RFI and France 24 condemn the suspension of their broadcasts in Niger

4 August 2023

RFI and France 24 condemn the suspension of their broadcasts in Niger

One week after the coup d’état in Niger, the broadcasting of RFI (Radio France Internationale) and France 24 have been interrupted in the country according to multiple sources on the ground. France Médias Monde deplores this decision taken outside any conventional and legal framework, further depriving citizens in the region of their access to free, independent and verified information.

This incident follows previous cases of censorship faced by RFI and France 24 in Mali and Burkina Faso in recent months. The group reaffirms its steadfast commitment to the freedom of information, and the safety of its journalists.

In Niger, RFI operates through 7 FM relay stations, in addition to shortwave broadcasts of its programmes in French, Hausa, and Fulfulde, as well as several satellites (free-to-air on SES 5, Eutelsat 16 An and SES 4 satellites). A network of 44 partner radios also broadcasts their programmes in French, Hausa, and Fulfulde.

In 2022, 1.9 million listeners tuned in to the radio service each week in the country (18% of the population), and RFI was the top international radio station among opinion leaders. Additionally, the channel was followed by a quarter of the Nigerien population each week 2022.

Currently, RFI and France 24 remain accessible in Niger through direct satellite reception with the following channels:

SES-5: RFI broadcasts in French, Hausa, Fulfulde, Mandenkan and Kiswahili, France 24 broadcasts in French and in English.
Eutelsat 16A: RFI and France 24 broadcast in French.
Arab-Sat/Badr: France 24 broadcasts in French, English and Arabic; RFI broadcasts in French.

Furthermore, RFI’s programmes in French, Hausa, and Fulfulde continue to be broadcast on shortwave. Additionally, RFI and France 24 can be accessed on YouTube, their respective apps, websites, and social media platforms.

How to continue watching and reading France 24 in Africa

How to continue listening to and reading RFI in Africa

NHK WORLD programme focus: Re-assessing Ukraine’s lost nuclear deterrent

31 July 2023

NHK WORLD programme focus: Re-assessing Ukraine’s lost nuclear deterrent

Re-assessing Ukraine’s lost nuclear deterrent

NHK WORLD PRIME: Ukraine’s Nuclear Dilemma August 5 Sat. 0:10/6:10/12:10/18:10 (UTC) In 1994, Ukraine’s leaders gave up a formidable nuclear arsenal. But the country is now mired in war. We follow one young man who asks his fellow citizens if they’d have been better off keeping what is often dubbed the ultimate deterrent. His grandfather advocated disarmament as a government minister. So did William Perry, the US defence secretary tasked with overseeing the dismantlement process, who reflects on his work now that Russia threatens to use the most destructive weapon of all.
100 Cameras: Aomori Nebuta Festival August 4 Fri. 14:30/20:30/3:10/10:10 (UTC) August 9 Wed. 19:00 (UTC) The Nebuta Festival is the most exciting event of the year for the people of Aomori. Giant parade floats, or nebuta, are skillfully maneuvered through the city streets. After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the festival was held once again. We received special permission to film the local community as it eagerly prepared for the festival. What amazing behind-the-scenes material did our 100 cameras capture this time? We uncover the touching and poignant stories of the local people.
J-MELO Sundays 15:10/20:10/3:30/9:30 (UTC) Japan’s exciting music scene! Pop, rock, traditional and more! Live performances, artist interviews, plus all the latest news!

BBC News launches week-long focus on Artificial Intelligence

17 July 2023

BBC News launches week-long focus on Artificial Intelligence

Throughout the week starting 17 July, BBC News is taking a closer look at Artificial Intelligence (AI) – exploring how AI is already affecting our lives, and looking at the ways it could impact all our futures.

Every day BBC News will launch new thought-provoking and informative journalism to help audiences understand what AI is, what it can do, and how it is shaping the world we live in. BBC News will speak to leading experts in the field and deep dive into issues around jobs, security and technology.

It kicks off with an exclusive interview with Ian Hogarth – the recently announced chair of the UK’s AI Foundation Model Taskforce.

In the interview, Hogarth talks to Zoe Kleinman about the importance of tech innovation in Europe, saying that we need to scale up companies in Europe instead of selling them on to be grown by larger global companies, citing the sales the sales of Skype to Ebay and Deep Mind to Google.

He also warns about AI and calls for greater understanding of the risks – telling the BBC “we’ve got to think about how to protect British jobs” and explore how we “really hold these [AI] companies to account in an appropriate way”.

They also discuss the environmental cost of the energy the data centres will need which will add up to “a tremendous carbon footprint”.

An interview with Deep Mind founder Mustafa Suleyman, also out on Monday, explores security, the culture of risk taking in the UK to facilitate significant tech innovation, and the potential impact of AI on the way we live. He told the BBC:

“[AI] is going to be hugely product productive and beneficial for our civilisation. And clearly that also means that some people are going to struggle to make the transition. The question is one of values, how do we compensate those people who need to retrain and rescale and give them opportunities to improve and get back into the workplace. And to me, that’s a question of government subsidisation and support and ultimately, of taxation.”

The full interviews can be found on www.bbc.co.uk/news

Across the week, audiences will be able to learn more across all BBC News platforms – including podcasts on BBC Sounds, news and investigations on the BBC News website and TV packages on the news bulletins and channel, as well as special content for iPlayer.

