyiv rejects the allegation of its support for international terrorism.

(with newswires)

Youssou N’Dour said it was a privilege to play at the Africa Station in Paris, “the current capital of the world for sports and fun”.

“I told my manager that I wanted to get out of the studio where I’m currently recording the next album. I really needed a break from the creative process. I had a window of 15 days to perform live concerts in August and, it coincided beautifully with Paris 2024,” he told RFI’s Zeenat Hansrod.

The venue, situated on the small island of L’île Saint-Denis five minutes north of Paris, attracted thousands of his fans on Sunday night.

Although many couldn’t get tickets, they stayed on anyway to listen to the songs of the Mbalakh King, as he is affectionately known.

Success for a continent

Mohamed Gnabaly, the mayor of L’île Saint-Denis, hailed the evening as “a formidable moment of communion for African people”.

He has already begun working towards Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics Games which will take place in Senegal, the first country on the African continent to host an Olympic sports event.

“We are part of the Dioko Alliance, coordinated by Paris 2024, to provide expertise and resources to Senegal. I also met the mayor of Cotonou last week and we’re already working on youth projects,” Gnabaly told RFI’s Kayz Loum.

N’Dour agreed that Dakar 2026 is an event “for all Africans” and, its “success a win for the continent”.

The musician told RFI’s Claudy Siar that winning athletes of African descent at Paris 2024 are also a tribute to multi-cultural countries.

“France should be really proud of its ethnic diversity, when you look at all the French champions harvesting medals, it’s not only white people, is it?,” he said.

“This is the France we dream of and defend, this is what France is today and it’s winning!”

Who are the African athletes to watch out for at Paris Olympics?

Overcome hurdles

Mayor Gnabaly spent the last two years setting up the Africa Station.

“When I tabled the idea of an Africa Station regrouping the African nations whose athletes are competing in the 2024 Olympics, I was told Africa is complicated.

“That comment only made me more determined to overcome hurdles and show what we are capable of,” said the 38-year-old Franco-Senegalese mayor.

• The Africa Station, an Olympic haven for athletes, fans and journalists

He even received a request from the mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, whose city will host the 2028 Olympics, to visit this “unique model of one Olympic village regrouping African countries, some of which would never have had the means to set up a meeting place for their supporters”.

Sports in Africa

Youssou N’Dour, who started singing at the age of 13, playing centre-forward as a young boy and admitted he used to dream of becoming a professional footballer. But since then he has broadened his horizons. He told RFI he discovered fencing during the Paris Olympics and is fascinated by it.

A brief stint as Culture and Tourism minister of his country (2012 – 2013) helped him better understand the workings of politics.

“Sports and culture are contributing factors to economic development but not all African nations have the same budget and priorities. Sometimes the choice is between building between schools for children or sending athletes overseas.

“That’s why we definitely need more solidarity among nations,” he told RFI’s Kaïgé-Jean Bale Simoës de Fonseca.

After France, N’Dour and his Super Etoile de Dakar band will tour northern Europe, Scotland, Tunisia and ending with Italy on 17 August. 

The arrested people are suspected of being involved in “signature sales” for the upcoming presidential election set for 7 September.

The three candidates placed under judicial supervision were named as businesswoman Saida Neghza, former minister Belkacem Sahli, and a relatively unknown hopeful named Abdelhakim Hamadi.

While they are not under arrest, they will be required to regularly check in with the authorities until after the investigation is concluded.

‘Hardship’

Candidates in Algeria are required to gather large numbers of signatures to be eligible to stand.

“Sixty-eight defendants were placed in temporary detention, three were placed under judicial supervision, and six were released after hearings,” the court said in a statement.

Last week, the attorney general at the Court of Algiers, Lotfi Boudjemaa, told state news agency APS that “more than 50 elected officials” admitted to having unlawfully received money to endorse presidential candidates.

He added those involved in the fraud “will be arrested”.

To qualify to appear on the ballot candidates are required to present a list of at least 50,000 individual signatures from registered voters or from 600 members from at least 29 of Algeria’s provincial assemblies. 

In a press conference before officially submitting her candidacy last month, Neghza complained of “hardships” in the process of registering and getting the signatures.

She said she hoped that “the electoral process takes place in a climate of transparency and integrity, without any favouritism”.

Prominent opposition figure Louisa Hanoune, leader of the Workers’ Party, also withdrew her candidacy in July, citing “unfair conditions”. Her party will boycott the vote entirely.

Algerian opposition denounces ‘unfair conditions’ in upcoming election

Three candidates

Only three hopefuls, including incumbent president Abdelmadjid Tebboune, had their candidacies approved for the 7 September election.

The two others are Abdelaali Hassani of the moderate Islamist party the Movement of Society for Peace and Youssef Aouchiche of the centre-left Socialist Forces Front (FFS).

The other 13 hopefuls all had their candidacies rejected after failing to muster the required number of signatures of support.

The increase in arrests looks like an attempt at “neutralising the opposition”, as Emmanuel Alcaraz, associate professor of history and researcher on Algeria at the Mesopolhis research laboratory in Aix-en-Provence, told RFI.

“It weaponises justice to get rid of opponents,” he added, “in a political system which is very closed, in Algeria, where the army has the power and where you have a civilian facade.”

President of Algeria since December 2019, Tebboune took over the power from former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika and former acting head of state Abdelkader Bensalah. He then took 58 percent of a turnout of less than 40 percent. 

The previous year had been marked by protests, called Revolution of Smiles or Hirak, which had begun on 16 February 2019, and had led to Bouteflika’s resignation on 2 April 2019. 

 (with AFP)

A matter of moments later, the 8,000 spectators gathered around the combat zone had their answer.

Miroslaw had surged up the array of holds pinned into the 15-metre wall on a 5 percent incline in 6.10 seconds to claim the first Olympic speed title in women’s sports climbing.

Deng, the sixth seed from China, finished in 6.18 seconds.

Miroslaw’s fellow Pole, Aleksandra Kalucka, won the bronze following her scramble up the wall against Rajiah Sallsabillah from Indonesia. Those slug-a-beds offered up 6.53 and 8.24 seconds respectively.

On Monday, during the first round of qualification, 30-year-old Miroslaw set a world record of 6.06 seconds.

“I wasn’t thinking about the time,” said Miroslaw after her rapid ascent to gold.

“The one thing on my mind was just run … whatever happens, just run. It means a lot, because the Paris Olympics is the first time for speed climbing and also the first gold for me.

“I have my flag and I was standing on the podium, hearing my national anthem. It was just amazing.”

Sports climbing made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games in 2021 six years after its governing body, the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC), suggested the idea to the International Olympic Committee, the outfit which oversees the Olympic Games.

Difference

In Tokyo, two sports climbing events were contested: men’s combined and women’s combined – a medley by any other name. It involved speed climbing, bouldering and lead climbing.

It was an amalgamation that did not sit well with the wider sports climbing community. Nor with a future Olympic champion.

“I’m really happy with this gold medal,” added Miroslaw.

“I was also at the Tokyo Olympics and there was only the combined event so I’ve been happy that since Tokyo I have been able to focus on my specialty. It’s really awesome.”

Insiders at the IFSC say that the federation had to take what was on offer to establish a foothold in the Olympic firmament.

In four years in Los Angeles, it is hoped that boulder or lead climbing might have their own medal events.

