Focus

On May 15, Palestinians commemorated the Nakba ("catastrophe" in Arabic), referring to the forced exodus of Palestinians during the creation of the State of Israel in 1948. Around the same time, Israelis celebrated what they call the "reunification of Jerusalem" in 1967, meaning the occupation and then annexation of the Palestinian part of the city. One land, two historical narratives. Is it still possible to reconcile them? FRANCE 24's Claire Duhamel and Amira Souilem report.

In 2025, Panchayat became the most-watched series in India. Its success stems from its story about the head of a village council in a rural area of ​​Uttar Pradesh. In recent years, stories from rural India have permeated the film industry, even reaching prestigious international award ceremonies. This rural revival has fostered the growth of independent rural cinema, particularly with the emergence of new streaming platforms. Since 2019, the platform STAGE has produced several hundred films in local dialects, targeting a potential audience of 50 million people, a segment long ignored by the multi-billion dollar Bollywood film industry. A report by Selma Daoui and Nabeel Ahmed.

Half of all households in South Korea's capital Seoul have just one inhabitant. That trend is likely to continue, with more than 40 percent of men and women aged 25 to 49 saying they do not want to get married. Local authorities now consider solitude a serious public health issue. Seoul's municipal government is investing more than €260 million over five years to tackle what it calls an epidemic of loneliness. FRANCE 24's Chloé Borgnon, Junwon Bae and Justin McCurry report.

Salmon is one of the most widely consumed fish in the world, with global demand exploding in recent years. In Chile, salmon farming has become the country's second-largest industry after mining, accounting for more than a quarter of global production. For the country's southern regions, it has brought an economic boom. But this success comes at a cost: deadly workplace accidents, polluted waterways and a disastrous effect on wildlife in the area. FRANCE 24's Agathe Fourcade and Martin Chabal report.

In London, the Tube and iconic red double-decker buses are deeply woven into the city's fabric. When these ageing vehicles retire, some are given a surprising second life and transformed into unique dining experiences. From underground carriages turned into restaurants to vintage buses serving afternoon tea, these repurposed icons offer a nostalgic journey through the British capital's history and culture. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Guillaume Gougeon.

Several heads of state, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, are gathering in Bucharest this Wednesday for the B9 summit, which brings together NATO's eastern flank countries amid growing tensions linked to the war in Ukraine. Even in Romania, the conflict feels increasingly present. In recent months, Russian attacks have intensified against Ukrainian Danube ports located just a few hundred metres from the Romanian border. 

In the United States, home ownership used to be part of the American dream. But today, in cities like Los Angeles, housing has become unaffordable for millions of essential workers. Nurses, teachers and firefighters are often no longer able to live near their workplaces due to soaring property prices. With exorbitant rents and endless commutes, many are being pushed to their limits. FRANCE 24's Wassim Cornet and Pierrick Leurent went to meet some of these Americans grappling with a housing crisis.

As Europe commemorates the 81st anniversary of the Allied victory over the Nazis this May 8, many in Germany are discovering long-buried family secrets. Nazi party membership lists – saved from destruction in 1945 – are now available online. In just a few clicks, the Nazi past of millions of German families is within reach.

Located in the heart of the Indian metropolis of Mumbai, Dharavi is one of the world's most densely populated slums; home to nearly 1 million people. Made famous by the film "Slumdog Millionaire", Dharavi is set to be transformed by a major redevelopment plan that will build skyscrapers, sanitation systems, parks, schools and hospitals. But this massive project requires the relocation of part of its population and is causing concern among the thousands of residents who have lived and worked in Dharavi for several generations. FRANCE 24's Khansa Juned, Nabeel Ahmed and Alban Alvarez report.

In 2025, the US Supreme Court provisionally authorised the Trump administration to lift Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans living in the United States. This status had allowed them to work legally and remain in the country as long as their return to Venezuela was deemed dangerous. Nearly 600,000 people now live in a state of profound legal uncertainty. FRANCE 24's Fanny Allard and Fraser Jackson report from Florida.

Many pharmaceutical giants use monkeys to test drugs and vaccines. But since China banned the export of primates in 2020, prices have skyrocketed, fuelilng an international black market. At the heart of this illegal trafficking are Cambodia, Thailand and Laos. FRANCE 24's Justin McCurry, Théo Collet, Antoine Morel and Cyrille Charpentier report. 

In Indonesia, almost 1 million minors are thought to have an online gambling habit. Worse, authorities say more than 80,000 online players are aged below 10. For these youngsters, gambling is not a pastime they can control, but a dangerous obsession, driven by a desperate desire for a quick and easy way out of poverty. This despite gambling being illegal in the Muslim-majority country. In 2024, Indonesia recorded dozens of suicides linked to online gambling. FRANCE 24 reports.

