Congolese rumba is largely considered one of the most influential genres of African music and dance. It is deep-rooted in Congo’s anti-colonial fight of the 20th century, when the country was under Belgium’s rule until it achieved independence from the European nation in 1960. In 2022, the genre even earned UNESCO-protected status, making Congolese rumba a rich part of the nation’s history books and spawning stars such as Papa Wemba, Koffi Olomide and Fally Ipupa, the latter of whom is currently one of the genre’s biggest stars across Africa and the African diaspora. Frequently referred to as the “Prince of Rumba,” Ipupa’s songs have nearly a million monthly listeners on Spotify, and he’s been nominated three times for the BET Awards’ Best International Act and won multiple MTV Africa Music and African Muzik Magazine awards. So, when the African superstar was approached to star in , an ambitious 1950s Congo-set movie that has rumba at its heart, he jumped at the opportunity. “One of the main reasons I was drawn to this movie is because of the story and how it represents Congo and portrays rumba music,” Ipupa tells Deadline of his first film role. “I was keen to be a part of something that could offer up something about our pop culture from a historical point of view and show Congo in a new light.” Dubbed a historical thriller, is set in 1959 Leopoldville, the former capital of Belgian Congo (which is now called Kinshasa), a time when the pulsating rhythms of rumba set nightlife alight. The story takes place around the Club Rumba Royale, where white Europeans and Congolese citizens rub shoulders, and where the captivating melodies of rumba merge with aspirations and fiery debates of independence. The plot unfolds through the lives of four central characters, each woven into the fabric of a city on the brink of change: Daniel (Ipupa), the bohemian photographer yearning for recognition; Olive (Melanie Bokata), the vivacious waitress caught between dreams and harsh realities; Sese (Patrick Kabundi), the jovial manager of the Rumba Royale; and Amandine (Cécile Djunga), the seemingly discreet figure orchestrating both the music and struggle for independence. As their fates converge at the heart of the club, their stories intertwine in a journey filled with love, politics and the strength of the human spirit. The project is the brainchild of writers Kevin Dwyer and Hamed Mobasser. Mobasser, who is a Belgian diplomat currently based in Washington D.C., also co-directs the film alongside Congolese helmer Yohane Dean Lengol. Dwyer and Mobasser first met in Brussels, when they both belonged to the Brussels Writers’ Circle, a collective of English-language writers in the city. When Mobasser was stationed at the Belgian embassy in Kinshasa from 2020 to 2024, he met a variety of different artists in the region and ended up making a short film, an experience that gave him exposure to the local, burgeoning industry. “We had this idea of trying to see if we could make something work in Congo with a reasonably low budget given that the film industry is still in its infancy there,” he says. “At the same time, we found we could work with very talented people who had been self-taught and were experimenting.” Both Mobasser and Dwyer then came across the work of a number of African photographers who had been working before Congo’s independence in 1960, notably the work of Congolese photographer Jean de Parva, who roamed the rumba clubs of Leopoldville at the time. “If you look him up, you’ll see magnificent pictures of the 1950s and the clubs there, which were full of white people – the Colonials – and black locals,” says Mobasser. “It could give you a false impression of an equal society where people hung out and partied and danced together.” Mobasser, who is of Belgian and Iranian decent, recalls thinking about this period of time in Congo’s history and was surprised that, for a nation of nearly 100 million people, Congo “didn’t really have many images of themselves in terms of pop culture from the past.” “It’s an odd thing for me,” he admits, harkening to his Iranian heritage which has a rich history of cinema. “When you ask the Congolese if they can name Congolese movies that they’ve seen, most people I have talked to couldn’t name more than a handful of movies.” Both Mobasser and Dwyer felt compelled to make a Congo-set movie that would ultimately be what they consider a “declaration of love to art of photography, fashion and the vibrant notes of Congolese rumba while, at its heart, offering a narrative of Congolese characters that are often overlooked by popular visual culture.” The pair were soon able to attach local director Lengol to co-direct the feature with Mobasser as well as rumba superstar Ipupa. “Fally specifically didn’t want to play a musician in the film,” says Mobasser. “He wanted to act and that’s why he plays Daniel, the main photographer.” Shot in Kinshasa by a Congolese technical crew, the film is laden with local talent including the music, which is composed by Congolese artists. While it’s set during a specific place and time in history, Ipupa notes that it was important that the film doesn’t focus too much on the political history of Congo, but rather has a nod to it. “We’ve stayed far away from politics, which I think is important,” says Ipupa. “We touch on it at the beginning when we talk about the independence but that’s it.” Mobasser adds that the focus was to “stay historically correct.” “We didn’t shy away from covering things that are facts or things that happened historically, but we do not go into a political subject matter either,” he says. “It just doesn’t fit the theme of the movie.” Both Mobasser and Ipupa are hopeful that the