“I will be at work until the very last second, striving each day to live up to the mandate you entrusted to me,” he said in a televised New Year’s Eve address.

The president spoke as his poll ratings were at an all-time low since he first became head of state in 2017.

Political deadlock has gripped France ever since Macron took the gamble of calling snap polls in 2024, leading to him losing his majority and the far right gaining ground in parliament.

The new year is to be Macron’s last full one in office before the 2027 presidential elections, for which pollsters have predicted a victory for the far right.

“I will do everything I can to ensure the presidential election proceeds as calmly as possible — in particular without any foreign interference,” said Macron, who cannot take part in the vote after serving two consecutive terms in office.

Armed forces

He also said that “we must continue to invest in our armed forces, in our security services, in our public services and our economy, despite our financial difficulties,” urging the defence of France’s and Europe’s “independence” and “freedoms.”

“We are witnessing the return of empires, the questioning of the international order (…) The law of the strongest is attempting to prevail in world affairs, and our Europe is being assailed on all sides,” he said.

Macron kept a high international profile in 2025, including as part of efforts to stem the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

But at home, he has faced criticism even from former allies.

Macron’s third new prime minister since the snap polls, Sebastien Lecornu, has struggled to push a much-needed austerity budget through the hung parliament.

It had to adopt an emergency law last week to keep the government afloat.

“From the very first weeks of the year now starting, government and parliament will have to come to agreements to provide the nation with a budget,” Macron said. “It is essential.”

Macron’s former prime minister Edouard Philippe — a 2027 candidate — in October urged early presidential elections.

Three-time far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen called on the president to again dissolve parliament as a way to find a way out of the political deadlock, adding it would be “wise” for Macron to resign.

(with newswires)

Trump rebooted

Returning to the White House in January, Donald Trump launched his protectionist second term agenda at breakneck speed, ordering mass deportations of undocumented migrants, imposing sweeping budget cuts and dismantling large parts of the United States’ federal government.

Trump also deployed the National Guard in Democrat-led cities, sought to intimidate the media and freely threatened his opponents with legal action.

‘Ceasefire’ in Gaza

Under pressure from Washington, a ceasefire was agreed between Israel and Hamas, two years after the start of the war in Gaza following the 7 October, 2023 attacks. It allowed the return to Israel of the last living hostages and most of the bodies of those killed, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

But the truce remains fragile. Negotiations on the second phase of the peace plan have stalled, with both sides accusing each other almost daily of violating the agreement.

Ukraine peace efforts at a standstill

Trump’s return to the White House revived efforts to end the war in Ukraine, but talks have failed to deliver a breakthrough. The US president made repeated reversals before putting forward a draft plan widely seen as favourable to Moscow.

International discussions continue on that basis, while Russia appears unwilling to compromise and continues its slow and costly advances on the ground.

Tariffs trigger global showdown

Trump imposed tariffs on imports and on entire sectors deemed strategic, triggering a trade conflict that shook the global economy. Difficult negotiations led to numerous agreements, with uneven consequences depending on the country in question.

Talks with neighbouring Mexico and Canada continue to drag on while relations with China, above all, are extremely tense.

AI’s explosive rise

Technology giants and investors spent vast sums to fuel the rapid growth of artificial intelligence. Markets fear a speculative bubble and concerns are mounting, with AI accused of driving disinformation and copyright violations.

Many companies cited it to justify mass lay-offs too. As the technology expands rapidly, the full consequences are difficult to assess.

Gen Z in revolt

Nepal, Indonesia, Peru, Madagascar, Morocco, Bulgaria… across the world, mass movements led by people under 30 emerged in protest at poor living conditions, social media censorship and elite corruption.

They adopted the pirate flag from the manga comic One Piece as a symbol, both on the streets and online, and while their success and impact varied from country to country, together they reflected the anger of a generation.

Climate warnings fall flat

It was another bleak year for the climate. Deadly floods struck Vietnam, while hurricanes and typhoons devastated the Caribbean and the Philippines. Across Europe, temperatures surged and forest fires intensified.

Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, more deadly and more destructive because of climate change. Despite this, Cop30 – held in Belém, in the Amazon – resulted in only a minimalist agreement.

Former leaders behind bars

The year was also marked by the imprisonment of several former presidents. In Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro began serving a 27-year sentence for an attempted coup. In France, Nicolas Sarkozy was jailed for 20 days after his conviction for criminal conspiracy.

In South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol is in detention and on trial for insurrection and abuse of power. In the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte was arrested and transferred to The Hague under a warrant from the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

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This retrospective was translated from the original version in French

With just 16 months to go until the next presidential election, Emmanuel Macron is in one of the weakest political positions of his two terms.

The televised address is a fixed moment in the political calendar and a chance for the head of state to relaunch the final projects of his second five-year term.

As tradition dictates, the president will address the nation at 8pm on 31 December, opening with his familiar “My dear compatriots”.

In a speech expected to last around 10 minutes, he will set out his roadmap for the year ahead, reflect on the challenges facing France and explain why he believes there are still reasons for hope despite political instability at home and an unsettled international climate.

This will be Macron’s ninth New Year’s address and his second-to-last. His entourage said he was still working on the speech on Tuesday and could continue to adjust it until the last moment.

The audience may be smaller than in previous years. Sixty-three percent of French people say they do not plan to watch the address, while the president’s approval rating has fallen to 25 percent, its lowest level since 2017, according to the latest Toluna/Harris Interactive poll.

Macron demands ‘robust security guarantees’ before any Ukraine territorial talks

Ukraine focus

The broad outline of the speech is already known. The war in Ukraine, which enters its fifth year in February, is expected to be at the centre of the address, underlining both the scale of the conflict and its long-term impact on Europe.

Beyond that, the message will stress determination. Macron wants to show that 2026 can still be “a year of action – a useful year”, as his entourage put it, even with a divided political landscape.

The tone is also expected to be carefully balanced. “Without falling into blind optimism,” the president wants to counter what his team described as a climate of “French bashing”, which they said is often driven by far-right figures who present themselves as patriots.

France wary of MAGA influence ahead of 2027 elections

‘No to immobility’

Macron offered a preview of this approach on Tuesday in a one-minute video posted on social media. He looked back on the “joys and sorrows, successes and challenges” of the past year, along with its “hopes”.

He pointed to events such as the reopening of the towers of Notre-Dame and the success of two French Nobel Prize winners as signs of national resilience.

“France has continued to move forward during these months despite a difficult context,” his entourage said. Looking ahead, they promised that 2026 would be “the opposite of immobility”.

The remark was a clear response to former prime minister Edouard Philippe, who has argued that “the state is no longer viable” and has called for early presidential elections.

Macron’s room for manoeuvre remains limited. France has no parliamentary majority, every vote in the National Assembly is closely fought, and the 2026 budget is still unresolved amid a lack of agreement between the government and the Socialists.

France in turmoil: ‘No one is willing to say the country needs to make sacrifices’

Domestic priorities

Despite these constraints, the president is expected to set out three main domestic priorities in his address: a return to national service, tighter rules for social media and legislation on end-of-life care.

Macron plans to bring back national service on a voluntary basis, an idea that has been relatively well received by public opinion.

On social media, he will refer to the conclusions of a series of round tables held across France and signal forthcoming announcements, “presumably in January”, on how platforms should be regulated for young people.

A former minister warned the issue carries risks. “Whatever the issue – digital majority at 15, for example – I don’t know which way the coin will fall,” the former minister said. “There could be a lot of opportunism.”

The sensitive question of end-of-life care is also entering a key phase. Draft legislation will be examined by the Senate from 20 January before moving to the National Assembly.

Debates are expected to be difficult, particularly in the upper chamber, where the Republicans, the largest group in the Senate, remains highly cautious about the creation of assisted dying.

(with newswires)

“On New Year’s Eve, many people go out into the streets to celebrate the arrival of the new year. It is therefore essential to ensure the safety of all these people,” Nuñez told France Inter radio on Tuesday.

“A total of 90,000 police officers and gendarmes will be mobilised. I have reiterated the instructions, which are to act with firmness and authority”.

He also referred to his concerns over “the traditional end of year urban riots that occur in certain neighbourhoods, where mortars are thrown at law enforcement officers”.

In Paris and its inner suburbs, some 10,000 police officers, gendarmes and soldiers from Operation Sentinelle – whose mission is to protect the public from terror attacks – will be deployed, the police prefecture said.

Record 10,000 French gendarmes injured in the line of duty, says chief

Large crowds are expected in the capital, particularly on the Champs-Élysées, despite the cancellation of the planned live concert due to security concerns. In its place will be a fireworks display at midnight and a video projection on the Arc de Triomphe.

These concerns include the possibility of a terrorist attack and the risk of a stampede, which was narrowly avoided last year and will be “taken very seriously” this year, Nuñez said. “There will be a significant security presence, a protected perimeter and, as every year, things will go smoothly,”

Last year, incidents occurred in several French departments across the country, including Bas-Rhin, where Strasbourg is located; Haut-Rhin, also in the east; Rhône, home to Lyon; Bouches-du-Rhône, where Marseille is the largest city; Var, to the east of Marseille and home to the Côte d’Azur, and Alpes-Maritimes, further east along the southern coast.

“The areas experiencing difficulties are the same as in recent years,” the minister noted.

Intelligence services have recorded “less urban violence than projected for 2024, but more use of fireworks and mortars in police and gendarmerie zones” in recent weeks.

Nuñez said all necessary administrative measures have been implemented ahead of the New Year celebrations, including a ban on the retail sale of fuel, fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices.

Drink driving

Police have been put on alert for other events in the capital as the year comes to a close, such as the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) football matches, currently being held in Morocco, which could lead to unrest in France, the Interior Ministry has warned.

On Sunday evening, Algeria’s qualification for the round of 16 sparked incidents that were “quickly contained” in Toulouse, Marseille, Lille and Roubaix.

Furthermore, a police presence will be deployed for the large prayer service scheduled for Wednesday at 7pm in the Bercy district of Paris, as part of the Taizé Christian community gathering, which has been taking place since Sunday.

Festive spirits bubble while year-round drinking drops in France

Authorities will also be on the alert for drink driving, as French families prepare to travel for the festivities.

According to a new poll by the national Road Safety Association, 50 percent of respondents said they intend to spend the evening away from home, compared to 41 percent in 2024 – and 26 percent indicate they plan to drive, compared to 21 percent in 2024.

The online survey conducted from 25 November to 6 December among 1,000 French people also found that 79 percent intend to consume alcohol during New Year’s Eve, averaging 3.2 drinks – figures that have remained stable in recent years. Fifty-five percent say they will drink more than four drinks.

Tens of thousands of people gathered across Somalia on Tuesday to protest Israel’s decision to recognise the breakaway region of Somaliland, a move condemned by more than 20 countries as an attack on Somalia’s sovereignty.

The demonstrations took place as Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud travelled to Turkey for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, following Israel’s announcement last week.

