Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began two years ago, thousands of Russian soldiers have either deserted or refused to follow orders, according to human rights activists and groups aiding those who flee.

At least six of them have received temporary entry permits while they apply for political asylum in France, British newspaper The Guardian revealed this week.

Ivan Chuviliaev, a spokesman for anti-war group Get Lost – also known by the direct translation of its Russian name, “Go By The Forest” – told RFI that his organisation helped three of the six soldiers get to Paris, via Kazakhstan.

“We helped them to leave the front line. Our colleagues in Kazakhstan – human rights organisations – helped them to stay safe out there,” Chuviliaev explains.

Many Russian deserters have sought refuge in neighbouring post-Soviet countries like Armenia and Kazakhstan, where they can enter without a full passport.

But reaching EU countries is a tougher challenge. “The most important part of our job was communicating with French and European officials,” Chuviliaev says.

“That was conducted by In Transit – a German organisation – and with Russian activists from Russie-Libertés based in Paris … It was a very long and complicated process, conducted from different sides by different organisations and from our side,” he adds.

Ukrainian soldiers get crash course in combat at French military base

Screening process

A group in Kazakhstan screened each case before the soldiers were cleared to come to France, Chuviliaev says.

“There were at least two evaluations with any deserter, any Russian soldier,” he tells RFI, explaining that his group systematically verifies their stories.

“It is double-checked that they didn’t participate in any military operation against civilians. Of course, they may have participated in military operations on the front line – in the woods or in the fields – but it is double-checked so we can guarantee that none of these guys are military criminals,” he says.

Concerned about admitting possible war criminals or potential security risks, Ukraine’s allies have so far been slow to admit Russian deserters.

France’s National Asylum Court ruled in July 2023 that Russians who refuse to serve in Ukraine are eligible for refugee status, provided they can prove they were called up.

But no official figures have been shared on how many former soldiers may have applied for asylum in France, nor has the EU agreed on a common policy.

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Uncertain life in exile

Meanwhile, Moscow has intensified its crackdown on deserters, both at home and abroad.

Since launching the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, President Vladimir Putin has enacted stricter laws that increase prison sentences for soldiers on the run to up to 15 years and authorise the confiscation of their property.

And for Russian deserters or dissidents abroad, the Kremlin has a notoriously far reach.

“Once they’re out of the country, they still face massive challenges,” says Chuviliaev, who now lives in Spain and runs Get Lost with other Russians in exile.

The organisation estimates it has helped more than 500 soldiers to desert, most of whom fled abroad, and hopes France’s decision to let in these six will encourage other EU countries to follow suit – even if Chuviliaev stresses that reaching Europe isn’t the end of the ordeal.

“As a person who was born in Russia, I will never stop fearing people in military uniform. I will never stop fearing policemen, even here in Spain,” he says.

“There is no country in the world where Russian human rights activists, journalists, deserters or anybody can feel safe.”

A week ago Fitch upheld France’s AA- credit rating, but downgraded its outlook from “stable” to “negative”. Moody’s will deliver its judgment next Friday, with Standard & Poor’s following in November.

The Canadian agency DBRS Morningstar reaffirmed its stable outlook for France last month, but warned of political challenges. 

Divisions following snap legislative elections in July risked delaying much-needed fiscal reforms, the agency said, adding that France would likely miss its deficit targets set for 2027.

“Political uncertainty combined with high debt is not a very pleasant situation,” economist André Sapir, of the Brussels-based Bruegel Institute, told RFI.

Circle of deficit and debt

Under EU rules, member states must keep budget deficits below 3 percent of GDP, and government debt below 60 percent of GDP.

In the early 2000s, France was within these limits with debt levels comparable to Germany. But a series of poor policy decisions gradually pushed France’s debt higher.

France’s growing deficit – now €167 billion, or 5.5 percent of GDP – could surpass 6 percent by the end of the year. With national debt projected to reach €3.5 trillion, or 114.7 percent of GDP, France is well beyond EU limits.

“It’s a complicated situation,” Sapir said. Political and economic uncertainty is “something that investors do not like and for which they are asking a reward”, he explains.

He added: “They want to be paid more in order to hold that debt. So you get into a vicious circle.”

By 2027, interest payments on France’s debt are expected to reach €70 billion, which could make it the country’s largest budget expense – surpassing even education.

“When the debt servicing costs rise, ultimately it presents governments with three choices,” Erik Norland, chief economist with the Chicago-based CME Group, told RFI.

“They can either let deficits continue to grow and allow the debt to continue to spiral higher, they can raise taxes or they can cut spending.

“But these options are not very palatable because spending cuts can be very painful, especially if they impact essential services.”

Prime Minister Michel Barnier recently warned that if tough measures aren’t taken, France’s debt mountain will leave the country vulnerable to market speculation.

• What’s in France’s belt-tightening budget and can it win support?
• The priorities for France’s new government revealed in PM’s first speech

Stopping the deficit gap

According to business daily Les Echos, France will borrow €300 billion in medium- and long-term bonds next year, breaking its previous borrowing record of €285 billion set this year.

France could potentially become the biggest borrower in the Eurozone.

Much of the new debt will be used to repay maturing loans, a practice known as “rolling over the debt”, financial magazine Capital reported.

The French treasury remains optimistic, projecting that debt issuance as a percentage of GDP will stay around 10 percent next year – only slightly higher than 2024’s 9.8 percent.

However, more than half of France’s debt is held by foreign investors – either banks or financial entities like pension or hedge funds – raising concerns about its financial stability.

The largest group of foreign investors are the Japanese. According to Bloomberg, they sold French sovereign bonds “en masse” in July – a “sign that one of Europe’s safest assets has been tarnished in the eyes of some of its biggest holders”.

Political uncertainty

Japanese investors sold off €8.4 billion in French government bonds in July, the biggest monthly decline in more than four years.

Analysts say this was triggered by the political uncertainty following President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to call unexpected elections.

Sapir explains that Japanese investors are beginning to wonder if France is as credit-worthy as they previously believed.

“The French state needs money to close the gap of this very large deficit. And where to get the money? By cutting expenditure, by raising revenue,” he said.

“But is there still political space to raise revenue?”

The 2025 budget, drafted in Barnier’s first weeks as prime minister, includes €60 billion in spending cuts and tax increases aimed at reducing the deficit to 5 percent.

But with both the far left and far right in opposition, it remains unclear whether the budget will pass through France’s divided parliament.

Biden met Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, Ukraine’s second-biggest military supplier after the United States, as well as French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for discussions that also addressed the conflict in the Middle East.

“As Ukraine faces a tough winter, we must – we must – sustain our resolve, our effort and our support,” Biden said. 

“And I know the cost is heavy. Make no mistake, it pales in comparison to the cost of living in the world where aggression prevails, where large states attack and bully smaller ones simply because they can.”

Support

Scholz said Ukraine would benefit from 40 billion euro international loan package funded by interest on profits from frozen Russian assets.

“Our position is clear,” he added. “We are supporting Ukraine as strongly as possible. At the same time, we are taking care that NATO does not become a party to the war so that this war doesn’t culminate in an even bigger catastrophe.”

However, policies towards Ukraine could soon change. Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for the US presidential elections on 5 November, has hinted that he might withdraw American support for the country.

Kamala Harris, anointed to succeed Biden for the Democrats, has reiterated her backing for Ukraine.

Adding a purely personal note to the talks, Biden said he did not want his only term as president to end without visiting Berlin, after having travelled to other key allies such as Japan, South Korea, France, India, Britain, Poland and Ukraine.

Chance

After conferring Germany’s Order of Merit on Biden, the German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said: “The friendship with the United States is and will always be existentially important for Germany but there have always been times of proximity and greater distance.

“Even recently, just a handful of years ago, the distance had grown so wide that we almost lost each other,” Steinmeier said, in an reference to tense relations during Trump’s presidency between 2017 and 2021.