project, which is currently in post-production, is going to resonate with local Congolese audiences, especially given Ipupa’s big profile but there is a big desire for this film to breakout to international audiences. “We’d love for this to have a festival run in some way,” notes Mobasser. “People are going to love this movie in Congo,” says Ipupa. “I think they are going to be surprised in a good way and I’m hoping my position in Congo is going to attract people to it. It’s one of the two or three of the biggest projects to come out of Congo – maybe not in terms of budget, but in terms of ambition and a lot of people have put in a lot of work here. We had a vision, and we knew what we wanted to present and the story we wanted to tell so we are confident this will resonate with local audiences.” He continues: “Congo, as an industry, is growing. There are a lot of new talented Congolese directors, technicians, crew and writers. In all sections of the film industry, there are new and talented people cropping up. The reality is the industry is not there yet.” Ipupa notes that given the current lack of infrastructure, it wouldn’t be possible to make more than one or two films in Kinshasa at the same time. “You just wouldn’t have enough crew at the right level,” he says. While he’s encouraged about the presence of streaming platforms in Africa across the last few years, he’s hopeful that this will grow. “It’s time these platforms take more of an interest in a market that is very big and untapped,” he says. “I’m really happy to see that there are some African talents that make it on to these platforms, but our continent is full of them and it’s important to give a space to these voices.” “My hope with is that the Congolese audience take away a sense of pride,” says Mobasser. “The Congolese are some of the nicest and most wonderful people I’ve met, and I hope that when they watch the film, they have a sense of pride in themselves, their history and their people. Having this representation of Congolese rumba on screen is really important. Fally is the face of Congolese rumba today and I’m happy he’s allowed us to create that bridge for Congolese audiences.” He continues: “For international audiences, it’s really a universal story that we are hopeful will offer viewers a rare look into a Congolese cinematic landscape, where productions of this period of history are rare.” Sign up for . For the latest news, follow us on , , and .P resident Macron will deliver a lyrical speech on “the art of being French” to dozens of world leaders gathered at the reopening of Notre Dame. Macron regards the reconstruction of the 861-year-old cathedral, five years after it was nearly completely consumed by fire, as a centrepiece of his legacy. Resplendent after being cleaned and refurbished, Notre Dame’s rise from the ashes should have been a moment of triumph for the French president to savour. It will afford him little respite, however, from the unrelenting public focus on France’s political crisis, with a fallen government, no budget, a hung parliament deadlocked by antagonism and acrimony, and no clear path forward. Facing mounting opposition calls to resign, Macron vowed on Thursday to remain in office until his
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Julie Appleby | KFF Health News Unauthorized switching of Affordable Care Act plans appears to have tapered off in recent weeks based on an almost one-third drop in casework associated with consumer complaints, say federal regulators . The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which oversees the ACA, credits steps taken to thwart enrollment and switching problems that triggered more than 274,000 complaints this year through August. Now, the annual ACA open enrollment period that began Nov. 1 poses a real-world test: Will the changes curb fraud by rogue agents or brokerages without unduly slowing the process of enrolling or reducing the total number of sign-ups for 2025 coverage? “They really have this tightrope to walk,” said Sabrina Corlette, co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University. “The more you tighten it up to prevent fraud, the more barriers there are that could inhibit enrollment among those who need the coverage.” CMS said in July that some types of policy changes — those in which the agent is not “affiliated” with the existing plan — will face more requirements, such as a three-way call with the consumer, broker, and a healthcare.gov call center representative. In August, the agency barred two of about a dozen private sector online-enrollment platforms from connecting with healthcare.gov over concerns related to improper switching. And CMS has suspended 850 agents suspected of being involved in unauthorized plan-switching from accessing the ACA marketplace. Still, the clampdown could add complexity to enrollment and slow the process. For example, a consumer might have to wait in a queue for a three-way call, or scramble to find a new agent because the one they previously worked with had been suspended. Given that phone lines with healthcare.gov staff already get busy — especially during mid-December — agents and policy analysts advise consumers not to dally this year. “Hit the ground running,” said Ronnell Nolan, president and CEO of Health Agents for America, a professional organization for brokers. Meanwhile, reports are emerging that some rogue entities are already figuring out workarounds that could undermine some of the anti-fraud protections CMS put in place, Nolan said. “Bottom line is: Fraud and abuse is still happening,” Nolan said. Brokers assist the majority of people actively enrolling in ACA plans and are paid a monthly commission by insurers for their