world

Dunkirk, France – The 13th annual World Seagull Cry Championship, a cornerstone event of the Dunkirk Carnival, concluded Sunday with a surprising victory for local resident Laurie Duhaudt, performing as “Maître Mouette et Chandon” – a playful nod to her profession as a court bailiff. The event, which draws participants and spectators from across Europe and beyond, has become a celebrated, if unconventional, tradition within the larger, months-long Dunkirk Carnival festivities.

This year’s competition saw a diverse range of costumed contestants vying for the coveted “Bouclier de Mouéttus” trophy. Participants weren’t limited by geography, with entrants traveling from as far as Los Angeles, California and Cognac, France, to participate in the unique spectacle. The championship, which began in 2013, has grown steadily in popularity, attracting increasing numbers of both competitors and onlookers.

Among the notable participants was Matthieu Chedid, the French singer-songwriter, who inspired one contestant to adopt the persona of “Mouet’hieu Chedid,” complete with a gelled hairstyle mimicking Chedid’s signature look. Chedid, born December 21, 1971, has enjoyed a successful music career, rising to fame in the late 1990s under the alias -M-, blending genres like chanson, electronic, and rock, and is currently the most awarded artist at the Victoires de la Musique Awards with 13 awards, tied with Alain Bashung (Wikipedia). Another contestant, hailing from Montpellier, performed as “Banana Mouette.”

Adding to the event’s celebrity presence was Raphaël Carlier, known online as Carlito, a popular YouTuber with over 7.6 million subscribers as of February 2026. Carlier, appearing as “Johnny Carlimouette,” participated in the contest dressed in a full seagull costume. He was accompanied by his creative partner, David Coscas, alias McFly, who served as “Johnny Carlimouette’s” manager for the day (Sud Ouest). The duo had previously announced their intention to participate in the carnival in a July 2025 video.

The competition itself involves participants creating unique characters and costumes before taking the stage to imitate the cry of a seagull into a microphone – a banana suspended from the ceiling. A jury of seven, comprised of carnival figures and past champions, including 2025 winner “Michel Polnamouette,” determines the victor.

The Dunkirk Carnival, a deeply rooted cultural tradition in northern France, extends over three months, from mid-January to the end of April. The World Seagull Cry Championship has become a significant parallel event to the larger “Bande de Dunkerque” celebrations (ViralMag). The carnival’s enduring appeal lies in its embrace of eccentricity and good humor, offering a unique spectacle for both participants and spectators.

The presence of “Lady Seagull,” who traveled from Los Angeles despite not reaching the final round, underscores the growing international appeal of this unusual competition. The event continues to attract a diverse audience, drawn by its playful spirit and the opportunity to witness a truly unique cultural phenomenon.

As the Dunkirk Carnival continues through April, organizers will likely begin planning for the 14th edition of the World Seagull Cry Championship, anticipating another year of creative costumes, spirited performances, and a celebration of the absurd. The event’s continued success suggests it will remain a highlight of the Dunkirk Carnival for years to come.

What are your thoughts on this unique event? Share your comments below and let us know if you’d ever consider participating!

Donald Trump, addressing a gathering of global elites, described a proposed Meta AI data center as “basically the size of Manhattan,” a claim that sent Meta’s stock briefly surging on January 21, 2026. The anecdote, recounted during a Q&A session following his address at the World Economic Forum, signals a marked shift in the relationship between the former president and the tech company’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg.

Trump’s description painted a picture of a facility “miles long, miles wide, and very high,” covering “most of the island” of Manhattan. While the scale appears exaggerated – Manhattan itself comprises 22 square miles – the remark highlighted the sheer ambition and cost of Meta’s AI infrastructure investments. Trump contrasted the $50 billion price tag with the cost of traditional real estate development, referencing his own experience as a builder. The $50 billion figure aligns with the projected cost of Meta’s “Hyperion” data center campus currently under construction in Richland Parish, Louisiana, a 2,250-acre project slated to open in 2030.

The overt praise from Trump represents a significant departure from the fraught relationship between the former president and Meta during his first term. In 2020, Trump’s administration filed a lawsuit against Facebook, alleging anti-competitive practices. That lawsuit, finally reaching trial in April 2025, was ultimately decided in Meta’s favor in November of the same year, a victory described by Bloomberg as a triumph for Zuckerberg.

The shift in tone coincides with a broader realignment of Zuckerberg’s strategy toward the Trump administration. Just five years prior, in 2020, Meta – then still known as Facebook – had publicly committed to improving the health and safety of its social media platform. However, by January 2025, as noted by Tulane University business professor Rob Lalka, Zuckerberg was undertaking “a huge change” in approach, embracing a closer relationship with Trump. Lalka, speaking to Quartz, suggested this wasn’t a sudden decision but a deliberate evolution.

