Your cell phone is at the center of your life, making it the ideal target for identity flights and financial fraud. List of contacts, photos, videos, files, text messages, nothing escapes pirates and criminals. In the era where everyone is constantly connected, here are the many signs indicating that there is a spy on your cell phone.

Why do criminals want to hack your cell phone?

Understanding the piracy signs of your cell phone begins with an understanding of the data treasure on your device! Telephones and computers are the two main communication devices that we use daily. Therefore, if someone hacks your cell phone, he will have access to the following information: Electronic addresses and phone numbers from your contacts, photos, videos, files, and text messages.

In addition, "If the pirate uses a typing recorder (in English, Keylogger), it can save each key that you press on the keyboard of your cell phone. This means that hackers can steal passwords, personal information, credit card information, banking information, as well as any business information. In addition, they would be able to follow each website you visit as well as the information you enter on this site, "explains George Waller, CEO of IT security companies.

Your battery discharges quickly

"An obvious sign that your phone was hacked is that you lose battery very quickly. Telephone spy software is constantly on, so it consumes a lot of energy and unloads your battery by the band. If you regularly encounter a loss of power, your cellular may be hacked, "said Tim Lync, CEO of a game manufacturing company.

Your phone is hot

"In addition to a significant drop in the telephone battery, a hot device, even when it is not used, is a likely sign that Internet data is consumed faster than usual. If consumers note that they continue to exceed their data limits someone uses maybe their sessions, "questions Ray Walsh, an expert in digital confidentiality.

You receive scary messages

"A third person asks you for money by declaring that they will publish photos and messages that could only come from your phone," said George Waller, CEO of IT security companies.

You clicked on a strange link in a text

"It could be a text pretending to come from your mom, a friend, or someone you know asking you to open a PDF file or a photo. Once opened, some Trojan horses integrated into the file corrupt your whole system. You also grant them access to steal your files.

So when you receive an email from a person you don't know asking you to click to display a photo or to watch a fun video, do not click unless you are sure of the source, "recalls Emmanuel Eze, critic and new technologies tester.

You have used public charging stations

"This technique benefits from the obsession with always keeping our cellular cellular. Malventy load stations take advantage of the fact that USB is used both for file transfer only for recharge. Some hackers can also monitor each of your strikes while they are connected. So don't rush to connect your cell phone as soon as you see a catch! ”, advises Emmanuel Eze.

New applications appear on your screen

“Pirated users can identify new unusual applications that appear in their menus or in their phone settings. Always check which applications are running and, if something seems undesirable, check if the application that empties your battery is known to contain malware, recommends Ray Walsh, an expert in digital confidentiality.

Your phone makes live broadcasts

“One way a cybercriminal can monitor and listen to your activities is to make your phone broadcast live without your knowledge. This would show all the activities of your cell phone to the criminal while broadcasting what is happening on your phone on the web.

It is possible to detect it if the phone is constantly hot or loses its battery too quickly. Also, check your internet bandwidth to see if there is a consumption peak somewhere, "said Jamie Cambell, a cybersecurity expert.

Your phone has overall poor performance

"As the old adage says," everything is a matter of timing "! Delays in sending and receiving SMS, telephone numbering, and checking voice messages - all these things should not take too long - are signs that a telephone hack has taken place, "explains Alexis Moore, author of books on bans and cyberharcelers. "These are the easiest signs to detect!" On the other hand, today everyone performs several tasks at the same time and does not pay enough attention to these subtle details. "

There is a global data use of data

"An application called" Data use "(available for Android and iOS) can display the amount of data sent from your device. The trick then consists of looking for anomalies or exceptionally long download periods. Your device is still sending data. He cannot synchronize emails, or publish selfies or text without downloading data. Fortunately, most users are quite consistent in their monthly activities. An important peak or an increase in downloaded data that persists without real use, may be an indicator that surveillance software has been installed, "notes Allan N. Buxton, chief court examiner for a criminal cyberscience company.

You discover calls or SMS that you have not sent

"You can also notice calls and text messages to numbers on your contact list that you have not sent. Make sure to monitor this activity closely, as some calls may be made to surcharged numbers that malware forces your phone to contact, ”explains Rob Webber, mobile expert and CEO of a comparison of telephone packages comparison cellular.

You receive unwanted pop-ups

"Another sign that a smartphone is compromised is receiving untimely advertising windows (POP-UPS) or strange screen saver. Although not all pop-ups indicate that your phone has been infiltrated, an increasing number of contextual windows could be a sign that your phone was infected with a form of malware-advertising software that Forces devices to display specific sites that generate income through clicks, ”explains Rob Webber.

You receive security messages

"If your phone has been hacked, you may notice an unusual activity on his part, such as security messages informing you that your email or another account has been accessed using a new device. You receive password reset links or verification emails indicating that you have registered with new accounts that you do not know, "explains mobile expert Rob Webber.

Your phone was left unattended in a public place

“Never leave your device unattended in a public place. Keep your cell phone on you or in view while you are in public. If you have a "phone visibility" option, deactivate it. This parameter allows the devices near to see your phone and exchange data with it, "suggests Gary Davis, head of consumer safety in a cybersecurity company.