Steinmeier said Biden had restored Europe’s hope in the trans-Atlantic alliance.

“In the months to come, I hope that Europeans remember: America is indispensable for us,” he added.

“And I hope that Americans remember: Your allies are indispensable for you. We are more than just ‘other countries’ in the world – we are partners, we are friends.”

Biden, 81, who in July withdrew from his bid for a second term, reiterated his call for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Neytanyahu to pursue peace after the killing of the Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar – which he described as a moment of justice.

Before meeting Biden, Starmer and Scholz, Macron said he hoped that Sinwar’s death would open a credible political perspective for both Israelis and Palestinians.

Israel’s Defence Forces (IDF) said Sinwar – a key figure behind last year’s 7 October attack on Israel – was killed during a battle in Gaza.

Macron praised the “military success” and reiterated French demands for the release of all hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.

Sinwar, described as the mastermind of the assault that ignited the war, was reportedly killed when IDF troops stumbled upon him during a fight, later realising that a body found in the rubble was that of Israel’s most-wanted man.

Israeli officials hailed his death as a major victory. “Hamas will no longer rule Gaza. This is the start of the day after Hamas,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

Sinwar’s killing comes after Hamas’s political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in the Iranian capital, Tehran, in July. Sinwar was subsequently named as Hamas’s overall leader.

In response to his death, Iran’s Mission to the UN said the “spirit of [Palestinian] resistance will be strengthened” and that Sinwar would “become a model for the youth and children who will carry forward his path toward the liberation of Palestine”.

• Hamas attack, one year on – a view from Israel
• Hamas attack, one year on – a view from Gaza

Tensions

Macron, speaking during a press conference after the EU Council summit in Brussel, added that he hoped that a “credible political perspective for both Israelis and Palestinians” would now be opened.

Macron’s remarks follow a series of statements that had provoked the anger of Israeli Prime Miniser Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to French daily Le Figaro, Macron had told the Israeli Prime Minister that he “should not forget” that his country was created by a decision of the UN which, according to the newspaper, suggested that he “questioned the very foundation of the state of Israel, established after the Holocaust”.

Further controversy arose 10 days ago when Macron called for a halt to arms deliveries to Israel. However, on Thursday evening, he clarified that France had “never failed” Israel, insisting that there was “no ambiguity”.

But in a further twist in the fast-moving political drama, almost immediately after the vote, a high court issued an injunction suspending the replacement process.

Ruto’s nominee, Kithure Kindiki, a 52-year-old academic turned political heavyweight, had been among the front-runners floated by political analysts after the Senate voted to remove Gachagua late Thursday.

The impeachment of Ruto’s 2022 election running mate has transfixed the East African country, generally regarded as a stable democracy in a turbulent region.

The high-stakes political drama continued apace on Friday as National Assembly speaker Moses Wetangula announced Ruto’s choice of Kindiki in the morning.

A few hours later, parliamentarians voted 236 in favour, with no abstention or votes opposed.

“The vote is overwhelmingly ‘yes’ and so the nomination is hereby declared passed by the house,” Wetangula said.

Kindiki – who has served as interior minister in Ruto’s government for more than two years – now becomes deputy president elect but must still be formally appointed by the president and sworn in.

Kenya’s deputy president ousted in historic impeachment

Suspension

However, responding to a petition from Gachagua’s legal team a high court issued an injunction effectively suspending the process until 24 October.

“Due to the issues raised in the petition and application, and the urgency demonstrated, a conservatory order is hereby issued staying implementation of the resolution by the Senate,” the order read.

It follows the decision by the Senate upper house of parliament to push ahead with Gachagua’s impeachment on Thursday – finding him guilty of five out of the 11 charges against him – despite the absence of the embattled 59-year-old due to ill health.

He is the first deputy president to be impeached since the process was introduced in Kenya‘s revised 2010 constitution.

Gachagua failed to testify in his defence after being rushed to hospital in a Nairobi suburb, plunging the session into disarray.

The Senate rejected an appeal by Gachagua’s legal team to delay the hearings, prompting the lawyers to walk out in protest.

Kenya’s The Standard newspaper on Friday ran an image of Gachagua with the headline “Fired”.

“The night of long knives that sealed Gachagua’s fate,” The Nation wrote on its website.

His downfall is the culmination of a bitter falling out with Ruto, whom he helped win a closely fought election in 2022 by rallying support from the crucial Mount Kenya region.

The National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, had overwhelmingly also voted for impeachment in an 8 October vote.

Gachagua was admitted to Karen Hospital with chest pains and will remain for tests and observation for 48 to 72 hours, chief cardiologist Dan Gikonyo told reporters Thursday, describing his condition as stable.

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‘Gross violation’

Gachagua was found guilty on charges of “gross violation” of the constitution, including threatening judges and practising ethnically divisive politics, but cleared of others including corruption and money-laundering.

He has denied all the charges and no criminal proceedings have been launched against him.

A powerful businessman from Kenya’s biggest tribe, the Kikuyu, Gachagua – also known as “Riggy G” – weathered previous corruption scandals to become deputy leader as Ruto’s running mate in the 2022 poll.

But in recent weeks, he has complained of being sidelined by the president, while also being accused of supporting youth-led anti-government protests that broke out in June.

Ruto has not given any public comment on the impeachment, but Gachagua has said the process could not have gone ahead without his boss’s blessing.

Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou, both 21, were accused of aggravated rape on 7 July, following France’s opening match of their South American tour in Mendoza, western Argentina.

The men admit to having sexual relations with a 39-year-old woman whom they met at a nightclub. The incident took place at the Diplomatic Hotel in Mendoza.

The woman claims the acts were non-consensual and violent, while the players insist otherwise. If convicted, they face sentences of between eight and 20 years in prison.

Lawyers for the woman and the players will argue on 18 and 25 October in private hearings whether the case should be dropped.

The judges are expected to rule either immediately after the second session or within a few days.

While Auradou and Jegou were taken to Mendoza following their arrest in Buenos Aires, France played against Uruguay and another match against Argentina.

Discipline crackdown

In the wake of the incident, French rugby chiefs have vowed to crack down on discipline during official tours, especially after games.

“The model that we’ve had for years, based on empowerment and taking responsibility, is not working,” said Florian Grill, president of the French rugby federation.

“There was a kind of acceptance of these excesses. We’re going to come up with a plan that includes controls and financial or sporting sanctions.

“People have to take responsibility, especially those lucky enough to wear the natiional shirt.”

Before Auradou and Jegou were arrested, France full-back Melvyn Jaminet was dispatched from the tour squad for publishing an offensive video in which he can be heard saying: “The first Arab I meet on the street, I’m going to head butt him.”

The video was shared on social media by La France Insoumise politician Sébastien Delogu.

In a statement posted on X, the French rugby federation (FFR) condemned Jaminet’s comments as unacceptable and contrary to the fundamental values of the sport.

Jaminet apologised for the remarks, but was banned from playing for eight and a half months. RC Toulon, his French Top 14 club, also banned him but stopped short of sacking him.

“New ways to prevent and counter irregular migration should be considered, in line with EU and international law,” the leaders said in the conclusions of their one-day meeting.

The European Council called for “determined action at all levels to facilitate, increase and speed up returns from the European Union,” adding that the European Commission should begin drafting new laws to enforce these recommendations.

Danish Prime Minsiter Mette Frederiksen told the summit: “Things are changing in the EU. Now the majority of leaders are saying the same: that we cannot continue. The numbers are too high. We have to return those who should not be protected in Europe.”

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, who heads a government dominated by the party of far-right leader Geert Wilders, added: “We see that there is a different mood in Europe.”

Perceived threat

Nearly 10 years ago, Germany’s then-Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed around a million migrants and refugees from the Middle East and Afghanistan into Europe.