Somalia also raised the issue at an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Monday, warning that Israel’s recognition could pose serious regional security risks.

Israel’s representative rejected the criticism, calling it a double standard and pointing to the recognition of Palestine by other states. The United States said its position on Somalia remains unchanged.

Israel became the first country to recognise Somaliland last week, drawing condemnation from Turkey, Somalia and other nations. Turkey has been openly critical of Israel over the war in Gaza.

Somaliland, a territory of more than three million people in the Horn of Africa, declared independence from Somalia in 1991 during a period of conflict that left the country fragile.

Despite having its own government and currency, it had not been recognised by any country until Friday.

Nationwide protests

In the Somali capital Mogadishu, crowds gathered at the main stadium for a rally led by prominent religious figures, who condemned Israel’s decision and called for unity to defend Somalia’s territorial integrity.

Similar protests were reported across the country, with demonstrators chanting slogans rejecting the recognition and waving Somali flags, residents said. Video footage shared online showed large crowds in several cities.

The demonstrations marked the largest protests since Israel announced its recognition of Somaliland.

At the Mogadishu rally, traditional leader Mohamed Hassan Haad urged Somalis to oppose the move and warned against any attempt to claim Somali territory. He called on people in Somaliland to reject the recognition.

Religious scholar Sheikh Mohamud Sheikh Abulbari also condemned Israel’s decision, calling it unacceptable and saying it was wrong to welcome Israel into any part of Somalia. He cited Israel’s actions towards Palestinians and Muslims at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque.

UN ambassadors condemn Israel’s recognition of Somaliland

Diplomatic push at UN

Somalia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Abukar Dahir Osman, told the Security Council that Israel’s action “not only sets a dangerous precedent but also poses a serious threat to regional and international peace and security.”

Speaking in Istanbul on Tuesday, Mohamud thanked regional and international institutions that have opposed Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, calling it a violation of international law, the UN Charter, the African Union’s principles and established diplomatic norms.

“This sets a dangerous precedent that is contrary to the principle of sovereignty and territorial integrity, and non-interference that underpins all international systems,” he said.

Mohamud added that the move risked creating conditions that could embolden violent extremist groups, leading to wider insecurity in Somalia and the Horn of Africa, which is already under strain from armed violence, humanitarian pressures and political fragility.

Erdogan voiced strong support for Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity, condemning Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as “illegitimate and unacceptable.” He accused Israel of attempting to drag the Horn of Africa into instability.

Israel’s recognition of Somaliland ‘is not an isolated initiative’: expert

Turkey’s role

Turkey has become one of Somalia’s closest allies over the past decade, providing military training and supporting infrastructure projects. It operates a military base in Mogadishu where Somali forces are trained.

Turkey has also sent a seismic research vessel, escorted by naval ships, to survey Somalia’s coastline for potential oil and gas reserves. Erdogan said Turkey plans to begin drilling operations in Somalia in 2026.

Ankara has described Israel’s move as unlawful and warned it could destabilise the fragile balance in the Horn of Africa. The reasons behind Israel’s decision remain unclear.

Earlier in 2025, Turkey hosted talks between Ethiopia and Somalia aimed at easing tensions triggered by a deal between Ethiopia and Somaliland.

In January 2024, Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland to lease land along its coastline for a naval base. In return, Ethiopia pledged to recognise Somaliland’s independence, a step Somalia says violates its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

(with newswires)

The Élysée Palace said on Tuesday it had been in contact with Bardot’s family following the announcement of her death on Sunday, and that a national tribute had been proposed but not accepted.

The presidency said the proposal followed “republican custom”, adding that such tributes are “systematically decided by mutual agreement with the deceased’s relatives”.

No agreement was reached in this case.

Right-left divide

The question of whether France should honour one of its most famous film stars in an official capacity has nonetheless divided the political class.

Since Bardot’s death was announced, debate has largely followed right-left lines.

Eric Ciotti, president of the UDR, a right-wing party allied with the National Rally, launched a petition calling for a national tribute. Bardot had long-standing ties to the far right and was openly close to the party.

On the left, the response was more cautious. Olivier Faure, leader of the Socialist Party, described Bardot as “an iconic actress” but said national honours were reserved for those who had rendered “exceptional services to the nation”.

French legend Brigitte Bardot dead at 91: foundation

He also referred to her repeated convictions for racist and homophobic remarks, saying she had ultimately “turned her back on republican values”.

In any case, Macron will not attend the funeral, scheduled for 7 January in Saint-Tropez, which will be held in private.

Relations between Bardot and the president had long been strained. In 2023, she sent him an open letter accusing him of failing to act on animal welfare. “I am angry at your inaction, your cowardice, your contempt for the French people, who, it is true, treat you well in return,” she wrote.

Personal ties

Relations were far warmer with Marine Le Pen, who has been invited to the funeral and will attend “in a personal and friendly capacity”, according to her entourage.

Bardot had been close to Le Pen’s father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, and was married for three decades to a former adviser to the founder of the National Front.

She shared many of the movement’s views, including her opposition to what she once described as “the terrifying rise of immigration”.

Her support was not limited to private sympathy. In 2012, she publicly urged mayors to sponsor Marine Le Pen’s first presidential bid.

After Bardot’s death was announced on Sunday, the National Rally leader responded by praising an “exceptional woman” who was “incredibly French – free, indomitable, wholehearted”.

Bardot backs far-right leader Le Pen’s attempt to stand for president

Funeral arrangements

Beyond politics, the two women were also linked by a shared commitment to animal welfare. Bardot devoted herself to the cause through the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, while Marine Le Pen is known to have studied cat breeding.

The foundation said the funeral ceremony at the Notre-Dame de l’Assomption church would be broadcast on large screens outside.

This will be followed by a private burial at the marine cemetery, ahead of a “tribute open to all the residents of Saint-Tropez and her admirers”.

Speaking to the local daily Var-Matin on Tuesday, the town’s mayor Sylvie Siri said: “Come that time, everyone will talk about her and share their fondest memories of her.”

“It will be a great moment of communion – simple, just like her,” she added.

(with newswires)

Nearly 157 million tickets were sold in French cinemas this year, according to figures released on Wednesday by the National Centre for Cinema and Moving Images (CNC) – well below the 181 million tickets sold last year.

“It’s a mixed year for cinema, with a declining market, due to the lack of enough crowd-pleasers and surprise hits like those in 2024,” Gaëtan Bruel, president of the CNC, said.

The organisation attributes this in part to a lack of French blockbusters, unlike in 2024 which boasted two films with 10 million tickets sold: Le Compte de Monte Cristo (The Count of Monte Cristo) and Un p’tit truc en plus (Something Extra).

It also pointed to American films that underperformed, such as Tom Cruise’s long awaited finale of the Mission: Impossible franchise, which saw only 2.5 million tickets sold in France.

Art-house surprises

For Marc-Olivier Sebbag of the National Federation of French Cinemas (FNCF), audiences are more selective and rally on a “film by film” basis.

He highlighted the success of several art-house films released in the latter part of the year such as L’étranger (The Outsider) by François Ozon, or La Femme la plus riche du Monde (The Richest Woman in the World) starring Isabelle Huppert. Directed by Thierry Klifa, the latter was released out of competition during the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and attracted more than a million viewers to theatres.

According to the CNC, attendance figures for 2025 are comparable to those of the early 2000s – lower than the 200+ million annual viewers of the 2010s, but well ahead of the slump of the 1980s and its 120 million cinema-goers per year.

Postcard from Cannes #3: Surfing a wave of French cinematic nostalgia

On top of surviving the Covid-19 pandemic, cinema’s business model has also been revolutionised by the rise of streaming platforms such as Netflix, Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video , which have invested millions in projects comparable to blockbuster films and attracted a slew of younger viewers.

“The consumer segment that has disappeared is seniors,” the CNC told French news agency AFP. “They are the ones most receptive to the variety of films on offer. For younger people, they tend to wait for ‘a special event’ to go to the cinema.”

This was confirmed by the phenomenal year-end successes of Disney films Zootopia 2 and Avatar 3.

With 6.2 million tickets sold as of 29 December, the second instalment of the Zootopia adventures of rabbit Judy Hopps and fox Nick Wilde became the biggest hit of the year in France in just four weeks.

As for James Cameron’s epic 3D Avatar 3, it has already attracted more than 4.6 million viewers – a level similar to the two previous Avatar films, both historic successes at the global box office.

Optimism for 2026

Sebbag says he is “very optimistic” about 2026, given the momentum at the end of the year.

During the week of 17 to 24 December, “we were at +30 percent attendance compared to 2024 and +20 percent compared to the pre-Covid era,” he said.

He is also pleased to say that selection of upcoming films is wider, with major French films expected for the February school holidays, including Marsupilami, based on a popular comic book creature, as well as the animated film Les Légendaires (The Legendaries) based on a comic book series with more than 10 million copies sold.

2021 was a bumper year for French cinema, according to national film board

On the international scene, there are high hopes for the adaptation of Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel Wuthering Heights, starring Margot Robbie.

Film buffs are also anticipating another clash of the titans in December 2026, with the release of the behemoths Dune: Part 3 and Avengers: Doomsday expected on the same day and already dubbed “Dunesday”.

In terms of the difficulties of keeping cinemas up and running, the CNC granted cash advances in September to 70 establishments out of approximately 2,200. But it said there were no more cinema closures in 2025 than in 2024.

(with newswires)

At dawn, when the mist is still clinging to the grass, Nasieku Kipeke’s hands are already moving through beads. Red, blue, white… she threads them with the same rhythm her mother taught her.

The beaded bracelets she makes will end up in the hands of tourists who come to the Maasai Mara to witness the Great Migration – the epic annual journey made by 2 million zebras, wildebeest and gazelles from Tanzania to Kenya, following the path of the seasonal rains.

The money Nasieku earns from her beads pays for her children’s porridge and books and, when she can manage it, clinic visits – which she often puts off.

But this morning, her fingers are slow. Word has spread about the new luxury hotel rising near Sand River, one of the most important wildlife corridors in the reserve. For her, the development feels like a storm cloud settling over land she depends on but has no power to protect.

“When they block the animals, they block us,” she says in a low voice. “We survive because the world comes to see what lives here.”

‘Climate whiplash’: East Africa caught between floods and drought

Opportunities out of reach

Down the road, 20-year-old Lemayian leans on a crooked fence post. His ambition is to be a wildlife guide – one who can speak about lions, migration cycles and Maasai history in the same breath.

But jobs are thin on the ground now. Conservancies are tightening rules. The land for grazing is shrinking.

“They tell us tourism will give us opportunities. But sometimes I feel like the opportunity is fenced away from us, something we can see but not reach.”

For people like Lemayian, the pace of development can be a double-edged sword, promising prosperity while encroaching on and eventually closing off spaces that his family has depended on for generations.

Jane Goodall, pioneering primatologist and voice for wildlife, dies aged 91

Ole Nkaputie, a herder in his seventies, drives his cattle toward a water point. Each step is deliberate, steady, shaped by a lifetime of reading the land. To him, the world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve is not a tourist attraction – it’s memory, livelihood, identity.