"Do not record the password or connection information for banking applications and other sensitive accounts. You do not want a hacker to connect automatically as you do if it reaches your device! "

You have downloaded a malicious application

"Criminals hide malware or malicious abilities inside applications that seem legitimate or can even perform a legitimate service, such as a mobile game. To this end, Google Play is more likely to have infected applications than the Apple App Store, because Google does not examine these applications as vigorously, "reveals Alex Hamerstone, manager of customer relations management systems ( RCMP) and cybersecurity consultant.

You have lost your signal

There are several notable signs that your phone could be hacked: you receive a text message or an email notification from your mobile operator about a change of account that you have not made and, a few minutes later, your cell phone no longer has any signal, even after restarting. Nor can you connect to your email or even your bank account. This is called a number portage attack!

As a rule, criminals only need a date of birth and an account number for this attack to succeed. If you think you are the victim of a number portage attack, you must immediately contact the police - and your mobile telephone operator - to inform them that your cell number has been transferred and that you are the victim of a flight of 'identity.

“Finally, plan for several days to change the passwords of all the accounts used with your cell number. Plan even more time to obstruct yourself with banks and creditors to justify your stolen identity, "said Kayne McGladrey, a member of the Institute of Electrician and Electronics Engineers.

You hear an unusual background noise

"Burling, parasites, or other strange noises can be a sign that someone spies on you. Although all cellular can have strange noises from time to time on their line, it is best to check if there are other signs combined with it. If you hear unusual noises when your phone is not used, this is not a good sign ... ", advises Robert Siciliano, an identity flight expert and speaker.

Your phone does not go out

"If something seems weird with your cell phone, try to turn it off. Look how he reacts when you turn him off. Telephones that have often been hacked will not turn off properly or will never turn off, "said Robert Siciliano.

Your accounts act strangely

This is more common than you think and represents a very serious risk. The iCloud and Gmail services keep a lot of information about you, such as passwords, photos, phone positions, messages, and calls. You might think that nobody would like your photos, but it is common for them to hold your ransom. You might also think that there is nothing important in your electronic box, but it is probably a backup of each online account you have. With enough information, it would be easy to steal your identity.

"If you start to receive password reset emails, it could mean several things. Changing your email password and checking your account safety is a good idea. Always create a strong password, activate the notifications for connection to new computers or locations, and activate two-factor authentication, "Matthew Woodley, an independent digital marketing consultant.

You were lazy with passwords

"If someone's iCloud account is hacked, the criminal can see where all their devices are, see all their stored data, lock the devices via anti-theft features, etc. This kind of thing usually occurs when a person uses the same password on several sites, and one of these sites is compromised. The best way to avoid this is to use unique passwords on each site, which are recorded in a password manager and allowing two factors authentication on each account ”, sheds light on his advice Thomas Reed, director of Mobile for a software company created to detect and delete malware.

You have used free wifi to access sensitive information

“Free and unsecured Wi-Fi in your local coffee is extremely practical. Unfortunately, it's easy to spy on everything you do with it. If you use a non-security connection, the best way to do so is to use a VPN (a virtual private network) to keep your connection. VPNs are inexpensive and protect you, ”continues Matthew Woodley.

Otherwise, make sure you never connect to a bank website, and try to stay away from your electronic mailbox. "If you want to check your emails, always watch the address bar. Does the website indicate "HTTPS: //" rather than "HTTP: //"? The added "S" indicates a secure connection. There must also be a green locking symbol next to the URL. If you do not have these indicators of a secure connection, do not enter any of your connection information! ", He notes.

You are blocked

"You can also see your legitimate electronic boxes being blocked by the anti-spam filters of other people because your communications now seem to come from a suspicious source," recalls Mike Tanenbaum, an insurance company.

You are billed for transactions that you have not carried out

Another hacking sign is that your bank sends you an SMS alert concerning a transaction that you have not carried out. Or, you receive an invoice from your credit card company indicating that you have bought something that you have never really bought!

It is up to technological companies to do what it takes

Mathias J. Klenk, co-founder of online verification software, believes that companies must stop aggregating and collecting data on their users.

The future of IT security lies, according to him, in an architecture based on confidentiality and where users can maintain the same ease of use while having control over their data.

3 things to do if you think you are hacked

Matt Wilson, Chief Information Security Advisor for a Cybersecurity Company for Business, recommends the following measures:

Change the important passwords. Do not do it from the device you think is compromised or you could give hackers your new password!

Many popular applications and services stimulate multiple factors. Although it does not necessarily help you as soon as your device is at risk, it reduces the possibility of being cellular

Restore your device. The process depends on your cell phone, but large companies have simple and easy instructions. Save your cellular data and restore it are two other actions to be taken to avoid being hacked.

 The UN conference, COP 15, which opens this Wednesday in Canada aims to adopt a global framework to halt biodiversity loss by the end of the decade. At stake is the ambition to seal a historic agreement comparable to the Paris climate agreement.

