Focus

Russia has long been a preferred destination for students from across Africa seeking affordable higher education. In 2023, Russia estimated that 32,000 students from the Middle East were living in the country — nearly half of them Egyptian. But in recent months, controversy has erupted in Egypt following the publication of a YouTube video that showed a Ukrainian-held prisoner of war. The young man, Amar Mohamed, was an Egyptian student in Russia who had been persuaded by Moscow's propaganda machine to join the army.

In recent months, Germany has seen a sharp rise in hate crimes targeting the queer community. Figures from the Federal Criminal Police Office and the Federal Ministry of the Interior recorded 1,765 criminal offences in 2024 under the subcategory "sexual orientation" – an increase of around 18 percent compared to the previous year. The surge in attacks is largely attributed to the far right and is causing deep concern within the LGBT+ community, in a country long regarded as tolerant toward sexual and gender minorities – particularly in the capital Berlin. Our correspondents report.

China has some 36 million EVs (electric vehicles) on its roads. But their batteries don't last forever. With the first generation of EVs coming to the end of their lifespans, Beijing now faces a new problem: how to recycle and reuse the thousands of EV batteries that are spread across the country? Our correspondents Jan Camenzind Broomby and Eudeline Boishult report.

Vietnam's Mekong Delta is under serious threat from climate change. The agricultural region, which produces half of the country's food supply, is being hit hard by rising sea levels and saltwater intrusion, which devastate rice crops. The landscape is changing, and with it, the delicate balance of an entire ecosystem. FRANCE 24's William de Tamaris, Aruna Popuri, Melodie Sforza and Justin McCurry report. 

After emergency services received the first distress calls during the November 13, 2015 Paris terror attacks, police officers from the anti-crime brigade were the first to arrive at the Bataclan concert hall. Outside, they came under fire from automatic assault rifles. Inside, they only had their handguns to stop the carnage. Ten years on, the police have learned lessons. These everyday police officers, who are the first responders in the event of a terror attack, are now better equipped thanks to new gear and more thorough training. FRANCE 24's Marie Schuster was given exclusive access to their preparation.

Pakistan is one of the worst affected countries by period poverty. According to UNICEF, nearly 44 percent of girls lack access to the minimum resources needed to manage their periods, whether at home, at school or at work. Limited access to menstrual hygiene products, clean water and sanitation facilities, coupled with a lack of information, has serious consequences, preventing many girls and women from attending school or work. Our correspondents report.

Since Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's government came to power three years ago following a serious political crisis, Iraq has been experiencing one of the calmest and most stable periods of the last two decades. The capital Baghdad is currently undergoing major renovation work. FRANCE 24's Marie-Charlotte Roupie reports, with Josh Vardey.

As the COP30 climate summit opens in the Brazilian Amazon city of Belem, Brazil is stepping up its race for oil. The government agency in charge of environmental protection recently authorised oil giant Petrobras to drill several oil wells at the mouth of the Amazon River. Environmental protection groups predict the move will lead to an ecological and social disaster. But on the border with French Guiana, many in the town of Oiapoque are eagerly awaiting the oil. FRANCE 24's Marine Resse, Fanny Lothaire and Jan Onoszko report.

With the COP30 climate summit under way in Brazil, we take you to the United Arab Emirates, one of the most arid countries in the world. There, the government has implemented a cloud-seeding programme to increase rainfall. While the UAE mainly uses seawater desalination to obtain water, it has also employed this cutting-edge technology as drought continues to worsen in the Middle East. It's therefore a necessity, but also a soft power tool for the Gulf monarchy, which plans to become a global leader in access to "blue gold" and will host the next UN Water Conference in 2026. FRANCE 24's Amélie Zaccour and Sophie Guignon report, with Josh Vardey.

The COP30 climate summit will open on November 10 in Belem, a city in Brazil's Amazon, as the rainforest continues to be threatened by deforestation. One reason is the mining of gold – essential for smartphones and computers. Peru is South America's leading producer of the precious metal. With prices reaching record highs, artisanal mines are operating at full capacity, polluting the rainforest in the process. In response, some are now trying to reduce the environmental impact of their activities and offering "clean" gold. FRANCE 24's Agathe Fourcade and Martin Chabal report, with Wassim Cornet.