This evolution included a $1 million donation from Meta to Trump’s inaugural fund in January 2026, a move described by NYU Stern’s Business & Human Rights Center as an attempt to “appease” the incoming president. The donation followed a Trump executive order on AI in December 2025, which critics warned created a “dangerous regulatory vacuum.” Further complicating the dynamic, Trump’s administration had previously imposed a visa ban on content moderators, a decision that some observers believed aided America’s adversaries.

The recent display of cordiality, culminating in Trump’s public acknowledgement of Meta’s AI ambitions, suggests a strategic calculation on both sides. Meta appears to be seeking favorable regulatory conditions and a more predictable political environment, while Trump benefits from associating with a powerful and innovative technology company. The implications of this evolving relationship remain to be seen, particularly as Meta continues to invest heavily in AI and navigate a complex landscape of international regulation.

Montreal’s iconic, but largely unused, Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) will not be transformed into student housing, at least for now. Plans for the redevelopment of the historic site have been put on hold due to escalating costs associated with restoring the building’s heritage elements, the Quebec government announced Friday. The decision impacts a proposal to house over 1,100 students on the grounds of the former hospital, located near McGill University.

The project, initially envisioned as a way to address a growing shortage of student accommodation in Montreal, faced significant financial hurdles. A feasibility study commissioned by the government and delivered last week by CDPQ-Infra – a subsidiary of Quebec’s pension fund manager – revealed that approximately 79 per cent of the $845 million projected price tag, or $667 million, would be dedicated to restoring the six buildings on the site, four of which are designated heritage properties.

Construction on the original Royal Victoria Hospital began in 1891, and it served as a key medical facility until 2015, when operations moved to the fresh Glen site of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). The move left the historic building overlooking downtown Montreal largely vacant. The proposed redevelopment aimed to repurpose the site although preserving its architectural heritage. Yet, the Société québécoise des infrastructures (SQI), the Quebec government’s real-estate branch, determined that prioritizing public infrastructure investments was necessary in the current financial climate.

The SQI stated that while the CDPQ-Infra proposal was designed to minimize public funding, the overall costs proved prohibitive. The remaining 21 per cent of the project’s cost, approximately $178 million, would have been financed by CDPQ Infra in exchange for a return on its investment.

Deterioration and Heritage Constraints

The CDPQ-Infra report highlighted the advanced state of deterioration of all six buildings under study. The four heritage buildings, at least 100 years old, are subject to municipal regulations that currently prevent demolition. Restoring these structures to meet modern standards while respecting their historical value presents a complex and expensive undertaking. Dinu Bumbaru, with Heritage Montreal, explained that years of neglect have contributed to the high restoration costs, and further delays will only increase the financial burden. He expressed hope that the idea of student housing on the site would not be abandoned entirely, citing a critical need for affordable student accommodation in the city.

According to the CDPQ Infra report, Montreal faces an estimated undersupply of 8,600 student beds over the next decade. Addressing this shortage is seen as crucial to supporting the city’s universities and attracting students. However, balancing the need for student housing with the preservation of historical landmarks remains a significant challenge.

McGill University’s Separate Plans

While the student housing project is on hold, McGill University has separate plans for the Royal Victoria Hospital site. In an email to CBC News, the university stated It’s not involved in the student housing project but that its plans to build a research and learning hub at the location are on track for completion by 2029.

The SQI is now consulting with partners, including the City of Montreal, to determine the next steps for the site. The future of the Royal Victoria Hospital remains uncertain, but the need to balance heritage preservation, public investment, and the demands of a growing student population will undoubtedly shape the discussions to come.

The shelving of this project underscores the challenges inherent in redeveloping historic properties in urban centers. Finding viable solutions that address both preservation concerns and contemporary needs will require careful planning and significant investment. The SQI’s decision to prioritize other infrastructure projects suggests a shift in focus, but the long-term future of the Royal Victoria Hospital site remains a topic of ongoing discussion.

What comes next will depend on the outcome of consultations between the SQI, the City of Montreal, and other stakeholders. Further assessments of the buildings’ condition and potential funding models will be crucial in determining the site’s ultimate fate. The need for student housing in Montreal remains acute, and finding a sustainable solution for the Royal Victoria Hospital site will be a key priority for the city’s future.

Have your say: What do you feel should be done with the old Royal Victoria Hospital site? Share your thoughts in the comments below.