It is a major world summit that opens this Wednesday in Montreal, Canada. Another COP, much less publicized than the annual UN high masses on climate, but just as crucial for the survival of humanity. The COP 15 on biodiversity, initially scheduled to take place in Kunming, China in 2020 but postponed several times due to the global pandemic, and finally hosted more than 12,000 kilometers away, has a major challenge: nothing less than to stop the crisis of life.

For a little less than two weeks, 196 "parties" (195 countries plus the European Union) will try to agree on an unprecedented roadmap to protect biodiversity: a global framework for the next ten years that makes it possible to halt its decline and initiate ecosystem restoration. And even go beyond, by specifying the vision for 2050 which is to "live in harmony with nature".

Even if no head of state or government has been invited by the Chinese presidency of COP 15, this major meeting raises strong hope. "We are at a COP 21 moment of biodiversity," explains Sébastien Treyer, director general of the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI), referring to the historic agreement to limit global warming signed in Paris in 2015. An ambition carried high in particular by France.

In the midst of climate COP 27 last month in Egypt, the main architects of the Paris Agreement urged countries to conclude an equally historic global agreement on nature in Montreal. With a clear message: the climate and biodiversity crises are interconnected, "the world can only achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 if it also acts now to create a nature-friendly society".

The challenge remains major, in a turbulent geopolitical context. None of the objectives set in the two previous agreements, in 2002 and 2010, have been achieved. "We lost two decades," said Véronique Andrieux, WWF's director general. This time, "failure would be a breach of the most essential duties of protection," she warns.

The executive secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, Maruma Mrema, chose to be optimistic. "Biodiversity must succeed," she says. "It is not too late", even if the world is close to "tipping points" and the erosion of life has reached "an unprecedented level in history", to the point of speaking of a sixth mass extinction.

A healthy nature

The picture drawn up by IPBES, the "IPCC of biodiversity", and by environmental associations such as WWF, is alarming: more than one million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction, a decline of nearly 70% in vertebrate wildlife populations in less than 50 years, and more than three-quarters of the terrestrial environment and 66% of the marine environment degraded by human activity.

"We are eroding the very foundations of our economies, livelihoods, food security, health, and quality of life around the world," IPBES Chair Robert Watson said when he released a seminal report to policymakers in 2019. It has led to the beginning of awareness, especially among businesses, as more than 50% of the global economy depends on the "services" provided by nature – a healthy nature. Many are making the trip to Montreal this year as part of the world of finance.

Friction

Because "to be effective, this roadmap negotiated at COP 15 will have to involve all the actors concerned: cities, regions, local communities, indigenous populations, businesses, NGOs, trade unions, etc.", raises Julien Rochette, a specialist in international biodiversity governance. "The collective ambition must be able to be translated into individual actions. And each country will also have to develop its own trajectory. »

In Montreal, countries will have to negotiate more than twenty objectives to be met by 2030, and there are many points of friction. The preservation of 30% of land and seas is the most emblematic "target". More than a hundred countries and the EU support it. They will also have to find a consensus on reforestation, restoration of degraded environments, the fight against invasive species, and the reduction of pesticides or agroecology. The rights of indigenous peoples and the recognition of their role will also be at the heart of the discussions. The now very sensitive issue of funding from North to South will also be central. To determine the outcome of the summit.

 The American flagship city is, this year tied with Singapore, a regular of the first place of the annual ranking carried out by the British weekly "The Economist". Paris fell four places to ninth place in this ranking.

This is a first that the flagship city of the United States would probably have done well. New York has indeed become, for the first time, first in the annual ranking of the most expensive cities in the world, published this Thursday by "The Economist".

The city is now tied with Singapore, a regular in first place in this ranking. Both cities dethrone Tel Aviv, the cultural and economic heart of Israel, which dominated the ranking last year. Paris is in ninth place, ahead of Copenhagen and behind San Francisco.

A ranking biased by the soaring dollar

The upheavals in this ranking are largely linked to the global crisis and its repercussions on prices and the cost of living. "Prices soared by 8.1% on average year-on-year (in local currency) in 172 major cities around the world, the largest increase recorded in at least twenty years," says the British weekly in its 2022 report on the cost of living. These increases notably reflect the impact "of the war in Ukraine and the ongoing pandemic-related restrictions (which) are disrupting supply chains" and particularly affect "energy and food".

However, this ranking is biased by monetary effects: it is made after converting prices into dollars. However, the dollar, traditionally a safe haven in times of crisis, has strengthened strongly in recent months, to the point of causing the euro to fall to its lowest in twenty years: its rise is therefore reflected in lower prices outside the United States. American cities, therefore, climb mechanically in the ranking and three of them find themselves in the Top Ten of this ranking: New York, Los Angeles (fourth), and San Francisco (eighth).

Moscow and St. Petersburg on the rise

Moscow and St. Petersburg, which have seen their prices soar, also jump in this ranking. The Russian capital gained 88 notches to reach 37th place, under the effect of Western sanctions and a dynamic energy market that supports the ruble, notes "The Economist".