Change

For Paris 2024, shorn of the speedsters, the combined medal in the men’s and women events will incorporate lead climbing and bouldering which will take place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

“For me, the speed is totally different from the boulder and lead,” said Miroslaw.

“I never have specialised in those so for me, it was a huge challenge to prepare for Tokyo.”

For IFSC observers and local government bosses, the fans wending their way to and from the venue on the northern tip of Paris have vindicated the move to expand the sports climbing imprint on the Olympics and the decision to regenerate the area with improved tennis courts and football pitches as well as a new multi-sport gymnasium that boasts a sports climbing wall.

Olympics windfall brings prospects of happy days to Paris suburbs

“The Olympic Games has been the project that has made the regeneration happen,” said Quentin Gesell, mayor of Dugny, a town next to Le Bourget. “And it’s something to be proud of.”

The optics of the event blazed out too. Capacity crowd, searing sunshine, Abba’s Mamma Mia booming out of the weapons-grade public address system, a happy, clappy spectacular.

“Of course, we all know that speed is something that can immediately be understood by the fans,” said Fabrizio Rossini, communications director at the IFSC.

“It’s fast and it’s simple. We were struggling in Tokyo a little bit because we were forcing athletes to do different disciplines combined, which was not good for the speed and was not good for the athletes.”

Paris’ Bercy Arena, filled with home crowd was electric as France and Canada engaged in an entertaining up-tempo, physical contest that had the building rocking from tip-off to buzzer.

Feeding off the energy, France gave the crowd what they came to see, storming to a 19-5 lead in the opening minutes they would never relinquish, each basket triggering a thundering roar.

Isaia Cordinier ignited the crowd with a powerful dunk and successive threes, while Guerschon Yabusele also found his groove early as Victor Wembanyama never really got going.

“It’s a great feeling to be able to make sure we play on the last day of the Olympics,” said guard Evan Fournier, referencing the final on Saturday.

“Make sure we give ourselves a chance to win a medal and hopefully it’s going be for the right one.”

France, which won silver in Tokyo, advance to the semifinals to face World Cup champions Germany Thursday, a rematch of its 85-71 loss in Lille last Friday.

Five-time Olympic champions United States will play Serbia, a rematch of the 2016 Rio Games final, which will feature LeBron James, a four-time NBA most valuable player playing against the reigning three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.

(with Reuters)

Ray van den Berg, Harrie Lavreysen and Jeffrey Hoogland shaved fractions off their February 2020 high of 41.225 seconds to pulverize Canada in 41.191 seconds in heat four of the qualifying round to advance as the fastest team to the gold medal race.

Britain saw off Germany to set up a showdown.

But it was a set-to in name only. In the final, rather like the other sprinters in Usain Bolt’s 100m races from back in the day, the jig was up early on.

Van den Berg completed the first 250m in 17.123 seconds. Britain’s Ed Lowe was not that far behind in 17.346 seconds but Harrie Lavreysen changed the game. He finished his 250m in 11.763 seconds. Hamish Turnbull could only post 12.213 seconds. That gave the Dutch anchor Hoogland an advantage of 0.673 seconds.

The 31-year-old discarded the invitation to slouch. He increased the lead in the final 250m to cross the line 0.865 seconds ahead of Jack Carlin – an eternity at this level of marginal gains intensity – with a world record of 40.949 seconds.

Effort

“We have worked very hard for this moment and for the three of us to do this is an amazing achievement,” said Van den Berg.

“That everything works out in the final as well,” he added. “We kept our heads cool, kept focusing on ourselves and did something on this track which has never been done before.

“People were always happy to race in 41 seconds. And today we achieved the 40 second barrier, which is absolutely outstanding, in my opinion.

“And I’m very happy to have achieved this with an amazing team, which includes our staff as well.”

So rapidly had the records changed that the official Olympic website could not function at the same quicksilver pace.

Update

It was showing the old Berlin-set mark of 41.225 when the 41.191 was valid and 41.191 for a good couple of hours when a new fashion had come to town sported by the same triumvirate who had won gold in Tokyo

 “It was amazing to have people in the stands,” beamed Van den Berg. “In Tokyo it was empty and so it was fantastic to perform here for this amazing crowd.

“Around  20 of my friends and my family were here to celebrate this achievement plus all the supporters from the Netherlands … it was absolutely wonderful. And to set a world record while winning an Olympic gold, it doesn’t get any better than that.”

The whiplash evening in Saint Quentin-en-Yvelines started with the eight teams sliced up into four heats. The challenge was simple. Win at breakneck speed.

France’s Rayan Helal, Florian Grengbo and Sebastien Vigier – bronze medallists in Tokyo in 2021, launched the extravaganza amid cheers of “Allez les Bleus” against Japan. The trio won in 42.376 seconds. It was greeted with a frenzy of noise.

Ultimately, it was only good enough to reach the bronze medal race against Australia.

Redemption

The Australians won that in 41.597 seconds to the chagrin of the partisans but to the glee of Matthew Glaetzer who had lost in bronze medal races in London 2012, Rio in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021.

“I’ve lived through a lot of heartbreak,” said the 31-year-old.

“Every team sprint in the Olympics, I’ve been on the losing side in the bronze final and it’s been very tough.

“But to finally come out on the winner’s side was pretty special.”

For the record, Japan were fifth and Germany sixth. China secured seventh spot after beating Canada.

Following his title-winning exploits, Van den Berg said there would be no celebrations to make sure he was at breakfast with Lavreysen and Hoogland.

“They have the individual sprints on Wednesday and I want to show the guys respect by going to bed early and getting up early as well to support them.

“We have worked so hard for this team sprint,” he added. “For them, the competitions have just started and it started very well.

“But there’s three days of sprint events and then two days keirin. So it means they have to perform for five more days and they have to be at their absolute best. And so no time for celebrations yet.

“But on Sunday night, that will be a good one.”

Vinatier was arrested in June, and pleaded guilty of failing to register as a “foreign agent”.

He was placed in pre-trial custody, and a court this week extended his detention until 5 September.

“Our thoughts are with those people who remain held in custody arbitrarily in Russia, most notably such as our compatriot Laurent Vinatier,” the French foreign ministry said in a statement on 3 August.

“France calls for their immediate release.”

Moscow authorities accuse Vinatier of gathering information on the Russian military, an offence punishable by up to five years in jail.

Russia implemented the foreign agent law after massive protests against Vladimir Putin’s return to the presidency in the 2012 election.

• Russia arrests Frenchman suspected of collecting military intelligence

Vinatier is a specialist of the former USSR, who worked with the Swiss NGO Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD).

In a statement issued in June, HD said it “is doing everything possible to assist, engaging with [Vinatier’s] family, helping to secure legal representation for him in Russia and reaching out to relevant governmental authorities”.

HD said it would continue to seek information about the circumstances leading up to his arrest and the charges made against him.

According to its website, HD is active in ten countries and regions, including Ukraine, where, it is “positioning teams to help set up civilian evacuation corridors and develop discreet channels for communication after the war started in early 2022″.  

During talks between Russia and Ukraine to restart the flow of vital food shipments, HD said it provided advice and support to the Black Sea Grain Initiative led by the United Nations and Turkey, part of efforts to “prevent, mitigate and resolve armed conflict” in the region.

• France to send armoured vehicles to war-torn Ukraine

Prisoner swap

Vinatier was not among the prisoners involved in the biggest post Cold War prisoner exchange earlier this month.

