Podcasts about katsina state

This week on The Sound Kitchen you'll hear the answer to the question about Marine Le Pen's full embezzlement sentence. There's “The Listener's Corner” with Paul Myers, Ollia Horton's “Happy Moment”, and Erwan Rome's “Music from Erwan” – all that, and the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click the “Play” button above and enjoy!  Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound Kitchen weekly podcast, published every Saturday – here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll hear the winners' names announced and the week's quiz question, along with all the other ingredients you've grown accustomed to: your letters and essays, “On This Day”, quirky facts and news, interviews, and great music … so be sure and listen every week.Erwan and I are busy cooking up special shows with your music requests, so get them in! Send your music requests to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr Tell us why you like the piece of music, too – it makes it more interesting for us all!Facebook: Be sure to send your photos to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr for the RFI English Listeners Forum banner!More tech news: Did you know we have a YouTube channel? Just go to YouTube and write “RFI English” in the search bar, and there we are! Be sure to subscribe to see all our videos.Would you like to learn French? RFI is here to help you!Our website “Le Français facile avec RFI” has news broadcasts in slow, simple French, as well as bilingual radio dramas (with real actors!) and exercises to practice what you have heard.Go to our website and get started! At the top of the page, click on “Test level”. According to your score, you'll be counselled to the best-suited activities for your level.Do not give up! As Lidwien van Dixhoorn, the head of “Le Français facile” service told me: “Bathe your ears in the sound of the language, and eventually, you'll get it.” She should know – Lidwien is Dutch and came to France hardly able to say “bonjour” and now she heads this key RFI department – so stick with it!Be sure you check out our wonderful podcasts!In addition to the news articles on our site, with in-depth analysis of current affairs in France and across the globe, we have several podcasts that will leave you hungry for more.There's Spotlight on France, Spotlight on Africa, The International Report, and of course, The Sound Kitchen. We also have an award-winning bilingual series – an old-time radio show, with actors (!) to help you learn French, called Les voisins du 12 bis. Remember, podcasts are radio, too! As you see, sound is still quite present in the RFI English service. Please keep checking our website for updates on the latest from our journalists. You never know what we'll surprise you with!To listen to our podcasts from your PC, go to our website; you'll see “Podcasts” at the top of the page. You can either listen directly or subscribe and receive them directly on your mobile phone.To listen to our podcasts from your mobile phone, slide through the tabs just under the lead article (the first tab is “Headline News”) until you see “Podcasts”, and choose your show. Teachers take note! I save postcards and stamps from all over the world to send to you for your students. If you would like stamps and postcards for your students, just write and let me know. The address is english.service@rfi.fr  If you would like to donate stamps and postcards, feel free! Our address is listed below. Another idea for your students: Br. Gerald Muller, my beloved music teacher from St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas, has been writing books for young adults in his retirement – and they are free! There is a volume of biographies of painters and musicians called Gentle Giants, and an excellent biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., too. They are also a good way to help you improve your English - that's how I worked on my French, reading books that were meant for young readers – and I guarantee you, it's a good method for improving your language skills. To get Br. Gerald's free books, click here.Independent RFI English Clubs: Be sure to always include Audrey Iattoni (audrey.iattoni@rfi.fr) from our Listener Relations department in your RFI Club correspondence. Remember to copy me (thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr) when you write to her so that I know what is going on, too. N.B.: You do not need to send her your quiz answers! Email overload!This week's quiz: On 3 April I asked you a question about Marine Le Pen, the president of the far-right French party the National Rally (RN). She, along with eight other RN Parliament members, was judged guilty of embezzling 4.4 million euros in European Union funds to pay France-based RN party staff who worked only for the RN and not on EU issues.Le Pen and her fellow lawmakers have been banned from running for office for five years. This ban, which had previously been a rare sentence, has become commonplace since the Sapin 2 law was adopted in 2016, which made it the standard sentence for cases involving the embezzlement of public funds and was roundly supported by RN lawmakers – until now.You were to re-read our article “RN leader Le Pen battles for political future after embezzlement conviction”, and send in the answer to this question: Aside from the ban on running for office, what else was included in Le Pen's sentence?The answer is, to quote our article: “Le Pen was also sentenced to four years' imprisonment, two of which will be served under an electronic bracelet, and a fine of 100,000 euros.”In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question, suggested by the late Muhammad Shamim who lived in Kerala State, India: "Would you rather be rich but not famous, or famous but not rich?"   Do you have a bonus question idea? Send it to us! The winners are: RFI English listener Lata Akhter Jahan, the co-president of the Sonali Badhan Female Listeners Club in Bogura, Bangladesh. Lata is also the winner of this week's bonus question. Congratulations, Lata, on your double win.Also on the list of lucky winners this week are RFI Listeners Club members Shaira Hosen Mo from Kishoreganj, Bangladesh; Nasyr Muhammad from Katsina State, Nigeria; John Yemi Sanday Turay from Freetown, Sierra Leone, and last but not least, Saleha, who is also 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:  “Les Jardins de L'Alhambra” by Gérard Torikian; “Stacatto” by René Aubry; “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 “Aýa döndi” by Nuri Halmamedov and Mahtumkuli, performed by baritone Atageldi Garýagdyýew.Do you have a music request? Send it to thesoundkitchen@rfi.frThis week's question ... you must listen to the show to participate. After you've listened to the show, re-read our article “How French women won, and used, their right to vote in 1945”, which will help you with the answer.You have until 2 June to enter this week's quiz; the winners will be announced on the 5 June 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.frorSusan OwensbyRFI – The Sound Kitchen80, rue Camille Desmoulins92130 Issy-les-MoulineauxFranceClick 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 on The Sound Kitchen we'll celebrate International Women's Day. You'll hear the answer to the question about the French Socialist party and the no-confidence vote, “The Listener's Corner” with Paul Myers, and Erwan Rome's “Music from Erwan” – all that, as well as the new quiz and bonus questions, so click the “Play” button above and enjoy!  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 news articles on our site, with in-depth analysis of current affairs in France and across the globe, we have several podcasts that will leave you hungry for more.There's Spotlight on France, Spotlight on Africa, The International Report, and of course, The Sound Kitchen. We also have an award-winning bilingual series – an old-time radio show, with actors (!) to help you learn French, called Les voisins du 12 bis. Remember, podcasts are radio, too! As you see, sound is still quite present in the RFI English service. Please keep checking our website for updates on the latest from our journalists. You never know what we'll surprise you with!To listen to our podcasts from your PC, go to our website; you'll see “Podcasts” at the top of the page. You can either listen directly or subscribe and receive them directly on your mobile phone.To listen to our podcasts from your mobile phone, slide through the tabs just under the lead article (the first tab is “Headline News”) until you see “Podcasts”, and choose your show. Teachers take note! I save postcards and stamps from all over the world to send to you for your students. If you would like stamps and postcards for your students, just write and let me know. The address is english.service@rfi.fr  If you would like to donate stamps and postcards, feel free! Our address is listed below. Another idea for your students: Br. Gerald Muller, my beloved music teacher from St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas, has been writing books for young adults in his retirement – and they are free! There is a volume of biographies of painters and musicians called Gentle Giants, and an excellent biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., too. They are also a good way to help you improve your English - that's how I worked on my French, reading books that were meant for young readers – and I guarantee you, it's a good method for improving your language skills. To get Br. Gerald's free books, click here.Independent RFI English Clubs: Be sure to always include Audrey Iattoni (audrey.iattoni@rfi.fr) from our Listener Relations department in your RFI Club correspondence. Remember to copy me (thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr) when you write to her so that I know what is going on, too. N.B.: You do not need to send her your quiz answers! Email overload!This week's quiz: On 8 February, I asked you a question about our article “French PM pushes through budget, faces second no-confidence vote”. That's because French Prime Minister François Bayrou used Article 49.3 – a special executive power - to push the budget through. The Parliament does not take kindly to Article 49.3, because the executive branch can use it to bypass their votes.After it went through, a no-confidence motion was immediately brought forward by the hard-left France Unbowed party. At that time, it was not thought the no-confidence motion would pass, because the Socialists said they would vote against it. My question to you was: Why did France's Socialist party say they would vote against the no-confidence motion brought by the France Unbowed party? The answer is, to quote our article: “The Socialist Party said in a press release that it did not want to see France in an extended period of financial limbo and would therefore, ‘in a spirit of responsibility', not back the no-confidence vote.”They held to their word: The Socialist party did not back the no-confidence vote - France has a budget now, and the same prime minister, François Bayrou. In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question: “Is the favorite child the worst child?”Do you have a bonus question idea? Send it to us! The winners are: RFI English Listeners Club member Nasyr Muhammad from Katsina State, Nigeria. Nasyr is also this week's bonus question winner. Congratulations, Nasyr, on your double win !Also on the winner's list this week are: Reepa Bain, the secretary of the RFI Pariwer Bandhu SWL Club in Chhattisgarh, India; Mukta Banu, a member of the Shetu RFI Listeners Club in Naogaon, Bangladesh; RFI English Listeners Club member Dipita Chakrabarty from New Delhi, India, and last but not least, RFI English listener Murshida Parvin Lata, the vice - president of the Sonali Badhan Female Listeners Club in Bogura, Bangladesh.Congratulations, winners!Here's the music you heard on this week's programme: “One Woman” by Beth Blatt, Graham Lyle, and Fahan Hassan, performed by the United Nation Women Singers; “Toy Symphony” by Leopold Mozart; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; “The Cakewalk” from Children's Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer, and “Nubian Lady” by Kenny Barron, performed by Bobbi Humphrey and her orchestra.  Do you have a music request? Send it to thesoundkitchen@rfi.frThis week's question ... you must listen to the show to participate. After you've listened to the show, take another listen to the first story on Alison Hird and Sarah Elzas' Spotlight on France podcast number 124, which will help you with the answer.You have until 31 March to enter this week's quiz; the winners will be announced on the 5 April 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.frorSusan OwensbyRFI – The Sound Kitchen80, rue Camille Desmoulins92130 Issy-les-MoulineauxFranceClick 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.   