Now, most EU governments view the influx of irregular migrants as a political and security threat, driving the rise of far-right and populist parties across the continent.

While irregular arrivals last year were less than a third of the 1 million seen during the 2015 migration crisis, the number fell even further in the first nine months of 2023 to 166,000, according to data from Frontex, the EU’s border agency.

However, Frontex reported a 192 percent surge in people arriving at the EU’s border with Belarus in January-September, bringing the total to 13,195.

Arrivals in the Spanish Canary Islands also doubled, reaching 30,616.

Ahead of the summit, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Schoof and Frederiksen met with other countries in favour of outsourcing migrant returns. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen also joined the talks.

She admitted that creating “return hubs” outside Europe for migrants trying to enter the continent would not be straightforward. Von der Leyen acknowledged there were still questions about how these centres would operate.

Wider picture

Spainish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned that such schemes could create more problems than they solve. He emphasised the need for regular migration routes, noting Europe’s ageing population and labour shortages.

“Orderly and responsible migration is a response to the demographic challenge facing Europe,” Sanchez said.

In a letter this week, von der Leyen pledged that the EU would learn from Italy’s deal with Albania to send some migrants there for processing.

The rise of anti-immigrant sentiment has been reflected in European elections, where hard-right parties performed well in June’s European Parliament elections and have topped recent national and regional votes in Austria, Germany and the Netherlands.

France also saw a shift to the right after parliamentary elections in July.

A ministry spokesperson said Barrot on Thursday met with the families of French nationals who were “being held hostage in Iran under unacceptable conditions”.

Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, a couple, were arrested in May 2022 and are accused of being spies. Another French citizen, known only as Olivier, is also being held.

The Foreign Ministry ccuses Iran of arbitrarily arresting Westerners and using them as bargaining chips in state-to-state negotiations.

“The minister assured the families of our full attention and availability,” the spokesperson said, adding that the release of the hostages was a top priority.

Windowless cells

The families say that they have received little news of their detained loved ones. Phone calls are rare and last only a few minutes. The’re also monitored by Iranian authorities.

In June, Kohler sister Noémie alerted the press about her sister’s physical and psychological health.

Kohler was in a windowless cell in “Section 209” – one of the most notorious parts of Tehran’s Evin Prison, she said. The lights reportedly stay on day and night.

According to the French press agency AFP, senators have asked for the immediate transfer of Kohler and Paris from Section 209 to the political prisoners ward, which has less severe conditions.

• French citizen Louis Arnaud arrives in Paris after being held in Iran

Billions of dollars

Earlier this year, several foreigners were released from Iran’s prisons, including five Americans freed in a complex exchange for billions of dollars in Iranian funds that had been frozen in a South Korean account. No more Americans are believed to be held in Iran.

Swedish EU diplomat Johan Floderus, whom prosecutors want sentenced to death on spying charges his family strongly rejects, was freed in June as part of a prisoner swap.

But the French citizens are among at least a dozen European passport holders, including dual nationals, held by Tehran.

Two of them, German Jamshid Sharmahd and Swede Ahmadreza Djalali, risk execution after being sentenced to death on charges their families say are utterly false.

(with AFP)

In a report this week, the NGO Générations Futures found that 56 pesticide byproducts known as metabolites – substances formed when chemicals break down – are not being monitored in groundwater or drinking water, despite likely exceeding legal safety limits.

Their analysis, based on research from French health and safety agency, found these metabolites probably contaminate groundwater above the legal limit of 0.1 microgrammes per litre.

The substances can seep into soil, surface water and groundwater before making their way into drinking water supplies.

Twelve of the unmonitored metabolites pose particular risks – including trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), which was found at alarming levels in Paris.

“With our colleagues from the Pesticides Action Network Europe, we have taken samples of river water and tap water, and analysed for TFA … and we found it in many places, in very large quantities,” François Veillerette, of Générations Futures, told RFI.

“We found TFA at over two micrograms per litre [in the Seine] … and in tap water, about the same quantity. So two micrograms per litre is 20 times the [legal limit of] 0.1 micrograms per litre,” he said.

The findings raise questions about whether some French regions face higher contamination risks than others.

“The work isn’t finished on our side … because we’ve pointed out a global risk [that has been highlighted] by a lack of research,” said Veillerette.

“We’re writing to all the regional health agencies … to monitor [the presence] of such metabolites. We’re in the process of doing region-by-region analysis.”

The threat spans nationwide – water quality in at least one third of France is at risk from TFA contamination alone.

• Quality of world’s freshwater worsens as data gaps mask extent of crisis

Unknown health risks

TFA comes from the breakdown of “forever chemicals” called PFAS, found in pesticides, non-stick coatings and cosmetics.

The NGO warned French authorities cannot ignore TFA’s dangers, noting that German health officials suggest classifying it as toxic for reproduction.

More worrying still is the uncertainty around long-term exposure to these substances in drinking water.

“What is really astonishing is that it is an ‘unknown’ … nobody knows [the potential effects] because there are no requisite studies on metabolites,” said Veillerette, warning that if research comes too late and “they’re everywhere, then there’s nothing we can do”.

While data on safe levels remains insufficient, the group cautions these chemicals accumulate over time and could create a dangerous “cocktail effect“.

“We should at least monitor the possible appearance of metabolites immediately, so that we don’t face a nasty surprise 10 years down the line,” said Veillerette.

• Tap water undrinkable in a quarter of French towns and cities

Government backtrack

Générations Futures wants immediate action to improve monitoring and reduce pesticide use, as outlined in France’s 2008 Ecophyto plan.

As one of the people who negotiated and drafted the plan, Veillerette said that while it aimed to cut pesticide use by 50 percent in 10 years, it failed to deliver.

“At the beginning of the year, former prime minister Gabriel Attal gave into pressure from agricultural lobby groups during farm demonstrations and decided to scrap the old health indicators and replace them with European [Core Health] indicators … which are misleading, showing decreases even when there has been no decrease in pesticide use at all … which is completely absurd,” he said.

“But to make peace with the farming unions, [Attal] gave in very quickly.”

With France’s water safety at stake, experts are warning this invisible but growing crisis demands urgent attention.

Climate change, destructive land use and mismanagement of supplies has put the global water cycle under “unprecedented stress”, the Global Commission on the Economics of Water (GCEW) warned in a report published Thursday.

“Nearly three billion people and more than half of the world’s food production are now in areas where total water storage is projected to decline,” said the GCEW, a two-year research initiative set up by the Netherlands in 2022.

Densely populated regions are especially vulnerable to freshwater shortages, it said, including northwestern India, northeastern China and southern and eastern Europe.

Agriculture is impacted, with global cereal production falling by as much 23 percent if current trends continue.

• Curbs on water as French Alps and Riviera endure painful drought
• Europe unprepared for ‘catastrophic’ climate risks: EU agency

Vicious cycle

Rising temperatures have created a vicious cycle, leading to the loss of “green water”, the moisture contained in soils and plant life, whose evaporation provides around half of global rainfall.

High temperatures leads to drier soil, which worsens droughts and wildfires, causing more degradation and biodiversity loss, which further reduces the amount of available “green water” in the soil.

Disruptions of the water cycle “have major global economic impacts,” said the report.

The water crisis could lead to an 8 percent drop in GDP on average for high-income countries by 2050 and as much as 15 percent for lower-income countries.

The economic declines would be a consequence of “the combined effects of changing precipitation patterns and rising temperatures due to climate change, together with declining total water storage and lack of access to clean water and sanitation”.

Global cooperation

The report called for the water cycle to be viewed as a “global common good”, which governments must work together to protect.

“We are going to have to set common goals for water sustainability,” said Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, co-chair of the GCEW, at a briefing ahead of the report’s launch.

“Ultimately, it will require a global water pact. It is going to take several years to get there, but we are going to start that process.”