As AI increases in its capabilities and scope of work, BBC News will look across how it is currently affecting our working lives, and how it could change the job market and affect business. It will also look at the role of AI in education, and how it is already being used in sport and being used to create music and media.

The week also starts with a visual guide to help you understand AI, answering all the questions you need to understand the basics of what AI is, and what it does – from the different types of AI, to how it learns, and how it can understand images.

This follows on from the BBC Sounds ten-part series with Spencer Kelly – Understand: Tech and AI, which aims to demystify the technology in our lives, explore key topics and answers big questions such as ‘Can AI be controlled?’ and ‘Will AI take my job?’

Upcoming highlights will include Click with Marc Cieslak: Marc will create Click’s own AI ‘Gogglebox’, and an iPlayer special on AI Moments that Made your Jaw Drop.

More news and content will be launched every day this week, with range of BBC global platforms sharing the focus on AI including:

BBC Future – BBC.com’s science section will be publishing articles including the A-Z guide of artificial intelligence terms, how to spot an AI cheater and how AI companies are buying up the rights to actors, musicians and personalities.

BBC Worklife will also be looking at the effect AI can have on your personal and professional life, including how AI can make you feel terrible about yourself – but it shouldn’t and how AI could save Gen Z’s professional futures.

Radio Liberty’s Kyrgyz service unblocked

17 July 2023

Radio Liberty’s Kyrgyz service unblocked

Radio Liberty’s Kyrgyz service has reported that it is no longer blocked in Kyrgyzstan.

According to the broadcaster, almost all Internet providers in the country have restored access to Azattyk’s websites, rus.azattyk.org and azattyk.org.

The sites have been blocked since October 2022 when the Ministry of Culture implemented a ban and froze the broadcaster’s bank account following a report on a conflict on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border that it said contained “inaccurate information”.

On 12 July, a court approved a settlement agreement concluded between Azattyk and the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy and all legal proceedings were terminated. “The reason for concluding the agreement was that the material became unavailable on the platforms of Radio Liberty,” Azattyk said.

ABC heads back to Palau

30 June 2023

ABC heads back to Palau

ABC Radio Australia will be heard in the Republic of Palau for the first time in more than five years.

Under a new Memorandum of Understanding, ABC Radio Australia programs will be carried on the Republic of Palau’s national radio broadcaster, Eco Paradise FM (EPFM).

The signing was attended by Palau Minister of State, the Hon. Gustav Aitaro and the Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon. Pat Conroy.

ABC International Services Head Claire Gorman acknowledged the support of the Australian Embassy in Koror for brokering the agreement and said: “This new partnership is a first step towards the aim of establishing a full FM radio service in Palau, an ABC initiative funded under the Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy.”

Gorman continued: “The ABC is proud to partner with EPFM and has a long history of engagement with Palau, including the provision of ABC Australia content on Palau National Communication Corporation’s (PNCC) television service.”

ABC Radio Australia has recently increased its Pacific-focused content and under the agreement, Palau residents will have access to programming including flagship regional current affairs show Pacific Beat as well as culture, education and music shows Stories from the Pacific, Pacific Playtime and Island Music.

ABC Radio Australia is available via EPFM on FM radio at 87.9FM and on EPFM Ngerel Belau AM Radio at 1584AM from Wednesday 28 July 2023.

NHK WORLD Focus July: Manga artistry + Kagoshima

30 June 2023

NHK WORLD Focus July: Manga artistry + Kagoshima

Programme focus for July: Manga artistry + Kagoshima

Manben: Behind the Scenes of Manga with Urasawa Naoki July 2 Sun.0:10/6:10/12:10/18:10 (UTC) Minase Ai Join us as we see a manga being brought to life by artist Minase Ai, known for her stories of young love. We go behind the scenes to see her working on Seishun Heavy Rotation. July 16 Sun.0:10/6:10/12:10/18:10 (UTC) Tezuka Osamu Explore the artistry of “the god of manga.” Tezuka Osamu drew Black Jack and many more famous series. Rare documents and interviews with assistants reveal secrets to his success.
Kagoshima: The Taste and Style of “Kuro” Culture July 9 Sun. 0:25/6:25/12:25/18:25 (UTC) Black (kuro) is a primary color for the area around Kagoshima. It’s reflected in the pottery, the cuisine, the shochu liquor, and even the ash from the volcano at Sakurajima. Discover the kuro culture of Japan’s far southwest.
Iojima: A Volcanic Island with a Passion for Rhythm July 15 Sun. 0:25/6:25/12:25/18:25 (UTC) Iojima Island is located in the Pacific about 1,000 kilometers southwest of Tokyo. In this episode of Journeys in Japan, Canadian Shizuka Anderson explores the volcanic island’s striking natural environment and experiences the unique culture of this oceanic outpost.
Hit the Road KAGOSHIMA July 19 Wed. 1:30/6:30/12:30/17:30/22:30 (UTC) In the second episode of Hit the road we explore the active Sakurajima volcano in Kagoshima Prefecture. Our discoveries include ceramic art made from lava and a naturally heated sandbath. Join us as we experience this volcanic wonderland.
Barakan Discovers Amami Oshima: Isson’s Treasure Island July 23 Sun. 0:10/6:10/12:10/18:10 (UTC) Explore Amami Oshima, the island paradise that was home to Japan’s very own “Gauguin.” Artist Tanaka Isson devoted his final years to depicting the natural beauty of a location that was later inscribed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site.