But most other European cities are slipping in the rankings as the energy crisis and weakening economies have weighed on the euro and local currencies. In France, Paris fell four places to ninth position, while Lyon fell 34 places to 90th.

Not surprisingly, the fastest price increases were for gasoline (as in 2021), which rose 22% in local currency terms in the wake of crude oil prices. But the surge in electricity, food, and basic household items has also played a role.

On the other hand, leisure prices remained subdued. This "may reflect weaker demand, as consumers focus their spending on essential goods," says The Economist, based on a survey conducted between August 16 and September 16.

 The coach, in office since July 2018, pays for the defeat against Morocco and loses his place on the bench, announced the Spanish federation Thursday.

Spain coach Luis Enrique was dismissed on Thursday (December 8th), two days after La Roja was eliminated in the knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup against Morocco on penalties, the Spanish federation announced in a statement. A few minutes later, the Federation unveiled the name of his successor: Luis de la Fuente.

"The coach has managed to give a new impetus to the national team since his arrival in 2018, thanks to a thorough renovation that has consolidated a generational change in the team and in Spanish football," the federation said of Enrique.

Seven defeats in 48 games, including two at the World Cup in Qatar

Spain, which had achieved the first 'card' of the World Cup by humiliating Costa Rica (7-0), leaves Qatar with only one victory on the counter, for a draw and two defeats. In total, under his leadership, La Roja won 27 games, drew 14 games, and lost 7. Former coach of FC Barcelona, Luis Enrique was noticed during this World Cup by creating a direct link with the fans thanks to a daily broadcast on Twitch.

Appointed head of Spain in July 2018, he had taken a break between March and November 2019 to mourn his daughter, then he lifted Spain to the semi-finals of the Euro and the final of the League of Nations. But the elimination against Morocco and the many criticisms around La Roja's sterile possession style of play led his federation to remove him from office.

To succeed him, Luis de la Fuente was appointed. At 61, he was the coach of the Spanish U19s, hopes, and the Olympic team and had even ensured an interim on a match to replace Luis Enrique, while Covid-19 had forced the Spanish team to observe isolation before playing Lithuania. Luis de la Fuente will take charge of the national team in March, during the qualifying matches for Euro 2024.

 How to attend the Paris 2024 Olympic Games? To get tickets for the different events, here is the ticketing program. Since Thursday, December 1st, it is possible to register for a draw, which will allow the lucky ones to get tickets.

The race for tickets for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is officially on. In total, nearly 10 million tickets will be put on sale, to allow as many people as possible to attend this exceptional event. A precise timetable has been unveiled by the organizing committee (Cojo). Thus, from Thursday, December 1st, it is possible to register for the 100% digital ticket office and thus hope to be drawn and thus obtain the precious places.

The ticketing calendar for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Ticket sales to attend the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be spread over several slots. During the first session, it will be possible to register for a draw to acquire ticket packs, of a minimum of 3 tickets. In a second step, single tickets will also be made available, always through a draw.

Here is the detailed schedule:

• From Thursday 1 December to 31 January 2023, registration for the draw for ticket packs 
• February 15, 2023: opening of the sale of ticket packs for those drawn at random
• From March 15 to April 15, 2023: Registration for the draw for the sale of single tickets
• May 2023: Opening of single ticket sales

Thus, once registered for the draw sessions, whether for packs or single tickets, each participant will have to wait to receive a confirmation by email. This will contain an invitation to a 48-hour sales slot, during which it will be possible to buy tickets. If you do not receive an email during the first slot, do not worry: it will always be to register for the next draw for the 2024 Olympics.

How do I get the tickets you want for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games? 

To have even more luck, it is better to take the time to register for Club Paris 2024. Indeed, club members hoping to be drawn for tickets will be granted special slots during the first 4 days of the sale (February 15,16,17,18). And rest assured, when registering for the draw, it will be possible to fill in your desires and select the sports, athletes or teams that you will most like to see. Please note that sales are limited to 30 tickets per account and 6 tickets per session (i.e. per sporting event). 

And good news, most tickets will be sold for less than 50 €, allowing as many people as possible to attend the sporting event. Also, for the Paralympic Games, which will also take place in Paris from August 28 to September 8, 2024, tickets will go on sale from autumn 2023.

"The COP of the decade". This is the expression used by the Sherpas of the international negotiations on COP15 Biodiversity, which is scheduled to kick off today in Montreal, Canada.

The expectation is all the greater as the event, chaired and organized this time by China, has been postponed three times since 2019, due to the Covid pandemic.

While many observers regret that the importance of COP15 was not mentioned in the final declaration of COP27 in Egypt, some were reassured by the joint declaration of the heads of state present at the last G20, on 15 and 16 November, in Bali, Indonesia. "We call on the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to adopt an ambitious, balanced, pragmatic, effective, robust, and transformative post-2020 strategy at COP15 in Montreal," the document states.

A belated but welcome political portage in view of the reality on the ground: according to the IPBES, the "IPCC of biodiversity", out of 8 million plant and animal species identified, 1 million of them are threatened with extinction. This observation is all the more alarming when we know that nature contributes largely to the regulation of the climate, which is already in bad shape.