The report called for the elimination of “harmful subsidies in water-intensive sectors or redirecting them towards water-saving solutions”, noting that poor and vulnerable communities must receive particular care.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director general of the World Trade Organisation and another GCEW co-chair, said some $600 billion in annual agriculture subsidies that encourage the over consumption of water must be redirected, and that there must be a shift away from planting of water-intensive crops in unsuitable regions.

(with AFP, Reuters)

French prosecutors confirmed on Thursday that Seba was released the day before, although preliminary investigations into his activities are continuing.

The France-born activist, whose real name is Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi, was detained on Monday on suspicion of “foreign interference” in French affairs.

He has previously been sentenced in France several times for incitement to racial hatred, is often accused of antisemitism and was stripped of his French nationality in July.

Seba’s lawyer, Juan Branco, told a press conference the arrest came as part of an investigation into colluding with a foreign power to incite aggression or hostility against France and undermining its national interests.

Such charges carry a possible sentence of up to 30 years in prison, Branco said.

An aide of Seba and organiser in his social justice movement Urgences Panafricanistes (“Pan-Africanist Emergencies”), Hery Djehuty, was apprehended with him and freed at the same time. 

Celebrating their release, Seba posted on X: “We are free. Those who want to extinguish us will have to wait… We are not fighting against a country, but against a system of oppression that is suffocating Africa and the West Indies.”

• Controversial pan-African activist Kemi Seba detained in Paris
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Anti-France, pro-Russia

According to his lawyer, Seba – travelling on a diplomatic passport issued by Niger – came to France to visit his sick father.

Branco described his arrest as “violent” and suggested it was politically motivated. 

Born in France to parents from Benin, Seba was last year accused by French lawmaker Thomas Gassilloud – then chairman of parliament’s defence committee – of being a mouthpiece “for Russian propaganda” and serving “a foreign power that fuels anti-French sentiment”.

Seba has publicly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and aligned himself with pro-Russian networks, while two groups that he founded were dissolved by France’s Justice Ministry for disseminating “racist and antisemitic” ideology.

Urgences Panafricanistes claims to fight against Western colonialism and is notably involved in protesting the CFA franc – a currency system used by 14 countries in Africa and part-managed by France.

More than two and a half years into the war, Kyiv is losing new territory almost daily in its eastern Donbas region and under mounting pressure to forge an exit strategy – which it says must start with ramped-up Western support.

“Now we are on the way to Brussels,” Zelensky said in a video posted as he made the trip. “I will present the victory plan, our tool for forcing Russia to peace. All European leaders will hear how we need to strengthen our position. We need to end this war justly.”

Zelensky heads first to the EU summit where he will address the media in the late morning, with a joint press conference with NATO chief Mark Rutte later in the day – wrapping the first of two days of talks between the alliance’s 32 member states.

While calling it a “strong signal,” the NATO secretary-general cautioned Wednesday he was not endorsing Zelensky’s “whole plan” – which calls first and foremost for an immediate invitation to join the US-led alliance, a plea widely seen as unrealistic.

NATO countries have declared Ukraine to be on an “irreversible path” to membership.

But the United States and Germany have led opposition to immediate entry, believing it would effectively put the alliance at war with nuclear-armed Russia.

Washington’s ambassador to NATO, Julianne Smith, hammered the message home Wednesday, saying: “We are not at the point right now where the alliance is talking about issuing an invitation in the short term.”

The US position is unlikely to shift whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris wins the White House on November 5 – though there are fears a second Trump term could upend the support Ukraine receives from NATO’s biggest power.

Insiders agree the elephant in the room at the NATO talks will be the contest playing out across the Atlantic.

“We are in a kind of waiting mode,” summed up one NATO diplomat.

Ukrainian soldiers get crash course in combat at French military base

‘Very difficult period’

Pressed on the membership question, Rutte reiterated NATO’s party line, saying: “I cannot today now exactly sketch out what the path will be, but I am absolutely confident that in the future, Ukraine will join us.”

But Ukraine’s allies are well aware that time is of the essence.

“It’s a very difficult period, the worst since the beginning of the invasion,” said a second NATO diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.

In addition to membership, Zelensky’s plan rejects any territorial concessions and calls for Western allies to lift restrictions on using donated long-range weapons to target Russian military sites.

According to Zelensky, an annexe – shared with the United States, Britain, France, Italy and Germany – involves deploying a “non-nuclear strategic deterrence package” on Ukrainian territory to discourage future Russian attacks.

None of the proposals have so far earned public backing from Western capitals.

For NATO in the meantime, Rutte said the focus was on keeping “massive military aid moving into Ukraine” in order “to make sure that if ever one day Zelensky and his team decide to discuss with Russia how to end this, that he will do this from a position of strength.”

For a third NATO official, the setbacks inflicted on Russian President Vladimir Putin since the invasion are already sufficient to justify seeking a negotiated outcome – rather than letting the war drag on indefinitely.

‘Various ways to define victory’

“There are various ways to define victory or to define defeat,” they said. “He has lost already because his initial aim was to capture Kyiv, to kick out the government, to send Zelensky in exile and to install a puppet regime.”

On the eve of the NATO meeting, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for exploring ways to end the war – potentially including talks with Putin.

But according to an alliance diplomat other voices still fear that anything short of an outright victory for Kyiv would spell “disaster” – ensuring that an emboldened Russia does not stop there.

High hopes were pinned on a meeting of Ukraine’s backers including Washington at the Ramstein US air base in western Germany, but the meeting was called off and may not be rescheduled before the US election.

In the meantime, as Russian forces pound its cities and infrastructure, Ukraine is pleading for stepped-up air defence systems – but no new announcements were expected from NATO on that front.

Prefect Jean-Christophe Bouvier on Wednesday announced an agreement between local authorities and supermarket distributors to lower the cost of some food items by an average of 20 percent.

Residents have long complained of the high cost of living on the island, where food prices are 40 percent higher than in mainland France, due mainly to import costs.

The Assembly for the Protection of Afro-Caribbean Peoples and Resources (RPPRAC), which has organised protests since the start of September, refused to sign the agreement, saying it does not cover enough food prices.

The accord was signed between local authorities, national lawmakers, supermarkets, wholesale distributors, the port and transport operators, after a seventh round of negotiations.

RPPRAC leader Rodrigue Petitot said the agreement does not go far enough. It covers “a list of 54 families of products, that correspond to the food products that are most consumed in Martinique”, according to the prefect.

Petitot says it covers 6,000 out of 40,000 products, which is not enough.

The group has called for the Minister for Overseas affairs François-Noël Buffet to travel to Martinique.

“As long as the minister does not come, no one can move around the Island,” Petitot said, referring to roadblocks and port blockages that would continue.

Local authorities have banned some demonstrations, and earlier this week extended a nighttime curfew until at least Monday.

(with AFP)

The paper published with the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) highlighted that poverty rates were three times higher in countries at war, as 2023 saw the most conflicts around the world since the Second World War.

The UNDP and the OPHI have published their Multidimensional Poverty Index annually since 2010, harvesting data from 112 countries with a combined population of 6.3 billion people.

It uses indicators such as a lack of adequate housing, sanitation, electricity, cooking fuel, nutrition and school attendance.

“The 2024 MPI paints a sobering picture: 1.1 billion people endure multidimensional poverty, of which 455 million live in the shadow of conflict,” said Yanchun Zhang, chief statistician at the UNDP.

“For the poor in conflict-affected countries, the struggle for basic needs is a far harsher and more desperate battle,” Zhang told AFP.

Porridge is staving off child malnutrition in Madagascar – for nine cents a bowl

The report echoed last year’s findings that 1.1 billion out of 6.1 billion people across 110 countries were facing extreme multidimensional poverty.

Thursday’s paper showed that some 584 million people under 18 were experiencing extreme poverty, accounting for 27.9 percent of children worldwide, compared with 13.5 percent of adults.