“The animals move like we move,” he says, as he watches his cows drink. “When you block their path, you block ours too.”

He remembers when people would assemble under a tree to debate the changes, when the elders spoke and everyone had their say.

‘Fear cannot guide us’

Dr. Meitamei Ole Dapash is a conservationist. His small office is cluttered with maps of wildlife routes and folders full of petitions and legal papers. The weight of responsibility hangs heavily over him.

“This isn’t about stopping tourism,” he says, tapping a map where the Sand River flows. “It’s about stopping harmful tourism – development that ignores the people and the wildlife it claims to celebrate.”

It was Dapash who took the fight to court, challenging the construction of the Ritz-Carlton luxury Masai Mara Safari Camp on the grounds of poor community consultation and suspect environmental review.

The women carrying the burden of Kenya’s rural healthcare on their backs

He has put himself squarely in the crosshairs of powerful interests. The threats have followed – late-night calls, anonymous warnings, intimidation.

“But fear cannot guide us,” he says. “If we lose this land, what will my grandchildren inherit? Photographs of animals that used to roam here?”

When he speaks with communities, he listens more than talks. Women like Nasieku speak of incomes drying up with bad tourist seasons. Young people like Lemayian ask who will hire them when the land they depend on is parcelled off. Elders like Nkaputie warn of a day when cultural erosion will creep in, long before anyone notices it happening.

He walks one afternoon with a group of women to the edge of the river. A herd of zebra hesitates nearby, unsure of the new noise. One woman sucks her teeth in frustration. “This place was for the animals,” she says. “Now it is for the rich.”

Images of the screen diva were splashed across media outlets around the globe following the announcement of her death on Sunday. Many also highlighted her role as a catalyst for social change in France.

Bardot’s libertine attitude in her breakthrough 1956 movie And God Created Woman outraged censors at the time. The French Catholic daily La Croix said she had a “career without much success” which she cut short to devote herself to animals.

The left-leaning Liberation newspaper said, however, that Bardot had a “meteoric career”.

“She was probably the last of that handful of new and free figures in which France liked to recognise itself at the turn of the 60s,” noted Liberation, which called her the “greatest sex symbol of French cinema”.   

The conservative Le Figaro said “this blonde whirlwind burst on to the screens” in a France still suffering from the fallout of the Second World War. “She shook things up, danced the mambo on the tables of Saint-Tropez,” it added, recalling her iconic scene in And God Created Woman.

Bardot: the screen goddess who gave it all up

‘She hid nothing’

International media highlighted the screen sensation and the controversy after Bardot gave up acting to defend animal rights, as well as to become a far-right supporter. She was convicted and fined five times over comments that incited racial hatred.

“She was a French cocktail of kittenish charm and continental sensuality,” said the United Kingdom’s public service broadcaster the BBC.

Italy’s La Repubblica newspaper called her “a diva rebel” who “chose liberty until the very end”.

In Spain, El Pais called Bardot a “controversial activist”, adding: “In her own way, she hid nothing. Neither the wrinkles, nor her increasingly radical character or her ideological convictions, which she evoked with crude euphemisms.”

The New York Times said that Bardot “redefined mid-20th century movie sex symbolism”, highlighting her “unapologetic carnal appetite” on screen.

But, it added: “At best, Ms Bardot was considered eccentric in her later years, prompting observations that this former sex kitten, as she was often called, had turned into a ‘crazy cat lady’.”

Bardot was repeatedly convicted for hate speech – mostly against members of the Islamic faith after migration from France’s former colonies.

French screen legend Brigitte Bardot fined for racial slurs against Reunion islanders

She actively backed far-right presidential contender Marine Le Pen when she ran in 2012 and 2017.

Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung said it would be better to “forget, even if it may be difficult, the political Bardot of recent years for the duration of this obituary” and “remember THE Bardot” instead.

Bardot “will be buried in her garden near the sea,” said her long-time friend and journalist Wendy Bouchard on Monday.

“It was her wish and it will be respected,” said Bouchard, referring to the icon’s last wish to “be buried near those she cherished, her animals” with a simple wooden cross to mark her grave.

However, Saint-Tropez, officials said on Monday that Bardot would to be buried in the town’s seaside cemetery.

The Brigitte Bardot Foundation said that the funeral in the Notre-Dame de l’Assomption church of Saint-Tropez would take place on 7 January and would be broadcast on screens across the town.

This would be followed by a “private” burial, but the foundation did not confirm where in Saint-Tropez she would be inhumed.

(with newswires)

“These data centres consume a huge amount of electricity. So that’s a problem. Especially since these neighbourhoods lack green spaces,” Jean-Pierre Lapebie, president of local residents’ organisation Cap au Nord, told RFI.

He was one of around 30 people gathered in protest in March in front of what will be Marseille’s fifth data centre.

“There’s a population here that’s struggling with serious hardship. And these people are being left out of any discussion or initiative,” he added.

‘The urban space has a subconscious’: a tour of Marseille’s colonial history

Digital Realty, a company that has been based in Marseille for 10 years, is behind the development of the data centres and is pushing ahead with the plans to build its fifth facility.

“Here’s an example of a server room. You can see a number of devices,” explained Fabrice Coquio, Digital Realty’s CEO, walking through a room full of electronic towers.

“We colocate our clients’ IT investments so that tonight or tomorrow, you can place an online order, check your bank account, renew your licence online, or just send an email to your grandmother.”

These data centres store corporate data and connect different organisations.

“Here, on these high-density racks, we’re connecting person A with person B, person C with person D, and so on,” Coquio continued.

These facilities take up space and also need to be cooled. On the building’s roof, massive pipes and large tanks do this job.

“All these systems are cooling units. It’s kind of like the motor behind your refrigerator at home – except they’re a bit bigger,” the CEO explained.

The giant telescopes collecting neutrinos beneath the French Mediterranean

Environmental regulations

In response to residents’ concerns, Coquio says: “It’s totally legitimate to have questions, because once you have IT machines, they do consume energy.”

But he emphasised that the new data centre project is in line with environmental regulations. “You have to understand that in France, you can’t just do whatever you want – thankfully.

“You can’t build a data centre without permission. And then there are audits to check that everything complies with regulations. Which is absolutely normal.”

For now, nothing is stopping the project from moving forward and the new centre is expected to be completed by 2026.

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This report was adapted from the original in French by Siam Spencer.

Al-Shabaab (“The Youth”) rose to prominence in Somalia in the early 2000s and aims to establish a “Greater Somalia”, joining ethnic Somalis across East Africa under strict Islamic rule.

It has allegedly become one of al-Qaeda’s strongest and most successful affiliates.

A joint United Nations and African Union peacekeeping force known as the African Union Transitional Mission to Somalia (ATMIS), along with the United States and several East African nations, have been actively trying to combat the movement, but it has proven resilient against numerous counterinsurgency campaigns.

RFI: Why have Shabaab militants been able to regain the ground they lost over the past three years?

Matt Bryden: Three years ago, the offensive against the Shabaab was led by clan militias that wanted to free themselves from Al-Shabaab. They received support from the federal government and from the Americans. But clan militias can only fight on their own clan territory. Once they had liberated their own areas, they could not advance any further. So the offensive was really a series of small, local operations by different clan militias, not a coherent, coordinated campaign.

RFI: And today, have these clan militias allied themselves with the Shabaab against the government?

MB: No. Most of them are still opposed to the Shabaab, especially in the areas where they fought them. But they are not necessarily allied with the government either. That is another major problem for the federal government: it is not just fighting the Shabaab, but also some of the provinces and regions of Somalia, which are themselves fighting Al-Shabaab. In reality, the government in Mogadishu controls at most 15 per cent of Somalia’s territory – and that’s a generous estimate.

RFI: Still, these are the first elections without attacks. Isn’t that a success for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud?

MB: Absolutely. There were voters at some polling stations, that’s true. But Somalia is a clan-based society. Members of clans that support the government turned out to vote, while other clans – those that support the opposition – did not. So the election risks deepening divisions between Somalia’s clans and regions: those that back the government, who are currently a minority, and those clans and regions that oppose it.

US launches air strikes against Islamic State targets in Somalia

RFI: President Hassan Sheikh Mohammed was beaming on Thursday during the elections. But the next day, Friday, he received very bad news. For the first time, the secessionist state of Somaliland was officially recognised by another country – Israel. Did that surprise you?

MB: For Somalia, certainly. It’s a very unwelcome surprise. Somaliland now risks receiving not only Israel’s recognition, but that of other countries as well. What Israel has done is clearly not an isolated initiative; it was coordinated with other states in Africa, with some Arab countries, and probably with the United States too.

RFI: You say other countries could follow. Two years ago, Ethiopia nearly recognised Somaliland’s independence, but eventually backed down under pressure from Somalia and Turkey.

MB: Yes, but Ethiopia’s move was not coordinated with other states and amounted to a declaration rather than formal recognition. This time, Israel has officially recognised Somaliland. From what I hear from diplomats in the region, Israel and other countries have been coordinating this decision for months, perhaps more than a year, so that Israel would not be alone. There are likely to be further recognitions in the weeks and months ahead.

With a new president, Somaliland seeks international recognition

RFI: The Israelis suggest that this recognition of Somaliland is in the spirit of the [2020] Abraham Accords, under which Israel normalised relations with countries including the United Arab Emirates and Morocco. Are the Americans perhaps behind this?

MB: Yes, absolutely. The Americans, especially since President Trump’s election, have signalled deep frustration with the situation in Somalia. They have spent billions of dollars on the country’s security, yet the situation is worse than before. As a result, the US has begun working directly with the regions of Jubaland and Puntland to fight Al-Shabaab and also Islamic State, which has been very active in north-eastern Puntland.

Relations with Somaliland are also deepening. The head of Africom, General Anderson, visited a few months ago. So it is fairly clear that the Americans see Somaliland as a potential partner, both to secure maritime routes in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, and to combat extremist movements in the Horn of Africa.

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This interview was adapted from the original in French and has been lightly edited for clarity.

Egypt revived the proposal during an emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Doha, held less than a week after Israeli strikes hit the Qatari capital on 9 September.

Cairo suggested uniting the armed forces of the 22 member states of the Arab League into a single alliance, with pooled resources, rotating leadership, a civilian secretary-general and consultations among members before any use of force.

At the same time, the Gulf Cooperation Council – made up of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar – said it intended to activate a clause in its joint defence agreement signed in 2000, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all.

Speaking at the summit on 15 September, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif urged Muslim countries to “form an Islamic NATO” to confront shared challenges. He said the goal should be mutual defence and not to target any specific country.

Soon after, Gulf defence ministers agreed to strengthen intelligence sharing, speed up work on a regional warning system for ballistic missiles and carry out joint military exercises, signalling a desire for a more coordinated response to external threats.