On Daybreak Africa: An army jet killed at least six civilians after mistakenly attacking them while pursuing gangs in northern Nigeria's Katsina state, residents told the French news agency AFP. Plus, looting and chaos break out as the strategic Democratic Republic of Congo city of Bukavu reportedly falls to M23 rebels. In Chad, shops, schools and places of worship are closed as authorities race to contain a measles epidemic. Health practitioners in Uganda call for the release of opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye on medical grounds. U.S. health officials ban Red Dye No. 3 from American foods after studies linked the bright red color additive to cancer. Google reverses its policy against developing Artificial Intelligence weapons. For these and more, tune in to Daybreak Africa!

Nnamdi Kanu Stage Resistance In Court, Insists Binta Nyako Can't Judge The Casehttps://osazuwaakonedo.news/nnamdi-kanu-stage-resistance-in-court-insists-binta-nyako-cant-judge-the-case/10/02/2025/#Breaking News #AbdulAziz #Abuja #Adamawa #Awomolo #Biafra #Binta #Buhari #EFCC #Kanu #Katsina #Murtala #Niger #Nnamdi #Nyako #Tsoho ©February 10th, 2025 Justice Binta Nyako of Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned indefinitely after the detained leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu as seen in a privileged video footage during today court session, staged a resistance protest, insisting while confronting the judge face to face including the prosecuting counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo that Justice Binta who is an indigene of Katsina State, same state with former President Muhammadu Buhari is biased, saying, Justice Nyako who had held a political position of Katsina State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice that her court is not a court of law but a shrine of injustice, accusing the judge of poke nosing with authorities to pass wrong judgement against him inorder to be left off the hook by the Federal Government, her son, Abdul-Aziz Nyako and her husband, retired Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako who was once Chief of Naval Staff, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, pioneer former military Governor of Niger State, two times Governor of Adamawa State who were impeached twice by Adamawa State House of Assembly for misconduct, one of the soldiers that fought against Biafra during Nigeria civil war, a current member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC who is facing corruption charges alongside his son in a criminal allegation filed before court of law since 2015 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC over alleged cases of abuse of office, criminal conspiracy, theft and money laundering. #OsazuwaAkonedo

This week on The Sound Kitchen we'll celebrate World Radio Day 2025. You'll hear the answer to the question about former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his court trials, “The Listener's Corner” with Paul Myers, and Erwan Rome's “Music from Erwan” – all that, and the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click the “Play” button above and enjoy!  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.RFI English listeners have been very generous with their wonderful graphics for World Radio Day that they have posted on the RFI English Listeners Forum Facebook page – there's even a World Radio Day quiz from Anand Mohan Bain, the president of the RFI Pariwer Bandhu SWL Club in Chhattisgarh India – so don't miss out!The RFI English team is pleased to announce that Saleem Akhtar Chadhar, the president of the RFI Seven Stars Listening Club in District Chiniot, Pakistan, won the RFI / Planète Radio ePOP video contest, in the RFI Clubs category. Bravo Saleem! Mubarak ho!Erwan and I are busy cooking up special shows with your music requests, so get them in! Send your music requests to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr  Tell us why you like the piece of music, too – it makes it more interesting for us all!Facebook: Be sure to send your photos to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr for the RFI English Listeners Forum banner!More tech news: Did you know we have a YouTube channel? Just go to YouTube and write “RFI English” in the search bar, and there we are! Be sure to subscribe to see all our videos.Would you like to learn French? RFI is here to help you!Our website “Le Français facile avec RFI” has news broadcasts in slow, simple French, as well as bilingual radio dramas (with real actors!) and exercises to practice what you have heard.Go to our website and get started! At the top of the page, click on “Test level”. According to your score, you'll be counselled to the best-suited activities for your level.Do not give up! As Lidwien van Dixhoorn, the head of “Le Français facile” service told me: “Bathe your ears in the sound of the language, and eventually, you'll get it.” She should know – Lidwien is Dutch and came to France hardly able to say “bonjour” and now she heads this key RFI department – so stick with it!Be sure you check out our wonderful podcasts!In addition to the news articles on our site, with in-depth analysis of current affairs in France and across the globe, we have several podcasts that will leave you hungry for more.There's Spotlight on France, Spotlight on Africa, The International Report, and of course, The Sound Kitchen. We also have an award-winning bilingual series – an old-time radio show, with actors (!) to help you learn French, called Les voisins du 12 bis. Remember, podcasts are radio, too! As you see, sound is still quite present in the RFI English service. Please keep checking our website for updates on the latest from our journalists. You never know what we'll surprise you with!To listen to our podcasts from your PC, go to our website; you'll see “Podcasts” at the top of the page. You can either listen directly or subscribe and receive them directly on your mobile phone.To listen to our podcasts from your mobile phone, slide through the tabs just under the lead article (the first tab is “Headline News”) until you see “Podcasts”, and choose your show. Teachers take note! I save postcards and stamps from all over the world to send to you for your students. If you would like stamps and postcards for your students, just write and let me know. The address is english.service@rfi.fr  If you would like to donate stamps and postcards, feel free! Our address is listed below. Another idea for your students: Br. Gerald Muller, my beloved music teacher from St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas, has been writing books for young adults in his retirement – and they are free! There is a volume of biographies of painters and musicians called Gentle Giants, and an excellent biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., too. They are also a good way to help you improve your English - that's how I worked on my French, reading books that were meant for young readers – and I guarantee you, it's a good method for improving your language skills. To get Br. Gerald's free books, click here.Independent RFI English Clubs: Be sure to always include Audrey Iattoni (audrey.iattoni@rfi.fr) from our Listener Relations department in your RFI Club correspondence. Remember to copy me (thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr) when you write to her so that I know what is going on, too. N.B.: You do not need to send her your quiz answers! Email overload!This week's quiz: On 11 January, I asked you a question about France's ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy. That week, Sarkozy's trial on charges of accepting illegal campaign financing from the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi began.You were to refer to Melissa Chemam's article “France's ex-president Sarkozy on trial over alleged Gaddafi pact”, and send in the answer to this question: What was former French president Nicolas Sarkozy convicted of on 18 December, and what was his penalty?The answer is, to quote Melissa: “This new trial is starting barely half a month after France's top appeals court on 18 December rejected Sarkozy's appeal against a one-year prison sentence for influence peddling, which he is to serve by wearing an electronic tag rather than in jail.”In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question: “What do you remember about the first time you caught a fish?” It was suggested by Ratna Shanta Shammi from Naogaon, Bangladesh.Do you have a bonus question idea? Send it to us! The winners are: RFI English listener Shahanoaz Akter Ripa, the president of the Sonali Badhan Female Listeners Club in Bogura, Bangladesh. Shahanoaz is also this week's bonus question winner.Congratulations Shahanoaz, on your double win !Also on the list of lucky winners this week are RFI Listeners Club members Mogire Machuki from Kisii, Kenya; Najimuddin, the president of the RFI International DX Radio Listeners Club in West Bengal, India; Nasyr Muhammad from Katsina State, Nigeria, and Hans Verner Lollike from Hedehusenen in Denmark.Congratulations, winners!Here's the music you heard on this week's programme: “Preparation” from the film The Little Prince, written by Hans Zimmer and Richard Harvey; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; “The Cakewalk” from Children's Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer, and Histoire de Melody Nelson by Serge Gainsbourg and Jean-Claude Vannier, performed by Serge Gainsbourg and orchestra.  Do you have a music request? Send it to thesoundkitchen@rfi.frThis week's question ... you must listen to the show to participate. After you've listened to the show, re-read our article “French PM pushes through budget, faces second no-confidence vote”, which will help you with the answer.You have until 3 March to enter this week's quiz; the winners will be announced on the 8 March podcast. When you enter be sure to send your postal address with your answer, and if you have one, your RFI Listeners Club membership number.Send your answers to:english.service@rfi.frorSusan OwensbyRFI – The Sound Kitchen80, rue Camille Desmoulins92130 Issy-les-MoulineauxFranceClick 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.   

3 Men From Katsina Brought Exploded Bomb To Abuja School Owner - Policehttps://osazuwaakonedo.news/3-men-from-katsina-brought-exploded-bomb-to-abuja-school-owner-police/07/01/2025/#Nigeria Police Force #Abuja #FCT #Islamiya #Katsina #Police #Sani #Tsangagyar #Uthman ©January 7th, 2025 ®January 7, 2025 1:01 pm Men of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested a male and female bomb victims in connection with the bomb explosion that occurred on Monday at Tsangagyar Sani Uthman Islamiya school at Kuchibuyi village in Bwari area council of Nigeria Federal capital territory, Abuja after three suspects from Katsina State brought the Improvised Explosive Device, IED to the school owner and thus tampered with it, causing deaths and injuries. #OsazuwaAkonedo

Malnutrition in northern Nigeria has skyrocketed to 51 percent, with Katsina State recording the highest rate, according to a recent MSF report. Families are grappling with impossible choices—feeding their children or themselves, while chronic hunger leaves many too weak to work.In this episode of Nigeria Daily, we uncover the human suffering behind the statistics and explore tips on how to save lives.

