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Our Focus programme brings you exclusive reports from around the world. Every day at 8:45am Paris time.
740 Episodes
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Despite being a neutral country, Switzerland counts hundreds of thousands of fallout shelters – enough to accommodate its entire population in the event of armed conflict. This culture of civil protection is a legacy of the Cold War. Now the war in Ukraine has revived interest in Switzerland's unique system, both at a national and international level. FRANCE 24's Jade Levin reports, with Josh Vardey.
For more than a decade, the Greek island of Lesbos has been a symbol of Europe's migration crisis. Located close to Turkey, the island was a major entry point to the European Union back in 2015. But since then, arrivals have sharply decreased as Europe has tightened its border controls and outsourced part of its migration policy. Mortaza Behboudi reports from Lesbos, where refugees have often suffered a traumatic journey.
About once a week on average, Russia stages a massive combined drone and missile attack on Ukraine, usually targeting multiple cities. In the capital Kyiv alone, these attacks have killed more than 330 civilians since 2022. At least 900 others have been injured and thousands more have lost their property or car. All 3.7 million residents have lost countless hours of sleep. Our correspondent Gulliver Cragg reports on what has become normal life in the Ukrainian capital.
The war in Ukraine has pushed defence issues to the top of the agenda in Germany, where the federal government has confirmed that a military call-up will return as early as next year. All young men born from 2008 onwards will have to register and undergo medical exams, starting in 2027. To begin with, service will be voluntary. But if the ranks of Germany's armed forces are not filled fast enough, authorities reserve the right to bring back compulsory conscription, which was suspended in 2011. This prospect is awakening old ghosts: war, the militarisation of youth and conscientious objection. Our correspondents report.
During his papacy, Pope Francis encouraged the clergy to use the "digital continent" to broaden their evangelical work. They seem to have paid attention: over the last few years, a number of priests have launched themselves on social media, racking up millions of views. Just as Jesus is considered by many to be the first influencer in history, these modern-day priests declare they have the same goal: to bring more people into the Christian faith. Our Italy correspondents report.
In the United Arab Emirates, the government has imposed quotas for hiring Emirati citizens across the private sector, with the aim of having them make up 10 percent of the workforce by 2026. So how are companies complying with these new rules and how can they change the habits of a population long accustomed to generous subsidies and low-stress government jobs? FRANCE 24’s Sophie Guignon and Amélie Zaccour report.
A few days ago, Aonishiki became the first Ukrainian wrestler to win a professional sumo tournament in Japan. At just 21 years old, he has risen up the ranks at record speed since he arrived in Japan in 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Our Japan correspondents report.
Since Ahmed al-Sharaa and the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took power in Syria a year ago after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, hundreds of thousands of Syrians have returned to their country. During the war, many were dispossessed of their land and homes under several laws and presidential decrees aimed at permanently preventing refugees from returning.
A year after the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, more than 110,000 Syrians are still missing, including several thousand children. Were they killed? Illegally adopted? Their fate remains unclear, but testimonies and official documents now reveal that some children were taken from their parents and forcibly placed in orphanages, before disappearing. FRANCE 24's Jenna Le Bras and Jessica Le Masurier report.
One year ago, Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad fled the country aboard a Russian military aircraft. Twelve months later, the country continues to grapple with the aftermath of more than a decade of conflict. The city of Homs was central to the Syrian revolution. But now, it appears trapped in a vicious cycle of sectarian violence. Despite promises of stability, attacks on Alawites are increasing and violence is escalating. Residents paint a picture of daily life marred by fear and the impunity of those responsible for attacks. FRANCE 24's Dana Alboz reports, with Lauren Bain.
Every year, hundreds of rhinos are killed for their horns, which are trafficked mainly to Asia for use in traditional medicine. As part of the "G20 Heritage Projects", a large-scale campaign was launched in mid-July in South Africa to help save the rhino from extinction. The "Rhino Renaissance Campaign" brings together advanced surveillance technology, the involvement of local communities and radical conservation measures – including dehorning – to combat poaching. FRANCE 24's Eunice Stoltz-Masson and Caroline Dumay report.