In the Ukrainian village of Kivshovata, south of Kyiv, air raid sirens have become part of everyday life. Although far from the front line, Kivshovata lies on the flight path for Russian drones and missiles. It is also home to a unique youth orchestra that has become famous in Ukraine for its piece the "Shahed Overture", which reproduces the sounds of a night of war. Our correspondent Gulliver Cragg reports.

As Europe tightens up its borders and makes migration policy stricter, Spain has surprised with a welcoming approach to migrants. Between January and June of this year, 77,000 asylum seekers arrived in Spain. The Socialist-led government sees immigration as an economic asset and has rolled out measures to legalise and integrate new arrivals. FRANCE 24's Sarah Morris, Maude Petit-Jové and Mathilde Lopinski report.

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate in New York City's mayoral race, is shaking up US politics. The 34-year-old could make history on Tuesday by becoming the city's first Muslim and South Asian mayor. His Socialist policies have electrified younger voters, while frightening conservatives and the old guard of the Democratic Party. Can a socialist stand up to US President Donald Trump and win? Our correspondents Jessica Le Masurier and Yves Schaeffner followed Mamdani on the campaign trail. 

French tomato producers are seeing red, angry at what they believe is unfair competition from Morocco. In one of the most arid parts of the North African country, thousands of workers pick tomatoes that will eventually be sold to French supermarkets for just 99 cents a basket – that's two to three times cheaper than French tomatoes. But at what price? The Franco-Moroccan company Azura faces accusations of exploiting migrant workers on its ultra-modern farms. It opened its doors to our France 2 colleagues.

Three years after her arrival at the Palazzo Chigi, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni still enjoys high approval ratings. The strict budget policies of her government have paid off: credit rating agencies have upgraded Italy's sovereign debt rating.

Dutch voters head to the polls on October 29 and far-right parties have made immigration the central issue of the campaign. This hardline rhetoric led to anti-immigrant riots in September in The Hague and violent protests in towns where asylum centres are set to open. Geert Wilders' anti-immigration PVV is expected to become the largest party in parliament after the elections, but other parties are also adopting his anti-immigrant narrative and rising in the polls, notably the far-right party JA21. FRANCE 24's Fernande van Tets and Alix Le Bourdon report.

Twenty-three years after obtaining its independence, East Timor is starting a new chapter in its history. The small Southeast Asian country has just joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, the region's most influential bloc. The move, which was finalised during this week's ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, gives the state diplomatic recognition as it attempts to put its turbulent past behind it and focus on development. FRANCE 24's Juliette Chaignon, Guillaume Gosalbes, Aruna Popuri and Justin McCurry report from the capital Dili.

Over 6000 Ukrainian prisoners have been liberated from Russian prisons since the beginning of the war. But behind the scenes of their touching reunions with loved ones is their hidden traumas- both physical and mental. For former detainees, the long road to healing has just begun. A report by our colleages at France 2 (English adapt by Lauren Bain). 

The election campaign in Ivory Coast has come with an upsurge in disinformation on social media. Supporters of both the ruling and opposition parties have circulated fake news about presidential candidates and Abidjan is concerned about destabilisation attempts from abroad, including from its neighbour Burkina Faso. As a response, the Ivorian government has begun censoring posts and making arrests. This report by Julia Guggenheim and Damien Koffi (Adapted by Tom Canetti).

When the Islamic State group was defeated in 2019, more than 40,000 men, women, and children were held in the al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria. Alongside civilians fleeing the fighting, families of Islamic State group members were also detained. Faced with the ongoing challenge of managing this sprawling camp, authorities have begun implementing a large-scale repatriation policy. Most Iraqi residents have returned home, while Syrians are being allowed to leave in small numbers. Among those who have managed to leave, some families have chosen to return to the northeastern province of Deir ez-Zor. These women linked to the IS group are now trying to find their place in today's Syria, as FRANCE 24's Marie-Charlotte Roupie reports.