This week on The Sound Kitchen you'll hear the answer to the question about Marine Le Pen's embezzlement trial. There's “The Listener's Corner” with Paul Myers, Erwan Rome's “Music from Erwan”, and of course, the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click on the “Play” button above and enjoy!  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.It's time for you to start thinking about your New Year's resolutions for our annual New Year's Day show. If you've already made up your mind about what you'll aim for in 2025, go ahead and send it to us … if not, be sure you send us your resolution - or resolutions if you are really ambitious! - by 15 December.Mark your calendars now for 12 December, 6 PM Paris time – that's when the winners of the ePOP video competition will be announced, live on the ePOP Facebook page. My good pals Max Bale and Gaël Flaugère, who run the Planète Radio department that sponsors ePOP, invited me to come on the show and talk to you for a few minutes, in English. So plan to stay up late or get up early on 12 December, beloved listeners! And we are so pleased that "one of our own" has made it into the running: Saleem Akhtar Chadhar, the president of the RFI Seven Stars Listeners Club, is one of the 10 nominees in the RFI Clubs category! 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 Spotlight on France, Spotlight on Africa, The International Report, and of course, The Sound Kitchen. We also have an award-winning bilingual series – an old-time radio show, with actors (!) to help you learn French, called Les voisins du 12 bis. Remember, podcasts are radio, too! As you see, sound is still quite present in the RFI English service. Please keep checking our website for updates on the latest from our journalists. You never know what we'll surprise you with!To listen to our podcasts from your PC, go to our website; you'll see “Podcasts” at the top of the page. You can either listen directly or subscribe and receive them directly on your mobile phone.To listen to our podcasts from your mobile phone, slide through the tabs just under the lead article (the first tab is “Headline News”) until you see “Podcasts”, and choose your show. Teachers take note! I save postcards and stamps from all over the world to send to you for your students. If you would like stamps and postcards for your students, just write and let me know. The address is english.service@rfi.fr  If you would like to donate stamps and postcards, feel free! Our address is listed below. Another idea for your students: Br. Gerald Muller, my beloved music teacher from St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas, has been writing books for young adults in his retirement – and they are free! There is a volume of biographies of painters and musicians called Gentle Giants, and an excellent biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., too. They are also a good way to help you improve your English - that's how I worked on my French, reading books that were meant for young readers – and I guarantee you, it's a good method for improving your language skills. To get Br. Gerald's free books, click here.Independent RFI English Clubs: Be sure to always include Audrey Iattoni (audrey.iattoni@rfi.fr) from our Listener Relations department in your RFI Club correspondence. Remember to copy me (thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr) when you write to her so that I know what is going on, too. N.B.: You do not need to send her your quiz answers! Email overload!This week's quiz: On 30 September, Marine Le Pen – the leader of the French far-right party the National Rally - along with her father and 25 colleagues went on trial over alleged misappropriation of European funds.They're accused of using European parliamentary funds to pay for assistants, who actually worked for her National Rally party, formerly called the National Front, rather than on European affairs.If found guilty, Le Pen could face a maximum of ten years behind bars and a 1 million euro fine – and a possible five-year ban on standing for public office. You were to re-read our article “French far-right leader Marine Le Pen on trial for misuse of EU funds”, and send in the answer to this question: How many euros has the European Union Parliament estimated that Le Pen and her colleagues in the National Rally party allegedly embezzled?The answer is, to quote our article: “The EU Parliament estimated in 2018 that 6.8 million euros had been embezzled. Marine Le Pen has always denied any wrongdoing.”In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question: “Can you remember the first time you received new clothes from your parents?”, which was suggested by Ratna Shanta Shammi from Naogaon, Bangladesh.Do you have a bonus question idea? Send it to us! The winners are: RFI Listeners Club member Deepita Chakrabarty from New Delhi, India. Deepita is also the winner of this week's bonus question. Congratulations, Deepita, on your double win!Also on the list of lucky winners this week are Hasina Zaman Hasi, a member of the RFI Amour Fan Club in Rajshahi, Bangladesh, and RFI Listeners Club members Nasyr Muhammad from Katsina State, Nigeria, as well as Sakawat Hossain from Sylhet, Bangladesh.Last but assuredly not least, RFI English listener Bidhan Chandra Sanyal from West Bengal, India. Here's the music you heard on this week's programme: “Hadouk” by D. Malherbe and L. Ehrlich, played by Kosinus; “The Entertainer” by Scott Joplin, performed by the composer; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; “The Cakewalk” from Children's Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer, and “We Swing (The Cypher)” by Jean Baylor, Marcus Baylor, Eric Scott Reed, Keith Loftis, and Dezron Douglas, performed by The Baylor Project.Do you have a music request? Send it to thesoundkitchen@rfi.frThis week's question ... you must listen to the show to participate. After you've listened to the show, re-listen to Melissa Chemam's 18 October Spotlight on Africa podcast, “Ghana grapples with crisis caused by world's throwaway fashion”, or re-read her article of the same name, both of which will help you with the answer.You have until 25 November to enter this week's quiz; the winners will be announced on the 7 December 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.frorSusan OwensbyRFI – The Sound Kitchen80, rue Camille Desmoulins92130 Issy-les-MoulineauxFranceClick 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.   

Enjoy the crew banter and discuss different stories around the world; - Day 2 of MTN CHAMPS Ibadan witnessed a thrilling display of athletic prowess at both Lekan Salami Stadium and the University of Ibadan Sports Complex on Saturday. - Team Nigeria boxing head coach, Tony Konyegwachie, has expressed his displeasure over non payment of allowances to some of the boxers who won laurels for the country at the 13th African Games in Ghana. - Anthony Joshua has confirmed he will return to the ring in September following his KO win against Francis Ngannou. - The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) says it is "considering multiple proposals" to host the event in 2026, amid continued uncertainty over its long-term future. - Max Verstappen cruised to a comfortable victory in the Japanese Grand Prix, leading team-mate Sergio Perez to a Red Bull one-two. - The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh has rallied behind the Super Falcons, urging them to break the 16-year jinx that has kept Nigeria out of the Olympic Games Female Football event. - Captain Rasheedat Ajibade is confident that the Super Falcons will earn a ticket to the Women's Olympic Football Tournament in Paris, France despite the threat from South Africa's Banyana Banyana - The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has banned for life a referee Zaharadeen Nasiru from Katsina State and his assistant Usman Auwalu of Borno State over their poor handling of the Nigeria National League (NNL) week 17 fixture between Jigawa Golden Stars and Sporting Supreme in Dutse.' - Nigerian club Rivers United's dream of reaching the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals was shattered after a 2-0 defeat to USM Alger in the second leg of their quarter-final clash on Sunday night. - This year's men and women Federation Cup competitions will enter into a new gear on Thursday with the national play-off matches, which will be held in five cities in the Federation. - The Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) wishes to announce the postponement of Matchweeks 13 and 14 of the NWFL Premiership to April 17th and April 24th respectively. - A seven-goal thriller ensued at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium as Katsina United ended Rangers International's 10-game unbeaten run in a scintillating fashion. - Ajax's disastrous season hit a new low on Sunday when they suffered a humiliating 6-0 defeat to bitter rivals Feyenoord in Rotterdam, their largest ever loss in De Klassieker and the joint-fifth biggest defeat in the club's history. - Jürgen Klopp lamented Liverpool's draw at Manchester United in a game they “should have won” and declared he was ready to support his club's fiercest rivals against ­Arsenal after surrendering the initiative in the ­Premier League title race. - Martin Ødegaard has insisted Arsenal do not fear anyone as they prepare to face Bayern Munich on Tuesday in the Champions League ­quarter-final in scintillating form.

It's Tuesday, March 26th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus.  (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson Nigerian Christian students ostracized at two universities After Nigerian Christians have faced years of persecution at the hands of Muslim extremists, now this. Alliance Defending Freedom International reports that two public universities in Katsina State, one state and one federal, have placed bans on the use of their facilities for Christian religious activities.  Lawsuits have been filed under provisions provided by the nation's constitution which allows religious freedoms. One of the universities enforced the ban by locking all worship and fellowship centers on university grounds, preventing Christian students and groups from accessing the facilities, and banning them from meeting for worship and fellowship elsewhere on campus. Meanwhile, Muslim student groups at both universities have been permitted to hold worship and fellowship meetings in university-constructed worship and meeting spaces. Both universities have relatively high percentages of Christian students and faculty despite Katsina being a Muslim-majority state. Nigeria is the sixth most difficult country worldwide to be a Christian. Nigerian pastor acquitted of helping runaway Muslim girl Thankfully, there is some good news in Nigeria. After languishing in a Nigerian jail for three years, Pastor Jonah Gangas and his wife, Josephine Gangas, were finally acquitted of wrongdoing after taking in and educating a young Nigerian girl. The couple took in a runaway 12-year-old Muslim girl at the request of the local police, but later was prosecuted by a local Islamic group.   Nigeria's crippling 30% inflation Persecuting Christians isn't helping the economic crisis in Nigeria. The nation is dealing with 30% inflation.  Prices for food staples like rice and bread have doubled in a year.  Nigeria's per capita Gross Domestic Product topped out at $3,200 in 2014, after which the nation began electing Muslim presidents.  The per capita GDP has since dropped off to $2,200.  Minnesota eager to persecute Christian ministries The State of Minnesota is on the warpath to persecute Christian ministries operating within the state lines.   The Minnesota state government turned over to complete Democrat control as of 2022. AlphaNews.com reports that a Senate committee voted down an amendment last week that would have protected religious institutions against claims of “gender identity discrimination.”   The Minnesota Human Rights Act now requires Christian schools and religious organizations not to discriminate against men, pretending to be women, in their hiring practices. Listen to this warning from Isaiah chapter 5, verses 18 and 20. “Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of falsehood, who draw sin as with cart ropes. … Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” Chemical abortions account for 63% of all U.S. abortions Over the last eight years, the Food and Drug Administration has removed “safety standards” for the use of drugs used for the intentional killing of pre-born children in this country.  This has enabled mail-order abortions, now available through Telehealth, in all 50 states.    These chemical abortions make up 63% of all abortions, and Telehealth accounts for 16% of all abortions. Also, according to reports assembled by MotherJones.com, 90% of these Telehealth abortions occur in states where abortions are banned or severely restricted. This amounts to at least 200,000 extra abortions for the top three providers. Colorado abortion providers are reporting 6,000 out-of-state abortions per year by Telehealth. Supreme Court hears Abortion Kill Pill case Today, the U.S. Supreme Court will be hearing arguments on a case filed by four national medical associations, their members, and four individual doctors against the FDA for unlawfully removing the “safety standards” over the Abortion Kill Pill. Pro-lifers are watching this highly significant case. Last week, The Worldview reported that the number of abortions is up 10% since 2020. The significant increase is due to the ease of access to the chemical abortion pill in all fifty states.  Man charged with double murder including pregnant mother and baby In a related story, a New Hampshire man is charged with a double murder, as the suspect in the killing of a pregnant woman and her pre-born child. The charge noted that the crime occurred "under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to the value of human life.” William Kelly, age 38, has been indicted by the Carroll County Grand Jury in connection with the deaths of Christine Falzone and her pre-born child. This represents the first prosecution of the state's fetal homicide bill since it was passed in 2018. Leviticus 24:17 presents God's law on murder: “Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death.” Median price of new homes fell 19% The median price of a new home in the United States fell 19% from its 2023 high, reports WolfStreet.com. The price difference between the median new home price and the median used home price is also the lowest since 2007 — just before the last great recession. $1.2 trillion funding bill passes, but bans homosexual embassy flags President Joe Biden got about everything he wanted in the $1.2 trillion government funding package passed over the weekend, except for one thing.   The Republicans attached a provision that banned the flying of LGBTQ Pride flags above U.S. embassies around the world. America's deficit heading to $2 trillion And finally, based on Bipartisan Policy's Deficit Tracker's numbers, the 2024 deficit is heading towards $2 trillion this year. That's up from $1.7 trillion last fiscal year, and $1.38 trillion the year before. To compare, the average annual deficit under Barack Obama's administration was $817 billion. Close And that's The Worldview in 5 Minutes on this Tuesday, March 26th in the year of our Lord 2024. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