It also showed that 83.2 percent of the world’s poorest people live in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Sabina Alkire, director of the OPHI, told AFP that conflicts were hindering efforts for poverty reduction.

“At some level, these findings are intuitive. But what shocked us was the sheer magnitude of people who are struggling to live a decent life and at the same time fearing for their safety –- 455 million,” she said.

“This points to a stark but unavoidable challenge to the international community to both zero in on poverty reduction and foster peace, so that any ensuing peace actually endures,” Alkire added.

India was the country with the largest number of people in extreme poverty, which impacts 234 million of its 1.4 billion population.

It was followed by Pakistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The five countries accounted for nearly half of the 1.1 billion poor people.

The company, along with eight individuals, including former CEO Bruno Lafont, are accused of having “organised, validated, facilitated or implemented a policy presuming to send financing to terrorist organisations established around the cement factory” in the Syrian town of Jalabiya, according to the referral consulted by AFP.

The company, which has since been acquired by Swiss conglomerate Holcim, is accused of having paid €5 million in 2013 and 2014, via its subsidiary Lafarge Cement Syria, to jihadist groups, including the Islamic State armed group, to keep the plant operating in the face of the war.

In return for the payments, local militias allowed free movement for the company’s trucks and employees.

The referral says the company could have closed the plant at any moment, especially after learning that its payments were going to militant groups, but it did not.

Other defendants include operational managers, security officials and Syrian middlemen, though charges were dropped against former director of security Jean-Claude Veillard, who had been under investigation since the end of 2017.

The human rights organisations Sherpa and European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, plaintiffs in this case said they “welcome this significant development after eight years of legal proceedings”, but cautioned that the trial should not take attention away from the fact that the company remains under investigation for alleged complicity with crimes against humanity.

In January a judge declined to indict the company for endangering the lives of its Syrian workers.

(with AFP)

The 31-year-old midfieder was suspended from competition for four years in February 2024 after he failed a post match drugs test in August 2023.

Pogba, who scored to give France a 3-1 lead in the 4-2 victory over Croatia in the 2018 World Cup final in Moscow, appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport which said the ban should be reduced to 18 months.

“I am a Juve player and I am preparing to play for Juve,” Pogba told the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I’m prepared to give up money to be able to play for Juve again,” he added.  “I want to come back to this club.”

Before leaving Juventus for Manchester United in 2016, Pogba won eight trophies with including four Serie A titles.

During his time in Manchester, Pogba was part of the squad which claimed the League Cup and the Europa League.

Return

His return to Italy has been marred by injuries which kept him out of the France’s 2022 World Cup squad.

On Monday in an interview with the French sports channel L’Equipe TV, Pogba said: “Football is the strawberry cake that was taken out of my mouth. But the nightmare is over. I am really looking forward to coming back.”

His return, though, might find obstacles. Rumours have been circulating in the Italian press that Juventus want to terminate Pogba’s contract.

Newly installed Juventus boss Thiago Motta might also relegate Pogba’s role.

The former Paris Saint-Germain star took over at Juve after two seasons at Bologna. The 42-year-old ex Italy international has made a positive start to the campaign with three wins and four draws from the first seven games.

“I want to be ready to train and play with Juve,” Pogba told Gazzetto dello Sport. “I am a Juve player, in my mind, that is all there is at the moment.”

To accompany the restoration of Notre-Dame’s spire and medieval charm, Paris City Hall announced plans on Tuesday to revamp its surroundings into a serene, green oasis.

Posting on X, Paris City Hall announced: “Development of the area around Notre-Dame will begin in autumn 2025. A major step that will accompany the reopening of the cathedral”.

The €50 million project echoes a broader, post-Olympics eco-facelift that will reshape Paris, from its historic monuments to its bustling avenues.

The reopening of Notre-Dame on 8 December promises to be an historic moment for Paris, fulfilling President Emmanuel Macron’s vow made after the 2019 devastating fire for a five-year timeline.

While the cathedral’s spire and oak-framed roof have been restored to their pre-fire glory, Paris City Hall’s plans for the area around Notre Dame are bringing something new.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and other officials Tuesday presented a project that will create 1,800 square metres of green space with 160 new trees.

The redesign includes transforming the underground parking area into a visitor space with services and amenities.

The Seine’s adjacent quays will also be turned into a new promenade along the river.

The project will unfold in two phases and is set to be completed by 2030.

• Five years after devastating fire, race to rebuild Notre-Dame gains pace

City of Light ‘goes green’

Among the key elements of Paris’ broader green transformation is the revitalisation of spaces like the Champs-Elysées and Place de la Concorde, a redesign aimed at reducing traffic around the Arc de Triomphe, and green promenades connecting the French capital’s landmarks.

At the heart of Paris, the Place de la Concorde – home to the 3,300-year-old Luxor Obelisk – will also undergo a significant overhaul between 2026 and 2027. 

The nearby Louvre Museum – the world’s most visited – will undergo its own transformation under the “Louvre 2030” project.

While €30 million will be invested in the Champs-Elysées, beginning with the renovation of its sidewalks, tree bases, and gardens that started in preparation for the Olympics. 

• Minister seeks to add Eiffel Tower to state heritage list amid Olympics logo row

Post-Olympic politics

However, not everyone agrees on Paris’s post-Olympics makeover. 

Hidalgo and Culture Minister Rachida Dati are engaged in a battle over the future of the Eiffel Tower, with Hidalgo proposing to keep the Olympic rings beyond the Games, which ended in August.

She has argued that the rings symbolise the “festive spirit” of the successful Paris Olympics and wants them to remain at least until the next Summer Games in Los Angeles in 2028. 

Critics, however, say Hidalgo is using the Eiffel Tower as a political billboard to boost her image before the 2026 mayoral election, in which she is expected to face off against Dati. 

Dati has opposed the plan, arguing that the tower is a protected heritage site and can’t be altered without proper consultation. 

She has gone further, launching an ultimatum to push for the Eiffel Tower to be classified as a full historical monument – something Hidalgo has resisted.

This would add extra layers of bureaucratic protection and control, potentially thwarting Hidalgo’s plans. 

Taking to social media on Wednesday, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant posted on X: “Macron’s actions are a disgrace to the French nation and the values of the free world, which he claims to uphold. The decision to discriminate against Israeli defence industries in France a second time – aids Israel’s enemies during war.”

The comments came after France banned Israeli firms from exhibiting at a naval arms trade show next month and is the latest incident in a row fueled by the Macron government’s unease over Israel’s conduct in the wars in Gaza and Lebanon.

The ban also follows the failure of French efforts to secure a truce in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon and as Israel carries out more airstrikes on targets in the country.

It is the second time this year that France has banned Israel arms manufacturers from a major defence show.

In May, France said the conditions were not right for them to take part in the Eurosatory military trade show when President Macron was calling for Israel to cease operations in Gaza.

Euronaval, organiser of the event set to take place in Paris from 4 to 7 November said in a statement Wednesday that the French government had informed it that Israeli delegations were not allowed to exhibit stands or show equipment, but could attend the trade show.

The decision directly affects some seven Israeli firms.

• France, contributing states condemn Israeli attacks on peacekeepers in Lebanon
• ‘Shame on them’: Netanyahu slams French call to cut off Israel’s arms supply 

Macron and Netanyahu

Diplomatic sparring between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Emmanuel Macron has spiked in recent weeks after Paris had worked with Washington to secure a 21-day truce in Lebanon that would then open the door to negotiations on a long-term diplomatic solution.

Believing Israel had agreed to the terms, France and the United States were caught by surprise when the next day Israel launched strikes that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Macron has repeatedly frustrated Netanyahu in recent weeks, following incidents where UN peacekeeping forces were caught in Israeli crossfire in southern Lebanon, and his calls for halting the supply of offensive weapons to Israel in Gaza.

