Focus

Shiite Persians make up 51 percent of Iran's population. Yet communities like the Azeris, Kurds, Balochs and Arabs also number in the millions. Historically, they have often been ignored or mistreated by the regime in Tehran, both under the shah and the Islamic Republic. These ethnic minorities could play a role in the current conflict raging in the Middle East. FRANCE 24's David Gilbert and Florent Marchais report.

Cubans, who have historically received preferential treatment from the US, have not been spared by President Donald Trump's war on immigration. The US has ended family reunification and legal immigration from Cuba by adding the island to its travel ban. It has also suspended temporary protection programmes, exposing thousands of people who arrived legally to deportation to a country suffering from severe US sanctions and crippling electricity blackouts.

In October 2025, a police operation left 122 people dead in the favelas of Penha and Alemão, in the north of Rio de Janeiro. Its aim was to weaken the Comando Vermelho, or "Red Command", one of Brazil's oldest and most powerful criminal organisations. The gang is growing rapidly; in 16 years it has increased its area of control by 90 percent and is extending its influence far beyond Brazil. 

The US-Israeli war against Iran has once again underlined the vulnerability of the world's oil and gas supplies. Iran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz has pushed up oil prices and threatened global economic stability. This comes at a time when wind farms and solar panels are providing real value. The wind-powered Danish island of Samsø is showing the way forward. FRANCE 24's Malcolm Brabant reports.   

Since 2015 and the outbreak of war between the Houthis, who control the north of Yemen, and the internationally recognised government in the south, the country's education system has been steadily collapsing. According to UNICEF, nearly 4 million Yemeni children are currently out of school, amounting to 40 percent of the under-18 population.

At the Joussieh border crossing near the Syrian city of Homs, thousands of Syrian refugees are fleeing the devastating war in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah. Driven out by Israeli air strikes after years of exile in Lebanon, families and children wait for hours before returning to a country where 90 percent of the population is surviving in post-Assad poverty. FRANCE 24's Dana Alboz and Hussam Hammoud report.

As yet another war rages in the Middle East, we take a closer look at the United States' military presence across the region. It's a presence that stretches back decades, but took on heightened visibility during the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, when both those nations began targeting oil tankers and merchant shipping vessels in the Arabian Gulf. Some 40,000 to 50,000 US troops are stationed across the region full-time. FRANCE 24's Luke Shrago and David Gilberg explain where they are stationed.

A verdict is expected soon in the landmark trial against Google and Meta in Los Angeles. At the heart of the case are repeated accusations that online platforms deliberately fuel social media addiction, especially among young users. The ruling could set a legal precedent and potentially impact thousands of other complaints filed across the United States. Regardless of the outcome, the trial has cast a spotlight on the growing mental health crisis among teenagers, with sometimes tragic consequences. FRANCE 24's Wassim Cornet, Pierrick Leurent and Valérie Defert report.

Since the 2017 embargo, one of Qatar's greatest nightmares has been that a war or geopolitical crisis would isolate Doha from the rest of the world. In late February, renewed tensions following the Israeli-American offensive against Iran brought these concerns to the fore once again. Over the past nine years, Qatar has built up strategic reserves, but has mostly invested heavily in boosting local food production. This has been a major challenge, given the country's harsh climate. Yet today, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and even mushrooms are being cultivated in the desert. For some, eating Qatari produce has even become a national duty. Amira Souilem and Chloé Domat report.

Housing is always a key issue in political campaigns, and it's no different in these local elections – it may be the top concern on voters' minds. For this edition, we head to the Basque Country in south-west France, where the picturesque coast has become a tourist hotspot. While tourism brings business opportunities, it has also created housing shortages for local residents. Clovis Casali reports from Biarritz.

A new violent escalation in Lebanon – but in reality, the war that began in 2023 never truly stopped. According to the United Nations, the ceasefire signed in November 2024 between Hezbollah and Israel has been violated more than 14,000 times by Israel. Then, in late February, Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, was assassinated in US-Israeli bombings. In response, Hezbollah – Lebanon's pro-Iran militia – retaliated from southern Lebanon, raising the risk of plunging the entire country into yet another full-scale war. Since then, Israeli evacuation orders have forced nearly a quarter of Lebanon's population to flee their homes.

In Egypt, Ramadan is not just a time for religious fasting – it is also a critical financial lifeline for the country's public and charitable healthcare system. Without the generosity of Zakat (obligatory alms) and Sadaqa (voluntary charity), many major hospitals would struggle to survive. For a month, Egyptian TV and social media are flooded with appeals from hospitals seeking donations, as competition for charity peaks. Hospitals spend millions on emotional campaigns, often featuring celebrities or popular songs. Some rely on Ramadan donations for up to 80% of their annual budgets. Yet behind these polished images lies a darker reality of Egypt's public healthcare system.

On Europe's eastern flank, the Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – fear they could become Vladimir Putin's next target. After several drone incursions from Russia, the three countries are stepping up their defence strategies on the ground and in the air. This report from our colleagues at FRANCE 2 and FRANCE 24's Guillaume Gougeon.