Russia released three Americans, including the Wall Street Journal’s Evan Gershkovich, together with five Germans and Russian opposition figures, including dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza and head of the NGO Memorial Oleg Orlov.

In return, eight Russian prisoners were released from prisons in the US, Norway, Germany, Poland and Slovenia, including individuals accused of intelligence activities. Vinatier was not part of the deal.

The detention of Vinatier has increased tensions between Russia and Paris, already strained since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and France’s subsequent military and logistical support of Kyiv.

Prominent rival Abir Moussi, 49, head of the Free Destourian Party, was sentenced to two years in prison late Monday. He has already been in jail since October.

The former parliament member is a vocal critic of Saied, who has been in power since 2019.

Six other potential candidates have also been sentenced to prison, and several have been banned from running for life.

Among those recently arrested were Issam Chebbi, leader of the centrist party Al Joumhouri, and Ghazi Chaouchi, head of the social-democratic party Democratic Current.

These politicians are part of a group of over 20 of Saied’s opponents detained since a series of arrests in February 2023.

Last week, four women working on the presidential campaign of rapper-turned-businessman Karim Gharbi (known as K2Rhym) were jailed for allegedly buying endorsement signatures.

Additionally, three staffers from media personality Nizar Chaari’s campaign have been detained on similar suspicions, which Chaari has denied.

‘Intimidation’

A group of NGOs last week denounced the “arbitrary detention” of candidates, a lack of independence of the electoral authority, and the “monopolisation of the public space.”

They claim these measures were aimed at boosting Saied’s re-election bid.

The Intersection NGO, which focuses on human rights and freedoms, has documented cases of imprisonment for expressing opinions in Tunisia since January 2024.

“Thirty arrests fell under Decree 54, a repressive decree that was promulgated to combat cyber-criminality, but which in fact targets anyone who expresses an opinion critical of the government,” Ghaylen Jelassi, one of the report’s authors, told RFI’s correspondent in Tunis.

“This decree has even affected artists such as the young Rached Tamboura who has been in prison for over a year for graffiti on the President of the Republic,” he added.

The deadline for registering as a presidential candidate was 6 August.

One main candidate

Saied submitted his candidacy for the upcoming election on Monday amid criticism from the opposition and the press.

The 66-year-old described his candidacy as part of “a war of liberation and self-determination” to establish a new republic.

“We are in a war of liberation and we don’t want to restrict anyone’s freedoms,” Saied said. “I did not interfere with the judiciary.”

Saied’s challengers face significant constraints, with several would-be candidates in prison or being prosecuted.

However, Saied, who assumed wide-ranging powers two years after his 2019 election, denies repressing critical voices.

“I did not oppress anyone, and the law applies to everyone equally,” he said. “I am here as a citizen to run for office.”

“We will not accept any foreign party interfering in the choices of our people.”

(with newswires)

Hasina’s hasty departure on a helicopter Monday is the second fall from grace of a South Asian leader since 2022 when Sri Lankan leader Mahinda Rajapakse fled the island nation rocked by protests over rising prices.

The Bangladeshi uprising that claimed 440 lives by a media count and left many injured since June also shattered its image as a poster child of development and left it in a power vacuum.

Critics allege Hasina, who faced charges of extra-judicial killings, forced disappearances and imprisonment of rivals, pursued partisan policies such as a job quota system in the civil services that favoured her loyalists.

In Delhi, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar confirmed her escape as diplomats said the 76-year-old Hasina, who had been in office for 20 years, could seek asylum in Britain.

“At very short notice, she requested approval to come for the moment to India,” Jaishankar said and also voiced his “worry” over reports of attacks on Hindus.

‘We are also monitoring the situation with regard to the state of minorities (Hindus),” he told parliament.

Rival freed

President Shahabuddin dissolved the Bangladeshi parliament under pressure from students who had set 09:00 GMT Monday as a deadline.

The country’s first woman prime minister Khaleda Zia who led the opposition Bangladesh National Party (BNP) was set free. The two-term premier was given a 17-year jail term in a corruption case in 2018.

“She is now freed,” BNP spokesman AKM Wahiduzzaman said as Zia’s son  Tarique Rahman called for calm as looters carted away clothing, computers, furniture, live chicken  and fish from Hasina’s opulent home.

“I call upon the people of Bangladesh to display restraint and calm in the midst of this transitional moment on our democratic path,” Rahman said in a X post Tuesday.

The national Police Employee Association with thousands of officers on its rolls called a general strike.

 “Until the security of every member of the police is secured, we are declaring a strike,” it said in a reference to the 13 policemen among 135 people killed in Monday’s clashes.

BDNews24.com said some officers were seen patrolling the streets and several schools reopened after a lengthy closure over Hasina’s job quota system.

• How a pioneering French law emerged from the ruins of a factory in Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s former foreign secretary Samsher Mubin Chowdhury rejected suggestions Pakistan fomented trouble in the country of 170 million Bengali-speaking people.

“It is unfair,” Chowdhury told Indian TV and cited rigged elections and malpractices by Hasina’s Awami League party as the root cause of the turmoil.

Protesters were seen scouring the streets as troopers refused to open fire on “fellow countrymen.”

“Her Awami League clowns are in hiding but we will get them,” a looter said as others stripped artefacts from the parliament building in capital Dhaka.

Nashid Islam, a prominent leader of the protesting students, called for Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus to lead an interim government.

The 2006 Nobel laureate now in Paris for the Olympic Games, described Hasina’s ouster as the “second liberation day” of Bangladesh which was formed in 1971 from Pakistan’s eastern rump following a war with India.

Reactions

The US hailed the army for its display of “restraint” and said an interim government should be formed.

“Too many lives have been lost over the past several weeks, and we urge calm and restraint in the days ahead,” US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said as protesters raided a Bangladeshi diplomatic mission in New York.

The EU urged for an “orderly and peaceful transition towards a democratically elected government” in Bangladesh.

 London sought an international probe into the violence which analysts said could puncture Hasina’s hopes of seeking a safe haven in Britain.

“The people of Bangladesh deserve a full and independent UN-led investigation into the events of the past few weeks,” Foreign Secretary David Lammy said.

China called for “social stability” in South Asia’s second largest economy.

 “As a friendly neighbour and comprehensive strategic cooperative partner of Bangladesh, China sincerely hopes that social stability will be restored soon in the country,” a foreign ministry spokesman said in Beijing.

India, meanwhile shut flight, train and bus services to Bangladesh.

High man

Armand Duplantis retained his Olympic pole vault title. He won the competition with a jump of 6m. Sam Kendricks of the United States was second at 5.95m and Emmanouil Karalis from Greece was third. Duplantis, who was born in the United States but competes for his mother’s homeland of Sweden, then went on a personal show of setting an Olympic record of 6.10m. And once that was over, he tried to break his own world record of 6.24m. He reached 6.25m on the third and final attempt. Gold medal. World record. Result.

History time

The pole vault competition featured in the inaugural Olympic Games in 1896. William Hoyt won it with a jump of 3.30m. Bob Richards from the United States was the first man to claim back-to-back titles in Helsinki in 1952 and Melbourne four years later. Duplantis joins him and at 24 is young enough to be among the field in Los Angeles in 2028 and brandish a third title. That would really set the bar high.