On Tuesday, Macron told a cabinet meeting that Netanyahu should not forget that his country was created by a UN decision.

In response, Netanyahu’s office said that Israel was established through “the War of Independence with the blood of our heroic fighters, many of whom were Holocaust survivors, including from the Vichy régime in France” – referring to the French government that had collaborated with Nazi Germany.

(With newswires)

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman joined five other Gulf leaders for the historic meeting with EU heads of state, raising hopes for a stronger partnership between the two blocs.

The summit comes as conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon intensify, with fears growing of a wider regional war.

“One of the objectives is to avoid a general conflagration,” a senior EU official told the French news agency AFP – referring to the escalating violence between Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah.

Shared concerns

While energy, trade, and climate are on the table, the main focus is the Middle East. Both sides are seeking ways to prevent the crisis from spiralling further.

“We share the same concerns about peace and security in the whole region,” said Josep Borrell, the EU’s chief diplomat.

The Gulf states have traditionally been Western allies but have developed closer ties with Iran in recent years, complicating their position.

From protector to onlooker: how France lost its influence in Lebanon

Nevertheless, the EU sees them as key players in addressing the violence in Gaza and Lebanon.

The European Union has called for a ceasefire, and Gulf nations have long advocated for the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

“The Saudis are a driving force within the GCC,” Abdullah Baabood, of the Malcolm H Kerr Carnegie Middle East Centre, told European political publication The Parliament.

“Having him there will help the relationship.”

Trade talks

The GCC and the EU have been in discussions for decades about a free trade deal, but negotiations have stalled since 2008.

Despite this, the EU remains the second-largest trading partner for the Gulf region, with total trade in goods last year valued at €170 billion.

With Europe aiming to reduce its dependence on Russian oil and gas amid the war in Ukraine, the summit is also seen as an opportunity to strengthen energy ties.

French navy deploys near Lebanon as Israel launches ground raids on Hezbollah

Human Rights Watch has urged EU leaders to address political repression, free expression, and labour rights with their Gulf counterparts.

The official summit agenda, however, makes no mention of these concerns.

“EU leaders should make it clear that the release of critics and progress on human rights are vital for bilateral relations,” said Claudio Francavilla, associate EU director at Human Rights Watch.

The outcome of the summit will set the tone for future cooperation between the EU and the GCC in both economic and security matters.

(With newswires)

Lamya Essemlali, head of Sea Shepherd France, revealed at a press conference in Paris that Watson sent a letter to Macron several days ago requesting asylum.

Watson arrest

The 73-year-old US-Canadian activist was arrested in July in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital.

Outcry in France as Greenland keeps anti-whaling crusader Paul Watson in jail

From prison, Watson “wrote a letter to Emmanuel Macron,” Essemlali confirmed, stating that he is seeking asylum in France.

Watson was detained while his ship, the John Paul DeJoria, was refueling en route to confront a Japanese whaling vessel in the North Pacific, according to the Captain Paul Watson Foundation (CPWF).

His arrest is linked to a 2012 Japanese warrant accusing him of damaging a whaling ship in 2010 and injuring a crew member with a stink bomb during an anti-whaling protest.

Greenland extends detention of anti-whaling activist Paul Watson

France, where Watson resided prior to his arrest, has asked Denmark to prevent his extradition. Watson’s French lawyer, François Zimeray, argued at the press conference that Watson merely exposed Japan’s illegal whaling activities and warned that Watson “will never get a fair trial” if extradited.

Zimeray added that “if imprisoned in Japan, he will never get out alive.”

In September, Watson’s legal team reached out to the UN special rapporteur on environmental defenders, expressing concerns that he could face “inhumane treatment” in Japanese prisons.

“What’s striking on first contact is that they arrive in a country at peace, and there’s a stress that immediately disappears,” says Colonel Guillaume Vancina, one of the officers in charge of training the Ukrainian troops. 

“That’s a very important aspect, and one that I think allows them to work with a certain calm.” 

Some 2,300 soldiers began arriving in France from Ukraine in September and will spend around three months in training at an unnamed base in the east of the country. 

While allies throughout Europe and beyond have offered assistance since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, this is one of the largest Ukrainian contingents yet trained by another country on its own soil.  

Together with another 2,200 troops completing training in Ukraine, they will ultimately form Ukrainian Brigade Number 155 – also known as the “Anna Kyivska” or “Anne de Kiev” brigade, after a medieval Kyiv-born princess who married King Henri I and became queen of France. 

Fresh recruits 

It’s a steep learning curve for many of the recruits, Vancina told reporters last week.

“Their profiles are very varied, lots of them are conscripts but there are also volunteers.”  

While the brigade is led by an experienced Ukrainian officer and includes a “small percentage” of veterans, as a unit created from scratch and still in training, “there are a lot of new recruits in the ranks”.  

France has allocated some 1,500 personnel to prepare them for frontline combat. 

“First off there’s a whole set of basics to get to grips with, and that’s going to take a bit of time,” said Vancina. “So no, we don’t throw them straight into a combat environment, but that will come very quickly.” 

Training techniques include using simulation devices to subject the soldiers to the noise of battle. The Ukrainian military wants them to be ready for the conditions they’re heading into, Vancina said.  

“They’re very exacting. They’re at war, and they’re asking for everything they can get.” 

Battle simulation 

France’s army has also sought to replicate the terrain that Ukrainian recruits will encounter, according to General Damien Wallaert, deputy chief of air-land operations. 

“We dug over 600 metres of trenches and buried combat posts,” he said. “We took into account what they told us about the size, dimension and depth of the trenches they were digging in Ukraine, so that they could train in conditions as close as possible to the real thing.” 

For the same reason, drones are a daily part of the soldiers’ training – either as backup or to simulate threats. 

“Again, the aim is to expose them to conditions as close to reality as possible in terms of noise, stress and fatigue,” Wallaert said, “so that it’s as realistic as it can be and when the day comes, they have the right reflexes, survive the battle and win.” 

Show of support

The French officers spoke to the press on the day President Emmanuel Macron inspected the new Ukrainian brigade, accompanied by the defence ministers of France and Ukraine. 

The visit, the first time Macron has met some of the 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers that France has trained over the past two years of war, was intended to highlight the country’s continued support ahead of talks with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. 

Zelensky has been meeting with several European leaders over the past week in a bid to get their backing for what he has called an “action plan” to pave the way for finally ending the fighting. 

He has not yet shared the details publicly, instead promising that he will discuss them at a peace conference expected in November.

The Ukrainian president has also been pushing Western countries to sign off on long-range missile strikes against Russia, using weapons supplied by Ukraine’s allies.

While the United States and others are wary of escalating the conflict, Macron has previously said that Kyiv should be free to “neutralise” Russian bases firing missiles on Ukraine.

France’s Macron reaffirms possibility of sending troops to Ukraine

This story was adapted from a report in French by RFI’s Franck Alexandre.

Ghana is being swamped by millions of unwanted clothes from the West, creating an environmental disaster as textile waste piles up across the country.

The scale of damage to public health and the environment has been laid bare in a new Greenpeace report that exposes the devastating impact of discarded clothing on communities and ecosystems in Ghana. 

About 15 million items of second-hand clothing arrive in Ghana each week. Nearly half cannot be resold.

The unsellable clothes end up in informal dumps or are burned in public washhouses, contaminating the air, soil and water.

“The situation is catastrophic. These clothes are literally poisoning our communities,” said Sam Quashie-Idun from Greenpeace Africa, speaking to RFI.

The report shows how Ghana has become a dumping ground for the world’s unwanted textiles, with devastating consequences for local ecosystems.

“What we’re seeing is environmental racism. The Global North is using Ghana as its trash can,” said Hellen Dena of Greenpeace Africa.

The flood of cheap, disposable fashion reflects broader problems with global waste management and environmental justice.