While Germany faces a persistent shortage of skilled workers, one factor often overlooked is the impact of perimenopause. At this pivotal stage in their careers, many experienced women reduce their hours or leave the workforce because their needs are rarely recognised or supported. According to a survey, one in ten women has left – or plans to leave – work due to menopause symptoms, while one in four reduces her working hours.

In Nepal, 18 million people are eligible to vote in this Thursday's parliamentary elections. More than 120 parties are running, over a third of them created after the September 2025 uprising, which was largely driven by Generation Z. Among their demands: an end to corruption and nepotism and above all, job creation. Every day, nearly 2,000 young Nepalis leave the landlocked Himalayan country to find work abroad.

Swiss food giant Nestlé is facing criticism over the sugar content of Cerelac, its infant cereal brand sold in Africa. An investigation by the NGO Public Eye found that while the product is sold without added sugar in Europe, African versions can contain up to 15 percent sugar.

Japan is one of the few countries that still use the death penalty. The most recent execution took place in June 2025, when a man was hanged for killing nine people back in 2017. Japan and the United States are the only G7 countries to use capital punishment – a measure supported by the vast majority of Japanese citizens. FRANCE 24's Ayana Nishikawa, Alexis Bregere, Mélodie Sforza and Justin McCurry report.

Since Donald Trump's return to the White House, the US has seen a significant increase in book censorship. According to PEN America, more than 6,800 book bans have been recorded, with works by Stephen King now topping the list. He holds the unwanted title of the most banned author in the United States. In Texas, public school libraries have become the front line of an unprecedented political battle over free speech. FRANCE 24's Pierrick Leurent and Valérie Defert report.

Spread across eight nation-states, the Arctic Circle is home to a number of Indigenous peoples. US President Donald Trump's ambitions to take control of Greenland have caused concern but also kindled solidarity amongst these peoples, who call the coldest parts of the world home. FRANCE 24's Isabelle Romero and Luke Brown report from Norway. 

France is Europe's second-largest consumer of benzodiazepines – a class of sedatives that includes drugs like Valium and Xanax. Every year, nearly 10 million patients are prescribed these pills to treat anxiety and insomnia. While they are intended only for short-term use, treatments are often extended indefinitely, without proper supervision. Dependency sets in, affecting everyone from teenagers to elderly patients. FRANCE 24's Olivia Bizot reports. 

Wine is the lifeblood of France's southwestern Bordeaux region, employing 60,000 people both directly and indirectly. But faced with falling consumption, overproduction and the French state's "grubbing up" scheme, the wine industry is being forced to reinvent itself in order to survive. Winemakers are seeking new outlets, whether that means distilling surplus stock or developing sparkling or alcohol-free wines. FRANCE 24's Antonia Kerrigan and Fadile Bhayat report.

This Tuesday, February 24 marks four years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, forcing millions to flee their homes. Today there are an estimated four million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Ukraine. As the front line moves, endangering areas that were previously considered relatively safe, the shortage of suitable long-term accommodation options for these IDPs remains chronic. FRANCE 24's Gulliver Cragg, Illia Dyadik and Catalina Gomez report.

In undisclosed locations, volunteers meet regularly in the Belgian capital to assemble drones destined for Ukraine. Teachers, European civil servants, members of the Ukrainian diaspora and former military personnel are participating in this initiative coordinated by the NGO Wings for Europe. Funded by private donations, these devices are then sent to the front lines. FRANCE 24's Alix Le Bourdon and Dave Keating report from Brussels.

Hundreds of Kenyans have been recruited and sent to the front line in Ukraine as expendable troops for the Russian army. Some were unaware they were being deployed to war, believing instead that they had been offered legitimate employment abroad. After reports emerged of Kenyan citizens killed on the front line, Nairobi condemned the fake recruitment agencies accused of luring Africans with false promises. Meanwhile, the families of those who accepted the offers remain at home, struggling to cope and with no way of bringing their loved ones back. Report by Bastien Renouil, adapted by Tom Canetti.

Long considered a transit route, Pakistan is now emerging as a major hub for both drug production and consumption. This shift follows the upheaval triggered by the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan in 2021.

Bali's picture-postcard image is cracking. On Indonesia's premium tourist resort, the race to build luxury villas and hotels has triggered an unprecedented property frenzy. Farmland is carved up into plots, coastline is privatised and bogus permits issued.

Glaciers are vital to Earth's water supplies, yet they are being pushed to the brink of collapse. Half of the world's glaciers could disappear by the end of the century. A French mountain climber is putting her experience to use by helping scientists collect ice samples from major glaciers around the world. Living and dormant species found within them could provide vital clues in the fight against global warming. FRANCE 24's Juliette Alfano, Valérie Dekimpe and Alexandra Renard report.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are using a new facial recognition smartphone app called Mobile Fortify to scan the faces of both US citizens and immigrants. They point a phone camera at their target and it pulls up the person's immigration status. Previously reserved for use at US borders or criminal investigations, the technology is causing concern among civil rights advocates, who fear widespread digital surveillance on American streets.