Turkey and Egypt’s joint naval drill signals shifting Eastern Med alliances

History of failed attempts

The idea of a collective defence organisation inspired by NATO is not new in the region.

In 1955, Iraq, Turkey, Pakistan, Iran and the United Kingdom created the Baghdad Pact. The United States joined in 1958 and it was renamed the Central Treaty Organization, or Cento, after Iraq withdrew on 24 March 1959.

Formed during the Cold War, the alliance aimed to contain communism by creating a belt of allied states along the Soviet Union’s southern and south-western borders.

In June 1957, French daily Le Monde described it as building “an effective barrier against a possible Soviet advance” and “a kind of Middle Eastern NATO” that would unify the defence resources of its members.

The pact was widely criticised, including by Arab states such as Syria and Egypt, and eventually collapsed in 1979.

Another alliance still exists.

The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) was launched in 2015 at Saudi Arabia’s initiative and today brings together 43 states from Bangladesh to Nigeria, as well as Turkey and Morocco. Iran and its Iraqi and Syrian allies were excluded from the outset.

At its creation, Saudi defence minister and deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman said the coalition reflected “the vigilance of the Islamic world in fighting [the] disease” of extremist ideology.

A joint statement said it was based on “the duty to protect the Islamic nation from the evils of terrorist groups and organisations… that spread death and corruption on Earth and aim to to terrorise the innocent”.

The coalition has shown that coordination between Muslim-majority states is possible, but its scope remains limited.

“The IMCTC shows that a pan-Islamic framework can exist and produce coordinated action through information sharing, training and ad hoc initiatives,” Yassine El Yattioui, a researcher at France’s Université Lumière Lyon II, told RFI.

The alliance was built around a narrow objective “focused on counter-terrorism”, he said. “There is no integrated military command, no mutual defence guarantee and no generalised interoperability.”

El Yattioui described it as “a useful precedent, but insufficient to reproduce an Arab NATO or an Islamic NATO”.

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Persistent divisions

The idea resurfaced again in the summer of 2022, when King Abdullah of Jordan said his country would support a NATO-style alliance among Middle East partners. He said such an alliance would need a “very, very clear mission” to avoid “confusion”.

The project never materialised.

Building a true Arab or Islamic NATO would be extremely difficult, El Yattioui said, because it would require ideological alignment, complimentary economies, compatible military equipment and political unity.

Arab states, though fewer than Muslim-majority countries overall, remain highly diverse and divided. A NATO-style structure would also require states to give up part of their military sovereignty, which for many is closely linked to how power is exercised at home.

Some countries look towards Brics, while others remain aligned with the Western bloc.

Despite these obstacles, looser alliances continue to form as the region adapts to new security challenges, pointing to a broader reshaping of the regional security order.

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Doubts about Washington

Since the Israeli strikes on Doha, Arab countries – especially in the Gulf – have increasingly questioned how far they can rely on the United States for protection, even though Gulf states host major US bases and around 40,000 US troops.

“What is the value of the American military umbrella if the United States itself is holding the knife?” the Arab Digest website asked.

Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani struck a sharp tone in his opening speech at the September emergency summit.

“Anyone who persistently and methodically works to assassinate the party they are negotiating with is seeking to sabotage negotiations,” he said. “For them, negotiations are just another part of the war.”

He also said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “dreams of turning the Arab region into an Israeli sphere of influence. That is a dangerous illusion”.

Two weeks later, on 29 September, US President Donald Trump signed an unprecedented defence agreement with Qatar, a day after Netanyahu issued a public apology to Doha over the strikes.

The executive order states that any attack on Qatar would be treated as a threat to US security, even as Washington remains Israel’s biggest ally in the region.

The strikes and doubts about US backing could accelerate Arab efforts to diversify their alliances, analysts warned.

Using force against a third state, especially a close US ally such as Israel, would carry “huge risks of escalation and major diplomatic consequences”, El Yattioui said.

“A military coalition can create pressure, but it will not replace negotiations, political guarantees and solutions that are acceptable to the populations concerned.”

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‘Extended deterrence’

Saudi Arabia has also moved to reinforce its security ties. Riyadh signed a strategic mutual defence agreement with its longtime partner Islamabad on 17 September, committing each country to defend the other in case of aggression.

Pakistan, a nuclear-armed state, thus extends its nuclear umbrella to Saudi Arabia.

After the deal, Iran said it was interested in joining the bilateral alliance, while Pakistan said it wanted similar agreements with other Arab states.

“This strategic pact is significant,” El Yattioui said. “It shows a search for extended deterrence and a willingness to diversify security guarantees.”

But he said a bilateral agreement could not create a coherent multilateral bloc. Any expansion would depend on shared interests such as common threats, economic and military incentives, domestic political acceptance and reactions from external actors including the United States, India and Iran.

Other arrangements are also emerging, including trilateral agreements between Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and Mauritania to create maritime corridors.

The final statement from the Doha summit recalled past Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation resolutions rejecting aggression against member states and reaffirming Arab-Islamic solidarity and collective security.

But the statement stopped short of launching a common military alliance. It remains largely symbolic, signalling unity to the outside world while each state continues to pursue its own alliances and priorities.

Any meaningful shift would need to happen gradually, El Yattioui said.

“The most realistic path is not copying a Western institutional model,” he added, but building cooperation step by step through “functional interdependence” in areas such as intelligence, cyber security and the economy.

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This story was adapted from the original version in French by RFI’s Anne Bernas.

The first thing you notice about Mary is her laughter – warm, loud, and quite unexpected from one who has faced death twice.

Inside a tiny tailoring shop in the town of Thika, near the Kenyan capital Nairobi, rolls of fabric spill off the shelves and sewing machines hum. Mary sits in one corner, yarn in hand, looping stitch after stitch with meditative focus.

Knitting was not always her livelihood, it was once just a childhood hobby, forgotten somewhere between raising three children and building a business. It only resurfaced in 2017, when her body forced her to slow down.

‘I felt like the world had slapped me’

That year, Mary was diagnosed with spinal cancer and was bedridden for 11 months. She remembers the silence in her house, the long days and the longer nights, and a mind restless with fear. In an attempt to escape it all, she reached for her knitting needles.

“I just needed something to keep my mind from sinking,” she says, her fingers absently tracing the rim of a basket full of yarn.

She began knitting hats and donating them to cancer patients at Kenyatta National Hospital.

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A year later, her cancer was back – this time, stage three breast cancer. Mary remembers the doctor’s voice fading into a blur as she was told the news.

“I felt like the world had slapped me,” she says. She turned off her phone and withdrew from her friends, telling her husband she didn’t want to speak to anyone. “Everything felt violent. Even the air.”

Her treatment was gruelling – a mastectomy, 33 rounds of radiotherapy, endless visits to the hospital. Her hair disappeared. Her savings vanished. The loan of $10,000 she had taken out to expand her small tailoring shop was swallowed up by medical bills.

‘A common wound’

But what cut deepest for Mary was the stigma around losing her breasts.

“People whispered. They called me ‘the woman whose breasts were cut’. Losing them, and your sense of dignity and womanhood… it’s not something you can prepare for,” she says.

When Mary was well enough to walk around the cancer ward, she saw other women draped in scarves and oversized jumpers, disguising the area where a breast used to be.

“The conversations revealed a common wound: stigma and silence,” she says.

Silicone prosthetic breasts cost far more than most of these women can afford. So Mary turned again to the thing that had got her through her illness – her knitting, But this time she had a different purpose in mind. 

She learned how to make soft yarn breast prostheses, mastered the technique with YouTube videos and long nights of trial and error.

“Knitting saved me mentally,” she says. “It pulled me from fear into purpose.”

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Small shop, big dreams

Today, Mary’s tailoring shop is more than a business, it’s a sanctuary.

As the staff work the machines, Mary sits by the window knitting prosthesis after prosthesis – round, soft and colourful. She sells them for 1,500 shillings each, and organisations buy them in bulk to donate to cancer survivors.

She has now made more than 600 prostheses and more than 450 hats, and the orders just keep coming.

Every week, Mary also holds classes teaching women – many of whom are fellow survivors – how to knit the prostheses, in order to earn an income.

The Moroccan women artists harnessing the creative power of crafts

Hannah Nungari Mugo is a former vegetable seller, who says she felt her identity fade away after her 2019 mastectomy.

“People treated me like a broken thing,” she says. Knitting gave her something to hold on to, and she now makes around even prostheses a week.

Mary Patricia Karobia, who had a liver transplant, says she too knows what that stigma feels like. “I heard people whisper about my liver being removed.” For her, knitting is about healing, and showing others her strength.

Mary hopes one day to be able to train women throughout Kenya, but space and finances are standing in her way for now.

“Cancer took a lot from me,” she says, looking down at the colourful prostheses on her table. “But it also gave me purpose. And I want to pass that purpose on.”

Doumbouya, 41, secured just under 87 percent of the vote in the first round, comfortably above the threshold required to avoid a run-off, the General Directorate of Elections said on Tuesday.

Turnout was put at almost 81 percent, a figure that suggests strong participation despite calls from parts of the opposition to stay away from the polls.

The general faced eight rivals in the weekend vote, but Guinea’s most prominent opposition leaders were barred from standing under new constitutional rules and had urged supporters to boycott what they described as a foregone conclusion.

Early results showed Doumbouya winning decisively across much of the country. In some districts of the capital, Conakry, he took more than 80 percent of the vote, according to partial tallies read out by election chief Djenabou Touré on state broadcaster RTG.

However, the scale of the victory was swiftly challenged by critics. The National Front for the Defence of the Constitution, a citizens’ movement campaigning for a return to civilian rule, said a “huge majority of Guineans chose to boycott the electoral charade”.

Doumbouya came to power in September 2021 after leading a coup that ousted Alpha Condé, Guinea’s first freely elected president.

At the time, he promised a swift transition back to civilian rule and said he would not run for office himself.

Since the coup, the junta has tightened its grip on power. Protests have been banned, civil liberties curtailed and a number of opponents arrested, prosecuted or pushed into exile.

Guinea votes in presidential election expected to cement Doumbouya’s rule

‘Electoral banditry’

Several of Doumbouya’s rivals also questioned the conduct of the vote. Candidate Abdoulaye Yero Balde cited “serious irregularities”, including the refusal to allow his representatives into vote-counting centres and allegations of ballot stuffing in some areas.

Another contender, Faya Millimono, complained of “electoral banditry”, which he said involved undue influence being exerted on voters.

The election follows a constitutional referendum held in late September, in which Guineans approved a new basic law allowing members of the ruling junta to run for office.

The revised constitution also extended presidential terms from five to seven years, renewable once – changes that cleared the path for Doumbouya to run.

Guinea’s presidential candidates hold final rallies before vote

The same rules excluded several heavyweight opposition figures. Former prime minister Cellou Dalein Diallo was barred because he lives in exile and has his main residence outside Guinea.

Condé and another former prime minister, Sidya Touré, were ruled ineligible on age grounds, as both are over the newly imposed age limit of 80.