Illegal meat trafficking is on the rise, with quantities seized by customs becoming increasingly significant. From simple steak portions hidden under car bonnets to entire quarters of beef stacked on the back seats, the illegal import of meat from France to Switzerland has massively increased in recent years. The reason for this illicit trade: the price of meat, which is two to three times lower on the French side.

The state of Kerala, in southern India, is home to the country's most famous spice route. From the hills where the spices are grown to the ports where they're shipped across the world, we take you on a journey through the colours, flavours and traditions of this timeless trade. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Guillaume Gougeon.

Earlier this month, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law that made assisted dying permanent in the state, after an initial law was passed in 2016. At the time, the change was a turning point in the approach to end-of-life care for people with terminal illnesses. Almost 10 years on, how have views changed on the practice? Has it become more accepted among doctors? And has assisted dying been resorted to unnecessarily, as many critics feared? FRANCE 24's Pierrick Leurent reports, with Wassim Cornet.

India, home to 1.45 billion people, recently overtook China as the world's most populous country. Yet, behind this demographic milestone lies an unexpected challenge. While national leaders once warned that a large population could hinder development, several southern states are now facing the opposite problem – falling fertility rates. This decline is more than just a demographic issue. A shrinking birth rate could reduce the future workforce, strain healthcare and social services, and weaken political influence, since parliamentary representation and federal funding are tied to population size.

Researchers, professors, and scientists are leaving Donald Trump's America in increasing numbers, choosing to settle in Canada. Their reasons are often the same: concern over the country's authoritarian drift and the freezing or cancellation of thousands of scientific research grants. The US brain drain is real. In response, Canadian cities are launching targeted recruitment drives and programmes for international students to attract fresh talent. François Rihouay and Joanne Profeta bring this report.

Miners in Kenya risk their lives every day to extract gold 30 meters below the Earth's surface. With the recent gold rush in the country, artisanal mining is raising concerns over negative environmental consequences and poor labor conditions. Our colleagues at France Télévisions Lucile Chaussoy, Fabien Fougère, and Joseph Bohbot and France 24's Florent Marchais have this report.

It's one of the biggest corruption scandals the Philippines has seen since the final years of dictator Ferdinand Marcos. The government has admitted that 70 percent of the funds allocated for flood control measures have been embezzled since 2023, including a staggering eight billion euros in 2025 alone. Chloe Borgnon, Constantin Simon, Justin McCurry, and Aruna Popuri report from Manila Bay.

The first round of local elections in Kosovo are taking place on Sunday, October 12. Kosovo still lacks a functioning government since its legislative elections back in February. The outgoing government of nationalist Prime Minister Albin Kurti continues to pursue policies that some believe are "subjugating" the Serbian community in Kosovo. FRANCE 24's Laurent Rouy and Edward Godsell report on how the city of Gračanica could be led by a new Albanian mayor.

Afghanistan is enduring its worst drought in 30 years, having recorded less than half of its usual rainfall this past winter. As the sixth most vulnerable country to climate change globally, Afghanistan's drought poses a direct threat to farming and food security. More than 80 percent of Afghans depend on agriculture for their livelihood. FRANCE 24's Oriane Zerah and Shahzaib Wahlah report.

Between June and September, Israeli authorities approved the construction of more than 20,000 housing units in the occupied West Bank, according to a UN report. They also ordered the demolition of 455 structures during the same period. In the Palestinian village of Umm al-Khair, tensions between Palestinians and Israeli settlers are a daily occurrence. Our France 2 colleagues report.

Two years after the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led terrorist attacks on Israel that sparked the war in Gaza, the Palestinian enclave is now a shadow of its former self. Months of Israeli bombings and blockading of the Gaza Strip have plunged the Palestinian population into an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. The UN has officially declared a famine and accused Israel of committing genocide. Meanwhile, the Israeli government's two main objectives – freeing all the hostages and completely eliminating Hamas – have not been achieved. FRANCE 24's Olivier Faissolle and Luke Shrago look back at two years of devastating war.