Behind ordinary-looking TikTok adverts for "rose sellers" lies a sordid reality: a recruitment scheme linked to prostitution, often targeting minors. A team from our sister channel France 2 dug into hundreds of social media videos showing how pimps in France are recruiting young girls via TikTok, promising them easy money and a glamorous lifestyle. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Lauren Bain.

Despite fluctuations in its price, gold continues to fuel economies and often greed across Africa. Deep in the Sahara, in Mauritania, extraction sites are multiplying across the desert. In the past few years, this gold rush has become a key pillar of the Mauritanian economy. FRANCE 24's Sarah Sakho and Simon Martin report.

Last year, the Election Commission of India launched a "Special Intensive Revision", or SIR, describing it as an exercise to eliminate duplicate or deceased voters. So far, 13 states and federally administered territories have completed the task, leading to the deletion of over 55 million voters from the electoral rolls. But this exercise has become a political flashpoint in West Bengal, where 9 million voters have been deleted ahead of a crucial state election.

As the stalemate continues in the Strait of Hormuz and peace talks between Washington and Tehran appear to be stalled, life in Iran seems to have returned to normal since the ceasefire. Society is even undergoing a major transformation, a process that began several months ago and has intensified against the backdrop of the war in recent weeks. FRANCE 24 correspondent Siavosh Ghazi filmed these rare images from the Iranian capital for this report filed with Alice Brogat and Lauren Bain.

Cities around the globe are clearing their billboards of adverts for flights, cruise ships and petrol cars in a bid to reduce global warming. Amsterdam is the latest city to join the movement, becoming the first capital in the world to approve a legal ban on fossil fuel advertisements. Following the historic win, Dutch activists are now calling for restrictions to be enforced on a national level. FRANCE 24's Valérie Dekimpe and Alexandra Renard report.

For the past three years, war has been raging in Sudan betwe en the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, leading to more than 11 million Sudanese being displaced. After Chad, Libya is the largest host country of Sudanese refugees. In the southeastern Kufra province, 250 kilometres from the Sudanese border, between 40 000 and 60 000 Sudanese refugees live either in encampments or towns. FRANCE 24's Lilia Blaise and Hamdi Tlili report.

The border between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been completely closed for six months, a direct consequence of the conflict between Kabul and Islamabad. Despite several mediation attempts, negotiations have failed, and the two countries remain at a diplomatic impasse in a war that has already displaced tens of thousands of people and claimed numerous lives. 

Thirty-two years after the genocide in Rwanda, the country is undetaking its most sensitive task yet: reintegrating the last remaining perpetrators into the very heart of the lands where they once committed murder. Those walking out of prison today are often those who have served their full 30-year sentences. The challenge is daunting: how can these men and women be transformed into productive citizens within a society that has changed so radically? Our correspondent Aurore Bayoud reports, with Tom Canetti.

It looks almost impossible: cars and motorbikes racing at full speed inside towering vertical arenas in India. These dangerous stunt shows are known as the "wells of death", where drivers cling to the walls as gravity seems to disappear. The races attract large numbers of young Indians and have gone viral on social media. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Guillaume Gougeon.

With its mountains, hills and fragile cliffs, Italy is one of the European countries most susceptible to hydrogeological disasters: landslides, sinkholes, erosion and floods. The situation is causing concern for the country's local authorities. Over 500,000 buildings are situated in areas exposed to landslides, and nearly 38,000 churches, monuments, historic and cultural heritage sites are at risk. Our Italy correspondent Natalia Mendoza reports. 

In the last few years, Madrid has become a destination of choice for wealthy Latin American investors, as well as for young Americans. The latter are settling in the most historical areas of the Spanish capital, driving up prices in an already competitive housing market. FRANCE 24's Maude Petit-Jové and Sarah Morris report.

This Wednesday marks three years since the start of the civil war in Sudan, a conflict that has forced 14 million people to flee their homes. Some 4 million of them have left their country altogether. While many have fled to neighbouring countries, some have chosen Kenya. The capital Nairobi has become a hub for welcoming not only Sudanese refugees, but also political and even armed groups linked to the conflict.

After a month and a half spent living under the threat of drones, residents of Iraqi Kurdistan are exhausted. Just 24 hours before the ceasefire, a civilian was killed in a drone attack blamed on Iran by Kurdish authorities. In total, around 700 drone and missile attacks have targeted US positions and certain Kurdish interests. Victims' loved ones are devastated by the war between Iran and the United States, of which they are the indirect victims. FRANCE 24's Marie-Charlotte Roupie reports, with Josh Vardey.

As global attention remains focused on the Middle East, a parallel contest of influence is unfolding in the Far North, where NATO troops have recently carried out a large-scale exercise simulating a Russian invasion. Armoured vehicles, ships, helicopters, and thousands of soldiers braved sub-zero conditions to test their readiness and send a clear message to Moscow. This report from our colleagues at FRANCE 2 and FRANCE 24's Guillaume Gougeon.