So how is COP15 biodiversity decisive for the future of the planet? What are its objectives? What difficulties are in sight in the negotiations? Elements of answers.

1. This COP is as important as the climate COP

Since the Rio Summit of 1992, under the aegis of the UN, conferences of the parties (the famous "COP"), have been organized for international negotiations dedicated to various environmental themes (climate, desertification, biodiversity, etc.). If the climate COPs are the most publicized, those dealing with biodiversity, less known to the general public, are also important.

Organized under the auspices of the International Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the main purpose of the biodiversity COPs is to establish agreements and action plans to protect the world's natural ecosystems.

Climate change, increasing urbanization, and the industrial overexploitation of natural resources are accelerating the loss of biodiversity, both plant, and animal. These resources are essential to the survival of humanity on Earth. Especially in terms of food and health.

"This is why all COPs are interdependent. The climate crisis is fuelling the biodiversity crisis and vice versa," says Pierre Cannet, WWF France's Director of Advocacy and Campaigns.

2. Its challenge: 1 million endangered species

"Like climate, the state of biodiversity is shaped by sound science. And unfortunately, these are not good... ", warns the WWF executive.

According to the latest census conducted in 2019 by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), out of 8 million plant and animal species identified, 1 million of them are threatened with extinction. Another alarming statistic: between 1970 and 2018, the average size of wild vertebrate populations declined by 69% according to WWF.

In 2010, the twenty "Aichi Targets" for 2020 were supposed to tackle the problem. These included reducing the rate of loss of natural habitats worldwide by at least half and safeguarding the biodiversity of 17% of terrestrial areas and inland waters (10% of marine and coastal areas).

"But it is clear that they have clearly not been reached. That is why COP15 is absolutely crucial. An unprecedented agreement, commensurate with the urgency, must be reached. In this sense, it could be comparable to that of COP21 for the climate in 2015," says Pierre Cannet.

3. Its stated goal is to protect 30% of land and seas by 2030

If, according to the WWF expert, "the current text, in pre-negotiation, still contains 1,500 brackets", the objectives of this framework agreement must be up to the challenge. The first of all: halting the current collapse of biodiversity and sanctuarizing 30% of the world's land and seas by 2030.

This lever of protected areas is largely pushed by scientific reference organizations, such as IPBES or IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) because its effectiveness has already proven itself in the past. Some regions of the globe, endowed with gigantic reservoirs of biodiversity, such as the Amazon rainforest in South America or Africa (especially the Great Congo Basin), could see their natural areas more protected.

But defining these protected areas is far from easy. Their natural resources are intrinsically linked to the economic activity of the forestry, mining, agricultural or marine industries. The lobbies of these sectors are therefore likely to exert significant pressure at this COP in order to assert their interests.

WWF's advocacy officer in France adds two other objectives necessary for the effectiveness of this future agreement: "In addition to safeguarding nature, the final text will have to define a concrete action plan to restore natural ecosystems on the one hand, and reduce the human ecological footprint on the other. WWF is campaigning for it to fall by 50% by 2030. This will involve limiting mining, switching to more reasoned agriculture, or eating less meat. »

4. Its other objective is to develop a

"One of the reasons why the Aichi Biodiversity Targets have not been met is the lack of an effective implementation mechanism," says Pierre Cannet.

Contributions from countries in terms of reducing CO2 emissions, raising climate ambitions, transparency of negotiations, and these modalities of action have contributed to the effectiveness of the Paris Climate Agreement. "COP15 biodiversity must absolutely have this mechanism to see its roadmap respected by countries," insists Pierre Cannet.

Agreeing on a common methodology to measure biodiversity will also be crucial during this COP. According to experts, the challenge is daunting: quantifying natural ecosystems is more complex than climate. The latter has a clearer key indicator: CO2 emissions.

5. It should recommend mobilizing $700 billion

In an interview with the Canadian online media "L'actualité", Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary of the CBD, recalled: "The framework of this COP seeks to find 700 billion dollars by 2030, but some studies indicate that the amount needed to preserve biodiversity is even higher."

Just like the last climate conferences, the mobilization of the new funding will also be one of the major challenges of this biodiversity COP. The subject is also giving rise to the same tensions as at COP27: developing countries, more impacted by the erosion of biodiversity than rich countries, are demanding major financial support from the latter.

"We must keep in mind that the largest reservoirs of biodiversity are located in developing countries. As long as this funding is not mobilized, these states will not be encouraged to protect their reservoirs of biodiversity," the NGO framework analyzes.

Another economic argument should underpin the negotiations of this COP: according to a World Bank report published in July 2021, "the collapse of certain ecosystem services provided by nature (wild pollination, food from marine fisheries and timber from natural forests, in particular) could reduce global gross domestic product (GDP) by $ 2.7 trillion per year by 2030".

 The scene took place in Doha, after a match between Brazil and South Korea.

A video showing former Cameroonian football star Samuel Eto'o hitting an Algerian YouTuber in the face went viral on social media on Tuesday (December 6th).