To explore this issue further, RFI spoke to Sam Quashie-Idun and Hellen Dena from Greenpeace Africa.  

Episode mixed by Cecile Pompeani.

Spotlight on Africa is a podcast from Radio France Internationale.

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

More tech news: Did you know we have a YouTube channel? Just go to YouTube and write “RFI English” in the search bar, and there we are! Be sure to subscribe to see all our videos.

Would you like to learn French? RFI is here to help you!

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

Go to our website and get started! At the top of the page, click on “Test level”. According to your score, you’ll be counselled to the best-suited activities for your level.

Do not give up! As Lidwien van Dixhoorn, the head of “Le Français facile” service told me: “Bathe your ears in the sound of the language, and eventually, you’ll get it.” She should know – Lidwien is Dutch and came to France hardly able to say “bonjour” and now she heads this key RFI department – so stick with it!

Be sure you check out our wonderful podcasts!

In addition to the 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 Paris Perspective, Spotlight on France, Spotlight on Africa, and of course, The Sound Kitchen. We have an award-winning bilingual series – an old-time radio show, with actors (!) to help you learn French, called Les voisins du 12 bis. And there is the excellent International Report, too.

Remember, podcasts are radio, too! As you see, sound is still quite present in the RFI English service. Please keep checking our website for updates on the latest from our journalists. You never know what we’ll surprise you with!

To listen to our podcasts from your PC, go to our website; you’ll see “Podcasts” at the top of the page. You can either listen directly or subscribe and receive them directly on your mobile phone.

To listen to our podcasts from your mobile phone, slide through the tabs just under the lead article (the first tab is “Headline News”) until you see “Podcasts”, and choose your show. 

Teachers take note! I save postcards and stamps from all over the world to send to you for your students. If you would like stamps and postcards for your students, just write and let me know. The address is english.service@rfi.fr  If you would like to donate stamps and postcards, feel free! Our address is listed below. 

Another idea for your students: Br. Gerald Muller, my beloved music teacher from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, has been writing books for young adults in his retirement – and they are free! There is a volume of biographies of painters and musicians called Gentle Giants, and an excellent biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., too. They are also a good way to help you improve your English – that’s how I worked on my French, reading books that were meant for young readers – and I guarantee you, it’s a good method for improving your language skills. To get Br. Gerald’s free books, click here.

Independent RFI English Clubs: Be sure to always include Audrey Iattoni (audrey.iattoni@rfi.fr) from our Listener Relations department in your RFI Club correspondence. Remember to copy me (thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr) when you write to her so that I know what is going on, too. N.B.: You do not need to send her your quiz answers! Email overload!

This week’s quiz: On 14 September, I asked you a question about Algeria’s presidential elections. Held on 8 September, the incumbent, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, was reelected.

RFI English reporter Melissa Chemam followed the race closely; the day after the election she wrote an article for us, “High expectations as Algeria’s President Tebboune begins new mandate”. Her article is about what’s on Tebboune’s presidential plate economically and socially for his next mandate.

There are several worries in civil society, as Melissa noted: “The first mandate of President Tebboune saw a clampdown on civil liberties and seen the army take on a more important role.”

Your question was about the army, and its, as Melissa noted, “more important role”. In August, a few days before Tebboune declared his candidacy, a decree was issued involving the army. You were to tell me what was in that decree.

The answer is, to quote Melissa’s article: “A few days before Tebboune’s declaration of candidacy, in August, a decree was published to legalise the transfer of the senior civil administration under the direct authority of the army.”

In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question: “What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word “red”? The question was suggested by Ashik Eqbal Tokon from Rajshahi, Bangladesh.

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

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

Also on the list of lucky winners this week are RFI Listeners Club members Father Stephen Wara from Bamenda, Cameroon; Shadman Hosen Ayon from Kishoreganj, Bangladesh, and Atikul Islam – who is also the president of the Narshunda Radio Listeners Family in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Last but certainly not least, RFI English listener Jahangir Alam from the Friends Radio Club in Naogaon, Bangladesh.

Here’s the music you heard on this week’s programme: “Autumn” from The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi, performed by Carla Moore and Voice of Music; Traditional Chaabi music from Algeria; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; “The Cakewalk” from Children’s Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer, and “Mr. Bobby” by Manu Chao, performed by Chao and the Playing for Change musicians.

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

This week’s question … you must listen to the show to participate. After you’ve listened to the show, re-read our article “Algeria’s Tebboune refuses France visit in snub to former colonial ruler”, which will help you with the answer.

You have until 4 November to enter this week’s quiz; the winners will be announced on the 9 November 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

or

By text … You can also send your quiz answers to The Sound Kitchen mobile phone. Dial your country’s international access code, or “ + ”, then  33 6 31 12 96 82. Don’t forget to include your mailing address in your text – and if you have one, your RFI Listeners Club membership number.

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

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

The Paris Olympic Games and Paralympics gave French-language songs huge exposure, adding new fans to the global audience already growing on streaming platforms. But what kind of music are non-French-speakers listening to and why? A new exhibition at the recently opened International Centre of the French Language asks the question. Its curator, the music journalist Bertrand Dicale, based the exhibit on the idea that songs reveal who were are, and he talks about what popular songs reveal about France. He also highlights some surprising differences between French and foreign audiences, which have allowed stars like Aya Nakamura and Juliette Gréco to enjoy huge success abroad despite being scorned at home. (Listen @0’00)

France lags behind many countries in the use of technology in classrooms and there is no clear policy from an ever-changing education ministry. But the disorganisation may be buying educators time to consider the consequences. A report commissioned in the spring by President Emmanuel Macron advised placing limits on young people’s use of smartphones and social media, and some schools are testing a smartphone ban this year. Founded by concerned educators, the collective Pour une éducation numérique raisonnée (“For a sensible digital education”) has raised its own concerns about the push to digitise textbooks and get students learning on screens. We visit a class taught by one of its members, and see how technology is – and is not – used. (Listen @22’00)

In the midst of Nobel season, a look at some of France’s 71 prizes, from the first ever Nobel Peace Prize in 1901 to the five won by members of the Curie family for physics and chemistry. (Listen @15’00)

Episode mixed by Cecile Pompéani. 

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).

With a great deal of fanfare, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the leaving ceremony of Turkey’s energy research vessel Oruc Reis, which set sail this month to Somalia accompanied by two Turkish naval vessels.

Somali energy deal

The deployment of the Oruc Reis is part of an energy deal struck with Somalia and the latest step in Ankara’s long-term investment in the Horn of Africa nation.

“Turkey has its largest embassy in the world in Mogadishu. It has a military base there. The port of Mogadishu is controlled by a Turkish company, “explained Norman Rickelfs, a geopolitical consultant.

“[Turkey] signed a defense deal (with Somalia) in February, a two-part defense deal, and then an energy exploration deal in March. So, Turkey needs Somalia and Ethiopia to play well together.”

The threat of a new conflict in the Horn of Africa has been looming since January when Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland, a breakaway state from Somalia.

The agreement gives Ethiopia secure sea access in exchange for recognizing the breakaway state, a deal condemned by Somalia for infringing on its territorial integrity.

Turkey enters fray mediating Ethiopia and Somalia’s high-stakes dispute

Somalia, Ethiopia and Turkey

Ankara which has good relations with Ethiopia, as well as Somalia has been mediating. But September’s round of talks, during which Ankara had indicated an agreement could be reached, has been indefinitely postponed.

The postponement follows Egypt signing a defense pact with Somalia in August. Last month, Egypt sent its first shipment of arms to Somalia in four decades.

Elem Eyrice-Tepeciklioglu, an African studies professor at the Social Sciences University of Ankara, warns that Egypt’s military involvement complicates Ethiopian Somali reconciliation efforts.

“There are also some hurdles on the way with some recent tensions, especially with the involvement of Egypt and its increasing relations with Somalia,” claims Eyrice-Tepeciklioglu.

