Best RFI English Podcasts (2024)

1
Turkey seeks to reassert regional influence following Abbas visit 5:27

16m ago5:27

5:27

In a bid to break out of increasing international isolation, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan this week hosted Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas in Ankara – positioning Turkey as a key player in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Abbas received a standing ovation in the Turkish Parliament on Thursday, where he addressed a…

1
This I Believe 7:34

4d ago7:34

7:34

Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound Kitchen weekly podcast, published every Saturday. This week, you’ll hear what Rodrigo Hunrichse, your fellow RFI English listener, has found to be true in his life. Don’t miss it! Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound Kitchen weekly podcast, published every Saturday. This week, you’ll hear what Rodrigo Hunrichse,…

1
China signs billion-dollar deal for car factory in Turkey 4:54

6d ago4:54

4:54

China’s car giant BYD’s announcement to build a billion-dollar factory in Turkey represents a significant turnaround in bilateral relations. However, concerns persist regarding human rights issues and Turkey’s stance on the Chinese Muslim Uyghur community. In a ceremony attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, China's BYD car company sig…

1
There’s Music in the Kitchen No. 35 19:13

3d ago19:13

19:13

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 Hossen Abed Ali, Karuna Kanta Pal, and Jayanta Chakrabart…

1
South African artist Gavin Jantjes on his major retrospective 18:20

12d ago18:20

18:20

RFI's Spotlight on Africa met with artist Gavin Jantjes to chat about his To Be Free! A Retrospective 1970-2023. The exhibition traces his journey as "a creative agent of change" from South Africa to Europe, celebrating his multifaceted roles as painter, printmaker, writer, curator and activist. In this episode we hear from the artist and from Hoor…

1
Armenia looks to reopen border with Turkey as potential gateway to the West 5:12

10d ago5:12

5:12

Joint military exercises between US and Armenian forces are the latest steps in Yerevan's efforts to shift away from Moscow. The potential reopening of the Armenian border with Turkey could also prove crucial – though it may ultimately depend on Armenia's rival, Azerbaijan. July saw major military drills in Armenia between Armenian and United State…

1
Children’s rights activist Kailash Satyarthi 11:29

20d ago11:29

11:29

Feast your ears on listener Bidhan Chandra Sanyal’s “My Hero” essay. All it takes is a little click on the “Play” button above! Hello everyone! This week on The Sound Kitchen, you’ll hear a “My Hero” essay by listener Bidhan Chandra Sanyal from West Bengal, India. I hope you’ll be inspired to write an essay for us, too! If your essay goes on the ai…

1
A Transformative Journey 16:39

20d ago16:39

16:39

Feast your ears on listener Ashik Eqbal Tokon’s “Transformative Journey” essay. All it takes is a little click on the “Play” button above! Hello everyone! This week on The Sound Kitchen, you’ll hear an essay by listener Ashik Eqbal Tokon from Rajshahi, Bangladesh. I hope you’ll be inspired to write an essay for us, too! If your essay goes on the ai…

1
Turkey's plan to cull street dogs provokes fury across political lines 4:51

16d ago4:51

4:51

A new law that threatens to cull millions of street dogs in Turkey has sparked nationwide anger. While President Recep Tayyip Erdogan insists the strays are a public health risk, critics say the move is an attempt to distract from bigger problems. Under controversial legislation currently passing through parliament, local authorities would be respo…

1
Africa and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games 15:58

26d ago15:58

15:58

The Paris Olympics are officially open, and athletes from Africa are competing in a broad range of disciplines. In this episode of the podcast, we look at what to expect from the African teams. In total, more than 200 delegations and 10,000 athletes are participating in 36 sports at the Paris Games. RFI's sport editor Paul Myers discusses how Afric…

1
Transformative Journey 16:39

18d ago16:39

16:39

Feast your ears on listener Ashik Eqbal Tokon’s “Transformative Journey” essay. All it takes is a little click on the “Play” button above! Hello everyone! This week on The Sound Kitchen, you’ll hear an essay by listener Ashik Eqbal Tokon from Rajshahi, Bangladesh. I hope you’ll be inspired to write an essay for us, too! If your essay goes on the ai…

1
What’s in a name? 27:28

1M ago27:28

27:28

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about the Eurosatory weapons show. There’s “On This Day”, “The Listener’s Corner” with Paul Myers, and bushels of good music - all that and the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click on the “Play” button above and enjoy! Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound Kitchen weekly pod…

1
Turkey's Erdogan seeks dialogue with Syria's Assad amid tensions over refugees 5:59

1M ago5:59

5:59

Facing mounting domestic tensions over Syrian refugees, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is reaching out to Syrian President Bashar Al Assad for dialogue. The initiative, reportedly supported by Moscow, is complicated by Turkey's significant military presence in Syria. Erdogan's call for talks comes after widespread riots against Syrian refug…