The footage shows the current president of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fécafoot) hitting a cameraman dryly in the face. The latter falls backward and is identified as Sadouni SM, with 66,000 subscribers on YouTube.

The scene takes place at the 974 stadium, at the exit of the eighth final Brazil-South Korea (4-1), Monday night. Brazilian fans in yellow jerseys can also be seen. At the beginning of the 57-second video, Eto'o, blue cap, gives selfies to fans before being challenged by the YouTuber, whose question is not distinguished, and going mad with rage. Eto'o was surrounded by several people who could not hold him back despite their efforts.

"I did all this for Algeria," Sadouni SM said Tuesday in a video in front of the camera. "I am at the police station for the investigation. We must share this video, as Eto'o is a personality I am afraid that they hide the file, but I trust the Qatari police, "continued the YouTuber in this video. The 'Indomitable Lions' had beaten, last March, the Algerians (2-1 a.p.) in a play-off match, which had opened the doors of this World Cup to Cameroonians to the detriment of the 'Fennecs'.

Eto'o "destroyed my camera and microphone, he hit me there [showing his chin]," he said. A Fécafoot official told AFP that the latter did not wish to react.

Eto'o publishes a letter of apology

On Tuesday, the former FC Barcelona striker apologized through a message posted on his networks. "I deeply regret losing my temper and reacting in a way that doesn't fit my personality. I apologize to the public for this regrettable incident," begins Eto'o, who does not address the victim of his blood stroke directly in his letter of apology.

Returning to the scenario of the elimination of Algeria by Cameroon on March 29, Eto'o said that he has since been "the target of insults and allegations of cheating without any foundation. During this World Cup, Cameroonian fans were harassed and bothered by Algerians on the same subject," he continued, before concluding: "To the supporters of the Fennecs, I express the calf that they find peace and manage to overcome the disappointment of a painful elimination but now behind us."

 The Atlas Lions suffered but they snatched the decision at the end of the suspense (0-0, 3-0 t.a.b), and reach the quarterfinals for the first time in their history.

Morocco believed in it until the end, and Morocco has its greatest achievement in the World Cup. The Atlas Lions eliminated, after the penalty shootout, Spain in the eighth final of the World Cup, Tuesday, December 6 (0-0, 3-0 t.a.b). Logically dominated in the game (77% possession for Spain) but far from being amorphous, Morocco never let itself be lulled to sleep by La Roja's passing game, and it was he who finally had the last word.

It was at the end of the cruel penalty shootout, where current Parisians Pablo Sarabia and Carlos Soler, as well as Sergio Busquets, failed. By reaching the quarter-finals, the Atlas Lions achieved the best run in their history in the World Cup, their best performance remained in the eighth final, in 1986.

We imagined that against Morocco, qualified almost surprise for these knockout rounds, La Roja would not denigrate its usual game plan. With a huge but totally sterile possession (1019 passes to 304), the Spaniards did not deviate from their principles: the Sky and White, for the occasion, held the ball, but did not do much (no shot framed in the first half). Unlike the Atlas Lions, stifled but more dangerous by Noussair Mazraoui (33rd) and Nayef Aguerd (43rd) and in particular the Angevin Sofiane Boufal, untenable.

La Roja, talent but no ideas

More and more on the retreat, the Moroccans took advantage of the Spanish offensive inertia to then proceed against as much as they could, content to defend en bloc in order to disgust the rare inspirations of the Roja. In extra time, Morocco, on the kneecaps physically, suffered the Spanish siege even more than in regulation time. Without further inspiration, the Spaniards again turned around Bounou's goal, and it was even the Moroccans who created a huge opportunity through Walid Cheddira, who lost his duel to Unai Simon (104th).

Despite a final scare, the Moroccans finally snatched the precious penalty shootout. And it was a one-way street. Against Yassine Bounou, a specialist in the exercise, Pablo Sarabia, Carlos Soler, and Sergio Busquets stammered, each missing their attempt (two saves, a post). Badr Benoun's misfire was inconsequential, Achraf Hakimi capsizing his family with happiness on a Panenka that offered the first quarter of its history to Morocco.

"Tactically we held on, on penalties, we knew we had one of the best in the world. We are making history, it is for the Moroccan people, I am happy," Moroccan coach Walid Regragui told BeIn Sports at the end of the match. "At some point in Africa, we have to be ambitious. We have a heart, energy, and love, when there is all that, we win games! It's historic for Morocco and for Africa," he concludes, relayed by Sofiane Boufal: "It's a crazy thing. We just wrote history, the emotions we experienced are incredible. This victory belongs to the fans and the Moroccan people," said the euphoric Moroccan winger.

 "Norman makes videos" was placed in custody on Monday, December 5, as part of a preliminary investigation entrusted to the family protection brigade. He is currently being questioned about the corruption of minors and rape involving several young women.

Norman Thavaud, the third French YouTuber with nearly 12 million subscribers, was placed in custody on Monday, December 5, following a preliminary investigation opened by the Paris prosecutor's office and entrusted to the Family Protection Brigade (BPF). He is currently being questioned about the corruption of minors and rape, involving several teenage girls and young women. The Paris prosecutor's office confirms the custody to Libération. Some are fans of the star of the Web and accuse him of facts of a different nature. For several months, the BPF of the Paris police prefecture had been trying to cross-check the multiple scenarios described.

