At the listening of RFI – Radio France Internationale live from Paris. It’s 6:00 p.m.
The Journal in easy French.
Adrien Delgrange.
4:00 p.m. Universal Time. It is Monday, April 13.
Glad to have you back. We will be together all week for the Journal in easy French.
With the agenda:
To start, we will discuss the blockade of Iranian ports. For over two hours now, Donald Trump has banned the entry and exit of boats from ports in Iran. This is what we will analyze at the beginning of the journal.
Following his landslide victory in Hungary, the future Prime Minister, Peter Magyar, spoke this afternoon at a press conference with journalists from around the world. You will hear from him in a moment.
In this journal, Pope Leon XIV is in Algeria. Our special correspondent is waiting for us.
The French company Lafarge is convicted of financing terrorism. Its former director is in prison tonight.
News from Benin. Paul Hounkpe admits his defeat in yesterday’s presidential election.
And finally, we already knew that bears can attack humans. But with the increasing number of attacks on humans, Japan has decided to take drastic measures, as explained by Igor Strauss at the end of this edition.
That’s it for the headlines. Welcome.
After the failure of negotiations this weekend between Iran and the United States, the American president has decided to impose what is called a naval blockade on Iran. Washington has been blocking Iranian ports for the past two hours. Donald Trump’s new strategy is to hit Iran’s wallet. This blockade aims to prevent Iran from exporting and selling its crude oil abroad. Under normal circumstances, 2 million barrels per day pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The oil is mainly destined for China, which represents significant revenue for Iran. Analysis by Homayoun Falakshahi, who works for the company Kpler, which monitors real-time oil flows worldwide.
“It could have a major effect, because almost all of their exports go through the Strait of Hormuz. As for revenue, I think it will have an impact in a few months, as Iran is paid once the oil reaches its destination. So, it takes a few weeks after the oil reaches its destination. The question that may arise then is: can Iran collapse faster than that? I don’t think so, because it would affect their revenue within just three to four months.”
Comments by Pierre Olivier. Finally, if the blockade is not respected, the American president warns: “If any of these ships even get close to our blockade, it will be immediately destroyed.”
Hungarians will have a new Prime Minister. Peter Magyar overwhelmingly defeated Viktor Orban in yesterday’s legislative elections. A new chapter in the history of this country of 10 million people. In his first speech today before the press, the future Hungarian Prime Minister stated that “the people” did not vote “merely for a change of government, but for a complete change of regime.” He also thanked certain countries.
“I thank everyone for the messages of congratulations. I note that the Kremlin and Beijing have also expressed themselves. I thank them for accepting with respect the decision of the Hungarian people and for being open to pragmatic cooperation, just like Hungary, because geography is geography, and relations between Hungary and Russia will rightly evolve, probably in the near future.”
The future Hungarian Prime Minister also asked the Hungarian President for a swift and smooth transition.
RFI. In Paris, 6:05 p.m.
It is a highly symbolic visit. The Pope is in Algeria. The representative of Catholics worldwide has arrived in this mostly Muslim country. Upon his arrival, Pope Leon XIV paid tribute to Algerian victims of the war against France at the independence martyrs’ monument. First stopover of Pope Leon XIV in Algiers, reported by Eric Senanque.
Yes. In front of this martyrs’ monument, symbol of the struggles for Algeria’s independence, the Pope was greeted by Cardinal Vesco, the Archbishop of Algiers, before delivering his first greeting in Algerian territory. “Being in front of this monument is a tribute to the history of Algeria and the defiance of a people who fought for independence, dignity, and sovereignty of this nation,” said the pontiff. At the foot of this concrete monument on a hill in Algiers, hundreds of chairs were arranged, mainly occupied by young people; many students invited by their universities or several ministries, such as the Ministry of Culture. The rain that fell on the Algerian capital did not discourage these many young people from coming to see Pope Leon XIV. Some Christians are present in the crowd. The first step was under high security. Drones fly in the sky. Snipers are also visible on the rooftops of nearby buildings. The Pope, after this first meeting, headed to the Grand Mosque of Algiers.
Eric Senanque following the official visit of Pope Leon XIV in Algeria. The Pope will then travel to several African countries.
News in Africa. In Benin, Paul Hounkpoe acknowledges his defeat in yesterday’s presidential elections against Romuald Wadagni. In a statement released moments ago, the FCBE party and sole challenger of the current Minister of Economy “takes note” – I quote – of the lead that seems to be in favor of his opponent. The final results are still unknown. Paul Hounkpoe congratulates Romuald Wadagni.
In France, the Lafarge cement company was convicted today for financing terrorism in Syria. Lafarge, along with eight former executives, were found guilty today by the Paris court of financing terrorism – this was in the years 2013-2014 – by paying jihadist groups to keep a factory running during the war in Syria. Its former CEO, Bruno Lafont, was sentenced to six years in prison, with immediate incarceration.
Japan is in a state of emergency. We will discuss this with Igor Strauss, who has joined us. Hello, Igor.
Hello, Adrien. Hello, everyone.
Faced with a record wave of bear attacks on humans in 2025 – more than 230, including thirteen fatal ones – Japan has presented a five-year plan. As I mentioned in the title, they are taking drastic measures, as it plans to hunt down over 10,000 bears per year. So, Igor, what is the current situation? How many bears live in Japan?
Well, with 40,000 bears roaming freely in its territory, Japan has the largest number of these animals after Canada and the United States. Two of the eight known species live in the mountains of the archipelago: the Oussouri brown bear, which can reach 2 meters standing on its hind legs, and the Asian black bear, smaller but more dangerous and ferocious. Since 2010, a policy of coexistence with wildlife had been implemented. This means that humans and bears lived harmoniously, each in their own territory, Adrien.
But climate change, global warming, and the disappearance of the bears’ natural food sources have changed everything.
Indeed, without food, hungry bears are now venturing near human settlements, including Tokyo, the Japanese capital. So much so that experts talk about a new generation of urban bears – bears from the cities – that are no longer afraid of humans. The government’s plan includes culling – killing – 10,000 bears in a year, training more hunters, and allowing shooting outside of natural reserves – hunting grounds. However, some specialists believe it would be wiser to push them back to their natural habitat in the mountains and capture more of them so they learn to be wary of humans.
Thank you, Igor Strauss. You are welcome to come back anytime to the Journal in easy French, produced tonight by Valentin Wanner, editor-in-chief Christine Muratet.
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