(with newswires)

Travellers trying to cross between London and mainland Europe in the run-up to the New Year were left scrambling on Tuesday after all Eurostar services linking the UK capital with Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels were postponed.

Eurostar said services had restarted but warned that problems could continue.

“Services have resumed today following a power issue in the Channel Tunnel yesterday and some further issues with rail infrastructure overnight,” the operator said.

“We plan to run all of our services today, however due to knock-on impacts there may still be some delays and possible last-minute cancellations.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Eurostar advised customers to postpone their journeys, warning of severe delays and the risk of last-minute cancellations.

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Crowds stranded

Eurostar’s booking site showed that some services on the continent not using the Channel Tunnel, including trains between Paris and Brussels, were also cancelled during the day.

Alongside the power supply problem, a failed LeShuttle train in the tunnel added to the disruption. The tunnel is the 50-kilometre undersea rail link between Folkestone in southeast England and Coquelles in northern France.

As the scale of the disruption became clear, crowds of stranded passengers, many hauling suitcases, built up at St Pancras International in London and at Gare du Nord in Paris. For many, end-of-year holiday plans were thrown into doubt.

“I’m disappointed. We were going to do New Year’s Eve in Paris,” said Jessica, a 21-year-old business coordinator travelling with three friends. “We are going to see if we can find another ticket. Otherwise we will stay in London.”

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Rising pressure

The disruption comes at a time of high demand for Eurostar. A record 19.5 million passengers travelled with the operator last year, up nearly 5 percent on 2023, boosted by visitors attending the Olympics and Paralympics in Paris.

Eurostar has held a monopoly on passenger services through the Channel Tunnel since it opened in 1994, but competition could be coming.

British entrepreneur Richard Branson has vowed to launch a rival service, while Italy’s Trenitalia has said it plans to compete on the Paris–London route by 2029.

Tuesday’s disruption is the latest in a series of incidents that have focused attention on Eurostar’s reliability and pricing, particularly on the Paris-London line.

An electrical fault forced widespread cancellations and delays in August, while cable thefts on tracks in northern France caused two days of disruption in June.

LeShuttle, which operates vehicle-carrying trains between Folkestone and Calais, said its services were also affected by the tunnel incident.

(with newswires)

Ismael Gharbi gave Tunisia the lead from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time. But Feisal Salum levelled just after the restart in the Group C match at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah Annex. 

And Miguel Gamondi’s men hung on for the stalemate that carried them through as one of the four best third-placed sides to the next phase, where they will play the hosts Morocco.

Tunisia finished as runners-up and will take on Mali for a place in the quarter-finals.

“We did not have enough time to prepare the team, but worked together with the federation,” said Gamondi.

“I feel very proud, not just for myself, but for the country. I wanted to change this mentality of Tanzania always being underdogs. To qualify is great for Tanzania. I hope this success will be a reminder to these players and the next generation of players of the potential of Tanzanian football.”

Uganda coach Put urges squad to take heart from underdog status against Nigeria

Uganda also had the chance to reach the last 16, but they fluffed their lines with a ragged display during a 3-1 defeat to Nigeria at the Stade de Fes.

After Paul Onuachu slotted in the opener in the 28th minute for the Nigerians, Uganda imploded.

Omar Salim, who had come on for the injured goalkeeper Denis Onyango midway through the first half, was dismissed for handling the ball outside the penalty area in the 57th minute.

Raphael Onyedika hit Nigeria’s second soon after, and the midfielder bagged his brace midway through the second half to earn himself a man of the match award.

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“This is the kind of thing I’ve been working all my life for and it has finally come true,” said the 24-year-old, who plays at Club Brugge in Belgium’s top flight.

Uganda coach Paul Put hailed his players despite the loss. “As soon as we went down to 10 men it made things even harder,” said the 69-year-old Belgian, who led Burkina Faso to the Africa Cup of Nations final in 2013. “It is not that we didn’t want to win but you could see the quality of the Nigerians in the duels.”

Morocco launch 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with victory over doughty Comoros

“That was the big difference,” he added. “And we have a young team and very few of them have played at the Cup of Nations so we are lacking in maturity.”

Nigeria finished top, with nine points from three wins. “It was a game where we tried to change some things and tried to do some other things,” said their coach Eric Chelle.

“I’m happy with how it went but we have to improve again. If we want to be ambitious and go far, we have to improve again.”

Senegal claimed Group D following a 3-0 waltz past Benin. Abdoulaye Seck and Habib Diallo were on the mark either side of the break to give the 2021 champions control at the Stade Ibn-Batouta in Tangier.

But Senegal went down to 10 men after skipper Kalidou Koulibaly was sent off for a tackle on Aiyegun Tosin.

Despite the numerical advantage, Benin could not mount a recovery and Senegal substitute Cherif Ndiaye completed the romp with a penalty in second-half stoppage time.

Veteran midfielder Gael Kakuta bagged a brace as the Democratic Republic of Congo took second spot in the pool, with a 3-0 victory over Botswana.

Nathanael Mbuku struck just after the half-hour mark at the Stade Al Barid in Rabat and Kakuta added the second from the penalty spot just before half time.

He added his side’s third after 60 minutes to send the 2023 semi-finalists into a last-16 clash with the Group E winners Algeria.

Put away your dancing shoes

Paul Put threw down the gauntlet: vanquish Nigeria and qualify for the last 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and I will invite you to dance with me. However, not even this prospect could motivate his players. They laboured and lost to a Nigeria side featuring four men who had not yet played at the competition. One of them, Raphael Onyedika, bagged a brace in the 3-1 win at the Stade de Fes.

Hype man

Victor Osimhen skippered Nigeria against Uganda in the absence of Wilfred Ndidi, and the star striker was his usual effervescent self on the field. Off it, he gave encouragement to Raphael Onyedika, who collected the man of the match award after scoring twice. Osimhen prodded the 24-year-old Club Brugge midfielder towards reporters and kept watch, while singing his praises himself.

“Onyedika has been one of our best players,” Osimhen told reporters. “He doesn’t get the hype he deserves. He’s a talented player and for the kind of performance he’s just given, he deserves to be in the spotlight.”

Happy headache

On the eve of the tie between Nigeria and Uganda, the former’s coach Eric Chelle spoke about the task of coaching the finest players from a country of more than 200 million people.

Following their 3-1 win over Uganda, Chelle said: “The team worked hard. The group gave a good answer because the players who hadn’t started games were in the team from the beginning and they showed something. I’m very happy for that. So now I have a little pain in my head because I have to make a lot of choices. Everybody can play in the team and it’s perfect for me.” A welcome problem for the 48-year-old former Mali international.

Tanzania triumph

While Uganda were messing up their chance in Fez to move into the last 16 knockout stages, Tanzania came from behind to draw 1-1 with Tunisia in Rabat and reach the second phase for the first time.

Their debut at the Cup of Nations came in 1980, when it was an eight-team affair. Their second appearance arrived 39 years later in Egypt, at the first competition to include 24 sides. There they lost all three matches in the group stages.

It was a better showing in Cote d’Ivoire two years ago. They drew two matches and lost the other during the pool stages. In Morocco, Tanzania secured one of the four places for the best third-placed teams.

Hero time

And with that, Miguel Gamondi has become the first coach to steer a team from Tanzania to the knockout stages at the Africa Cup of Nations. “I am proud of Tanzania and the players,” beamed the 59-year-old Argentine. “My goal was for our team not to feel inferior to the other teams. We have a good generation.”

The calibre of those players will be tested when they face hosts Morocco in the last 16. “We did our best against Tunisia and we know what we need to do in the next game to stop the problems,” he added. “Against Morocco, it will be a huge match with a lot of pressure.”

Paris townhall has called on the police prefecture to put the plan into place over the weekend, referring to the “dramatic” situation of the several thousand homeless people in and around the city.

The Île-de-France prefecture announced the plan was necessary “given the latest weather forecasts from Météo-France for the coming days” and “the continued sub-zero temperatures at night”.

The emergency winter plan allows for extended opening hours for daytime reception centres, increased outreach patrols and the requisitioning of premises to create emergency shelters for the homeless.

The prefecture said new spaces would be opened in addition to the 46,200 shelter spaces “made available year-round”, and the 300 additional spaces that have been opened for the entire winter period in Paris.

Firefighters in the capital confirmed the death of a man on Sunday evening, who likely died from exposure. His body was discovered on a public road in northwest Paris. A review of CCTV footage showed he had been lying motionless on the ground in the same position since that morning.

The deceased, whose age was not specified, was identified by the manager of a nearby Emmaus shelter where he was staying, a police source said.

On top of what public services provide, many homeless people turn to local charities which organise distributions of clothing and food at several places around the city, including the Gare de l’Est train station and Place de la République.

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Keeping warm and fed

Every evening, 52-year-old Sylvain checks the weather forecast on his phone. “We look at the temperatures to know how to prepare,” he told French news agency AFP as he collected a sleeping bag and spare clothes from a charity.

Sylvain layers six garments on his upper body for insulation: a T-shirt, a sweater, a fleece, a vest and two jackets. “The trick is to leave air between the layers. If you’re too tight, the insulation doesn’t work very well,” he explains.

“If you stop, you let the cold seep into your bones. As long as we’re walking, we’re generating our own warmth,” 50-year-old Danish, originally from Pakistan, adds.

According to Météo-France, the cold weather will persist in the coming days in the Paris region, with temperatures below freezing at night and not exceeding 4C during the day.

Charity warns one in three French people struggle to afford three meals a day

The regional prefecture said that as well as increasing outreach patrols and extending opening hours of day centres, it would make hotel rooms available for families.

“Some day centres will also open as overnight shelters,” the statement said, adding that 60 single women will be accommodated from Monday “in the regional prefecture building” located in the 15th arrondissement of Paris.

Several departments in the greater Paris area have already activated this plan and others are expected to follow, with some 30 departments across France having already activated their emergency cold weather procedures.

The ban had been due to take effect on 1 January. But a decree published in the Official Journal on Tuesday said a review carried out this year raised concerns about the “technical feasibility of eliminating plastic from cups”, prompting the delay.

The ministries for ecological transition and for the economy said a new review will be carried out in 2028 to assess “progress made in replacing single-use plastic cups”.

When the ban comes into force on 1 January, 2030, companies will have 12 months to sell off existing stock.

The decree added that, depending on the outcome of the 2028 review, cups still allowed after 2030 would be those that “do not contain plastic, or only traces”. It said the deadline could still be revised based on those findings.

France has gradually introduced bans on single-use plastic products over the past decade, as environmental groups issue warnings over pollution in rivers and oceans.

A law passed in 2020 set a target of eliminating all single-use plastics by 2040.

The mammoth task of mapping and removing plastic waste from Aldabra atoll

Environmental backlash

The postponement drew criticism from environmental organisations, which accused the government of retreating under pressure.

“This is yet another step backwards in the fight against plastic pollution, under pressure from lobbies,” said Manon Richert, spokesperson for Zero Waste France.