Come and go

Beatrice Chebet from Kenya claimed the country’s first gold medal with her victory in the women’s 5000m in 14 minutes, 28.56 seconds. Compatriot Faith Kipyegon was second and the defending champion Sifan Hassan from the Netherlands was third. Kipyegon, who won the world championships title last summer in Budapest, had an anxious few minutes after the race. The 30-year-old was initiially disqualified for obstruction but reinstated. Chebet will also run in the 10000m. She’ll be favourite for that after setting a world record of 28 minutes, 54.14 seconds at a meeting in Eugene in the United States on 25 May.

King’s man

Frederik X – not to be confused in any way, shape or form, with Malcom X – was at the La Chapelle Arena to watch Viktor Axelsen’s attempt to retain his men’s singles title in the badminton. And 30-year-old Axelsen, who won bronze in the event at the 2016 Games in Rio, didn’t disappoint the Danish king. He beat Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn 21-11, 21-11. Axelsen met the monarch after the game and was still whirring following the audience. “I think we are very, very lucky in Denmark to have an amazing royal family and what they’re doing for sports, what they’re doing for the country,” he beamed. “I’m so proud. And I’m even more proud that the king was here watching me play and having a chance to talk with him afterwards was amazing.” Arise Sir Viktor.

Family man with plans

As he sat between 23-year-old Kunlavut Vitidsarn to his right and the 26-year-old bronze medalist Lee Zii Jia to his left, 30-year-old Viktor Axelsen hinted that it was time to be thinking of fresh pastures. The Dane said he would celebrate becoming only the second man after China’s Lin Dan to defend an Olympic title by spending some quality moments time with his wife and two daughters. “I’m not quitting badminton now, that’s for sure. I will continue. And if I’m still competitive in four more years, then maybe I will go for another Olympics.” As he tapped Vitidsarn and Jia on the shoulder, he added: “I don’t know if I can keep this level for four more years because these guys are doing very well also.”

The Grand Palais, which usually hosts major art exhibitions and has been the site for the Olympic fencing and Taekwondo events, is one of 40 museums targeted by the ransomware attacks.

Over the weekend hackers targeted the system that centralises financial data from the stores and boutiques of museums around France, blocking access to it and threatening to release the data if the institutions did not pay a ransom in cryptocurrency.

The French National Agency for Information Systems Security (ANSSI) told the Parisien newspaper that the attacks do not affect the “information systems implicated in the continuity of the Olympics and Paralympics”.

The Grand Palais confirmed that it was a victim, but did not provide details. The Louvre, which was initially reported as having been targeted, said it was not.

The Paris cyber crimes police unit has opened an investigation into the attacks.

At the end of July, days after the start of the Olympics, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal had announced that nearly 70 cyberattacks linked to the Games had been foiled.

(with AFP)

The Zamzam camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) in North Darfur risks running out of a special type of food designed to treat malnourished children, a global food monitor said.

The Famine Review Committee (FRC) found that famine, confirmed when acute malnutrition and mortality criteria are met, was ongoing in Zamzam and likely to persist there at least until October.

The Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Achim Steiner, confirmed the famine in North Darfur and potentially 14 other areas within the country.

“Famine is not merely a likely and devastating future prospect, but an actual and cruel present reality in North Darfur,” he said.

The FRC report confirmed that famine conditions are prevalent in parts of North Darfur, including the Zamzam camp in El Fasher, with an estimated 500,000 people.

Sudan’s authorities, however, deny the existence of famine in Zamzam.

Fears of disease

“The arrival of thousands of internally displaced people fleeing the city of Al Fasher to the Zamzam camp has led to people defecating in open latrines,” Nathaniel Raymond, head of the Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale University, told RFI’s Lucile Gimberg.

This means that the water from these floods has potentially come into contact with these contaminated areas.

The famine-stricken camp is also facing floods threatening to contaminate water and sanitation facilities, according to satellite imagery published on Friday. The floods have led to a significant new influx of displaced people.

Findings from Yale lab show that toilets and nine out of 13 water points have been inundated at the Zamzam camp, raising the risk of cholera and other diseases.

Floods are also affecting other regions of Sudan, including around Port-Sudan and in the province of Kassala, 500 kilometres south.

The NGO Doctors Without Borders is asking Sudanese authorities for access to help flood victims in the province of Kassala.

Houses have collapsed due to the floods, Prince Djuma Safari, MSF France medical coordinator in Sudan, told RFI.

The situation is also worrying in Kassala, where there are more than 76,000 displaced people.

“As displaced people, they already have a lot of problems: access to care, food and access to drinking water,” he said.

‘A disaster foretold’

Emmanuel Rink, from Solidarités internationale, told RFI: “The declaration of famine in Zamzam and by extension in the other displaced persons camps does not surprise us.

“The conditions have been there for a long time and we have observed the situation deteriorate sharply. It is truly a chronicle of a disaster foretold.” 

UNDP’s Steiner further highlighted the dire circumstances faced by Sudanese communities, with 70 percent of rural households unable to cultivate land, a quarter unable to access markets due to safety concerns, and 43 percent unable to afford food even when available.

He stressed the urgent need for immediate and comprehensive humanitarian response, calling on all parties involved in the conflict to cease hostilities.

In addition to immediate food assistance, Steiner emphasised the importance of supporting livelihoods through investments in irrigation infrastructure, extension services, and resources for farmers.

He argued that this approach would address immediate needs and foster long-term sustainability and resilience within communities.

(with newswires)

“Whatever the apparent motivation, this is not protest, it is pure violence and we will not tolerate attacks on mosques or our Muslim communities,” Starmer said on Monday after an emergency meeting with ministers, police and prison chiefs.

“The full force of law will be visited on all those who are identified as having taken part.”

Protests have continued across the country, with participants looting shops and mosques, attacking Asian-owned businesses and burning cars.

Some unverified videos on social media have shown ethnic minorities being beaten up.

Violence first broke out last Tuesday in Southport, northwest England, where three young girls were stabbed to death by an assailant falsely identified as a radical Islamist who had just arrived in Britain.

Revealling his identity, police said the 17-year-old was born in Wales, of Rwandan parents, and they are not treating it as a terrorist incident.

Police have blamed online disinformation, amplified by high-profile figures, for the violence, which continued Monday.

In Plymouth, in southwest England, on Monday evening several hundred anti-immigration protesters wearing English and British flags faced off against a greater number of counter-protesters, who were kept apart by police in riot gear.

Protesters threw bricks and fireworks. Sky News said several police officers were injured.

Starmer said a “standing army” of specialist police officers would tackle outbreaks of violence where needed.

The government will “ramp up criminal justice” to ensure that “sanctions are swift”, he told the media after Monday’s meeting.

Northern Ireland’s assembly will end its summer break a day early to discuss the violence.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council said 378 people had so far been arrested, and that others would be “brought to justice” and warned of “lengthy prison terms” for those found guilty of violent disorder.

(with AFP)

Before the start of the Olympic Games, nearly half of those living in the Paris region said they were planning to leave during the month of August, according to an Ipsos poll for Trainline carried out in March.

People were worried about large crowds and overloaded public transport, concerned about security or the cost of tickets, and some were turned off by the cost of the event or the city’s move to clear out homeless encampments before the games.

The security failings around the 2022 Champions League final, when fans crowded into tight spaces at the Stade de France were tear-gassed by police, did not inspire confidence in France’s ability to run a smooth Olympics.

But some are now regretting their decision to leave or for not having sought out affordable tickets when they were available.

“I was about to boycott the Games,” a woman named Coline told FranceInfo radio, before the Games’ spectacular opening ceremony along the River Seine.