This week on The Sound Kitchen you'll hear the answer to the question about the delayed presidential election in Senegal. There's a history lesson about Lithuanian's love of books (and their language), there are your answers to the bonus question on “The Listener's Corner”, and of course, a delicious dessert from Erwan Rome on “Music from Erwan”. All that and the new quiz question too, so click on the “Play” button above and enjoy!  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 News: There's a “new and improved” Facebook page for you, the RFI English Listeners Forum. It's for everyone who reads and listens to us and wants to connect with others, so ask to join, and I'll sign you up!The RFI Listeners Club page and the RFI English Clubs page no longer exist; if you belonged to the RFI English Clubs page and not the RFI Listeners Club page, you'll need to ask to join. I promise I won't click “Decline”

This week on The Sound Kitchen you'll hear the answer to the question about the French farmer's political action campaign and the other European farmers who have joined in. There's “On This Day”, “The Listener's Corner”, Ollia Horton's “Happy Moment” and Erwan Rome's “Music from Erwan” – all that and the new quiz question too, so click on the “Play” button above and enjoy!  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!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 bi-lingual 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 counseled 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, 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.As you see, sound is still quite present in the RFI English service. Keep checking our website for updates on the latest from our team 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. 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 which 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 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. NB: You do not need to send her your quiz answers! Email overload!We have a new RFI Listeners Club member to welcome: Orlando Teamah from Monrovia, Liberia.Welcome Orlando! So glad you have joined us!This week's quiz: On 3 February, I asked you a question about the French farmers and their political action campaign – which has not cooled off. You were to re-read our article “France seeks change to EU nature laws in bid to appease farmers” and answer this question: in which other European countries are farmers striking?The answer is, to quote our article: “While farmers in Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Belgium have also taken to the streets, those in France – Europe's largest agriculture producer – complain they are being further penalised by restrictions on pesticides that are harsher than in neighbouring countries.”Farmers in other countries than those above have been striking, too – Hans Verner Lollike noted that Denmark's farmers were, but that there was too much snow for them to drive their tractors to the capitol or block roads!In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question, suggested by Rodrigo Hunrichse from Ciudad de Concepción in Chile: “For you, which age is the best? Childhood? Teenager? Young Adult? Adult? Middle Age? Senior? Old Age? Why?”  Do you have a bonus question idea? Send it to us! The winners are: RFI Listeners Club member Nasyr Muhammad from Katsina State, Nigeria. Nasyr is also this week's bonus question winner. Congratulations, Nasyr!Also on the list of lucky winners this week are Saleem Akhtar Chadhar, the president of the RFI Seven Stars Radio Listeners Club in District Chiniot, Pakistan, and Nuraiz Bin Zaman, who's a member of the RFI Amour Fan Club in Rajshahi, Bangladesh.There's also RFI Listeners Club member Habib ur Rehman Sehal, who is also the president of the International Radio Fan and Youth Club in Khanewal, Pakistan.  Last but not least, RFI English listener Adiba Ava, from Munshiganj, Bangladesh.  Congratulations winners!Here's the music you heard on this week's programme: The “Prelude” to the Partita for Violin Solo No. 3 in E, BWV 1006 by Johann Sebastien Bach, performed by Philippe Honoré; “Take me home, country roads” by John Denver, arranged by Graham Byrd; “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 “Hommage aux Chanteuses Kabyles Anciennes” by Ferroudja Saidani, performed by Saidani and her ensemble.This week's question ... you must listen to the show to participate. After you've listened to the show, re-read our article “Scaled-back opening ceremony for Paris Olympics to offer 326,000 tickets” which will help you with the answer.You have until 1 April to enter this week's quiz; the winners will be announced on the 6 April podcast. When you enter, be sure you 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.frorSusan OwensbyRFI – The Sound Kitchen80, rue Camille Desmoulins92130 Issy-les-MoulineauxFranceorBy 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.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, click here. 

This week on The Sound Kitchen, a special treat: RFI English listener's musical requests. Just click on the “Play” button above and enjoy! Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound Kitchen weekly podcast, published every Saturday. This week, you'll hear musical requests from your fellow listeners Debashis Gope from West Bengal, India, Karuna Kanta Pal, also from West Bengal, Alan Holder from Britain's Isle of Wight, and Nasyr Muhammad from Katsina State, Nigeria.Be sure you send in your music requests! Write to me at thesoundkitchen@rfi.frHere's the music you heard on this week's program: The French traditional children's song “Sur le Pont d'Avignon”; “Jamaica Farewell”, a traditional Jamaican folk melody with lyrics written by Irving Burgie, and sung by Harry Belafonte, and “Time to Say Goodbye” by Francesco Sartori and Lucio Quarantotto, sung by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman.The quiz will be back next Saturday, 6 January (2024!) Be sure and tune in! 

Nigeria's Supreme Court affirms President Tinubu's election win +++ Nigeria's Katsina State becomes first to make vigilante groups official +++ Kenya's court rejects GMO +++ Mortuary worker in Tanzania fighting stigma +++ Preview of Rugby World Cup

This week on The Sound Kitchen you'll hear the answer to the question about strawberries and cream at the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament. You'll take an aural trip to Mexico for the country's Independence Day, join Paul Myers for the “Listeners Corner”, and groove on Erwan Rome's “Music from Erwan”. All that, and the new quiz question, too, so click on the “Play” button above and enjoy!  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!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, 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.As you see, sound is still quite present in the RFI English service. 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. 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 which 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 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. NB: You do not need to send her your quiz answers! Email overload!And don't forget, there is a Facebook page just for you, the independent RFI English Clubs. Only members of RFI English Clubs can belong to this group page, so when you apply to join, be sure you include the name of your RFI Club and your membership number. Everyone can look at it, but only members of the group can post on it. If you haven't yet asked to join the group, and you are a member of an independent, officially recognised RFI English club, go to the Facebook link above, and fill out the questionnaire!!!!! If you do not answer the questions, I click “Decline”.There's a Facebook page for members of the general RFI Listeners Club, too. Just click on the link and fill out the questionnaire, and you can connect with your fellow Club members around the world. Be sure you include your RFI Listeners Club membership number (most of them begin with an A, followed by a number) in the questionnaire, or I will have to click “Decline”, which I don't like to do!This week's quiz: On 8 July, I asked you a question about the Wimbledon tennis tournament. RFI English journalist (and Sound Kitchen co-host) Paul Myers was there, and wrote an article about Wimbledon traditions, “Strawberries and cream, grass and whites ... where else but Wimbledon?” You were to send in the answer to this question: Who is behind the strawberry and cream dish – who invented it, or first put the two together – at least, according to legend.The answer is, to quote Paul's article: “… the theory goes that the combination became synonymous with the competition because spectators at the inaugural final were offered the pairing as the event fell at the high point of the strawberry season.And that mix was chosen because Cardinal Thomas Wolsey – a mover and a shaker in the court of King Henry VIII – served strawberries and cream together at a banquet for the king in 1509.”In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question, suggested by Jayanta Chakrabarty from New Delhi, India: “What have you done that made someone happy?”Do you have a bonus question idea? Send it to us!  The winners are: RFI Listeners Club member Nasyr Muhammad from Katsina State, Nigeria. Nasyr is also the winner of this week's bonus question – congratulations, Nasyr!The other winners this week are RFI Listeners Club members Samir Mukhopadhyay from West Bengal, India and Mrs. Kamini Khatoon from Odisha, India, as well as RFI English listeners Malik Allah Bachaya Khokhar from the Sungat Radio Listeners Club in Muzaffargarh, Pakistan and Akherunnesa Gini from Naogaon, Bangladesh.Congratulations winners!Here's the music you heard on this week's program: “El Son de la Negra” by Blas Galindo, performed by the Mariachi Arriba Juarez ensemble; “Los Laureles” by José Lopez sung by Linda Ronstadt; “Consort Music” composed by Henry VIII, King of England; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; “The Cakewalk” from Children's Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer, and "Sonnika/Patronba" written by Yahael Camara Onono and performed by the Balimaya Project with singer Mariam Tounkara Koné.Do you have a music request? Send it to thesoundkitchen@rfi.frThis week's question ... you must listen to the show to participate. After you've listened to the show, re-read our article “After G20, Macron visits Bangladesh, Biden goes to Vietnam to strengthen alliances”, to help you with the answer.You have until 9 October to enter this week's quiz; the winners will be announced on the 14 October podcast. When you enter, be sure you 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.frorSusan OwensbyRFI – The Sound Kitchen80, rue Camille Desmoulins92130 Issy-les-MoulineauxFranceorBy 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.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, click here. 