One year after her landslide election victory, Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum remains remarkably popular, with around 80 percent of Mexicans backing her policies. The left-wing politician has rolled out nationwide many of the measures she first introduced as mayor of Mexico City. But while the "Sheinbaum formula" appears to be working for now, major challenges lie ahead: from tackling insecurity to managing a delicate trade relationship with the United States of Donald Trump. FRANCE 24's Quentin Duval and Laurence Cuvillier report.

In the oasis of the Mauritanian Sahara, the main refuge for date palms, climate change is tightening its grip. These ecosystems, which depend on shallow groundwater reserves, are at risk because recent rainfall has not been enough to replenish them. This poses a major threat to farmers in a country where less than 0.5 percent of the land is arable, jeopardising the livelihood of tens of thousands of people who have depended on oasis crops for centuries. FRANCE 24's Simon Martin, Sarah Sakho and Caitlin Kelly report.

In South Africa, some towns in the Western Cape are entirely controlled by the Moravian Protestant Church, which has a missionary legacy dating back to the 18th century. Residents pay a fee to the Church, which maintains the town's infrastructure in return. But some locals claim the Church isn't using the money collected to reinvest in the town. With over 100,000 current members, the Moravian Church was one of the first religious institutions to welcome worshippers of all races in a South Africa still marked by segregation. FRANCE 24's Caroline Dumay, Stefan Carstens and Tom Canetti report for Pool Africa.

The Italian government has approved the construction of a suspension bridge between the island of Sicily and the mainland. It would be 3,300 metres long and 400 metres high. The bridge has been designed to allow nearly 140,000 vehicles to cross it every day. This colossal project, estimated to cost €13.5 billion, has been presented by Rome as a strategic asset for NATO defence. But the initiative has received much criticism – those who oppose the plan see it as a costly waste of public funds. Our Italy correspondents Natalia Mendoza, Tommaso Marro and Charlotte Davan Wetton report.

Moldovans head to the polls for parliamentary elections on Sunday September 28, less than a year after a presidential race marred by accusations of Russian interference and a closely contested referendum on EU membership. Sunday's vote could reshape Moldova's geopolitical future, as President Maia Sandu's pro-European PAS party risks losing its majority to populist or pro-Kremlin forces. Across Moldova, Moscow's propaganda continues to shape public opinion – especially in the Russian-speaking autonomous region of Gagauzia. FRANCE 24's Maria Gerth-Niculescu reports.

Have you ever seen a pizza fly? Well, in Dublin, they do! Drones are changing the way we get food delivered, straight from the sky to our doorstep. Convenient for customers and food businesses, they're loathed by residents who are not impressed by the constant buzzing over their heads. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Aurore Dupuis.

Some 300 polar bears live in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard. But with sea ice rapidly receding due to climate change, researchers are trying to understand how the animals are adapting. FRANCE 24's Olivier Morin, Matthew Kay and Solenn Marcoux report.

Since late June, unusually heavy monsoon rains have hit northern India and Pakistan, killing hundreds of people. The worst-hit province is Punjab, where nearly 4 million people have been displaced. Climate change is mainly to blame. But the floods have also been worsened by the opening of dams in India. FRANCE 24's Shahzaib Wahlah reports from Pakistan.

After Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Nepal has become the latest South Asian country to witness its own “Generation Z revolution”. In just three years, it's the third government in the region to fall under pressure from youth-led protests. Each movement was triggered by a law, political decision, or act of repression. In Nepal's case, it was the suspension of several popular social networks – but the anger ran much deeper.

Myanmar is once again in the grip of civil war. Since the 2021 military coup that ousted the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi, hundreds of thousands of Burmese have fled to Thailand to escape escalating violence and a collapsing economy. Thai authorities are struggling to manage the influx, particularly in border regions. At the same time, Thailand faces a labor shortage – and increasingly relies on Burmese workers to fill critical gaps in the workforce.

Malaysia was once a leader in Southeast Asia's automotive sector, even producing the region's first national car. But in recent years, it has struggled to keep pace with neighbours like Thailand and Indonesia, who are rapidly advancing in the electric vehicle (EV) industry. Now, Malaysia is turning to an unlikely source – an indigenous plant – as it looks to shift gears and carve out a place in the global EV supply chain. Patrick Fok reports.