“I watched the opening ceremony and I loved being proud of France,” she added.

• ‘We need this moment of peace,’ say Olympic opening ceremony storytellers

Spectacle of pride

Many have said that opening ceremony changed their mind, which had been influenced by media coverage in the run-up that warned that 15 million visitors to the capital would put strain on an already tight public transport system.

And yet, the metro and RER commuter rail systems have not been over-crowded.

The Paris-area public transport system saw an increase of 500,000 users in the first week of the Games, compared to previous years (4 million, compared to 3.5 million people).

General manager Laurent Probst told the French news agency AFP that this shows that Parisians have not fled the city. He also pointed to the reinforcements in the system, with more frequent trains on certain lines near stadiums, to make up for the extra users.

Easier to get around

Traffic caused by construction in the run-up to the Games has cleared up and Parisians are pleasantly surprised at how smooth it is to travel around the city.

“It’s almost easier to get around than before the Games. Before the [opening] ceremony everything was closed,” said Victoire Allard a 20-year-old student told AFP from a fan zone in Paris, where she returned to, cutting short a holiday with family in Normandy.

Meanwhile Marie Heyraud, a project manager living in Paris, told France 24 she was glad she failed to rent out her flat during the Games.

“A lot of my friends left and now they regret it… it’s really something you have to experience once in your life.”

Those who have decided to come back to the city have found it difficult to find affordable tickets on the resale platform.

Fan zone mania

But the Games ambiance remains in fan zones around the city, which last week had already welcomed 400,000 people, according to Pierre Rabadan, deputy mayor in charge of the Olympics and Paralymics.

In terms of attendance, Club France – the official hub for fans, athletes and journalists – has been full every day with an average attendance of more than 40,000 daily visitors and guests.

Situated at La Villette in north-eastern Paris, the venue has seen families line up to try their hand at different sports, get autographs from the French medal winners and watch the events on giant screens.

Parisians’ enthusiasm for the Games may well benefit the Paralympic games, to be held 28 August to 8 September, which have had trouble selling tickets.

Winning on the wave he grew up surfing was “the cherry on the cake”, said Vaast, who grew up in Teahupo’o. “For all of France, for all of Polynesia it’s incredible.”

He won gold on Monday after taking the two best waves of a high-level match, beating Australian Jack Robinson.

In the women’s final, France’s Johanne Defay took bronze, while the United States’ Caroline Marks claimed gold in a thrilling final that went down to the wire.

Vaast took the lead against Robinson from the start, scoring a near-perfect 9.50 on his first wave, and earning a total of 17.67 against Australia’s Jack Robinson , who conceded in the final moments with  7.83, for silver.

Three-time world champion Gabriel Medina of Brazil took bronze.

“The mana was with me today,” said Vaast after the win, referring to a supernatural force in Polynesian culture.

“From the beginning, every day I felt it, it was there.”

Vaast said he was unsure whether he would make it to Paris, some 15,000 kilometres away, to celebrate his win, especially as he has a competition in California on Monday.

For the women, Johanne Defay took the women’s bronze, scoring 12.66 to Costa Rican Brisa Hennessy’s 4.93.

A native of Auvergne in central France, she has been surfing since she was very young on beaches in Reunion Island, where she lives today.

World champion Marks won gold just 0.17 ahead of Brazil’s Tatiana Weston-Webb in an evenly-matched final that was only decided in the final few minutes.

(with newswires)

The withdrawal of US forces and assets from Air Base 201 in Agadez is complete, the Pentagon said in a joint statement with Niger’s defence ministry.

“This effort … will continue between US and Nigerien armed forces over the coming weeks to ensure the full withdrawal is complete as planned.”

The statement did not give any details on which assets the US may still have left to withdraw in the country.

Some 200 soldiers had been at the Agadez drone base, in northern Niger.

Jihadist insurgencies

Niger had been seen as one of the last nations in the restive region that Western nations could partner with to beat back growing jihadist insurgencies.

The US and France had more than 2,500 military personnel in the region until recently, and together with other European countries had invested hundreds of millions of dollars in military assistance and training.

Niger’s ouster of American troops following a coup last year has broad ramifications for the US because it is forcing troops to abandon the critical base that was used for counterterrorism missions in the Sahel, a vast region south of the Sahara desert where groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group operate.

• US mulls military options as France prepares troop withdrawal from Niger

• Russian Wagner group reports massive losses in Mali

One of those groups, Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin, known as JNIM, is active in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger and is looking to expand into Benin and Togo.

“Over the past decade, US troops have trained Niger’s forces and supported partner-led counterterrorism missions against Islamic State and al Qaeda in the region,” the joint statement said.

“The effective cooperation and communication between the US and Nigerien armed forces ensured that this turnover was finished ahead of schedule and without complications.”

(with newswires)

Cindy Winner Djankeu Ngamba is living up to her middle name. 

The 25-year-old was the first ever refugee athlete to qualify for the Olympic boxing tournament.

Now, after carrying the flag for the Refugee Olympic Team at the Paris opening ceremony, she’ll be representing it on the podium after winning her quarter-final in the 75kg category against Davina Michel of France.

That victory, which Ngamba secured in three rounds by unanimous decision on Sunday, takes her through to the semis and guarantees her at least a bronze. (In Olympic boxing, two bronze medals are awarded to both losing semi-finalists to spare them a runoff fight for third place.)

“It means the world to me to be the first ever refugee to win a medal,” she told reporters after the match.

“I’m just a human, just like any other refugee and athlete all around the world.”

Refugee Olympic Team flies the flag for resilience at Paris Games

From detention centre to Olympic ring

Ngamba joined the 36-strong refugee team after being denied the chance to compete for Great Britain, where she lives and trains. 

She moved there from Cameroon aged 11 and discovered boxing as a teenager at a gym in northern England, where she first sparred with local boys. 

“The sport helped me in lots of ways,” Ngamba told RFI in July. “It gave me the power to express myself and be proud of myself.”

In between completing school and getting a degree in criminology, she went on to win national titles in three weight classes and now trains with the British boxing team.

But without UK nationality or a long-term visa, her position remained precarious. Five years ago, she was even arrested, taken to a detention camp and threatened with deportation, only getting the right to remain after an uncle who lives in France and works for the government managed to intervene.

Eventually, she was granted refugee status on the grounds that she is gay – a criminal offence in Cameroon.

Cameroon LGBTQ+ activists hope for change after president’s daughter comes out

‘Honour to represent refugees’

The British team wanted Ngamba to fight for them at the Paris Olympics and appealed to immigration authorities to grant her citizenship, but the request was denied.

Instead, with Team GB’s support, she applied to join the refugee team.

“It’s an honour to represent refugees at the Olympics,” she said. “I hope that all refugees, not only athletes, can see us and that we show them it could be them one day.”

Tipped as one to watch going into the Games, Ngamba has delivered.

“It’s the first medal for the Refugee Olympic Team. It’s historic,” said Gonzalo Barrio, the team’s manager, after Sunday’s quarter-final.

“We want to show that our athletes are truly high level and deserve to be here, they can win medals. They’re not only here to represent nearly 120 million displaced people, but to show that if they get the opportunity, they can be great champions and reach the holy grail – winning an Olympic medal.”

Ngamba is aiming to make it more than bronze in her semi-final fight on Thursday against Atheyna Bylon of Panama.