This week on The Sound Kitchen you'll hear the answer to the question about the Women's Singles 2023 Roland Garros winner. There's a poem from RFI listener Adeloya Opaluwah, the “Listeners Corner”, and “Music from Erwan”. All that, and the new quiz question, too, so click on the “Play” button above and enjoy!  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 musical requests, so get them in! Send your musical requests to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr  Tell us why you like the piece of music, too – it makes it more interesting for us all!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 which will leave you hungry for more.There's Paris Perspective, Spotlight on France, 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.As you see, sound is still quite present in the RFI English service. Keep checking our website for updates on the latest from our 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. 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 which 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 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!And don't forget, there is a Facebook page just for you, the independent RFI English Clubs. Only members of RFI English Clubs can belong to this group page, so when you apply to join, be sure you include the name of your RFI Club and your membership number. Everyone can look at it, but only members of the group can post on it. If you haven't yet asked to join the group, and you are a member of an independent, officially recognized RFI English club, go to the Facebook link above, and fill out the questionnaire !!!!! (if you do not answer the questions, I click “decline”).There's a Facebook page for members of the general RFI Listeners Club too. Just click on the link and fill out the questionnaire, and you can connect with your fellow Club members around the world. Be sure you include your RFI Listeners Club membership number (most of them begin with an A, followed by a number) in the questionnaire, or I will have to click “Decline”, which I don't like to do!This week's quiz: On 17 June, I asked you a question about an article Paul Myers wrote about the Roland Garros (also known as the French Open) tennis tournament: “Swiatek battles past Muchova to claim her third French Open crown”. As noted in the headline, the Polish player Iga Swiatek won her third Women's Singles Roland Garros trophy, placing her square and center with three other tennis legends – and that was your question. What are the names of the three women who have also won three Women's Singles Roland Garros trophies?The answer is, to quote Paul's article: “It was Swiatek's fourth trophy at a Grand Slam tournament venue and the third at the French Open to go with crowns from 2020 and 2022. The feat puts her on the same pedestal as Serena Williams, Monica Seles and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario.”In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question: “What would you do if you won the lottery?”The winners are: Raihan Ali, who's a member of the Nilshagor RFI Fan Club in Nilphamari, Bangladesh. Raihan is also the winner of this week's bonus question - congratulations, Raihan!There's also Saleem Akhtar, the president of the RFI Seven Stars Radio Listeners Club in District Chiniot, Pakistan, and RFI Listeners Club members Nasyr Muhammad from Katsina State in Nigeria and Radhakrishna Pillai from Kerala State, India. Rounding out the list of winners for this week is RFI English listener Malik Allah Bachaya Khokhar, who's a member of the Sungat Radio Listeners Club in Muzaffargarh Pakistan.Congratulations winners!Here's the music you heard on this week's programme: the "Minute" waltz by Frédéric Chopin, performed by Artur Rubinstein; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; “The Cakewalk” from Children's Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer, and “Suite: Golden Dawn” by Al Di Meola, performed by Al Di Meola, Jaco Pastorius, and members of the Return to Forever band.Do you have a musical 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: “Paris practices for 2024 Olympics opening ceremony on the Seine” to help you with the answer.You have until 18 September to enter this week's quiz; the winners will be announced on the 23 September podcast. When you enter, be sure you 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.frorSusan OwensbyRFI – The Sound Kitchen80, rue Camille Desmoulins92130 Issy-les-MoulineauxFranceorBy 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.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, click here.  

This week on The Sound Kitchen you'll hear the answer to the question about the Ostend energy summit. There's an update on RFI's Planète Radio ePOP video competition and the “Listeners Corner” with Paul Myers. All that, and the new quiz question, too, so click on the “Play” button above and enjoy!  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 musical requests, so get them in! Send your musical requests to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr  Tell us why you like the piece of music, too – it makes it more interesting for us all!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 which will leave you hungry for more.There's Paris Perspective, Spotlight on France, 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.As you see, sound is still quite present in the RFI English service. Keep checking our website for updates on the latest from our 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. 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 which 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 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!And don't forget, there is a Facebook page just for you, the independent RFI English Clubs. Only members of RFI English Clubs can belong to this group page, so when you apply to join, be sure you include the name of your RFI Club and your membership number. Everyone can look at it, but only members of the group can post on it. If you haven't yet asked to join the group, and you are a member of an independent, officially recognized RFI English club, go to the Facebook link above, and fill out the questionnaire !!!!! (if you do not answer the questions, I click “decline”).There's a Facebook page for members of the general RFI Listeners Club too. Just click on the link and fill out the questionnaire, and you can connect with your fellow Club members around the world. Be sure you include your RFI Listeners Club membership number (most of them begin with an A, followed by a number) in the questionnaire, or I will have to click “Decline”, which I don't like to do!This week's quiz: On 29 April, I asked you a question about the Ostend energy summit. Earlier that week, nine European countries met in Belgium to discuss how to increase wind power in the North Sea. The Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo, said the goal is to build enough North Sea wind farms to produce 130 gigawatts of electricity by the end of the decade.You were to re-read our article “Expansion of North Sea wind farms tops the agenda at Ostend energy summit”, and send in the answer to this question: amongst the nine countries that participated in the summit, which two are currently producing the most wind energy? The answer is:  To quote our article: “Britain has the greatest number of offshore wind farms, 45 of them producing 14 GW, with plans to expand capacity to 50 GW by 2030.Germany is next, with 30 wind farms producing 8 GW, followed by the Netherlands, Denmark, and Belgium, all producing less than 3 GW.” In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question: “What will you do when you retire?”The winners are: Mrs. Mukta Banu, who's a member of the Shetu RFI Listeners Club in Naogaon, Bangladesh. Mukta is also the winner of this week's bonus question.  Congratulations, Mukta !Also on the list of lucky winners this week are RFI Listeners Club members Bidhan Chandra Sanyal from West Bengal, India; Muhammad Nasyr from Katsina State, Nigeria, and Kashif Khalil from Faisalabad, Pakistan.  Last but certainly not least, there's RFI English listener Mohammad Aslam, from Naogaon, Bangladesh.Congratulations winners!Here's the music you heard on this week's programme: “Hora staccato” by Grigoras Dinicu, performed by violinist Isaac Stern and pianist Alexander Zakin; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; “The Cakewalk” from Children's Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer, and “Un jour tu verras” by Georges van Parys and Marcel Mouloudji, sung by Marcel Mouloudji. Do you have a musical 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 “Macron marks 1,000 year anniversary of iconic Mont-Saint-Michel” to help you with the answer.You have until 3 July to enter this week's quiz; the winners will be announced on the 8 July podcast. When you enter, be sure you 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.frorSusan OwensbyRFI – The Sound Kitchen80, rue Camille Desmoulins92130 Issy-les-MoulineauxFranceorBy 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.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, click here.  

After successfully completing his second tenure as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and handing over power to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,  former President Muhammadu Buhari returned to his hometown, Daura in Katsina State the same day. Though there are speculations that he will leave Daura for Kaduna after six Months.In this episode of Nigeria Daily, we discuss why Mohammadu Buhari will stay in Daura after six months.

Ahead of the March 11, 2023, governorship election, voters in Katsina State have emphasised the need for clear-cut policies.In a quest to understand the agenda of the gubernatorial canditates and what they have installed for the people of Katsina State, Media Trust in collaboration with Centre for Democracy and Development CDD has organised a townhall meeting.Find out in this episode of Nigeria Daily,  what the Canditates  have planned for the people of Katsina State and what the people really want.

This week on The Sound Kitchen you'll hear the answer to the question about Brazil's president-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. There's “On This Day”, the bonus question and the “Listeners Corner”, and “Music from Erwan”. All that, and the new quiz question, too, so click on the “Audio” arrow above and enjoy!   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 musical requests, so get them in! Send your musical requests to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr  Tell us why you like the piece of music, too – it makes it more interesting for us all! 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 which will leave you hungry for more. There's Paris Perspective, Africa Calling, Spotlight on France, 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. As you see, sound is still quite present in the RFI English service.  Keep checking our website for updates on the latest from our 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” on the upper left-hand side 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 which 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 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! And don't forget, there is a Facebook page just for you, the independent RFI English Clubs. Only members of RFI English Clubs can belong to this group page, so when you apply to join, be sure you include the name of your RFI Club and your membership number. Everyone can look at it, but only members of the group can post on it. If you haven't yet asked to join the group, and you are a member of an independent, officially recognized RFI English club, go to the Facebook link above, and fill out the questionnaire !!!!! (if you do not answer the questions, I click “decline”). There's a Facebook page for members of the general RFI Listeners Club too. Just click on the link and fill out the questionnaire, and you can connect with your fellow Club members around the world. Be sure you include your RFI Listeners Club membership number (most of them begin with an A, followed by a number) in the questionnaire, or I will have to click “Decline”, which I don't like to do! This week's quiz: On 5 November, I asked you a question about Brazil's old/new president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Why “old”? Because Lula – as he is called - served as Brazil's president between 2003 and 2010. “New” because he was called back to office on 30 October of this year, defeating, by a razor-thin margin, the far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro. President-elect Lula will be inaugurated on the first of January, 2023.  You were to refer to our article “Lula takes back the top job in Brazil, defeating Bolsonaro”, and answer this question: what is president-elect Lula acknowledged to have achieved during his previous two terms as president?  The answer is, as we wrote in our article: “Political veteran Lula served two terms as president in 2003 to 2010, and was credited with lifting 30 million Brazilians out of poverty during his tenure.” In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question, which was suggested by Muhammad Nasyr from Katsina State, Nigeria: “Which country would you like to visit in the coming year, and why?” The winners are: Razia Khalid, who's a member of the RFI Seven Stars Radio Listeners Club in District Chiniot, Pakistan, and who is also this week's bonus question winner. The other winners this week are RFI Listeners Club members Arne Timm from Harjumaa, Estonia and Ranjit Darnal from Gandaki, Nepal. Rounding out the list are RFI English listeners Arundhati Mukherjee from West Bengal, India, and Shohel Rana Redoy, who's the president of the Friends DX-ing Club in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Congratulations winners! Here's the music you heard on this week's program: “The More I See You” by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon, performed by Sonny Stitt and his ensemble; “Schottish-Choro” from Suite Popular Brasileña by Heitor Villa-Lobos, performed by Pablo De Giusto; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; “The Cakewalk” from Children's Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer, and “Pájaro Campana” by Cardozo Felix Perez, performed by Alfredo Rolando Ortiz and his ensemble. Do you have a musical 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 “Unconventional Moroccan love story wins prize at Marrakech Film Festival” to help you with the answer. You have until 16 January 2023 to enter this week's quiz; the winners will be announced on the 21 January podcast. When you enter, be sure you 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. 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, click here.  