Tepeciklioglu warns that the longer the Ethiopian-Somalia dispute continues, the greater the risk of contagion in an unstable region.

“The shifting alliances in the region are also a source of problem, because most of the regional countries have strained relations with each other. And then they often have conflicting interests. So this might complicate the situation,” explained Tepeciklioglu. 

 Egypt’s support of Somalia is the latest chapter in Egyptian-Ethiopian tensions. Those tensions center on Ethiopia’s damming of the Nile River, which Egypt depends on.

Cairo’s position

Cairo has strongly criticized the project, warning it poses an existential threat. “Egypt’s military deployment to Somalia is a natural progression for an actor seeking to strengthen their hand in a regional competition,” said Kaan Devecioglu of the Ankara-based think tank Orsam.

However, Devecioglu says the priority must be to prevent current rivalries from overspilling into confrontation. “Egypt already has this strained relationship with Ethiopia due to tensions over the Nile River, which makes its presence in Somalia geopolitically sensitive. The issue is not that states are rivals but ensuring they are not enemies,’ explained Devecioglu.

Egyptian President Al Fateh Sisi discussed Ethiopian Somali tensions during last month’s Ankara visit. The visit is part of rapprochement efforts between the countries. That rapprochement Ankara is likely to use to contain current tensions in the Horn of Africa.

However, some experts warn Ankara‘s mediation efforts could be running out of time.

“We see tensions escalating in the region, and we see both sides sort of trying to extract leverage and put pressure on each other,” said Omar Mahmood, a Senior Analyst of the International Crisis Group.

Mahmood says that given the Horn Of Africa is already plagued with conflict Ankara’s mediation efforts needs international support,

 “There needs to be a way to de-escalate, I think the mediation is very important. But I think there probably needs to be additional, you know, parties involved or additional pressure put on both sides in order to get to a breakthrough,” added Mahmood.

Currently, there is no new date for a new round of Turkish-brokered Ethiopian Somali talks, with Ankara saying it is negotiating with each country separately. But time is not on Ankara’s side as tensions continue to grow in the region, which is located on one of the world’s most important trade routes.

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

More tech news: Did you know we have a YouTube channel? Just go to YouTube and write “RFI English” in the search bar, and there we are! Be sure to subscribe to see all our videos.

Would you like to learn French? RFI is here to help you!

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

Go to our website and get started! At the top of the page, click on “Test level”. According to your score, you’ll be counselled to the best-suited activities for your level.

Do not give up! As Lidwien van Dixhoorn, the head of “Le Français facile” service told me: “Bathe your ears in the sound of the language, and eventually, you’ll get it.” She should know – Lidwien is Dutch and came to France hardly able to say “bonjour” and now she heads this key RFI department – so stick with it!

Be sure you check out our wonderful podcasts!

In addition to the 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 Paris Perspective, Spotlight on France, Spotlight on Africa, and of course, The Sound Kitchen. We have an award-winning bilingual series – an old-time radio show, with actors (!) to help you learn French, called Les voisins du 12 bis. And there is the excellent International Report, too.

Remember, podcasts are radio, too! As you see, sound is still quite present in the RFI English service. Please keep checking our website for updates on the latest from our journalists. You never know what we’ll surprise you with!

To listen to our podcasts from your PC, go to our website; you’ll see “Podcasts” at the top of the page. You can either listen directly or subscribe and receive them directly on your mobile phone.

To listen to our podcasts from your mobile phone, slide through the tabs just under the lead article (the first tab is “Headline News”) until you see “Podcasts”, and choose your show. 

Teachers take note! I save postcards and stamps from all over the world to send to you for your students. If you would like stamps and postcards for your students, just write and let me know. The address is english.service@rfi.fr  If you would like to donate stamps and postcards, feel free! Our address is listed below. 

Another idea for your students: Br. Gerald Muller, my beloved music teacher from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, has been writing books for young adults in his retirement – and they are free! There is a volume of biographies of painters and musicians called Gentle Giants, and an excellent biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., too. They are also a good way to help you improve your English – that’s how I worked on my French, reading books that were meant for young readers – and I guarantee you, it’s a good method for improving your language skills. To get Br. Gerald’s free books, click here.

Independent RFI English Clubs: Be sure to always include Audrey Iattoni (audrey.iattoni@rfi.fr) from our Listener Relations department in your RFI Club correspondence. Remember to copy me (thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr) when you write to her so that I know what is going on, too. N.B.: You do not need to send her your quiz answers! Email overload!

This week’s quiz: On 7 September, I asked you a question about the Paris Paralympics 2024. You were to re-read our article “Golden glory for French para-triathletes despite delays over Seine water quality” and send in the answers to these two questions: How many medals did the French Paralympians win in the triathlon events that were held on 2 September, and: What are the three sports that make up a triathlon?

The answer is: French Paralympians won four medals in the triathlon events. Alexis Hanquinquant and Jules Ribstein both won gold in their divisions, Thibaut Rigaudeau and Antoine Perel won bronze in the competition for visually impaired athletes.

And which three sports make up a triathlon? Swimming, bicycling, and running. 

In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question: “What is the scariest creature you have ever encountered?”, which was suggested by Alan Holder from the Isle of Wight, England.  

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

The winners are: RFI Listeners Club member Swapan Kumar Chandra from Kolkata, India – who is back in the kitchen with us after a long break … welcome back, Swapan! Swapan is also this week’s bonus question winner – congratulations!

Also on the list of lucky winners this week are A. K. M. Nuruzzaman, the president of the RFI Amour Fan Club in Rajshahi, Bangladesh, and Rasheed Naz, the chairman of the Naz RFI Internet Fan Club in Faisal Abad, Pakistan. There’s RFI Listeners Club member Radhakrishna Pillai from Kerala State in India, and last but certainly not least, RFI English listener Shihab Ali Khondaker from Naogaon, Bangladesh.

Congratulations winners!

Here’s the music you heard on this week’s programme: Le Boeuf sur le Toit by Darius Milhaud, performed by the Ulster Orchestra conducted by Yan Pascal Tortelier; “Love Me Do” by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, played by The Beatles; “Les Jours Heureux” by Cyrille Aufort; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; “The Cakewalk” from Children’s Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer; “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, and “At The Centerline” by Brian Blade, performed by the Brian Blade Fellowship Band.

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

This week’s question … you must listen to the show to participate. After you’ve listened to the show, re-read our article “French far-right leader Marine Le Pen on trial for misuse of EU funds”, which will help you with the answer.

You have until 28 October to enter this week’s quiz; the winners will be announced on the 2 November 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

or

By text … You can also send your quiz answers to The Sound Kitchen mobile phone. Dial your country’s international access code, or “ + ”, then  33 6 31 12 96 82. Don’t forget to include your mailing address in your text – and if you have one, your RFI Listeners Club membership number.

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

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

This week, our focus shifts to the dynamics of Chinese-African-Western relations.

In September, as the United States pursued investments in nuclear energy projects in Ghana and Kenya, the China-Africa forum concluded with a series of new agreements between China and a number of African countries. These deals spanned key sectors, including industry, agriculture, natural resources, and renewable energy.

China’s new strategy in Africa: is the continent getting a fair deal?

Chinese President Xi Jinping also announced that Beijing will allocate $50 billion (€45 billion euros) to Africa over the next three years.

However, China’s overall investments in the continent have declined over the past year, creating an opening for both the US and Europe, who are both eager to re-establish their economic presence in Africa.

Russia has also entered the picture.

But what does Africa really need?

To explore this, Jan van der Made and Melissa Chemam spoke with experts, including historians Daniel Large and Michael Dillon, as well as Igor Ichikowitz from the Ichikowitz Family Foundation.

Episode mixed by Erwan Rome 

Spotlight on Africa is a podcast from Radio France Internationale

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.