efforts. Consumers can compare plans or enroll themselves online through federal or state marketplace websites. They can also seek help from people called assisters or navigators — certified helpers who are not paid commissions. Under a “find local help” button on the federal and state ACA websites , consumers can search for nearby brokers or navigators. CMS says it has “ramped up support operations” at its healthcare.gov marketplace call centers, which are open 24/7, in anticipation of increased demand for three-way calls, and it expects “minimal wait times,” said Jeff Wu, deputy director for policy of the CMS Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight. Wu said those three-way calls are necessary only when an agent or a broker not already associated with a consumer’s enrollment wants to change that consumer’s enrollment or end that consumer’s coverage. It does not apply to people seeking coverage for the first time. Organizations paid by the government to offer navigator services have a dedicated phone line to the federal marketplace, and callers are not currently experiencing long waits, said Xonjenese Jacobs, director of Florida Covering Kids & Families, a program based at the University of South Florida that coordinates enrollment across the state through its Covering Florida navigator program. Navigators can assist with the three-way calls if a consumer’s situation requires it. “Because we have our quick line in, there’s no increased wait time,” Jacobs said. The problem of unauthorized switches has been around for a while but took off during last year’s open enrollment season. Brokers generally blamed much of the problem on the ease with which rogue agents can access ACA information in the federal marketplace, needing only a person’s name, date of birth, and state of residence. Though federal regulators have worked to tighten that access with the three-way call requirement, they stopped short of instituting what some agent groups say is needed: two-factor authentication, which could involve a code accessed by a consumer through a smartphone. Unauthorized switches can lead to a host of problems for consumers, from higher deductibles to landing in new networks that do not include their preferred physicians or hospitals. Some people have received tax bills when unauthorized policies came with premium credits for which they did not qualify. Unauthorized switches posed a political liability for the Biden administration, a blemish on two years of record ACA enrollment. The practice drew criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle; Democrats demanded more oversight and punishment of rogue agents, while Republicans said fraud attempts were fueled by Biden administration moves that allowed for more generous premium subsidies and special enrollment periods. The fate of those enhanced subsidies, which are set to expire, will be decided by Congress next year as the Trump administration takes power. But the premiums and subsidies that come with 2025 plans that people are enrolling in now will remain in effect for the entire year. The actions taken this year to thwart the unauthorized enrollments apply to the federal marketplace, used by 31 states . The remaining states and the District of Columbia run their own websites, with many having in place additional layers of security. Related Articles Health | Feds suspend ACA marketplace access to companies accused of falsely promising ‘cash cards’ Health | US food supply still one of the safest in the world despite recent outbreaks, FDA says Health | More foods are making us sick: What to know as foodborne outbreaks hit Health | At least 19 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall Health | Which health insurance plan may be right for you? For its part, CMS says its efforts are working, pointing to the 30% drop in complaint casework. The agency also noted a 90% drop in the number of times an agent’s name was replaced by another’s, which it says indicates that it is tougher for rival agents to steal clients to gain the monthly commissions that insurers pay. Still, the move to suspend 850 agents has drawn pushback from agent groups that initially brought the problem to federal regulators’ attention. They say some of those accused were suspended before getting a chance to respond to the allegations. “There will be a certain number of agents and brokers who are going to be suspended without due process,” said Nolan, with the health agents’ group. She said that it has called for increased protections against unauthorized switching and that two-factor authentication, like that used in some state marketplaces or in the financial sector, would be more effective than what’s been done. “We now have to jump through so many hoops that I’m not sure we’re going to survive,” she said of agents in general. “They are just throwing things against the wall to see what sticks when they could just do two-factor.” The agency did not respond to questions asking for details about how the 850 agents suspended since July were selected, the states where they were located, or how many had their suspensions reversed after supplying additional information.Unauthorized switching of Affordable Care Act plans appears to have tapered off in recent weeks based on an almost one-third drop in casework associated with consumer complaints, . The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which oversees the ACA, credits steps taken to thwart enrollment and switching problems that triggered more than 274,000 complaints this year through August. Now, the annual ACA open enrollment period that began Nov. 1 poses a real-world test: Will the changes curb fraud by rogue agents or brokerages without