Hungary's election on Sunday could have repercussions far beyond its borders. Since Prime Minister Viktor Orban came to power in 2010, Hungary has become the only EU member state ranked as “partly free” by Freedom House – but it is also a model for far-right movements elsewhere. Orban's ties to Russia have also hindered Europe's response to the war in Ukraine. With polls showing a strong lead for the centre-right opposition Tisza party, our regional correspondent Gulliver Cragg reports.

In the weeks leading up to the ceasefire, the impact of the war in the Middle East was felt far beyond the region, reaching countries such as India. The nation of nearly 1.5 billion people relies heavily on imports of cooking gas, or LPG, much of it sourced from the Middle East. When Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz – a critical global shipping route – supplies were severely disrupted. Long queues formed outside distribution centres in major cities, forcing many to turn to the black market. The conflict has also put at risk the lives of nearly ten million Indians living and working in Gulf countries. At least eight Indian migrant workers have been killed in war-related incidents. Many others remain stranded, unable to afford the high cost of flights home, as their families wait anxiously for their return. Even with a fragile ceasefire in place, those affected continue to live in precarity – and, for some, in grief. Report by Supriya Kumar, Fantine Dantzer, Alban Alvarez and Khansa Juned.

Today's Focus looks into fraud on social contributions in France. There are many ways to bypass the system, including undeclared work, or fake sick leave forms. Authorities are tracking down these abuses, which cost billions every year. This report specifically looks into undeclared work: employing an individual under the table costs up to €7 billion every year. It affects all sectors, such as retail or personal care services; but mostly the construction industry. Our colleagues from France 2 followed labour inspectors on building sites, who try to uncover illicit work and hold employers accountable. Here 's their report, with FRANCE 24's Lauren Bain.

In Fizi territory, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, fighting is raging between Congolese soldiers, who are supported by local armed groups, and M23 rebels, who are allegedly supported by Rwanda. New recruits swell the ranks of the armed groups. And civilians are caught in the crossfire. A report by Aurélie Bazzara-Kibangula and Emmet Livingstone.

Donald Trump has branded Mexico a narco-state, accusing it of failing to control its border. The US president has escalated his rhetoric, issuing stark accusations and threatening unilateral military action, claiming drug trafficking and illegal immigration still pose a significant threat to the United States. But what's the reality on the ground? Our correspondents, Laurence Cuvillier and Quentin Duval, report from the Mexican side of the border.

The war in Sudan is spilling into Chad with increasing intensity. In mid-March, a drone strike – the fourth and deadliest cross-border attack from Sudan – killed 20 people in the town of Tiné, which has become a frontline in the conflict's spillover. Chadian authorities have not officially identified those responsible, and both the Sudanese army and RSF rebels deny involvement. Since the strike, tensions in Chadian areas near the Sudanese border have escalated. The Chadian army has been placed on “maximum alert,” some citizens are calling for armed resistance, and hundreds of civilians are fleeing the border region. Harold Girard and Brahim Abakar Oumar report.

Wild leopards in the heart of Indian cities, bears roaming the streets in Japan, and foxes wandering through central London. Increasingly, wild animals are appearing in urban areas in search of food, with hundreds of videos buzzing across social media. So what explains this growing phenomenon? Our colleagues at France 2 report, with Lauren Bain.

Since the start of Donald Trump's second term, media outlets in the United States have faced an uphill battle. Targeted verbal attacks, attempts to control information and press credentials, and financial pressure are just some of the ways the White House has sought to influence reporting –or label journalists as enemies of the government. Public media outlets are especially vulnerable, relying in part on federal funding. So, is it still possible to report on the inner workings of politics? And how are journalists pushing back? Fanny Allard reports.

In the face of growing competition with Donald Trump's United States and the ongoing trade war, Canada is betting big on greenhouse agriculture. In Ontario, the heart of national agricultural research and innovation, tomatoes and cucumbers are just some of the produce grown safe from bad weather and harsh winters. The country is also banking on artificial intelligence to reduce its dependence on imports, particularly American ones.

With just months to go before the World Cup, Mexico is making headlines for the grip that criminal organisations still hold over parts of the country. The killing of drug lord El Mencho, during a special forces operation in late February, has sparked a surge of violence nationwide. But President Claudia Sheinbaum insists the necessary security measures will be in place to protect football fans and players. 

Fifteen years after the revolution that deposed Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, our team reports from the eastern city of Benghazi. Although the security situation there is now relatively stable, reunification does not seem to be on the immediate agenda, with Libya still ruled by two different governments.

In Hungary, mayors now have the right to "select" residents of their towns after a new law was passed last summer. The far-right mayor of Pilis, a town of 12,000 inhabitants, is one of them. One former resident of the town, who was forced to leave, explains why he believes the procedure is discriminatory, particularly towards the Roma minority. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Florent Marchais. 

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.