She told French news agency AFP the government’s argument was weak because “solutions like reuse and refill already exist” and “must be rolled out through investment and an appropriate regulatory framework”.

French rules already limit the amount of plastic in disposable cups. Since 2024, the maximum content allowed has been set at 8 percent, down from 15 percent until 2022.

Many cups sold as cardboard rely on a thin plastic film to make them rigid and waterproof. Despite progress, the technology for plastic-free cups “remains generally insufficient” for large-scale use, the Ministry for Ecological Transition said.

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Rules often ignored

The government’s DGCCRF consumer protection agency said in a report released in 2024 that almost one in five of around 100 companies checked in 2023 were breaching rules on single-use plastic items.

Investigators said some firms marketed products as plastic-free even though they still contained plastic, while others changed product names to get around existing bans.

In early December, France Nature Environnement and the NGO Surfrider formally demanded that several retailers, including Amazon, Métro and La Foir’Fouille, withdraw banned plastic products from sale. Some retailers have since removed the items.

Across all uses, each person in France consumes an average of nearly 70 kilogrammes of plastic per year.

The Independent Electoral Commission said the Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) won 197 of the 255 seats – 34 more than in the outgoing National Assembly.

Ouattara won his fourth mandate in October with nearly 90 percent of the vote – in a presidential election that excluded the two main opposition figures, who were removed from electoral lists.

In power since 2011, Ouattara will now have control over all of the country’s institutions, as his party has an even larger majority in the Senate and leads in 80 percent of regions.

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Low turnout

Saturday’s turnout at the parliamentary elections was 35 percent – two points lower than in 2021. Turnout was also low at the presidential elections, with one in two voters abstaining.

As expected, the RHDP party swept the country in the north, its historical stronghold dominated by Ouattara’s Malinke ethnic group, with scores sometimes at 100 percent.

But the party also consolidated its foothold in the southern and western regions, which have historically been favourable to the opposition.

Young voters in Côte d’Ivoire want jobs, change – but most of all, peace

Boycott

The main opposition Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI-RDA), led by Tidjane Thiam, saw its number of parliamentary seats halved from 66 to 32.

Jean-Claude Agnéro, a member of the Political Bureau for PDCI, said this result stemmed from “a problem of internal leadership” within the party.

“Within our ranks, there is turmoil, dissidents, and this has caused us harm,” he told RFI’s correspondent in Abidjan. As a result, “some PDCI members expressed their discontent by not voting for the party,” he said.

Another deputy, who chose to speak anonymously, told RFI that the party had “a bad strategy”, adding that several influential activists, such as Maurice Kakou Guikahué, were excluded from the party list.

Women march into the fray but power still lags in Côte d’Ivoire

The other major opposition party, the African People’s Party – Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI) of former president Laurent Gbagbo, had called for a boycott of the election and did not field any candidates.

Twenty-three members of parliament were elected as independents, but many are dissidents from the RHDP who could vote with the majority for the next five years.

The head of the electoral commission, Ibrahime Kuibiert Coulibaly, said the vote was “generally conducted in accordance with the laws and regulations in force, notwithstanding some acts of violence and irregularities which had no bearing on the integrity of the electoral process”.

(with AFP)

Countries at the United Nations raised concerns over whether Israel’s recognition of Somaliland could lead to the future relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the establishment of military bases there.

Israel announced on Friday that it was officially recognising Somaliland, becoming the first country to do so since the self-proclaimed republic declared in 1991 that it had unilaterally separated from Somalia.

Somaliland, which has for decades pushed for international recognition, holds a strategic position on the Gulf of Aden and has its own money, passport and army.

Israel’s recognition of Somaliland ‘is not an isolated initiative’: expert

Regional backlash

Israel’s move was criticised by the African Union, Egypt, Turkey, the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council and the Saudi-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. The European Union said Somalia’s sovereignty should be respected.

Arab League UN Ambassador Maged Abdelfattah Abdelaziz told the UN Security Council on Monday that the 22-member regional organisation rejects “any measures arising from this illegitimate recognition aimed at facilitating forced displacement of the Palestinian people or exploiting northern Somali ports to establish military bases”.

Pakistan’s deputy UN ambassador Muhammad Usman Iqbal Jadoon echoed the criticism, telling the council that the recognition of Somaliland was “unlawful”.

He said Israel’s past references to Somaliland as a possible destination for Palestinians were “deeply troubling”, especially in relation to Gaza.

Somalia holds first local elections in decades, amid tight security

‘Double standards’

The US defended Israel’s right to recognise Somaliland at the meeting, comparing it to the recognition of a Palestinian state by several countries.

“Israel has the same right to conduct diplomatic relations as any other sovereign state,” Tammy Bruce, the deputy US ambassador to the UN, said during the session.

She added that earlier this year several countries had chosen to recognise what she described as a “nonexistent Palestinian state”, accusing council members of applying “double standards”.

Despite defending Israel’s decision, US President Donald Trump has said he opposes recognition of Somaliland. Bruce told the council on Monday that “there has been no change in American policy”.

UN Security Council approves international force for Gaza

Somalia response

As one of the current members of the Security Council, Somalia’s ambassador Abukar Osman condemned Israel’s recognition.

“This act of aggression is aimed at encouraging fragmentation of the territory of Somalia,” he said, urging the UN to reject the move.

He said he spoke for other council members Algeria, Guyana and Sierra Leone who “unequivocally reject any steps aimed at advancing this objective, including any attempt by Israel to relocate the Palestinian population from Gaza to the northwestern region of Somalia”.

Osman said he was speaking on behalf of fellow council members Algeria, Guyana and Sierra Leone, who he said “unequivocally reject any steps aimed at advancing this objective, including any attempt by Israel to relocate the Palestinian population from Gaza to the northwestern region of Somalia”.

Several member states reaffirmed their support for Somalia’s unity without directly naming Israel. UK ambassador James Kariuki said Britain supported “the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of Somalia”.

Israel‘s coalition government, the most right-wing and religiously conservative in its history, includes far-right politicians who advocate the annexation of both Gaza and the West Bank and encouraging Palestinians to leave their homeland.

But Israel’s Deputy UN Ambassador Jonathan Miller told the council the choice to recognise Somaliland “was not a hostile step towards Somalia, nor does it preclude future dialogue between the parties. Recognition is not an act of defiance. It is an opportunity,” he said.

Israel said last week it would seek immediate cooperation with Somaliland in agriculture, health, technology and the economy. Somaliland hopes the move will encourage other countries to follow, boosting its diplomatic standing and access to global markets.

(with newswires)

An official decree appeared in France’s government gazette dated 27 December. It confirms an ambition Clooney mentioned earlier in December, when he praised French privacy laws that protect his family from paparazzi.

“I love the French culture, your language, even if I’m still bad at it after 400 days of courses,” the 64-year-old actor said on RTL, a commercial radio station, speaking in English.

“Here, they don’t take photos of kids. There aren’t any paparazzi hidden at the school gates. That’s number one for us,” he said.

The now-dual US-French citizen has a long attachment to Europe, which even pre-dates his 2014 marriage to Amal, a British-Lebanese human rights lawyer who speaks fluent French.

Multiple homes

Clooney owns an estate in Italy’s picturesque Lake Como region, purchased in 2002, and he and Amal bought a historic manor in England.

Their property in southern France – a former wine estate called the Domaine du Canadel, near the village of Brignoles – was purchased in 2021.

They also own a New York apartment and a property in Kentucky, but reportedly sold homes in Los Angeles and Mexico over the past decade.

France’s share of foreigners lower than in most EU countries

They are parents to eight-year-old twins.

Clooney said on RTL that although the family travels frequently, their French home “is where we’re happiest”.

Clooney is also a director and producer, and has two Oscars to put on whichever mantlepiece suits: one for best supporting actor in 2006’s Syriana and as a producer on 2012’s Argo.

On top of his cinema pay cheques, he has raked in millions for celebrity endorsements, including for Nespresso, and got a windfall pay-out for selling his stake in a tequila brand.

Clooney is not the only Hollywood luminary to want to go French: US director Jim Jarmusch on Friday told France Inter radio that he plans to apply for French nationality.

“I would like a place that will allow me to escape from the United States,” he said, also saying he was attracted to French culture.

(with AFP)

The agreement seeks to “accelerate the growth” of Trenitalia France and “consolidate its presence in France, the United Kingdom and cross-border markets,” the partners said in a statement.

Trenitalia France, a passenger subsidiary of Ferrovie dello Stato (FS), plans to expand its fleet to at least 19 trains, as well as to open a maintenance facility outside Paris and offer increased service capacity on existing routes, including Paris to Lyon, from a current nine daily services to 14.

Trenitalia France also intends to compete with Eurostar on the latter’s Paris-London route by 2029 and is planning to invest €1 billion in its routes in the UK, as well as France.

FS is scaling up its ambitions at a time when high-speed rail services are expanding amid intensified cross-border competition.

Eurostar named Europe’s worst rail service while Italy’s Trenitalia leads the way

SNCF competition

The Italian operator is also considering moving in on the Paris-Brussels route, the group indicated during a presentation of its strategic plan earlier in December.

It has been in direct competition with French state rail network SNCF for four years, offering services from Paris to Lyon, Marseille, and Milan – without these as yet being profitable.

Certares’s activities focus on travel and tourism, hospitality, business and consumer services, and Trenitalia France also intends to improve its services distribution through agreements with companies within the Certares portfolio – including business and leisure travel agencies CWT, Ovation, Egencia, Havas Voyages and Selectour.

In the coming year, Trenitalia France plans to focus on consolidating and retaining customers in France, hoping to boost occupancy rates on its TGV trains, its management said.

(with newswires)

The sum represents a fraction of previous US contributions but is presented as a generous commitment designed to preserve America’s position as the world’s largest humanitarian donor.

The money will be placed in a central fund and distributed to UN agencies under a new system of stricter oversight, a key condition of Washington’s push for sweeping reform that has alarmed aid groups and forced deep cuts to services.

In recent years, total US humanitarian funding for UN-backed programmes has reached as much as €14.4 billion annually, according to UN data, of which €7– 9 billion came as voluntary contributions. Critics argue the drastic cut risks worsening hunger, displacement and disease and undermines US soft power overseas. 

“We are watching the lifeline for millions of people disintegrate before our eyes,” according to Cindy McCain, executive director of the World Food Program.

Turbulent year

The announcement caps a turbulent year for UN bodies such as the WFP, the refugee agency UNHCR and the International Organisation for Migration, all of which have faced severe budget strain following massive US aid reductions.

Other western donors, including Britain and Germany, have also reduced contributions.

The new pledge forms part of a preliminary agreement with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), headed by former British diplomat Tom Fletcher.

UN to assess refugee strategy, funding at global forum

Despite global needs soaring – with famine declared in parts of Sudan and Gaza and extreme weather disasters displacing thousands – OCHA has been forced to lower its fundraising targets.