“Hopefully in the next one, I will also get the job done,” she said after her latest victory. “No, not hopefully. I will get it done.”

July saw major military drills in Armenia between Armenian and United States forces.

“Politically, it is exceptionally relevant; they are four or five times larger than last year,” explains Eric Hacopian, a political analyst in Armenia, who notes the range of US divisions mobilised for the drills. “It’s not about peacekeeping.”

The military exercise, dubbed “Eagle Partner“, is part of Yerevan’s wider efforts to escape its Russian neighbour’s sphere of influence, Hacopian believes.

“These are serious exercises, and they were followed up with the news that there is going to be US permanent representation in the Ministry of Defence of Armenia as advisors to join the French who are already there,” he noted.

“Essentially, there is no other play but to join the West.”

France, Russia stand on opposite sides of Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict

Armenia is also seeking to reduce its economic dependence on Russia, pressing Turkey to open its border and providing a new gateway to Western markets for the landlocked country.

Ankara closed the frontier in 1993 after ethnic Armenian forces seized the contested Azerbaijani enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. However, with Azerbaijani forces recapturing the enclave last year, analysts say the opening of the border could now align with Turkey’s goals to expand its regional influence.

“The normalisation of the relationship with Armenia would allow Turkish policy in the Cacasus to acquire a more comprehensive dimension today. That’s the missing element,” said Sinan Ulgen, an analyst with the Centre for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies, a think tank in Istanbul.

“Turkey obviously has very strong links to Azerbaijan and very good relations with Georgia, but not with Armenia,” he explained. “And that’s a predicament, as we look at Turkey’s overall policy in the Caucasus.”

Leverage

Washington is working hard to broker a permanent peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “A deal is close,” declared US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of July’s NATO summit in Washington.

Last week, Turkish and Armenian envoys held their fifth meeting aimed at normalising relations. However, with critical issues between Armenia and Azerbaijan unresolved, Baku sees Turkey’s reopening of the Armenian border as important leverage.

In principle, both Azerbaijan and Turkey are in favour, claims Farid Shafiyev, an Azeri former diplomat and now chair of the Centre of Analysis of International Relations in Baku.

“However, we believe at this stage, as we have not signed a peace agreement, it might send a wrong signal to Yerevan and Armenia that we don’t need to come to an agreement about the core issues – the mutual recognition of territorial integrity,” he said.

Can Turkey tip the balance of power in the Caucasus conflict?

Meanwhile Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has developed close ties with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, and is ruling out opening the border until Baku’s demands are met.

Turkish arms were key to Azerbaijan’s recent military successes against Armenian-backed forces. “Azerbaijan is where it is, in good part because of Turkey’s military assistance, intelligence assistance and all that,” argues Soli Ozel, who teaches international relations at Istanbul’s Kadir Has University.

But Ozel says Baku is dictating Ankara’s Caucasus policy. “It is befuddling to me that Turkey cannot open the borders with Armenia, which Armenia both needs and wants, because of Azerbaijan’s veto,” he said. “Especially if indeed Azerbaijan, for one reason or another, believes that its interests are once more in turning toward Russia.”

With Azerbaijan’s Socar energy company Turkey’s biggest foreign investor, Baku retains powerful economic leverage over Ankara – meaning any hope of reopening the Turkish-Armenian border appears dependent on the wishes of Azerbaijan’s leadership.

Hello everyone!

This week on The Sound Kitchen, you’ll hear a “My Hero” essay by listener Bidhan Chandra Sanyal from West Bengal, India.  I hope you’ll be inspired to write an essay for us, too!

If your essay goes on the air, you’ll find a package in the mail from The Sound Kitchen. Write in about your “ordinary” heroes – the people in your community who are doing extraordinarily good work, quietly working to make the world a better place, in whatever way they can. As listener Pramod Maheshwari said: “Just as small drops of water can fill a pitcher, small drops of kindness can change the world.”

I am still looking for your “This I Believe” essays, too. Tell us about the principles that guide your life … what you have found to be true from your very own personal experience. Or write about a book that changed your perspective on life, a person who you admire, festivals in your community, your most memorable moment, and/or your proudest achievement. If your essay is chosen to go on-the-air – read by you– you’ll win a special prize!

Send your essays to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr

Or by postal mail, to:

Susan Owensby

RFI – The Sound Kitchen

80, rue Camille Desmoulins

92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux

France

I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Here’s Bidhan Chandra Sanyal’s essay: 

Hello, I am Bidhan Chandra Sanyal from West Bengal, India. Today I would like to share with you the story of a man whom I greatly admire, Kailash Sharma.

Kailash Sharma was born on January 11, 1954, in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, India.  He is an electrical engineer by profession, but he did not work as an engineer – instead, he engaged in social service work.

Appalled by the plight of child slavery across South Asia, in 1980 Sharma founded Bachpan Bachao Andolan – the Save Childhood Movement – to fight against the evil of child labor and slavery which has been socially accepted and widely practised in the region for generations.

As the saying goes: “The farmer’s child or the king’s potter all have work in this world.”  But a child’s work should be tailored to children, in the home.

Far too often, harsh reality takes them on another path. Disrespect, neglect or severe rule towards children are not right. When a child is forced to take the lead in financial hardship, to meet the family’s food needs, he frequently endures inhuman torture through child labor. They become the victims of malnutrition, illiteracy, and poor education. They cannot enjoy what should be a normal childhood – instead, childhood is a burden.

The goal of Kailash Sharma’s Bachpan Bachao Andolan movement is to create a child-friendly society, where all children are free from exploitation and receive a free and quality education. It aims to identify, liberate, rehabilitate and educate children in servitude through direct intervention, child and community participation, coalition building, consumer action, promoting ethical trade practices and mass mobilisation.

It has so far freed close to 100,000 children from servitude, including bonded labourers, and helped in their re-integration, rehabilitation and education.

Due to Sharma’s hard work, the Child Protection Act came into effect in India in 2012.  India’s Supreme Court ordered that any complaint of torture against child laborers be registered immediately.  Kailash Sharma has received many awards in recognition of his work: the Achina National Peace Prize, the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Prize, the Alfonso Comin National Prize and a medal from the Italian Senate.

And then, in 2014, he received the world’s highest award: The Nobel Peace Prize.

There is hope: Light can come from darkness. A total of 365 villages in our 11 states in India are now child labor free.  Kailash Sharma’s work has inspired and created change not just in India, but all across the globe. 

Kailash Sharma is my true hero.

Thank you for listening.

The music chosen by Bidhan is “Brishtir Gaan”, written and performed by Aditi Chakraborty.

Be sure and tune in next week for a special “Music in the Kitchen”, featuring your musical requests. Talk to you then!

Under controversial legislation currently passing through parliament, local authorities would be responsible for rounding up stray dogs, which would be killed after 30 days if an owner can not be found for them.

Opponents claim as many as eight million street dogs could be at risk.

“They are planning to round them up into shelters, which we call death camps,” said Zulal Kalkandelen, one of the animals rights activists taking part in a recent protest against the plan in Istanbul.

“For some time, there has been a campaign to fuel stray animal hatred,” she declared.

“Our people, who have been living with street dogs for many years, in fact for centuries, are now being brought to the point where all these animals will be erased.”

Street dogs have been a part of Istanbul life for centuries. The proposed legislation evokes memories of a dark chapter in the city’s past when, in 1910, street dogs were rounded up and left on a nearby island to starve.