unduly slowing the process of enrolling or reducing the total number of sign-ups for 2025 coverage? “They really have this tightrope to walk,” said Sabrina Corlette, co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University. “The more you tighten it up to prevent fraud, the more barriers there are that could inhibit enrollment among those who need the coverage.” CMS said in July that some types of policy changes — those in which the agent is not “affiliated” with the existing plan — will face more requirements, such as a three-way call with the consumer, broker, and a healthcare.gov call center representative. In August, the agency online-enrollment platforms from connecting with healthcare.gov over concerns related to improper switching. And CMS has suspended 850 agents suspected of being involved in unauthorized plan-switching from accessing the ACA marketplace. Still, the clampdown could add complexity to enrollment and slow the process. For example, a consumer might have to wait in a queue for a three-way call, or scramble to find a new agent because the one they previously worked with had been suspended. Given that phone lines with healthcare.gov staff already get busy — especially during mid-December — agents and policy analysts advise consumers not to dally this year. “Hit the ground running,” said Ronnell Nolan, president and CEO of Health Agents for America, a professional organization for brokers. Meanwhile, reports are emerging that some rogue entities are already figuring out workarounds that could undermine some of the anti-fraud protections CMS put in place, Nolan said. “Bottom line is: Fraud and abuse is still happening,” Nolan said. Brokers assist the majority of people actively enrolling in ACA plans and are paid a monthly commission by insurers for their efforts. Consumers can compare plans or enroll themselves online through federal or state marketplace websites. They can also seek help from people called assisters or navigators — certified helpers who are not paid commissions. Under a “find local help” button on the federal and , consumers can search for nearby brokers or navigators. CMS says it has “ramped up support operations” at its healthcare.gov marketplace call centers, which are open 24/7, in anticipation of increased demand for three-way calls, and it expects “minimal wait times,” said Jeff Wu, deputy director for policy of the CMS Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight. Wu said those three-way calls are necessary only when an agent or a broker not already associated with a consumer’s enrollment wants to change that consumer’s enrollment or end that consumer’s coverage. It does not apply to people seeking coverage for the first time. Organizations paid by the government to offer navigator services have a dedicated phone line to the federal marketplace, and callers are not currently experiencing long waits, said Xonjenese Jacobs, director of Florida Covering Kids & Families, a program based at the University of South Florida that coordinates enrollment across the state through its Covering Florida navigator program. Navigators can assist with the three-way calls if a consumer’s situation requires it. “Because we have our quick line in, there’s no increased wait time,” Jacobs said. The problem of unauthorized switches has been around for a while but took off during last year’s open enrollment season. on the ease with which rogue agents can access ACA information in the federal marketplace, needing only a person’s name, date of birth, and state of residence. Though federal regulators have worked to tighten that access with the three-way call requirement, they stopped short of instituting what some agent groups say is needed: two-factor authentication, which could involve a code accessed by a consumer through a smartphone. Unauthorized switches can lead to a host of problems for consumers, from higher deductibles to landing in new networks that do not include their preferred physicians or hospitals. Some people have received tax bills when unauthorized policies came with premium credits for which they did not qualify. Unauthorized switches posed a political liability for the Biden administration, a blemish on two years of record ACA enrollment. The practice drew criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle; of rogue agents, attempts were fueled by Biden administration moves that allowed for more generous premium subsidies and special enrollment periods. The fate of those enhanced subsidies, which are set to expire, will be decided by Congress next year as the Trump administration takes power. But the premiums and subsidies that come with 2025 plans that people are enrolling in now will remain in effect for the entire year. The actions taken this year to thwart the unauthorized enrollments apply to the federal marketplace, . The remaining states and the District of Columbia run their own websites, with many having in place additional layers of security. Related Articles For its part, CMS says its efforts are working, pointing to the 30% drop in complaint casework. The agency also noted a 90% drop in the number of times an agent’s name was replaced by another’s, which it says indicates that it is tougher for rival agents to steal clients to gain the monthly commissions that insurers pay. Still, the move to suspend 850 agents has drawn pushback from agent groups that initially brought the problem to federal regulators’ attention. They say some of those accused were suspended before getting a chance to respond to the allegations. “There will be a certain number of agents and brokers who are going to be suspended without due process,” said Nolan, with the health agents’ group. She said that it has called for increased protections against unauthorized switching and that two-factor authentication, like that used in some state marketplaces or in the financial sector, would be more effective than what’s been done. “We now have to jump through so many hoops that I’m not sure we’re going to survive,” she said of agents in general. “They are just throwing things against the wall to see what sticks when they could just do two-factor.” The agency did not respond to questions asking for details about how the 850 agents suspended since July were selected, the states where they were located, or how many had their suspensions reversed after supplying additional information.