The US seeks what officials describe as “more consolidated leadership authority” in how aid is delivered.

Under the plan, OCHA will act as a central conduit for funding rather than separate US allocations to individual agencies.

“This humanitarian reset should deliver more aid with fewer tax dollars,” said US ambassador to the UN, Michael Waltz.

Reduce bureaucratic overhead

According to the State Department, “the agreement requires the UN to consolidate humanitarian functions to reduce bureaucratic overhead, unnecessary duplication, and ideological creep”.

“Individual UN agencies will need to adapt, shrink, or die,” the statement said.

It called the arrangement “a critical step” in reforming how humanitarian operations are funded and monitored.

UN food agency warns aid cuts risk pushing 13.7 million people into extreme hunger

Initially, the funds will focus on 17 countries, including Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Syria and Ukraine. Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories are not on the list, with US officials saying they will be addressed under Trump’s proposed Gaza peace plan.

The United Nations estimates that some 240 million people – in conflict zones, suffering from epidemics, or victims of natural disasters and climate change – are in need of emergency aid.

In 2025, the UN’s appeal for more than €38 billion was only funded to the €10 billion mark, the lowest in a decade.

That only allowed it to help 98 million people, 25 million fewer than the year before.

(With newswires)

The 25-year-old man was arrested on Friday, suspected of stabbing three women in the Paris metro.

In a statement issued on Friday evening, the Interior Ministry said the alleged attacker was a Malian citizen imprisoned in January 2024 for aggravated theft and sexual assault.

He had been issued with an order (known as a OQTF) to leave France after being released in July.

The man had been placed in an administrative detention centre but failure to obtain a consular travel document required for his deportation had meant he was released after 90 days, as required by law, the statement said.

Legal resident

However, investigators since discovered that the suspect was in possession of a French passport, the Interior Ministry said on Monday, confirming reports by RTL radio.

The suspect obtained French nationality in 2018, a source close to the enquiry told French news agency AFP.

“At no point did he mention this nationality in the various proceedings he has faced over the past three years – trials, appearances before the judge for liberties and detention,” the ministry added.

“At this stage of the checks, there is nothing to call into question the fact that he is French,” the same source said, stressing that “the verifications are currently under way”.

Sexual harrassment in French public transport on the rise: report

Mentally unstable

The suspect was released from custody on Saturday evening for psychiatric reasons, according to the Paris public prosecutor’s office, after his state of health was “considered incompatible” with police custody. 

He was taken to a psychiatric hospital, prosecutors said.

The man is suspected of having lightly injured the three women on Friday afternoon on line 3 of the Paris metro before fleeing the scene.

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

He was identified thanks to CCTV footage and later arrested in Val-d’Oise, north of Paris, using the geolocation of his mobile phone, the prosecutor’s office said.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez last week called for “maximum vigilance” during the festive season in a message to senior officials due to what he said was a “very high level of the terrorist threat” and “the risk of public disorder”.

Nunez specifically asked for particular attention to be paid to security on public transport.

(with newswires)

El-Fasher, the capital of the North Darfur State, fell to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in October after more than 500 days of siege.

For the first time in nearly two years, a small UN humanitarian team was able to make a short visit last Friday.

The capture of the city was reportedly accompanied by mass atrocities, including massacres, torture and sexual violence. Satellite pictures reviewed by French news agency AFP show what appear to be mass graves.

Brown described the city as a “crime scene”, but said investigations would be carried out by human rights experts while her office focuses on restoring aid to the survivors.

“We weren’t able to see any of the detainees, and we believe there are detainees,” she said in an interview with AFP.

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

‘Ghost of its former self’

From a humanitarian point of view, she said, El-Fasher remains Sudan‘s “epicentre of human suffering” and the city – which once held more than a million people – is still facing a famine.

“El-Fasher is a ghost of its former self,” Brown said.

“We don’t have enough information yet to conclude how many people remain there, but we know large parts of the city are destroyed. The people who remain, their homes have been destroyed.”

“These people are living in very precarious situations,” warned Brown, a Canadian diplomat and the United Nations‘ humanitarian coordinator in Sudan.  

“Some of them in abandoned buildings. Some of them… in very rudimentary conditions, plastic sheeting, no sanitation, no water. So these are very undignified, unsafe conditions for people.” 

Death toll from RSF attack rises to 60 in Sudan’s El-Fasher: activists

‘Nothing good’ 

Since April 2023, Sudan has been gripped by a conflict between the regular army and its former allies the RSF that has triggered a humanitarian catastrophe.

Brown said that the team “negotiated hard with the RSF” to obtain access, and managed to look around and visit a hard-pressed hospital and some abandoned UN premises – but only for a few hours.

Their movements were also limited by fears of unexploded ordnance and mines left behind from nearly two years of fighting.

The Saudi hospital was still standing, with some medical staff present, but has run out of supplies.

UN human rights council orders investigation into atrocities in Sudan

“There was one small market operating, mostly with produce that comes from surrounding areas, so tomatoes, onions, potatoes,” she said.

“Very small quantities, very small bags, which tells you that people can’t afford to buy more.”

“There is a declared famine in El-Fasher. We’ve been blocked from going in. So there’s nothing good about what’s happened in El-Fasher.

The war in Sudan has killed tens of thousands of people, driven 11 million from their homes and has caused what the UN has declared “the world’s worst humanitarian disaster“.

(with AFP)

The Interior Ministry recorded 538 cases in 2025, an 11 percent rise from the previous year.

The thefts often involve small churches that are easy to access and poorly protected. Higher gold prices have also increased the value of some of the objects being stolen.

Three men were convicted on Friday for around 30 thefts from churches in northern and eastern France.

They received prison sentences, some of them suspended, after stealing cultural objects with the help of a second-hand dealer.

Hadrien Lacoste, vice president of France’s Observatory for Religious Heritage, told RFI the thefts cover different types of crime.

“The theft of collection boxes and donations is what we would call petty larceny,” he said. “Then there is a second type of theft, involving art objects that are often made from precious materials and often signed by major goldsmiths.”

These objects are works of art rather than everyday religious items, Lacoste added.

Louvre museum closed as staff continue strike over working conditions

Objects sought from abroad

Stolen religious objects are resold at flea markets or through antique dealers in France. Some are also sold outside the country.

“The Catholic Church, for example in Asia, is very dynamic, with patrons who are willing to support these communities by buying high-quality religious objects,” Lacoste said. “That’s why these objects today are closely watched from abroad.”

Because churches built after 1905 fall under the responsibility of mayors, Lacoste is calling for greater awareness of the value of what he described as shared and local heritage.

“There needs to be a real awareness of the value of this shared and local heritage, which must be preserved, showcased and secured,” he said.

Proposed measures to tackle the problem include drawing up detailed inventories for each church and installing protective display cases for valuable objects.

Hello everyone!

This week on The Sound Kitchen, you’ll hear a “My Ordinary Hero” essay by listener Rasheed Naz from Faisal Abad, Pakistan.  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 Rashid Naz’s essay:

Heroes are not always found in stories or movies. Sometimes they live among us, quietly working to make our world a better place. My “ordinary” hero is a community leader in our town, someone who has taught me that real heroism comes from serving others with kindness and courage.

Our community leader, Mr. Ahmed, is not rich or powerful, but he has a heart full of compassion. He organizes clean up drives, helps poor families, and encourages young people to stay in school. Whenever there is a problem – a sick neighbor, a broken road, or a family in need – he is the first to step forward. His actions remind us that small efforts can bring big changes.

What I admire most about him is his humility. He never seeks fame or reward. When people thank him, he simply says, “We are all responsible for our community.” Those words inspire me. He believes that leadership means service, not authority, and he proves it every day through his actions.

To many people, he might seem like an ordinary man. But to me, he is a true hero – a symbol of dedication, honesty, and hope. Because of him, I’ve learned that anyone can be a hero, not by wearing a cape, but by using their heart to make a difference.

That is why my “ordinary” hero is our community leader Mr Ahmed, a man whose quiet strength and selfless service continue to inspire us all.

 

 

Be sure and tune in next week for our annual New Year’s Resolutions program! Talk to you then!

Trump is due to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 29 December in Florida.

The meeting is the latest attempt to revive the Gaza plan, which aims to move from a ceasefire towards the creation of a new governing arrangement in Gaza, the deployment of an international force and the disarmament of Hamas.

On Friday, Turkish and Egyptian officials met their US counterparts in Miami.

With a ceasefire in place in Gaza, Washington is pushing the next phase of its plan, which would include Turkish troops in an International Stabilisation Force.

From Washington’s perspective, Turkey’s involvement is considered essential to the plan, said Asli Aydintasbas of the Brookings Institution.

Turkey and Iran unite against Israel as regional power dynamics shift

Israeli objections

Hamas disarmament depends on the creation of a new Palestinian governing entity and the presence of international peacekeepers, with Turkey acting as a guarantor, Aydintasbas said.

“Without Turkey in this process, decommissioning Hamas weapons would not occur. That is implicit in the agreement.”

Turkey’s close ties with Hamas are well known, with senior Hamas figures reportedly hosted in Turkey. While Turkey’s Western allies label Hamas a terrorist group, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said its members are liberation fighters.

Trump has publicly thanked Ankara for using its influence to encourage Hamas to accept the peace plan.

Israel opposes any Turkish military presence in Gaza, fearing Turkey would support Hamas rather than disarm it.

Israel is also concerned about cyber attacks attributed to Hamas operating from Turkish territory and doubts Turkey would act in Israel’s interests, said Gallia Lindenstrauss, a Turkey analyst at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv.

“There’s a risk of an accident between Israeli and Turkish forces, given the already high tensions and suspicions. It’s hard to see a positive outcome,” she said.

Israel has struggled to persuade Trump to back its position. “The US has its own priorities, and is receptive to Ankara due to strong Trump-Erdogan relations,” Lindenstrauss added.

Turkey ready to help rebuild Gaza, but tensions with Israel could be a barrier

Turkey’s position

Erdogan, who has cultivated close ties with Trump, has said Turkey is ready to send soldiers to Gaza. Reports have claimed Turkey has a brigade on standby for deployment.

Turkey’s relationship with Hamas is a “double-edged sword”, said Ozgur Unluhisarcikli, head of the German Marshall Fund office in Ankara. From Israel’s point of view, Turkey is too close to Hamas, but “if you want to contribute to disarming them, dialogue is needed”.

Any Gaza mission would be risky, but the Turkish army has decades of experience, Unluhisarcikli said. “It has a proven track record in terms of post-conflict stabilisation from the Balkans to Afghanistan. They have proven they can operate in such environments.”

Despite strained diplomatic ties, the Turkish and Israeli militaries still maintain open communication. The two countries operate a hotline to avoid clashes between their air forces over Syria, demonstrating continued military coordination despite political tensions.

Turkey warns Kurdish-led fighters in Syria to join new regime or face attack

Regional doubts

Egypt and Saudi Arabia distrust Turkey’s ties with Hamas and question its intentions in Gaza, Unluhisarcikli said, with concerns that echo memories of Ottoman-era rule.