They once chased the American dream. Now, thousands of Mexicans are being deported back to a country they barely remember, or never even knew. According to Mexican government figures, more than 100,000 Mexicans have been expelled under US President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown since January. The initial shock of returning is just the beginning – the real struggle comes as they try to rebuild their lives. FRANCE 24's Laurence Cuvillier and Matthieu Comin report, with Ed Augustin.
For over a year, authoritarianism has been gaining ground in Georgia. More than a hundred pro-European protesters are currently behind bars. In the midst of this crisis, a group of mothers have created a newspaper from scratch, in which they publish letters from their imprisoned sons. They are travelling across the country to raise awareness of the crackdown and counter the regime's propaganda. Our regional correspondents Taline Oundjian and Théo Bourgery Gonse report.
Dried-up lakes, recurrent water cuts and undrinkable water: residents of the Iranian capital Tehran are suffering the consequences of an unprecedented drought. For this report, they agreed to film their daily lives. To combat the water shortage, the authorities are organising prayers for rain. President Masoud Pezeshkian has even said he is considering moving the capital from Tehran. However, not everyone supports the idea. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Lauren Bain.
South Korea's close ties to China were evident at the recent APEC summit, where Chinese leader Xi Jinping held positive talks with his South Korean counterpart Lee Jae-myung during a three-day state visit. But many ordinary South Koreans feel differently. Mistrust of China is on the rise, fuelled by social media disinformation spread by the far right. Sinophobia is on full display at huge demonstrations that are worrying Chinese communities in South Korea. FRANCE 24's Chloé Borgnon and Justin McCurry report.
Since the fall of the Syrian regime in December 2024, the NGO Handicap International has recorded 725 accidents and nearly 1,400 victims of landmines and explosive ordnance throughout the country, compared to 933 victims in 2023. The increase in these figures in recent months is partly due to the return of residents to war-torn areas previously occupied by Assad's forces.
Israeli society is split over the issue of compulsory military service for the ultra-Orthodox community. Ultra-Orthodox Jews, who represent 15 percent of the population, have historically been exempt from service. But a bill has now been proposed to lift this exemption, in response to growing needs within the army after two years of war in Gaza. Since the summer, around 100 young people who refused their conscription orders have been arrested. Our correspondent Claire Duhamel reports, with Josh Vardey.
In the UK, one of the key architects of the campaign to leave the EU is currently the favourite to become the next prime minister. Nigel Farage and his right-wing populist party, Reform UK, are soaring in the polls. For years, Farage has argued that immigration is the cause of Britain's problems, from the rising cost of living to long hospital waiting lists. FRANCE 24's Clovis Casali and Claire Paccalin travelled around the UK to find out what impact this message is having on British people.
In Pakistan, some women are murdered simply for having a TikTok account, one of the most popular social media platforms in the country. On July 11, in Rawalpindi, a 16-year-old girl was shot dead by her father because she refused to delete her profile. A month earlier, Sana Yousaf, aged 17 and with nearly a million followers, was murdered in her Islamabad home by a man whose advances she had rejected. Female influencers in Pakistan are frowned upon and become targets. FRANCE 24's Shahzaib Wahlah and Ondine de Gaulle report.
The province of Ituri, in eastern DR Congo, has been devastated by decades of ethnic conflict. Violence has exploded since the 1990s, with the Hema and Lendu communities clashing over access to land and mining resources. According to the United Nations, over 1,000 people have been killed since January and more than a million inhabitants have been driven from their homes. Our correspondents Aurélie Bazzara-Kibangula and Emmet Livingstone spoke to residents traumatised by the atrocities. Warning: this report contains descriptions of violence that some viewers may find disturbing.
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