Bangladesh has held its first elections since a student revolution deposed autocratic leader Sheikh Hasina in 2024. Hasina's main rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is now projected to win. Yet the biggest development is the resurgence of the Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami, which was banned under Hasina. Minorities targeted in recent mob violence and some women now fear for their rights. FRANCE 24's Navodita Kumari, Alban Alvarez and Muktadir Rashid report. 

Canada is undergoing a historic demographic shift: according to Statistics Canada, the country is experiencing its sharpest population decline since World War II. Behind this phenomenon is an unprecedented tightening of migration policy, after years of openness under former prime minister Justin Trudeau. As a result, the number of foreign students and temporary workers has plummeted in order to "reduce pressure on housing, public services and infrastructure", according to authorities.

In the year since Donald Trump returned to the White House, more than 350,000 migrants have been deported from the United States. This report takes us to meet several of them in Guatemala. In this central American country, thousands have started to rebuild their lives after their forced removal. FRANCE 24's Andrés Suárez Jaramillo reports, with Lauren Bain.

In Syria, last week's agreement between Kurdish forces and Damascus includes a humanitarian component, ultimately aimed at allowing refugees to return home. These families fled the fighting that followed the fall of Bashar al-Assad. There are now more than 100,000 internally displaced people in the Qamishli region, in Syria's far northeast. Report by Marie Charlotte Roupie, Abdulrahman Daoud and Josh Vardey.

Long confined to tourist clichés, Swiss yodelling is moving on from being a folkloric curiosity. This ancient Alpine vocal technique, which alternates between "chest voice" and "head voice", was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in December 2025. Today, yodelling is sung in a multitude of contexts and crosses the boundaries of folk music to blend with rock, pop and even rap. FRANCE 24's Jade Lévin reports, with Josh Vardey.

In Pakistan, the economic crisis and climate-related natural disasters are placing sustained pressure on the poorest families. In a nation where around 45 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, marriage has become financially out of reach for millions of households. Each year, tens of thousands of couples are forced to delay or abandon plans to marry. In response, mass weddings are multiplying across the country, cutting across religious communities. Our correspondents report.

Canada and the United States share the world's longest border. But tensions are rising over trade and politics. US President Donald Trump has threatened Canada with unprecedented tariffs and has expressed a desire to annex the country and turn it into the 51st US state. In the Canadian border town of Cornwall, those tensions can be felt in everyday life. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Guillaume Gougeon.

The meteoric rise of Shein, one of the world's biggest fast-fashion retailers, has not been without controversy. For years, human rights groups have warned of labour law violations in its supplier factories. Our China correspondents Jan Camenzind Broomby and Eudeline Boishult investigate.

Rare earth elements are crucial for defence, auto and electronic industries and have become a geopolitical battleground. China controls 95 percent of the world's supply, thanks to cheap labour, vast deposits and lax environmental regulations. But a young French-American scientist has developed a groundbreaking process for recovering rare earths from neon light bulbs, and potentially other electronic appliances, paving the way for the recycling of these essential metals. 

As France gears up for local elections in March, mayoral races are heating up across the country. In Marseille, France's second-largest city, which is grappling with a drug trafficking problem, security is at the heart of the election. Two candidates are currently neck-and-neck in the polls: the incumbent mayor Benoît Payan, representing various left-wing parties; and the far-right National Rally candidate Franck Allisio. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Lauren Bain.

Located in the French region of Normandy, Mont-Saint-Michel is a breathtaking site, recognised the world over. Millions of visitors come to visit this abbey that dates back to the 10th century. It has withstood storms, fires, wars and the passage of time. But today, the abbey's ancient walls are in desperate need of repair. Water has seeped into the stone, causing cracks. Green moss now covers the interior walls of the church, and statues must be restored to their former glory. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Lauren Bain.

With CCTV cameras on almost every street corner, London is the European capital with the most video surveillance, and facial recognition is becoming increasingly prevalent. According to London's Metropolitan Police, this tool allows them to be more efficient in making arrests. But locals are divided on its implications for their privacy. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Florent Marchais.

As Hollywood faces an unprecedented crisis, Texas eyes an opportunity. Thanks to new tax incentives, the state is attracting producers and studios, with the ambition of promoting content aligned with family and Christian values. While the official goal is to create jobs in the industry, some lawmakers openly want to build a counterweight to Hollywood, which they see as ideologically hostile. FRANCE 24's Valérie Defert and Pierrick Leurent report from Fort Worth, with Wassim Cornet.

Senegal's former capital Saint-Louis, a coastal city and UNESCO World Heritage site, is threatened by rising sea levels caused by climate change. Estimates show that 70 percent of the city could disappear underwater by 2100. Thousands of fishermen have already been relocated. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Lauren Bain.