In August 2018, the name of Norman Thavaud, at this stage presumed innocent, was mentioned in the wave #BalanceTonYoutubeur following a tweet by Lucas Hauchard, alias Squeezie, the French number 1 (17.6 million subscribers to date), denouncing the inappropriate behavior of some videographers who "take advantage of the psychological vulnerability of young subscribers to obtain sexual intercourse". Drowned in the mass of testimonies, these accusations had remained a dead letter.

Six potential victims questioned by the justice system

On July 8, 2020, Maggie Desmarais, a Quebec fan aged 16 at the time of the facts, accused him on Instagram, screenshots of messages in support, of having manipulated her to obtain photos and videos of a sexual nature, sent by Snapchat, and of having exercised a psychological influence in 2018. He was 31 years old at the time. After filing a complaint in the summer of 2020, she testified openly and on video on the website Urbania, where she spoke of an "unhealthy little game of emotional attachment. I was young, I admired him, I fell easily into the panel." She also announced that she had been contacted by about thirty young women who had a similar experience with the YouTuber. According to information from Libération, five other potential victims were also questioned by the courts. With the exception of Maggie Desmarais, all may have been raped. Two were minors at the time of the incident.

"Norman makes videos" is a first-generation icon who grew up with the internet. Like Cyprien, Mister V or Hugo Tout Seul, he is a pioneer of the "podcast", this form of sketches staging the banalities of everyday life, adapted to the codes of the Internet and YouTube. After more than a decade of a solo career, his channel peaks at nearly 12 million subscribers and 2.7 billion views. He continues to this day to post videos, regularly reaching one million views, and was also performing on stage before Covid-19 interrupted the tour of his "Show of maturity". Maggie Desmarais was summoned to France by the BPF and crossed the Atlantic for a confrontation with Norman Thavaud, which should take place this Tuesday.

Reacting to the placement in police custody, the Webedia group, producer of the most important YouTube channels in France, announced "the suspension of its collaboration with the YouTuber Norman Thavaud".

 On Friday in New Orleans, Emmanuel Macron announced the creation of a fund to spread the French language in American schools. Despite the sharp decline in the number of speakers, French is far from disappearing from Louisiana.

"Franco-Louisiana culture is alive and well!" In almost impeccable French, Bennett Anderson, 25, fervently campaigns to make the Francophonie visible in Louisiana. Like other young Louisianans of his generation, he has this indefinable accent, a mixture of Louisiana intonations but also French, Quebec, Belgian and African, inherited from his teachers at school.

The Francophonie in Louisiana is - along with climate issues - at the heart of the second sequence of Emmanuel Macron's visit to the United States, on Friday. The head of state is to announce on this occasion the creation of a fund to support the dissemination of French in American schools. He will be the first French president since Valéry Giscard d'Estaing in 1976 to visit this southern state of the United States, which was a French colony, a Spanish colony, and then again a French colony between 1682 and 1803.

Drop in the number of speakers

New Orleans may make its European origins a tourist asset, but we hardly hear French today. However, it is heard more in the center and south of the state, towards the city of Lafayette and in the bayous, these marshy areas where the Acadians - who became the "Cajuns" and then "Cajuns" - settled in the mid-eighteenth century. One of the waves of Francophone emigrants experienced by Louisiana.

The use of French, the language of these poor workers, continued until 1921 when Louisiana made public education in English compulsory. Shameful, French was only practiced in the family until it almost disappeared. "My parents are part of the generation that doesn't speak French at all. But I discovered that my grandparents spoke it and that it was even my grandfather's mother tongue. He was delighted to tell me when I became interested in it," says Bennett Anderson.

This renewed interest of young Louisianans comes at the end of a drastic drop in the number of francophones in the state, estimated between 100,000 and 200,000 people, against 1 million in the 1970s. To stop it, the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (Codofil), a Louisiana public agency, has been organizing "immersion programs" since the 1980s: students attend school exclusively in French - with the exception of English classes. Some 5,000 young people are participating today.

Create a community of Francophone businesses

Bennett Anderson, who launched an online gazette in French three years ago with other activists met on Facebook groups, says he is witnessing a "small renaissance" of French. But "there is a lack of economic opportunities," he laments. Once you've learned French at school, what do you do with it? Certainly, there are business opportunities with France, Quebec, Africa, etc. But we must develop the Franco-Louisiana economic area."

Codofil is aware of the issue: since Louisiana was integrated into the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) in 2018, the agency has also given itself the mission of economic development. By promoting Francophone tourism - France is one of the top five countries of origin of visitors to Louisiana - but also by "creating a community of Francophone businesses," says Matt Mick, communications officer at Codofil. "We launched an initiative to list Louisiana businesses offering French-language services, not necessarily in tourism. We are at the very beginning. »

 In November, 263,000 jobs were created in the United States. The pace of creation continues to decline, but at a slower pace than expected, despite the Federal Reserve's aggressive monetary policy to fight inflation. Hourly wage growth has also accelerated.