This week on The Sound Kitchen you'll hear the answer to the question about Kenyan Raila Odinga's presidential aspirations. There's “On This Day”, the bonus question and the “Listeners Corner” with Michael Fitzpatrick, and lots of good music. All that, and the new quiz question, too, so click on the “Audio” arrow above and enjoy!  Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound Kitchen weekly podcast, published every Saturday – here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll hear the winners' names announced and the week's quiz question, along with all the other ingredients you've grown accustomed to: your letters and essays, “On This Day”, quirky facts and news, interviews, and great music … so be sure and listen every week. Erwan and I are busy cooking up special shows with your musical requests, so get them in! Send your musical requests to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr  Tell us why you like the piece of music, too – it makes it more interesting for us all! 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 which will leave you hungry for more. There's Paris Perspective, Africa Calling, Spotlight on France, 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. As you see, sound is still quite present in the RFI English service.  Keep checking our website for updates on the latest from our staff of journalists. You never know what we'll surprise you with! To listen to our podcasts from your PC, go to our website and click on the three horizontal bars on the top right, choose “Listen to RFI / Podcasts”, and you've got ‘em ! 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 which 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 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! And don't forget, there is a Facebook page just for you, the independent RFI English Clubs. Only members of RFI English Clubs can belong to this group page, so when you apply to join, be sure you include the name of your RFI Club and your membership number. Everyone can look at it, but only members of the group can post on it. If you haven't yet asked to join the group, and you are a member of an independent, officially recognized RFI English club, go to the Facebook link above, and fill out the questionnaire !!!!! (if you do not answer the questions, I click “decline”). There's a Facebook page for members of the general RFI Listeners Club too. Just click on the link and fill out the questionnaire, and you can connect with your fellow Club members around the world. Be sure you include your RFI Listeners Club membership number (most of them begin with an A, followed by a number) in the questionnaire, or I will have to click “Decline”, which I don't like to do! There are four new members of the Naz RFI and Internet Fan Club in Faisal Abad, Pakistan, Rasheed Naz, president. A warm welcome to Razzaq Shahid, Master Mahboob Ahamad, Sayed Shakeel Haider Bukhari, and Rashid Qamar – I look forward to hearing about all your Club's activities with your increased membership, and of course, seeing your names on The Sound Kitchen quizzes and the bonus questions! This week's quiz: On 10 September, I asked you a question about an article written by RFI English journalist Zeenat Hansrod: “Kenya Supreme Court rules no foul play in 2022 elections and upholds Ruto's win”. Kenya held their presidential poll on 9 August; William Ruto of the United Democratic Alliance won 50.49 percent of the vote, narrowly defeating Raila Odinga from the Azimio party, who won 48.85 percent of the votes. As noted in the title of Zeenat's article, William Ruto's victory was upheld; he was inaugurated on 13 September as the country's fifth president.   I asked you to tell me how many times Raila Odinga has run for president of Kenya.   The answer is: five times. As he is now 77, we'll see if he runs again. Kenya's presidents serve for five years.    In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question, this week for our gentlemen listeners: What would you do if you were a woman for a week, and what would your name be? The winners are: RFI Listeners Club member and faithful Sound Kitchen participant Jayanta Chakrabarty from New Delhi, India. Jayanta is also the winner of this week's bonus question. The other winners this week are RFI Listeners Club members Muhammad Nasyr from Katsina State, Nigeria; Sahadot Hossain from Kishoreganj, Bangladesh; Muhammad Shamim from Kerala State, India – Muhammad is also the president of the Golden Eagles RFI Club - and last but not least, RFI English listener Sajjad Hossain from Joypurhat, Bangladesh. Congratulations winners! Here's the music you heard on this week's program: “Because I did not conform” from Danses Grecques by Mikis Theodorakis, performed by the Maurice Béjart Ballet of XX century ensemble; Kenya's National Anthem, composed by Thomas Johnson Kuto Kalume; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; “The Cakewalk” from Children's Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer, and “High Step” by Pepper Adams, performed by the Pepper Adams ensemble.    Do you have a musical request? Send it to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr  This week's question ... you have to listen to the show to participate. After you've listened to the show, be sure to look at our website for articles about the Nobel prize winners, which will help you with the answer. You have until 31 October to enter this week's quiz; the winners will be announced on the 5 November podcast. When you enter, be sure you 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. 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 to form your own official RFI Club, click here.  

This week on The Sound Kitchen you'll hear the answer to the question about the winners of France's Molière theatre awards. There's the Bonus Question, the “Listeners Corner”, and news from the Bhutanese cinema.  All that, and the new quiz question, too. Just click on the “Audio” arrow above and enjoy!  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 musical requests, so get them in! Send your musical requests to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr  Tell us why you like the piece of music, too – it makes it more interesting for us all! 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 which will leave you hungry for more. There's Paris Perspective, Africa Calling, Spotlight on France, 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. As you see, sound is still quite present in the RFI English service. 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 and click on the three horizontal bars on the top right, choose “Listen to RFI / Podcasts”, and you've got ‘em ! 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: My beloved music teacher from St Edward's University in Austin, Texas, Dr Gerald Muller, 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 which were meant for young readers – and I guarantee you, it's a good method for improving your language skills. To get Dr. 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 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! And don't forget, there is a Facebook page just for you, the independent RFI English Clubs. Only members of RFI English Clubs can belong to this group page, so when you apply to join, be sure you include the name of your RFI Club and your membership number. Everyone can look at it, but only members of the group can post on it. If you haven't yet asked to join the group, and you are a member of an independent, officially recognized RFI English club, go to the Facebook link above, and fill out the questionnaire !!!!! (if you do not answer the questions, I click “decline”). There's a Facebook page for members of the general RFI Listeners Club, too. Just click on the link above and fill out the questionnaire, and you can connect with your fellow Club members around the world. Be sure you include your RFI Listeners Club membership number (most of them begin with an A, followed by a number) in the questionnaire, or I will have to click “Decline”, which I don't like to do! This week's quiz: On 4 June, I asked you a question about France's Molière theatre awards. You were to write in with the answer to these two questions: What are the names of the couple who won the prizes for Visual and Sound Creation, and for which play? And what is the name of the couple's current hit at the Comédie-Française, playing to sold-out houses?  The answer is: Christian Hecq and Valérie Lesort are the names of the husband-and-wife team who won the Visual and Sound Creation prizes for their version of Gulliver's Travels. The name of the sold-out play at the Comédie-Française that the couple directed and designed is Molière's Bourgeois Gentilhomme.   In addition to the quiz question, there was the Bonus Question: Where is the most embarrassing place you fell asleep? The winners are: RFI Listeners Club member Muhammad Nasyr from Katsina State, Nigeria, who is also the winner of this week's Bonus Question. Muhammad fell asleep during a big business meeting: “The most embarrassing place I fell asleep was during an official meeting with different high-level stakeholders.”  Oops!  The other winners this week are RFI Listeners Club members Sakawat Hossain from Sylhet, Bangladesh and Riaz Ahmad Khan from Sheikhupura City, Pakistan. Last but not least, RFI English listeners Ashik Eqbal Tokon from Rajshahi, Bangladesh and Saruar Jahan from Kishorganj, also in Bangladesh.  Congratulations winners! Here's the music you heard on this week's program: “Fireworks” by Igor Stravinsky, performed by the New York Philharmonic conducted by the composer; “Rondo à la Turque” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, performed by Lang Lang; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; “The Cakewalk” from Children's Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer, and “The Man I Love” by George Gershwin, arranged and performed by Mary-Lou Williams. Do you have a musical request? Send it to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr This week's question ... You have to listen to the show to participate. After you've listened to the show, refer to Isabelle Martinetti's article “Paris expo highlights tembe art of 'Maroons' from Suriname, French Guyana” to help you with the answer. You have until 5 September to enter this week's quiz; the winners will be announced on the 10 September podcast. When you enter, be sure you 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. 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 to form your own official RFI Club, click here. 

