Focus

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.

"Witch-hunting" remains widespread across India, targeting mostly village women who are often single, widowed or otherwise isolated. Many endure severe psychological torment, social ostracism and abuse including sexual violence. Although several states have enacted laws to curb it, "witch-hunting" remains a threat to women. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), more than 2,500 women have been killed over "witchcraft" since 2000. FRANCE 24's Khansa Juned and Lisa Gamonet report.

In the southern Tunisian town of Gabes, anger has been simmering in recent months as locals demand the dismantlement of the Tunisian Chemical Group. This state-owned enterprise turns phosphate into fertiliser, often emitting toxic gases. So far, however, protesters have not achieved their goals. Our correspondents report.

Iranians began taking to the streets in late December. What initially began with protests against the spiralling cost of living has grown into a nationwide protest movement against the country's theocracy led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In response, authorities have cracked down hard. Will these protests lead to the end of the regime that has ruled Iran for 45 years? Our France 2 colleagues chronicle the events of the last two weeks, with FRANCE 24's Lauren Bain.

Until 1984, there was no road connecting the oasis of Siwa and its 8,000 Bedouin residents with the rest of Egypt. Lost deep in the desert near the Libyan border, the country's most remote oasis was long unknown to tourists. But over the past decade, videos of visitors floating in turquoise salt lakes, climbing the 13th-century citadel or wandering through palm groves have flooded social media.

Italy has become a pioneer in regulating artificial intelligence (AI). Last autumn, the Italian parliament approved a draft bill concerning the "Provisions and delegations to the government on artificial intelligence", a legal framework aimed at regulating the development of the technology. Our Italy correspondent Natalia Mendoza reports.

In the United States, driverless taxis piloted by artificial intelligence are appearing in cities from Los Angeles to Miami. But are these phantom drivers more or less prone to accidents than humans? Do robotaxis pose risks to our safety? Our France 2 colleagues went for a test drive. 

Between traffic, excessive use of car horns, building sites and religious celebrations, the ears of residents in Indian megacities like New Delhi and Mumbai rarely get a moment of respite. Authorities remain silent on possible solutions to combat this health scourge. Our correspondents Lisa Gamonet and Alban Alvarez report.

A new type of criminal activity known as yami baito is spreading in Japan. The modus operandi is simple: online ads offer easy, well-paid jobs such as parcel deliveries. But behind these tasks lie illegal activities. Many young recruits end up involved in scams, burglaries or phone fraud. They're the new foot soldiers of a vast criminal network that often preys on vulnerable elderly people. Our correspondents report.

Denmark has long been hailed as a digital champion, with online public services, digital IDs and tablets in schools as early as 2011. But authorities are now shifting course in the education and social sectors, following alarming figures on children's mental health and school performance. A massive return to analogue life is underway: mobile phones are banned in schools and after-school clubs, a return to pre-digital learning is being rolled out and social media will soon be banned for anyone under 15. Our team reports from Copenhagen.

Italy is getting ready to host the Winter Olympics, known as Milan Cortina 2026. The event is an opportunity to showcase the country to the rest of the world and is being held in four Italian regions. But less than two months before the arrival of the Olympic torch, the organisers are facing serious challenges and criticism is mounting over the Games' environmental impact. Our Italy correspondents report.

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.