The American "job machine" continues to fuel, but this does not please everyone. In November, 263,000 jobs were created in the United States, 60,000 more than analysts expected. Admittedly, this is the lowest figure in a year, and it is down 21,000 creations compared to October. But the decline is slower than expected, despite the Federal Reserve's aggressive monetary policy since March. The news immediately sent Wall Street tumbling.

Investors in a hurry to end rate hikes fear that buoyant employment will push the Fed to step up or extend its current policy. "The labor market remains far too hot for the Fed's liking, and it will take much slower employment and wage growth to bring inflation back to the central bank's 2% target in a sustainable way," Wells Fargo said.

By raising the cost of credit, the US central bank seeks to "cool" the economy. And to measure the effectiveness of its policy, it has its eyes riveted on two indicators in particular: the rise in prices, which it has managed to moderate but which remains excessive at 8.2%, and that of wages, which is driven by an economy in full employment - the unemployment rate of 3.7% did not move in November.

Average hourly wage growing by 5.8% per year

Average hourly earnings jumped 0.6% in November, the largest increase in 13 months. It was also revised upwards for the previous two months. This is good news for employees – although it is not enough to compensate for the loss of purchasing power due to the high cost of petrol or food – but bad news for the fight against inflation. "Over the past three months, average hourly earnings have grown 5.8% annualized, still significantly above the rate of 3 to 3.5 percent that would be consistent with inflation at 2 percent," Wells Fargo calculates.

On Wednesday, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell reiterated that the fight against inflation was far from won and that it would require further rate hikes, including next year. However, he reassured investors that their level could be more modest as early as December. On 14 December, policy rates could therefore be raised to a maximum of 4.50%, rather than 4.75%. But Friday's statistic still takes the end of the bullish tunnel away.

Announcements of redundancies multiply

The surprise is all the greater, as announcements of job cuts have multiplied in recent weeks in the United States. The tech sector, which had recruited at arm's length last year, launched the movement, with Twitter, Meta, Amazon, and Snap. Departure plans have also been announced in several major banks, from Goldman Sachs to Wells Fargo, or in the media, at Disney, AMC Networks, and CNN. It is mainly SMEs that are laying off, with 305,000 job losses in companies with less than 10 employees in October, against 137,000 the previous month.

Perhaps the downturn in the labour market will accelerate soon, lagging behind monetary initiatives. It was learned on Thursday that the manufacturing production index fell in November in the United States, for the first time since May 2020, following three months of slowing orders.

Ultimately, the effectiveness of restrictive monetary policy is limited by the Biden administration's new spending to reindustrialize the country, and by a shortage of 3.5 million workers in the United States. Jerome Powell is not at the end of his troubles.

 They live in one of the coldest parts of the United States and yet, every year, they try to push back as far as possible the date when they will turn their radiators back on. Welcome to New England, the region where sobriety rhymes with identity.

"To those who think I'm completely crazy, they're right!" The sentence is signed by Brian Chevalier, 36, who posted it on social media on December 19, 2021, when he finally resolved to turn his radiator back on. His two hats, two pairs of socks, two shirts, two jackets, and two hoodies did nothing: the outside temperature being -7 ° C that day, he had to end his long days without heating, a challenge he has set himself every year for fifteen years.

Hoping to beat his record of last year, Brian Chevalier has reoffended, this fall, with the support of 28,000 people who encourage him on his Facebook and Twitter accounts, reports the "Wall Street Journal". Obviously, the rise in gas, oil, and electricity prices motivates the Americans from Rhode Island even more, but this "sobriety contest" has been part of the culture of this region of the United States for years.

A lie told to children

Emily Scully, a city clerk in South Portland, Maine, grew up thinking for years that it was absolutely forbidden to turn on the heating in her home until Oct. 15. It was not until her twentieth birthday that her parents confessed their lie and she finally learned the truth: "We were all told that when we were children!" exclaims the young woman to the "Wall Street Journal", who admits to having felt a little stupid during the big revelation.

Depriving oneself of heating and, therefore, being cold, is a noble cause in New England. It is part of the culture of the inhabitants and their traditions. "Are you a genuine New Englishman?" asked the Boston Globe recently: "If you've ever turned your heating back on, the answer is no. No heating before Halloween could be our regional currency. It should be noted that in Rhode Island, it was 8 ° C at the end of October.

Open windows to capture heat

The rules of the challenge, as set by Brian Chevalier, are simple: "No heating means no heating." So there is no question of having electric heating blankets, quickly turning on a radiator, the oven, or the wood stove of the house. This digital marketing executive now says he opens the windows of his home "when the outside temperature is around 10 ° C to capture heat".

He admits to tolerating the cold very well when he is moving but having a lot of trouble in the morning when he gets out of his shower. Another very unpleasant moment is when he sits on his couch in front of his television to watch a football match: "It's really where you feel the cold," he says. Another follower of this challenge adds: "If your pipes do not freeze, you can sleep and work decently, that's enough, the rest is luxury!"