This week on The Sound Kitchen you'll hear the answer to the question about the Paris Marathon. There are musings on doing nothing and the happiness it can bring, plenty of good music, and of course, the new quiz question, too. Just click on the “Audio” arrow above and enjoy!  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 musical requests, so get them in! Send your musical requests to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr  Tell us why you like the piece of music, too – it makes it more interesting for us all! 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 which will leave you hungry for more. There's Paris Perspective, Africa Calling, Spotlight on France, and of course, The Sound Kitchen. We have a 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. As you see, sound is still quite present in the RFI English service. 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 and click on the three horizontal bars on the top right, choose “Listen to RFI / Podcasts”, and you've got ‘em ! 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: My beloved music teacher from St Edward's University in Austin, Texas, Dr Gerald Muller, 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 which 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 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! And don't forget, there is a Facebook page just for you, the independent RFI English Clubs. Only members of RFI English Clubs can belong to this group page, so when you apply to join, be sure you include the name of your RFI Club and your membership number. Everyone can look at it, but only members of the group can post on it. If you haven't yet asked to join the group, and you are a member of an independent, officially recognized RFI English club, go to the Facebook link above, and fill out the questionnaire !!!!! (if you do not answer the questions, I click “decline”). There's a Facebook page for members of the general RFI Listeners Club, too. Just click on the link above and fill out the questionnaire, and you can connect with your fellow Club members around the world. Be sure you include your RFI Listeners Club membership number (most of them begin with an A, followed by a number) in the questionnaire, or I will have to click “Decline”, which I don't like to do! This week's quiz: On 9 April, I asked you a question about the Paris Marathon. You were to send me the name of the man and the woman who won, as well as their nationalities and their run times.  The answer is: Ethiopia's Deso Gelmisa won the men's title, and Kenya's Judith Jeptum secured the women's title. Gelmisa finished in two hours, five minutes, and seven seconds - 14 seconds outside his personal best. Kenya's Judith Jeptum won the women's race by beating the course record in two hours, 19 minutes, and 48 seconds. The winners are: Nuraiz bin Zaman, a member of the RFI Amour Fan Club in Rajshahi, Bangladesh; Asif Ahemmed, a member of the RFI International DX Radio Listeners Club in Murshidabad, India; RFI Listeners Club member Muhammad Nasyr from Katsina State, Nigeria; RFI English listeners Tapsi Bain from the Pariwar Bandhu SWL Club in Chhattisgarh, India, and Bidhan Chandra Tikader, the president of the Gopalganj International Radio Club in Gopalganj, Bangladesh. Congratulations winners! Here's the music you heard on this week's program: The allegretto from David Diamond's Symphony No. 4, performed by the Seattle Symphony conducted by Gerard Schwarz; a traditional Batacuda written by Rafa Navarro and played by PercuFest; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov, and “O Namorado Da Viúva” by Jorge Ben, performed by the composer and his ensemble. Do you have a musical request? Send it to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr This week's question ... You have to listen to the show to participate. After you've listened to the show, refer to Laura Angela Bagnetto's article “COP15: Securing land rights is crucial to land restoration in Africa” to help you find the answer. You have until 6 July to enter this week's quiz; the winners will be announced on the 9 July podcast. When you enter, be sure you 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. 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 to form your own official RFI Club, click here. 

- Let's Talk About a fresh terrorist attack in Katsina State. - Then Let's Talk About the new US ‘No-Interview Visa Renewal' policy. - And Then, Let's Talk About hoodlums attacking journalists in Lagos. #NigeriainfoHF | Sandra Ezekwesili

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has offered to support the Federal Government to end terrorism and other evils in the country. Tinubu made the pledge when he visited Katsina State to condole with the State Government and people of the state over the gruesome murder of the State Commissioner of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Rabe Nasir as well as the recent insecurity upsurge in the state. He urged residents to share relevant information to security agencies on suspicious movements of characters urging residents to continue preaching for peace, change their attitudes and support leaders with determination to bring terrorism to its knees.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has offered to support the Federal Government to end terrorism and other evils in the country. Tinubu made the pledge when he visited Katsina State to condole with the State Government and people of the state over the gruesome murder of the State Commissioner of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Rabe Nasir as well as the recent insecurity upsurge in the state. He urged residents to share relevant information to security agencies on suspicious movements of characters urging residents to continue preaching for peace, change their attitudes and support leaders with determination to bring terrorism to its knees.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has offered to support the Federal Government to end terrorism and other evils in the country. Tinubu made the pledge when he visited Katsina State to condole with the State Government and people of the state over the gruesome murder of the State Commissioner of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Rabe Nasir as well as the recent insecurity upsurge in the state. He urged residents to share relevant information to security agencies on suspicious movements of characters urging residents to continue preaching for peace, change their attitudes and support leaders with determination to bring terrorism to its knees.

The Coalition of Northern Groups said it was ridiculous for Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State to ask hungry and angry people of the state to defend themselves against the marauding bandits terrorising the state. Masari asked residents of the state to acquire weapons and defend themselves against bandits and kidnappers. The North-west Coordinator of the Coalition, Jamilu Aliyu, revealed that the state has 438,808 unemployed people with a poverty rate of about 80 per cent. Aliyu noted that the unemployment rate in the state was a looming danger resulting from the failure of leadership. He added that acquiring weapons by citizens in the name of self-defence would increase bandits' cells and lead to greater instability and deepen insecurity in the state.

The Coalition of Northern Groups said it was ridiculous for Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State to ask hungry and angry people of the state to defend themselves against the marauding bandits terrorising the state. Masari asked residents of the state to acquire weapons and defend themselves against bandits and kidnappers. The North-west Coordinator of the Coalition, Jamilu Aliyu, revealed that the state has 438,808 unemployed people with a poverty rate of about 80 per cent. Aliyu noted that the unemployment rate in the state was a looming danger resulting from the failure of leadership. He added that acquiring weapons by citizens in the name of self-defence would increase bandits' cells and lead to greater instability and deepen insecurity in the state.

The Coalition of Northern Groups said it was ridiculous for Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State to ask hungry and angry people of the state to defend themselves against the marauding bandits terrorising the state. Masari asked residents of the state to acquire weapons and defend themselves against bandits and kidnappers. The North-west Coordinator of the Coalition, Jamilu Aliyu, revealed that the state has 438,808 unemployed people with a poverty rate of about 80 per cent. Aliyu noted that the unemployment rate in the state was a looming danger resulting from the failure of leadership. He added that acquiring weapons by citizens in the name of self-defence would increase bandits' cells and lead to greater instability and deepen insecurity in the state.

Today on the Big Issue we'll be discussing the bid by Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State to acquire arms for citizens residing in the state with a view to protecting themselves from incessant attacks by bandits ravaging the North West amidst a shortage of police officers in the country.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://osazuwaakonedo.news/katsina-state-commissioner-rabe-nasir-found-dead-in-toilet-was-assassinated-governor-masari/11/12/2021/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/osazuwaakonedo/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/osazuwaakonedo/support

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://osazuwaakonedo.news/terror-bandits-katsina-state-governor-aminu-masari-asks-ncc-to-restore-network/10/12/2021/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/osazuwaakonedo/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/osazuwaakonedo/support

For two weeks now, telecommunication lines have been down in Zamfara and at least 13 local government areas of Katsina State as a way to curb banditry. How has this been affecting people's lives and businesses in these areas?Some people coming out of there tell Nigeria Daily that they move out in order to communicate with the outside world. 

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, and the Nigerian Communications Commission to immediately reverse the apparently unjustified suspension of internet and telecommunication networks in Zamfara State and 13 local government areas of Katsina State.The SERAP says the move is without any legal justification, is inconsistent with the principles of necessity and proportionality. A suspension is a form of collective punishment of Nigerians resident in these states.SERAP says the development is egregious and suggests a disturbing trend, especially given the growing restriction of civic space in Nigeria.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, and the Nigerian Communications Commission to immediately reverse the apparently unjustified suspension of internet and telecommunication networks in Zamfara State and 13 local government areas of Katsina State.The SERAP says the move is without any legal justification, is inconsistent with the principles of necessity and proportionality. A suspension is a form of collective punishment of Nigerians resident in these states.SERAP says the development is egregious and suggests a disturbing trend, especially given the growing restriction of civic space in Nigeria.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, and the Nigerian Communications Commission to immediately reverse the apparently unjustified suspension of internet and telecommunication networks in Zamfara State and 13 local government areas of Katsina State.The SERAP says the move is without any legal justification, is inconsistent with the principles of necessity and proportionality. A suspension is a form of collective punishment of Nigerians resident in these states.SERAP says the development is egregious and suggests a disturbing trend, especially given the growing restriction of civic space in Nigeria.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://osazuwaakonedo.live/vat-katsina-state-governor-aminu-masari-vainly-truncated-our-efforts-so-that-fg-will-continue-to-rob-peter-to-pay-paul-governor-wike/07/09/2021/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/osazuwaakonedo/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/osazuwaakonedo/support

The Katsina State Government on Tuesday said it has prohibited the transportation of cattle from the state to any other state in Nigeria. This was contained in a statement signed by state government spokesperson, Abdu Labaran.The ban is part of efforts to improve security in the state and is backed by the Security Challenges (Containment) Order signed into law by Governor Aminu Bello Masari. The order also bans trucks/lorries carrying firewood from the bush and the sale of animals at the markets of Jibia, Batsari, Safana, Danmusa, Kankara, Malumfashi, Charanchi, Mai'aduwa, Kafur, Faskari, Sabuwa, Baure, Dutsinma and Kaita Local Government Areas.The order prohibited the sale of second-hand motorcycles at Charanchi market, carrying three persons on motorcycles and carrying more than three passengers on a tricycle. “In addition, the Security Challenges (Containment) Order also imposed the (total) closure of Jibia-Gurbi Baure road to all motorists, with travellers playing the road to use the alternative Funtua road until further notice, and (the closure of) Kankara-Sheme road to all commercial vehicles, who are similarly advised to go through Funtua,” the statement added.“However, private non-commercial vehicles may ply the road if they do wish.

As Nigerian health officials continue to battle cholera across the country, they appear to be helpless and say they are left to fight the epidemic on their own.Taking what is happening in Bauchi State, which has the highest number of suspected cases according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, and Katsina State, we look at what authorities are doing to check the spread of the disease.