No. 23 Texas A&M aims to hand Oregon first loss at Players EraBRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — The Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) on Monday said regional countries stand to benefit significantly from early warning systems (EWS) that are tailored to the unique geographic, demographic and infrastructural factors of each island. It said that by designing and customising these systems to address the specific challenges and needs of individual nations, disaster risk management and resilience can be enhanced ensuring that each country is better prepared to respond effectively to natural hazards. The CDB said that a high-level panel of experts explored the ideas in a discussion on ”Strengthening Hydro-meteorological & Early Warning Systems in the Caribbean” at the just concluded United Nations Conference of Parties (COP 29) in Azerbaijan. It said the panel emphasised the critical role of early warning systems in mitigating the impacts of climate change, particularly the increasing intensity of hurricanes and other extreme weather events. The experts also highlighted the need for a long-term, sustainable strategy focused on building resilience at both national and regional levels. In 2022, the United Nations launched Early Warnings for All, an initiative designed to ensure that everyone is protected from hazardous weather, water, or climate events through life-saving early warning systems by the end of 2027. The CDB said that it has been working with regional and international partners to strengthen the region’s disaster risk management capacity, providing technical assistance and financial support for the development of robust early warning systems. Acting CDB’s Vice President of Operations, Therese Turner-Jones, noted the importance of incorporating the unique characteristics of each island into the design of EWS in the region to reduce loss of life and property and enhance preparedness for climate-related disasters. “Early warning systems are just like having a smoke alarm in your home when something bad is about to happen. It is important for countries to recognise that the system must be country-specific because the islands of the Caribbean, while sharing commonalities, also have distinct features. “While there is a lot of homogeneity, there are also many idiosyncratic features. For example, Grenada with the Grenadines, the Bahamas with family islands, and Guyana with indigenous communities that are remote. We need to design systems that can reach everyone,” said Turner-Jones. The Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Elizabeth Riley, highlighted the significance of standardised tools, deeper understanding of risk and the need for strong national and regional policy frameworks that take into account gender considerations. “Early warning systems are people centred and are about keeping people safe. These systems must be grounded in strong governance and require coordination among multiple actors at both the national and regional levels. “We have worked extensively on developing policies and legislative frameworks for early warning systems in the region,” said Riley. Other panellists in the discussion underscored the need for a sustainable, long-term approach that goes beyond addressing immediate hazards and emphasised the importance of stronger partnerships, improved financing mechanisms, better data systems, and more integrated approaches to disaster risk management and climate adaptation. The head of the Climate Risk and Early Warning System Secretariat (CREWS) of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), John Harding pointed to the responsibility of national governments for issuing warnings and stressed the need for long-term financing solutions while noting that current funding mechanisms often rely on short-term, project-based approaches. “We need better financing solutions to ensure these systems are not just reactive but proactive in addressing the growing climate risks. Technological advances such as mobile alerts are making these systems more effective and accessible but we need continued support to bridge the financing gap,” said Harding. The Chief Climate Change Officer at Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change in Belize, Edalmi Pinelo shared insights into the country’s ongoing efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness through its participation in the Green Climate Fund (GCF). She emphasised the importance of improving disaster knowledge and ensuring public outreach. “In Belize, we are focusing on prevention and preparedness, integrating climate change education into our school systems to equip future generations with the knowledge to adapt,” said Penelo. The CDB said it was recently upgraded by the GCF to support projects up to US$250 million. It said it has supported implementation of EWS in countries across the region and has indicated its interest in supporting more following the upgrade by the GCF.
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