On Monday, US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack met Netanyahu in an effort to ease Israeli concerns. However, prospects for a breakthrough are likely to depend on this month’s meeting between Netanyahu and Trump.

Incentives may be offered to encourage Israel to accept Turkey’s role, but the issue is unlikely to be resolved that way, said Asli Aydintasbas of the Brookings Institution.

“Because this is such a fundamental and existential issue for Israel, I don’t think incentives will work,” she said.

“As to whether or not Trump would go so far as to withhold military or financial aid, it would be very unlikely. Rather, it may just let this situation sort of fester. I don’t think the Americans have a clear plan to push forward if the answer from Netanyahu is to say no.”

Hello everyone! Merry Christmas!

This is Alberto Rios’ poem, which you heard him read on the programme.

Christmas on the Border, 1929

1929, the early days of the Great Depression.

The desert air was biting, but the spirit of the season was alive.

Despite hard times, the town of Nogales, Arizona, determined

They would host a grand Christmas party

For the children in the area—a celebration that would defy

The gloom of the year, the headlines in the paper, and winter itself.

In the heart of town, a towering Christmas tree stood,

A pine in the desert.

Its branches, they promised, would be adorned

With over 3,000 gifts. 3,000.

The thought at first was to illuminate the tree like at home,

With candles, but it was already a little dry.

Needles were beginning to contemplate jumping.

A finger along a branch made them all fall off.

People brought candles anyway. The church sent over

Some used ones, too. The grocery store sent

Some paper bags, which settled things.

Everyone knew what to do.

They filled the bags with sand from the fire station,

Put the candles in them, making a big pool of lighted luminarias.

From a distance the tree was floating in a lake of light—

Fire so normally a terror in the desert, but here so close to miracle.

For the tree itself, people brought garlands from home, garlands

Made of everything, walnuts and small gourds and flowers,

Chilies, too—the chilies themselves looking

A little like flames.

The townspeople strung them all over the beast—

It kept getting bigger, after all, with each new addition,

This curious donkey whose burden was joy.

At the end, the final touch was tinsel, tinsel everywhere, more tinsel.

Children from nearby communities were invited, and so were those

From across the border, in Nogales, Sonora, a stone’s throw away.

But there was a problem. The border.

As the festive day approached, it became painfully clear—

The children in Nogales, Sonora, would not be able to cross over.

They were, quite literally, on the wrong side of Christmas.

Determined to find a solution, the people of Nogales, Arizona,

Collaborated with Mexican authorities on the other side.

In a gesture as generous as it was bold, as happy as it was cold:

On Christmas Eve, 1929,

For a few transcendent hours,

The border moved.

Officials shifted it north, past city hall, in this way bringing

The Christmas tree within reach of children from both towns.

On Christmas Day, thousands of children—

American and Mexican, Indigenous and orphaned—

Gathered around the tree, hands outstretched,

Eyes wide, with shouting and singing both.

Gifts were passed out, candy canes were licked,

And for one day, there was no border.

When the last present had been handed out,

When the last child returned home,

The border resumed its usual place,

Separating the two towns once again.

For those few hours, however, the line in the sand disappeared.

The only thing that mattered was Christmas.

Newspapers reported no incidents that day, nothing beyond

The running of children, their pockets stuffed with candy and toys,

Milling people on both sides,

The music of so many peppermint candies being unwrapped.

On that chilly December day, the people of Nogales

Gathered and did what seemed impossible:

However quietly regarding the outside world,

They simply redrew the border.

In doing so, they brought a little more warmth to the desert winter.

On the border, on this day, they had a problem and they solved it.

 

Here’s the music you heard on this week’s programme: The traditional “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” sung by the Gracias Choir conducted by Eunsook Park, and “Santa Claus Llego A La Ciudad” by J.Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, sung by Luis Miguel.

Be sure and tune in next week, 27 December, for a “My Ordinary Hero” essay by your fellow listener Rasheed Naz.     

As France marks 200 years since Louis Braille invented his system of raised dots allowing blind people to read by touch, we visit the country’s only remaining Braille printing house. At the CTEB in Toulouse, a team of 12 staff and mainly blind volunteers transcribe more than 200 books each year for both adults and children, along with bank statements, brochures and other documents. Despite extremely high production costs, the centre sells its books at the same price as the originals to ensure equal access. Now deeply in debt, it’s calling for state aid to survive – arguing that, even in the age of digital Braille and audio books, turning a page is important in learning to read. (Listen @3’15”)

Scientists are increasingly convinced that the trillions of bacteria living in the human digestive system also contribute to health and wellbeing. Le French Gut is a large-scale study intended to track the connection between the microbiome and disease. Launched in 2023, it aims to recruit 100,000 French participants, to contribute samples and fill out health and diet questionnaires. Now the scientists are looking to get more children on board. Project director Patrick Vega shows the lab and biobank where the bacteria are being analysed, and talks about the discoveries in the gut that could help predict or even cure diseases. (Listen @21’20”)

Seventeenth-century French midwife Louise Bourgeois, the first woman in Europe to publish a medical book, was a pioneer in women’s health at a time when only men were allowed to be doctors and women delivered babies according to tradition, not science. (Listen @14’45”)

Episode mixed by Cecile Pompeani.

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

Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan, hosted in Tehran by his Iranian counterpart Abbad Aragchi, declared that both countries see “Israel as the biggest threat to stability in the Middle East”, because of its “expansionist policies”.

Ankara is increasingly angry over Israel’s military operations in Syria, which it considers a threat to security. Syria‘s new regime is a close Turkish ally.

With the Iranian-backed Syrian regime overthrown and Iran’s diminishing influence in the Caucasus, another region of competition with Turkey, Tehran is viewed by Ankara as less of a threat

“Ankara sees that Tehran’s wings are clipped, and I’m sure that it is also very happy that Tehran’s wings are clipped”, international relations expert Soli Ozel told RFI.

Ozel predicts that diminished Iranian power is opening the door for more cooperation with Turkey.

Cooperation

“Competition and cooperation really define the relations. Now that Iran is weaker, the relationship is more balanced. But there are limits, driven by America’s approach to Iran”, said Ozel.

Murat Aslan of SETA, the Foundation for Political, Economic, and Social Research, a Turkish pro-government think tank, points out that changing dynamics inside Iran also give an impetus to Turkish diplomatic efforts towards Tehran.

Israel talks defence with Greece and Cyprus, as Turkey issues Netanyahu warrant

“Iran is trying to build a new landscape in which they can communicate with the West, but under the conditions they have identified”, observes Aslan.

“In this sense, Turkey may contribute. So that’s why Turkey is negotiating or communicating with Iran just to find the terms of a probable common consensus.”

However, warming relations between Turkey and Iran are not viewed in a favourable light by Israel, whose ministers have in turn accused Turkey of being Israel’s biggest threat.

Tensions are rising over Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s strong support of Hamas, which Ankara’s Western allies have designated as a terrorist organisation.

“Obviously, Israel does not want to see Iranian and Turkish relations warm as Israel sees Iran as an existential threat and hence anything that helps Iran is problematic from Israel’s perspective”, warns Turkey analyst Gallia Lindenstrauss at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv.

Turkey warns Kurdish-led fighters in Syria to join new regime or face attack

This month, Israeli security forces accused Hamas of operating a major financial operation in Turkey under Iranian supervision. Many of Hamas’ senior members are believed to reside in Istanbul.

American ally

Israeli concerns over Turkey’s improving Iranian ties will likely be exacerbated with Turkish officials confirming that a visit by President Erdogan to Iran has been “agreed in principle”.

Ankara also has a delicate balancing act to make sure its Iranian dealings don’t risk antagonising its American ally, given ongoing tensions between Tehran and Washington.

Good relations with Washington are vital to Ankara as it looks to US President Donald Trump to help ease tensions with Israel. “For Israel, the United States shapes the environment right now”, observes Aslan.

“The Turkish preference is to have an intelligence diplomacy with Israelis, not to have an emerging conflict, but rely on the American mediation and facilitation to calm down the situation”, added Aslan.

Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound Kitchen weekly podcast, published every Saturday here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. You’ll hear the winner’s names announced and the week’s quiz question, along with all the other ingredients you’ve grown accustomed to: your letters and essays, “On This Day”, quirky facts and news, interviews, and great music … so be sure and listen every week.

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 for the RFI English Listeners Forum banner to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr

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 on the best-suited activities for your level according to your score.

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 breaking 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 excellent staff of 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. 

Independent RFI English Clubs: Be sure to always include Audrey Iattoni (audrey.iattoni@rfi.fr) from our Listener Relations department in all 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 8 November, I asked you a question about an article sent to us by RFI English correspondent Michael Sarpong Mfum, who reports for us from Ghana. His article, “Invasive water hyacinths choke wildlife and livelihoods in southern Ghana”, is about the water hyacinth, a free-floating aquatic plant native to the Amazon River basin in South America. It’s also one of the world’s most invasive species.

The water hyacinth has found its way to Ghana, notably Lake Volta, a vast reservoir behind a hydroelectric dam that generates much of the country’s power.

Your question was: What are the consequences for Ghana’s Eastern and Volta regions from this hyacinth invasion? What did Jewel Kudjawu, the director of the EPA’s Intersectoral Network Department, warn about?

The answer is, to quote Michael’s article: “Jewel Kudjawu, director of the EPA’s Intersectoral Network Department, warned that the weed’s uncontrolled growth has dire consequences for aquatic life, fishing communities and hydropower production.”

In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question: What was the best week of your life?

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

The winners are: RFI Listeners Club member Radhakrishna Pillai from Kerala State, India. Radhakrishna is also the winner of this week’s bonus question. Congratulations on your double win, Radhakrishna.

Be sure and look at The Sound Kitchen and the RFI English Listeners Forum Facebook pages to see the stamps from Bhutan with Radhakrishna’s picture!

Also on the list of lucky winners this week are Debjani Biswas, a member of the RFI Pariwar Bandhu SWL Club in Chhattisgarh, India, and RFI Listeners Club member Mahfuzur Rahman from Cumilla, Bangladesh. Rounding out the list are RFI English listeners Shihabur Rahaman Sadman from Naogaon, Bangladesh, and Bashir Ahmad, a member of the International Radio Fan and Youth Club in Khanewal, Pakistan.

Congratulations winners!

Here’s the music you heard on this week’s programme: Music for the Royal Fireworks by George Frederick Handel, performed by Le Concert des Nations conducted by Jordi Savall; “Igbo Highlife”, produced by Mr. Zion; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov; “The Cakewalk” from Children’s Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer, and “Lança Perfume” by Roberto de Carvalho and Rita Lee, sung by Rita Lee.

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 Jan van der Made’s article “EU Council president rejects political influence in US security plan”, which will help you with the answer.

You have until 26 January to enter this week’s quiz; the winners will be announced on the 31 January 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 find out how you can 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.