In today's edition of The BIG ISSUE, our in-house analysts will dissect the call by Katsina State governor, Aminu Bello Masari, to the people of the state to defend themselves against incessant bandit attacks. #Banditry #Politics #News

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://osazuwaakonedo.com/i-could-not-remember-my-birthday-because-of-insecurity-in-nigeria___katsina-state-governor-aminu-masari-osazuwaakonedo/31/05/2021/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/osazuwaakonedo/message

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on local leaders to advise the youths in their various domains against acts that can harm the country in any way.He asked the leaders to warn the young Nigerians against being used to incite violence.He also condoled with all those who have lost family members due to what he described as the madness going on in parts of the country.The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, noted that the President would not be travelling to his country home in Daura, Katsina State for Eid-el-Fitr – a day that is celebrated to mark the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting.

Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State says Nigeria has become economically attractive to kidnappers and bandits within the Sahel region of the continent. The governor in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today strongly opposed the idea of granting blanket amnesty to the bandits, stating that the idea is enabling the miscreants to continue with their crimes.Masari argued that the security situation in the country has improved since the All Progressives Congress took the reigns.Masari also kicked against the intervention of Sheikh Ahmad Gumi in quelling the banditry activities in the northwest.

Police and Local vigilante groups in Katsina State have rescued eighty-four kidnap victims, mostly Islamiyya school children in Mahuta village of Dandume Local Government Area of the state.The DPO of Dandume LGA got a distress call and moved in his men.Police Spokesman, SP Gambo Isah, in a statement Sunday said the DPO led Operations “Puff Adder,” Sharan Daji and Vigilante group to the area and engaged the bandits into a fierce gun duel.The bandits had already abducted four people and stolen a dozen cows when they ran into the schoolchildren who were on their way home from a celebration, Katsina state police spokesman, Gambo Isa, said early Sunday morning. Police and a local community self-defence group rescued the children from the bandits after a gunfight, he said."The teams succeeded in dislodging the bandits and rescued all the 84 kidnapped victims and recovered all the 12 rustled cows." said Isa in a statement. "Search parties are still combing the area with a view of arresting the injured bandits and/or the recovery of their dead bodies."Dandume, an area bordering the northern part of Kaduna state, is one of the region's hotspots for banditry and kidnapping, according to residents. "Dandume is a no-go-area for many of us because of the high level of crimes and insecurity being perpetrated by armed bandits," said Saidu Lawal, an official of a local civic group in Katsina, told The Associated Press."Despite government efforts to open up the area by constructing roads leading from the metropolitan locations to the hinterlands of Dandume ... the banditry still persists," said Lawal. "On many occasions, the bandits block the Dandume-Sabuwa highways to attack travellers. It was based on that reason that many people have abandoned the new route."

Spokesman of Defence Headquarters, Major General John Eneche, claims that the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji rescued all 344 abducted students of GSSS Kankara, in northwestern Katsina State, Nigeria .Bello Matawalle, governor of Zamfara, and Bello Masari, governor of Katsina , had disjointly said the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association played a major role in the release of the schoolboys. Meanwhile, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) has denied they negotiated the release of students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State.In a statement, General Enenche disclosed that the military rescued the boys, thanking “the members of general public who volunteered information are also appreciated”.He explained that the school boys were rescued “on the heels of credible intelligence by the gallant troops”, who deployed high-tech expertise to ensure that there are no casualties on the part of the boys.“Keeping to its promise to ensure the safe return of all abducted students of Government Science Secondary School Kankara, Katsina State, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI rescued all 344 abducted students on Thursday 17 December 2020,”“The Military High Command commends troops of Operation Hadarin Daji including all security agencies for their dexterity.” he added

The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, on Sunday, was ordained as an Apostle at the Saviour's Ministry in Lagos.Speaking after his ordination, Gani Adams criticized President Buhari's administration for not doing enough about the security matter in the country, He said that the recent abduction of 330 students in a school in Katsina is a clear evidence of security threats in the country.In his words - “There is no denying the fact that Nigeria is at crossroads because the present situation in the country is a pointer to the fact that this government has failed.“How can you explain the abduction of about 600 students in a school? It is saddening to accept this as a parent, but also ridiculous as a leader who knows much about what it takes to lead a country like Nigeria.“The abduction happened in Katsina State, the country home of the president, where he was presently on a week-long visit. It is absurd.“The whole event is a justification of the failures of the present administration under Buhari and Nigeria is in for a long battle against insurgency.”He said: “I am not an economist, but from the economic indices available at the public domain, Nigerian naira has fallen badly to the United States dollars.“It is a bad signal, especially, at this time of recession where the economy is slipping downwards.”Adams, advised President Buhari not to regard the calls for restructuring as a risk factor, but a wake-up call from patriotic Nigerians who have sacrificed their time, lives and resources to make this country great”, he said.

Boko Haram jihadist force has claimed responsibility for the abduction of over 300 students from the Government Science Secondary School in Kankara, Katsina State, last Friday, December 11.In a 4 minutes 28 seconds audio released on Monday night December 14, the leader of the deadly terror group, Abubakar Shekau, said contrary to reports ongoing in the news, the group is yet to make any demands .“What happened in Katsina was done to promote Islam and discourage un-Islamic practices as Western education is not the type of education permitted by Allah and his Holy Prophet.They are also not teaching what Allah and his Holy Prophet commanded. They are rather destroying Islam. It may be subtle, but Allah the Lord of the skies and earth knows whatever is hidden. May Allah promote Islam. May we die as Muslims.”In a nutshell, we are behind what happened in Katsina,” The government said a joint rescue operation was launched Saturday by Nigeria's police, air force and army after the military engaged in gunfights with bandits after locating their hideout in the Zango/Paula forest.Some of the male students were able to escape during the attack while the attackers were in a gunfight with police, according to Katsina State police spokesman Gambo Isah.Thousands of people have been killed in the Eleven-year-old revolution and displaces about 1.4 million residents.

Governor of Katsina state, Aminu Masari, has said the abductors of at least 333 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, have contacted his government.The Governor made this known when he briefed President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura on Monday.The Senior Special Assistant to the President, Garba Shehu said in a statement after Masari's visit to Buhari in Daura.It was titled, ‘Gov Masari Briefs President Buhari On Kidnapped School Children, Assures Of Steady Progress In Rescue Efforts'.The statement partly read, “President Muhammadu Buhari Monday in Daura, Katsina State, received more briefing on children kidnapped from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, with an assurance from Governor Aminu Bello Masari of steady progress to bring them out unharmed.“The Governor, who was accompanied by the Deputy Governor of the state, Manir Yakubu, said the kidnappers had made contact and discussions were already on pertaining to safety and return to their homes.“Governor Masari also noted that security agencies had located the position of the children.“The Governor said the President was fully committed to the rescue of the school children, adding that it was only appropriate to visit the President and give him more details of rescue efforts.”Marauders had stormed the school on Friday night and abducted the students. The President had arrived in the state on Friday, hours before the illegal occupation took place.On the night of 14–15 April 2014, 276 mostly Christian female students were kidnapped from the Secondary School in the town of Chibok in Borno State, Nigeria. Incident was claimed by Boko Haram members.

Today praya na for de govment and pipo for Katsina State and hawa friend dem wen de listin for hawa program for deir. De message of Hope dey tell us say wen we get temptation, God go give us pawa wen no go let us fall hinside de temptation

A 33-year-old agent of the Department of State Services (DSS), Sadiq Abdullahi Bindawa, has been killed by his suspected abductors after receiving the sum of N5 million as ransom from his friends and relatives in Katsina State.The former officer who until his death, worked with the DSS intelligence in Abuja. According to credible family sources, Bindawa and his four-year-old son were in Katsina last Friday to spend the weekend with their relatives. The assailants in a commando-style operation were said to have trailed the victim to his house located behind the Federal Secretariat Complex, Dandagoro area, Katsina, at about 10:30p.m.The kidnappers first attacked the private security guards at the entrance of the building before rushing in and drove Bindawa to an unknown destination.A family member said that the hoodlums demanded a ransom barely 48 hours after his abduction. He said the kidnappers earlier demanded N13 million as ransom, but after a series of pleading and negotiations, they agreed to N5 million for his freedom.“He was about entering his residence behind federal secretariat on Saturday night at about 10:30pm after returning from our family house when the kidnappers forcefully removed him from his car after beating his security guard to comma. We reported the incident to Batagarawa police station but nothing was done.“On Sunday, the kidnappers called through his phone line and demanded N13 million as ransom before they will release him, but after a series of pleading and negotiations they agreed to N5 million and said we should meet them in Charanchi and give them the money.“We took the N5 million to them on Sunday in Charanchi as negotiated. After the payment, they said we should go and receive him in Kurfi town on Monday morning. But when we reached there, we met his dead body with multiple gunshots on his head, ears and back. We buried him on Monday.”

Kolapo Oduwole, an employee of Union Bank has been indicted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] for an alleged N80m Fraud.Oduwole was alleged to have forged signatures of the Relationship Manager of the bank on three fixed deposit certificates, presented same to some customers and later got customers to deposit their funds in deposits accounts managed only by him.He was arraigned before Justice Musa Danladi of the Katsina State High Court by the Kano Zonal Office of the EFCC on six counts bordering on forgery and fraud.According to Dele Oyawale, Head, Media and Publicity, in a statement by EFCC said in one of the charges said:“That you, Kolapo Oduwole, on the 3rd March, 2020, at Katsina, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, forged a certain document to wit: Re: Investment of N80m only with intent to cause damage to one Abubakar Mohammed by making him to believe that you had placed the money in a fixed deposit with Union Bank, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 340 and punishable under Section 341 of the Penal Code Law of Katsina State 2019.”The accused person pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecution counsel, Aisha Habib, applied for his remand in EFCC's custody.