It has provoked emotive arguments in parliament, with MPs jostling one another and exchanging insults – opening another deep divide in an already fractured political landscape.

But President Erdogan insists something must be done to control stray animals that, he argues, have become a menace to society, causing traffic accidents and spreading disease.

Humane alternatives

Addressing parliament, Erdogan claimed he was answering the call of the “silent majority”.

“The truth is that a very large part of society wants this issue to be resolved as soon as possible and our streets to become safe for everyone, especially our children,” he declared.

“It is unthinkable for us to remain indifferent to this demand, this call, even this cry. Our proposals are no different from those of other countries in Europe.”

Mixed reactions as France prepares to simplify wolf culling rules

Lawyer Elcin Cemre Sencan, who has helped organise protests against the proposed legislation, argues there are more humane ways to address people’s concerns.

“There is a group of people who are disturbed by these stray animals or who are afraid even to touch them,” she acknowledges. “But even if there are these concerns, the solution is not to put the dogs to sleep.

“Scientific studies have shown that sterilising animals, especially dogs, reduces not only their numbers but also attacks on people.”

Veterinary organisations have also pointed out that the cost of euthanising a dog is many times higher than sterilisation and vaccination.

Diversion tactic?

Some critics suggest politics could be behind the move.

With Erdogan’s conservative AK Party suffering heavy defeats in local elections this spring and Turkey grappling with near 100 percent inflation, opponents claim the Turkish president could be calculating that objections to his street dog legislation comes mainly from the secular opposition and hoping the issue will consolidate his religious base.

“We know our problems in this country; the world knows our problems. There is an economic crisis, and we have human rights problems everywhere. But they want to change the main topics to these animals,” said Eyup Cicerali, a professor at Istanbul’s Nisantasi University, at a recent protest against the legislation.  

“They want to kill them all,” he claimed. “We are here to protect our values, values of respect and dignity for human and animal rights. Life is an issue for all groups.”

According to one recent opinion poll, less than 3 percent of the Turkish public support the culling of street dogs.

Some of Erdogan’s MPs have even started speaking out against the law in the media, albeit anonymously. “This law makes us dog killers,” one unnamed deputy was quoted as saying.

Despite such misgivings, the legislation is expected to pass parliament later this month.

But with the protests drawing together secular and religious animal lovers, and opposition-controlled local authorities declaring they won’t impose the law, the stray dog legislation could prove a risky move for Erdogan.

Where will Gaza stray dogs find shelter?

In total, more than 200 delegations and 10,000 athletes are participating in 36 sports at the Paris Games. 

RFI’s sport editor Paul Myers discusses how African athletes from all over the continent are likely to perform.

Who are the African athletes to watch out for at Paris Olympics?

Episode mixed by Erwan Rome. 

Spotlight on Africa is a podcast from Radio France Internationale. 

Hello everyone!

This week on The Sound Kitchen, you’ll hear an essay by listener Ashik Eqbal Tokon from Rajshahi, Bangladesh. I hope you’ll be inspired to write an essay for us, too!

If your essay goes on the air, you’ll find a package in the mail from The Sound Kitchen. Write in about your “ordinary” heroes – the people in your community who are doing extraordinarily good work, quietly working to make the world a better place, in whatever way they can. As listener Pramod Maheshwari said: “Just as small drops of water can fill a pitcher, small drops of kindness can change the world.”

I am still looking for your “This I Believe” essays, too. Tell us about the principles that guide your life … what you have found to be true from your very own personal experience. Or write about a book that changed your perspective on life, a person who you admire, festivals in your community, your most memorable moment, and/or your proudest achievement. If your essay is chosen to go on the air – read by you – you’ll win a special prize!

Send your essays to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr

Or by postal mail, to:

Susan Owensby

RFI – The Sound Kitchen

80, rue Camille Desmoulins

92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux

France

I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Here’s Ashik Eqbal Tokon’s essay:

The Transformative Journey, Inspired by Pather Panchali 

As a child growing up in the bustling megacity of the 1980s, I was accustomed to the constant hum of trains, the clanging of trams, the honking of buses, and the rhythmic peddling of rickshaws. My world was a mosaic of concrete, electricity, radio broadcasts, and black-and-white television screens. It was a life saturated with modern conveniences and rapid movement, where nature seemed distant, relegated to small parks and occasional glimpses of the sky between towering buildings. However, this perception shifted dramatically when I encountered a short story extracted from the novel Pather Panchali by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay. The tale of Apu and Durga’s discovery of the train in their remote Bengali village captured my imagination with its vivid descriptions and emotional depth. The scene where they run through lush fields, their eyes widening in awe at the sight of the train, resonated deeply within me. This moment became etched in my mind, igniting a spark of curiosity and longing for a world beyond the urban sprawl.

My First Journey to the Village

Shortly after reading the story, I had the opportunity to visit my ancestral village, a place starkly different from my city life. The journey began with a train ride that mirrored Apu’s wonder and excitement. As the train chugged through the countryside, I gazed out of the window, mesmerised by the passing landscapes. Rivers snaked through the green fields, and orchards of mangoes, lychees, and jackfruits painted the scenery with vibrant colours. It was as if I had stepped into Apu’s world, experiencing the same unmeasurable happiness he felt. The bus journey that followed took me deeper into the heart of nature. The scent of fresh earth and blooming flowers filled the air. The sight of villagers working in the fields, children playing under the shade of trees, and the serene flow of rivers created a permanent visual in my mind. This experience was a revelation, a tactile encounter with the natural world that Apu had introduced me to.

Discovering Pather Panchali in My Teenage Years

As a teenager, I read the full novel Pather Panchali and felt an even stronger connection to Apu’s journey. The book opened my eyes to the beauty of nature, the simplicity of rural life, and the profound emotions tied to family and survival. It made me realise that true happiness and fulfilment could be found in the simplest of experiences and the purest of surroundings. This realisation shaped my life’s journey and passions. I developed a deep love for travel, seeking out places where I could immerse myself in nature’s embrace. The novel’s influence led me to explore diverse landscapes, from the golden deserts of Rajasthan, India, to the lush hills of Bhutan. I found joy in the contrasting environments—the tranquil charm of Thailand’s beaches, the cultural richness of Bali, the waves of the Bay of Bengal, and the expansive horizons of the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Thailand, and Java Sea.

Embracing My Home Country, Bangladesh

One of the most profound impacts of Pather Panchali was how it deepened my appreciation for my own beautiful country, Bangladesh. After my teenage years, I have had the privilege to explore all 64 districts of Bangladesh, each with its unique natural beauty and cultural heritage. From the verdant hills of Sylhet to the serene beaches of Cox’s Bazar, the majestic Sundarbans mangrove forest to the vibrant cultural tapestry of Dhaka, every corner of Bangladesh offered a new discovery and a deeper connection to my roots. The green landscapes, the winding rivers, and the warmth of the people in Bangladesh constantly reminded me of Apu’s world. This profound connection to my homeland enriched my life and reinforced my love for travel and exploration. Bangladesh, with its rich history and diverse natural beauty, continues to be a source of inspiration and joy.