1
Kagame poised to extend rule for fourth term as Rwanda heads to polls 13:50

1M ago13:50

13:50

2024 is a big election year for the world and especially for Africa, and in July all eyes are on Rwanda. Rwandans will cast their ballots on Monday in an election where President Paul Kagame is expected to secure another term, facing the same opponents he defeated in 2017. Kagame, who has effectively led Rwanda since the 1994 genocide, confronts ch…

1
Macron’s big European Parliament loss 36:37

1M ago36:37

36:37

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about the European Parliament elections. There’s “The Listener’s Corner” and Erwan Rome’s “Music from Erwan – all that and 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 e…

1
Erdogan and Putin meet at Shanghai summit, reaffirm strong bilateral ties 4:36

1M ago4:36

4:36

Turkey's bid to join the BRICS trading group is the latest move in the Turkish President's delicate balancing act between Western and Eastern allies. The recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Almaty, Kazakhstan, provided a platform for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet in person. Their …

1
China’s 1989 sea change 31:24

2M ago31:24

31:24

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about Tiananmen Square. There’s “The Listener’s Corner”, Ollia Horton’s “Happy Moment”, and lots of good music. All that and 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…

1
Does the UK's change of leaders spell better relations with the EU? 6:07

2M ago6:07

6:07

The EU on Friday congratulated Keir Starmer on Labour's election win in Britain, with European Council President Charles Michel calling it "historic". But Labour's landslide victory doesn't mean that London will turn back the clock on Brexit. Keir Starmer has pledged to "make Brexit work" and seek "an ambitious" security pact with the the European …

1
Podcast: France revives hemp farming, New Romance, Paris's 1924 Olympics 33:52

1M ago33:52

33:52

France is reviving its industrial farming of hemp – 'green gold' – in the search for more sustainable, energy-saving building materials. French publishers are flocking to romance, as a new generation of authors are writing for a new and growing audience of young women readers. And when Paris hosted the 1924 Olympics 100 years ago. Hemp farming near…

1
Crackdown on organised crime gifts Istanbul police with luxury supercars 5:25

2M ago5:25

5:25

Istanbul police now have some of the world's most expensive sports cars – spoils of seized assets in a crackdown on international organised crime. It's part of Ankara's efforts to escape international scrutiny over money laundering as it seeks global investment. In the heart of Istanbul, onlookers gather around taking selfies of the police's latest…

1
A nail-biting tennis match 34:10

2M ago34:10

34:10

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about the Roland Garros French Open Tennis Tournament. There’s “On This Day”, “The Listener’s Corner” with Paul Myers, and lots of good music. All that and the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click on the “Play” button above and enjoy! Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound Ki…

1
African displacements and the search for refuge, in life and art 22:01

2M ago22:01

22:01

Displacement takes many forms, from refugees forced into exile to returnees who find themselves strangers in what was once home. In this episode, we speak to aid workers about the very different experiences of refugees in Sudan and Mauritania, and hear from an artist who draws inspiration from his own migrations between France, Algeria and beyond. …

1
Protests escalate in Turkey over Azerbaijani oil shipments to Israel amid embargo 5:35

2M ago5:35

5:35

Protests in Turkey are intensifying over Azerbaijani oil deliveries to Israel. Despite Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan imposing a trade embargo on Israel over its war against Hamas, the trade, which passes through a Turkish port, continues. Campaigners in Turkey advocating for a boycott of Israeli trade are focusing on Azerbaijan's oil suppl…

1
Politics make strange bedfellows 27:13

2M ago27:13

27:13

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about the possible alliances for South Africa’s ANC political party. There’s some poetry as a starter dish, “The Listener’s Corner” with Paul Myers, and “Music from Erwan” from Erwan Rome. All that and the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click on the “Play” button above and …

1
Podcast: Imagining a far-right government in France, forgotten fashion icon revived 34:08

2M ago34:08

34:08

As France heads into snap parliamentary elections with the prospect of the far-right National Rally winning a majority, what powers would its prime minister have, and what would change in France? Also, a look at previous presidents who dissolved parliament and risked getting a result they didn't like. And the story of Jenny Sacerdote – France's Roa…

1
Turkey set on rebuilding bridges with China to improve trade 6:09

2M ago6:09

6:09

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's visit to China earlier this month is the latest diplomatic effort by Ankara to become a strategic trade hub between Europe and China. But Beijing's suspicions over Ankara's support of Chinese Uyghur dissidents is widely seen as an obstacle. Bilateral trade and developing new trade routes were at the top of Tur…

1
Check the source! 23:34

2M ago23:34

23:34

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about the disinformation campaign around the European Union’s “Green Deal” campaign. There’s “On This Day”, “The Listener’s Corner”, and plenty of good music. All that and the new quiz and bonus questions too, so click on the “Play” button above and enjoy! Hello everyone! Welcome…

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