Embracing Nature and the Love of Travel

Pather Panchali taught me to appreciate the feather-light touch of nature, to find beauty and peace in its presence, even in the most unexpected places. Whether it was the arid sands of Rajasthan, where the desert winds whispered ancient tales, or the verdant hills of Jalpaiguri, where the air was thick with the scent of tea leaves, nature became my sanctuary. The novel instilled in me a sense of wonder and a desire to explore, to experience the world through the lens of its natural splendour. In Thailand and Bali, I found a different kind of charm, where the azure waters and golden sunsets painted the skies with hues of tranquility and adventure. Swimming in the waves of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, I felt a connection to the vastness of the world, a reminder of Apu’s endless curiosity and love for discovery. The icy expanse of Mongolia, though harsh, revealed the serene and stark beauty of a world wrapped in snow and silence, expanding my understanding of nature’s extremes.

Final Word

The transformative power of Pather Panchali by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay lies in its ability to transport readers into a world where nature and simplicity hold profound meaning. For me, the novel was not just a story but a catalyst for a lifelong passion for travel and an enduring love for the natural world. It taught me to seek out the beauty in every corner of the earth, to cherish the moments of awe and wonder, and to find joy in the journey itself. This timeless tale of Apu’s adventures has forever changed my perspective, making every travel experience a homage to the spirit of discovery and the beauty of nature, from the warm beaches of Bali to the freezing steppes of Mongolia, and the verdant beauty of Bangladesh, my beloved homeland.

The music chosen by Ashik is “Janmo Amar Dhonno Holo Mago” by Azad Rahman, sung by Sabina Yeasmin.

Be sure and tune in next week for an essay written by Bidhan Chandar Sanyal. Talk to you then!

Hello everyone!

This week on The Sound Kitchen, you’ll hear an essay by listener Ashik Eqbal Tokon from Rajshahi, Bangladesh.  I hope you’ll be inspired to write an essay for us, too!

If your essay goes on the air, you’ll find a package in the mail from The Sound Kitchen. Write in about your “ordinary” heroes – the people in your community who are doing extraordinarily good work, quietly working to make the world a better place, in whatever way they can. As listener Pramod Maheshwari said: “Just as small drops of water can fill a pitcher, small drops of kindness can change the world.”

I am still looking for your “This I Believe” essays, too. Tell us about the principles that guide your life … what you have found to be true from yourvery own personalexperience. Or write about a book that changed your perspective on life, a person who you admire, festivals in your community, your most memorable moment, and/or your proudest achievement. If your essay is chosen to go on the air – read by you–you’ll win a special prize!

Send your essays to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr

Or by postal mail, to:

Susan Owensby

RFI – The Sound Kitchen

80, rue Camille Desmoulins

92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux

France

I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Here’s Ashik Eqbal Tokon’s essay:

The Transformative Journey, Inspired by Pather Panchali 

As a child growing up in the bustling megacity of the 1980s, I was accustomed to the constant hum of trains, the clanging of trams, the honking of buses, and the rhythmic peddling of rickshaws. My world was a mosaic of concrete, electricity, radio broadcasts, and black-and-white television screens. It was a life saturated with modern conveniences and rapid movement, where nature seemed distant, relegated to small parks and occasional glimpses of the sky between towering buildings. However, this perception shifted dramatically when I encountered a short story extracted from the novel Pather Panchali by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay. The tale of Apu and Durga’s discovery of the train in their remote Bengali village captured my imagination with its vivid descriptions and emotional depth. The scene where they run through lush fields, their eyes widening in awe at the sight of the train, resonated deeply within me. This moment became etched in my mind, igniting a spark of curiosity and longing for a world beyond the urban sprawl.

My First Journey to the Village

Shortly after reading the story, I had the opportunity to visit my ancestral village, a place starkly different from my city life. The journey began with a train ride that mirrored Apu’s wonder and excitement. As the train chugged through the countryside, I gazed out of the window, mesmerized by the passing landscapes. Rivers snaked through the green fields, and orchards of mangoes, lychees, and jackfruits painted the scenery with vibrant colors. It was as if I had stepped into Apu’s world, experiencing the same unmeasurable happiness he felt. The bus journey that followed took me deeper into the heart of nature. The scent of fresh earth and blooming flowers filled the air. The sight of villagers working in the fields, children playing under the shade of trees, and the serene flow of rivers created a permanent visual in my mind. This experience was a revelation, a tactile encounter with the natural world that Apu had introduced me to.

Discovering Pather Panchali in My Teenage Years

As a teenager, I read the full novel Pather Panchali and felt an even stronger connection to Apu’s journey. The book opened my eyes to the beauty of nature, the simplicity of rural life, and the profound emotions tied to family and survival. It made me realize that true happiness and fulfillment could be found in the simplest of experiences and the purest of surroundings. This realization shaped my life’s journey and passions. I developed a deep love for travel, seeking out places where I could immerse myself in nature’s embrace. The novel’s influence led me to explore diverse landscapes, from the golden deserts of Rajasthan, India, to the lush hills of Bhutan. I found joy in the contrasting environments—the tranquil charm of Thailand’s beaches, the cultural richness of Bali, the waves of the Bay of Bengal, and the expansive horizons of the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Thailand, and Java Sea.

Embracing My Home Country, Bangladesh

One of the most profound impacts of Pather Panchali was how it deepened my appreciation for my own beautiful country, Bangladesh. After my teenage years, I have had the privilege to explore all 64 districts of Bangladesh, each with its unique natural beauty and cultural heritage. From the verdant hills of Sylhet to the serene beaches of Cox’s Bazar, the majestic Sundarbans mangrove forest to the vibrant cultural tapestry of Dhaka, every corner of Bangladesh offered a new discovery and a deeper connection to my roots. The green landscapes, the winding rivers, and the warmth of the people in Bangladesh constantly reminded me of Apu’s world. This profound connection to my homeland enriched my life and reinforced my love for travel and exploration. Bangladesh, with its rich history and diverse natural beauty, continues to be a source of inspiration and joy.

Embracing Nature and the Love of Travel

Pather Panchali taught me to appreciate the feather-light touch of nature, to find beauty and peace in its presence, even in the most unexpected places. Whether it was the arid sands of Rajasthan, where the desert winds whispered ancient tales, or the verdant hills of Jalpaiguri, where the air was thick with the scent of tea leaves, nature became my sanctuary. The novel instilled in me a sense of wonder and a desire to explore, to experience the world through the lens of its natural splendor. In Thailand and Bali, I found a different kind of charm, where the azure waters and golden sunsets painted the skies with hues of tranquility and adventure. Swimming in the waves of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, I felt a connection to the vastness of the world, a reminder of Apu’s endless curiosity and love for discovery. The icy expanse of Mongolia, though harsh, revealed the serene and stark beauty of a world wrapped in snow and silence, expanding my understanding of nature’s extremes.

Final Word

The transformative power of Pather Panchali by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay lies in its ability to transport readers into a world where nature and simplicity hold profound meaning. For me, the novel was not just a story but a catalyst for a lifelong passion for travel and an enduring love for the natural world. It taught me to seek out the beauty in every corner of the earth, to cherish the moments of awe and wonder, and to find joy in the journey itself. This timeless tale of Apu’s adventures has forever changed my perspective, making every travel experience a homage to the spirit of discovery and the beauty of nature, from the warm beaches of Bali to the freezing steppes of Mongolia, and the verdant beauty of Bangladesh, my beloved homeland.

The music chosen by Ashik is “Janmo Amar Dhonno Holo Mago” by Azad Rahman, sung by Sabina Yeasmin.

Be sure and tune in next week for an essay written by Bidhan Chandar Sanyal.  Talk to you then!

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.